The Sword of the Spirit
Armour serves its purpose by being worn, requiring no particular skill to make it work. Whether a new recruit or a seasoned warrior, armour is equally effective for all. When it comes to a sword, however, that changes.
Today we explore how the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, becomes more effective with time, training and discipline.
Understanding the Sword of the Spirit:
Thus far in this series, we have been discussing armour. Armour is primarily defensive, and the user is mainly passive. The sword of the Spirit, however, is not armour but a weapon used in spiritual warfare. It is a defensive tool those standing firm in their identity in Christ actively employs in defending against the Enemy's attacks.
Skill and Mastery:
Unlike armour, a sword's effectiveness depends on its wielder's skill. A new recruit may swing a sword aimlessly while a battle-hardened warrior wields it with great precision and skill. The sword's effectiveness is determined by experience, training, and discipline. Jesus gives us a perfect example of how to masterfully wield the Sword of the Spirit in Luke chapter 4.
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A SWORD'S EFFECTIVENESS DEPENDS ON ITS WIELDER'S SKILL.
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Jesus' Example in the Wilderness:
In Luke chapter 4, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days of fasting. He is in a physically weakened state when Satan launches his attacks. He will often do the same in the life of a believer.
Attack 1: Doubt your Identity:
Satan begins his assault by saying to Jesus, “If you are the some of God, turn these stones into bread”. If Jesus turns the stones into bread, it will satisfy his hunger. Jesus also has the power to perform the miracle. This isn’t about stone, bread or hunger. In the previous chapter, when Jesus was baptised, God said, “This is my Son in Whom I am well pleased”.
When Satan attacks Jesus, he is tempting Him to question His identity as the Son of God. Satan attempts to leverage a weak point to get Jesus to question who He is. Every believer is a child of God, but we may not always feel that way. There are times when all we have to lean on regarding our identity in Christ is the word of God.
Attack 2: Adopt a Worldly Ideology:
In his next attack on Jesus, Satan offers Him authority over the world's kingdoms if Jesus would only bow down and worship him. Satan is offering Jesus the chance to make the world whatever He wants. He can do away with all immorality, feed the hungry and build a perfect worldly kingdom. The kingdom Jesus would build would be great.
However, for Jesus to do this would also require Him to abandon the purpose God has for Him. This is a temptation that every believer faces—the temptation to abandon God’s purpose for a worldly ideology. A core tenet of many ideologies says, “We could save the world if only we could rule the world”. It’s similar to what Paul calls “another Gospel”. To adopt a worldly ideology above the Gospel of Jesus is to reject God’s plan. Jesus rejects this temptation, knowing that His purpose is not to rule the world but to fulfil God’s purpose for Him in seeking and saving the lost. This reminds us that our mission as followers of Christ is to share the Gospel, not to seek earthly power, through a social, prosperity or political “gospel".
To align ourselves with a worldly ideology is to fall prey to the enemy. This world is passing away. Jesus again parries this attack with scripture. He answers with, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’”
Attack 3: Doubt God’s Trustworthiness:
Luke 4:9 says, “9 He brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:‘He shall give His angels charge concerning you, to preserve you,’ 11 and ‘In their hands, they shall hold you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
In his final attack, Satan tempts Jesus to test God's trustworthiness by challenging Him to perform a miracle. If you have attempted to share your faith with others as a Christian, you have likely heard someone say, “I would believe God if He would…”. When we trust God and act on what He says, what He says is proven true. In this instance, Satan’s temptation is like saying, “You shouldn’t believe God is trustworthy until He manifests His power to prove it.”
Jesus responds to this final attack again with the sword of the Spirit. Luke 4:12 “Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
Conclusion:
The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. While armour provides passive protection, the Sword of the Spirit requires skill, training, and discipline to wield effectively. By following Jesus' example and through discipline and study, we can learn to effectively use the sword of the Spirit to parry the enemy’s attacks, overcome temptation, and fulfill our purpose in Christ.
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THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD, REQUIRES SKILL, TRAINING, AND DISCIPLINE TO WIELD EFFECTIVELY.
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Take Action:
1 Study and wield the Sword of the Spirit: Invest time and effort in studying the Word of God each day.
2 Be aware of times of weakness: Identify your vulnerabilities, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Recognise that the enemy often attacks when we are tired, hungry, or weak. Take care of yourself physically and spiritually to be better equipped to resist temptation.
3 Stand firm in your identity in Christ: Remember that your identity as a child of God is not based on fleeting feelings or circumstances. Lean on God's Word and promises regarding your identity, especially when you may not feel it. Trust in what God has said and resist the enemy's attempts to make you doubt it.
