A French preacher of the Gospel, when travelling in the provinces on one occasion, met an infidel, with whom he entered into conversation.
In the course of his remarks he quoted various passages of Holy Scripture.
The infidel told him it was of no use his quoting from that Book to him, inasmuch as he did not believe one word of it; and that he should first establish its authenticity.
"Suppose I were to plunge a sword into your body; there would surely be no need of any logical proof that it was a sword; it would prove itself by its effect upon your person," Malan replied.
He then proceeded with the conversation, still quoting from the Word of God.
They parted; but the truth of God did its own work. It entered, as "the sword of the Spirit," into the heart of the infidel, and cut its way through his infidel system, showing it to be a mass of folly, and himself to be a guilty, hell-deserving sinner.
Time rolled on, and, after many years, the preacher was one day accosted in the streets of Paris by a gentleman who asked him if he remembered having met him in the stage coach. He then told him that "the Word of God" had, in very deed, proved itself in his case to be "the sword of the Spirit," and he now needed no logical proof.
"The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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." Heb, 4:12.
"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because, when ye received THE WORD OF GOD which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, THE WORD OF GOD, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." 1 Thess. 2:1313For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13).