USE YOUR SPIRITUAL WEAPON

GIRL HOLDING TULIPS AND A BIBLE

Today is part six in our Armor Of God study. We are fully dressed in our armor. We’ve put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, our feet are shod to stand firm, our shield is up to protect against oncoming arrows and our head firmly covered with the helmet of salvation. We not only look like a warrior, WE ARE READY! So, today let’s take up our sword!

AND TAKE UP THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.  Ephesians 6:17

Just like the helmet we studied last week, God tells us to “take up” the sword.  The rest of our armor is laid out for us to put on. But we need to take up the helmet of salvation and the sword!

The greek word for “take up” is dechomai which means to accept deliberately and receive readily. In other words, a Roman soldier would be very glad he had these items when war was inevitable. The way dechomai is written in Greek implies great urgency. As if Paul is saying… Take it NOW!

So, we are to “take up” our sword. The Greek word for sword, here in Ephesians, is macharia. A macharia is a short sword, about two feet long that was meant to be used in close, hand-to-hand combat. It was used for cutting and stabbing with rapid movements.

God tells us through Paul that this sword is given to us by the Holy Spirit. And is it not the Holy Spirit who gave us the word of God, the Bible? The Word of God is our defensive weapon against our enemy Satan and his minions of evil spirits! 

Our battle against evil is so close and intimate that not only do we need protective gear, but we need a weapon that will work in this kind of fight! 

The Holy Spirit, like an armor bearer, gives us this weapon. Not only does He make God’s word readily available to us but He instructs us how to use it. And he instructs us in how to use it for complete victory against the enemy!

Just before Jesus’ death He spoke to His disciples about the Helper who would come and teach us…

BUT THE HELPER, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, AND BRING TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE, ALL THAT I SAID TO YOU. John 14:26

It is the Holy Spirit that is our teacher. We need to be students of our weapon. We, like all soldiers, need to know and practice with our weapon and learn it so well that when we need to use it we can use it with skill and purpose and overcome the enemy!

In other words, we need to not just read our Bibles but study them. We need to have scripture tucked away in our minds so the Holy Spirit can show us how and when to use it!

Devotions are a good thing to do but they do not take the place of digging into our bibles and really knowing what God says! I urge you to become part of an in-depth, serious Bible study! Become a student, a disciple of God’s precious Word so you can be a world-class swordsman!

A warrior would never leave his weapon at home when he is going into battle and neither should we. 

And study your bible in the morning. Prepare yourself and your weapon for the day ahead! Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to use God’s Word against the enemy for TODAY. And ask Him to let you remember all you have learned. Memorize Scripture so the Holy Spirit has an arsenal of tactics that enable you to use your sword in any situation!

I have a horrid memory! Truthfully! Always have. However, I can remember everything I study from God’s Word. Not by my power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit who is the giver of God’s Word! If the Holy Spirit can do this for me, He can do this for you too!

Start today… start right now. Take up the weapon God has prepared for you! One that is sharper than any two-edged sword! Take up, study the Word Of God! Fight Satan as the Holy Spirit guides you. 

Put on your full armor EVERY DAY. And stand firm against evil. We are WARRIORS!

Start now by memorizing these verses to use as a sword in the fight!

THEREFORE, TAKE UP THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RESIST THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE EVERYTHING, TO STAND FIRM.

STAND FIRM THEREFORE, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, AND HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND HAVING SHOD YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; IN ADDITION TO TAKING UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH WITH WHICH YOU WILL BE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH ALL THE FLAMING MISSILES OF THE EVIL ONE.

AND TAKE UP THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.

WITH ALL PRAYER AND PETITION PRAY AT ALL TIMES IN THE SPIRIT, AND WITH THIS IN VIEW BE ON ALERT WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND PETITIONS FOR ALL THE SAINTS. Ephesians 6:13-18

You might like to start this series from the beginning…

THE ARMOR OF GOD, PART 1

DRESSING FOR BATTLE, PART 2

A WARRIOR DOES NOT WEAR PURPLE HIGH HEALS, PART 3

RAISE UP YOUR SHIELD AND FIGHT AGAINST THE SCHMUTZ OF LIFE, PART 4

TAKE UP YOUR HELMET, PART 5

USE YOUR WEAPON, PART 6

REMEMBER YOUR BATTLE CRY, PART 7- COMING NEXT WEEK

woman holding a bible and a bunch of tulips

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57 Comments

  1. Standing firm – putting on – and taking up – every day! Thank you for this great reminder!

  2. Amen! Don’t be just “hearers” of the word of God – but be doers – live it out. I’m off to teach the 4/5th Sunday School class at our church. As an extra, additional lesson to the curriculum the class memorized all the books of the Bible – so we’re celebrating with ice cream floats served in take home mugs with fun straws. Have a blessed day.

  3. JEAN KISSANE says:

    I like decorating, not bible lessons. I look forward to your usual posts

    1. Hi Jean, My Sunday Scriptures are a very important part of my blog. I must be obedient to the leading of God so Sunday Scripture will continue. I hope you learn to enjoy them too. Have a very beautiful and blessed day sweet one!

      1. Thank you Yvonne! Please continue the Sunday Scriptures. I so enjoy them & we all need them in this troubled world. You do such a great job at everything you do. God bless you and please help pray for Pamela also. Last Sunday she asked for all prayers.

        1. HI Kathy, thank you for bringing Pamela to our remembrance. How sweet of you!

  4. Thank you for including a Godly devotional as part of your blog.

  5. Thank you for the I am a warrior series. Your inspiration and devotion on Sundays is very uplifting. Thank you.

  6. I have really enjoyed this series. With the condition of our world today, we need to take heed of this instruction. Thank you for standing strong with your faith!

  7. Thank you so much for your Sunday encouragement. I often read them to my husband as we both prepare for the Lord’s day. He wished he had some of your thoughts for last week as he taught out of John 14. Today we will be learning about pruning. John 15:1-8. God has provided every aspect of life both physically and spiritually. We can learn so much by studying his word, living it practically and applying it spiritually. Again thank you for your encouraging words.

  8. I love your blog, it is the best! I always open it first when I check email? It is very positive and fun and I can feel your love and
    Sincerity for others. This bible study is a great one and should be revisited often. Can’t wait for fall so I’m enjoying all the fall decorating ideas !

    Thanks for sharing and giving of yourself?

  9. I am interested in the study on Romans. Please let me know the details. Thanks

    1. Sue can you email me? I have no way of getting in contact with you or getting your email. We would love you to join us!

  10. What a great reminder of God’s Protection over us! Thank you for sharing !

  11. Julie H from Michigan says:

    Thank you for your teachings. I am blessed by your teachings.

  12. This was an excellent series. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. I really need to start memorizing scripture so I’m ready with an answer when confronted. There are people in my family who believe the bible is not more than a collection of stories written by man, therefore they see no need of it and don’t read it. I need to study more (I’m a new Christian and understand where they come from because I was there once) so I’m ready with an answer and can defend my belief in it. I want them to have the hope I have in Christ and His Word. I’m right over the line in MD but probably not close enough for your bible study which is too bad. I am in a good one with our church though and we just finished a study on Romans. One of my favorite books.

    1. Hi Kristen! May God protect, bless and grow your faith. And may you be “Christ” to your family! We would love to have you at Bible study. Some of our ladies come quite far.

      1. Yvonne, where is the study exactly? I’m about an hour away from Lancaster (didn’t realize I was that close!). If it’s a day time study I might be able to make it work.

  13. Dorinda Selke says:

    What an inspiring post for this lovely Sunday morning, Yvonne ! God bless you always. Always look forward to all your posts but especially Sunday’s!!??❤️

  14. IAM just praising the Lord for being saved, sanitified and filled by His Holy Spirit.

  15. “I must be obedient to the leading of God” you said. God commands us “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.” 1 John 5:2 Even the rages of the sea and wind obeyed Him when the disciples were fearful in the storm.

    Blessings to you in your spreading the Word. You are a warrior.

  16. Linda Buchanan says:

    A very good blog. Thank you.

  17. Thanks Yvonne, you are doing a wonderful job for Jesus, each time someone makes a negative comment about Sunday Scriptures I know you are fighting Satan to the bitter end, that’s your calling that God has layed upon you and what a wonderful job you are doing, again thank you just keep writing and explaining Gods words we all need them, even the ones that are just interested in decorating, those are the ones that God really wants you to reach and I would say you are, if not there would not be the negative comments, Gods at work even through a decorating blog that has Sunday Scriptures, Oh what a glorious day.

  18. I really enjoy your Sunday Scriptures and I thank you for them!

  19. Beth Davis says:

    I put my armor on every morning!!

    Glad to know you’re a Christian company!

    God bless!

  20. Thank you for doing these Sunday posts. I love your decorating posts which feed my creative side. But these wonderfully written Sunday posts help to feed my spiritual side, which is so important in this evil world! Stand strong.

  21. Teresa Alexander says:

    Thank you so much for your precious words reminding us of the importance of His Word, The Holy Spirit & Christ working together in our lives! He shines bright in you, sister!

  22. As women in a very troubled world, a balanced life is so very difficult to achieve. I do enjoy your decorating ideas so much, and I do so appreciate all of your efforts to inspire through the Word of God. Your talents are God given. I am grateful to have found your devotions as well as your blog.

  23. Sherry Pelle says:

    Hi Yvonne! I too enjoy your Sunday post especially this one! I would love to participate in the Romans study but I am not local to you, I’m in Northern KY across from Cincinnati, OH. By chance is this a study that is available for purchase anywhere? Bless you Yvonne you are such an inspiration to me! Just keep on keeping it on because you are on the right path sister! Oh and one more thing, I AM A WARRIOR!!!

  24. Amen sister! Been studying the Word of God in depth for years now and there is nothing like it! I praise Him for giving me a love and passion for the Word. Just finished Priscilla Shirer’s Armor of God Bible Study. We can’t leave home without being fully dressed and armed spiritually first these days, that is for sure!
    Bless you for your exhortation and reminder.

  25. Hi, Yvonne! I, too, had gleaned so much from this series. Would you please consider compiling your Sunday Scriptures into a small (maybe hand held size) that could be purchased?

    Thank you, Sister in Christ!

    Nan

  26. Theresa Kleinschmidt says:

    Thanks so much for your post Yvonne, we all need reminded daily to be warriors for Christ. Bless you and I look forward to next Sunday’s post.

  27. Candy J Weiford says:

    Thank you for what you stand for. I needed to read this, this morning. I allowed that ole devil in this morning and did not go to church. I miss church when we do not attend. I love our Sunday school. We have two, well one now, more lesson in Romans. It was 100 percent my fault that my husband and I did not attend. No excuses, here,

  28. NANCY CARR says:

    Amen. Your messages are always right on time. Blessings

  29. Love this teaching and so timely for me and mine. Entering a huge battle tomorrow. If you would be so kind please prayGod’s protection and favor for us and that we would have the courage we need to come through this trial. Thank you.

  30. My ladies’ Bible study group did a study on the armor of God. After that, my pastor taught a series on the armor of God. A small church we sometimes attend in a town where we’re renovating a small bungalow taught on the armor of God, and now this! You know, there is no word for coincidence in the Hebrew language? We all need this now more than ever. Thank you!

  31. I learned a lot from this series and even shared some of it with my husband. I’ll miss it but I’m looking forward to the next series. Thank you for following God leading you in these devotionals.

  32. I’ve always enjoyed your blog, am so encouraged by your biblical reminders

  33. Gail Shafer says:

    Thank you for sharing this series on your blog! So much to learn!

  34. Deb Gregory says:

    I love His Word!

  35. You are amazing! Thank you so much for your blog and Bible teaching. God is great and so is His word.

  36. Yvonne, I just recently found your blog, and quickly had to add my name to your email list. There aren’t enough hours in the day to read all the beautiful blogs, but yours moved to the top of my list right away! Thank you for all you share!

  37. Thank you Yvonne for your blog and most especially the Sunday Scripture. I always learn something new about the word of God from your Sunday lessons.
    Blessings,
    Candy

  38. Thank you for sharing the word of God. His word never fails and it’s always a comfort.

  39. Thank you for the Bible verses, and your warrior posts, I absolutely enjoy all your posts, home decorating and crafts but thank you so much for the wonderful comforting words and information on this post. You help make our homes, thoughts and hearts beautiful

  40. Love reading your Sunday post each week before going to Mass.

  41. Linda Buchanan says:

    I love your blog.

  42. Thank you for your Sunday lessons, which we should all hide in our hearts! Would love to know more about your group study of Romans.

  43. I admire people who seem to be able to come up with the right scripture at the right time. Alas, I’m not in that category. You have inspired me!j

  44. Hello YVonne, I would love to receive all your blogs thru my emails. I use to get your emails but about a year ago for some reason they stopped. I have tried before now to receive. I sure hope I will start receiving your blogs thru my email. Have A Blessed Day, Nancy

  45. This was great! It is so important to feed on the Word of God for ourselves and you have given us a lot to ponder! I am new here and love the fact that you not only decorate beautifully, but are also a strong woman of God! Thank you!

  46. Iheanacho Precious c says:

    Indeed, we are in time of warfare! No retreat! No surrender! Until we conquer! And surely, without fail, we must conquer

  47. Vicki CROWE says:

    I enjoyed your comments and teaching. I am studying Romans in Bible Study Fellowship, women’s day class, Trussville, Alabama. I have really enjoyed it. Romans is quickly becoming my favorite book of the Bible as it is teaching me and drawing me to more knowledge of the Holy Spirit. You are so knowledgable! Thank you for sharing this wonderful message and the Love of Jesus with others!

  48. chpt 2 tells us we are seated in the heavenly but our work is on earth. Chpt 6 tells us to STAND & WALK for Christ and , gives us the tools to do it with. Thanks or a great lesson.

  49. Angela Bolen says:

    Hi Yvonne, I am so glad that I found your blog! I was really touched and excited to know that you are a woman of God. Thank you for this bible study “The Armor of God”.

    Be Blessed!