When we face the battles of the spirit and the schemes of the Evil One, our surest weapon is the Word of God. It is inspired by the Spirit, and it is given to us in Scripture to lead, guide, comfort, and console. Yet simply reciting verses is not enough. The Word must be applied with the Spirit alive in our hearts. Without His guidance, how could we know which word is fitting for the moment? Satan himself twisted Scripture when he tempted Christ in the wilderness, and without the Spirit we too may be deceived.

Jesus was “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Matthew 4:1), and when the tempter came quoting Scripture, He answered with the true intent of God’s Word and drove him away. Paul reminds us that “the sword of the Spirit is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). We need Scripture, yes, but we also need the Spirit to teach us, to discern truth from lies, and to show us when and how the Word is rightly applied.

Ephesians 6:14-17