Day 22

Judges 7-8

A MAN AND HIS SWORD

The sword of the Lord and of Gideon – Judg. 7:20

            The sword of the Lord.  That’s a symbol of the Word of God.  The Word is of God and of man.  “Holy men of old spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”  The Bible was inspired by God and autographed by men.  God’s book was written for man’s use.  It is “the sword of the Spirit.”  Gideon won because he obeyed God and attacked the enemy camp with the Spirit and a shout.  If you use the right weapon and the right words you will win every time.  He proclaimed joint victory – the Lord and Gideon.  God’s sword in man’s mouth is a proven formula for victory.  We need no other weapon than the sword of the Spirit.  We need no other order than to wield it.

            The sword of the Lord and ___________.  Put your name there.  What is your battle?  What are the overwhelming odds?  What foe is pounding at your door?  The Word of God is compared to a rock, a fire, a wind, a cleanser, a seed, a counselor, a strength, a testimony, a delight, a hope, a meditation, a sweetener, a teacher, a light, a honeycomb.  Through the Word of God the Spirit of God does every necessary work to arm us for battle.

            Gideon was a man – a fearful, timid man with no self-confidence.  That’s where the Angel of the Lord comes in.  You mighty man of valor… (6:12). God does not see us as we are but as we can be.  He is more concerned with our potential than our problems.  God knows that His Sword and a surrendered human can achieve the same kind of victory Gideon did.  The book of Judges teaches us that God is able to use a crooked stick to straighten out a real mess if that “stick” will yield to the Word of God.  The Spirit of God is no respecter of inferiority.  

            The sword without the man is useless.  The man without the sword is powerless.  Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and powerful…  It is through the Word of God that we receive strength of character.  It is through the Word of God that the Spirit of God powerfully works in us (Eph. 3:20).  It is the Word of God that the Spirit of God works powerfully for us.  God has promised that His Word will not return void but accomplish God’s purpose when we use it.  The Bible is given for our victory.

Let’s use it.