The Way of The Sword

Introduction

I am a man of the Sword and I hope to die by the Sword. This is not the sword of Matthew 26:52 where Jesus says,

“Then said Jesus unto him (Peter), Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take up the sword shall perish with the sword.”

What I speak of is the Sword of the Spirit as in Ephesians 6:17,

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:” ESV

Many Christians are still erroneously taught from the pulpit and Sunday School that Jesus came to bring peace on earth and goodwill to men as in Luke 2:14.

“Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven! For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.” TPT

This proclamation was made by Angels at Jesus’ birth. It does not represent Jesus’ mission on earth as noted below by Jesus Himself in Matthew 10: 34-38 KJV.

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

Definitions

Lord God of Hosts

The Lord God of hosts is defined as Jesus the Lord of God’s heavenly armies – Adonai-Tza’ot (The God of the Armies of Israel).

Sword

A weapon made for defense and offense for battles and warfare. There is the sword of man and the Sword of God.

• • The sword of man is a weapon consisting typically of a long, straight, or slightly curved, pointed blade used as a weapon of death or destruction of the body by those seeking dominance in the carnal world. It is designed specifically for carving flesh and blood.

• • The Sword of God is the sword of the Spirit mentioned in Ephesians 6:17 (see above). It is used in the spiritual world for Spiritual Warfare in fighting spiritual evil and Satan’s heavenly armies of principalities and evil powers of darkness. Unlike the sword of man, it is not designed to kill. You can not kill spirits that have no body. Spirits can only be bound and sent into dry places or bound to objects such as the Euphrates river, and the pit of eternal fire.

“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 discerned of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) KJV

“Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”: (Ephesians 6: 13, 17) KJV

Now the Sword is The Word of God and cannot be used for offense or defense battles unless it is properly taught and wielded. In this regard, the Church is very lacking.

The Enemy

The only real enemies are Satan his minions and mankind who have been overcome with evil.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) KJV

A War

A conflict composed of many battles that often involve many nations seeking dominance. The “Great War” mentioned in the scenario above is the last battle of the book Revelation.

A Battle

A skirmish or fight can lead to warfare in which there are many battles. Some are very large battles as in the battle Jesus engaged in at Gethsemane. In this paper it refers to everything from fighting illness, disease, relationships, differences of opinion, etc. All these are obscure and often originate in the heavens to bring division among God’s people. Satan attempts to get a man to lose faith in God. Battles of this nature can last a lifetime depending on our response to adversity, faith, and the will of God. (Read “A Tale of Three Battles” click here)

The Church

Then

The early church of the Bible is composed of followers of Jesus. They consisted of Hebraic Jews and Hellenistic Jews, who were Gentiles converted to Judaism, and, Gentiles or non-Jews. Most of Western civilization is composed of Gentiles unless you have a Jewish lineage.

New converts were discipled into the faith. Many followed what is called “The Didache”, a discipleship outline of the Lord’s teaching by the Twelve Apostles for the Gentiles. (See Amazon for the Book by Dr. Dennis and Jennifer Clark called “An Ancient Blueprint for the Supernatural”.) The book emphasizes that there must be a change in the converts’ lives before baptism can occur. No change no conversion.

These converts met in each other’s homes and the Temple for prayers, fellowship, teaching, and communal life. Many used their resources for the feeding and needs of those less fortunate. In these situations where there were thousands of converts to deal with it was difficult to meet everyone’s needs unless the Church made use of the five-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11, the ministry gifts mentioned in Romans: 12: 3 – 8 (mentioned below)and the Spiritual Gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4: 11, 12) ESV

“For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12: 38) ESV 

“For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gift of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12: 8-10) ESV

The Church Today

Today the Church is much different. For the most part (again not every Church) the Pastor or Shepherd is a businessman who oversees the governance of a large populace of people called the Church. What is called the Church is often a building with an assembly but not necessarily the followers of Christ as it should be called. Now there are many denominations in today’s Churches that are reminiscent of what Paul preached. These denominations often fight against themselves in a manner that makes the Way of The Sword a foolish endeavor that is misunderstood and improperly used.

“Brothers and sisters, when I was with you I found it impossible to speak to you as those who are spiritually mature people, for you are still dominated by the mind-set of the flesh. And because you are immature infants in Christ, I had to nurse you and feed you with “milk,” not with the solid food of more advanced teachings, because you weren’t ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready to be fed solid food, for you are living your lives dominated by the mindset of the flesh. Ask yourselves: Is there jealousy among you? Do you compare yourselves with others? Do you quarrel like children and end up taking sides? If so, this proves that you are living your lives centered on yourselves, dominated by the mindset of the flesh, and behaving like unbelievers. For when you divide yourselves up into groups—a “Paul group” and an “Apollos group” (a Baptist group, a Methodist group, etc.) you’re acting like people without the Spirit’s influence. Who is Apollos? Or who is Paul? Aren’t we both just servants through whom you believed our message? Aren’t each of us doing the ministry the Lord has assigned to us? I was the one who planted the church and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow. This means the one who plants is not anybody special, nor the one who waters, for God, is the one who brings the supernatural growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:2-9) TPT

Questions for the Church Today

Where are the ministry gifts, gifts of the Holy Spirit manifest and where are the five-fold ministries in each Church? Where is the one-on-one? Where is disciplining? Where is the Sword, the Word of God Being followed today as it was in the beginning? Even in the beginning, there were problems with the Church at Corinth (above). It is not much worse today? I can’t help but feel that the Sword is missing from the Church and by missing I am including that if it is not properly taught, used, or handled. It is missing. The Sword of God has become a butter knife. The Way of The Sword has become anemic.

Teaching the Way of The Sword

Teaching, as I am using it in this paper, involves the proper presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the proper teaching of Godly principles from Jewish history including the Old Testament. This is teaching the Way of the Sword. Remember that in the early Church, there was no “New Testament”. This teaching and learning from the Word of God (the Sword) is always ongoing and builds upon itself, as my blogs do. The Milk of the Word should fill the child of the Gospel and be followed by meat which will cause this child (the Church) to strengthen. Then, through trials and adversity, growth and maturity will come. Seasoned veterans of the Word should use the Sword to teach others and then the Church will grow and become strong as intended.

“And the word of the LORD will be (taught) to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, (Isiah 28:13) ESV 

Starting with the milk of the Word but not stopping there as is often the case in today’s Church.

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” (1 Peter 2:2)

“About this, we have much to say, and it is hard to explain since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:11 – 14) ESV

There is a continuous flow of milk from our pulpits today. I have seldom sat in a service where I have heard anything new that brings revelation to my spirit. The excuse often given is that new converts need to be taught the basics. That’s true but the main body needs meat. When do I hear meat? Where does discipleship (teaching milk and meat) enter? The younger disciples should be taught the full Word of God by seasoned members, possibly by Deacons and group leaders. There are usually more older converts in a congregation than there are babes. These older seasoned converts should be teaching the younger.

Bad Teaching and Examples from the Pulpit

Unfortunately, we have all been led by very bad teaching from the Pulpit. In days and years past (the 1800s or so), the Church knew little of the Bible and we were led by presumption and man’s interpretation of God’s Word by those who, seemingly, were educated and “in the know”. The public was not allowed to study the word. This occurred mostly in the Catholic church up to the early 1900’s. Unfortunately, although the Bible is now unchained, this continues today. In general, from my perspective, the Church in the West is selfishly motivated. It preaches an easy, feel-good, Gospel. If you read such publications as “Voice of the Martyrs” you find a very different Church in third world countries. It almost seems as though it’s a different Gospel.

In Bible school, we engaged in some situation ethic scenarios (BTW I hate situation ethics. It’s very dangerous and should not be practiced. I think it’s a tool used by Satan to make excuses that justify a person’s behavior.) On one occasion we discussed, around the classroom, what would you do if you and your family were threatened with immediate death if you did not renounce Christianity. There were many answers. Some said they would lie to save the lives of people and children, and then repent later. Others would try to negotiate. Others preach trying to weasel their way out of a very precarious situation. When it came to my African friend, who had first-hand knowledge of this situation in Niger, he simply said, “You die”. No fighting, no suggestions of “should-a, could-a, would-a; just die. Everyone turned and stared at him. His definition of Christianity in action was much different than ours. But think! Isn’t Christianity dying to self and living for Him? This is expressed as action, not games, or a religion. It is the real Gospel, the real Sword. We are often thought in the Church’s a resemblance of a Gospel of no power (here is where the Sword of God is nothing but a butter knife). Then we go home thinking, “That was nice”, and quickly forget. The solemnity of the Gospel is lost.

The Roles We Play

The Bible speaks of the Church and the five-fold ministries expressed in Ephesians 4:11.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” (KJV)

This should be the makeup of every church but it isn’t. These ministries are often pushed on the congregation. In truth you may not fall into one of these categories and, that is fine, you don’t need to. What you need to do and be, is what God tells you to be. Maybe that is a business person, carpenter, field worker, whatever. All of these arenas need the Gospel preached to them. Having to be in one of the five-fold ministries is a misnomer force on us by the Charismatic movement and is often still taught by the pulpit and Church groups. People would ask “What ministry do you fall into?” Most answers should be, “None of the above”. But, I digress. Let’s just speak on one of the ministers and how it relates to “The Way of the Sword”.

The Pastor

A pastor is supposed to be a Shepherd but I don’t think many know what this means. Most pastors today are businessmen who run a church. They feel responsible for the buildings, the Church programs, preaching every Sunday, all finances, and overall helping the church to grow by increasing membership and by displaying the number of salvation’s (or, more accurately, hands raised at an altar call) that follows. Worship is often entertainment. If a church doesn’t grow in size and number of converts it is deemed a failure, small thereby weak, and the fault of the Pastor.

Shepherd the Flock Should Feed the Flock

The entire flock of the shepherd must be fed and disciplined. (Not sheared as I have once heard preached.) This feeding is not the same Word preached every week with a new twist used to bring in new souls. The greater portion of a congregation needs meat and disciplining. If they are doing something wrong the Pastor should address it, point it out, and call them down if you have to, as they did in the Corinthian Church. I see many Churches that are social centers with men and women dressed provocatively and, behaving in an ungodly fashion without reverence, discipline, and holiness for the Word of God. Pastors must call them out for correction regardless of whether or not they feel they will lose some of the congregation. The Church of Jesus Christ is not recognized by their numbers but by their love for one another.

In the Didache’, the manual used by the early Apostles to teach new converts, it mentions that new converts were often not baptized until nearly a year after conversion and their sponsors recognized that there was a definite change in the converts’ life. Today it is to save them and get them baptized as soon as possible.

What Ever Happened to Discipling

Shepherds (Pastors) should always make provision in churches for new converts, and some old, to be discipled. New converts seldom know the Bible, how to read it, and, how to incorporate it into their lives. We don’t disciple people today as we should. The old (first) church had disciples. Even Socrates had disciples of which Plato was one. A church is not complete unless it disciples its people. I don’t mean having classes on various topics. That is good also. What I do mean is one-on-one, hands-on, teaching and guiding in the ways of the Sword.

Home Churches

I am a great advocate of home churches over churches with large congregations. Some Churches I know have both which is great. The home church (of 10 families, give or take) is in a great position to disciple members and bring correction. The home Church, of which my family were members, had a short teaching, scripture reading, songs of worship, great testimonies, a hot seat for ministry and healing and all around loving of each other. Once a month we had a “Pot Luck” which by definition was an Agape supper including communion and fellowship. I miss this and long to go back. Yes, I should.

A Great Deception

I often hear, “Whatever happens it is in God’s hands, it must be His will. Only He is in control.” This is a lie straight from the realm of Satan. This deception may have come from a misinterpretation of Proverbs 20:24 which states:

“It is the Lord who directs your life, for each step you take is ordained by God to bring you closer to your destiny. So much of your life, then, remains a mystery!”  TPT. Or,

“But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. (Psalms 75 7) KJV

Or in the The Passion Translation version which I prefer for this quote:

“This I know: the favor that brings promotion and power doesn’t come from anywhere on earth, for no one exalts a person but God, the true judge of all. He alone determines where favor rests. He anoints one for greatness and brings another down to his knees.” (Psalms 75: 6, 7)

My interpretation is that even in times of turmoil and mankind’s failure God will deliver. However, it does not mean that God will have His will do whatever we do. If we do nothing, our Salvation and that of the world are lost. We must pray and study and engage in human action, to show ourselves worthy.

“Keep a constant watch over your soul, and pray for the courage and grace to prevail over these things that are destined to occur and that you will stand before the presence of the Son of Man with a clear conscience.” (Luke 21: 36) TPT

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (The Way of The Sword)” (2 Timothy 2:15) ESV

Conclusion

Take your Sword out of your scabbard and fight for Righteousness, truth, and the American Way (Superman). Die if you must. God’s will, will be done only if we obey and fight the good fight. Remember, God’s will was not done with Israel in the Old Testament when they turned from Him, sat back and did nothing. The United States today is turning from Him in the Churches, in the same manner Israel did in the Old Testament. If we do not turn back and fight what happens will not be His will. Are you called by His name? Do something! Our faith is near dead if we do nothing. This is not in God’s hands! It is in ours. If we do not fight for the Church and for the Government with the Way of The Sword we have already lost.

“So fight with faith for the winner’s prize! Lay your hands upon eternal life, for this is your calling—celebrating in faith before the multitude of witnesses! So now, I instruct you before the God of resurrection life and before Jesus, the Anointed One, who demonstrated a beautiful testimony even before Pontius Pilate, that you follow this commission faithfully with a clear conscience and without blemish until the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.” (1 Timothy 6: 12 to 14) TPT

I repeat the Scripture we often go to when it comes to praying for our country.

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and (I will) heal their land. (Not so if we sit back and do nothing)” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV) 

Pastors, Teachers, and God’s people; teach the Way of The Sword and be prepared to die by the Sword. If we do not turn from our wicked ways, humble ourselves, and ask forgiveness, He will not heal, period.

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Revelation 12:11)

Enough said

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.”  (Jeremiah 15:16) ESV

i