Joseph Parker: A Skilled Warrior and His Sword

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. Hebrews 4:12

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Ephesians 6:17-18

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 1 Samuel 17:50,51

Every disciple of Jesus Christ would be wise to strive to become a Kingdom warrior. I would define a Kingdom warrior as a disciple of Christ who wisely and skillfully puts the Word of God — the sword of the Spirit — to work every day.

We live in a world where we all — all people everywhere — are facing intense spiritual warfare every day in our lives. We face it at home, at school, at work, and in public. We see it in the news, in our government, in our culture, and all across the world.

In view of this, what if a person says he or she doesn’t want to be involved in spiritual warfare? And what if a given person says he or she doesn’t want to have anything to do with spiritual warfare?

Tragically, none of us has a choice in the matter. Like civilians who unfortunately happen to live in a war-torn land, war has come to us, like it or not.

Since we have no choice but to face spiritual warfare in our lives, this is our choice. We can live like civilians and just be victims of the killing, abuse, problems, and difficulties of war. Or we can choose to become well-equipped soldiers and warriors, skilled and trained for war and spiritual warfare.

Hopefully, all believers would want to become warriors in God’s Kingdom, warriors who have learned about the realities of spiritual warfare and have been taught and trained to be well-equipped soldiers.

Well, just how do we begin to accomplish this? Here are some insights that can help you to do this.

These are truths that we’d be wise to learn and walk in. The most powerful weapon in the world is the Word of God. And here are seven ways we can put the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit, to work in our lives and in our world. And as we do, we can become mighty men and women of God who know how to win battles in life.

Seven ways to use the Word of God every day: 1) Read it; 2) Hear it; 3) Believe it; 4) Speak it; 5) Obey it 6) Pray it; and 7) Meditate on it.

All of these uses are related, but none are quite the same. You can read the Word but not hear it. You can read the Word but not obey it. You can believe the Word but not pray it, etc.

We would be wise to strive to use the Word of God in our lives in all seven ways daily. Why is this true? Consider these truths.

The written Word of God is a book of faith. From Genesis to Revelation, we are called to hear, believe, and obey the Word. If we hear the Word of God, but don’t obey it, we deceive ourselves. (James 1:22)

The Word of God is a book full of truth. Yet, truth is always meant to be learned and applied. We are to read the Word of God and act like it’s true, because, of course, it is. We will not receive the blessing and benefits of the Word of God when we fail to obey and act on it.

So, in view of all these truths, we are wise to take God’s Word to heart. We are to read it, believe it in our hearts, and speak it with our mouths. And we are to act of the Word. In other words, act like God’s Word is true.

One example of a very fruitful way to put God’s Word to work in our daily lives is by praying it. Here is an example of taking the Word of God and praying it.

Praying Psalm 91 – A Prayer for Protection

Today, I dwell in the secret place of the most High, and so I abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Today I say of the LORD, You are my refuge and my fortress: my God; in You I trust.

Surely you deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

You cover me with Your feathers, and under Your wings I trust.

Your truth is my shield and buckler. And so, I am not afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand; but it shall not come near me.

Only with my eyes do I look and see the reward of the wicked.

Because I have made the LORD my refuge, even the most High, my habitation; no evil befalls me, nor does any plague come nigh my dwelling.

For He gives his angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways.

They bear me up in their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone.

I tread upon the lion and the cobra: the young lion and the serpent I trample under foot.

Because I have set my love upon Him, therefore He delivers me:

He sets me on high, because I have known His name.

I call upon Him, and He answers me:

He is with me in trouble;

He delivers me, and honors me.

With long life He satisfies me, and shows me His salvation.

In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

(Psalm 91, Adapted)

We’re called to be mighty warriors in the army of God. Our main weapon is the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-20). Let’s be wise enough to take our sword, the powerful Word of God, into battle every single day. And let’s be wise enough to use the Word strategically, skillfully, and aggressively. This is how we can walk in victory every day.

Joseph Parker serves as the pastor of Greater Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church in Greenwood, Mississippi, and the Director of Outreach and Intercession with the American Family Association. He has been in the ministry for almost 40 years and hosts the radio broadcast, “The Hour of Intercession,” on the Urban Family Communications Radio network.

The views expressed in opinion articles are solely those of the author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Black Community News.