Olympic Fencing
A Modern Sport
The sport of fencing is fast and athletic, a far cry from the choreographed bouts you see on film or on the stage. Instead of swinging from a chandelier or leaping from balconies, you will see two fencers performing an intense dance on a 6-feet by 44-feet strip. The movement is so fast the touches are scored electrically – a lot more like Star Wars than Errol Flynn.
Winning
Competitors win a fencing bout (what an individual “game” is called) by being the first to score 15 points (in direct elimination play) or 5 points (in preliminary pool play) against their opponent, or by having a higher score than their opponent when the time limit expires. Each time a fencer lands a valid hit - a touch - on their opponent, they receive one point. The time limit for direct elimination matches is nine minutes - three three-minute periods with a one-minute break between each.
Fencers are penalized for crossing the lateral boundaries of the strip, while retreating off the rear limit of their side results in a touch awarded to their opponent.
Team matches feature three fencers squaring off against another team of three in a "relay" format. Each team member fences every member of the opposing team in sequence over 9 rounds until one team reaches 45 touches or has the higher score when time expires in the final round.
Fencing at the Olympic Games will feature a single-elimination table format, much like that used in Tennis. There will be no preliminary rounds, as the initial seeding into the table will be determined by World Rankings.
The Weapons
Foil, epee and saber are the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. While some fencers compete in all three events, elite generally choose to focus their energies on mastering one weapon.

Foil - The Sport of Kings
The foil is a descendant of the light court sword formerly used by nobility to train for duels. It has a flexible, rectangular blade approximately 35 inches in length and weighing less than one pound. Points are scored with the tip of the blade and must land on valid target: torso from shoulders to groin in the front and to the waist in the back. The arms, neck, head and legs are considered off-target - hits to this non-valid target temporarily halts the fencing action, but does not result any points being awarded. This concept of on-target and off-target evolved from the theory of 18th-century fencing masters, who instructed their pupils to only attack the vital areas of the body - i.e. the torso. Of course, the head is also a vital area of the body, but attacks to face were considered unsporting and therefore discouraged.
Although top foil fencers still employ classical technique of parries and thrusts, the flexible nature of the foil blade permits the modern elite foil fencer to attack an opponent from seemingly impossible angles. Competitors often "march" down the fencing strip at their opponent, looking to whip or flick the point of their blade at the flank or back of their opponent. Because parrying (blocking) these attacks can be very difficult, the modern game of foil has evolved into a complicated and exciting game of multiple feints, ducking and sudden, explosive attacks.
There were many pages of information on how to score points and the equipment needed and etc.
So I have studied the rules of fencing and I understand the rules of the game. I know what equipment I need in order to enter a bout. I am I ready to join an Olympic team? No of course not, I’ve never put the information that I have learned to use yet. I had no chance to exercise my knowledge on the mat. What if I purchased all the right equipment and I walked into the gym where other Olympic hopefuls were practicing. Do you think people would assume that I knew how to fence? Maybe, but what if I started talking about all the rules and made the people aware of the fact that I was educated about fencing. Do you think people would assume I knew how to fence? Pretty good chance they might believe I had entered bouts before. What would happen if I actually stepped on to the mat with an Olympic fencer and tried to beat him/or her? Do you think people would know for sure that I didn’t have any experience at all fencing. I think so. Because you see it isn’t enough to just be educated and dress the part, I must know how to use my sword!
I starting the message if your listening closely. When I was praying for a message for tonight the Lord spoke to me and said “Just holding the sword in hand isn’t enough.”.
Eph 6:
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:14-17
However, there is a huge difference in standing with sword in hand and going to battle. It’s not enough to just know about the word or know what you supposed to wear, we must know how to wear the armor and use the word.
You see Philip has several guns in our home, but if a thief breaks in to our house and I don’t know how to load or fire the gun, is it going to help me much? I maybe able to intimidate the thief at first and maybe scare him off. But what if the thief walks toward me and I just stand there holding the gun. He going to steal the gun as well as anything else he decides to take. Once he realizes that I don’t know how to use the gun properly he isn’t going to be intimidated any more. It’s the same way with the sword of the spirit. God doesn’t want use just to educate our selves with words on a page from this book. He wants us to read our promises and know how to use the word to fight off the thief.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. John 10:10
Who is the thief? Satan
And what does Satan come to do? Steal
What has he come to steal? The Word
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Mark 4:15
Why is Satan so interested in stealing the word of God from you?
Because he knows the potential you have when you hold it and you know how to use it.
Sometimes I wish I could understand fully how big of a threat I am to Satan. How many of you feel like sometimes that all you do is go from one problem to another. I hear people say this “It’s something all the time” You know what I’m tired of seeing Gods people so overwhelmed by their problems. I wish I could stand up here and tell you that if we would all just live right and do good that all of our problems will go away. I could but I would be lying. You see the truth of the matter is a lot of times the hard we press in with our relationship with Christ the crazier things become. I can’t change that for me or you.
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Living a Godly life won’t keep you from all sufferings. If nothing else you will at least suffer persecution, but here I believe is a key ingredient in handling these problems. Attitude.
What is your attitude concerning you currant situation? Are you groveling? Are you pleading with God? Are you pouting? Are you angry with God? What is your reaction to your circumstance? Fear, Sadness, Envy, Guilt, Anger
Are you standing there wearing the full armor of God with the Sword of the Spirit in hand saying “But that’s not fair, “Don’t you see what’s happening to me, Don’t you even care?, Do you hear me God?, How could You let this happen?”
I know I’m not the only one who has ever fallen down and said “Why God Why?, What have I done wrong? I thought you said you would never leave me or forsake me, we’ll I sure feel all alone and forsaken!
It’s not enough to just stand with sword in hand.
I must be as Job and refuse to allow my circumstances to change my view of God.
Are you allowing your circumstances to change you mind about who God is?
Let’s look at Job for a minute the bible tells us he lost his livestock, his children, servants, etc. Job is having a bad day. So what is his reaction to all of this terrible news?
Job 1:20-22Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 ¶ In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly
He worshipped. Sounds like some other men of the bible we have read about Paul and Silas. Throwed in jail for doing what God had called them to do. Were they complaining saying whoa is me. No they worshipped.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:
Their inspiration to their worship came because of their trust in him. How could they have so much trust in a God that would allow such things to happen to them? I believe it is because they knew what he had told them and they believed them. They used the word of the Lord to comfort them beyond what their circumstance were throwing at them. They didn’t have any extra special promises from God that we don’t have today. So what has happened? We stopped using our sword. You see Job used his sword to combat fear. Paul and Silas used their sword to combat fear. You see I’m convinced that the root of most of what causes us to loose our peace is fear.
Example:
Be careful(anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phil 4:16
How many of you have prayed about something in the last 6 months and then worried about it again? But you know the scripture in Phil right? You see knowing the word isn’t enough you must use it. You pray and let God handle it. Yes worry and fear will try to bring it up to you again. So this is what you do. When you begin to worry you have to put the word to work. You must take authority over that vain imagination, that high and lofty thing that is trying to exalt itself about the knowledge of God, you must cast it down and chose rather to believe the word of God which says” Be careful(anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Worry and fear I know you are trying to cause me to loose my peace, but you must know that I have turned this circumstance over to my Father so if you would like to discuss this circumstance any farther you’ll have to take it up with Him. It is a mental and spiritual choice you have to make. It takes active awareness to be a warrior. You never know where the enemy is going to strike so you must be continually prepared
It isn’t enough to just stand with sword in hand.
We must take up our sword and go to battle.
So how do we put the sword to work?
#1 - Prayer We pray the word of God
We are warriors who are called to battle. We can battle in prayer. I recall Dave talking about his mother who would shut herself up in her room and would be in there for longs periods of time and she would pray until she had peace that God had heard her prayer and that He was working on her behalf. When is the last time that we had a circumstance arise in our life and we shut ourselves up with God until we felt God had heard our prayers and that He was working on our behalf. I have to say I’m guilty of lacking in this area.
Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16
Effectual - Producing, or having adequate power or force to produce, an intended effect;
Fervent - having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit. Hot burning glowing
Share about KT’s lungs this moring.
When is the last time that you felt like your prayers had adequate power or force to produce and intended effect? When is the last time you felt great warmth and intensity of spirit when you prayed?
It isn’t a question of our righteousness, that comes in receiving Jesus. It is a question of effectual and fervent.
#2 - We confess the word of God. Reminding Ourselves of God’s Promises
Decide what is the root of my circumstance, now what is my promise?
Surly Sister Michelle your not asking to walk around in denial about all of our problems. Yes I most certainly am!!! Well just denying something won’t make it go away. I agree. However, speaking the word of God to your circumstance will. Talk about our neighbors
Talk about KT’s broken foot. Yes it was broken I believe that even now. However, we spoke the word of God to her body and we watched the word of God manifest itself for her.
If your going through a trial right now you need to pick up your sword and go on the offence. Stop cowering in the corner pleading with God to make it all go away. Stand to your feet, put on the whole armor of God and use your sword. Enter into your prayer closet, pray effectual, pray fervent, and refuse to come out until you know that you know that you know God has heard you prayer and He is moving on your behalf. Speak the word of God to your circumstance, stand on his promises regardless of what your circumstance are. Don’t allow your circumstances to change your view of your God.
In our beginning text we read in Eph 6 starting with vs. 14 but lets read in Eph 6 again and start with vs. 10
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
You see there is a battle coming whether you want to admit it or not. This isn’t like the US Army today where you get to make a choice of whether or not you want to enlist. You have been drafted by God almighty and He has equipped you to be victorious in every battle you will ever face.
But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Cor 15:57
