I absolutely love swords and sword fighting. Not only is sword fighting one of the most interesting things to watch in films and television (when it’s done right), the weapon itself intrigues me. As Obi-Wan Kenobi so aptly put it, a sword (and variations thereof) is "An elegant weapon for a more civilized age.” It takes more skill to use and is a more personal weapon than a gun. As a child I imagined myself quite the “swordswoman,” brandishing a wooden stick and challenging all my friends to a duel. Sadly I was quite terrible at dueling even with the wooden stick and at present I would almost certainly lose a real sword fight.
A few years ago I invested in a lifelong dream of mine and bought a sword replica of Glamdring (Gandalf’s sword from The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies). Pulling out the long blade and holding it in my hands for the first time was a moment I’ll never forget. To say I was excited would be an understatement. Granted it was a replica but, real or not, I had the utmost respect for the blade and hung it on my wall with the greatest of pride.
In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul says to take up "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Essentially the Word of God, or the Bible, is a sword. Yet how often do we treat the Bible with disrespect? In our very hands is the greatest weapon there ever was. A blade forged by the mouth of Jehovah Himself, preserved and passed down through the years to rest in our hands. A weapon that had seen countless battles and was used by Jesus himself against Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). Throughout history men have tried to destroy it (and still do in many parts of the world), yet despite their best efforts the gospel is spreading around the globe.Considering these things how can we not be in awe of the Bible?
So if you have access to a Bible, congratulations! You have a sword. And if you are a Christian, guess what…you are also a soldier. Of course to be an effective soldier one must learn to use their weapon. As I stated earlier, I am no expert swordsman, but I do have a bit of “book learning” I’ve gathered over the years to know some of the basics of swordplay. And not surprisingly they apply to taking up the “sword of the Spirit” as well.
In sword fighting there are several positions consisting of variations on Parry (defensive) and Attack (offensive) positions. Memorizing these in your mind, as well as your muscles, is vital. In the midst of a fight one must be able to recognize attacks when they come and what position to take to deflect/avoid/counter them. Similarly, memorizing Scripture is an absolute necessity when under spiritual attack. When Satan attacks with fear, remember 1 Timothy 1:17. When he attacks with regret, remember Philippians 3:13. And when we are tempted to despair, remember 1 Corinthians 2:9.
Be aware.
In a sword fight your surroundings can be used to your advantage. Always keep your back to the sun and in your opponent’s face. Use the environment around you to block an attack from the side or from behind. Your opponent can also use your environment against you by trying to fight you into a corner or against a wall. An awareness of your body's position is equally vital. You must parry and attack in a way that does not leave you open by keeping your arms close to your body.
In times of trial when we feel we are under spiritual attack, we must take a look at our surroundings. Are we surrounding ourselves with other Christians who build us up in faith, or do we surround ourselves with individuals who tear us down spiritually? Do we leave ourselves open to spiritual attack by taking in media and content that makes it difficult to focus on Christ? 1 Peter 5:8 says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Remember: a careless swordsman is a dead swordsman. Be aware.
A shield is your greatest asset.
A sword paired with a shield not only looks cool, but it can be an extremely efficient system. A shield can handle blows better than your blade can and it frees up your sword arm to distribute the strain of fighting. Shields can also deflect the blow of any enemy pushing their weapons aside leaving them open for attack.
As Christians we aren’t just given a sword. We are given a helmet, breastplate, shoes, belt, and shield. The Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:14-18) is the most important of our defenses against Satan. In my own spiritual walk, I have found Satan often targets my shield in an effort to leave me open to attack. Thus our faith in God is vital. One might ask, “Well how do I strengthen my faith?” Glad you asked. Jesus gave us the answer in Matthew 17:19-20:
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (emphasis mine).
Prayer is a powerful weapon as well because it strengthens our faith and if you want to take it a step further prayer plus fasting strengthens it even more. Ephesians 6:18 also emphasizes prayer along with the other spiritual armor of God. Prayer coupled with memorizing and using the Word will make us quite formidable soldiers indeed.
Don’t panic.
In any physical activity, the worse thing you can do is tense up. This goes for sword fighting as well. Be fluid and relaxed yet strong and in control. Similarly when trials come our way, we must not panic and freeze in fear. That is what the enemy wants. Even in the face of unbeatable odds we must not falter. We can press forward with confidence knowing that we do not depend on our own strength but on Christ (Psalm 31:24).
So fellow swordsmen, and swordswomen, don’t let your blade sit in its sheath. Memorize Scripture, be aware of your surroundings, strengthen your faith through prayer, and depend on Jehovah’s strength to get your through. His strength is more than enough for any battle.
