Not Peace, But A Sword
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Introduction
Introduction
It seems like the Church is waiting on the Lord to once again drop some blessing in its lap. The world around the Church is reeling from the evil that seems to be growing everyday. Yet the Church is claiming the promises of God are going to show up and save the day.
The issue with much of Christianity is that it has been demonically conditioned to look for the wrong appearing of Christ. Just as the Jews of Jesus’ time refused to accept Him because He did not come as the roaring lion but the humble lamb to take away the sin of the world; so many in our time refuse to hear of a militant leader returning for what belongs to Him.
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;
and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
A young boy had a birthday party once upon a time. It was a pirate party so all his mates came dressed in pirate gear - eye-patches, head scarves, etc. At the door they presented every pirate with a plastic blow-up sword, which looked good but caused no damage at all. They wielded their plastic blow-up swords with a distinct lack of dexterity. The nimbleness needed for sword fighting seemed severely limited by the floppy handles and fat blades filled with air, but at least they were safe.
High adventure with ABSOLUTELY NO DANGER. Every parent wants this for their children. Every child went on to more dangerous pursuits.
That’s the kind of spiritual warfare we as Christians have preferred to wage at times - to go at it with our blow-up swords filled with hot air, waving them around with no skill and causing no harm to the enemy, rather than wielding the sword of God’s Word (Ephesians 6:17) with the skill of one who has studied it to show himself approved, a swordsman who needs not to be ashamed (see 2 Timothy 2:15).
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Time To Join The Battle
Time To Join The Battle
Many of us here are already engaged at some level, so this message may not be as much for you as for those that God will send you to. Spread this Word from the Lord;
It is time to engage the enemy wherever he may be found!
If you are so distracted by life that you are not actively tearing down the works of the enemy,
If you are so back on your heels that you can’t get past your own issues to get into the fight,
Then quite possibly, the enemy has sidelined you through the cares of life so that you are of no danger to the work of destruction.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
You are built in the Spirit for Kingdom Conquest!
Don’t let the enemy convince you that you are anything less than what God says you are!
He just doesn’t want to get punched in the face…but he deserves it!
Work Smart, Not Hard
Work Smart, Not Hard
What do I mean by that?
I mean that there is a way to do the work and warfare of God, but it is NOT a way that our flesh usually wants to operate in.
We want something we can put our hands on and beat or mold into submission.
Or maybe we can talk it to death for those of you that are less handsy.
But neither of these things are effective against the powers of darkness. The weapons we must avail ourselves of are talked about in 2 Corinthians by Paul.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
God’s ways work, but we have to have the courage to believe they work.
I am quite sure as scrawny little David stood out there with his slings and rocks against Goliath, he probably looked pretty ridiculous to most of those watching.
They probably thought they were witnessing this boy’s final moments on earth.
However, with unshakable faith in his God, David slung that rock with all of his might. That was all the Holy Spirit needed to get the job done.
We have demonic forces all around us everyday that just need our unshakable faith in our God and our willingness to put ourselves in the fight for them to be expelled.
What’s With All This Violence?
What’s With All This Violence?
Jesus shocks us with His purpose in Matthew 10:34 (NLT) when He says "Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came NOT TO BRING PEACE, BUT A SWORD."
If you’re a pacifist, you have to cut this verse out of your Bible because it doesn’t portray Jesus as MEEK AND MILD.
He doesn’t fit the mould of pacifism - one concerned with the peace that the world brings, anymore than He does that of a warmonger - a person who advocates war.
Yes, Jesus’ offers peace with God that comes from knowing Him personally - peace on the inside that works it’s way outside to those around you.
But the fact is that while sin remains on the earth, there will also be SPIRITUAL WARFARE -
He wields a A SWORD and there is CONFLICT. Jesus claims VICTORY over sin and death and the evil one.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:7-10
by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
After all Jesus has gone through, He has EARNED THE RIGHT tell me that there is VICTORY for me in Him if I endure to the end.
He of all people knows what it means to OVERCOME! Romans 8:37
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Another translation says that we are overwhelming conquerors!
What sword is Jesus speaking about that overcomes the world? Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God bless you Church as you enter into battle with more than a blow-up sword. We are in a spiritual battle and there will be conflict! We are "MORE THAN CONQUERORS in Christ" (Romans 8:37 NIV).
Ephesians 6:10-18 says it all!
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—