As I stated last week, when first became a Christian I set out to obey all of God’s commands. That was good, but I soon learned of the difficulty of the task and of the impossibility of doing so with my own strength and will power. I also had no idea that God would expect me to fight His enemies. However if our relationship is truly a covenant then in fact we would fight each others fight. In fact with all of our efforts to please God we often think that we need to do so on our own or just fall for the lie that we will never be able to please Him. The truth is that God has granted us all that we will ever need not only to please Him, but also to live in the victory over our enemies that so often cause us to believe that we are not pleasing our Heavenly Father.
Through the study of our relationship as a covenant we come to see that God has given us all we need for the fight that we call life. If you need a refresher on the definition of covenant see the last week's post. For this post we will be looking at the first three of ten steps in the ancient covenant ceremony. These three steps will help us understand that part of our relationship with God that resources us to successfully live in victory over our own enemies and the enemy of God.
Step #1: The exchange of Robes - As two kings would begin the ceremony they would there ribes. This would signify an exchange identity. Understood in our relationship with God, we come to find out that God has indeed exchanged identity with us.
Phil 2:5-8
5 For, let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God, 7 but did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made, 8 and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death--death even of a cross,(YLT)
Luke 24:49
49 `And, lo, I do send the promise of my Father upon you, but ye -- abide ye in the city of Jerusalem till ye be clothed with power from on high.'
Romans 13: 13-14
13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Step #2: The exchange of belts - This exchange would symbolize the exchange of strengths. As kings came together they would now posses the strengths of each others kingdom. This usually amounted to an stoppable tandem. The following passages show how this has taken place in our relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 8:17-19
17 Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' 18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.
2Corinthians 12:7-9
7 So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (ESV)
Step #3: The exchange of weapons – This exchange meant that each king would be taking on the enemies of his covenant partner. Have you ever wondered how young David could have been so bold in his encounter with Goliath? In the following passage he calls Goliath "uncircumcised". Without understanding the covenant relationship one may ask "what in the wide world would that have to do with a fight?" The answer in light of the covenant is very powerful. It means that Goliath and the Philistines are not in covenant with God therefore can be defeated by those who are in covenant with God. To understand how this exchange is described in Scripture read the following passages.
1 Samuel 17:23-26
23 As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. 24 All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel." 26 And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (ESV)
1 Corinthians 15:21-26
21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Ephesians 6:10-17
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
May you know that He will defeat your enemies and may we use what He has given us in the fight.
Hope to worship our covenant God with you soon,
Pastor Paul
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