“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:17, 18 KJV).
The word of God is more powerful than any two-edged sword. Apart from killing selfishness, it never cuts to kill that good, which must remain. It cuts only to heal and restore wholeness to God.
In fact, it is by every word of God that we live. The word of God was spoken, and things appeared that were before unseen. They had not existed. Still today, every living thing has its being in the breath and power of the Word.
“Let the work of proclaiming the gospel of Christ be made efficient by the agency of the Holy Spirit. Let not one believer, in the day of trial and proving that has already begun, listen to the devising of the enemy. The living Word is the sword of the Spirit. Mercies and judgments will be sent from heaven. The working of providence will be revealed both in mercies and in judgments.
“If we watch and pray and trust God’s living Word, we shall gain victories[.] “Watch and pray,” Christ said, “that ye enter not into temptation.” The day dawns. We must enter each battle with full faith that through Christ we shall be more than conquerors. As faithful watchmen we must diligently guard against the dangers threatening God’s people. Other chapters will open before us, and in order to discern their meaning, we shall need keen perception. We are not to be depressed or discouraged, but filled with holy boldness. We are not to be disheartened by the prevalence of sin, or by the difficulties that arise on the right hand and on the left. We must put on the whole armor of God, and stand firm for the right. In the future, Satan’s deceptions will assume new forms. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God’s people. Thus Satan will try to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Our watchword is to be, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” RH October 13, 1904, par. 9 and par. 10
“It may be that much work needs to be done in your character building, that you are a rough stone, which must be squared and polished before it can fill a place in God’s temple. You need not be surprised if with hammer and chisel God cuts away the sharp corners of your character until you are prepared to fill the place He has for you. No human being can accomplish this work. Only by God can it be done. And be assured that He will not strike one useless blow. His every blow is struck in love, for your eternal happiness. He knows your infirmities and works to restore, not to destroy.” 7T 264.3
Here is why the Apostle Paul called it the sword of the Spirit.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word. Please bless me daily to let Your Word chisel away from me anything that is not of You. Please bless me to fully submit to the sword of the Spirit: that I might worship You in spirit and in truth, that I might be restored to Your image, that my character might truly reflect Jesus, that my family and others can confirm that no selfishness resides in me, that they and I might be saved from the power and wages of sin. In the worthy name of Jesus, I pray and thank You. Amen.
NOTE: These devotionals began as daily texts to encourage my academy roommate and dear friend of nearly 50 years, until she suddenly passed a few weeks ago (Feb 2023). Now I continue to compile and send them to anyone who wants to receive them and to her family in honor of their mom. First, I pray and look for a Bible verse or passage and find a suitable commentary (or vice versa) and add a prayer. Some days, only a Scripture and prayer are ordered. I might even add a song. If you agree to receive them, then this way I not only honor God but the memory of a very dear friend whom I desperately miss. My personal prayer is that God will bless me to find ways to multiply this gift. So please feel free to forward to your loved ones or to anyone, as God leads you. I’m calling them Barb’s Devotionals.