The Greatest Weapon
The greatest weapon in the Christian life is the Word of God, which we must use effectively to reach others and fulfill God's purpose.
D.L. Moody emphasizes that the Word of God is the greatest weapon, likening it to the sword of the Spirit, which must be wielded with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He recounts a conversation between a Christian and a skeptic, illustrating that persistence in sharing Scripture can lead to transformation, regardless of initial disbelief. Moody stresses that it is not our job to convince others of the Word's truth; rather, we are to faithfully deliver God's message. He highlights biblical examples, such as Gideon and Saul of Tarsus, to show that God often uses human instruments to accomplish His purposes. Ultimately, Moody encourages believers to be willing vessels for God to use in spreading His Word.
Text
The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, and what we need specially is to be filled with the Spirit, so we shall know how to use the Word. There was a Christian man talking to a skeptic, who was using the Word, and the skeptic said, "I don't believe, sir, in that Book." But the man went right on and he gave him more of the Word' and the man again remarked, "I don't believe the Word," but he kept giving him more, and at last the man was reached. And the brother added, "When I have proved a good sword which does the work of execution, I would just keep right on using it."
That is what we want. Skeptics and infidels may say they don't believe in it. It is not our work to make them believe in it; that is the work of the Spirit. Our work is to give them the Word of God; not to preach our theories and our ideas about it, but just to deliver the message as God gives it to us. We read in the Scriptures of the Sword of the Lord and Gideon. Suppose Gideon had gone out without the Word, he would have been defeated. But the Lord used Gideon; and I think you find all through the Scriptures, God takes up and uses human instruments.
You can not find, I believe, a case in the Bible where a man is converted without God calling in some human agency - using some human instrument; not but what He can do it in His independent sovereignty; there is no doubt about that. Even when by the revealed glory of the Lord Jesus, Saul of Tarsus was smitten to the earth, Annanias was used to open his eyes and lead him into the light of the Gospel. I heard a man once say, if you put a man on a mountain peak, higher than one of the Alpine peaks, God could save him without a human messenger; but that is not His way; that is not His method; but it is "The sword of the Lord and Gideon"; and the Lord and Gideon will do the work; and if we are just willing to let the Lord use us, He will.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of the Word of God
- Using the Word to Reach Others
- God Uses Human Instruments
- Examples from the Scriptures, including Gideon and Saul of Tarsus
- God's method is to use human agency to reach others
Key Quotes
“When I have proved a good sword which does the work of execution, I would just keep right on using it.” — D.L. Moody
“It is not our work to make them believe in it; that is the work of the Spirit.” — D.L. Moody
“The sword of the Lord and Gideon will do the work; and if we are just willing to let the Lord use us, He will.” — D.L. Moody
Application Points
- We must be willing to let God use us as human instruments to reach others.
- Our role is to deliver the message of the Gospel, not to convince others through our own theories and ideas.
- We must be filled with the Spirit to use the Word effectively and reach others for Christ.