July 5The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ — 2 Cor. 10:4, 5.
Let us remember that the first condition of acceptance with God is loyal obedience to His Word, the evidence of love for Him and faith in Him. Let us remember, also, that the second qualification He will look for in us is love for the brethren, readiness to be, to do and to suffer, to die on behalf of those who are really, truly consecrated children of God, seeking to walk in His ways—Z '99, 11 (R 2413). The weapons of our warfare are the reverse of carnal weapons; they are the Spirit and Word of our God. These, however, are sufficient to overthrow the strongholds of evil within us, root up imaginations and every pride-producing thing, and to enable us to subject our dispositions, thoughts, motives, words and acts to Christ, our Head, which proves our weapons to be effective—P '34, 95. Parallel passages: Eph. 6:12-18; 1 Thes. 5:8; 1 Tim. 1:18; 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:3; 4:7; 1 Cor. 2:4; 2 Cor. 6:7; 13:3, 4; 1 Cor. 1:19. Hymns: 266, 20, 272, 198, 183, 130, 13. Poems of Dawn, 127: Gideon's Army In Antitype. Tower Reading: Z '16, 131 (R 5889). Questions: What have I done this week in the Christian warfare? How? Why? With what results? GIDEON'S ARMY IN ANTITYPE
ARISE! Then, O! Army of Gideon, Let him that is fearful return; Jehovah wants only the zealous, Whose hearts with the love of truth burn. Ten thousand remain! Still too many; Once more He their loyalty proves, To see who most faithfully serves Him, To see who most fervently loves. O! ye, who have sworn Him allegiance, Mark well! He is now testing you, With the water of truth He will prove you, To see who is loyal and true. Look well to your drinking, then, brother, That you no impurities trace, Take your lamp, your pitcher and trumpet, And stand every man in his place! Your sword is the "Sword of the Spirit," Your lamp is the light from His Word, Your pitcher, this poor earthen vessel, You break at the voice of your Lord. Is your lamp burning bright in your pitcher? Doth your trumpet give forth "certain sound?" Soon the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon The enemy's host will confound. For sure is the victory promised, And great is the peace He awards— Then, "stand" in your place, all ye faithful, The battle's not yours, but the Lord's! |
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