Ephesians 6:17 Take.. the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God)
The fifth piece of the whole armor of God is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Holy Word of God. You not only have to pick it up, but to maximize lethality, and not hurt your own striking arm, you have to have an extremely tight grip on it. Just like using an axe or baseball bat. To have the best effect, grasp it strongly. David had ‘3 Mighty Men’. Great warriors. One was named Eleazar. He fought so long and hard with his sword that his hand froze to the handle. He was squeezing it hard, for a long time. Made history and into the pages of the Bible.
2 Samuel 23:10 He ‘Eleazar’ arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword.
Gotta grab the Word of God tightly, and hold onto it. I am not the prayer warrior and reader/memorizer of the Bible that I would love to be. But I learned Spanish through a Spanish Bible and spanish hymns. That’s why my vocabulary is limited. I understand Bible words, normal conversation and, unfortunately, dirty filthy words from working in the ghetto for so long. That’s why I was astonished that they let ‘bad bunny’ say what he said on live tv. A fallen world, no doubt. (I don’t watch tv, just what was on you tube). And I read the Bible a lot. When I go to Cuba they know I’m a Christian by the way I speak. Even the full on commie atheists recognize me as a Christian because of the way I speak. They say I talk ‘Bible’ words. I don’t want to be culturally acceptable. The first word in culture is cult. Stay in the Word. Use the Word, firmly and decisively. Completely commit to the strike or lunge, 100%, without holding back. Aim at what is behind the enemy. Fully commit! No holding back.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Remember, the Word of God, the Sword, is sharp on both sides. Even touching it can cut you. If you don’t strike decisively, (or if the blade is dull), it can bounce back and bite you! A sword is dangerous. Respect it.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Word of God is your sword. I have friends that I think are saved but don’t read the Bible very much. As a matter of fact, most do not! Scary! Whether you like it or not you are in a spiritual battle and you need your weapon, the Word of God. Can’t use it, if you don’t know it. Can’t avoid sin if you don’t know the Word of God
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.