Take Up The Sword! Pt. 1 : By James Lantz
Jesus suffered, died and rose from the dead so that every man, woman, boy, and girl could be freed from sin, sickness, and poverty and live throughout eternity with He and the Father and the rest of the redeemed. God’s great love for all people to be saved and freed from the curse of the law is confirmed through His word and deeds. 1 Tim. 2:3&4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Father God raised the standard for His people since we have been raised up together with Christ and become sons of God like unto Him who saved us. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Now that we have become new creatures in Christ Jesus and have God’s nature in us we can love our enemies and do good to those that hate us. No longer are we to take an eye for an eye but rather turn the other cheek. Mt. 5:38&39 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. The rules have changed since we have entered the kingdom of God through the new birth! Under the law it was sin to commit adultery, but in the kingdom of God it is sin to look upon a woman with lust. Under the law it was murder to kill someone but in the kingdom you commit murder if you have hatred in your heart. When much is given much is required!
Our Warfare Is Not With Flesh And Blood!
We are to withdraw from those who have corrupt minds, being destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness and flee from those who love money, but that doesn’t mean we don’t fight. Our warfare is not with people but rather with the evil spirits that are influencing peoples thoughts and actions. 2 Cor. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: We have authority in Christ over demons and evil spirits concerning that which is ours and that which we oversee. Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; One of satan’s favorite tricks is to get us into strife with people who have yielded themselves to doing evil while he and his cohorts go unnoticed and his evil work intensifies. We must keep strife out of our lives at all cost because wherever there is envying and strife there is confusion and every evil work ( the curse ). Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Phil. 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Jesus said we are to bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, pray for those which despitefully use us, and persecute us. Jesus commands us to bless those who have treated us as enemies so that they may be drawn to repentance through our goodness. All people have been reconciled to God through Jesus shed blood and yet each of us must choose to come under the Lordship of Jesus in order to receive this great salvation! God’s great enemy is the devil and all of his cohorts. There is no good in the devil and there is no redemption for him. Every time he shows up it is because he wants to steal, kill, and destroy you. He appears as an angel of light to deceive people into thinking that living for themselves is fulfilling and serving God is hard. He still tells those same lies, you won’t surely die if you do things different than what God said.
The Spirit of God through Paul list satan’s four divisions of demons and evil spirits in the letter to the Ephesians starting with the least to the greatest. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Since satan is not omnipresent, like God is, the chances of him personally bringing temptation to you is pretty slim. Principalities are the least of satan’s little minions and powers are next to the least in rank. Most likely its these lesser devils who bring thoughts of, God’s not gonna meet your need this time, or arouse people to come persecute you. Rulers of the darkness of this world do just what their name indicates, they rule the darkness of this world including dominion over the lower ranked devils that operate here in the earth. Satan’s most powerful group rules in the heavenlies as they are referred to as spiritual wickedness in high places. Satan continues causing death and destruction but very soon Jesus will return to the earth with the armies of heaven speaking the demise of every enemy of God and satan will be bound for a thousand years. But as of now Jesus is looking for us, His body, the church, to take up the sword of the Spirit by speaking God’s
Take Up The Sword Of The Spirit Which Is The Word Of God!
anointed word and enforce satan’s defeat until He appears. Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged 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. Satan cannot stop anyone from calling upon the name of the Lord and being saved nor can he tempt anyone beyond what they are able to resist. Jesus masterfully resisted the three major temptations in the wilderness that satan brings to all of us, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Jesus skillfully used the sword of the spirit which is the word of God to resist the devil and make him flee. Jesus was tempted in the same manner that we are and He overcame every temptation by speaking that which was written in faith. We must put on the protective armor of God so that we are protected in a spiritual sword fight. Notice that Jesus didn’t fall for satan’s misquote of the scriptures because He knew the truth. (see Ephesians 6:14-18) Stand, Be full of truth and wrapped with truth, righteousness shall be your breastplate, be ready to share this gospel of peace at a moments notice, and above all take up the shield of faith so that you can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Yes, we must fight the good fight of faith if we want to receive and keep that which Christ has wrought for us.
1 Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
2 Cor. 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
As revelation of God’s word comes we are confronted with a choice, do I act like I don’t understand, or do I take the truth of God’s word and cast down that stronghold of evil from my mind. 2 Cor. 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; The word of God is right and it will never change so we must do the changing. A major way of taking up the sword of the Spirit is by speaking the all powerful, never changing, anointed word of God, from a believing heart. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Fight for your loved ones, fight for your city! This is the victory, even our faith!
Deut. 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
