"The 'sword of the Spirit' is the Book and the Book has been God's Book all through and we're people of the Book. That's who God's people have always been is people of the Book--not religion.
"Here's how the Book ends. Revelation 22: [18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
[19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."The last Book He puts in the Book says don't add anything, don't take anything away. People say, 'Well, that's just the Book of Revelation.' I got that, but people all the way along, when they looked at the Book they knew it had a bunch of parts to it, but the parts were part of the Book and what you say about one part of the Book you're saying about ALL of the Book.
"When He ends with the Book He says, 'Don't mess with it. There's nothing else to be added.' All these people going around saying God's speaking to them. Paula White (Donald Trump's 'spiritual adviser') talking about God talking to her. Beth Moore talking about God talking to her. Kenny Copeland, Creflo Dollar, all those types.
"I want you to see why Paul would say the 'sword of the Spirit' is the Word of God. If you're going to get in battle with the forces of the Adversary, you need to have that Book.
"In II Chronicles 17 is a great picture of the power of the working of the Word of God in the life of Israel and in the life of any Believer:
[3] And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
[4] But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.[5] Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
[6] And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
"Jehoshaphat was a good king. He walked in the first ways of his father David. David was a man after God's own heart. He didn't get involved with Baal worship.
"He got rid of all the paganism, all the idolatry and false doctrine. He's got five princes, nine Levites and two priests who go out and establish Bible teaching centers all over Judah.
"Verse 9 says, [9] And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
[10] And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.[11] Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
"Jehoshaphat literally filled Judah with centers to teach the Book of the Law of Moses. They're teaching God's Word and the impact of it reached out even to the Gentile world.
"If you read down through verses 14-19, you see over a million soldiers were brought together. The Word of God made an army in Israel that was strong and equipped for war because of the Word of God.
"Now you notice in verse 10 it says 'the fear of the Lord fell upon the king.' The psalm says, 'The entrance of thy word is light.' It pushes out darkness.
"Do you understand why America has been the nation it's been to the world? It isn't because of our capitalistic system or representative democracy. It's because the Word of God has gone out from our country. Now the Word of God has been lost. The light's gone out."
(new article tomorrow)
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