November 8, 2009
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I have a healthy respect for really sharp steel. Just researching and reading about the various types of swords gave me cold chills. It brought back the memory of the time that I was trimming stationery that I had printed on a type of rippled paper, and I pulled the stack from the paper guillotine forgetting that the stack was no longer compressed. The blade sliced through a finger nail and the end of my finger like hot butter. The memory of that cut has stayed with me so that when I had to remove that long blade and replace it with a previously sharpened blade was always very carefully done. Those words, “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword” have a intensely powerful meaning to me. That blade had only one edge, but two edges in the hands of an expert; devastating. I would be afraid to handle it, even by a safe handle.
Hebrews 4:12-16 (King James Version)
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. (Jeremiah 23:29, Ephesians 5:26, Hebrews 6:5, 2 Peter 1:23, Acts 7:38, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Ephesians 6:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, John 12:48, 1 Corinthians 13:44)
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalm 33:13-15, Job 26:6)
14 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. (Hebrews 2:17, Ephesians 4:10, Hebrews 8:20, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 9:24, Matthew 4:3, Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 6:6, Hebrews 7:3, Hebrews 10:29, Hebrews 3:1)
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 2:17, Hebrew 2:18, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 7:26)
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 7:19, Hebrews 3:6)
A missionary preacher friend of mine once used this first verse in a sermon, and without thinking, started to explain the difference between the soul and spirit, and how they could be separated. He immediately realized that he was in trouble. In other places they are sometimes treated as synonyms and are used interchangeably. There are things which would be totally impossible to man, but are totally possible for God. What we can not do with the very best of our tool, in this case swords, God can do without any such tools at all. He is comparing the Word with a sword of faith, not just an ordinary sword, but a double edged sword! He has provided with someth8ng that we must not take for granted.
It can separate those fleeting thoughts we all occasionally have, from the well thought out plots of the professional thief. Nothing is hidden from God.
The King James Version says, “open … to the eyes of him”. This is the only place that this particular word in the Greek, is used. It pertains to baring the neck as for the sword, . We will not only be judged by the Word, but by the Word in the hands of God from whom nothing is hidden. The person who knows the Word, but has rejected it, is without hope.
Our high priest is not a mere man here on earth, He is one who arose from the dead and after a period of teaching commissioned his ambassadors to mankind and ascended back to be with God where he is even now preparing a place for his own. We have one who understands. He came to live among us as a man, but arose from the grave, restored to his heavenly body. He knows, he was one of us. He understands all our weaknesses.
He is coming again; perhaps very soon. We are even today living the same problems of the final Laodicean church, rich but spiritually lukewarm, miserable, poor, blind and naked in his sight. (Revelation 4:17-18) , but still he loves us. (Revelation 4:19-20)
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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2009
NOVEMBER
8th. Sunday – Ezekiel 12, 13, Hebrews 8, Proverbs 27:1-10
9th. Monday – Ezekiel 14, 15, Hebrews 9:1-14, Psalm 121
10th. Tuesday – Ezekiel 16, Hebrews 9:15-28, Psalm 122
11th. Wednesday – Ezekiel 17, 18, Hebrews 10:1-18, Psalm 123
12th. Thursday - Ezekiel 19, 20, Hebrews 10:19-39, Proverbs 27:11-20
13th. Friday – Ezekiel 21, 22, Hebrews 11:1-22, Psalm 124
14th. Saturday – Ezekiel 23, Hebrews 11:23-40, Psalm 125
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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
"God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”
1 John 1:5
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Things We've Learned From The Movies
14. Once applied, lipstick will never rub off-even while scuba diving.
15. You're very likely to survive any battle in any war unless you make the mistake of showing someone a picture of your sweetheart back home.
16. Should you wish to pass yourself off as a German or Russian officer, it will not be necessary to speak the language. A German or Russian accent will do. (It used to be an English accent for the German.)
17. The Eiffel Tower can be seen from any window in Paris.
18. A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating but will wince when a woman tries to clean his wounds.
19. If a large pane of glass is visible, someone will be thrown through it before long.
20. If staying in a haunted house, women should investigate any strange noises in their most revealing underwear.
21. Word processors never display a cursor on screen but will always say: Enter Password Now.
22. Even when driving down a perfectly straight road, it is necessary to turn the steering wheel vigorously from left to right every few moments. Tires will squeal on any surface, at any speed.
23. All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices with large red readouts so you know exactly when they're going to go off.
24. A detective can only solve a case once he has been suspended from duty.
25. If you decide to start dancing in the street, everyone you meet will know all the steps.
26. Police departments give their officers personality tests to make sure they are deliberately assigned a partner who is their total opposite.
27. When they are alone, all foreign military officers prefer to speak to each other in English.
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PERSONAL FAMILY NOTES
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