Because his Word says

Because his Word says.  Soul Armor, Piece Six.  Ephesians 6.10-17

You know…                                                                                                                                                                                                       . . . who God is because his Word describes him—his heart, his mind and purposes.                                                                                                           . . . what he thinks about you because his Word tells you of his great love.                                                                                                                               . . . how the universe came to be … that Jesus spoke it into being … because his Word explains.                                                                                                                                  . . . God’s plan for mankind and his redemption because his Word spells it out.                                                                                                                 . . . that Jesus fulfilled prophecies written more than 700 years before he was born, because his Word contains the prophecies and their specific fulfillments.                                          . . . how the devil came to be, and what his future holds because his Word describes it.¹

Indeed, you know these things and so much more because they are in His Word.

One last piece of soul armor . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word.  No Roman soldier would go into battle without his sword.  The machaira, (Greek word for sword) was anywhere from six to eighteen inches in size. It was the common sword carried by Roman foot soldiers and the principal weapon in hand-to-hand combat. Carried in a sheath or scabbard attached to their belts, it was always at hand and ready for use.²

Look again with me one last time at this powerful, equipping passage:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.                                                                                                                        And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…³

Take note that Paul said to put on the WHOLE armor of God, not just one of the six pieces that we have been considering for the last week.  Our effectiveness in standing against the deceptive, distracting, destructive, divisive, devilish and deleterious ways of the evil one demands we arm ourselves with all six elements—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the Word of God. 

The Word of God as armor is both an offensive and defensive weapon in our daily living.  Mindfulness of the wiles of the devil does not mean we are looking for a demon around every tree, but rather the knowledge that defeated thinking of every kind is not from God—no, it comes from Satan. 

Paul’s full description is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”  The Holy Spirit gives the words from Scripture power, and makes them effective, as we speak them and as we receive them.  Words from Scripture are not just linear black marks on a white page.  First, God’s Word was inspired through the Holy Spirit,⁴  illuminated by the writer of Hebrews who wrote, “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.”⁵

How beautiful it is!  How right, how apt, how fitting and instructive the Word of God. 

And so the believer must clad herself with all six pieces of soul armor; the follower of Jesus Christ must don the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God.  (If you missed any of the briefings on the six, please refer to www.pastorwoman.com, Morning Briefings page, where the most recent briefings are posted.) 

This concludes our look at the armor of God which we are wise to know about and put on so that we might stand strong in this culture which so often comes against who we are as Christ followers.  God bless you, dear friends.

1 – Revelation 20.10 – thrown into the lake of fire to be tormented forever and ever

2 - John MacArthur, “The Believer’s Armor: God’s provision for your Protection”

3 – Ephesians 6.10-17. New King James Version

4 – 2 Peter 1.21 – Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit

5 – Hebrews 4.12