Faithfully, We Fight
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION:
I hope you are hungry for God’s Word this morning. Though our primary passage is only 7 verses, we will be scouring the pages of His Holy Word looking for wisdom and understanding in how we ought to fight for our souls.
Welcome/Prayer
Depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness… uncertainty… worry… guilt… shame… abuse… sexual addictions, drug addictions, food addictions… eating disorders… and the list goes on… along with the various sins that mark our lives… oh, and let us not forget the greatest one of them all, death.
Things that all people in a fallen world experience…
But what about those who know Christ?
I think we all understand the necessity of death… but what about those other things I listed, that can hasten death to us or rob us the peace we ought to have when we face death?
Why do we still experience these things? Maybe not all of them… but we still experience them… in varying degrees and manners...
Let’s not pretend we don’t… to do so would be like pretending we don’t sin… but why though? Why do we still struggle against such things if we have been set free by the Son?
B/c we are still in our fallen flesh… and have not yet received our glorified bodies which will not occur until our King returns and makes all of His enemies a footstool for His feet.
But until that time we struggle not only against our flesh which we must crucify daily… but also against the evils of this world.
The powers and the principalities… that is the devil and his angels… who use all of these things to get us to take our eyes off of Christ… to get us to doubt our faith.
And sometimes, not always, but sometimes these things afflict us because we lose faith, especially the ones that are borne out of discontent.
But some of them are simply by-products of a fallen world.
We exist during a period of history of which a cosmic spiritual war is being waged.
And we live on the front-lines of that war. Though the outcome of the war has already been determined, for God’s glory… the end of hostilities has not ceased.
And the enemy is constantly on the prowl looking for opportunities to devour Christ’s beloved.
So, we must be on our guard, we must know how to fight… so that when the heat of the battle bears down upon us we will remain faithful and hold fast to our confession and in doing so we will see our deliverance fulfilled by the power of Christ.
So, what does this look like? Thankfully, through God’s Word, we have been given an example of which we may draw endurance and encouragement from… 2 Samuel 21:15-22
David, as most of you know, was a giant slayer. Though he wasn’t the only one to slay a giant, and at one point David himself was almost killed by a giant.
In all these instances though it wasn’t David’s wisdom or might that delivered him, it was his faith in Yahweh.
Today we will read of some of these giants… but before we do let us consider the first and most prominent giant David killed - Goliath.
In David’s time, the Philistines sought to kill David and God’s people… in 1 Samuel 17 with David & Goliath…
Philistines come to do battle against Israel and Goliath offers to fight just one man to determine the outcome.
But all of Israel, including King Saul were afraid of this giant of a man… so Goliath continued to taunt Israel and blaspheme God’s holy name.
So, God sent a deliver, a rescuer, His anointed one, to fight Goliath. And that was David when he was much younger than he is in our passage now.
David through faith in Yahweh was able to deliver God’s people from their greatest opponent…
It is also in 1 Samuel 17 that we first witnessed how David was a type of Christ, a shadow of the true Christ to come… for just as David was a rescuer for God’s people by representing them on the battlefield and gaining victory, so Jesus Christ represented His people on the cross as He conquered death for us on our behalf, for we were unable to do so.
Likewise, in these 7 verses before us, we will see how David’s fighting is an example of the life of Christ, and what it can teach us of how we ought to live.
We’ll learn that like David, as well as Jesus, we are marked, yet we are not alone, and if we are faithful we will be delivered even through death.
Let us read our passage and deal briefly with two matters of the text… and then we’ll dive in....
15 There was war again between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. And David grew weary. 16 And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” 18 After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giants. 19 And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. 21 And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck him down. 22 These four were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
Here near the end of 2 Samuel, David is back at it with his well-known enemy, the Philistines
And there are some key fighters of the Philistines listed in this passage and all of them were descended from the giants.
What line of giants is the text specifically referring to?
Do you recall the giants of Numbers 13 & 14, when the spies were sent to check out the land? And ten of the spies came back with a bad report…
In Numbers 13:33 (don’t read) they spoke of seeing men descended of the Nephilim of Genesis 6… tall people, called the Anakites or Anakim
33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”
These “giants” are what caused the people to fear and lack faith in Yahweh, except for Joshua and Caleb. As such the other ten spies died by a plague, and the generation that lived in Egypt at the time of being delivered from slavery, would not be permitted into the Promised Land.
The giants in our text, come from the city of Gath, and we know from Joshua 11:22 (don’t read) that the survivors of the Anakim dwelt in three cities belonging to the Philistines, which includes the one associated with Goliath, and the four descendants in our text today, the city of Gath.
22 There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod did some remain.
How big were these giants?
It depends on your source… DSS & LXX (early 1st century AD) have Goliath, if we use him as a reference point, at 6’6, whereas the MT has him at 9’6.
Regardless, these are big dudes…
Look at the spear of Ishbi-benob… had a spear weighing 300 shekels which is just over 7 pounds.
Which isn’t unheard of for spears, but is definitely on the heavier side and to be used effectively in combat would require a man of good strength.
Let’s talk about verse 19.
Where someone who is not named David, yet also a Bethlehemite, killed a man named Goliath.
Is this a contradiction?
It is possible this verse was corrupted at some point in time by a mistake made by a pre-Christian-era copyist… where 1 Chr 20:5 maintains the accurate information for us.
5 And there was again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
Yet, 1 Chronicles 20:5 could simply be an early attempt to deal with the apparent contradiction. As “Lahmi” is part of the Hebrew word for Bethlehemite.
There are three other possibilities that exist to explain this text
One is that “Elhanan” is an alternate name for David, while David is his royal name, Elhanan is his actual family name, and as such Jaaere would be another name for Jesse.
Of course, this possibility would also require these series of events not to be in any kind of chronological order, as 1 Samuel 17 happened during the reign of Saul, not David.
Another is that “Goliath” could actually be a title and not a personal name.
And finally, there simply could be two fighters from Gath named Goliath.
Though we may not be 100% confident in how to explain this… the point remains… David and his men fought notorious men who were descended from the line of giants and they fell by the hand of David.
Why were these giants even pursuing David and his men? Why was David marked for death by them.
We Are Marked
We Are Marked
Why would Ishbi-Benob be pursuing David?
B/c David is king, he is the Lord’s anointed… to slay him would extinguish the light, the lamp of Israel.
Representing the hope, & symbol of God’s faithfulness to God’s people
It is why after this incident David’s men agreed that he ought not to come out and fight anymore with them.
If this incident occured before chapter 11, it could be the main reason David was not out fighting battles with his men. Thus setting the stage for Bathsheba.
David was also targeted because he carried out God’s justice and rule in the Promise Land which the Philistines occupied… this is a primary function of the Lord’s anointed… to practice righteousness and execute justice.
Likewise, Jesus was targeted for the same reason...
Just as the Philistines hated David, the world hated the Son of David, Jesus Christ, and still does today.
For Jesus was ordained to be king, and like David, to execute justice and righteousness among His people and against His enemies Jer 23:5
5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
As such, those of the world, those who are children of wrath, children of darkness… they will and they do reject Jesus, just as the Philistines rejected David, and as such Jesus was marked for death for the world hates Jesus.
Does this sound odd to you? That the world, that society, today… hates Jesus?
I wouldn’t blame you if you did think it odd. It sounds off. How can anyone hate Jesus?
The world regularly talks about Jesus as if He is their best friend and how everyone needs to be like Him and love everyone without condition. But that’s not the real Jesus, is it?
The real Jesus, the world rejects. It’s why the world rejects His Word and what it teaches, and why so many cannot stand to hear it.
They hate Him, b/c what He hates, they love… namely their sin.
In John 7:7, Jesus tells His brothers why the world hates Him… and it’s the same reason today the world hates Him...
John 7:7
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
Meaning… the brothers of Jesus belonged to the world, thus could not be hated by the world… but not so with Jesus… for He did not belong to this world...
And Jesus pointed out sin… and called people to repentance… in His love out of His righteousness and justice… He confronted sin, honestly… directly… and the world hated Him for it and sought to kill Him… for the world did not want to submit to His rule, to His Lordship.
And please, please, understand this… it is in love that God’s Word is faithfully proclaimed calling out the sin of others… we do not preach God’s Word here at Hope to make people comfortable as they go to Hell… and we do not preach with the intention that there is always tomorrow, thus we can ease people into the truths of Scripture… that methodology is foreign to Scripture and is a strategy of the devil.
We preach His Word here at Hope so that people might be Holy by His good grace and in that holiness find abundant life that is everlasting.
Those who love their sin will hate this kind of preaching and they will find someone else to scratch their ears…
Whereas those who hate their sin, will eat it up and give glory to God.
For those who hate their sin hate it for it keeps them from knowing God as we are called to know God. And to know God is to know life, to know joy, to know peace, it cannot be found elsewhere.
Christ did not die for our sin simply for us to avoid Hell.
Christ died for our sin so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, thus allowing us to live righteously and knowing the Triune God in ways that are not possible while enslaved to sin.
And to live righteously, will bring hatred upon us.
If we do find ourselves being hated by the world, be encouraged knowing that it hated our Lord and Savior first. John 15:18
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
Though Jesus made the world, the world refused to know Him, to accept Him, but those who do believe in Him are given eternal life… and in doing so, become marked for death for they no longer belong to the world. John 15:19
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
The world is an organism destined for judgment. And when things within the world exist that are destined for eternal life, it recognizes us as foreign bodies, which we are. Thus the world attacks the bride of Christ as an immune system attacks a virus. It marks the cells, then seeks to destroy them.
Jesus continues on in verse 20 of John 15, John 15:20
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Jesus, as our Lord and Savior, as our King, was marked for death by the world, as such, so are we. To get to King David, the giants had to fight through the men of David… to try to get to Jesus, Satan and Death will fight the people who belong to Christ.
But we must not be discouraged… and we must certainly not think we are doing something wrong simply because the world hates us.
All four gospels prepare us for this. We’ve already heard from John… let’s hear from the other 3.
Matthew 10:22, Luke 6:22
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Please note, the key qualifiers in these verses… hated for what? “His name’s sake”… and… The Son of Man”
Not, for any reason… not because you’re rude, selfish, pompous, arrogant, mean spirited… or whatever… but for His sake… not yours.
We must be wise in this, and in all things love others, be gentle towards them whenever possible, and as patient as possible… and in most cases… you can do more than you think you can.
But sometimes… when it comes to proclaiming His Word… sharing the Gospel… there’s not much you can do.
You can prepare the meal the person needs to eat, neatly arrange on the plate, and they will still spit it out.
The very Word of God, when read… will cause people to hate you.
Consider the 71 year old pastor in England a couple of weeks ago, arrested for reading Genesis 1 and speaking on the sanctity of marriage in a public space. Not once did he mention anything about homosexuality, but simply because He was proclaiming plainly the Word of God, it was considered homophobic hate speech.
In this hatred though… as the four gospels make clear, if we endure, if we persevere for His name’s sake, we will be saved…
But thankfully, we do not go at this fight alone.
We Are Not Alone
We Are Not Alone
David having been marked for death and having been fighting for quite some time has grown weary. Weary to the point where he is less capable in his fighting than he was before.
Fighting Philistines is exhausting… especially if you have to deal with big Philistines…
Yet, in the hour of need, Yahweh was faithful to preserve the lamp of Israel, and did so by sending David help.
David was called to battle the enemies of God, but not to do it alone...
When Jesus, the Son of God took on flesh, His humanity grew weary…
For as Jesus was battling the devil and the temptations of our world His flesh weaken and tired…
A necessary process, so that He may be an example and a help for His people… Heb 2:17-18
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Yet, Jesus was not alone, and as Yahweh ensured Abishai was there to help David… Yahweh ensured that His Son in the flesh had assistance too when needed.
Matt 4:11 following the 40 days of fasting and then the three temptations… God sent angels to minister to Jesus (don’t read)
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
And again, in the garden, on the night of His betrayal, in the midst of prayer
Lk 22:43
43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
If the Son of God in the flesh grew weary living faithfully and doing the will of God… how much more so do we?
When we do tire and weaken from resisting temptation and enduring scorn, or when we suffer the many afflictions this world throws at us… whether as a result of our sin… or not… we must understand and remember that we have help.
First, we have the Triune God… Isaiah 40:28-31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
God gives power to the weak… and to those who wait for Yahweh… that is… those who call upon His name, and trust in His Word…
God does not grow tire as we do...
Yes, to be clear, Jesus did, in His humanity, but His divinity did not. And in His resurrected state His flesh has been glorified and does not weary
We also have the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit… who dwells within us....
John 14:16-17 - Jesus speaking about how He must go away in order that the Spirit, the Helper may come and dwell within us
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
It is by the Spirit that we are strengthen, edified, and built up as a body of believers… Acts 9:31
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Church didn’t grow b/c it feared the authorities, or the plague, or what others may think of it… but b/c the church feared God… and in the Spirit was comforted
Though, the 2nd person of the Trinity, Jesus had to go away to send the Spirit… He is still interceding for us as our great high priest to help us in the time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
So, we have God the Father, God the Spirit, and God the Son, and we also have His angels… Hebrews 1:14
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
And there’s more, God is not silent to us in our suffering, in our pain, in our darkest moments… we have His Word.
Rom 15:4
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Mt 4.4
4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Some of you are unwilling to eat of the Word of God as it’s meant to be...
Broccoli illustration - don’t like texture/taste - dip it in cheese and deep fry it
You need it unadulterated… you need it raw… but you say… it’s not tasty that way… I don’t like eating it like that…
You must discipline yourself… you must pray… b/c if you eat anything that is dipped in cheese and deep fried… it will not help you…
Your gluttonous appetite will weigh you down to Hell… you must learn to receive the Word of God plainly… a 1000 qualifications may make the Word more palatable… but the power of the Word then is stripped and replaced with vanity and futility.
Abundant life & eternal joy in the midst of this life is found in obedience to God’s Word… for there it is you will see God reveal Himself to you.
And perhaps the best part of the Word of God is that it’s not going anywhere… it is permanent for all of eternity.
1 Peter 1:24-25
24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
French Philosopher Voltaire famously once said, “A hundred years from now the Bible will be a museum piece.” A hundred years after his death the French Bible Society purchased Voltaire’s home and put their headquarters in it. The Word of God, regardless of the views of society, is going no where.
And in light of His Word we are given a very precious help for our walk… each other.
Col 3:16
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
This gathering happens with the Word of Christ dwelling among us… which means Christ dwells among us.
You can’t have Christ without His Word
So, with Him among us, we encourage, we teach, with gratitude and we admonish… that is we rebuke, we warn… one another of the dangers and the sins that exist out… of the giants seeking to slay us.
We do this as we gather… and we gather for Death is coming for us… or if the Lord hastens, the day of judgment. Heb 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
We need each other… we were made for each other. Assurance of our salvation if found within the body of Christ as we do life together, as we remind one another who we are and what God has done for us as we keep the sacraments…
And the fruit of the Gospel is found in the gathering. For as we minister to one another, as we serve one another, we see the fruits of our labors and the work of God through us. Joy in life is found doing the will of God, and the will of God is for His people to gather regularly and serve one another out of reverence.
Therefore, whatever trial you are in now… whatever suffering you are enduring… go to Jesus… in the power of His Holy Spirit who dwells within you… even if you have no words to say… go to Him… rest in Him… be strengthen by Him… do this by...
Listening to theologically rich music
Reading His Word…
Praying the psalms...
Pray the prayers of faithful saints whom have suffered like you...
And gathering with your brothers and sisters in Christ…
Are you connected? Are you part of a Life Group? Are you serving?
We do all of this because of our faith in God.
The very faith that delivered David on the battlefield, is the same faith that delivers us.
We Must Be Faithful
We Must Be Faithful
Our passage is in the first half of the final section of 2 Samuel. A section that summarizes the reign of David and follows a chiastic structure (slide) which at its center highlights the faith of David in Yahweh while at the same time continuing to contrast King David with King Saul.
Already, we have seen this contrast in two ways...
David’s faith in Yahweh allowed him to act righteously and serve as a mediator to bring about reconciliation for one of Saul’s sin.
Then today, we have seen God deliver David once again from the battlefield… from the hand of the Philistines… unlike Saul who was slain on the battlefield by the hand of the Philistines for his unfaithfulness.
And next week, we will read the poem that David wrote confessing his faith in Yahweh, and how Yahweh has delivered David time and time again from the hand of Death.
Just as David was able to have success on the battlefield in the face of these Philistine giants, so our King, Jesus, was able to defeat His enemy, our enemy, Death, for us… b/c of His righteousness and obedience to God.
Rom 5:18-19
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
As Abishai delivered David from the giant Philistine in David’s moment of weakness, so Jesus delivers us from our great enemy too...
Though unlike Abishai… Jesus gave His life… and Jesus didn’t give His life for His king, as Abishai was willing to do…
Jesus gave His life for those who were lesser than Him… and far worse than that… those who were His enemies.
Rom 5:10
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
And He did so by shedding His own blood...
Gal 1:4
4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
1 Peter 2:24
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
All of this, all of His blood spilt, so that we may have new life with Him in holiness, being reconciled to the Father and filled with the Holy Spirit.
And though the wages of sin is death Rom 6:23 (don’t read)… eternal life is the free gift of God in Christ Jesus
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It’s not that eternal life did not cost anything, rather as we have already seen, eternal life cost the blood of His Son, but at His expense it is offered to us freely, by His grace through faith.
Eph 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The grace of Jesus in His saving work moves us to put our faith in Him… where salvation and eternal life is found.
The key for David’s success was his faithfulness in Yahweh, which was rooted in his knowledge of Him...
In like manner the key for Jesus, while in the flesh, to withstand the devil and temptation and to conquer death was knowledge of the Father…
Think of Matthew 4 and the temptations… how did Jesus navigate that? With the Word of God.
It was the divine intimacy between the Son and the Father that allowed Jesus to live as He did and to offer Himself as He did… without it, He would have failed… without it, Jesus would not be God.
Therefore, let us not trust in anything of this world… or of ourselves...
Let us not boast in our might or wisdom… let us not be prideful or arrogant like Saul… but humble and faithful like David.
Let us not fear the mighty or the wise of this world… for all knowledge anchored in this world is futile and vain… but knowledge and trust of God is eternal life and will deliver us from this world through the conquering of our great enemy, Death.
Jer 9:23-24
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Prov 21:30
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.
Prov 3:5
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
We must boast in Christ - Psalm 34:2, 2 Cor 10:17
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
We do this… for the one who conquers, the one who overcomes… will be blessed.
Consider how Jesus ends His letters to the 7 churches of Revelation 2 & 3…
Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21
Church of Ephesus
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Church in Smyrna
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Church in Pergamum
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Church in Thyatira
26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Church in Sardis
5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
Church in Philadelphia
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
Church in Laodicea
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
In all of these churches, the one who conquers is the one who repents, who is zealous, who does not fear, and who holds fast to the faith in obedience...
A call to obedience… is not legalism… it’s faithfulness, it’s righteousness, it’s knowledge of the Holy One.
It’s abundant life. It’s salvation.
Not the means of which we obtain salvation, but the marks of salvation.
The marks of those who have been freed from the power of sin.
If we trust Yahweh, as David trusted Yahweh… in all things… including when we sin… that is we trust that God will forgive us by the blood of His Son, so we confess, repent, and continue walking faithfully… if we trust God in this way, if we put our faith in Christ… then we have no need to fear Death… for just as the Son was raised from the dead, so too shall those who look to the Son and believe in Him be raised at the end of days.
And as we wait for our moment of death, or for His return, He will hold us fast. A work that only He can do in us… if we put our faith in Him.
A faith that is shared with our brothers and sisters in Christ and a faith that we now publically affirm as we enter into communion.