The Hidden Secrets of the
"Sword of the Lord" Unveiled
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart, Heb 4:12 (Amp).
This article can be life changing!
Many believers in this generation are beginning to discover a dynamic that has been veiled for well over a millennium. When Emperor Constantine (approx. A.D. 320) established Christianity as a legal religion the Holy Spirit jumped ship and took the anointing with Him. This man-established "Christian" religion sank into total disrepair during the reign of the Papacy and then began to emerge again when the Protestant Reformation came about. Since that time many, many different denominations have been formed because of dessention over biblical doctrine.
Doctrines of demons
Last week we looked at "Doctrines of Demons" and their insidious effect on the church. The reason these deceiving devils had free sway was because the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of unity) wasn't present when men read their Bibles. The "Sword of the Lord" has lost its most vital edge. There was no Holy Spirit dynamic taking place -- no quikening of the written Word of God to men's hearts -- only deceiving spirits. These spirits preyed on men's logic and reason as they struggled to understand the scriptures.
Logic and reason without the Holy Spirit decimates truth.
When men apply logic and reason to the Bible (without the tutelage of the Holy Spirit) they end up driving a wedge of division into the Body of Christ. On the other hand when the Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide (using the very same Bible) He becomes the glue that bonds the Body of Christ together in unity. Without the Holy Spirit you cannot have a double-edged sword -- only a man-weilded single-edged one; and a very dangerous one at that.
The other edge of the Sword of the Lord
had become veiled with false doctrines!
This Sword of the Lord was originally made up of two edges:
- Edge one = Knowing the written word of God as a frame of reference
- Edge two = Being led by the Holy Spirit (The Living Word of God) who teaches us how to apply scripture correctly in every situation
This second spiritual edge has been lost in the evil abyss of time and it's absence has been substituted by self-exalted overlords such as Popes and Pastors who want to tell us how, what and when to think. The sad part is that we have all bought into this at some level. This has affected our walk with God and with how we perceive other believers. I'm hoping that this article will shed some light on this missing edge and how to restore it to our swords.
Let's begin by looking at a few verses form the Bible:
2 Tim 3:16-17 (KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works .
2 Pet 1:20-21 (Amplified Bible) Yet] first [you must] understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of any personal or private or special interpretation (loosening, solving). For no prophecy ever originated because some man willed it [to do so--it never came by human impulse], but men spoke from God who were borne along (moved and impelled) by the Holy Spirit.
The Greatest Book ... Ever!
Within the pages of the Bible lies all that you and I will ever need to fundamentally know about God:- God's wondrous creation
- His character and nature
- The fall of mankind
- The redemption story
- Jesus Christ our Savior
- The ministry of the Holy Spirit
- His general plan for our lives.
- And so, so much more
The Bible is one of the edges of this sword of the Spirit and is our training manual to prepare us for an incredible spiritual journey. The Holy Spirit will always operate within the confines of the truths set forth in this sublimely profound and incredible volume inspired by God.
Knowing what lies within it's pages is paramount to becoming all that God has called us to be. The reason for this is really simple. He uses us by drawing from the biblical knowledge we have stored in our hearts and minds. If there is little to nothing in us, biblically speaking, we will not be very effective for God in the earth. We will find ourselves always dependent on other Christians, such as a pastor or elder, to finish what we've tried to begin.
Bible-led Christians
Most of Christianity has come to believe that in order to receive direction and provision from God one simply needs to read and apply the biblical promises to their lives by faith. Some call this the "name it, claim it and frame it approach to receiving direction and provision from God. For the purpose of this presentation let's refer to this type of person as being a Bible-led Christian. Bible-led Christians obtain all their direction from the Bible. This all sounds well and good ...
But is the Bible alive?
No, the Bible is not alive however many Bible-led Christians act and talk about the Bible as though it were. Some worship God through their Bible; some even worship their Bible as God. At the extreme, others treat the Bible like a Ouija board or a horoscope. They close their eyes and jam their finger in it believing God will lead them to a passage that will guide their way.
This is a dangerous approach to God's guidance system and fertile soil for demonic deceptions. I am not saying that the Holy Spirit couldn't do this; but what I am saying is that it is a rather dangerous practice to rely on for spiritual guidance.
What is alive is what God speaks through the Holy Spirit
The other approach to guidance is to know the Bible really well and to depend on the Holy Spirit for instruction -- and then to apply faith to it. Now, let's call folks that obtain guidance this way Spirit-led Christians. These two different approaches to being led may not sound all that different, but believe you me they are light years apart. To be led by the Spirit is to be led like Jesus was led. This being led about by the Holy Spirit is the edge of the sword that's missing.
The Bible is God's preparation and instruction manual. It is the milk of God's word. Being led by the Holy Spirit as He speaks to our hearts and minds is the meat; the reality of God's word in action. The Bible prepares us for the journey, but it should be the Holy Spirit who guides us along the way.
The Bible is God's preparation and instruction manual. It is the milk of God's word. Being led by the Holy Spirit as He speaks to our hearts and minds is the meat; the reality of God's word in action. The Bible prepares us for the journey, but it should be the Holy Spirit who guides us along the way.
How was Jesus led?
When Jesus came upon folks with infirmities He sometimes laid hands on them and at other times he would cast out a demonic spirit. He dealt differently in each situation because each and every situation is unique. The question is then, when do I do what? How do I obtain a clear and accurate direction from God at all times? The Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, took his marching orders from His Father John 8:28. He did only what the father told Him to do (through the Holy Spirit).
He did only what the Father told Him to do
He was led about by the Holy Spirit from the time He was baptized (when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove) until the time He was taken up into heaven. Jesus knew the Old Testament scriptures inside and out. He spent His whole life studying them as part of his Jewish heritage and culture. This was Jesus' frame of reference, but it was the Holy Spirit who directed His path.
Because of this He consistently manifested the glory of God wherever He went. Never once did he fail in discerning the Father's specific direction for His life. Receiving direction by applying biblical scriptures randomly, versus receiving direction from the Holy Spirit, is like the difference between a shotgun and a rifle.
The difference between a shotgun and a rifle
When using a shotgun you slip your shotgun shell into the barrel, snap it shut, point it in the general direction of the target and fire. At this point you are hoping that some of the spray, of the many pellets in the shotgun shell, will hit its mark. This is analogous to trying to randomly apply biblical direction intellectually.
On the other hand when using a rifle you only have one single projectile (bullet) and if you hope to hit your target you must carefully aim at it and gently squeeze the trigger until it fires off the round.
- To attempt to intellectually gain direction from the Bible is the shotgun.
- To receive specific direction from the Holy spirit is the rifle.
A "Bible-led" Christian, like a storm trooper, will witness to everyone in his path hoping to hit on a hungry soul now and then. But those that are "Spirit-led" will go right to the hungry soul and harvest it for God. This is the shotgun/rifle analogy in action. God knows which ones are ready and will lead us right to them if we learn to be led by Him.
A Spirit-led Christian will be at rest and always “ready to give a reason for his faith 1 Pet 3:15” where as a Bible-led Christian can't keep still and ends up usually turning a lot of folks off. When we are Spirit-led we will function from a place of peace and faith-rest in God and life will be the result.
Romans 8:5-6 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
If we think the scriptures through, all this becomes very obvious.
The Bible prepares us for the battle,
but it's the Holy Spirit that shows us how to fight
Before the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus He had done no miracles; not even one. His life was spent in preparation for that moment. Once baptized, and having received the Holy Spirit, he was sorely tested of the devil and then, and only then, did he begin to manifest the glory of God in the earth. All that Jesus spoke and did (the preaching of the kingdom of God, the miracles and the casting out of demons) was done according to the leading and power of the Holy Spirit coursing through His spirit being.
The Living Word of God is the very dynamic of the Holy Spirit directing spirit-led Christians to accurately do the will and work of God in the earth. Jesus did only what he was told to do.
How can less equal more?
The New Testament believers had no New Testament writings. They couldn't read the gospels, or Paul's, or John's, or Peter's letters because they hadn't been written yet. It would be approx 60 more years until the New Testament church would have New Testament writings. They were totally dependent on the Holy Spirit (who drew from Old Testament truths) to lead them with signs and wonders following. These Spirit-led men and women had the sword of the Lord and literally turned the known world upside down! We have so much more than they had (the New Testament scriptures) and we bring forth so much less ... why? Perhaps one of the answers is that we're Bible-led and not Spirit-led (missing one edge on our sword).
Being "Spirit-led" is our heritage
This being "Spirit-led" is our heritage; which for the most part we lost somewhere along the way of traditionalism, denominationalism and contemporary so-called Christianity. But take heart beloved, the church (God's born-again people) will soon be called upon to rise again; but this time we will be unified in the Holy Spirit and we will be wielding a very sharp, double-edged ...
"Sword of the Lord"
Allow me to leave you with a few more supporting verses for being Spirit-led edge of the sword:
Matt 4:4 (NKJV) But He (Jesus) answered and said, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Note that the verse doesn't say proceeded (past tense), but rather proceeds).
John 14:26 (NKJV) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Eph 6:17 (NKJV) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Notice that it's the "Spirit's" sword; it's not ours to use as we please, but to rather weild it as He leads. He's the only one who really knows how to effectivly use it).
John 14:26 (NKJV) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Eph 6:17 (NKJV) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Notice that it's the "Spirit's" sword; it's not ours to use as we please, but to rather weild it as He leads. He's the only one who really knows how to effectivly use it).
John 3:8 (NKJV) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Romans 8:14 (KJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
I hope all this helps you as much as it has me ... I welcome your comments ...
Romans 8:14 (KJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
I hope all this helps you as much as it has me ... I welcome your comments ...
