Sunday, July 1st, 2012
I Chronicles 20
“Worship Implications – Part 2”
[audio:]Bible Memory Verse for the Week: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:9
“If you want an easy time as a Christian, all you have to do it to get far away from Jesus Christ—move away to the periphery of the battle. If you are out there, Satan is not going to bother you much. That is where he wants you. However, if you draw close to the Lord, as Paul wished to do, and join with Him in the battle, then Satan’s arrows will start coming at you. The battle will be hard. And you will find it necessary to use God’s weapons for the conflict.” (Boice, Commentary on Phil 3:13-14, 230)
Background Information:
- Following the policy of omitting everything unfavorable to David, the Chronicler now passes over entirely the fascinating narrative of Absalom’s revolt against his father (2 Sm 13-19), the rebellion of the northern tribes under the leadership of Sheba (2 Sm 20), David’s unheroic sacrifice of part of Saul’s family to the vengeance of the Gibeonites (2 Sm 21:1-14), and his undignified weakness in a battle with the Philistines (2 Sm 21:15-17). This brings the Chronicler to 2 Sm 21:18-22, which he reproduces in 1 Chr 20:4-8. (Robert C. Dentan, The Layman’s Bible Commentary, 1Kgs-2 Chr, 136)
- (v.2) The Ammonite king had a magnificent (though hardly functional) crown made of gold and precious stones that weighed seventy-five pounds. The crown was removed from the Ammonite king and placed on David’s head. David acquired much other plunder as well, and he put the conquered people to work doing common labor, thus adding the Ammonites to the list of peoples ruled by Israel. (Dr. Tremper Longman, Quicknotes, 1 Chr Thru Job, 36)
- (v.2) Critics have questioned the accuracy of the biblical figures for the weight of the Ammonite crown (a talent of gold would weigh more than 75 points! 20:2). The piece in question is probably an ornamental tiara symbolizing Ammonite kingship and may have been displayed at certain royal occasions. Most likely this royal headdress is lifted to David’s head briefly by his personal attendants as a public declaration of Israel’s sovereignty over Ammon. (Andrew E. Hill, The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Chr, 265-66)
- (v.5) Problems arise when examining the parallel account (2 Sm 21:19), because there Elhanan slays Goliath. The extensive scribal activity evident in the text of Samuel (including corruptions in that verse) have led some scholars to conclude that Chronicles preserves the correct rendering of the episode. Others have suggested that Goliath is a title, not a name, thus solving the apparent contradiction between Samuel and Chronicles. Selman speculates that the contest between Elhanan and Lahmi may have been a “round two” so to speak, after David killed Goliath. The Samuel rendition locates the combat in Bog, but the Chronicler has omitted the site of the contest. (Andrew E. Hill, The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Chr, 267)
- (v.5) In favor of the possibility of a second Goliath, on the other hand, is the suggestion in 20:4-8 that Gath was renowned for its giants. That the name Goliath might have been borne by more than one giant is suggested not only by the character of the population of Gath, but more specifically by an inscription recently found on the tomb of a family named Goliath in Philistine territory, with the comment that its members were of unusually large stature. (J. G. McConville, The Daily Study Bible Series, 1 & 2 Chr, 66)
- (v.5) Perhaps the Chronicler simply disagreed with the emphasis placed on David’s sin by the Historian. For him the actions David took in establishing Israel’s worship life were much more significant than his sin. Another change which the Chronicler made in this section involved a reference to Goliath (20:5). In 1 Sm 17, David was credited with the victory over Goliath. A later statement attributed the same victory to “Elhanan” (2 Sm 21:19). The Chronicler resolved the problem by noting that Elhanan slew “the brother of Goliath” named Lahmi. (Joe O. Lewis, Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, Vol. 5, 144)
- (v.5) All three skirmishes with the Philistines center about giants. The whole idea of giants here and in the parallels may be due to traditional belief that Canaan was a land of giants (cf. Gn 15:20). These giants were said to be descendants of Rapha, the eponymous ancestor of the Rephaim. The use of the article with Rapha, “The giants,” in vs. 6, 8 points up this fact. According to the Samuel parallel Elhanan slew Goliath, while here he is the slayer of Lahmi, the brother of Goliath. 1 Sm 21:19 therefore goes against 1 Sm 27 where David is said to have killed Goliath during one of Saul’s campaigns. The Chronicler thus resolves the problem by crediting Elhanan with dispatching the brother of the giant David had slain. (Jacob M. Myers, 1 Chronicles, a New Translation, 141-42)
The questions to be answered are . . . What is the Chronicler attempting to communicate in 1 Chronicles chapter 20? What does this have to teach us about our relationship with Jesus?
Answers: That when the Lord is with you as He was with David, you are more than a conqueror, you also enjoy life reconciled and at peace with God because of God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness and love. Jesus as the Son of David, and Immanuel (God with us) empowers us to defeat even greater Goliaths as well as facilitate complete reconciliation with God Almighty.
The Word for the Day is . . . Champion
What does 1 Chronicles 20 have to teach us?:
I. When God is with you (1 Chron 17:2) no giant can stop you (1 Chr 20:2, 4-8; see also: Dt 9:1-3)
Following the conclusion of his successful offensive against the Arameans, David sent Joab to administer the coup de grace to the Ammonites holed up in Rabbah. After reducing the chief fortress in Rabbah to rubble, Joab summoned David from Jerusalem to lead the final assault against the now helpless city (see also 2 Sm 12:26-30). In triumph David marched into the capital of the Ammonites, where his envoys had been shamed. He took the crown from the head of the man who had acted so rashly. The king who had degraded David’s men was now himself degraded, and, since he was the leader of an entire people, he became responsible for their ruin as well as his own. He could have received friendship from the Lord’s anointed, and all his people would have been blessed. But since he had opposed David, he lost his right to rule, and his people lost their freedom. They became slaves assigned to menial and degrading work. (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible, 1 Chr, 217)
The Chronicler’s message to his own people and to us is clear. It makes no sense to oppose the Anointed One. Either serve him in joyful faith, or be enslaved forever by your unbelief. In either case, Christ will be Lord of all. (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible, 1 Chr, 218)
One of the fears that had unmanned ten of the spies who had reconnoitered the promised land for Moses was that some of the people who inhabited the land were “strong and tall” and quite beyond the Israelites’ ability to conquer on their own power (Nm 13:28, 33; Dt 1:28; 9:2). These ancient inhabitants of the land were known variously as Rephaites (see Gn 15:19, 20) or Anakites (Dt 9:2). While the identification of Rephaites with Anakites is not absolutely certain, it seems likely that the first name designates them as a people of great size–“the Giants”–and the second name refers to the founding ancestor of their race–“the sons of Anak.” In one of his farewell sermons to the Israelites, Moses relayed this promise to them from their God, “Be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy (the Anakites), he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you” (Dt 9:3). (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible, 1 Chr, 218-19)
Now the army of Israel had finally found its courage and had discovered the strength to do the impossible. The Lord’s anointed turns his people into giant-killers! (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible, 1 Chr, 219)
When Goliath first challenged the Israelites, it had taken six weeks or so before he could convince even a single Israelite soldier to confront him (1 Sm 17:16). After David kills Goliath, David’s faith and courage became legendary. But more than that, it was also inspirational and motivational. The soldiers are no longer sitting around waiting for David to act on their behalf. In this passage, at least three others become legendary giant-killers in their own right. (Dr. Tremper Longman, Quicknotes, 1 Chr Thru Job, 36)
Rephaim: This term is used in the Hebrew Bible both for the ancient, pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan (Gn 14:5; 15:20; Dt 2:10-11) and for the dead in the underworld (for example, Ps 88:10; Isa 14:9). The connection between these two concepts is found in old Canaanite mythology, where the Rephaim are the line of fallen heroes and kings from ancient days, now consigned to the place of the dead. Dt 3:11 states that the iron bedstead of Og of Bashan, last of the Rephaim, was on display in Rabbah. The bed is said to measure nine cubits by four cubits: about 14 feet by 6 feet! Clearly the Rephaim could be regarded as giants.
The mythic stature of the Rephaim is also stressed in Dt 2:11, which identifies the Rephaim with the Anakim. The Anakim were in turn described in Numbers as the Nephilim, before whom “we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them” (Nm 13:33). Finally, the Nephilim were the monstrous progeny produced “when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans” at the dawn of time (Gn 6:4). All of these connections, it appears, are in back of the Chronicler’s description of the Philistine champions as the Rephaim.
In 2 Samuel, it is possible to think of the children of Rapha as huge human warriors. But by identifying these Philistine heroes as the Rephaim, the Chronicler adds a rich, mythological undertone to the story–the Philistines are championed by the remnants of a lost race of ancient monsters! Still, David’s heroes Sibbecai, Elhanan, and Jonathan prove more than equal to the task. The giants are slain, and the Philistines are subjugated. (Steven S. Tuell, Interpretation: 1 & 2 Chr, 82-83)
The Lord is faithful to his word, and David’s reign is blessed with victory as a result of his (David’s) faithfulness. That the Chronicler himself saw some difficulty in the specifics of this formula can be seen from the fact that he passes by in silence the account of David’s infidelity with Bathsheba. Nothing is permitted to interrupt God’s design to have for himself a house in Jerusalem where he may dwell among his people. Thus are God’s plans always brought to fruition, despite the frailties of those through whom he does his work. (Roddy Braun, Word Biblical Commentary: 1 Chr, 211)
. . . God often works by contraries: when he means to give victory, he will allow us to be foiled at first; when he means to comfort, he will terrify first; when he means to justify, he will condemn us first; when he means to make us glorious, he will abase us first. A Christian conquers, even when he is conquered. When he is conquered by some sins, he gets victory over others more dangerous, such as spiritual pride and security. (Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed, 95)
II. God’s mercy, forgiveness and love can annihilate any sin (2 Sm 11:2-21:14; see also: 1 Sm 13:14 with Acts 13:22 – Jer 31:34)
Itemized list of David’s failings or less than sterling history that the Chronicler chooses to ignore from 2 Samuel chapters 11-21:
11:2-5 David’s adultery with Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife)
11:6-13 David’s plan to cover his adulterous sin
11:14-26 David’s plan to have Uriah killed
11:27 David makes Bathsheba his wife
12:1-15 Nathan’s rebuke of David’s sin
12:15-25 David and Bathsheba’s illegitimate child dies
13:1-22 Incestuous relationship between David’s children Tamar/Amnon
13:23-39 Absalom’s revenge for his sister Tamar by killing Amnon
14:1-32 Trouble between Absalom and David
15:1-18:15Absalom’s attempt to usurp the throne from his father David
16:1-4 Deception of Mephibosheth’s servant Ziba
16:5-13 The curse of David by Shimei
18:16-19:43The death of Absalom – Joab replaced by Amasa
20:1-26 Israel’s rebellion – Amasa’s incompetence as Joab reestablishes his command
21:1-14 Gibeonite revenge against Saul’s household results in famine and execution of some of Saul’s remaining family members
The Ammonite war, for example (2 Sm 10-11), is primarily a backcloth for the story of David’s adultery with Bathsheba and related murder of Uriah. Those actions in turn spark off a series of events which are far from glorifying to the house of David (mainly Ammon’s rape of Tamar, ch. 13, and Absalom’s rebellion, chs. 15ff.). The omission of this block of material is as instructive as that which is included, for it shows that Chronicles is determined to develop the theme of David’s positive contribution to the establishment of God’s kingdom in Israel, a purpose which would not have been served by the inclusion of evidence of his deficiencies. (J. G. McConville, The Daily Study Bible Series, 1 & 2 Chr, 63-64)
The omission of the huge misdemeanors reported in 2 Sm 9-20, with all their debilitating consequences for the kingdom, is further dramatic evidence of God’s willingness to use even the most inconstant of people in his service. Christians often become obsessed by their failures. It is a measure of the grace of God that he is willing to put the best interpretation upon the most vacillating life of faith. (J. G. McConville, The Daily Study Bible Series, 1 & 2 Chr, 64)
At this point the Chronicler had to omit the section of 2 Sm 13:1-21:14 which vividly narrates the revolts of Absalom and Sheba and the vengeance exacted by the Gibeonites on seven surviving sons (or grandsons) of Saul: it was all incompatible with the picture of an idealized David. (Abingdon Press, The Interpreter’s Bible Vol. 3, 412)
CONCLUSION/APPLICATION:
What does this message have to do with me and Jesus?:
A- Jesus is “Immanuel” (God with us – Isa 7:14 & Mt 1:23). When you place Jesus as Master of your heart, you are a conqueror like David. (Rom 8:31, 37; 1 Cor 15:57; 1 Jn 4:4; 5:4)
Never battle with a man who has nothing to lose, for then the conflict is unequal. -Baltasar Gracian
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. — Jim Elliott
The generations that heard the gospel of justification by faith hardly understood that sanctification is also by faith. The power of a holy life for victory over the world and the flesh can only be found in an unceasing exercise of faith in the greatness of God’s power in us. We should not be surprised that one of the great causes of feebleness in the Church today is the unbelief in the mighty power of Jesus. (Andrew Murray, Receiving Power from God, 93)
God’s cause has victory associated with it. Doubtless the Chronicler, living in a far less glorious age, sensed and wished his readers to sense that to be on God’s side and to identify with His cause culminates in victory, even though that victory may appear remote. The Christian affirmation “we are more than conquerors” was spoken in defiance of current tribulation and persecution (Rom 8:35, 37). (Leslie Allen, Mastering the OT, 1, 2 Chr, 134)
Paul claims we can be “more than conquerors” (Rom 8:37, RSV). He survived all manner of troubles, including a “thorn in the flesh” to fight the Christian battles. Nietzsche was right: “what does not kill me makes me stronger.” We may be temporarily afflicted, but we can get {up} off the canvas to fight again. (Richard L. Morgan, No Wrinkles On the Soul)
The battle against despondency is a battle to believe the promises of God. And that belief in God’s future grace comes by hearing the Word. And so preaching to ourselves is at the heart of the battle. But I stress again that the issue in this chapter is not mainly how to avoid meeting despondency, but how to fight it when it comes. (John Piper; Future Grace, 304)
I have argued that the key to fighting sin is to battle unbelief, and keep the fire of faith in God’s promises red hot. The power of sin is the false promise that it will bring more happiness than holiness will bring. Nobody sins out of duty. Therefore, what breaks the power of sin is faith in the true promise that the pleasures of sin are passing and poisonous, but at God’s right hand are pleasures for evermore (Ps 16:11). This way of fighting sin with the hope of superior satisfaction, is called, in Heb 11:24-26, living “by faith”: “By faith Moses…[chose] to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, [rather] than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin…for he was looking to the reward.” (John Piper, Future Grace, 386)
The Christian faith flies in the face of social Darwinism and its principles of perfection. Ours is not the “survival of the fittest” but the “survival of the weakest.” That is, those alone who come to terms with their spiritual impotence are granted the grace of God to persevere in his strength. You will fall. Stop trying to live the “victorious Christian life” [on your own] and simply live, as you feed on God’s Word and grow by his Spirit. (Michael Horton, Putting Amazing Back into Grace, 213
In the decades that have followed I have learned much more about the fight against anxiety. I have learned, for instance, that anxiety is a condition of the heart that gives rise to many other sinful states of mind. Think for a moment how many different sinful actions and attitudes come from anxiety. Anxiety about finances can give rise to coveting and greed and hoarding and stealing. Anxiety about succeeding at some task can make you irritable and abrupt and surly. Anxiety about relationships can make you withdrawn and indifferent and uncaring about other people. Anxiety about how someone will respond to you can make you cover over the truth and lie about things. So if anxiety could be conquered, a mortal blow would be struck to many other sins. (John Piper, Future Grace, 53)
Jesus says that the root of anxiety is inadequate faith in our Father’s future grace. As unbelief gets the upper hand in our hearts, one of the effects is anxiety. The root cause of anxiety is a failure to trust all that God has promised to be for us in Jesus. (John Piper, Future Grace, 53-54)
For effective victory over Satan believers must recognize that on the basis of the work of Christ Satan is a defeated foe. They are called upon to take a firm stand against the devil. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas 4:7). Any attempt to flee from the devil would be useless, but in claiming the victory of Christ man can put the devil to flight. In order to experience victory over Satan believers cannot remain “ignorant of his designs” (2 Cor 2:11). Recognizing that he is a powerful and crafty foe, they must “give no opportunity to the devil” by allowing sin in their lives (Eph 4:25-27). Instead, they must “be sober, be watchful,” alert to the danger from the devil, and firmly resist him in faith (1 Pt 5:8, 9). Eph 6:10-17 repeatedly stresses the need to take a firm stand against the satanic enemy. (The Zondervan Pictoral Encyclopedia of the Bible Q-Z, 285)
B- Jesus completely annihilates all our sin (past, present and future) when we are “in Christ” (Ex 34:6-7; Ps 103:3; 130:8; Isa 38:17; 40:2; ch 53; Jer 31:34; 33:8; Mt 1:21; Jn 1:29, 36; Jn 3:16; 16:33; Acts 5:31; 13:38-39; Rom 3:24-26; ch. 5; 6:23; 1 Cor 15:3; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 1:4; Eph 1:7; 5:25-26; Col 1:14; 2:13-14; 1 Tm 2:5-6; Heb 1:3; 9:12-15; 10:1-20 especially v. 12; 13:12, 20-21; 1 Pt 3:18; 1 Jn 1:7-9; 2:2; 3:5, 8; 4:10; Rv 1:5)
Do squirrels forgive cats for chasing them up trees or dolphins forgive sharks for eating their playmates? It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, not dog-forgive-dog. As for the human species, our major institutions—financial, political, even athletic—run on the same unrelenting principle. An umpire never announces, “You were really out, but because of your exemplary spirit I’ll call you safe.” Or what nation responds to its belligerent neighbors with the proclamation, “You are right, we violated your borders. Will you please forgive us?”
The very taste of forgiveness seems somehow wrong. Even when we have committed a wrong, we want to earn our way back into the injured party’s good graces. We prefer to crawl on our knees, to wallow, to do penance, to kill a lamb—and religion often obliges us. (Philip Yancey, What’s so Amazing About Grace?, 86)
In Tournier’s words: . . . believers who are most desperate about themselves are the ones who express most forcefully their confidence in grace. There is a St. Paul. . . and a St. Francis of Assisi, who affirmed that he was the greatest sinner of all men; and a Calvin, who asserted that man was incapable of doing good and of knowing God by his own power. . .
“It is the saints who have a sense of sin.” as Father Danielou says; “the sense of sin is the measure of a soul’s awareness of God.” (Philip Yancey, What’s so Amazing About Grace?, 183)
I have conquered an empire but I haven’t been able to conquer myself. — Peter the Great
It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. -Edmund Hillary
You see, if I’m forgiven without condition, you can’t make me feel guilty. If God loves me, you can’t manipulate me by threatening to take away your love. If God knows my secrets and doesn’t condemn me, my secrets can’t be used as blackmail. If you have power and threaten to use it against me and I don’t care, your power is no longer real power. ( Steve’s Letter, Key Life Network: “Getting You Home”)
The NT indicates that the Christian life is spiritual warfare (Eph 6:12). At the cross Christ defeated the enemies of God de jure, but the church awaits that day of consummation when all the enemies of God are destroyed de facto. During the interim, the Christian lives in the tension between “the now and the yet-to-come,” for the “god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4) still “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Pt 5:8).
Nevertheless, we are not defenseless as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus Christ (Ti 2:13). Christ has made gracious provision for us as we engage the “powers” in spiritual warfare, equipping us with everything needed for life and godliness (2 Pt 1:3). Those provisions for spiritual battle include the “full armor of God” (Eph 6:13-17) and the enabling work of the indwelling Holy Spirit (6:18). Such armament and the aid of God’s helping spirit guarantees our victory against the evil one (6:16).
But such effective armament is of little value if it is not worn in battle (Eph 6:11). The Christus Victor theology confronts the free agency of persons made in God’s image and forces the issue of human responsibility. The Christian can be victorious in spiritual warfare with Satan only to the degree he or she declares allegiance to God and chooses to “put on the full armor of God” (6:11), to “stand firm” (6:14), to “take up” the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (6:16), and to “pray in the Spirit (6:18). (Andrew E. Hill, The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Chr, 271-72)
Worship point: When you realize all you have done to offend God, and then realize how graciously and abundantly God has blessed you in light of your rebellion and sin; worship should not be far from you. Especially when we recognize that God has taken our sins away from us as far as the East is from the West and has allowed us to be more than conquerors when we are “In Christ.”
Thomas A Kempis’s classic work, The Imitation of Christ, emphasizes a purposeful Christianity that strives for continued growth. He wrote, “Who hath a greater combat than he that laboreth to overcome himself? This ought to be our endeavor, to conquer ourselves, and daily to wax stronger and to make a further growth in holiness.” (Thomas A Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, I:3:3)
Men have no idea how vital Christ is to the future of mankind. Nor do they realize how needed they are. Without men and their warrior spirit in the church, all is lost. Our job is to lift the veil of religion and call men to battle. But not yet. Before we can call men, the church must recover its ancient, masculine voice. (David Murrow; Why Men Hate Church, 49)
“Christians fight spiritual warfare by repentance, faith and obedience.” (David Powlison, Power Encounters: Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare, 36)
Spiritual warfare is the blood, sweat, and tears of dying to one’s self and listening to God. (David Powlison, Power Encounters: Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare, 119)
Spiritual Challenge: Begin to develop the mind of Christ. See life here and now in light of the there and then. By faith know that all things will work for your good because you love God and He has called you according to His purposes. By faith know that every trial, every suffering, every loss is there to more fully develop your character so that one day, you will be fully mature, complete, not lacking in anything. An honorable and noble champion like David.
But if we are to win the battle on the stage of human history, it will take a prior commitment to fighting the spiritual battle with the only weapons that will be effective. It will take a life committed to Christ, founded on truth, lived in righteousness and grounded in the gospel. It is interesting to note that all of the weapons which Paul lists up to this point are defensive. The only offensive weapon mentioned is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Francis A. Schaeffer; The Great Evangelical Disaster, 25)
Martin Luther said, “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” (Francis A. Schaeffer; The Great Evangelical Disaster, 50)
We must reassert the words of Joseph Rickaby: “the Cross does not abolish suffering, but transforms it, sanctifies it, makes it fruitful, bearable, even joyful, and finally victorious.” (Robert Lewis, The Church of Irresistible Influence, 97)
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena: whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood: who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm; the great devotion, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat. — Theodore Roosevelt
THE CHRISTIAN’S PERSONAL IDENTITY:
I believe that in Christ Jesus my sins have been fully and freely forgiven, and I am a new creation. I have died with Christ to my old identity in Adam. I have been raised with Christ to a new life. I am seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. God has given to me the full righteousness of Jesus Christ. I am joined with angels, archangels, and all the saints in heaven. God is my Father, and if He is for me, who can be against me? Because of who I am in Christ, I am more than a conqueror. In fact, I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. Christ Jesus is my life! Everything in my life here on this earth is working out for good according to the purposes of God. Christ Jesus Himself dwells within me. I have been called according to the purposes of God. These things I believe and confess, because God, my Father in heaven, says they are true. Amen! (Don Matzat, Christ Esteem, 96)
God could have removed Satan by incarcerating him immediately at the moment of his fall, but he is using him to train His future co-rulers.
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame; and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Rv 3:21, 22). This is why Jesus said that He has given believers authority over all power of the enemy (Luke 10:19).
To many of us, Satan is invincible. Not so. He is only a created being. Learning progressively in time to overcome Satan is the primary qualification for rulership in eternity. This is why God looked for a man to overcome Satan instead of doing it Himself. This also explains why God permits Satan to contest the believer—to give him exercise in overcoming. (Paul E. Billheimer, Destined to Overcome, 64)
Amy Carmichael once penned these thoughts: Sometimes when we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. I feel that I shall never be like that. But they won through step by step by little bits of wills, little denials of self, little inward victories by faithfulness in very little things. They became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps. They only see the accomplishment, but even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph, no spiritual maturity. That is the work of the moment. (Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 130)
Christ:
Our Champion
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