(continued from Part 6A)
Revelation #2: The victory is in the fight, not the gift.
Deuteronomy 7:21-22 (NASB) “You shall not dread them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. “The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you.
A gift worth fighting for is a gift worth keeping. It’s value will grow over time to the one who respects the sacrifice necessary to acquire the gift. The generation that crossed the Jordan River at flood stage were familiar with the adversity and won the victory. The fight lasted for several decades to teach each generation the art of warfare and to consolidate each victory. The Israelites eventually lost the gift as respect for the gift waned. They became their worst enemy when they failed to honor God and guard His commandments.
A gift void of fight is destined to ruin or loss. Victor Hugo (1802-1855), the French poet and novelist, once said “adversity makes men, and prosperity produces monsters.” The level of resistance is the key to persistence. The longevity of prosperity is built on the foundation of adversity and is intertwined with the size and number of the obstacles that had to be overcome by each generation. Giving the gift without conveying the cost grows spoiled and ungrateful monsters.
The victory is for those who participate in the struggle. There is deep satisfaction driving out the enemy and setting a perimeter to guard against a counter-attack. As Patrick Henry said, “Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force.” The Lord gave the Israelites the crown jewel, the Promised Land, but they had to guard and protect it from wild beasts. The dread of defeat and trepidation should cover the enemies of God like a blanket, not His people. We have nothing to fear when we stand with truth, justice and the will of God.
Revelation #3: The victory was a process, not a proclamation.
Speaking or claiming the victory has little value unless you begin to act like the victor, not the victim. Little by little the enemy was driven out of the land by force but in a controlled manner. Any vacuum created by a victory must be reinforced with righteousness and prosperity or the wild beasts will take over. God has called us to share in the victory by sharing in the fight but also in guarding the perimeter to resist the unwanted and undesirable “beasts.” Every victory must go through a process of consolidation before the next battle is fought.
Revelation #4: The victory is already won.
Romans 8:37 (KJV) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
The best example of being “more than a conqueror” is the prize fighter who puts himself through rigorous training and personal sacrifice to prepare for the big fight. Inside the ring he takes punishing blows to his face and body as the blood and sweat flow mingled down. Every weakness is exposed and taken full advantage of by his opponent. At the last bell his right hand is lifted by the referee and declared the winner. He is awarded a trophy and a check. He goes home and puts the trophy on the mantle and hands the check over to his wife. He has become a conqueror. She has become more than a conqueror!
The wife received the prize because of her relationship with the prize fighter. In the same manner, the Bride of Christ has become more than conquerors because of their relationship the Bridegroom. The wife was familiar with her husband’s sacrifice and therefore values the gift. The church has greater appreciation for the gift of salvation the more it becomes familiar with the sacrifice of Calvary. The blood, sweat and tears of our King is the greatest expression of love and the eternal value He places on mankind. Those who love much have been forgiven much.
Jesus said, “the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).” Liberty from bondage is the greatest gift anyone could receive. Raising this generation is not about keeping them safe but on teaching them the art of spiritual warfare (see Part 3 – The Warfare) so they may guard the jewel and pass it on to the next generation.