03/02/2019
When was the last time you spoke to someone about your faith? I am not talking about standing on the street corner atop a soapbox or handing out tracts; I am referring to an earnest conversation about Jesus Christ with a friend at work who is suffering and lost, or a child you know that needs to hear one of the parables of Jesus to help them understand a life lesson? We often blame society for emasculating our faith, when the truth is that we gave up our swords of faith long ago. We stand in our armor of faith with no weapon and bemoan our circumstances.
“But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle,”
1 Samuel 13:20 ESV
So when our weapons of faith are removed from us, and we think our voices have been silenced, there is always the age old way of reaching out... one soul at a time, just as the Roman Christians did in the time of Paul. There is a phrase that we like to use as Christians, but seldom employ... “When one door closes another door opens.” We say this, and yet we stand outside a single closed door into a house of many doors and say we can’t go in! Trust in God, because to put it rather commonly... He is our Motel 6, and always leaves the light on for us, and the door open as well.
“"'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
Revelation 3:8 ESV
In the time of Saul the Philistines had taken away all of the Israelite’s weapons, and banned blacksmiths from their midst so that no new ones could be made, but they found another way. They took all the implements used in farming and everyday life to the Philistine blacksmith and had him sharpen them. In this way they were turning common items into weapons, and without notice. We need to do this with our faith today. In China they tear the crosses from atop churches, but try as they might they can’t remove the sand from the streets where crosses are drawn with faithful fingers, and they can’t exorcise Jesus Christ from the hearts of believers who speak softly... one to another, behind closed, but unlocked doors.
“Most of our tools need sharpening. We need better perception, tact, energy, promptness - in a word, complete adaption for the Lord’s work. Practical common sense is very scarce among many Christians. If we could, we should learn from our enemies and have the Philistines sharpen our weapons.” - Charles Spurgeon
So I ask again... “When was the last time you spoke to someone about your faith?” Here in America laws have been passed to allow for the killing of unborn children, to prohibit prayer in our schools, and the display faithful items in our public places, but despite this attack on the Christianity, and the steady removal of our swords of faith, we still have plowshare, and we still have our voices that can whisper in the ears of those who desperately need God’s Word in their lives. We know from our previous reading in Revelation 3:8 “I know that you have but little power” that in the final days we will not be powerful, but that is not the same as powerless. So use your common sense, and reach out in faith to one soul at a time... one man... one woman... one child... and teach them of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the promises of God’s Word. You might not have a sword or a spear as you attempt to battle evil, and disbelief, but your tongue is sharp when it speaks the Word...
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 ESV
This is our sword in this age, and as John writes in Revelation, it will see us victorious in Jesus Christ...
“From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”
Revelation 19:15 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the strength of your Word, and for the gospel of your Son Jesus Christ that leads us to victory over sin and death. Great are you who goes before us, and great is your Holy Spirit that brings to our remembrance the words you would have us speak to those whose ears long for your truth. Give us the wisdom to whisper into the ears of the lost, and the courage to do so when the opportunity arises. Thank you Holy Father for your Son who calls out “Follow Me”, by both voice and action. Thank you for His blood and body that has become our meal of faith and righteousness so that as we partake of it we remember Him, and are encouraged to speak as He spoke. Strengthen us in our weakness, and teach us to be strong in the meekness of our demeanor so that every whisper of truth, and every mention of your Word that passes from us will serve as our sword, and carve the evil from our midst. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who we love with all our heart, soul, and mind, and of whom we speak always in power and confidence. Praised be your name Lord, even when you set our table in the midst of our enemies because you are with us always, and none can remove the sand in which our finger writes.
Rich Forbes