It’s a “will worship” morning! Let’s go with Psalms 8:1 and 123:1-2.

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures, wandering about, foraging here and there, seeking His face. I spent some time in Psalm 109, one of the letters to the Corinthians, Luke 22-23, back into the Psalms, then back into Luke. I thought about the disciples divided into three parts on the night of His betrayal: Peter, James, and John called apart to watch with Jesus, Judas sent away, separated from the fold with the devil in his heart and treason on his mind, and the eight huddled in the clearing alone. The traitors, the watchers, and the waiters: all of them asleep in their own way.

I resisted the Spirit’s insistent drawing of my mind to the story of the two swords (Luke 22:35-38). I have spoken about that story many times, and I intend to bring it up tonight for Brain Massage® LIVE in connection with the murderous rampage of that young man who murdered two and wounded 17 others in Minneapolis. That’s when the Spirit reminded me that these devotionals are not supposed to be about what I think might interest my friends, but about what my Shepherd wants me to consider. So I looked at the story of the two swords, and the Mind of the Spirit connected with the spirit of my mind in Luke 22:38:

Luke 22:38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

Along the still waters, the Shepherd brought my attention to the fact that the disciples found two swords, and Jesus said, “It is enough.” I thought of the two swords God has appointed in the earth to serve His kingdom: the spiritual “Sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) and the physical sword of civil judgment (Romans 13:1-6). Both of these swords are His, and both are appointed for deployment in the earth today, and both are intended by Him to serve the kingdom of God.

The church must resist every effort to separate believers from either of these swords. The worldlings bristle and attack Christ’s disciples who “preach” Scripture, exposing their evil and condemning their conscience (John 16:7-13; Ephesians 5:11), and they go downright apoplectic if any saint gets his or her hand near the hilt of the physical sword of civil justice.

Nevertheless, in preparation for His departure, Jesus instructed His disciples that they were going to need to procure a sword, and when His disciples found two, He said, “It is enough.” We need only two: the spiritual sword to advance the kingdom and a physical sword for protection while we do it.*

God puts His sword of civil judgment into the hands of a chosen vessel: the Judges (e.g., Judges 7:18), to the line of David (consider 1 Chronicles 21:12 in connection with Acts 12:22-24—Selah), until it was removed from Judah and placed with the Gentiles: Nebuchadnezzar, His servant (Jeremiah 25:9; 43:10; Ezekiel 30:24), Cyrus, His shepherd (Isaiah 44:28-45:1-3). The kingdoms of the world and the glory of them were not turned over to Satan until Alexander (Daniel 8; Matthew 4:8), but God continued to show His Sovereignty over the earth, broke Alexander’s kingdom, and sent His Son into the world to cast out the “prince of this world” (John 12:31). Now Jesus is Prince of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5), and Satan is prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:1-2). Presently, the Spirit of Jesus Christ works through the children of obedience to restrain Satan’s spirit of antichrist working in the children of disobedience to resist the Gospel ministry and move the world against the reign of Christ (Luke 19:12-27; see 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

The battle rages today (Psalm 2) over control of “the two swords.”

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I was reminded that when Peter drew his sword against the wicked who had come to arrest Jesus, our Lord commanded him to put it away, repaired the damage he did with it, and said, “Thinkest thou not that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). I was reminded that when the “authorities” announced their intention to arrest Him, Jesus reproved them: “When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, an the power (exousia) of darkness: (Luke 22:53). Before the Cross, the Father intended to deliver His Son to the “power of darkness.”

I was also reminded that when Pilate said, Knowest thou not that I have power (exousia) to crucify thee, and have power (exousia) to release thee?” Jesus responded: “Thou couldest have no power (exousia) at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin” (John 19:11).

Furthermore, I was reminded that on the Cross, Jesus broke this “power of darkness” and after His resurrection He declared, “All power (exousia) is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).  Now, all men every where are commanded to repent, and turn from darkness to light, and from the power (exousia) of Satan unto God (Acts 17:30; 26:18-20).

The Spirit also reminded me that, however, after the Cross, the Father intended that we should be delivered from the power of darkness (Acts 26:18-20): “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13; see 1:12-17; then read verse 18, and consider the Church, to which is given “the keys of the kingdom” (Colossians 1:18; Matthew 16:15-19; Ephsians 1:7-12, and then 13-14, and then 15-21, and then see the church: 22-23). We who are translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son are “delivered from the power of darkness.”

The Spirit of Christ in me spoke: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, it was a “come and dine” moment (John 21:12). After sweet fellowship and great thanksgiving for the blessing of “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17). He anointed my head with His oil, filled my cup with His grace, and mercifully called me to follow Him into His harvest. Humbled by His love, I followed, goodness and mercy following close.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v6y7nn6-shepherds-pasture.html

[*Jesus spent a lot of His time preparing His disciples for His departure. He said He would send His Spirit to be “another Comforter” Who would comfort us, reprove the world through us, guide us, teach us, and empower us while we await His return for us (John 14:15-18; 16:7-16; Acts 1:4-9).

John 14:15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:18 ¶ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

John 16:7 ¶ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16:16 ¶ A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Acts 1:6 ¶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

He gave us His instruction: Matthew 28:18-20 (with Matthew 24:14); Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:31; Acts 1:8.]