2009-11-12

The Sword of the Spirit Against Us

But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. (Luk 3:19-20 KJV)


It is worth noting that though Herod put John in prison, in times past he listened to John gladly (i.e. with pleasure)…

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. (Mar 6:20 KJV)


Those who preach God’s Word can be heard gladly by those who are lost in their sins…until the preaching touches on their sin. How loudly we applaud the preaching against sins of others, while murmuring against the preaching that touches our own sins!

The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit, and sharper than a twoedged sword. This sword is not meant to fight only the outside attacks of the Devil and the world, but to fight the inner corruption…that remaining principle of sin that still dwells with us. Look at how the sword is described as dividing that which is internal to us…

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12 KJV)


Brothers and sisters, I implore you to allow the Word of God to do the work that it’s meant to do in your heart before you take it up to battle the Enemy. Christ must conquer us before He can conquer the world through us!

Let’s not be like Herod, who loved the preaching of John until it came to close to his own heart. Rather, let’s open our heart to the purifying work of the Word of God and submit to it, especially as it comes close to our own heart.

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