SWORDS of Grace

(Strong Women Of Rightly Divided Studies)

By Mari

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(All Caps for emphasis only)

I have always been a moon and star gazer. I enjoy going out even on very, very cold nights to observe the constellations and the brightness of the moon.

It is fascinating to me because celestial bodies each differ separately in magnitude, in brightness, in beauty, and in splendor! They are not only different from things on the earth, they are individually different from each other!

1Co 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

The Apostle Paul is telling us about the different bodies of flesh and of celestial.

1Co 15:39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

1Co 15:40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

I believe the Apostle Paul is telling us that our new bodies will be different than our earthly bodies…splendid in Christ. Immortal in eternal perfection, yet we may be differing, like those of each star or sun in splendor.

1

Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body

1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

One night a couple weeks ago, there was no moon, yet there were NO shadows in my yard at all! It was so bright out I could have read a book!

I walked all around trying to see where the moon was…but there simply was no moon visible through the cloud cover! It was quite perplexing to say the least!

Researching, I found that this is a very RARE occurrence and only happens 7 nights in a hundred somewhere on earth! It happened in Wisdom Montana!

Here is just a sentence of the scientific jargon: “A new study suggests the effect is created as slow-moving, high-altitude atmospheric waves merge together and amplify the light from naturally occurring airglow, gas atoms that aren’t usually visible.” (Science Alert)

It was simply amazing and of course got me thinking about light, so I took to my Bible. The first mention of light in the word of God is:

Gen_1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

It is of interest that all was dark until God created light, and He saw that it was good, then, divided the light from the darkness.

It is also something to note that God created light and separated the light from darkness BEFORE He created the sun, moon, and stars. So, the light he created is NOT coming from the sun.

It is one of the reasons I star gaze…to see the lights in the darkness. That the light of the moon and stars divide the light from the darkness, to give light upon the earth. Merciful and good for everyone!

Gen_1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Gen 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

Gen 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

It was certainly remarkable that there were NO shadows anywhere! Just a diffuse bright light! There was not the intensity nor the glare of direct light. It was scattered and seemed to come from all directions!

Light is equated with what is good. Dark, with some exception, is mostly equated with evil and trouble.

We really cannot feel light, but God made it so the Egyptians could FEEL the dark!

Exo_10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

Horror is only used five times in the word of God, and of those five, once it is used in association of great darkness.

Gen_15:12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

There are so many parallels between light and darkness.

It always makes me consider in the word of God.

We do not want to be in darkness. We do not want to have our understanding darkened. We do not want to stumble and fall in the dark.

Here are some of the things God says about light and those of us who believe!

Act_26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Rom_2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

Rom_13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

1Co_4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

2Co_4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2Co_4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2Co_6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Eph_5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of

light:

Eph_5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Eph_5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Col_1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

1Th_5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1Ti_6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

2Ti_1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.