Charles Spurgeon on Ephesians 6:17

“To be a Christian is to be a warrior. The good soldier of Jesus Christ must not expect to find ease in this world; for the world is a battlefield, and the Christian’s occupation is war. As he puts on piece by piece of armor provided, the believer may widely say to himself, ‘This warns me of danger; this prepares me for warfare; this prophesies opposition.’

“Difficulties meet us even in standing our ground, and the Apostle Paul, two or three times, commands us: ‘Stand.’ In the rush of the fight, men are apt to be knocked down. If they can keep their footing, they will be victorious; but if they are borne down by the rush of their adversaries, everything is lost. You are to put on the heavenly armor so that you may stand, and you will need it to maintain the position in which your Captain has placed you. If simply to stand requires all this care, consider what the warfare must be!…

“It is clear from the text that our defense and conquest must be obtained by sheer fighting. Many try to compromise, but if you are a true Christian, you can never do this business well. The language of deceit does not fit a holy tongue. The adversary is the father of lies, and those who are with him understand the art of equivocation; but saints abhor it. We have no order from our Captain to patch up a truce or offer concessions. It is said that if we yield a little, perhaps the world will yield a little also, and good may come of it. No such thing. Neither may we hope to gain by being neutral and as agreeable as we can with our Lord's foes, participating in their pleasures and tasting their dainties. No such orders are written here. You are to grasp your weapon and go forth to fight.

“Neither may you dream of winning the battle by accident. No man was ever holy by random chance. Infinite damage may be done by carelessness, but no man ever won life's battle by it. To let things go on as they please is to let them carry us down to hell. We have orders instead to pray always and watch constantly. The one note that rings out is this: TAKE THE SWORD! TAKE THE SWORD! No longer is it talk and debate and compromise! The word of thunder is, Take the sword! The Captain's voice is clear as a trumpet. No Christian will have been obedient to the text, unless with clear, sharp, and decisive firmness, courage, and resolve, he takes the sword. We must go to heaven sword in hand, all the way.”