Ephesians 6:17 – the sword of the spirit

And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is a declaration of God.

The last element of the armour, Paul mentions, is “the sword of the spirit”. In the original text that the word ‘which’ doesn’t refer to sword, but to spirit. So, the sword of the spirit, which is a declaration of God. The often-heard separation between word and spirit, fails because of such announcement. For we know and recognize GOD’s spirit yet in what He says.

When we stand on our spiritual heritage, conflict is unavoidable. The opposition we face in it, is not a disadvantage, it pleads in favour. How do we counter questions? What is our reaction when we are criticized? The answer we read in the verse above. It’s the last element of the armour, which makes the decision. It’s the sword of the spirit: GOD’s declaration.

When Jesus was tempted in the desert, by “the tricks of the diabolos”, he always reacted: “It is written!” Never he did allow himself reasoning about GOD’s word, he always quoted GOD’s word. Nothing is more powerful, more effective or sharper than GOD’s own statements: “It is written!”.

Delen: