March 2000

[4 of 4]

by Carole Forde

ith good reason the Lord says "Vengeance is Mine" (Ro 12:19) and also. "I will render vengeance to My enemies!" (Deut 32:41) He knows the bestial nature of carnally-minded men and the sort of "Eye for an eye" retaliation they would lust after. But He tells the soldiers in His Army, "Our weapons of warfare are not carnal but mighty, that pull down strongholds!" (2 Cor 10:4) And what are the "weapons" of our spiritual warfare? It will surprise you; for the answer is found in the beautiful Song of Solomon where the Shulamite maiden (symbolic of the true church) cries for her bridegroom (symbolic of Christ), "Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth." (Ca 1:1) But one day Father told me to look up the Hebrew words for "kiss" and "kisses". I was shocked to learn that "kiss" meant "to arm" and "kisses" meant "armament"! So this verse could read, "Let Him ARM me with the ARMAMENT of His Mouth!"
                Since the only weapon I had ever seen in Scripture that related to the mouth was Rev 1:16- about a"Two-edged Sword in the mouth of Jesus Christ"; which correlates with the piece of Godly armor in Eph 6:17 called the "Sword of the Spirit", interpreted as "The Word of God"! Why was the Word of God sent to earth? He said He came to bring a "SWORD"- that is, a piercing Word!! (Mt 10:34) He came to circumcise the flesh away from our hearts; and release God’s Love inside. He came To LOVE AND SAVE THE WORLD! It was this "Sword of the Spirit" Who taught us in Mt 22:36-40, "All the Commandments of God are fulfilled in two great Commandments: "LOVE GOD with ALL our heart, soul, and mind" (meaning that we are rendered void of human love altogether); THEN LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES!"(but, pray tell, with what "love" are we able to obey the second Commandment? If ours is all spent, what Love can we give another? The answer is simple, God’s Love for us is what we share with others. And the more we give it away, the more His Love for us is increased. But this Love of God is not soulish emotionalism or romanticism requiring a suitable response from others, that fades in time, or when frustrated or denied, it perverts into hatred.
                With His self-less and unconditional Love (Greek: "Agape") we are commanded to: "LOVE our enemies; BLESS them that curse us; DO GOOD to them that hate us; and PRAY for them that persecute us." (Mt 5:44) For this is the way the Lord loves us into His Kingdom, and it is how we are to love our fellowman as well. In this world, Love is the weakest of all forces, and hatred is the strongest; but in God’s Kingdom, "Love is as strong as death!" (Ca 8;6) And He reminds us that to carnally-minded is God’s definition of death!) So "Do not return evil for evil" (1 Th 5:15) Let us pray that Christ will "arm"(kiss) us with the "Armament"(kisses) of His mouth and let us remember that His "Sword (Word) of the Spirit" is also the "Kiss" of the Bridegroom! By these He strengthens our hearts and invigorates our souls. Thus He commands us in Ps 2:12, "Kiss (arm) the Son, lest He be angry!" Our surrendered Love to Christ empowers Him on the field of battle; just as surely as His Love prepares us for holy warfare. In the Kingdom of Love the King of Love ordains that the "LOVE" shall be the only sweet "VENGEANCE OF THE LORD" imposed on His beloved, lost world! "There is no fear in Love for Perfect Love casts out all fear" so when all is said and done, it shall be L O V E that rules and reign over ALL for all eternity!! "Thy Kingdom (of Love) is now coming forth- on earth, AS IT IS in Heaven!" Amen.