The Sword of the Spirit

Matthew 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Ephesians 6:17 "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Hebrews 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.”

Revelation 1:16 “In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”

Revelation 19:21 “And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.”

Do we now understand that we will be either be saved by the Word made flesh (Jesus Christ) or judged by Him? Is it any surprise that the Adversary, the Devil would discredit the very Bible, if he could? 

As I’ve shared, I use the Bible, the Word of God, to write my material. I study my heart out. I do the best I can. I know that the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, sets captives FREE. So, if any interpretation is that of oppression and bondage, I know it is not the Word of my Lord Jesus.

My experience in ministry has been incredible thus far! It’s opened my eyes to see that the very same things that were happening in the days of Jesus and His apostles are still very much alive today! Jesus ministered to the Jewish nations that He was their Messiah. The apostles ministered to the Jews first, then to the Gentiles as prophesied in the Old Testament. All of them came in contact with false prophets, sorcerers, idol worshipers, demons and spirits, the whole nine yards. They came under the same twisted attacks the saints endure today!

I can tell you one thing; if you don't know what the Word says, you will not overcome the Adversary. Many people don't read the Word because there’s either no time, or they’re simply happy with what they believe because of what they’ve been taught all their lives; “Don’t rock the boat by telling me something I don't want to hear!”

2 Tim 4:3 states, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires."

The hubs that I’ve written thus far were inspired by the things I see currently happening in the world today; not only in the professed Christian faith, but pagan religions and the innocently lost. I can tell you that from every angle, there are hostilities when the Bible is first researched and thus proves something in these beliefs or practices is “missing the mark”. No darkness likes to have light shined on it. God is not bringing a sword to PEOPLE, but to the spirit(s) deceiving them. I wonder what will happen when the LIVING WORD returns? Will we be abiding in Him according to His Word that is written for us?

Jesus says in John 8:31 "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine."

Surprisingly, I've studied to prove traditional doctrine for which I was taught, only to find out it wasn't scriptural! Surely, it's easy to refute differing doctrines from what you believe, but are you teachable enough to challenge your own traditional teachings? Mat15:9 states “but in vain to they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men."

I will continue to teach what the Word of God says. Though some of what I write about challenges today’s mainstream church practices, I’d rather please God than man any day! And, when you walk in the light, you will find a multitude of others that are walking with you!

What will you do with the truth? At LEAST challenge it by studying the Bible for yourselves…that is, if God’s will is important to you. Acts 17:11 states, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Now, let's look at some of the beliefs/doctrines I've encountered thus far that are “missing the mark” (sin):

CRITICAL FALSE DOCTRINES (blue lettering links to relevant hubs):

1. There is no God.

2. God is not a Father, nor does He have a Son.

3. All gods are greater than man and should be respected equally with God.

4. Jesus is just a man or an angelic creation of God.

5. God is three separate persons.

6. All gods lead to God.

7. I can be saved after I physically die.

8. All people will be saved through fiery judgments, even Satan and his angels.

9. Some people are predestined for hell without hope of salvation.

10. Salvation comes through being a good person.

DOCTRINES that MISS THE MARK (Salvation is not contingent upon these errors)

1. The Bible has been interpreted so many times, it's not trustworthy for truth.

2. There is no heaven and no such thing as eternal life.

3. The 144,000 are the only ones going to heaven.

4. We have to work our way to becoming worthy of God.

5. The golden rule and "reap what you sow" is the same as karma.

6. Loving man means we don't need to worry about their beliefs.

7. All good people go to heaven.

8. All people go to heaven.

9. There is no hell.

10. There is no such thing as the devil or demons.

11. Water baptism remits sins and without it we are not saved.

12. The Spiritual gifts are not in use today because the Bible is complete.

13. Answered prayers are merely coincidence of the mind.

14. All the hundreds of God’s laws and ordinances are to be followed to the “t” until He comes again!

15. We must tithe 10% of our gross income, even if it means sacrificing the needs of our families.

16. The "seed" represents faith, whereby we give money to obtain thirty, sixy or a hundred-fold...and claim health, wealth and success.

17. Grace alone saves, whether we submit our hearts and lives to Christ or not, for that would mean conditional salvation.

18. I don’t think black people were in the lineage of Christ, and inter-racial marriages are wrong.

19. Women are not to preach.

20. Only unbelievers are hypocrites.

21. There’s no such thing as being caught up in the air (no rapture of the church).

22. Our soul sleeps in the grave while our body decays until we are resurrected years from now.

John 4:23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”

Matthew 4:4 “But He answered and said, 'It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"

John 12:47-48 “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.”

Indeed, our life or death comes from the very mouth of God. 1 John 2:14 “I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one."

1 Corinthians 3:9-12 “For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away… Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you have nothing to fear, because His Holy Spirit abides in you, you will love His Word, for Jesus is the Word made flesh. If you abide in His Word, you abide in Him (John 15:7). Amen.

Because we know the Word of God "pierces to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intent of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12), we need to remember that Jesus is our "surgeon", not our "butcher".

The Bible will set straight the crooked deceptions out there in the world. Everyone knows about liars. The better they are, the more they can deceive. The father of lies is Satan, and if you see truth revealed, exposing lies you have been taught, it may be painful. Rest assured, your Shepherd will break those lies apart and heal you by His truth!

Did you know that in the old days of shepherding, the shepherd would go after a lost sheep, then break its legs, wrap them up, place the sheep on his shoulders and carry it while it bonded closely once again to its shepherd? This is what happens when the Word of God "breaks our legs".

When we consider that Jesus is the Lamb of God, it's precious to ponder that His legs were not broken as they would have been, if He hadn't died in time for the pre-Sabbath burial. He was sinless, and John 19:33 "but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs" fulfilled the prophesy of Numbers 9:12 and Psalm 34:20 "NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN." Awesome.

If you haven't yet met your Lord and Savior, I invite you to read my hub Come to Jesus: Salvation.