Sunday, February 26, 2012

Our Most Powerful Weapon

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  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; 

 Hebrews 4:12

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.

          There are many discussions and philosophies among born again Christians regarding how we can best see unbelievers become believers.  Millions of dollars are made by marketing groups who promise great results to churches because they finally have discovered the secret that will reach droves of people.  Some folks try to bend and twist scriptures in order to make it “relevant” for today.  Some have gone far away from the old fashioned method of preaching the Word to concerts, cantatas, and dramas.  Personal and specific soul winning has been replaced with “lifestyle evangelism” where we simply live right and wait to be asked why we are different.  Of course the poor soul that doesn’t notice our piety will go to Hell unwarned, but that is the new trend.

          My dear friends let me be real simple today.  There is nothing more powerful to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ than the perfectly inspired and preserved Word of God!  Do not get caught up in human reasoning and arguments in order to reach the lost and bring wayward Christians back home.  In this war that is raging between the forces of darkness and the forces of light, do not neglect God’s Word, your most powerful weapon. 

The word of God is quick, or, alive and constantly active.

No one can be saved without the word of God.  Do not allow the Devil to get you to trade your Bible for a songbook!  Look at what Scriptures say about this subject:

1 Peter 1:23

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

It is time that we understand that the Bible is incorruptible seed!  Memorize it! Quote it!  Use it!  Learn it!  I love to reach Christian books, but none of them alone can save a soul.  We need to use the sword!  

          Some are afraid to quote scripture for fear that it will offend some.  They are content to live a quiet life, never offering the Words of Life to those lost and dying souls that surround them every day.  Look God’s promise regarding His perfect Word:

Isaiah 55:11

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

 1 Corinthians 1:21

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

          My friends, the Word of God is alive!  It will always accomplish God’s will when it goes forth!  Preach, teach, memorize, and proclaim the Word!

The Word of God is Powerful.

 Jeremiah 23:29

29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

 Proverbs 25:4

4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

          God’s Word is a fire!  It heats up our lives and burns off all of the filth of this world.  Silver is purified as it is heated.  Dross comes to the surface with increased heat.  We must have God’s Word applied to our lives in the same way.  You say, yes, but some hearts are hard, like stones, and they do not believe.  I find it comforting that Hebrews 4:12 does not put any conditions out there.  The Word IS sharp and it cuts whether you believe it will or not!  It is also powerful enough to break a stony heart or tear down the strong holds that the Devil has erected in one’s life.
 
2 Corinthians 10:4-5

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  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; 

           Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory used God’s Word when He took on Satan and his vile temptations face to face.  We have that same powerful Word at our fingertips!

 Matthew 4:4,7,10

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

 The Word of God is Sharper than any twoedged sword!

          The wording here speaks of a deep penetration!  God’s Word goes deeper than one’s excuses.  It plunges deeper than one’s tradition.  It penetrates past emotion and finds its mark in the innermost and secret places of one’s being.  Once the Word of God goes forth, there is no more neutral ground, one either accepts it, and repents, or rejects it and continues in their sin, miserable and condemned.

Acts 2:37,41

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

           The Word of God is also a discerner, or judge of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  You see, we can deceive ourselves into thinking that we are O.K. but the Scriptures do not change, and they give an accurate assessment of our spiritual condition.

Jeremiah 17:9-10

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

 Psalm 139:1-2

1  O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
 
         So, rejoice my friend!  You are not without a weapon in this spiritual war.  Christian books are great, and songs are OK, the opinions of men have some benefit, but there is no sword as sharp and effective as the perfectly inspired and preserved Word of God!

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