Over thirty years ago a woman gave me some sound advice. She said, ‘when breakthrough and victory is before you, do not lay down your sword.’
This advice has never left me, it has come to mind time and again over the years.
As I read through the book of Nehemiah this past weekend I was again reminded of this profound advice.
I was reading about the time they were rebuilding the wall. They had enemies all around them. There were unable to work because of the enemies. They were afraid if they turned their backs the enemies would advance against them.
Therefore, they decided to use a different strategy.
They decided to continue to build so that the wall would be completed, however, they did not remove their sword. Although they were constantly building, they did not lay down their sword at any time, they kept them firmly at their side at all times.
They were building with one hand and ready to fight with the other hand.
I think it is much the same today, don’t you?
We have enemies all around. I am not talking about people, I am talking about the real enemy, the devil. He would like nothing more than to stop us from building a strong house of God. However, he cannot stop us. Greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world. Nothing can stop what God had ordained and set in place.
That being said, it is also important to keep our sword ready, firmly on our side, even as we help build the Kingdom of God.
Ephesians 6:17 says; the sword of the Spirit is the word of God.
Of course, we do not walk around daily with a literal sword on our side, however, we can walk around every moment of the day with the sword of the spirit in our mouth – the word of the living God on our lips.
Hebrews 4:12 says; for the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword.
The Amplified says it like this; For the word of God is living and active and full of power making it operative, energizing, and effective.
The word of God, our sword, is full of power, it is active, it operates in our life, it energizes our life and it is quite effective.
No matter what is going on in your life, the word of God is the ultimate authority and if you will keep the word of God in your heart and mind and coming out of your mouth, the word of God will be the final say in your situation as well.
Friends, we are all building the Kingdom of God together. Of course, we continue to build, day after day. Let’s also remember to keep our sword with us, ready to combat anything that comes against us with the active and alive word of God. As we do that, every knee must bow to that word spoken from our mouth, and everything must come in line with that word.
I don’t know what is coming against you today, perhaps you even sense victory…whatever it is, do not lay down your sword. Keep it with you…even, and especially as you build.
Prayer for today: Father, help us to keep our sword, the word of God, ready at all times. Teach us what to saw and when to say it, for in that, we have victory! In Jesus name. Amen.
