Scripture: Hebrews 4 v 11 - 13: "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 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.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."
Our Lord Jesus Christ did a marvellous job of teaching us how to overcome Satan when He was fasting for forty days in the desert. Firstly, it gives you an enormous advantage if you need to do battle to deny the flesh its lusts. Jesus must have had a good glimpse of how things would be 2000 years later.
The first two things we need to totally eliminate for three (3) days (72 hours) is to be in a desert i.e. cut off from food, WiFi, phone, TV, people, alcohol, nicotine, in fact water only and a Bible. When you have zero distractions you can give your full attention to the enemy. You give Jesus your full unadorned self for three days to prepare for battle.
He will dress you in the Armour of God. This includes the sword which is the Word of God found in Ephesians 6. Meditate on these verses and receive each piece of armour and what it spiritually does for you. Belt of truth. Breastplate of righteousness. Helmet of salvation. These three things can take a while to achieve but you need to be totally clean to face this enemy. Jesus made sure He was.
The Word is a double-edged sword which is very sharp and deadly. Consider what the battle may be. Perhaps a marriage that's crumbling and you want to remove the Devil that's causing the rift, the fights, the tears, the pain, the lies, the fling, the selfishness. You need all the help you can get. Couples therapy is a band aid over gangrene. Getting sympathy and advice from mates in a pub or your sister's over tea, just complicates and escalates the issues.
The Word cuts down to marrow and bone, dividing it. If your marriage is failing that's where you have to start with truth and righteousness. Self-will must leave the building, God's will must be revealed. Part of your build up will be to watch Fireproof and prepare to do what it says. Search for scriptures on marriage and divorce and write them down for the time of battle when the enemy attacks you. Then you can tell him. It is written.....that's the final word on it.
When you have other serious problems like addictions, a disease, loss of a job, debts piling up, then you now have a sword that is sharpened and ready for use. The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Friend. Get to know Him as He is there to assist in amazing ways. He has gifts that make troubles disappear quickly.
You cannot hide from our God, He sees right through you so you can be very honest before Him if you have messed up and are genuinely sincere in fixing the problem not just panicking because you have been caught. He made you and knows how many hairs are on your head. And everything else too. Get your belief right. Make sure your salvation is based on truth in the Bible.
1. Be born again John 3 v 3
2. Be baptized in water after that. Acts 2 v 38
3. Let whoever baptized you lay hands upon you to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Read Acts 19.
4. You have received the gift of salvation and your name has been written in the Lamb's Book of Life, which is your passport to Heaven stamped and ready to fly.
Spiritually the world is in a big mess with churches watering down the power of the Gospel to mere story telling. Many churches have compromised with Satan to join the Interfaith movement. Jesus hates this strange fire and will fight against it with a double edged sword out of His mouth. He has always defeated Satan by quoting scripture. We need to sharpen our swords, our knowledge of the Bible, until we are competent to boldly proclaim truth to the Devil's lies.
When bullets are flying we will not have time to go hunting for an appropriate verse to apply to the situation. We need to be ready to fight these battles in the now. It is not something you can put off. Spiritually, this planet is a war zone which very few people understand. They go through severe trauma because of the lack of information. God said in Hosea, My people perish for lack of knowledge.
The sins of the world open the doors to trouble. Racism is a big issue bringing many tragedies with it. Xenophobia is a worldwide curse that brings trauma, death, segregation and loss. There are 25 million children around the world being used as sex slaves. The powerless churches, weak through false pastors and doctrines, have no answers.
The Word of God has been removed from schools, and in South Africa, Christian schools must open their doors to all religions. It's one small step away from Interfaith. All ways lead to God to which Jesus responded in John 14 v 6: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." This should be our response too! We are witnesses to Jesus and should have a word in season for those who oppose truth.
Jesus hates the doctrine of Balac who laid a stumbling block against Israel, when he paid Balaam the prophet to prophesy against Israel so they could be defeated in battle. This is still happening today by many nations with a high Islamic population, who deny Israel's right to exist. Jesus is going to send a double- edged sword in judgment.
God's judgment is coming against the nations that oppose Israel and His blessing is reserved for those governments that are loyal to her. You cannot be a Christian and hate Israel. Those WOKE governments that recognised Palestine for the two state solution are starting to feel the cold shoulder of our Father. The Islamic militants in their lands are stirring up fear by the many fatal or life-threatening attacks since then. The local people are rising in anger.
It is time to get real with a Holy God who will back up those who refuse to compromise. Remember in Daniel, the three men who refused to bow to an idol and faced death, Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego. When the three men were thrown into a fiery oven, Nebuchadnezzar saw the pre-incarnate Jesus pitch up in the flames and not one burn or even the smell of smoke was upon any of them. It converted king Nebuchadnezzar. Let us have this kind of faith in these last days.
Sharpen your sword!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your love for mankind is without end, but You will not permit sin in Heaven. Give us understanding of the times we are living in, and the need to keep our swords sharp. Do not let us become dull and rusty, but motivate us to do the uttermost for Your Glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.