THE SWORD SAYS FAITH IS REQUIRED

MF Blume
May 15, 2016

Genesis 3:23-24 KJV  Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.  (24)  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.

Joshua 5:13 KJV  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?

Mankind who was cast out of the Garden, and Israel, had one thing in common.
•    They both were outside a place where they were meant to enjoy and rule.
•    The Garden where man was meant to rule the world from, and man was cast out.
•    The land of Canaan was the land Abraham was in and told to look all over and have what every his foot steps on, but Israel left the land in the famine when Joseph was in Egypt, and had to get back.

But in both cases, there was a sword where something had to be broken.

Hebrews 4:1-3 KJV  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.

Hebrews 4:9-12 KJV  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  (10)  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  (11)  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.

Something in us needs to be broken.

When Jacob wrestled with the angel, he became a prince with God when something in him broke.
•    But Jacob persisted and held on.
•    Something in us that doubts God.
•    Jacob saw angels and was still afraid.
•    He even admitted God spoke to him about being with him, and he was still worried.

We get to the place where this unbelief stirs up and we try to seek God, but don’t hold on.

Genesis 32:1-32 KJV  And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.  (2)  And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.  (3)  And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.  (4)  And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:  (5)  And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.  (6)  And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.  (7)  Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;  (8)  And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.  (9)  And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:  (10)  I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.  (11)  Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.  (12)  And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.  (13)  And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;  (14)  Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,  (15)  Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.  (16)  And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.  (17)  And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?  (18)  Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.  (19)  And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.  (20)  And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.  (21)  So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.  (22)  And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.  (23)  And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.  (24)  And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  (25)  And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.  (26)  And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.  (27)  And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.  (28)  And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.  (29)  And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.  (30)  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.  (31)  And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.  (32)  Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.


When we get so troubled we let go of God.
•    But we must not let go.
•    Let this unbelief in us break.
•    Let the sword cut it down.
•    The place for rule is beyond the BREAKING POINT.
•    Joshua was told the angels not for him or for the enemy.’
•    HE IS CAPTAIN and Joshua is the one who is supposed to be FOR HIM.
•    And THOSE ANGELS took down the walls by God’s power, not Joshua.

Stop trying to do this alone after we abandon prayer and abandon God.

That’s why Heb 4 reads…

Hebrews 4:11-16 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.  (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.  (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.  (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.  (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.

He understands and relates to us.

Hebrews 5:1-2 KJV  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:  (2)  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

KEEP BELIEVING.

Hebrews 6:11 KJV  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

Hebrews 3:14 KJV  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Hebrews 6:19-20 KJV  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  (20)  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 10:17-22 KJV  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.  (18)  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.  (19)  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 an 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.

We defeat this unbelief in us and break it and we enter on in!
SERMONS