The Sword of the LORD

Years ago, before I retired from the place where I had worked for 42 years, a co-worker and I were walking down a long aisle toward the time clock to punch out for the day.   As we came to the end of this long aisle there was a door with a sign on it that read, “Do Not Enter, Authorized Personnel Only.”   As we approached the door, I thought to tell my friend that “at the end of life’s long pathway, there is a door that says ‘Do Not Enter, Authorized Personnel Only.’ Do you know if you have been authorized to enter in?”   It is a question that we must all ask ourselves at some point in our lifetime.  So, what does authorize us to enter into heaven?  The answer is simple.  Jesus said, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).  The door to heaven is a who, and not a what !  Many are convinced that if their good works outweigh their bad, then they will make it in; but if...

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.  Let your moderation be known unto all men.  The Lord is at hand.  Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:4-8).   To me, this passage of scripture is one that is useful to remember every day.  It’s like the pocket knife that many guys throw in their pocket before they leave the house just because it’s useful in many situations and you never know when you’re going to need it.  With the many pres...

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4).   The biblical story of Cain and Abel is incredible in its depth and teaching.  We find the gospel message revealed to us in its simplicity through this tale of jealousy and violence.  Writing to the Hebrew believers in the first century, the Apostle Paul states that Abel was still speaking to believers through his witness even though he had been dead for 4000 years.  Even today, Abel’s witness of faith and redemption rings out as clear as a bell to those who will hear it.   The account of Cain and Abel is told in the fourth chapter of Genesis.  There we find the story opening with the birth of two sons to Adam and Eve.  Cain was the firstborn and oldest of the boys, and Abel his brother came along after him.  Abel, we are told, was a ke...

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”   (Matthew 11:28-30)   I am writing this message today to those who are struggling under a weight of sin, guilt, temptation, hardship, or difficulty of any kind.  God’s Word holds the answers to all the questions that you have been asking.  You have been working hard to overcome your lesser nature, but have only slipped further away from where you know you ought to be.  I have good news to share.  God sees your burden, and He wants to lift it from your shoulders.  The Lord is speaking to all of us who think that our own efforts and strength of will are sufficient to make us more like God.  He’s addressing all of us who are weighted down with a heavy burden that is getting harder and harder to ca...

"And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto Him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.  But He said unto them, Give ye them to eat." (Luke 9:12, 13a).   When the disciples saw such a great need before them - at least five thousand tired and hungry men - their natural thought was to send them away to where their needs could be met.  They knew that they did not have the resources to minister to such a crowd, either in food, or money to buy food.  Jesus, however, saw things quite differently.  His resources were unlimited, and He was about to teach His followers a classic lesson in supply and demand.  His command to the disciples was clear, "Give ye them to eat."   Whether the need is great or small, we often look within ourselves and think that there is nothing that we have that can satisfy that need.  Whe...

God is searching for a people who are pure and clean within, so that He can then manifest His glory and beauty to the world.   “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him,” (II Chronicles 16:9).   The psalmist David understood this when he said, “Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts,” and, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me,” (Psalm 51:6, 10).   After Saul had been rejected as king over Israel, God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king from among the sons of Jesse.  Jesse had eight Sons; and when Samuel had come down to Jesse’s house, Jesse had his oldest son, Eliab, come before Samuel.  When Samuel saw Eliab, he said to himself, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before me,”    The Lord spoke to Samuel, however, and said, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I hav...

Gideon stood on the outskirts of the Midianite army’s camp with his 300 men.  They were waiting for the right moment to utter the words that would change the course of history for his oppressed people.  His enemies numbered 135,000 warriors; his own army was but 300, divided into three companies scattered around the camp and waiting for their captain’s signal.  All of a sudden, Gideon lifted his trumpet to his lips and gave a shrill blast that split the silence of the night air.  He then broke open the clay pitcher that was in his other hand, and the flame that was inside illuminated the darkness.  Last of all, Gideon raised his voice, and with all his strength shouted, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” (Judges 7:20).  Three hundred brave Israelites followed their leader’s example and did as he had done.  The Midianites, awaking out of their sleep, hearing the commotion and seeing the lights, were filled with fright and confusion.  They tur...

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17).    Real faith comes, not from listening to or reading the Word of God, but by hearing it.   This kind of hearing can only come about when the Word of God is planted in our hearts, minds and spirits.   The Parable of the Sower shows us that many seeds fall by the wayside, on rocky ground, or among weeds.   They are then either lost or choked out.   Just hearing the Word is not enough, we must prepare a place for it to flourish.   Every good gardener knows that soil preparation is essential to having good, strong, healthy plants that will produce an abundance of produce.   It is the seed that is sown in the good ground that will produce fruit 30, 60, and 100 fold.     Many of the Jews in Jesus’ day had studied the scriptures and knew quite well what was written.   The trouble was that they weren’t hearing what God was speaking to them throug...