Revelation 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
This verse is explained in verse Revelation 1:20 concerning the description of the seven stars and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.
For the Pastor, this verse should bring joy, comfort, and strength. The seven stars are in the right hand of Christ. The right hand indicates power, authority, strength, and many other things. The safety that this brings to the messengers of God should give us all the courage we need to stand boldly and declare the word of the Lord to all that will hear. Our faith should be raised to miraculous heights, knowing our protection and power in Christ. When faced with circumstances beyond our ability, we are never without the hand of Christ. Knowing this, the Father allows even the things we face in life. Still, we are in His control, under His authority, and in His care and protection.
Understandably, in our flesh, this fact would raise the unanswerable question of why. Why do we go through the things we do? Why do we have to face the things we do? Without specific knowledge of why, we can know that God is still on the throne, and Jesus still holds us in His hand to do as He will for His own glory.
So, preach preacher like you never have before. Sing singer for the glory of our Lord regardless of the circumstances. Teach teacher with a proclamation of the Word of God without fear, regardless of the situation you find yourself in. We will fall unless we walk with a commitment to the Lord that goes beyond all circumstances. But if we hold on to the presence of Christ and His released power in our lives, then no situation or circumstance will ever stop us from declaring His word.
This also teaches us that it is the message that Jesus uses to shine light in this dark world. The message of Christ is the true weapon of warfare that defeats the enemy and frees the captive. Our prayer should always be that the Lord of the harvest shall send laborers into the field to declare the Word. Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Therefore, the Lord is at work calling stars to shine. Messengers to deliver truth. Preachers to declare the glory of our God’s salvation. The conclusion we reach from this one verse delivers the equation that the messenger plus the Word equals the glory of God.
Back to the description of Jesus in His person is that out of His mouth goes a sharp two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12 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. In the previous verse, we discussed how his voice was like the sound of many waters. In this verse, his Word is a sharp two-edged sword. The purpose of the two-edged sword coming out of the mouth of our Lord is to divide asunder between soul and spirit and discern the thoughts and intents of man’s heart according to Hebrews 4:12. We must take into consideration that the description of the Word of God is to be applied to a person, not just a book. The Word of God is a name used for Christ. Thus, Christ is alive and powerful, and out of His mouth goes a sharp two-edged sword. Only a person can discern the thoughts and intents of man’s heart and divide between soul and spirit. This description would take volumes of writing to begin understanding the power associated with the Word of God. However, we must realize that to handle the Word of God is to lay hold on Christ himself. The reverence of this should overwhelm us. Every bit of the power given to the person of Christ is found in the Word of God. According to Hebrews 4:12, we can understand that the Word of God reveals the very secrets of man’s heart. How often do we allow soulish thinking to motivate our actions instead of the spirit engaging to be filled with the Holy Spirit to guide our steps? It is God’s Word that distinguishes the difference.
John sees the same thing in this vision of Christ that they saw on the Mt. of Transfiguration. Matthew 17:2 says, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. This event came about when Jesus took off his flesh and allowed His glory to shine through. To see the great glory of our Lord, there must first be a relationship with His Word and the willingness to place ourselves in the hand of our Lord to declare His message with our lives and words. May the Lord Jesus continue to fill us with His Spirit, and as a result, we will be filled with His Word.
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