{"id":23785,"date":"2018-09-05T03:30:23","date_gmt":"2018-09-05T10:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=23785"},"modified":"2018-08-31T12:00:53","modified_gmt":"2018-08-31T19:00:53","slug":"september-5-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/09\/05\/september-5-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"September 5, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cI, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body and the visions of my head troubled me.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Daniel 7:15<\/p>\n

The Sheath<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For a long time, I\u2019ve wondered about the armor of God that is provided to believers so that we may be able to \u201cwithstand in the evil day.\u201d The military analogy was no doubt easy for the people of Paul\u2019s day to visualize, since the presence of soldiers was a daily part of their lives. Today, although we know the meaning of the armor of God, I don\u2019t know if we can fully appreciate breastplates, helmets, shields, and swords.<\/p>\n

I got a better glimpse of one aspect of armor when I studied the Book of Daniel, specifically today\u2019s Scripture. Daniel had a vision that troubled him because he didn\u2019t know its meaning. He said the whole experience grieved him in his spirit within his body.<\/p>\n

The meaning of \u201cwithin my body\u201d could be translated \u201cin the midst of its sheath.\u201d We can all easily picture a sword in its sheath. The sword is hidden inside a thick leather case, like a gun in its holster.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd take the helmet of salvation, and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Ephesians 6:17). The sword of the Spirit of God\u2014His Word\u2014is hidden inside the \u201csheath\u201d of our body. Our weapon is safely housed within us, ready to defend when we pull it out, and protecting us by its very presence.<\/p>\n

If you have an actual sword in a sheath, no one knows if it is real or fake, sharp or dull, plastic or forged steel. An enemy might cast a wary eye if you look like you could do actual damage with it, but unless you go to the trouble of pulling it out of its sheath, it is of no value in battle. So it is with the Word of God\u2014it may stand ready to serve in the sheath of our body, but unless we pull it out, it just lies hidden.<\/p>\n

If you leave it at home in a drawer, or on a nightstand, or a dusty shelf, it is of no value. But if it is already in your hand, you are protected. If you merely say that you have a sword, but there is no evidence that you do, your enemy will scoff.<\/p>\n

Before the battle, let\u2019s do all we can to be sure the Word of God is in its sheath in our inner person. Be sure it is easily accessible (keep it always before us), and sharper than a two-edged sword that can wield both forehand and backhand swings\u2014both the things the enemy throws in our face, and things that creep up behind us.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommander of the heavenly host, You have armed us with Your living Word to do battle. May we use the sword faithfully against our enemy, and not one another! In Jesus\u2019 Name, Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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