Sharpen Your Knife 

 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, 

lest anyone fall

 according to the same example of disobedience. 

For the word of God is living and powerful, 

and sharper than any two-edged sword, 

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, 

and of joints and marrow, 

and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, 

but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him 

to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:11-13

The Bible, the Scripture, is the Word of GOD. 

When you study the Scriptures sincerely and diligently, it convicts you of sin. You woudn't even know the condition of your soul unless the Holy Spirit reveals it to you by conviction through the word of GOD. As you respond and take the necessary steps to walk in obedience, you will carry a clear consceince before GOD and man. Then you have nothing to hide from GOD and as you surrender your life to Him and trust Him, you will enter into His rest. This is a necessary experience in your spiritual walk. From this place of rest will come the guidance, wisdom and power to live victoriously and serve effectively! 

For though we walk in the flesh, 

we do not war according to the flesh. 

  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal 

but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 

  casting down arguments and every high thing 

that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, 

bringing every thought into captivity 

to the obedience of Christ, 

  and being ready to punish all disobedience

 when your obedience is fulfilled.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

In the process of sharpening a knife, you will initially feel the roughness, 

as the blunt edge of the knife passes through the sharpener.

As you keep sharpening, the rubbing of the edge of the knife

against the sharpener becomes more smooth!

Your spiritual knife is sharpened when

 your mind is renewed and you are walking in obedience to GOD 

with a clear and a clean conscience.

To do this, you may need to strive with your own mindset

and any rebellion in yourself until your soul is completely yielded to the Truth!

Then there is no striving in your praying and ministering to others.

There is no striving and no lengthy arguments in teaching the word of GOD!

You will live with authority just like using a sharp knife

as opposed to a blunt one!

We must purposefully correct every mindset and thought in ourselves to walk in obedience to the word of GOD and to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Then we can walk in all authority to command obedience to rebellious spirits, sicknesses and powers of darkness through prayer and proclamation.

 for He taught them as one having authority, 

and not as the scribes.

Matthew 7:29

The LORD JESUS lived, taught, walked and worked with such authority

 because of His absolute obedience to His Father.

A life of obedience will display a life of spiritual authority!

As you walk under the authority of the word of GOD

and the leading of the Holy Spirit,

the LORD will bring conviction in the hearts of your hearers

and punishment to disobedient spirits.

The LORD will also confirm His word with acoompanying signs.

 And they went out and preached everywhere, 

the Lord working with them and confirming the word 

through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Mark 16:20