The Wrong Sword

When Peter cut off the servant's ear Jesus rebuked Him, and then healed the servant by restoring the ear (Luke 22:49-52). For many years I've not been quite sure why Jesus rebuked His disciple if He had already allowed him to carry a sword in the first place. But now I see that Jesus was saying that Peter was using the wrong sword, that it was time to put aside his worldly weapon because Jesus was about to equip all His people with His spiritual sword, "the sword of the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17).

I believe that Jesus is showing me to put down my sword of political activity and take up His sword which He gave to me many years ago, and which He has so carefully trained me to use! This is His sword of prayer.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not physical, but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,  we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Amplified).

"Strongholds" are simply lies presented as truth; just the same as "political correctness" which we see so wide-spread in our present age.

In Peter's case Jesus was saying that the times were about to change; that the time of the established order was finishing and a new paradigm for living and for the exercise of power was soon coming. The old order, (which we might think of as the Old Covenant), included the power of God, but this was mostly effected from the outside; the Spirit of God would come upon people and enable them.

Under the New Covenant God's Spirit fills the believer; this filling is continuous and on-going. It is not just a once-off, or occasional, event.

"I baptize you with water for repentance" [said John the Baptist].  "But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Matthew 3:11).

Jesus was saying that Peter needed to put down his sword of steel so that he could go through the time of Jesus' Passion and all that transpired when Our Lord was wrongly condemned, was killed on the cross, was buried, rose again from the dead, and ascended into Heaven where He sits at the Father's right hand in glory. 

This was a very difficult journey for Peter who was starkly aware that he had betrayed Jesus three times. It was much later that he learned that Jesus still loved him and had forgiven him. I've been spending some time in the last four chapters of John's Gospel and the first two of the Book of Acts; Jesus is so gentle, and so beautiful too. This is a truly awesome historical account of world changing events (which only about one third of the people in the world ever hear).

After Jesus died and rose again, His believers all stuck together; they were demoralised and frightened. What had happened? They had become convinced that they would see victory with Jesus; a glorious restoration of the nation of Israel and her position in the world. Instead Jesus had been killed in the most brutal and humiliating way. He had risen from the dead (and "He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time" (1 Corinthians 15:6)). Then Jesus ascended into Heaven and left them leaderless! Rome was still all powerful and had its heel firmly on the necks of the Jewish people. 

                                                                            

Then came Pentecost. Those present in that upper room became the first Christians. They had an undeniable experience of God in Jesus, and they were all filled, in the most spectacular and undeniable way, with the promised Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of God Himself! Peter and all those present were given their new swords, they were filled with fire and power (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:38)!

All these generations later, (about 80 generations since Jesus walked the earth), we are still being equipped, in the same way, with mighty spiritual weapons. Hallelujah!

So that's it for me; much less political activity, and much more prayer, pressing into God for my family, for all my fellow Christians, for all governments everywhere, indeed for every one of the seven-and-a-half billion people on our lovely planet. It's an old sword but a good one; over the past few years it has not been used as much as perhaps it should have been. I'll be busy with the sharpening stone and metal polish, getting ready for a long battle ..

Amen.

Favourite Bible Verses

"Now concerning gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.  You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.  Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.  

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,  and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:1-12).

'“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord' (Isaiah 54:17).

'Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust".  Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,  nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you' (Psalm 91:1-7).

'He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus' (Revelation 22:20).

Praise Jesus.

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Amen.