Friday, October 31, 2008

Do you see swords?

I so wish we could sit down and talk about what has been floating around in my heart.
For years now I have been aware of the unseen battle going on around us. It is a battle that our actions affect everyday. When we live for God.....we move the battle into winning territory. But when we deliberately make decisions that do not glorify God...the enemy and his crew become the ranks of the winners. Can you even imagine how many battles rage each day?

This summer I read books one and two of Kingdom Wars by Jack Cavanaugh.
Now I will have to say that the main character in the story could never be....but it was a cool and provided an interesting story line. Made for great books and sparked some interesting thoughts.

The thing that caught me was the battle going on in the book.
The battle between God and evil. A true battle.
In the book the main character was being taught to fight the battle......how to use the weapon he had and how to see the weapons of the ones he was fighting and those fighting with him. Because his eyes had not been opened to the spirit world, he could not see or even use his weapon. How do you use something you can not see to pick up? And of course because he could not see........side stepping the enemies weapons was virtually impossible. He got hit a lot.
Are you seeing some similarities here between our lives as believers and the main character?
Here is a quote from the book that I thought was pretty interesting...or should I say,
Eye opening.
Just a little set up. Grant, the main character is being taught a few things by an angel of God.
The angel is trying to teach Grant to see the swords- of the spirit of the people around him.
Grant could just not do it and so this is what the angel told him.
"If you had the ability," Abdiel said, "I would instruct you to keep an eye on her sword. It will reveal her intent. But since you cannot do that, test her spirit. When you are with her, does your spirit thrive-or does it diminish? Test her spirit, Grant."

Now this is when I wish we were face to face.
We have to be so careful who we allow to be our bosom buddies. Careful of whom we allow to come into our inner sanctum---that inner place where we fellowship and grow with God.
I don't even think I have to ask if there are those you are around that claim to be Christians-and maybe they are-and the longer they are around- the more you are drained.
How many times have you really been pumped about what God is revealing to you and you run into someone that you feel needs some encouraging- so you open your mouth and start sharing what you are learning.....been there before? Unlike how it is supposed to be---you share and leave have been built up in your faith...instead, you leave feeling drained and a little depressed.
What happened? What went wrong?
We did not test the spirit.
Unknown at the time- our testimony along with the strength it gave was being withdrawn and nothing was being returned. Imagine light disappearing into a black hole.

So how do we avoid this? Can we avoid this?

[ Test the Spirits ] Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1-3.

So how do we see if their spirit man is lining up with the Spirit of God?
See if their works, words and actions are acknowledging the authority of God and His son.
I can not tell you how many conversations I have had where I put the truth out there only to hear, Yes, BUT......
There is no but...it is either the word of God and truth or it is a lie.
We can expect that the world will see the truth and not recognize it....but if the spirit man of a believer is tuned it with God...there will be no BUTS.
If there are buts flying here and there......you can guarantee that there is a dull, rusty sword laying in their lap.
The big question at this point of recognition is...what now? Do we run?
I don't believe so......not right away. I think this is where we start--

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:16-18
We pull out the sword of the spirit and we use the word of God. And then we test the spirit again.
And at this point if there is no shinning forth of the glory of God.....pick up your sword and dust off those feet and go.

I do believe that I have been a wounded soldier dragging around my sword for a long time now.
I have been asleep....exhausted from the wounds that were inflicted during battle.
In the last few weeks (and probably a little longer) I have heard a call.....I wasn't sure what it was at first. It was vaguely familiar. And then it hit me.....it was a call to battle. The Captain of the Guard was calling me back to the front line. And I looked down at my rusty amour and my dull sword and I cried.
How had I gotten here? What had I done?

So I am cleaning up. Polishing the spirit man and picking back up what I know to be truth. Pulling out the word of God.....that cornerstone that will sharpen even the dullest weapon.
It is time to fight the enemy again......he has been winning this portion of the battle for too long.

Do you see swords?
Are you looking at this world with your spirit eyes?

13 comments:

luvmy4sons said...

Some great insights here. Good stuff. Do you think this would be a good read aloud for my teenage boys? I am glad I can't completely see with spiritual eyes though...I think to see the demons all around would be terrifying. Thank goodness He that is in us is greater than he who is in the world and that the Holy Spirit is enough for us to do our battles.

luvmy4sons said...

P.S. I forgot. I love your new header pic and the new profile one too!

Sandi said...

I started a few months ago reciting the I am putting on my spirital armor and even go through the motions. I see an improvement in my life now that I think about it.

Denise said...

Powerful words sis, keep wielding that mighty sword of God. I love you.

Joyfulsister said...

Amen Sis..
This is good!! That is why I pray for the Lord to continue to give me more discernment, and it is also important to know the word for ourselves. My husband seems to have a gift of discernment and it usually turns out he is pretty accurate. A very important post indeed.

Hugz Lorie

Rebecca said...

I never have seen you as a rusty sword...

BUT..(lol)
when you strike two rusty swords together, the rust'll fall off...
and the shiny metal will peer through...

SunnySusan said...

Aahh Sharon,

I read Perriti(sp)and got my spiritual eyes awhile ago and of course my sword has been rusty at times too. We need to be ready and waiting to fight...at a moments notice. When I think of all the demons in this room right now it does frighten me and then I whip out the Word and they flee...it sure isn't something from me. When I think it is me that is doing something...of course I fail....Grace is wonderful, don't you agree....love ya sista

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

First...LOVE your header photo. So peaceful.

Second, your post mirrors some of the thoughts running around in my head lately, especially as it pertains to 1 John 4. I actually used this scripture last week while teaching the adult SS class and came across it this morning in my devotional time. There are so many religions running around these days, claiming to be the same as Christianity; I had the Jehovah witnesses at my doorstep last week, and this scripture came in handy.

Do you claim Jesus Christ as Emmanuel, God incarnate, coming to earth to be the sacrifice for our sins, thus making a way for all believers to enter into eternal grace? A simple "test". If other religions cannot claim accordingly, then they are not the same as ours. Period.

Funny how this is creeping into our own churches and the truth is so plainly obvious in scripture. I directed these adult seniors to John's passage, and told them this was the "test."

Anyway, enough rambling. Just so you know, I do think we were separated at birth!

Sharpen that sword girl. We're on the field, in the battle, and headed home. May our hearts and our faith be found worthy of such a win.

peace~elaine

Mary said...

Sharon,

What a great lesson you have taught here. Your comparison of the battle in the book to our battle as Christians was thought provoking.

I always learn something when I visit you and those visits have not been as frequent as I'd like. Maybe now that the apartment renovations are done I will have time to visit more often.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Blessings,
Mary

Anonymous said...

This is what God is speaking to all His children right now!! I hear about the Spiritual realm more and more lately. .we need to open our Spiritual eyes to the good and evil at work and be ready to battle!! Great post love it!!

Anonymous said...

Whenever I think of the Cross, I think of Jesus. However, when you mentioned a cross upside down, I thought of Peter because he was hung upside down. I needed to get my mind back on The One who died on the Cross for all. THEN, I thought of how His feet would be first on that sword and does the word not say His enemies are under His feet? Okay, your turn to think on this one. :)

Anonymous said...

Whenever I think of the Cross, I think of Jesus. However, when you mentioned a cross upside down, I thought of Peter because he was hung upside down. I needed to get my mind back on The One who died on the Cross for all. THEN, I thought of how His feet would be first on that sword and does the word not say His enemies are under His feet? Okay, your turn to think on this one. :)

ThreeGirlyGirls said...

God is speaking to me in such a similar way right now. He's cleaning me out BIG time. I spent a long time in prayer last night about some serious issues in my heart and God keeps showing me over and over how real, how powerful and how true His words are in my life every single day. Love ya girl!