The Master Marksman

The Master Marksman
The Sword/Mouth Connection
A Personal or Group Scripture Study with Conclusions and Questions
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(blue letters represent Scripture references)

What is the Word of God?

Psalm 138:2   

I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth for You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name.

The Word of God is the expression of His heart that reflects His character.

  God’s Word on the Mark – The Sword/Mouth Connection

The Patmos Vision that John saw – Revelation 1:10-16

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches…” Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a Son of man clothed in a robe reaching to the feet and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow, and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in its strength…
I wondered why a sharp two-edged sword came from His mouth. Then I recalled other Scripture.

Deuteronomy 8:3 

Man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

John 1:14-15

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 
Jesus is the Word and the Sword of the Spirit.

Luke 2:34-35

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel and for a sign to be opposed, and a sword will pierce even your own soul to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Jesus reveals hearts.

Matthew 5:2     

He opened His mouth and began to teach them saying,  
Jesus opened His mouth and a sword came out. (To see beautiful details about the importance of this verse, please see my paper called HIS SIGWORK - Principle No. 8, Original Languages and Bible Translations by clicking here.)

Hebrews 4:12    

For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit of both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

God’s Word that comes from His mouth is perfect, timely, targeted, effective and successful. God, through our earthen vessels, wields His sword as we walk by His Spirit.

Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Isaiah 55:10-11

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

So will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

God’s Word that comes from His mouth is perfect, timely, targeted, effective and successful.

Psalm 45:2-5

You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips. Therefore, God has blessed You forever. Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One in Your splendor and Your majesty!

And in Your majesty, ride on victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness! Let Your right hand teach You awesome things. Your arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under You; Your arrows are in the heart of the King’s enemies.

   These verses refer to Messiah Jesus. He is beautiful! The words from His lips (mouth) pour forth with grace and power.

   The word “teach” is the Hebrew word yârâh meaning to throw, cast, hurl, flow or shoot with a strong sense of control by the subject.

   Yârâh is often used in reference to shooting arrows, but here is refers to the teaching (words) that flows from Jesus’ mouth like arrows, as well as the words that fell His foes!

   As Jesus teaches, His eye is on the target. His instruction is effective through to completion. Jesus is patient with us until we understand. His powerful, right hand casts truth that succeeds when we receive it. His Word awesomely, fearfully accomplishes what He desires and does not return empty.

Conclusions

• The Word of God is the expression of His heart that reflects His character.
• The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit and is our weapon against the enemy.
• God’s Word is always accurate and thorough in its success.
• Our goal, our fight is to abide and rest in His Word each day. This is our practice.
• A marksman is someone skilled in shooting. The Lord is The Master Marksman, and you are a marksman as His child, accurately handling the Word of truth.

Lord, fill me with Your Spirit, give me a hunger for Your Word, and help me to use Your Word effectively.

Additional Connecting Verses

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

John 8:31-32
If you abide in My Word, then you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 15:7,8,11
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.
These things I have spoken to you that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.

Proverbs 25:11
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.

Questions for Personal and Group Study

• Can you give an example of how you used the Word of God as a sword when faced with temptation?
• Can you remember a time when someone spoke God’s truth to you and it was like a two-edged sword in its effectiveness?
• David was able to kill Goliath because he had practiced keeping his sheep in line by slinging small stones accurately that brushed just on the edge of their wool. Using our sword takes practice. Can you share ways you can wield the sword of the Spirit in targeted, effective ways? How do you practice using God’s Word?
• If you were confronted by a terrorist and didn’t have a gun, what word would you speak?
• Read each verse above and write down the concepts that God highlights to you (that jump off the page). Write down questions you may have and then offer them up to God. Wait patiently as He answers you in the next moments and days.
• Share your thoughts and what you have learned with your friends or Bible study group.

Behold, the Lord God will come with might with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him. Like a Shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom, and He will gently lead the nursing ewes. (Isaiah 40:10-11)
The I AM the Good Shepherd Art Card is from the I AMs of Jesus Collection at Flower Girl Greetings.com

Shale Fragments™ - devotionals by Beth Ann Phifer is a division of Flower Girl Greetings, LLC. ©2020, All Rights Reserved.