We discussed last lesson the danger of selling the New Covenant short with overly simplistic "plan of salvation" presentations. The Blood of Jesus calls for you to die to self, and this must be made clear when the Gospel is presented from the start, lest we end up with more "spiritual stillborns" -- those who seem to have entered the Kingdom, but then frustrate it's purposes, working to hinder the faith within the churches.
Hebrews 4:12 -- The Word of God as sword: Modeled on the Roman sword, 20-24 inches (50-60 cm) long, double edged. They were produced in high quantity, all standardized. They were made of a good grade of steel, though not the best available, but their design allowed them to keep their cutting edge longer than other designs. They were the first mass-produced sword actually designed to allow chopping, along with stabbing. Up to that time, most swords were only good for stabbing. It could also be used for emergency surgery, which usually meant amputating a ruined limb. It was as sharp as any doctor's tools.
What's required to use The Sword of the Spirit? Do we require the extended combat trainging given to Roman soldiers? Perhaps, but we have a requirement they did not: It must first be turned on yourself. It's not for nothing this Sword of the Lord has two edges.
We cannot live His love without that self-death. He cannot live while Adam hogs the body. We would naturally spend more time turning the Sword on ourselves than any other target, at least at first.
If you knew Christ was returning in a week, would it change your behavior? I hope not. It is not up to us to save the world. Pressing people to come to Christ "right now" is not your mission. We need to learn again the faith of the first century Christians. They trusted God for all things. Your mission is to live your faith in love.
Love is not a feeling! Love is a verb -- it is action, choice and choices made. The definition of love: active concern for the welfare of another. You desire to do and give what is needed. As much as possible, what they desire, but true love seeks to protect, to withhold harm, to guard from harm.
What does it require of you to decide what to give and what to hold back? You must know what God says is best for another, and act as His representative. We have all heard one time or another, when in frustration, some have cried out to those who made harsh demands, "Who made you god?" It's a phrase meant to reject unreasonable demands. Sadly, that phrase portrays God incorrectly. He does not make unreasonable, impossible demands; Satan does. God's demands are always within your reach, and in your best interests. By acting on His behalf, as He has called us to do, we are God's face to people. He made us like Him.
Matthew 28:16-20 -- We call it "The Great Commission." Too often, we forget the part about "teaching them to observe all things that I have taught you." Leading someone into the Kingdom is just the first step. If that is our focus, our primary emphasis, we contribute to the presence of spiritual stillborns. It's not "another soul for Jesus!" Since we cannot know for certain if and when someone is born again, we should focus on simply drawing everyone closer to Jesus, including ourselves.
Thus, there is a sense in which the soldier's extended training is for us, as well. If nothing else, we need to learn who is the real Enemy. We learn and train by going to The Source.
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Ed Hurst
15 June 2003, revised 06 November 2003
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