17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17

The word “sword” here refers to a Roman sword. It is translated from the Greek word machaira. It was one of the greatest inventions of the time when this verse was written. It was very different from other swords that existed then. We would compare this sword to a missile in our modern arms compilation owing to its effectiveness.

Before the advent of this kind of sword, the other swords prevalent in those days had one disadvantage or the other. There was a particular one that was so heavy and so big that it caused the one wielding it to lose balance and fall often! However, the machaira was not a very long sword; it was a short sword just about 18 inches long, and it wasn’t heavy at all. It was so small that it is also described as a large knife. It had a pointed mouth with two very sharp sides that were capable of shearing a bronze helmet. History has it that when the Romans came against their enemies with the machaira sword, their enemies would laugh at them saying, “What are they going to do coming against us with this small sword?” What happened was that the Romans always had the last laugh because they could use the mouth of the sword to jab. They could also cut with both sides. So whichever way the enemy turned, he was at the mercy of the sword.

In the same way, the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, can be used against the enemy in every direction or area of your life. The sword of the Spirit is light and so handy, so you can take it with you anywhere. It is easy to use and when you use it, it will enforce your victory over the enemy and unpleasant circumstances and you will stand steadfast.

Confession:

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. It is an effective weapon against the works of the enemy. I wield the sword of the Spirit to enforce my victory over the enemy and adverse circumstances.