Faith in Layers: The Spiritual Legacy of Sardonyx

Sardonyx:

Ancient people referred to this as a ‘warrior stone’. Thought to offer fortitude, strengthen resolve, and aid in surmounting apprehension, they used it as adornments and safeguarding charms against harmful influences and injury.

The Sardonyx is a representation or a visual to Jesus and His sacrifice. The color red represents the blood of the Lamb, and the color white is symbolic of purity, which can be described as “robes washed white by atoning blood”. Revelations 19:1

Sardonyx, the fifth of the twelve stones that make up the New Jerusalem city’s base, represents a symbol of unending time. Within this framework, its inclusion represents the everlasting and immutable essence of God’s pledges and his celestial design. The twelve foundation stones each represent one of the twelve apostles, and the twelve tribes of Israel who were the founding fathers as it were, who are considered symbols. The sardonyx could symbolize a facet of the spiritual truth found within God’s everlasting realm, which is founded on the teachings of the apostles. Many people have seen the contrasting layers of the stone, red sard, and white onyx, as symbols of righteousness, purity, and sacrifice.

Sardonyx has long been known as a stone of courage, virtue, and inner strength. Its layered bands of color mirror the way we are built up—layer upon layer—through endurance, perseverance, and faith. Just as the stone’s formation speaks of stability, Sardonyx reminds us that true might comes from a steadfast spirit rooted in truth.

In my studies of gemstones and the Seven Spirits of God, I see how each stone mirrors a divine attribute. Sardonyx reflects the Spirit of Might by embodying both firmness and grace—strength balanced by integrity. Its grounding energy aligns with those moments when God calls us to stand, unshaken, while He fights the unseen battles on our behalf.

When I think of the Spirit of Might, I see this strength not as human power, but as divine empowerment—a spiritual fortitude that helps us stand firm in what God has spoken. It is the same spirit that rises in moments when truth must be upheld, even when it’s unpopular or misunderstood.

For those with the Teacher’s redemptive gift, listed in Romans 12:6-8, the Spirit of Might is essential. The Teacher is called to preserve and defend truth, to bring nourishment to the Body through revelation that aligns with God’s Word and creation. Yet, teaching truth often requires standing firm when others waver. Sardonyx becomes a visual reminder of the strength that undergirds the Teacher’s calling—the courage to teach what is right, not what is easy.

Additionally, the Spirit of Might is related to the ear, nose, and throat, an area of the body that was incorrectly associated with self-centered worship within the chakra system. In God’s design, this area was never meant to glorify self but to release sound, breath, and declaration that honor Him. With the Spirit of Might, this place of expression is redeemed, ‌returning it to its initial purpose, which is to proclaim truth, to sing His praise, and to speak with the power and authority that is aligned with heaven.

The shewbread, also known as the “Bread of the Presence,” echoes the identical message pertaining to both nourishment and veracity. Placed before the Lord in the Tabernacle, it symbolized His covenant and provision for the twelve tribes of Israel. In a similar way, the teacher’s role is to bring spiritual nourishment—to feed others with truth that sustains. Just as the shewbread reminded Israel of God’s faithful presence, so the Teacher reminds the community of His unchanging Word.

Sardonyx, the Spirit of Might, and the Shewbread together form a beautiful picture of divine strength in service of truth—a call for each of us to be grounded, courageous, and unwavering in the truths God has entrusted to us.

I’m still uncovering how the Spirit of Might, along with the other six Spirits of God in Isaiah 11:2-3a moves through this area of expression—how the breath, the sound, and the words we speak carry His strength and truth. There’s more the Lord is revealing about how He redeems what once was misused and restores it for His glory. For now, I’m holding this understanding before Him, letting it deepen in His timing.

Sardonyx is a type of chalcedony (quartz) composed of silicon dioxide (SiO₂). Our bodies can only handle a small bit of silicon dioxide in the skin, hair, connective tissues, and bones. The grounding effect may align with the skeletal system (structure) and blood vessels with strength and elasticity. Its banded structure may mirror the layers of skin for protection and covering ( God is creative in His designs to mirror many things of our bodies to look like gemstones, fruits, and nuts as reminders of what keeps us healthy.

“See, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be in haste.” — Isaiah 28:16

Jesus is our cornerstone—the tested and true foundation upon which all truth rests. The Sardonyx, with its layers of strength and endurance, mirrors His steadfast nature. It reminds us that the Spirit of Might is not about human power but divine stability—strength that holds firm when everything else shakes.

For the Teacher, this is a vital truth. The Teacher’s calling is to build understanding upon the foundation of Christ—to handle the Word with accuracy, patience, and courage. Just as Sardonyx symbolizes the layers of endurance shaped through time, so the Teacher’s life becomes a testimony of truth refined and proven through testing.

God created the gemstones to be a reflection of Himself : unchanging, steadfast, and full of weighty glory. Each stone in Scripture—from the tablets of His covenant to the gems in the priest’s breastplate—reveals another layer of His nature. And now, through the Spirit of Might, He establishes that same stability within us.

When our faith is built upon the Cornerstone, we no longer teach from intellect alone, but from revelation anchored in His strength. The Spirit of Might empowers us to stand firm, speak truth, and live in such a way that others see the sure foundation beneath our feet—Christ Himself, the Rock that cannot be moved.