The Sword That Keeps the Way

February 22, 2014
MF Blume


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.



When God cast man out of the Garden of Eden, the way into the Garden -- the pathway -- was given a sword beside cherubim that would KEEP THE WAY.
The sword is the WORD OF GOD in the bible.

Eph 6:17    And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Heb 4:12    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.

The one who builds walls against God's people is the enemy.
The New Testament tells us in Hebrews 3 through 4 that we have a REST to enter into just like mankind left the Garden of Eden and we must get back in.
And when Joshua was ready to take them in, we read this similar picture that reminds us of the Garden and the Sword.

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?

Just as Adam was in a Garden where a sword stood at the entrance, Joshua came to the edge of the promised land where an angel stood with a sword.

And Hebrews makes a statement about that same EXODUS JOURNEY, and compares it to us entering God's will for us:

Heb 3:16    For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Heb 3:17    But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Heb 3:18    And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
Heb 3:19    So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Heb 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.
Heb 4:2    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.

And talking about entrance and God's desire to lead us back HOME,

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.

A SWORD is associated with OUR ENTRANCE.
Putting the EXODUS story together with the GARDEN story, since BOTH had an entrance guarded by a sword, we see something.

THE ENEMY BUILT WALLS TO KEEP US OUT.
The cutting device of the sword would keep sinners out, but not mankind.
And though satan built walls to keep us out, there is no wall high enough or thick enough that the devil can build that the SWORD OF GOD CANNOT DEAL WITH.

Israel faced the walls of Jericho, but God was there with the SWORD.

It was walls that made Israel doubt they could enter decades before.

Num 13:27    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.
Num 13:28    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.

What did the bible say we must walk by instead of not walking by another manner?

2Co 5:7    (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Num 13:33    And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Notice they said

Num 13:31    But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

The enemy was stronger than this group they called "US." "WE"

Joshua spoke up and talked about this group called "US".

"You know that group you just spoke about that you called 'US'? Well that group has someone with them."

Num 14:8    If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Num 14:9    Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

GOD IS WITH US.

Exo 3:17    And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

Joshua remembered that word.

It was like a sword cutting away the unbelief when he saw the walls and giants.

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.

It says those who BELIEVE enter and those who LABOUR enter.

Hebrews takes two parts of two different stories from the Old Testament and speaks to Christians today.
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.

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.

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

When God's word instructs us,we learn and the sword cuts away unbelief.

That is unbelief that keeps us out,

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

When you read of the man with sword, next chapter continues and he speaks as God. And says this...

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 from 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 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.
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.

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.
"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.

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.
His will was TO ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME SANCTIFY US by the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ!
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,

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

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.
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.
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.

When you read that word and believe it, mixing it with faith in your heart, the sword goes to work and CUTS AWAY all your unbelief.
You read that centuries of sacrifices and offerings could not move God and satisfy Him.
He died and in a mere six hours offered a sacrifice to death that accomplished the task to such an extent, that the sins that were forever plaguing the consciences of mankind, that sacrifices could never remove, were FORGOTTEN by God!

THEIR SINS AND INIQUITIES WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE.
Heb 10:3    But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

God forgets sins due to Jesus' sacrifice.

How holy and perfect must it have been?

That offering of Himself so satisfied God the Father that it forever perfected us.
How pure and holy was the sacrifice of Jesus for it to move God to forget our sins, after 15 centuries of sacrifices from the old covenant did not accomplish anything close to it?
We think we have to live so perfectly, when God looks at one thing only -- the death and obedience that made that death so perfect, of Jesus Christ.
And we condemn ourselves for our pasts and ask God to forgive us in the name of the one who lived such a perfect spotless life, all so His death into which we are baptized is so satisfying to God in obedience that God forgets, forgives our sins, and changes covenants to no longer require burnt offerings and sacrifices ever again.
We think we have to live so perfectly, when God looks at one thing only -- the death and obedience that made that death so perfect, of Jesus Christ.
Now you can appreciate this next verse far more than ever before:

Rom 8:34    Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

God looks at the work JESUS did on the cross in order to be pleased with us.

Isa 53:11    He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

The angel told Joshua to take 7 rams horns and blow them and the walls would fall flat.

Rev 5:6    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.

Jesus is seen with seven horns after he died and resurrected.

Rev 5:9    And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

HE IS WORTHY.
Rev 5:10    And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The FULL and COMPLETE power of GOD is on Jesus and BY THAT POWER the walls fall down.
Jesus lived for 33 years without sinning one single time all so that He would be that perfect in his sacrifice to cause GOD TO forget our sins.

And we get concerned over not being good enough.

Not only that, but for Christians who sin and have no convictions with cold hearts, the thought of JESUS making sure he was that perfect a sacrifice to live 33 years without sinning, will put a fear of God our hearts to NOT BE SO LOOSE WITH SIN.

How could I sin and think nothing of it when I realize Jesus made that much a commitment because he loved me?

That word of the SWORD will cut away all the sin of looseness, too.




SERMONS