August 4, 2002 pm
(1Ki 3:16-27)
A truly complicated
case was brought before Solomon.
Now, how would
this mother know what happened during her sleep?
That made the
case hard.
Not only that,
but she told Solomon that there was nobody else in the house.
And both were
harlots.
What a predicament!
Solomon heard
the other woman say the dead child was the first mother's child, and the
living was her's.
So Solomon repeats
the women's stories, solely to indicate to all that there is absolutely no
conclusive proof either way.
The sword will
bring out the truth.
He demands that
the sword divide the child and that each half be given to the each woman.
The actual mother
suddenly yearned in her soul for the child.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends.
(Joh 15:13)
This woman's
love for the child rose out from within her.
Meanwhile the
hate in the other woman and the wickedness came forth also.
The sword brought
out the true state of their hearts.
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace,
but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and
the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father
or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter
more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth
after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and
he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
(Mat 10:34-39)
Jesus brought
a sword to bring out the truth.
Beware of churches
where the real sword of God is present.
The sword brought
out Abraham's love for God.
And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an
altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid
him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and
took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him
out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he
said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him:
for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son,
thine only son from me.
(Gen 22:9-12)
God made it known
that Abraham had true love for Him, enough to sacrifice.
And the wonderful
thing is that when you lose your life in sacrifice, God gives it back.
And he that taketh
not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth
his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find
it.
After Jesus spoke
of bringing a sword, He said if we lose our life in sacrifice to God for
obedience to Him, then we will get it back!
Sacrifice proves
true love.
Sacrifice is
made of something that is precious and valuable.
The way of Life
is kept by a sword.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden
Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of
the tree of life.
(Gen 3:24)
A sword stands
in the way.
This sword cuts
to the heart!
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men
shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers,
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God
;
(2Ti 3:1-4)
But those who
love pleasures more than God will manifest that again and again in a church
where the sword of God works on our hearts.
Only if you've
given God your heart would you dare approach the Garden entrance where the
sword stands.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their
fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every
good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit.
(Mat 7:13-18)
The way of life
is narrow because Genesis tells us it has a SWORD.
It cuts away.
It demands sacrifice.
If you do not
want to lose this world you won't go to the sword that cuts away the things
of the world.
The sword shows
who is who.
Anyone can call
Jesus Lord, but whom does He really KNOW?
Hearts for God
do not fight and squabble over what they wish to retain.
The sword tells
the story.
TRIAL BY SWORD.
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes
and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword
drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou
for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host
of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and
did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
(Jos 5:13-14)
Joshua stood
up to the sword.
You know if you're
honest or not.
If your heart
is not right, get it right today.