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Friday, November 9, 2012

P3 God's Strategy for Spiritual Victory - God's Promises

Numbers 21:24  Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer.

Numbers 21:34 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”

For the past couple of days we have been focusing on God's Stretegy for Spiritual Victory.  Through our exploration of the Israelite's experiences in Numbers 21, we have noted from them the following ideas:

1. God's Strategy for spiritual victory begins with the power of the cross. 
2. God's Strategy for spiritual victory includes the Person of the Holy Spirit.

By way of types and illustrations of the Brazen Serpent and God's Provision of water for these people, we see scripture employing both images to point us to God's strategy for spiritual victory.  The Brazen Serpent of course points to the cross. (John 3:14-16) Whereas the well of water and dry river beds in Numbers 21:12-20 is picturing the Person and work of the Holy Spirit working in the life of the Christian, the dry river bed. (John 7:38-39; 1 Corinthians 12:13). 

Today we want to note some promises God gave the Israelites in Numbers 21, noting how God's precious promises provide yet another strategy for Christian spiritual victory. 

1. God's Promises in His Word
There are over 8,000 promises in God's Word.  For the Israelites here in Numbers 21, they were poised, ready to enter into the promised land.  Numerous times God had promised their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that the Land of Canaan was to be their land. (Genesis 12, 13, 15, 17, 22, 24,25, 28, 32, 25, etc)   This is the urgency for why Israel needed to defeat Sihon and Og, the two Kings and their Kingdoms standing in the way of the entry into the promised land.  Thankfully God promised Moses and Israel elsewhere that He would deliver both kings into their hands. (Deuteronomy 2:33). 

For us as Christians, we too are given precious promises.  2 Peter 1:3-4 states - "3seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust."  Because of God's promises communicated to us by the Holy Spirit through scripture, we can have confidence for spiritual victory.  But notice another fact concerning God's promises...

God's specific promise - fear not
Numbers 21:34-35 reads -   "But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35So they killed him and his sons and all his people, until there was no remnant left him; and they possessed his land."  I love this particular promise because it takes away fear so that faith and flourish. 

Jesus often spoke to His disciples about not fearing, since He was there for them. (John 13:34) I find over 200 places in God's Word where God urged His people to "not fear" or "not be anxious". In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read - "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind."  Because of this word to Moses and the Israelites, they were able to kill a Giant, Og of Bashan.  David some 400 years later would kill the Giant Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 due to the fact he was clinging to the promises of God.  For you, dear Christian, God's promise of "fear not" is accompanied by His promise "for I am with you". (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:8).

Would we today proceed in spiritual victory.  The power of the cross is the grounds for victory.  The Holy Spirit is God in us, granting victory.  God's promises are there for our use, the grace of victory. 

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