The Sword and Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 6:17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.*

Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!*

Isn't it interesting that the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit are listed together. When we think of a sword we typically think of a long and very sharp weapon. Only skillful swordsmen can wield a sword with accuracy. It takes instruction and practice.  The sword of the spirit is the word of God and it too, takes instruction and practice.*

The helmet of salvation protects our head, our brains, our thoughts and our knowledge. The word of God helps us to sort out what is our will; (the soul), and our spirit; (that part of us that connects us to the Word.) It helps us to decide; (when we submit our will to God's will) what the right thing to do is.

When we submit our will to the Lord, learn His word and get good and godly instruction, our lives will then produce the fruit of the spirit. And that is a must as a believer because it is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance!

At first wielding our sword and yielding good fruit seems impossible, but with practice and instruction we'll get better at it. We will never be perfect at it but we will get more and more effective!  Hang in there!

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 5:14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.


*For further study read Ephesians 6:11-17 and Galatians 5:19-26 Which have more information on the whole armor of God, the works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit.