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Sermon preached on Ephesians 6:17 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 10/04/2026 in Petaluma, CA.
Sermon Manuscript
Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
In the movie adaptation of the Lord of the Rings the elvish ruler Galadriel gives the heroes of the story various gifts to aid them on their quest. Of note, she gave Merry and Pippin daggers. When she comes to give Sam a gift, she gives him some elvish rope. Yet, Sam replies, “Thank you, M’Lady… Have you run out of those nice shiny daggers?” That’s such an understandable response. The heroes of the story were facing the terrible Dark Lord, Sauron, and the evil forces of Mordor, who were armed with much power and might. Faced with the possibility of encountering them, Sam thought maybe a dagger might be a little more useful than some rope.
As we come again to our passage today on spiritual warfare, we have come to the last item of spiritual armor. We’ve already been given some wonderful pieces of armor, and the last item is not rope but indeed a sword. Given that we face the terrible Dragon, Satan, and all the cosmic powers over this present darkness, we are thankful to have a spiritual sword. But this is not just any sword. It is the very sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, in which Christ Jesus himself has wielded and will wield. Our sermon, then, will help us reflect on this and be encouraged at this mighty weapon God has provided for us. Our three points for today’s sermon will be, first, how the Spirit is related to the Word of God. Second, how the Word of God is a sword. Third, how Jesus wields this sword.
Let us begin with the first point, to consider how the Spirit is related to the Word of God. Verse 17 says this is the “sword of the Spirit”. My interpretive assumption here is that this is not just any spirit, but “the” Spirit, i.e. the Holy Spirit. And since this verse goes on to identify the sword with the word of God, as in what we have recorded in the Bible, that means there is this connection between the Holy Spirit and God’s word.
Now when we hear the “sword of the Spirit” those words “of the” are inherently broad. They express a relationship without going into detail. They can’t mean “the sword which is the Spirit”, because the text already identifies the sword as the word of God. Instead, these words likely mean something more like “the sword which belongs to the Spirit” or “the sword through which the Spirit works.” For example, if I said this is the “sword of Aragorn” that is what I would mean, the sword that belongs to Aragorn which he uses in battle. So then, that is the sort of broad sense of connection that we can get from the words “sword of the Spirit”. The Holy Spirit works through the word of God in spiritual warfare. But we can add some meat to those bones. A brief survey of the Scripture will tell us several more specific ways that the word of God is connected to the work of the Holy Spirit. The reason why this is important is that it will help us to appreciate the power of the Holy Spirit that is at work as we take up this sword of the Spirit. While there are a number of ways the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit’s connection to the Word, I will highlight three main ways.
First, the Holy Spirit is the source of God’s word. We can think about this from a couple related senses. As God himself, the Holy Spirit is the author of divine revelation. This is why you see the Bible sometimes quote a portion of Scripture and credit it to the Holy Spirit. For example, Hebrew 3:7 quotes Psalm 95 saying, “As the Holy Spirit says”. Scripture is God’s message to us, so that means it is the Holy Spirit’s message to us. But not only is the Holy Spirit the source of God’s word to us in that direct sense, he is also the specific agent for the inspiration of the human authors of Scripture. Let us remember, that while God is the ultimate author of Scripture, he generally has inspired humans authors to write the Scripture. The result is that the Bible is authored fully by God but also by humans at the same time. 2 Peter 1:21 teaches this. It says, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” And so, all this fits well with how earlier in Ephesians 1:17 the Holy Spirit was described as the Spirit of revelation. God’s word comes to us via the Holy Spirit as both the immediate and ultimate source of divine revelation.
Second, the Holy Spirit illuminates the word of God. Humans need the Holy Spirit to give them understanding of God’s word. The Spirit sheds the spiritual light we need in our minds to be able to interpret God’s Word. 1 Corinthians 2:12 says that the Spirit is given so that we can understand the things given to us from God. Likewise, Ephesians 1:18 says the Spirit enlightens the eyes of the heart. Even when human teachers explain God’s Word to us, we still need the Holy Spirit to ultimately give our mind understanding.
Third, the Holy Spirit makes the word effectual. The Holy Spirit supernaturally changes people’s hearts through the word. This is true at the initial point of regeneration, when someone is born again and turns to believe on Jesus. This is also true in the ongoing work of sanctification, when someone is growing in Christian maturity. The Holy Spirit is God’s agent of change in the person’s heart. But the Holy Spirit’s supernatural work inside someone is not ordinarily done in a vacuum. The Holy Spirit normally does this work as he accompanies the word of God. When the Scriptures are read, studied, meditated upon, and especially preached, it becomes a venue for the Holy Spirit to attend the ministry of the Word and do his work. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 is a great example of that. There, Paul rejoices about this saying, “Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” Paul’s preaching to the Thessalonians was attended with the Holy Spirit who exercised supernatural power to convince them that Paul was truly bringing them God’s word.
So then, in our first point, we’ve begun to recognize how central the Holy Spirit is to the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is the source of divine relation, even in how he inspires human authors. The Holy Spirit is the one who ultimately teaches people how to understand God’s word. And the Holy Spirit works effectually through the word to change hearts as it is delivered. As we look to take up this powerful sword, let us be encouraged how that power flows from the Holy Spirit.
Let us next turn to our second point for today and consider how the word of God is a sword. This is the imagery here, that we are given a sword. The Greek word here for sword is commonly used to refer to a short sword or even dagger, in contrast to another word often used for a longer sword. The imagery of such a sword is that the enemy is super close if he is close enough to use this sword on him. Earlier we talked about how Satan can attack you from a distance, so to speak, with his fiery missiles. But sometimes, his attacks get up close and personal in how seeks to strike us. Of course, we’re talking here in analogy, but I think we get the point. We need to be ready to stand and withstand even these “close combat” attacks of Satan.
Thankfully, we have not only all this spiritual armor, but this sword that we can deflect the enemy’s attacks and even strike back in response. That sword is identified as God’s Holy Word. The sword is the powerful, divine word, encompassing all the revelation we have received from God. God’s word spoke this world into existence. God’s word has revealed himself to us. It has also revealed our duty toward God. It has especially spoken to us the gospel of salvation. And in God’s mercy, he has kept a record of his revelation as we have preserved in the Bible, the Holy Scriptures. This is not the only place that the Bible describes itself as a sword. Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The Bible is this sharp, powerful, weapon to respond to the enemy’s attacks.
In the last several sermons, we’ve had the opportunity to think of various ways Satan attacks us. I won’t cover every form of attack again today, but let us think of some example strikes that Satan may bring and how we can parry them and answer with a counterstroke from Scripture. Let me give three examples.
First, if Satan tries to slash you with lies, you need to counter by believing God’s word over Satan. Think of how all this started. God revealed himself to Adam and Eve and gave them his words about the Garden including the prohibition of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, lest they die. So, remember then the first thing that the lying serpent said to Eve. “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Eve corrects the devil, that there was just one forbidden tree, but Satan is already starting to raise questions about God’s word. From there, Satan goes on to directly contradict God’s word. Remember, he says, “You shall not surely die.” There, Satan tries to strike with a lie. Now, all Eve had to do here was to believe God’s word over Satan. She could have stood her ground and said, “No, God said we would die, and I believe God over you.” Adam, particularly, should have come to the rescue of his wife wielding that same word of God against Satan. Sadly, neither of them made use of that weapon. They had God’s word, but at the heat of the conflict the decided to not believe it. The best way we can wield the sword of the spirit when Satan attacks is to actually believe and trust what God has spoken to us.
A second example, if Satan tries to thrust at you with false doctrine, we need to parry that with a right handling of God’s word. We’ve repeatedly mentioned that the influence of demonic forces is behind false doctrine (1 Tim 4:1). Some of the enemy’s most perilous attacks are when he takes God’s Word and teaches much of it accurately but twists a little of it so that it becomes a false doctrine. Prosperity gospel preachers often quote lot of Scripture while giving a health and wealth message. But we can counter with Scripture with the point that Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him, even as Paul speaks of finding contentment and hope whether rich or poor, and that even in suffering we are more that conquerors. Likewise, the Mormons use the Bible to a degree, but add to revelation with teachings such as saying that humans can attain to a state of exaltation and become gods. Yet, we can counter with a passage like Isaiah 43:10 which says, “Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.” Or how many false teachers have tried to turn Christianity into a works-based religion of some sort. But we counter any who would teach a different gospel by quoting Ephesians 2, “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” So then, as we look to wield the sword of the spirit, we must learn to “rightly handle the word” (2 Tim 2:15) so that we combat those who would look to pervert the truth.
A third example is that when Satan strikes at us with temptation, we must defend ourselves by using God’s word to evaluate the temptation. This is where we need to appreciate the limitation of analogies. Satan temptations don’t often look like a swordsman lunging at us with his sword. Rather, the devil usually tries to allure you with the temptation and might even make you think it is okay to enjoy what he is offering you. That is where we need to use the word of God to examine any temptation. Maybe someone verbally assaulted you and Satan tells you that wasn’t nice that you should respond in kind. But, you can use 1 Peter 3:9 to remind you that God says don’t return reviling for reviling. Or, maybe Satan tries to tempt you with sexual immorality, but you can quote Hebrews 13:4, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled.” Whatever temptation, God’s word is the light we need to evaluate it. We wield the sword of the Spirit when we use it to determine what is right and what is wrong.
Now while those three examples are more about defensively responding to Satan’s attacks, we can also think of some ways we can use God’s word more offensively. Now, going on the offense doesn’t mean that we somehow injure Satan with Scripture. Instead, it means that we proactively use God’s Word in ways that oppose Satan’s evil purposes and promote the things of God. When we use Scripture to help us mortify the flesh, looking to put to death what is yet earthly in us, we are going on the offense. When we use the Bible to try to spur us or others on to good works, we are going on the offense. We go on the offense when we evangelize, as we speak God’s word that they might be delivered from the devil’s grip. After the worship service, when you are enjoying Christian fellowship and speaking God’s word to one another, building each other up in Christ, we are going on the offense.
While I’d love to continue with these examples, let us turn now to our sermon’s third point, to think of how Jesus wields this sword. As before, the reason this is so important is to remember that we are supposed to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. As we recognize Jesus as the ultimate wielder of the sword, we are seeking to find our power to wield this sword in Christ our Savior.
Looking back to the Old Testament, Isaiah 49:2 likely was in Paul’s mind when he talks about this sword, given how many other allusions to Isaiah he has already made with this spiritual armor. Isaiah there speaks of God making the Messiah’s mouth like a sharp sword. It goes on to talk about how God would use the Messiah, his Christ, to be a light to the nations and to bring his salvation to the ends of the earth. So, Isaiah again foretells the mighty salvation Jesus would bring, and there it describes his mouth as a sharp sword. In other words, Jesus would speak and his words would be such a sharp weapon.
This is what we saw in Jesus’ life on earth. Even before beginning his ministry, we remember that memorable moment in his youth where he was in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, amazing all with his understanding and answers (Luke 2:46-47). Then, when he began his formal ministry, it started with the wilderness temptation. There, Satan repeatedly struck at Jesus, but Jesus kept countering, each time quoting God’s word as the sword of his mouth. Jesus then conducted his teaching ministry, speaking forth God’s word to people, teaching them the word of truth. Remember, how Peter recognized this when he said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Jesus also spoke God’s word against the false teachings of the religious leaders. And he used the word of his mouth to rebuke and cast out many evil spirits. Even as he hung on the cross, he spoke those seven sayings from the cross, still doing battle against the devil and looking to free souls unto eternal life.
And remember what Jesus did after his death and resurrection. Before ascending up into heaven, he commissioned his disciples that they would now speak the words he spoke. They were to make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to observe all that he had commanded them. The word of God poured out of Jesus’ mouth, and this he has given to us to continue to wield the sword he wielded in fighting the devil.
Indeed, we must be en garde against the devil’s attacks until the day that Christ returns. And when he does, Revelation 19-20 describes his return as one who comes riding on a white horse. But that passage also describes him as having a sharp sword coming from his mouth to strike down the remaining enemies of God’s people. On that day of his coming, the terrible Satan and his enemies will be finally and fully defeated by Jesus. Scripture says these enemies will be defeated by the words that come from Christ’s mouth. Indeed, “One little word shall fell him!”
Trinity Presbyterian Church, let us not look merely to imitate Jesus in wielding the sword,
but may his sword-wielding power be manifested in us. For Jesus said, “I will be with you always, even until the end of the age.” So then, if we would abide in Jesus, and he in us, let us constantly be attending to his word. Jesus has given us the Bible as the sword of the Spirit, the whole counsel of God’s word. Let us be encouraged today that discipleship involves growing in this most powerful word. May we study it, may we meditate on it, may we pray about it and with it, and may we memorize it. May we believe it and trust it and look to live it out. When we consider that this word comes from the very mouth of Jesus and with the very power of the Holy Spirit, how can we not have a renewed zeal for his words to be our very life?
Indeed, if we are in Christ, he has spoken his word into our hearts, and the power of the Spirit has already conquered our unbelief. As his redeemed people, let us boldly stand with faith in Jesus and his mighty word, until that day when his final word ushers us into the glory of the age to come. Amen.
Copyright © 2026 Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
All Rights Reserved.
