Devotional #20: The Full Armor of God- The Sword of the Spirit
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…Take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
-Ephesians 6: 11,17 (NIV).
In Ephesians Chapter 6, Paul tells us that to stand against the devil’s schemes we must “take up the Sword of the Spirit.” The Sword of the Spirit is the final piece of Armor of God. Interestingly, Paul also defines the Sword of the Spirit, saying it is the “Word of God.” Unlike, helmets, breastplates, and shoes, swords are known to be offensive weapons, and Jesus himself demonstrates how we can use the sword, or Word of God to protect ourselves from Satan’s lies.
The Word of God is also described as a “sword” in the book of Hebrews:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
When I was diagnosed with cancer, friends and family surrounded me with the Word of God by providing me with scripture—in paintings, in books, with notecards posted throughout my home, in phone calls, in emails, and reading them aloud to me. One that scripture frequently shared was Psalm 118:17 (KJV): “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” God brought that scripture to the minds of many who were walking through my illness with me---people in different locations, at different times, and of different backgrounds. I have no doubts that God has intended that scripture for me.
We know that scripture is a powerful weapon to combat the devil when he lies, tries to put us in despair, or tempt us. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Christ repeatedly proclaimed scripture, and Satan eventually relented. See Matthew 4:1-11 (NKJV). The final words Christ spoke to the devil in this instance were, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” The next verse says, “then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” Matthew 4:10-11 (NKJV).
Using Christ as an example, cancer patients and others facing serious illnesses should practice speaking out loud scriptural truth when Satan plants lies in your mind. Below are examples lies that Satan tried to make me believe during my battle with terminal cancer, and scriptural responses to each:
1. The Lie: You will die. Scripture Response: I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. (Psalm 118:17 KJV)
2. The Lie: You will be ruined financially. Scripture Response: And my God will meet all [my] needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
3. The Lie: Your future is over. Scripture Response: But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Matthew 10:27 (NKJV)
4. The Lie: Your family will never recover. Scripture Response: Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26 NKJV)
5. The Lie: You are weak. Scripture Response: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)
6. The Lie: God has forgotten you. Scripture Response: For He (Christ) Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV)
If you or a loved one are fighting cancer or another serious illness, using the Sword of the Spirit is critical to combat the lies of the devil in your spiritual battle. As Christ demonstrated in Matthew, speaking scripture in the face of lies results in the devil leaving. I have found this to prove true during my own battle. Sometimes I have had to speak scripture more than once, and sometimes every day. Remember, Christ spoke scripture three times before the devil left. Eventually, the Word of God will win.
For Additional Study & Discussion
1. What is the most common lie the devil is telling you in your current situation? Can you locate a scripture that responds to that lie?
2. Read Matthew 4:1-11, Do you believe that following Jesus’ example can help you “take your stand against the devil’s schemes”? Why or why not?
3. Describe a time in your life where using the Sword of the Spirit has helped you.