THE SWORD THAT MAKES YOU BOLD

October 16, 2005pm
Mike Blume



  Scripture Text:


Gen 3:24 KJV 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.  

  Message:


Let us also read from Joshua 5:

Jos 5:13-15 KJVR 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? (14) 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?

The Garden of Eden is a place where Adam was in God's will, and fellowshiped with God and had dominion over things in earth.
  • Man lost this place.
  • So you could say that getting back into the garden represents getting back into fellowship with God and being in His will with power in our lives over things in this world.
  • But between even the Christian and this place of God's perfect will, is a sword.

Heb 4:11-12 KJV Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We pointed this note of swords at the entrance before, but the Lord has revealed MORE about this thought for us to understand.
  • I am thrilled with further insight into the things of God.
  • His Word can be read a thousand times, and each time we can be led into further and clearer understanding of the messages.
Notice there is the thought of ENTRANCE and a SWORD here.
  • God's Word is called a sword.
  • And this is what the earlier reference pointed out when it read:

Heb 3:18-4:3 KJV And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? (19) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (4:1) Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (3) For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

If the word is a sword and it needs to be mixed with our faith so we do not DOUBT to be able to enter the REST, then the sword of the Word obviously cuts away doubt and unbelief.

Hebrews takes two parts of two different stories from the Old Testament and speaks to Christians today.
  • The sword stood at the entrance of both the Garden of Eden and the Land of Canaan in Joshua's day.

And it just so happens that Hebrews 4, when it mentions the sword of the word, spoke about Israel not entering Canaan due to unbelief forty years before Joshua finally did lead Israel in.

So, when Israel left Egypt there was a sword ahead of them.
  • When they would finally enter Canaan successfully, after ridding themselves of the doubt that hindered them the first time, a sword would be there.

And Hebrews 4 tells Christians today that a sword awaits them upon their ENTRANCE into the REST.
  • Picture the Garden and the Land of Canaan as representing the REST we must enter.
  • We cannot have doubt if we want to enter.
  • We cannot have unbelief.

Notice what had to be done in order for Israel, and ourselves, to enter our place of promise.

Heb 4:1-2 KJVR Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

There is a MIXING OF THE WORD WITH FAITH that must be accomplished.
  • Israel failed to do it.
  • And their failure to do that made them unbelievers and doubters that they could ENTER.

This SAME WORD they had to mix with faith is called a SWORD later on in verse 12.
  • And we are told we must labour to ENTER, just as Israel was supposed to ENTER Canaan, for a REASON.
  • In other words this LABOUR is going to make us successful.
  • We will enter this rest, whatever this rest is, if we commit this labour.
  • Now, we were just told in verse 2 that we must mix the Word with faith.
  • THE LABOUR IS MIXING THE WORD WITH FAITH.
  • That is the labour most of Israel failed to perform.

Heb 4:11-12 KJVR Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

And we are told to LABOUR, BECAUSE, or FOR, the word of God is sharper than any other sword.
  • Labour because the word you mix with faith, or the sword you mix with faith, IN THIS LABOUR, is sharper than any other sword and pierces to even divide soul and spirit!
  • Swords CUT.
  • Why would we want a sword to CUT us?
  • If the labour is mixing the word/sword with faith, then there is a cutting associated with OUR FAITH that must occur.
  • So why would CUTTING be associated with faith as a solid and sure reason we should commit the labour of CUTTING?
  • IT IS BECAUSE IT CUTS AWAY UNBELIEF.

Mixing the sword with what faith we have CUTS AWAY UNBELIEF THAT IS THERE.

So, use that SWORD and mix it with faith, because that SWORD is the WORD that CUTS AWAY UNBELIEF.

Look at what Israel became doubtful over:

Num 13:26-28 KJVR And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. (27) And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. (28) Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

KEEP WALLS in mind as we continue.

When Joshua entered the land near Jericho in Joshua 5, God spoke to Him, and on into Joshua 6 we read God gave directions about marching around Jericho.

Jos 6:4-5 KJVR And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. (5) And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

THE WALLS -- the very things that made Israel DOUBT beforehand -- WOULD FALL FLAT.

How would you like to see the things that you fear and that keep you form getting into God's perfect will FALL FLAT BEFORE YOU?

And after Hebrews mentions about entering A REST by mixing the WORD with faith TO CUT AWAY OUR UNBELIEF that would otherwise cause us to not enter, we read about a certain TEACHING and UNDERSTANDING associated with ENTERING.

Notice ENTERING IS MENTIONED AGAIN in Hebrews 10.

Heb 10:19-23 KJVR Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having a high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

The same entrance into the Rest in Chapter 4 is rephrased in Chapter 10 to read the entrance into the HOLIEST.
  • It's all the one and the same ENTRANCE.

We are not entering CANAAN today to which Israel was intended, but we are entering THE HOLIEST!
  • And instead of doubting we can enter, due to FEARS of things that are like WALLS before us, Hebrews reads we HAVE BOLDNESS TO ENTER!
  • BOLDNESS COMES FROM FAITH!

The word "THEREFORE" in verse 19 indicates that he just wrote something to us before this verse that IS THE CAUSE for us to have boldness so we can enter.
  • If we can learn this message and this lesson that he wrote before verse 19, we will have the boldness we need to enter the MOST HOLY PLACE.
  • The most holy place is a spiritual plain wherein we are BOLD and have LOST FEAR.
  • It is the REST from chapter 4.

We must read Hebrews words before verse 19 and find what this WORD is that is LIKE A SWORD that cuts away fear and unbelief so we can BOLDLY ENTER.
  • Pay close heed to those words, and let this SWORD of the TEACHING WORD cut into your heart and spirit where doubts and fears are like scales and caking.
  • Let this sword of this teaching CUT out those fears.
  • If you truly receive those words and meditate upon them, and ponder them over in your heart, every moment you dwell upon them, they will CUT AWAY MORE AND MORE unbelief!
  • You will become BOLDER AND BOLDER.
  • You will not lose your confidence.
Before we read those words, notice:

Heb 3:6 KJVR But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Heb 3:14 KJVR For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
Heb 4:14 KJVR Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.


Notice the terms listed: CONFIDENCE AND REJOICING OF THE HOPE. PROFESSION.

Backsliders have dropped the hope they once firmly;y held when first saved.
  • Maybe you dropped your hope, confidence and profession.
  • God wants you to learn this truth and pick those things back up again and hold them firmly all the way to your GOAL of this REST -- this Holiest place!

Notice what Heb 11 says:

Heb 11:1 KJVR Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE of things hoped for.
  • Substance is something strong and solid.
  • The RV says Faith is the ASSURANCE of things hoped for.
  • We can HOPE for something but not have any SURETY or ASSURANCE for it.
Heb 10:22 KJV  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

  • Someone hears you claim they can be healed, and they speak so doubtfully, "Well, I HOPE so."
  • That is not substance or ASSURANCE.
  • But when someone has a hope and they are SURE they will get it and they are solid about it, and not wavering or shaky over it, THAT IS CALLED HAVING FAITH.
  • FAITH is when someone is ROCK-SOLID SURE of something they hope for.

If you want this ROCK-SOLID FAITH, take what faith YOU DO HAVE and MIX IT WITH THE WORD/SWORD of the teachings we will read in a moment in Chapter 10, to cut away all the caking of fear and doubt.
  • Strip it away and be left standing BOLD AND STRONG IN FAITH!

Here is the message Hebrews says will give you BOLDNESS and strip away fear and doubt -- Let us follow the narrative and get the point being made:

Heb 10:1-4 KJVR For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (2) For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (3) But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. (4) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

First of all understand that the old testament sacrifices are explained as not being able to ACTUALLY TAKE AWAY SINS from people.
  • And the reason they continued year after year in being offered was because sins were not done away with by them.
  • The text reasons that if the sacrifices could take away sins, then they would not continue every year, but stop and cease.
  • But every year when another sacrifice was given, everyone's mind was directed towards SIN.
  • "Here we go again! SIN! We have to deal with sin again, and we will do the same thing again next year."

Heb 10:5-7 KJVR Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (6) In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. (7) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

But Christ came and wanted to do God's will.
  • This tells us it was not God's will for you to have to always deal with sin in your lives.
  • He hated the thought of sin being dealt with every year.
  • He wanted to get that clean out of your conscience.
  • But how can He get it out of your conscience if you are faced with sin again year after year and must offer sacrifices again year after year to deal with those sins?
  • So Christ was prophesied to actually say, "I AM COME TO DO YOUR WILL, FATHER."
  • Te WILL of God was for sacrifices to STOP.
  • For people to no longer have so much of a conscience of sin.

TOO MANY Christians HAVE A CONSCIENCE OF SINS TODAY.

They never lost their fears and intimidations and doubts because they never mixed their faith with A WORD LIKE A SWORD to cut those things away.
  • And that is why they never enter into any REST and the Most Hoy place with Christ.

They fear things, and we cannot REST if we continually FEAR.

Heb 10:8-10 KJVR Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; (9) Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

This means that Christ's prophesied words imply the sacrifices and offerings would be TAKEN AWAY, so He could establish THE SECOND ITEM... THE WILL OF GOD.
  • Take away the first item of sacrifices and leave the second item of God's will all along.

His will was TO ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME SANCTIFY US by the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ!
  • ONCE... not year after year after year.

Heb 10:11-12 KJVR And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;

The priests stood every day with no chairs for them to sit upon in the temple, since it indicated their WORK WAS NEVER DONE!
  • But CHRIST OFFERED HIMSELF ONCE, and then SAT DOWN FOREVER afterwards!
  • THE WORK IS DONE!

Heb 10:2 KJVR For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

Once purged you should have no more conscience of sins.
  • So the truth of Christ's SINGLE DEATH, not having to be offered every single year, WILL PURGE YOUR CONSCIENCE FROM THE THOUGHT OF SIN, AND CLEAN OUT WITH IT EVERY FEAR AND DOUBT AND UNBELIEF that could ever enter your heart!

Heb 10:14 KJVR For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.

BY ONE OFFERING He completed and perfected all the work ever deemed necessary to affect our lives so we can ENTER THIS PLACE OF REST!
  • He perfected or COMPLETED the necessary work.
  • If you still continue in some fears and worries and cannot spiritually REST through all life's circumstances, you never got this message sliced into your heart yet.


Heb 10:15-17 KJVR Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.


The Holy Ghost moved upon men in the Old Testament to write these words of a NEW COVENANT where God puts LAWS into our hearts, and FORGETS OUR INIQUITIES.
  • That last thought, of remembering no more their sins and iniquities means we need not even have a conscience of sins and iniquities any more.
  • FORGET ABOUT THEM!
  • That means something COMPLETED the work.
  • Sins and iniquities were no more a concern to God!

Heb 10:18 KJVR Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Paul's whole point was Christ's sacrifice was ONE.
  • No more are necessary.
  • And Paul said the prophecy of OUR COVENANT causing God to forget our iniquities means there is no more need for a sacrifice with whatever sacrifice provided such a situation in the believers of this covenant!

And after saying all of that, HE SAYS THEREFORE HAVE BOLDNESS TO ENTER THE MOST HOLY PLACE!

Heb 10:19-22 KJVR Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having a high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

BY THE BLOOD means BY THE SACRIFICE THAT caused that bloodshed.
  • THE ONE sacrifice.
  • THE SINGLE sacrifice.

So the WORD or the SWORD that cuts away fear and unbelief is the TRUTH OF JESUS' SINGLE SACRIFICE TO FOREVER OBLITERATE YOUR SINS AND INIQUITIES.

But so many of God's people still have a conscience of sins for which they need never more have a conscience!
  • As Israel could have entered if they believed God, these folks COULD ENTER REST but they do not believe since they never GOT THIS WORD sliced into their hearts.

Christianity is a Garden of Eden only to those who ARE CUT FREE OF FEARS AND DOUBT BY THE SWORD!

These fears involve more than what you may think.
  • They involve fears of what man can do to you and what circumstances can do.
  • That is why Hebrews, the same book, also reads:

Heb 13:5-6 KJVR Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

You can boldly say because you can boldly enter.

People are intimidated.
  • "WE CANNOT GO IN!"
  • "WE ARE SO WEAK."
  • "WE ARE THIS and WE ARE THAT."
  • Anything that makes you think you cannot cut it is a FEAR that the truth of the cross CAN CUT AWAY.

Hebrews 10 says we can draw near to God.

Song of Solomon shows the damsel's desire to kiss her lover and be drawn close to him, as Hebrews 10 reads we are to draw nigh to Him.

Son 1:2-6 KJVR Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. (3) Because of the savor of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (4) Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. (5) I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. (6) Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

Notice how verses 5 and 6 says she is so down on herself.

She searches to find Him and be near to Him.

Son 3:1-2 KJVR By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. (2) I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.


But he has to tell her that while she is down on herself and thinks nothing of herself, though desiring still to be near God, SHE IS ALREADY IN A STATE OF BEAUTY FOR HIM.

Son 4:1-2 KJVR Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. (2) Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

This is like the message of the cross.
  • It took away all your iniquities and sins.
  • No more sacrifice needs to be done.
  • You think if you could just get touched in church enough, or come to the altar and dance enough under such a power of God that you will have what you need to enter the rest.
  • He did not give her a touch.
  • He did not give her a shake or dance.
  • He gave her information about what her state was that she did not realize.
Some of you come here to get a feeling.
  • All your concentration is set upon the goal of getting that touch and that feeling.
  • If you would get your sights set on the MESSAGE that would free you from fears and doubts and intimidations as much as you're set on a feeling and a dance, you would get such boldness and confidence that you would have FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH about what THE ONE SACRIFICE OF JESUS DID FOR YOU, and ENTER INTO THIS PLACE OF REST!

You'd have your fears gone as to what man can do to you.
  • You'd have intimidation of the walls before you removed and those walls fallen flat.

This is coming to a maturity.

All of Hebrews is this ONE GRAND POINT!
  • Get beyond just being a Christian and come into the Garden and the Canaan of REST and BOLDNESS and FAITH in every situation you encounter.

THIS IS WHAT CHURCH IS FOR.

Heb 10:24-25 KJVR And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

EXHORTING, ppr. Inciting to good deeds by words or arguments; encouraging; counseling.

Not to get a blessing because you are simply there.
  • TO GET THIS WORD INTO YOU and to have others REMIND YOU AND INCITE YOU TO A GOOD LIFE OF POWER.


Heb 13:20-21 KJVR Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (21) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Notice Paul called the same God who can make us PERFECT or MATURE Christians, working in you what is wellpleasing in His sight, is the GOD OF PEACE WHO brought Jesus from the dead!
  • This single scripture is saying WE TRULY RESURRECT SPIRITUALLY WITH JESUS when we allow this word to put this boldness into us.

When Joshua saw the SWORD HE SAID, "WHAT SAITH MY LORD?"

And God told him in chapter 6 to tear down the walls that cause fear forty years before, BY SEVEN TRUMPETS OF RAM'S HORNS!

Rev 5:6 KJV  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

The number Seven implies COMPLETION in the Bible.
  • And horns represent POWER.
  • Seven Horns implies PERFECT, COMPLETE POWER.
  • And the Lamb, Jesus, has perfect power for you to tear down any walls and defeat any enemies that hinder you from entering this holiest place of REST.
  • Enter this Garden, and this Canaan!
  • You've got the POWER through JESUS CHRIST'S work on the cross for you!