About this talk
This sermon focuses on Ephesians 6 and the final piece of the armor of God—the sword of the Spirit, identified as the Word of God. While prayer underlies and unifies all the armor, the sword stands out as the believer’s only offensive weapon, meant to be both received and actively used. Receiving the sword means fully trusting Scripture as God’s inspired, authoritative, infallible, and inerrant Word—not something to selectively accept, but to embrace as a whole. Using the sword means applying and proclaiming God’s Word against temptation and spiritual attack, following Jesus’ example in the wilderness. This happens through preaching, evangelism, conversation, study, and public discourse, tearing down strongholds and advancing God’s kingdom. Just as skill with a sword requires practice and familiarity, believers must train in Scripture—learning its structure, content, and application—so they can wield it effectively for God’s glory and in His strength.
Main points
- The sword of the Spirit (Word of God) is the sole offensive weapon in the armor of God, while the rest are defensive.
- Believers must “receive” Scripture as fully authoritative, inspired, and inerrant, not selectively accepted.
- Believers must also “use” Scripture by proclaiming and applying it against temptation and spiritual attack, as Jesus did.
- Skillful use of Scripture, like swordsmanship, requires practice, training, and familiarity with its structure, content, and application.
- Rightly wielded, God’s Word demolishes spiritual strongholds and grows God’s kingdom while tearing down Satan’s.
- Every believer has been given this weapon and is called to use it for God’s glory and in His strength.
Bible references
- Ephesians 6:16-17
- Isaiah 49:2
- 2 Peter 1:20-21
- Hebrews (Word of God as a two-edged sword)
- James 4:7
- Matthew 4 / Luke 4
- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
- Deuteronomy (general reference)
- 1 Chronicles (general reference)
- Psalms (general reference)
- The Gospels (general reference)
- Paul’s letters (general reference)
Ephesians 6 v10-20