The phrase “sword of the Spirit” is found only once in Scripture, in Ephesians 6:17.
The sword is one of the pieces of spiritual armor Paul tells the Ephesian Christians to put on as part of the “full armor of God” that will enable us to stand our ground against evil (Ephesians 6:13).
The sword is both an offensive and defensive weapon used by soldiers or warriors.
In this case it is a weapon belonging to the Holy Spirit.
Swords were used to protect oneself from harm or to attack the enemy to overcome or kill him.
In both cases it was necessary for a soldier to get rigid training on the proper use of the sword to get maximum protection.
All Christian soldiers need the same rigid training to know how to properly handle the Sword of the Spirit, “which is the word of God.”
The sword that Paul refers to here is the Holy Scriptures. We know from 2 Timothy 3:16–17 that the word of God is from the Holy Spirit and written by men.
Since every Christian is on the spiritual battle with the satanic and evil forces of this world, we need to know how to handle the Word properly.
Only then will it be an effective defense against evil, but it will also be an offensive weapon we use to “demolish strongholds” of error and falsehood (2 Corinthians 10:4–5).
God refers to His Word as a sword in Hebrews 4:12.
Here the Word is described as living and active and sharper than a double-edged sword.
The Roman sword was commonly made in this manner. The fact that it had two edges made it easier to penetrate, as well as to cut in every way.
The idea is that of piercing, or penetrating; the Word of God reaches the “heart,” the very center of action, and lays open the motives and feelings of those it touches.
The purpose of the sword of the Spirit—the Bible—is to make us strong and able to withstand the evil onslaughts of Satan, our enemy (Psalm 119:11, 33–40, 99–105).
The Holy Spirit uses the power of the Word to save souls and then to give them spiritual strength to be mature soldiers for the Lord in fighting this corrupt and evil world we live in.
The more we know and understand the Word of God, the more useful we will be in doing the will of God and the more effective we will be in standing against the enemy of our souls.
Hear the video What is The Sword of Spirit here at this link.
What is The Belt of Truth?
The belt of truth is the first piece of the “full armor of God” to be listed in Ephesians 6:10–17.
The passage begins with the admonition from the apostle Paul to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”
This is the key to understanding the armor of God.
All the pieces of the armor belong to Him and come from Him. Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, and salvation—all are gifts of God to His people for their defense.
All except “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (verse 17) are defensive in nature.
All are designed to help us “stand against the schemes of the devil” (verse 11).
The belt of truth is the first part of the armor listed because, without truth, we are lost, and the schemes of the devil will surely overpower us.
It is fitting that the belt of truth is the first piece of the whole armor of God.
Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), and it is only through Him that we come to God.
Therefore, truth is of the utmost importance in the life of a Christian. Without truth, the rest of the armor would be of no use to us because we would not have the Spirit of truth (John 15:26).
In referring to the whole armor of God, Paul invokes the image of a soldier ready for battle.
The belt of a Roman soldier in Paul’s day was not a simple leather strap such as we wear today. It was a thick, heavy leather and metal band with a protective piece hanging down from the front of it. The belt held the soldier’s sword and other weapons.
The belt of truth of the spiritual armor holds the sword of the Spirit, linking truth and the Word of God (cf. John 17:17).
The Word of God is truth.
Depending on the translation of Ephesians 6:14, we are to fasten the belt of truth around us (ISV), buckle the belt around our waists (NIV), gird our waists with truth (NKJV), or gird our loins with truth (NASB).
No matter the wording, we are to actively lay hold of the truth and use it.
The belt of truth is a crucial piece of defensive armor guarding our inmost being in the battle against the lies and deceptions of the enemy.
Without an understanding of truth, we are left vulnerable to being “carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).
The belt of truth protects us and prepares us for the battle that is part of every Christian’s life.
Hear the video What is The Belt of Truth here at this link.
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