The Sword of the LORD

I can easily identify with the sentiment that the apostle Paul expresses in the tenth chapter of Romans. He writes, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:1-3) As a child, and into my early teens, I was made to attend a church that was void of any spiritual fervor. The pastor, by his own confession, did not believe in much of the Bible, including the miracles of Jesus and the virgin birth. The members came to church to show off their new cars and fine clothes, and leave feeling better about themselves because they made the “sacrifice” to come. Some embraced unbiblical beliefs – such as reincarnation – and yet claimed to be Christians by reason of being members of the chur...

It has been well said, that “the true measure of success is what we do with what we have”. Many fail to obtain this success, though, by not recognizing and believing that God can use them regardless of how insignificant or unprepared they may feel. Too many are crippled from being spiritual­ly effective toward others by their own fears, and doubts, and feelings of inadequacy. They look at what they have in comparison to others who they consider “gifted,” and “talented,” and they feel that they themselves have nothing to offer. They consider them­selves weak, and foolish, and unable to contribute anything significant. If they can’t be a great orator, or vocalist, or musician, or author, then they feel that they have nothing important to share. In the natural realm it may be true that only the exceptionally talented are chosen to succeed, but in the spiritual realm it is quite the opposite because, “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen...

We find recorded in St. Matthew 14 an account of Jesus constraining His disciples to get into a ship to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They had just witnessed a notable miracle when Jesus multiplied a few fish and loaves of bread in order to feed over 5,000 people. The disciples must have felt on top of the world after such an experience, but they soon became less confident as they found themselves in the midst of a storm out in deep water. This has always reminded me of the highs and lows that we go through as Christians. One moment we may be blessed and feeling strong in the Lord, and the next moment be frightened by circumstances that we don’t seem to have any control over. The “mountains” and “valleys” of life are something that we all experience; but through them all, Christ wants to teach us that He is the Master of all things. When it began to grow late, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. At first, they were frightened at the sight of Him because they though...

Nehemiah is an incredible figure in the Bible; and his story amazes me, for it is so truly relevant for today. It speaks to me on many levels, but mostly about how important it is for me to know God’s will, get under the burdens that are close to His heart, and do the work that He has called me to do. Nehemiah was among those who were carried away from Judea into Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city of Jerusalem in 593 B.C. He was forced, sometime later, into service in the palace of the King, and, so, became the King’s cupbearer - a position of importance. While in this service, word came to him from some who had returned from Jerusalem, that the people were in great affliction, and the walls of the city were broken down, and the gates burned with fire. The news so affected Nehemiah that he sat down and wept, and mourned, and didn’t eat for days; and, more importantly, he prayed. For four months he prayed. He confessed the sins of his people, he reminded God of His pr...

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.       - 2 Timothy 1:6, 7 Edwin Cole, who has been called “the Father of the Christian Men’s Movement,” has said that the definition of faith and the definition of fear are the same. He said, “Faith is believing that what you cannot see will come to pass. Fear is believing that what you cannot see will come to pass.” This being true, it appears to me that it requires the same amount of effort to believe as it does to fear. Why, then, does it seem so much easier for us to fear? The real danger is in the result of our choice to fear, or to believe; and, make no mistake, it is a choice. The result of fear is that we become paralyzed and unable to act. The result of faith is that we are motivated and do things that, in some cases, seem impossible ...

The French have an expression that says, "La vie est dure, mais Dieu est bon." Translated, it means "Life is hard, but God is good." Truly, life has a way of throwing every one of us difficulties that test the limits of our endurance and our faith. Although scripture admonishes us to, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you," we, nonetheless, are surprised by our trials as though we expect God to hide us from all adversity. The truth is, we are not exempt from the hardness of life, but we do have a Savior Who is ever with us through our struggles. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." (2 Corinthians 4:8-10) St. Paul admonished Timot...