THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
Again,
using the Spartan solder instead of the Roman, we find that their swords were
small, with only about an 18” blade at the most. It was used after the enemy had charged their
lines trying to break apart their ranks.
After using their shield to press the enemy backwards off-balance, they
would stab, not hack (as the movies show) the enemy between their armor pieces. In other words, any exposed areas where
pierced through, separating the pieces of armor where exposed. Sound familiar?
The
Word of God therefore, must be used skillfully, to pierce and slice, not
wasting a lot of time and energy hacking and swinging wildly. This means first of all learning to interpret
God’s Word for ourselves. Looking to God
first for His Voice (Word), and if using it to rebuke, correct, or instruct in
righteousness, we seek His guidance for how, when, what scriptures, and who
with. For ourselves, since it the Sword
of the Spirit, we are to pray God’s Words over us, asking the Great Captain of
the Army, (see Joshua), to use His Word to bring about healing, strength, and
courage. Once we learn from our Great
Captain how to apply His Words to our own lives, we can therefore guide others
humbly in their own changes. Humbly,
because we must, “consider ourselves, lest we are also tempted.” Remember, our motives (attitude) should be
the B-Attitudes!
When
we are seriously ill for extended periods of time, we hear every kind of
wackiness (hackiness actually) of people interpreting God’s Word in healing for
us. They pick one word out of one
scripture and make a doctrine out of it, instead of “rightly handling the Word
of Truth.” They are well meaning, but
ill equipped for the real battle at hand.
We learned that Spartans and the Disciples where always in pairs. So, if someone has a Word, they are now
paired up with the person they have the word for. God’s Words brings life, unity, discipline, and
direction. Many of my bestest brothers
have had Words for me that I did not want to hear. But, because I trusted their Words, I allowed
iron to sharpen iron! Again, ouch!
Please listen to this song by Casting Crowns “Praise Him in This Storm” to understand how we feel about what we are going through, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-XzbAVBCgQ. I say we, even though I am the one who is suffering, because it is really harder to watch someone you love be in agony, than be suffering yourself. This has been a grueling struggle that has tested not only our faith, but also our marriage and parenthood. We are learning that it is only God’s Voice and His written Words that keep us sane and working together to get through this ordeal.
Somehow,
modern Western preachers preach a health/prosperity doctrine that states that
sickness and poverty are curses and those of us who return on our Shields are
less spiritual than those who return with their Shields, even though Jesus said
He came to us for that very reason; he owned no property or money and came to suffer
and die for us and His Father (Kingdom of God).
Paul said “I die daily; die is gain!”
Isn’t The Medal of Honor usually given posthumously!
I
am not saying or believing that death awaits me now, I am saying that many of
my friends have already returned on their Shields before me (saints that I am
not worthy to untie their sandals), and there is that possibility that the Gray
family had to work through before we made this potentially lethal
decision. We all are onboard, and are
prepared for whatever God’s Will is for us.
We pray God’s Will, not our own, be done through using, believing, and
confessing our Mighty Sword of the Spirit.
We
hope and pray that you also will pray for God’s Will for us and not be sad or
disappointed in me that I was not able to complete the therapy as prescribed
and may have to just quit altogether. I
say this because the nonChristian HepC support groups are very down on those
that don’t finish their Interferon course.
Everyone reacts differently according to their HepC Genotype, age, and
the damage done to their liver (the stage 1-4) that they are in. I am in the worst group: 60 or older,
Genotype 1, non-naive (tried it before), and Stage 4 (final stage) liver
damage.
In
the weeks and months to come, it will take all the faith and God’s Word available
to us to continue with our Shields. We
long to get back into the battle with our upgraded tried and true weapons and
skill in wielding them. You also get
your armor upgraded every time you succeed in battle, as you prepare for the
next battle. I love what T.D. Jakes once
said, “’in the world you will have tribulation,’ start tribulating!” In other words, we should be out doing the
things that bring tribulation and persecution so we can experience persecution
and tribulation.
May
the Words of our Lord resonate with us and you that we may hear His Voice above
all the noise that tries to drown out His.
May we truly rest in our Lord and be able to say in faith with Timon and
Pumba, “Hakuna-matata, hakuna-matata, hakuna-matata,” or as my best Aussie mate
would say, “no worries mate.” If you love music as
we do, also listen to the cry of our hearts for you and the Gray family by DC
Talk, “Consume Me,” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVlod4SdLD8.
(WARNING: Contemporary Christian Music!)
With much love and respect for God’s Word and to all of you who love His Voice and God’s Son as we do.
Mike,
Carolyn, and Aaron
