Unlock the Power Within: How the Spirit Sword and Prayer Can Transform Your Life

Written by: Josh Hellman | Published: June 7, 2023

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In this article we will be talking about the last two parts of the armor of God, the sword of the Spirit and prayer.  I’ve written about how the armor pieces are all connected just like a soldier going to war needs all pieces of armor not just some.  This holds true to these weapons as well.  The sword of the Spirit is the word of God which is Jesus and scripture.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Here we see the sword is a spiritual weapon, it cuts through spirit and soul.  This scripture shows us it helps us discern our deepest thoughts and intentions.  Are we truly worshiping God from a heart posture not of ourselves but of Godliness?  Are we truly seeking after God and His kingdom or are we constructing our own kingdom in its place?  The word of God convicts us about every evil intention within ourselves so we can continue on in the process of sanctification until we are made perfect in God’s love.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Proverbs 18:21

Words have power.  They can heal emotionally, physically, or spiritually, or they can tear down.  We can be ambassadors of Christ through what we say to others by building them up in compassion and edification or we can be sons of the father of lies and bring destruction into the lives of others.  The Gospel has the power to bring life.  We just have to believe in that power and let God’s word do the rest of the work.  In Isaiah we are told by God His word does not return void but it accomplishes what it set out to do and also prospers.  This is what is so great about our God, not only do we do what He calls us to do but He blesses us because of it.  He could just tell us to do something and give us nothing in return but He’s a God who loves to bless His children especially in their obedience.

If the shield helps keep the darts of the enemy from piercing our spirits then the sword is our counterpunch to the enemy’s schemes.  It’s what we arm ourselves with to combat his attacks.  When the enemy decides to attack our salvation we remind Him it is Jesus and His death who saves us not our actions.  When Satan fires arrows of depression because of the circumstances of our lives we remind him our joy is found in the Father not in our possessions, our relationships with other humans, or what others think about us.  The word helps us to do this because we find truths when Satan says God left you we see scripture tell us He will never leave us or forsake us.  When Satan says just give up we see Paul telling us to continue on pressing forward until the end just like a race.  When Satan says those ways are old and outdated we need to change how we do things, we see in Timothy that God’s word is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

If Satan tempted Jesus and Eve with the words of God by twisting them why would we expect anything less in our own lives.  If Christ went into battle and fought taking on the stripes of our sins and the blood of our iniquities why wouldn’t we expect the same?  The word can be twisted against us so we need to be in constant meditation of the Bible so we can be ready to give a defense and cut through the enemy after deflecting his attack.

The sword is one of two weapons mentioned here.  The other one is praying in all prayer and with supplication.  Prayer is just as important as the word because it’s our communication with our commander of the army.  If communication with the head of the army is ever cut you have to try and make it on your own.  It’s hard to win a battle when you can’t hear from the one who has the map of the battle in front of them.  The difference with this battle is it’s not just the plans but our commander has the victory.  Without hearing from Him we will never be able to have complete victory.

So I charge myself and any readers of this article with this; put on the full armor of God, let Him place it on you so you may be made whole and complete for the spiritual battle which we are a part of.  Remember you are saved by His grace alone, clothed in His righteousness because that’s where righteousness comes from, we have been given the truth to know these things to go and speak the Gospel which is God’s story about His son and what He did.  We can then take these and pray to God about them to take His word and destroy the enemy in our lives and the lives of those around us.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18