The Sword of the Spirit...

If you know me very well, then you know that I love God’s Word and that I am very interested in matters concerning Israel. I would like to share with you an excerpt from “The Carmel Alert”, Out of Zion Ministries Newsletter. It is about both--- God’s Word & Israel. It’s a bit lengthy but I believe you’ll be blessed by it. Thanks for reading! - Connie Wolhford

Stefan's Comment: The Sword of the Spirit

Eph 6:11-12 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

We are in an ongoing battle every moment of our lives. In every decision that we make, we have a choice to obey God and bring Him glory, or to disobey Him and cause Him grief, regardless of anyone else knowing of this choice. Everything that we do echoes in the spiritual realm, every thought, every whim, every attitude and every word. As Shaul (Paul) wrote in the above verse, it is not against flesh and blood that we wrestle, but against principalities, powers and spiritual hosts. Out of all the armour of God stated in Eph 6, the Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon that we have. All the others are defensive weapons that are designed to keep us from the fiery arrows that the enemy sends our way. The only weapon that we have to strike back at the enemy is the sword. There is a famous saying that I think we have all heard at one point or another in our lives: “The best defense is a strong offence”. Wars and battles are not won by being on the defensive, but by attacking, striking hard at the enemy and advancing forward until he either surrenders or withdraws.

It is for good reason that it is called the ‘Sword of the Spirit’ because it is a spiritual weapon and we must be in the Spirit in order to use it. Our sword is the living word of God that is “…powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb 4:12, NKJ). But in order for it to be affective, we must know how to use it and be skilled in handling it. How can a soldier go to war with a weapon that he does not know how to use? Just imagine a soldier throwing his M-4 rifle at the enemy instead of shooting at him with it – not very effective. Also think of a soldier who knows how to use his M-4, meaning he knows how to fire it, but it takes him forever to change a clip, or he only know how to fire standing up, but not squatting, sitting, kneeling or lying down. This is not how a trained, skilled soldier is to perform in battle. So we must know how to use our sword and be skilled in it.

A perfect example can be found in Matt 3:16 going into Matt 4. Yeshua (Jesus) goes through ‘Tironut’ or ‘Basic Training - Boot Camp’ in English. It is the first time that we see that the enemy tempted Yeshua. The first thing we see is that after He was baptized Yeshua was filled with the Spirit and was then moved by the Spirit into the desert. Notice the importance of being in the Spirit. Before His baptism Yeshua did not perform any miracles nor minister in anyway. We are only told that He grew in wisdom and stature before God and men. In the desert the enemy came to Yeshua in order to attack Him.

Notice the pattern in the temptations:
First, Satan attacks Yeshua (Jesus) in the weakness / vulnerability of His flesh. Yeshua was hungry after fasting for 40 days already and the enemy tries to get Him to turn stones into bread. Notice how Yeshua, being filled with the Spirit strikes the enemy with the Sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God) with much skill and precision. He knows exactly how to use His weapon to refute the attack of the enemy.
Secondly, the enemy tries to use the word to cause Yeshua to fall. The enemy is doing two things here - 1/ he is twisting and perverting the word of God from the truth that is in it and 2/ he is attacking the sovereignty of God the Father over Yeshua’s life. Again Yeshua knows how to strike skillfully with the truth of the word against the perversion of the word.
Thirdly, the enemy offers Yeshua a short cut and a cheap alternative of the real promise given by the Father (Psalm 110:1). Yeshua knows why He has come, He knows what is planned for Him and what He must do. Heb 12:2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (NKJ). Again Yeshua strikes the devil with the word of God and the enemy finally flees from Him just as is written in James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (NKJ). Then the angels come and minister to Him both physically (food) and spiritually, I believe. What a perfect example of how we are to stand in the word and use it in the spirit to come against the enemy’s attacks, resisting (defending and counter-attacking) until he flees!

Another prime example is young King David when fighting against Goliath (read 1 Sam 17:45-50). David is skilled in his simple weapons – the slingshot and the shepherds staff, but not with all of Saul’s armour and weaponry. He goes out against Goliath with what he is skilled in. I believe that David was filled with and moved by the Spirit at that moment as it was not normal for him to do what he did in that situation. Goliath curses David and his God, the God of Israel. Goliath wishes to enslave Israel. His words are lofty and come against the word of God. David speaking prophetically with boldness declares to Goliath exactly what is about to happen to him and this soon comes to pass. There was a spirit working in Goliath that exalted itself against the knowledge of God and His truth that was cut down and destroyed by a brave freckly red head who knew God’s word, was skilled in it, was brave and saw beyond Goliath’s size, armour and battle experience to God’s promises, purposes and desires.

2 Cor 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (NKJ)
The apostles were commanded by the Lord not to leave Jerusalem until they were filled with power from on high, until they were filled with the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is the living out the New Covenant. Only in the Spirit can we walk according to God’s commandments. Only in the Spirit are we in tune with our Master, our Abba (Father) to do His will, just as Yeshua was. Of course we will always fail and wrestle with our flesh, but still that is our goal and our vision.

In these days there are many spirits that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God concerning those who are the Lord’s and also the nation of Israel. Let us become more skilled in the Word. Let us proclaim the word over out lives and over the nation of Israel. The enemy will keep attacking because he knows that his time is short, but we have a weapon that is “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit…” to strike back with. Let us walk in the Spirit and make full use of our spiritual sword – the Word of God.

The Lord bless you as you bless Israel by standing in defense of her right to exist on the land given to the Jewish people by the God of Israel. Lets pray that Israel will turn back to their God. Do not be silent, but share this with your fellow Christians, share it with your pastors, and with anyone you have a chance to speak to. Lets also pray for that breakthrough to the Muslims, and please remember to pray for all of the soldiers in the IDF -they are defending and fighting for the Kingdom of God.

God's Word, Our Destiny...

Part 1. “My Plan for You -- Your Heart’s Desire”....continued

In my last post, months ago, I commented that through knowing and obeying God’s Word, we will find the way to the abundant life that Jesus spoke of in John 10:10b, when He said, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” The abundant life that Christ wants to give us is a life lived to its maximum. I want to “max out” my life here on earth. I want to fulfill my greatest potential and to have the greatest success in all aspects of life that is possible for me to have. I believe most of us really desire that kind of fulfilled life. But, I have to admit that I have often lived in mediocrity and have fallen short of my best, which is God’s best for me. Because of that, I am sure that I have missed out on blessings and accomplishments that God had planned for me. The following poem expresses these thoughts:

Beyond Myself

Beyond myself -- God's Word is true.

He teaches me my whole life through.

Though life brings trials, toils and snares,

Beyond myself, I cast my cares.

I say, "But human's all I am"

He says, "You're more than just a man."

I have excuses for my short comings.

He says, "With Me, you quit your slumming."

Mediocrity has been my ride.

"Just get by." has been my pride.

But Jesus said to come up higher.

My plan for you -- your heart's desire.

"But, Jesus, how can I do so?

I'm only human, that you know.

My weaknesses, my faults, my doubts!

Go figure, Lord, what I'm about!"

"Am I a man that I should lie?

My Word is Truth, so don't be shy.

I shed my blood that you could be

Beyond yourself and be set free!"

Connie Wohlford, June 22, 2000

I repent of not living my life to it’s fullest -- which, by the way, is to live God’s plan for me and not my own puny plan or even someone else’s plan for me. Speaking of which, that “someone else” includes Satan. He has a plan for me and for you as well, and it’s not good and it’s not abundant. His plan is for my destruction and for me to adversely affect all I can on my way down. And you can be certain that he has that same plan for you! But God...! (To be continued)

-Connie Wohlford