February 15 2026

February 15, 2026     

Havasu Christian Church

Are you Battle ready?         

Ephesians 6:10–20

“Grab Your Gladius and Let’s Go!”

INTRO: Today, we look at the Christian’s Sword; the Sword of the Spirit.

        The Roman soldier’s sword was called a Gladius. The 1st century was a time of transition. The gladius was slowly changing. Originally, it was relatively square, double-edged blade. It wasn’t a very large weapon, the blade was only 18 - 22 inches long, but with a very sharp triangular point. This was meant to go through armor. Later, the Gladius would get narrower in the middle. I suppose this took a little weight off the sword. The average Gladius only weighed about 2 pounds, and including the hilt (handle) and pommel, It’s length would be somewhere between 25 and 30 inches. The pommel was round, and helped the soldier keep a good grip. It also helped balance the weight of the sword. The Gladius wasn’t made for long reach but was deadly at close range…. Where the Romans usually fought. It was mainly a stabbing weapon but could also slash. The hilt had a guard that could help keep the opponent’s weapon from cutting your hand. In the right hands, it was a very dangerous weapon, especially when used with the rest of the armor!  

        Interestingly, the text here in Ephesians 6 doesn’t use the word Gladius. Instead it uses the generic word for a dagger or short sword. I’m not too sure what to make of that, but I thought it was something to think about.

        Before we learn more about this important piece of the Christian Soldiers’ equipment, let’s read about the whole kit!

Ephesians 6:10–20 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 

     11   Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 

     12   For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

     13   Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 

     14   Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 

     15   and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 

     16   in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

     17   And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

     18   With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 

     19   and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 

     20   for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

1. Know your weapon!

(This rule is true no matter what weapon you choose.)

1. How do you learn to properly use your sword?
2. First off, What is it?
3. The inspired Word of God!
4. That’s why it’s the “sword of the Spirit!” Not the “sword of my opinion,” or the “sword of conventional wisdom,” or the “sword of how I wish things were.”
5. God’s Word is trustworthy!
6. The Creator and Sustainer of the Universe inspired (guided) His people to write it down!
7. God showed them what He wanted them to write.
8. God made sure they got it right! 
9. Secondly, you PRACTICE with it!
10. You become proficient by using your weapon.
11. In modern US Army Basic Combat Training (BCT), trainees fire approximately 600 to over 1,000+ rounds of ammunition, depending on the specific training cycle and weapons used.

Special forces and others, burn through 100s of rounds a day to stay at the “top of their game.”

1. The more you train (correctly) the more “automatic” you become.
2. Eventually, you don’t have to think about doing the right things, you just do them.
3. However, practicing the same mistake over and over again will teach you how to do it wrong automatically!
4. How do I “practice” with the Sword of the Spirit?
5. Read it!
6. This is a good start!
7. Reading Scripture
8. Listening to Scripture
9. Reading Scripture from various translations.
10. Study it!
11. Learn Greek and Hebrew!
12. Or not!
13. There are PLENTY of tools available to dive deeper into the languages if you wish.
14. A google search of “Greek word for sword in Ephesians 6:17” gave me more information than I knew what to do with.
15. Our Church library has commentaries from trusted sources for every book of the Bible!

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

1. Different metaphor, but same idea. “Accurately handling the word of truth!”
2. Be a diligent workman.
3. Handle God’s word accurately!

1. It helps to have an instructor.
2. My father taught me to use firearms in a safe manner, and I taught my children.
3. I’d be happy to teach you if you want to learn!
4. Learn from a structured environment like Sunday School, a Worship service, or a small group.
5. Make sure the instructor is trustworthy!
6. Don’t just accept what they say without checking it out for yourselves.

Acts 17:10–12 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

1. Make sure that what you are being taught comes from SCRIPTURE!
2. Make sure that what you are being taught agrees with, SCRIPTURE!
3. If it doesn’t agree, IT’S WRONG!
4. If Scripture doesn’t say, it’s OPINION!

1. Keep your weapon handy!
2. Should I carry my Bible everywhere?
3. I remember being told in High School Church camp that I should do this.
4. I didn’t do it, and I never knew anyone who did.
5. I had lots of stuff to lug around.
6. When would I really have time to read it at school?
7. After all, 7th period study hall helped me get my homework done and was a good time to take a nap before football practice!
8. In this day of modern tech, I’m carrying around 82 English translations of the Bible in my back pocket.
9. In this day of modern tech, I’m also carrying around a concordance in my back pocket!
10. In this day of modern tech, I have access to an almost uncountable number of Biblical resources, just by reaching into my back pocket.
11. I should carry my Bible in my mind as well!

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

1. When temptation comes, it’s Good to have the right Scripture handy in your mind!
2. Jesus, being tempted by Satan didn’t say, “Wait a minute! I need to go to the Synagogue and look that up!” He quoted the Scripture that He needed from memory!
3. Most of us have more Scripture in our minds than we give ourselves credit for..

Say it with me… ”And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

1. Even if you don’t remember word for word what this verse says, you know what it means!

Let’s try another one… For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

1. The more diligent I am in handling God’s Word, the better prepared I will be to use it effectively. I’ll know what to do with it!

1. Use your weapon.

Ok, you have your weapon… you’ve practiced with your weapon…. Now comes the time to Use your weapon!

1. If you “Freeze up” and you don’t use your sword, you’ll be at the mercy of the enemy.
2. If you don’t fight back, you will give Satan’s forces the time they need to find a weakness in your armor.
3. So, how do I fight?
4. Stand firm! We are told this three times in Ephesians 6:10-20! But there’s more!

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.

Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Philippians 1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

1 Thessalonians 3:8 for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

1 Peter 5:12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

1. Don’t run away!
2. Stand Firm ON God’s Word.
3. Stand Firm IN THE FAITH!
4. Stand firm TOGETHER!
5. Pray for one another!
6. Be ready and willing to ASK others for prayer!
7. Take the fight to the enemy.

2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

1. We have a responsibility to share what we know with others.
2. Not to attack them, but to reach out to them.
3. To do so, we may have to knock down some bad ideas they have.
4. “Preach the Word” doesn’t mean you must stand behind a pulpit, or yell on a street corner, or start a podcast.
5. It means to share the truth.
6. Again, this isn’t to by your opinion or mine, but the Inspired Word of God!
7. We don’t “rub their nose” in the fact that they are wrong.
8. We lovingly show them the truth!
9. “Preach the Word” DOES mean that we stand firm in the truth of our convictions!

Conclusion: We are called by God to use our entire “kit.” It all works together. Knowing the Truth holds everything together. The gospel of Peace prepares us to stand firm, even on rough ground. God’s Righteousness, and to a lesser extent, our own helps to protect us. Keeping mindful that we have been SAVED helps us live as “adopted children of God.” And now, we need to practice with our Sword, keep it sharp, keep it available, and be ready to use it! 

        If does us no good if we never take it out of the sheath!