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SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 15, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 15.

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SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.

By H. A. St. John

The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. This is an important part of the aggressive armor of every Christian. Only the true Christian can have or use this sword, for it is the sword of the Spirit, and only the Christian has the Spirit, and, hence, he only has the sword. Where the Spirit is not, there the sword is not, and whenever we find the Spirit of God there is also the Word of God, the Spirit’s sword.
The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is light—moral and spiritual light. Its opposite and enemy, is darkness—moral and spiritual darkness. Spiritual illumination conquers by simply being admitted. The light, being let in, dispels the darkness. The body then is filled with light from Him in whom there is no darkness at all. Such are children of light and of the day—ever waging a warfare against the kingdom and prince of darkness by simply letting their light shine. As their light shines out in the darkness, other souls in darkness beholding that light, accept and admit the light, being thus led to glorify God or shine for God.
The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is truth—moral and spiritual truth. Its opposite and enemy is error—moral and spiritual error. Spiritual truth conquers by simply being admitted. The truth, being let in, dispels the error. The person then, like his divine Lord, becomes the embodiment of truth. He is sanctified by that Truth, in which there is no error at all. Thus by simply living a life of truth, they are constantly waging a warfare against the father of lies, and winning souls to the truth.
All conquests in the Christian warfare are the peaceable and bloodless conquests of light and truth over darkness and error in the body, soul, and spirit of the warrior. And when the warfare is ended, and the church militant becomes the church triumphant, the blessed results of that warfare will be an immortal crown of light and truth, shining like the sun and stars in the kingdom of our everlasting Father, world without end. H. A. St. John.