Make Me a Sharper Sword
E.A. Johnston passionately prays to be refined and empowered by God to boldly confront sin and spiritual opposition as a sharp, effective instrument in His service.
In this devotional sermon, E.A. Johnston passionately prays for God to refine and empower him as a sharp sword in spiritual battles. Drawing on biblical imagery, he expresses a deep desire to confront sin boldly, endure God's refining process, and see revival that deeply convicts hearts. The message encourages believers to seek God's power to be effective instruments for His kingdom until the final victory.
Full Transcript
Make me a sharper sword, Lord, in thy holy hand. Tamper me upon your whetstone. My blade's gone dull through battles, Worn by the blood of men.
Let me be a sword like Samuel's, Hewing down Agogs who defy your holy name. Make me a double-edged claymore, Lord, That cuts both ways. Pile up a heap of bodies, Lord, That block the doorway of your church.
Let this sword stab hypocrites in the heart, And make them squirm. Make me a sharper sword, Lord, Cutting deep into the conscience of man. Show me revival like Phine, Whose hearers fell from their seats, As if cut down by a sword in each hand.
Lord, place me on your anvil And hammer me down Until sparks begin to fly And heat begins to rise From the force of thy power from on high. Make me a sharper weapon, Lord, In thy glorious hand. Cut deep into the dens of devils And rout the enemy from the land.
Let me preach a cutting gospel, Lord, With the alarm of a sounding bell That strips the bark off sinners And keeps them out of hell. Sharpen this old blade, Lord, That's old and sometimes rattles. Let it keep on fighting The fiercest field of battle Until you finally sheathe it From any battle here To be with you forever In victory up there.
Thanks for watching!
Sermon Outline
-
I
- Prayer for spiritual sharpening and renewal
- Acknowledgement of spiritual battles and weariness
- Desire to be an effective weapon in God's hand
-
II
- Aspiration to be like biblical swordsmen such as Samuel
- Calling for revival that convicts deeply
- Confronting hypocrisy and sin boldly
-
III
- Submission to God's refining process
- Endurance in spiritual warfare
- Hope for ultimate victory and eternal reward
Key Quotes
“Make me a sharper sword, Lord, in thy holy hand.” — E.A. Johnston
“Let this sword stab hypocrites in the heart, And make them squirm.” — E.A. Johnston
“Lord, place me on your anvil And hammer me down Until sparks begin to fly And heat begins to rise From the force of thy power from on high.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Pray regularly for God to refine and empower you to confront sin boldly.
- Embrace God's refining process as necessary for spiritual effectiveness.
- Seek to be a faithful instrument in spiritual battles until the end.