the victory of our faith

A few days ago I was reading in 1 Chronicles 12. This chapter is about the Lord bringing “mighty men” to David. God designed it so that a great army was needed to turn Saul’s kingdom over to David. In the ensuing wars David took not only Saul’s kingdom, but eventually all the land that was destined to be Israel. Because of David’s exploits, God’s word to him was fulfilled. And because of David’s mighty men, it was possible.

The Old Testament account of winning the kingdom of Saul over for God sets an example for Christians today. We also have a kingdom coming to us. By the promises of God and the inner working of faith, God’s kingdom is established in our hearts. And through the works of our faith we help establish God’s outer kingdom on this earth. I have been amongst many Christians who are praying for God’s kingdom to come down on the earth. Yet this chapter in 1 Chronicles has led me to believe that we often think God will give the kingdom to us if we only have enough faith. The Lord began stirring with questions inside of me, and a short prophecy which I’ll write here;

“How is it that men will know how to rule a kingdom if they do not rule over their enemies? Nor will they be able to accomplish a great defeat if they go to battle one-by-one. Men must come together with their gifts to break the bonds of the enemy. The kingdom cannot be taken with an attitude of the heart or a posture before God. If a man has faith to take the kingdom, then his works will follow his faith.”

Ruling over our enemies is a personal work of faith. Though we aren’t fighting a physical enemy, nevertheless we see the consequences of our enemy’s influence in our lives. We have victories over the evil thoughts that come to our minds by taking them captive and causing them to submit to the word of God (2 Cor 10:3-5). We are told to do all we can to stand against the forces of evil in the days that are full of trouble (Eph 6:13). Without these personal victories we will not be able to have God’s kingdom formed within us.

The outer kingdom still remains to be taken. Though Jesus reigns within those who have established the kingdom in their hearts, there remains a continual battle to put His enemies under His feet (1 Cor 15:25-29). When we come together in faith, each one having stood personally against the enemy of his soul, then we can pool our strengths together to win the kingdoms over to God. We read that “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” (Rev 11:15). It is a winning over, or redeeming of those things appointed unto Jesus by His work through His saints.

For those who would like to believe that God will hand the kingdom to us because we have faith, there are other scriptures that support the fact that the decision to bring the kingdom to the earth comes after much trial. Daniel foresaw a struggle between evil and good and wrote about a beast that “was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.” (see 7:21-27). I do not believe that this time of struggle was futile, with the saints passively suffering defeat while God looked on. It is the overcoming of our faith that brings every victory to us, and to this earth (1 Jn 5:4b).

If we are a passive people and without victories, it may be that we do not understand what faith is. Jude writes that we should “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (vs 3). Even Jesus lamented that, when He returned, “will He find faith on the earth?” (Lk 18:2). Many have thought that what they believe in their hearts is the sum total of their faith. Yet by thinking a certain way, and believing in our hearts, we have only the beginning of faith. Faith encompasses actions, or works (see Jms 2:14-25). We cannot choose our works. However, God has predestined works for us to walk in which will glorify Him (Eph 2:10). We must have the outer form (the action form) of our faith in order to bring God’s kingdom to the earth so that His glory will settle here amongst us.

I would like to encourage you today to give life to your faith, believing and doing all that the Father has appointed unto you. Let us come together as the mighty men did in ages past, having overcome our personal enemies, and ready to work together with the Captain of our faith. Amen.