Normally, hearing weird sounds from
the TV room would have been normal but the TV was broke. Leaning her
ear against the door tot he TV room she heard someone say “And you
thought you’d never escape.” followed by another voice saying, “
I think you are the one who will never escape.”
“Did Bill get the TV fixed?”
Martha thought to herself as she pressed her ear even harder to the
door. “Don’t under estimate my use of the force.” came the
first voice she heard followed by “You are but a learner, I am the
master. Prepare to be eliminated.” “That doesn't sound like the
TV.” Martha thought, “It sounds more like Bill.”
“Not so fast. I didn’t come all
this way unprepared. I have Sting.” Came the first voice again
followed by “So, you have made for yourself a light saber. I am
impressed. Never the less I have the experience. I have the dark
side of the force.” and then the first voice spoke again, “The
dark side is no match for the light. Draw your sword.” All of this
was followed by what sounded like a tornado going through the TV
room.
“Alright!” Martha yelled out as
she pushed the door open, “What's going on in here?” Startled by
Martha's presence, Bill let out a scream. After Bill caught his
breath, Martha again asked, “What's going on in here?” “Uhm,”
Bill said looking around a bit embarrassed, “Playing with Harold's
light saber.”
“Aren’t you a little old for light
sabers?” Martha asked. “Well, maybe.” Bill said, “But
somebody has to defeat the evil Over Lord and this light saber is
just what is needed.” “I think you've been hanging around Harold
too long.” Martha said shaking her head.
“Maybe.” Bill said again, “But,
I haven’t seen him in over a month. On the other hand, maybe I'm
missing him.” “Yeah.” Martha sighed, “I guess I'm missing him
too.” After standing there in silence for what seemed for ever,
Martha suddenly through her basket of clothes at Bill, whirled around
and grabbed another one of Harold's light saber and took off after
Bill. “Don't forget the Black Queen.” she said as they started
swing light sabers at each other.
It's a football game and you're
winning by 1 point. Time is running out and the other team has the
ball. Suddenly the crowd starts to yell “DEFENSE! DEFENSE!”
Why? So the losing team doesn't score. Sometimes when God doesn't
want us to do things, He puts up a defense to stop us.
In Genesis we read of a cherubim
(angel) with a sword God used as a defense. Then the LORD
God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing
good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also
from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"— therefore
the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the
ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the
east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming
sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of
life. Genesis 3:22-24 (NASB)
Adam and Eve had the life, they had
few rules but they had to break an important one. God kicked them
out of the garden among other things, Then, with a flaming sword
kept them out.
Later we read of another sword in the
hands of an angel. But God was angry because he was going,
and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary
against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants
were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in
the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from
the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn
her back into the way. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow
path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that
side. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself
to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck
her again. The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow
place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam;
so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. And the
LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What
have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"
Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery
of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you
by now." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey
on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been
accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No." Then
the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD
standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed
all the way to the ground. Numbers 22:22-31 (NASB)
Balak saw people coming and wanted
them cursed. He thought God's prophet would help. Balaam decided to
go but his donkey wouldn't. Why? Because an angel with a sword was
blocking the way.
As we continue looking at Ephesians 6
we come to the second part of verse 17 - and take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God, (ESV) - The sword of the Spirit, it is more
than a weapon, it is for protection, it is a defense. Let's think
about the power of words to coll things down and protect us.
- Hebrews 4:12 says For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (ESV) We can see that the sword, that words, especially God's word hold power.
- Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (ESV) One of the best ways to protect us.
- Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (ESV)
- Proverbs 15:23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! (ESV)
- Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. (ESV)
Here's
Something To Ponder
- Do you use God's word to protect you or hurt you?
- Do your words act to protect you or to harm others?
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