“And they overcame him (the accuser of the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11
Dear Ones:
In the first of two letters that the Apostle Paul wrote to his “son in the faith,” Timothy, in an effort to encourage him in his service to Christ, he wrote: “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that BY THEM you may wage the good warfare.” (1:18). Why did Paul address this “son” in this manner? First of all, he draws Timothy’s attention to the specific responsibility and work to which God had called him. Paul puts the weight of Christ’s authority behind this commitment, in that it is in the form of a “charge.” With the charge comes the call to embrace wholly, by the grace of God, this ministry to which Timothy has been prepared. Secondly, Paul provides Timothy with the “means” by which this is to be accomplished. He says, that it will be “…according to the prophecies previously made concerning you.” What does he mean by this? And why is this so very key to Timothy’s success? When we look at the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit came upon the disciples in the upper room, we see that, according to a promise in Joel’s prophecy, that, “…your sons and daughters will prophesy.” (Joel 2:28) On the day of Pentecost, the disciples did prophesy. They declared “…the wonderful works of God.” (2:11) Here we have believers that are moved upon by the Spirit, according to Scripture, and who are declaring the wondrous works of God in truth. They are being led by the Spirit to do so. And so it was with the prophecies that applied to Timothy. Certainly mature believers, probably elders, with remarkable unity, were led by the Spirit to first recognize the calling of Timothy. They then were led by the Spirit to communicate to him that they were in perfect agreement with his calling, the gifts associated with the calling, and the commitment of God in His faithfulness to supply every need for the fulfilling of that calling. Paul calls Timothy to ALWAYS remember this, for the “…gifts and the calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29) These truths, prophecies and promises, were to be the hand grips in the wall by which Timothy was to climb.
The Apostle Peter would write basically the same thing, but this time, it is addressed to the “scattered sojourners” throughout the then known world. In writing of “…all things (given) pertaining unto life and godliness,” he adds: “…Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: THAT BY THESE you may be partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:3,4) What is he saying? He is revealing to all believers everywhere the key to know God, the power of Christ’s indwelling life by the Spirit, regardless of where they are. What is the key? It is that of laying hold of, grasping, making one’s own, the specific, revealed promises of God. How did Abraham overcome his difficulties and trials? “He staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” (Romans 4:20) The testimony of Sarah his wife was similar: “She judged Him (God) faithful who had promised.” (Heb. 11:11)
In the book of the Revelation, we find the believers faced with the “accuser of the brethren,” (Satan) who is relentless in accusing them day and night. How can they ever overcome such accusations? It is by laying hold on the promises concerning the blood of Christ. Paul writes to us in Romans 5:9, that the believer is “….justified by His blood.” Nothing that Satan can say or do can change this truth and reality. Ours is to lay hold of it.
Dear Father, give us grace to know and lay hold of You by laying hold of your promises, by faith. Then we shall overcome by Christ’s victorious life for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad