What Does Ephesians 6:17 Mean?

And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17(NASB)

Verse of the Day

Every piece of armour that the Christian is given in the spiritual battle of the ages in which we are engaged, points to the Lord Jesus Christ. For He holds all things together and in Him, we have all that is needed to face the forces of evil and spiritual wickedness in high places. It is by maintaining a simple trust in Him that we are able to thwart all the earthly thorns and thistles in life that seek to trip and to trap, to ensnare, undermine, and destroy our faith.

Paul tells us plainly that the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.

The weapon that we are to use to defeat all our foes in this earthly walk is the Bible, provided for us by our Heavenly Father. The holy Scriptures that have been penned by the prophets and divinely inspired of the Holy Spirit for our learning, is the blade that will cut through every attack from the enemy. As the writer of Hebrews states: "For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart," and every portion of Scripture points to the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the living Word.

It was the Sword of the Spirit that the Lord Jesus grasped when He was tempted of Satan in the wilderness. Each time the enemy's subtle taunts, which were designed to cause Him to stumble in His mission, were countered with the proclamation, "It is written... it is written... it is written…" And it is the Word of God that is the weapon of victory that we must grasp in our hands and our hearts, for with it we can face every accusation of Satan and every doubt that is planted in our minds.

The Lord gives us many precious promises and proclamations about His Word. One beloved passage is written by Isaiah: "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it produce and sprout, and providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My Word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it." 

With such a weapon as the Sword of the Spirit, the many examples of Jesus Himself wielding that weapon so effectively, and the promises pertaining to the Word, let us all buckle on the armour that God has provided, and firmly grasp hold of the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, in both our heart and our hands so that we too may be able to stand firm in the evil day against the devil's wicked schemes.

And having done all – to stand.

My Prayer

Loving Father, thank You for the many provisions You have made for my protection against the evil enemy that seeks to defeat and destroy my trust in You. Thank You for my salvation, through faith in Jesus. Teach me Your Word so that I may be effective in my life-walk with You and my witness to others. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

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