Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph. 6:17)
Expanded Passage: Ephesians 6:14-17
Within the first week of basic training, I was issued my rifle—the weapon I would carry for the duration of my time at Fort Jackson. The moment my drill sergeants placed that weapon in my hands, it was my responsibility. I was instructed to memorize the serial number, and I had to know every part and functionality of that weapon. It was my duty to train with it and clean it; we would spend hours cleaning our rifles, inspecting every detail to ensure nothing was wrong with them. We spent days firing and training with our rifles in order to become proficient marksmen. We did this so when the time came to engage the enemy, we would know our weapons perfectly and could defend against the attack.
As Christian warriors, we have the greatest weapon that has ever been forged: the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. We have been given the responsibility to become skilled with the Word of God by memorizing, studying, and putting it into practice. Our weapon cannot sit on the shelf collecting dust. Because when the spiritual attacks arrive, if we have not trained, we will not be ready to use the sword that God has entrusted to us. As Christian warriors, it’s our responsibility to be proficient with the sword of the Spirit.
Become familiar with the sword of the Spirit.
Andrew Christman is a proud veteran of the US Army and serves as a hospital chaplain in Columbia, South Carolina. He is a graduate of Wesley Seminary (IN) and an ordained Wesleyan pastor.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
