| Live or Die By the Sword |
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Live or Die By The Sword By: Doug Cook
Brothers and sisters, This past Sunday, which just happened to be July 4th Independence Day in America, a question came up in the Church of Houston discussion about Luke 22:36 where Jesus tells His disciples to obtain a sword. It was suggested that many Christians use this passage to justify taking up arms so how does this reconcile with other scriptures about the sword. At the time I would not give an answer, because I had not studied the passage in depth, but now I have and here is the sum of thy Word (taking ALL scripture into account). Let’s quote the passage in Luke 22:35-38: “And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, nothing. Then said he unto them, but now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, it is enough.” Individual scriptures MUST be taken in the context of the passage to understand what the specific application is dealing with. Looking at the time frame and context of the Luke 22 passage, Jesus and the disciples had just finished the last supper. Within the next few hours following these words He just spoke, Jesus would be arrested, taken from them and crucified. But within that time frame there was another prophecy that had to be fulfilled, and Jesus quoted that prophecy in this passage, “And he was reckoned among the transgressors.” He was quoting from Isaiah 53 that foretells Jesus crucifixion, and He said “that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me,” That prophecy, at the time, “must yet” be fulfilled, and within a couple of hours, it was. Isaiah 53 says “He was numbered among the transgressors.” The Greek word for “reckoned” can also mean numbered which means counted to be among them. Both the Greek and Hebrew words for “transgressors” means lawless, rebellious, revolter's, or trespassers. The disciples he was hanging around with at the time of His arrest had to be rebellious and lawless in order for the prophecy to be fulfilled. If there were 11 disciples and between them they only had “two swords,” how come Jesus said that was enough? Why didn’t He tell them to go get 9 more? The reason is there was only one sword needed to fulfill the prophecy. Within a very short time of this word from Jesus, Peter had used one of the two swords to smote off the ear of Malchus, one of the servant’s of the high priest (John 18:10). Peter was ready to rebel against the government at the time and take up swords to do it. Sound familiar? He had a heart of rebellion and lawlessness and was operating in carnality, as were the other disciples – the prophecy was fulfilled at that moment with Jesus being among the lawless transgressors. In the Luke 22 passage Jesus reminded them how he had taught them to operate in the Spirit, not having any script, purse or anything and lacked nothing because the Lord provided. When He told them not only to take swords, but purses and script, He was telling them to go back to depending on their own carnality. This way, not only were they rebelling against the government, they were “transgressing” the faith of Christ – not trusting in God to provide everything. Thus the prophecy was fulfilled in both the natural and spiritual. From that time forward, it is not recorded that any of the apostles ever picked up a sword against anyone. Jesus healed the servant’s ear because He was showing that operating in carnality is not the way of the Lord. Then Jesus instantly rebuked Peter in Math. 26:52 saying, “for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” This warning is again issued right in the midst of the seven years of tribulation in Rev. 13:10, “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” Math 18:16 says, “…in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” Out of the mouth of two different witnesses the truth is established that Christians should not take up the sword. The overcomer's (those saints operating in patience and faith) will get victory over the beast by “the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony,” (Rev, 12:11) not by taking up arms against others. If any believer wants to use the Luke 22 passage to say Jesus said we’re supposed to take up swords, then where is their second witness in our New Covenant to establish that as truth? They must also explain why Jesus said to get a sword and then instantly rebuked them for using it. You won’t find another witness in the New Covenant, because there isn’t one. You can find many times in the Old Covenant where they were instructed to take up swords, but they also did not have access to the Promise…it was a different Covenant. The veil was rent and we have access to the Most Holy Place, they didn’t. If someone wants to use Old Covenant works to justify taking up arms, then they will be operating in their own carnal works which is in rebellion to the true gospel. The bible does not contradict itself. If you think the bible says in one passage it's okay to take up arms, then you must explain how the other scriptures that say it's not are in agreement with your sword carrying doctrine. The Lord is coming back for a bride that is spotless and without blemish. If we’re operating in our own works, then we’re not blemishless and we’re trying to overcome with weapons formed by man. The overcomer's will not be doing any fighting with man made weapons. They believe that “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” The sword they take up is “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” “piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.” They are the ones that dwell in mount Zion; in the Most Holy Place…the high priest never took a physical sword beyond the veil in the Solomon’s temple. Please don’t place words in my mouth assuming that I am saying those that draw the sword don’t go to heaven. The bible never says that and neither do I. I am saying that if you use a bible in one hand and a sword in the other, you are operating in carnality, sewing seeds that will grow up against you. This relates to our audio teachings on the building of the spiritual temple of Eph 2:20-22 that God is putting together. Some stones (saints) will be part of the inner court, some in the holy place, and some in the Most Holy Place. I’m quite sure there will be some physical sword wielders at least in the inner court in heaven, but they won’t be in the Most Holy Place, that’s reserved for spiritual sword carrying overcomer’s. The beast government is trying to take the swords away, but they are also trying to take our purses away by crashing the economy and eventually our bibles if possible. We will be left in the same position the disciples were when Jesus sent them out the first time…lacking nothing, trusting completely in God’s provision. As they did, we may also have the opportunity to participate in God's perfect game: No gun’s, no scripts, no error’s! God Bless all,
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