A POINTLESS SWORD - WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

When God calls a man or a woman, He makes their mouth like a "sharp sword" (Isaiah 49:2). They become a moral power in the hand of the Holy Spirit. He uses their words to pierce consciences & cut & lay open the hearts of men. POINTLESS SPEECH is NO SPEECH for the true minister of God. Nowadays, many want to break off the POINT of the SWORD and be cute! God didn't call you to be cute, but to cut! LEAVE THE SWORD ALONE!

In Ephesians 6:17, the Apostle Paul admonished all believers with these words - "And take the...sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." We want to pay close attention to the fact that God is calling His Word a "sword." In fact, He is calling it - "the sword of the Spirit." There is deep significance in why He called it a "sword" and not a pillow, for example.

As we move over to Hebrews 4:12, we find the same connotation from the Apostle Paul - "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..." Notice what is being said here. "The word of God" is depicted as being sharper than a "sword" that has two edges - two edges to give it the ability to cut keenly.

"Piercing even" - This "sword of the Spirit" that is living, energetic, active, and mighty has such cutting power invested in it that it is capable of penetrating...piercing through...and laying open the motives and feelings of men. It has the capability to awaken the conscience... alarm fears...and lay bear any and all self-delusions. It is a sharp sword that cuts into the innermost being in order to discern whether the thoughts and intents of the heart are spiritual or fleshly. It lays open the whole man - showing him for what he really is. It pierces through all disguises of error and lays bare the wiles of the enemy.

We cannot ignore the fact that it is termed - "the sword of the Spirit." In other words, the Holy Spirit is the author of it. It is He Who furnishes and inspires it. He renders it powerful - giving it its edge and penetrating power.

Every Christian called by God to do any work for Him is to "take the... sword of the Spirit." He is to expect his mouth to be made "like a sharp sword" and "a polished shaft" - "...hath made my mouth like a sharp sword...and made me a polished shaft..." (Isaiah 49:2). Then and only then can God consider him as being one of His own - "And said unto me, Thou art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified" (Isaiah 49:3). This is what it means to be made fit for His service.

What exactly happens when God puts His Word in the believer's mouth or makes his "mouth like a sharp sword" - "a polished shaft"? His words - directed toward the wicked - become pungent, penetrating, and powerful. They are directed against the hearts of the ungodly - piercing their conscience and overcoming all pride and stubbornness. Said another way - he becomes a moral power in the hand of the Holy Spirit.

We see this perfectly demonstrated in Acts 2:37 and Acts 5:33.

Acts 2:37 says - "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?" After receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Peter got up and preached to the multitude of people. His preaching was so powerful that it pierced or penetrated their hearts - leaving them without reply and without excuse. The word of God entered into them as a sharp sword - cutting and laying open their hearts. They saw themselves as guilty of the crime of being accessory to the death of Christ. Suddenly and deeply, they became affected with anguish and alarm at what Peter had said - "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, Whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).

Another illustration of this subject under discussion is found in Acts 5:33 which says - "When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them." This time Peter and the apostles - after being miraculously delivered from prison - answered the high priest and the Sadducees with these words - "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him" (Acts 5:30-32). When the leaders heard these words, they were exceedingly enraged and indignant. It was as if they had been sawn asunder. They were filled with anguish...great pain... uneasiness...wrath...and madness. The apostles' rebuke sharply and cuttingly cut to their hearts.

In closing, in Psalm 149:6, David exhorted all saints by saying - "Let the high praises of God be in your mouth, and a two-edged sword in your hand." Notice that he did not just say that they were to go about praising their God. Equally important was that they had a "sword of edges" in their hand - a sword with an edge on both sides of the blade for piercing and striking. They were to always be ready to strike deadly blows at all falsehood and wickedness...to fight against all corruption...and to be vigilant to bring Self into subjection to the yoke of Christ.

So we see from the Scriptures that - POINTLESS SPEECH is NO SPEECH for the true minister of God.

The "sword" that is furnished by the Holy Spirit is a "two-edged" sword. It definitely has a point on it.

This "word of God" is given to you to kill sin in you and others. Otherwise, if not stopped, sin will end up doing the killing!

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

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