Enjoying the Journey

Put Up Your Sword

Our world and our churches are full of hurting people. Far too often those hurts have come from those who are supposed to be fighting in the same army. Friendly fire. The sword of another brother in arms. There is a spiritual sword that we are commanded in Scripture to use. “The sword of the Spirit” is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). This sword is not to be admired and held – it is to be used! We use the sword of the Spirit on the enemy as Christ did when tempted by the Devil. And, yes, the Spirit uses it on us (Hebrews 4:12). It cuts deeply, severing from us those things that do not honor God. This…

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Dealing with Accusations

Accusations are damaging things.  For sure there are times that sin must be addressed and sinners confronted.  That is called restoration – at least that is what it should be called.  The ministry of reconciliation always has as its goal the restoration of sinners to fellowship with God.  Accusations are another thing altogether. Perhaps it would help if we could see that accusations are not simply statements.  They are one of the chief characteristics of a person named Satan.  We often speak of his work in the Garden of Eden as a work of temptation.  In fact, it began as a work of accusation.  He accused God to Eve.  Soon he would accuse Eve to God.  That’s the way accusers…

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