Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
WE NEED THE BALANCE
In Psalm 149:6 the high praises of God and the two-edged sword are connected. One cannot function without the other. A high praise worshipping church needs to also have a strong proclamation of the two-edged sword of God’s Word. Conversely, a strong proclamation of God’s Word from a church or individual needs to be balanced with the high praises of God in the mouth. Otherwise God’s people become stiff and starchy. We can sing the great hymn, “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long” out of ritual. But is it our true testimony?
A church that is strong with the high praises of God and yet does not have a strong two-edged sword soon becomes sloppy and like a ship without a compass.
Hebrews 4:12 states: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the diving asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Revelation 2:16 says: “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Revelation 19:15 says: “Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
A two-edged sword cuts both ways and inflicts much more damage to the enemy. The high praises of God releases the anointing to accompany the proclamation of the the “two-edged sword” (preaching of the Word). Without the anointing, the Word can sometimes be heavy, flat, light and frothy, or the letter of the law.
Men, we must also incorporate more of the high praises of God into our Family Devotions. This livens up our family prayer times.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
