30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 06-17 THE LORD WATCHES 08 Luke 23 11-12 The powerful position of the church
📖 Luke 23:6-17
Mon22Nov2021 – The powerful position of the church - Luke 23:06-17 - THE LORD WATCHES (08) - Bible reading: Matthew 16:18-19
The Lord’s ways are perfect. It is important to remain trusting and be covered by the Lord, at all times. We must be always led by the Holy Spirit. We need to be taught not to run ahead of the Lord but to remain in the control and direction of the Lord.
Luke 23:11-12 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. (12) That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
We see an interesting development here. After mocking and treating Jesus with contempt, Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends. Herod did not want to make any decision on Jesus regarding His death by crucifixion.
What was the message from Herod to Pilate? The message was, “I have treated Jesus scornfully, the Jews have done the same and so have you. We are all together, against Jesus, so, go ahead and do as you wish with Jesus. You will not have any problem from me”.
What we see happening here is that these, who were never together, but had issues against each other, had now come together. They now had a common cause and that agenda was to go against Jesus.
Act 4:27-29 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together (28) to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. (29) Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
We see this happening in our times. Those who are against Christ and His church are coming together. They have serious differences amongst themselves and against each other but when it comes to the matter of Jesus, they form a confederacy.
Psalms 83:1-5 A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, And do not be still, O God! (2) For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. (3) They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. (4) They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." (5) For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You:
This is the plan of those who are against Christ and His church. Their scheme is to cut off the church so that Christ and the church are remembered no more.
Though this is the reality, we as the church of Jesus must be assured that the Lord watches.
We need not be afraid of their confederation. We reign with Jesus and the Lord is giving us boldness and courage to face the enemy and to also defeat the enemy.
Keep in mind that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers in the heavenly realms. We must put the enemy to flight, knowing who we are. This is the privilege that is given to the church.
Revelation 17:12-14 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. (13) These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (14) These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."
The enemies will come together and they will make war with the Lamb. The Lamb will overcome them. The Lord has given the victory to the church over those who are against Christ and His church.
Matthew 16:18-19 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
The bottom line is that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the church.
This is what the church must keep in focus. The enemies of the cross of Christ may come together, confederacies may be formed, plans may be put in place. They will threaten and they will make a tumult.
Church, do not be afraid.
The gates represent authority. The powers and authority of Hades will not overcome the church. Instead, the church has been given the power and authority to bind the enemy.
The Lord is wanting the church to go out into the battlefield and face the enemy, head-on. We are here to crush and defeat the enemy. We may seem to be very few in number but our battle is in the spiritual realms and there we send the enemy, fleeing.
The church must awaken to her awesome and mighty position in Christ.
Thought to ponder
Are you prepared to engage the enemy?