If I could stress the importance of work it would be the fact that women in general never get their work done, because it is on going duty, much like a watchman at night who guards the people. The work is there but the job is never complete. As long as there morning and night there is always going to be work to do. It impossible to be free of work of some kind. Even disabled within their homes take care of their needs daily, unless a nurse who needs that job does it, because a person is unable. The value of life is not missed, Jesus knew with his death and resurrection the world would be angry once more. The devil rejoice from Friday until Sunday, only to learn he know longer had the key to death it had been removed from his grasp. Jesus knew with anger came skimmerish of war, and often persecution. He was the beginning of the persecution of the Christian faith. Christ felt the first wave of persecution, and his disciples would be not only a witness to the second round of persecution but majority of disciples would die either by sword, beheadings or crucifixion, No one understanding and no one hearing this one verse carry a sword, no that was not the purpose of the sword to fight against the law with spears or swords but allow God's sword to unlock chains, and fight the battle of God of the need for the power and the presents of God's word, which even the enemy can not control. God believe in a day of rest on the Sabbath and he took it even with the crucifixion. He obeyed his own rule of rest and went to work the very next day with the resurrection.

What does all this have to do with Jesus telling his disciples to carry a sword. God was not against man defending himself when it came to things dealing with man's laws. God was not against his protection in times when he caused the conflict. If you throw the first punch, you better be able to either win the fight, or be willing to fight with the sword you carry. You stand up for the weak you better have sword to defend them. If you fight for a love one you better know how to use weapons of this world, of both words, swords and fight with the word of the laws of the land you are in.

There is a second war you in the middle of and you may have not decided yet on joining the winning side. The winning side of the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. The sword of the mouth of God that is moved into action by his Spirit. It is a war of the Spirit and not of the flesh. This is a war of the Spirit that speaks by the power of God to hearts of man that penetrates the heart of man of who he is and the need to repent. If you are in God's army you going to have to fight with God's sword and not by your own knowledge and capabilities in order to win this fight. Your call to fight is upon salvation. It is to share your testimony without weapons of human war, yet nothing wrong with protecting your flesh with instruments of war when it not a battle of God. One must define that battle by is this a battle of faith to share the gospel, or battle that had nothing to do with spiritual matters. Others would say all war has to do with spirituality and to some degree those people would be right, but there is a difference between war you are fighting and trying to win, or a battle God is fighting and trying to get across to mankind about faith, hope and deliverance. The war of peace to make known the war of peace need not to be fought anymore between God and man, for Christ is our peacemaker and peace offering. The offering God provided for man.

Let us share our testimony and God's word to only allow God's word penetrate the heart of those around us. It not my job to convict you, or even correct you because i am not the law, but I am a person that knows that God ability to forgive even the killing of his Son the word of God, and that is testimony for God even forgiven me upon faith in Christ Jesus. I can not bring you to your knees and brow beat you to repentance. You have to come by the word of God fo the hope that is in the word of God that Christ saves through repentances and omitting one is a sinner in need of a Savior.

When Paul and Silas was in chains God bailed them out. When Peter and John were imprisoned God bailed them out. Not every time does God bail a person out for there is appointment for those in chains that need God and no one to take the word to them but you. Consider your appointment to carry God's word. Corrie Ten Boom was a witness for Christ in the concentration camp, only to be released by mistake which her sister Bessie who was with her had prophesized to her about, that Corrie and her would both be set free before Christmas.

Is it enough to know God is with you during a trial of very bad living conditions. We can only imagine the hope God is willing to teach in storms in our life, but if we follow the Spirit and use his word to minister to others we have no fear of what lays ahead. Corrie may of lost her family, but she had a testimony she did not stop sharing not even after her death. Her story lives on in the book and movie called the Hiding Place. Christ testimony is shared throught he world as testimony of truth of who He is and his power to forgive if we only confess it. God already knows our sin, our confession of faith is the testimony we share of who Christ is in our own life. God gave his disciples the sword of the Spirit with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. As believers we must trust in God to use the sword of God to convict the lost, not by our own power, but the power of God. Let us rest even when it yet day for God's Spirit will move us to action. Let us not be worry for well doing, but be press on as God directs concerning sharing of the gospel.

The church of Christ is the bride of Christ and so we all are women of God, following after Christ and not equal to Christ but messengers of Christ, preachers of Christ, teachers of Christ, prophets of Christ and carriers of God's word. Our daily work does not cease, but our spiritual work comes as God appoints us to carry his word to the lost of this world. Let us not cease because a church door is shut and now partially cracked by the bubble cars coming to outdoor church for all to attend. An available nursery in the car. And parents use it to teach your kids to be still and listen as adults are speaking not just a play time. Who going to know, God is.

Dear Heavnely Father direct your people as they worship you, and carry your sword of faith of the Holy Spirit within their heart to minister to others in need of your word. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Hebrews 4:1-16 KJV
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
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.
13 Neither 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.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Note: taking tomorrow off