Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-20
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR HOUR
OOnQuCteu Dy
GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL.

Iopic: How We May Learn to Use Our Sword -
Hphes'ahs VII; Hebrews Alp. 10; Timothy 2:15.
Ephesians 6:17-And take the helmet of
salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which
is the word of God.
hebrews 4:12-For the word of God is
quick and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the di-
viding of soul and spirit and Of the joints
ana marrow. and is discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
l5-Ne1ther Is there any creature that is
not manifest in His sight; but all things
are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him
with whom We have to do.
Timothy 2:15-Study to shew thyself ap-
proved unto God, workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word Of truth
The Lesson
In picturing the Christian life as a fight,
long drawn out and desperate. a fight to the
finish, with no quarter and no surrender,
Paul would have us bear in mind ever the
terrible disparity that exists between us
and our enemy. Failing to realize this, we
stand in momentary peril
1t would be a different matter If we
fought against foe who stood uuon the
strength with ourselves. But when we re-
member that he is our superior in strength
and sagacity; when we remember that he is
restrained by no principles of honor, that
he will stab the Christian soldier in the
back as quickly and as gladly as strike him
IN the lace; when we the world, the
flesh and the devil in all their pride and
power that dread trinity of evil, arrayed
against us, our spiritual knees knock to-
gether and We cry out, Lord, who is suffi-
cient for these thngs?" Then we begin to
comprehend our peril and appreciate the
value of such weapon as the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God. brought
forth from the arnory of light to fight
against the powers of darkness
In truth. this is not one weapon, but a
complete panop1y.
The greatest soldiers the world has ever
seen, men whose muscles were literally
steel and their harts brass, Caesars le-
gions, the men who scaled the Alps and
bridged the Rhine who penetrated and sub
dued France and Britain, those men were
used to wear but little armor save their
sword. 1t was to them weapon Of defense
as well as offense; with it they parted as
well as thrust Oftentfmes upon the charge
they threw away all else and, grasping 1t
with both hands. trusted to the sword
alone. Shortsa heayy. two-edged in the
hands of strong Kskillful man 1T was in
deed a weapon to be feared by any foe.
10 these soldiers their sword was their
all. Passing through the underbrush, the
way choked by OVerhanging boughs and
vines, they cleared a path. Sent to forage
for the cavalry. the sword served as a
sickle to cut the standing grain. Not for
an instant would a soldier have thought of
going out without a thorough knowledge of
the use of his sword. Had he done so he
would have been worse than useless-a dan
ger to himself and a menace and drag to
his fellow soldiers.
Now, this weapon of Gods word is greater
in its variety of adaptation than any sword
ever used on earth. 1t is a weapon that
can be used in any direction, against any
foe. 1t suits every mood of the spirit and
every combination of circumstances. One
need never go outside the Book for single
essential to the spiritual life.
Without recourse to any other author one
may find in the word of God the precise
direction as to the way out of every diff
Guilty, the right method of meeting every
opposition and the one true solace that
can get right down into the heart and heal
it of every Ill.
What else can reach and pierce those
dark shapes of doubt that shadow every
mans soul at times save only this sword
of the Spirit, the word of God? But it is
when temptation assails US. aye and in its
most insidious forms, that its true worth
is tried How plausibly some forms of evil
present themselves How much there is to
be said in their favor How artfully do
they put on the livery of heaven to serve
the devil. 1t is at such a time as this
when he is in real perplexity, wavering be-
tween two opinions, that the good soldier
draws his sword and finds it stands him in
good stead Can we ever forget how the
Master Himself, by example as well as by
precept, taught us to use it. and how to use
it? How the devil, seeking to employ this
weapon, quoting, artfully misquoted?
Like the famous brand ''Excalibur," weapon