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2024
Day 28 / 28.07.24 / Janelle Ong, Youth Pastor of Mount Carmel Bible-Presbyterian Church

Day 28: Pick up your sword!

2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

We are living in a time when truth is twisted; lies are presented as attractive, believable truths. 

Just look at how Satan is portrayed in today’s generation. Gone are the days when Satan is depicted as a red devil with a tail carrying a pitchfork.

All over media today, Satan is presented as sexy, attractive and good, even the lead in dramas. He is portrayed as the first advocate of human rights, the first advocate of freedom of speech in the Garden of Eden. And guess which age group these are targeting?

Do you, young people, now get a sense of the dangerous times we are living in? If you do not know the Word of God well, you will not be able to win over your generation. 

In fact, you may be swayed by the lies that your friends believe in.

Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:2-4: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”  

The time is now to get serious about the Word of God. Dig deeper into, and stand firm on, the truth of God’s Word.

If you do not know the Word of God well, you will not be able to win over your generation.

If you have not opened up your Bible in the last three days, may I encourage you to do so now? You need to be fully armed.

God’s Word divulges: It tells us the truth and reveals our sins to us; it brings us to a place of repentance. Transformation and power of the Spirit cannot come without repentance. Revival begins with repentance. Revelation is not enough to change us, but repentance is.

God’s Word directs: It guides us to pray, guides us towards revival, guides us to make decisions. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

God’s Word demands: Faith without deeds is dead. God’s Word always demands a change from us. Living out His Word transforms lives.

Be fully armed

When you wear the armour of God and go into a spiritual battle to win souls, do not forget the most crucial thing – your weapon. 

Without your weapon, you are not fully armed. What is this weapon? Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us that this weapon is your sword. And what is this sword? The Word of God! 

Ephesians 6:17 mentions the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”. 

You may have your belt of truth, your breastplate of righteousness, your feet fitted, your shield and helmet. But without your sword, you are not fully armed. 

Do not forget your sword!

The time is now to carry your swords. And only when you have put on the full armour of God, can you then stand against Satan’s plans.

God’s Word is powerful because it divulges truth, directs the trajectory of our lives, and demands transformation.

If you want to win people over to Jesus, you need to know the Word of God. Don’t just rely on your pastors for Sunday sermons, but read the Bible for yourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Be equipped with God’s Word, and stand firm in the Truth as you reach out. The time is now. Don’t forget your sword.

Let us pray：

Lord, we pray that You continue to place on our hearts an urgency for our generation. In a world full of lies, Lord, we need You more than ever. Use us to shed Your truth onto this generation, no matter how painful it may be. And may the Truth of who You really are turn the hearts of people back to you. 

We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

/ Reflect
  • In Ephesians 6:10-18, the full armour of God includes:
    • Belt of Truth
    • Breastplate of Righteousness
    • Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
    • Shield of Faith
    • Helmet of Salvation
    • Sword of the Spirit: Word of God

Consider your armour – is anything missing? How do you ensure the worthiness of each piece?

  • Why do you think revival can only occur with repentance? What does revival look like with and without repentance?
  • Have you seen transformation – in yourself or in others – when the Word of God is lived out? Have you shared it with others as a witness?
/ Pray
  • Are you a youth or young adult? Pray for the Spirit to convict your generation of the unshakable Truth of God’s Word. Ask for holy discontent to arise when the world sells short-lived rewards, pushes identity crises and offers shifting standards of morality. 
  • Intercede for your generation to love God wholeheartedly, care for the downtrodden compassionately, proclaim the Gospel unashamedly, obey God’s Word faithfully and seek first the Kingdom resolutely.
  • Pray for the rise of youth leaders who move in the Spirit powerfully, pray vigilantly, lead passionately, model godliness humbly and defend the Truth fearlessly.