OVERCOMING

J. T. Brown

2 Samuel 23: 8-17; Revelation 3: 12, 21; 21: 1–7

I would like to say a little about overcoming. The thought of overcoming came into our reading and encouraged me to read these scriptures and I desire, by the Spirit, to say a word as to that great, vital and important feature. I believe God is looking for persons and the Lord Jesus is looking for persons, who are able to overcome in this the closing phase of the dispensation. I believe that the end of the dispensation is a special time for overcoming. There is much to be overcome. Initially we have to overcome what is within us in order that we may come into the liberty which God would have in mind for us to enjoy. There is much to overcome in our household experiences. Every one of us would know that. We each have our own individual exercises. We each have our own household exercises, but I believe that God would have in mind that in every circumstance, in every position in which we find ourselves, we are found here as overcomers.

We live in a world from which Christ has been cast out and rejected. There is a responsibility upon us to find a way through such a scene. We are in the world but we are not of the world. The Lord Jesus says that in John 17: “They are not of the world, as I am not of the world” (v 16). We, beloved brethren, are not of the world, nevertheless we have to find our way through the world from which Christ has been cast out and rejected, and I believe this necessitates our being found here as overcomers.

The blessed Lord Jesus Himself is One who has overcome. We read of that in Revelation chapter 3 in His appeal to the overcomer in Laodicea: “He that overcomes, to him will I give to sit with me in my throne; as I also have overcome …” (v 31). I would like to ponder that point for a moment that the Lord Jesus has had to overcome. How much He has overcome! He could say to His disciples in John’s gospel, “In the world ye have tribulation; but be of good courage: I have overcome the world”, chap 16: 33. Every feature of the world has been overcome by Christ. Because of the power which He had in Himself inherently, but also because of what He was as a glorious, obedient and subject Man, He has overcome every feature of this world. He has overcome the religious world. He has overcome the political world. The Lord Jesus could find no place in this world’s system which He overcame and overcame with power: “as I also have overcome”.

Not only has He overcome the world; He has overcome death, and has annulled “him who has the might of death, that is, the devil; and might set free all those who through fear of death through the whole of their life were subject to bondage”, Heb 2: 14,15. Christ has overcome in order that we might be set free, set free from the bondage of corruption and brought into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. Christ has overcome in order that that might be so. He has overcome death. He has “annulled death, and brought to light life and incorruptibility by the glad tidings”, 2 Tim 1: 10. How wonderful has been the work, the finished work, of our Lord Jesus Christ! How much He has overcome and that, beloved, in order that we might go free!

Well, there were persons in this chapter in 2 Samuel 23 who, in principle, were overcomers. This comes in immediately after the last words of David. “Now these are the last words of David: David the son of Jesse saith, And the man who was raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel saith” (v 1). It is interesting that before we get the last words of David, we get what is said, no doubt by the Spirit of God, about David personally. He is the son of Jesse, the man who was raised up on high, the sweet psalmist of Israel. What a Man He is, beloved brethren! What a Man Christ is! What a Man is that One who has overcome in order that there might be a great system of praise established for God. Oh, how wonderful it is to think of the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ, to think too of who He is in the greatness and glory of His humanity. It is interesting too that we also have recorded for us the last prayer of David: Psalm 72 for Solomon. It suggests that when Christ comes on to the scene, David’s exercises are completed. When he gets an impression of Solomon, when he gets an impression of Christ in glory, when he gets an impression of the great King, the majesty and glory of Christ as ascended on high, it is as though there is no longer any need: “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended”, v 20.

Well, here it is his last words and immediately after we have the last words of David, we have this list of mighty men. I believe, beloved brethren, that this would have a bearing upon us at the end of this present dispensation. At the close of the dispensation, God is looking for persons who are here characteristically as overcomers.

So it says, “These are the names of the mighty men whom David had”. That is a very attractive suggestion, that David had them. I wonder, beloved, if David has you and if David has me among his mighty men. “These are the names of the mighty men whom David had”. You belong to Christ. If Christ has suffered and died for us, if we have put our trust and faith in the finished work of Jesus, we are His and it is incumbent upon us, I believe, to be found here as overcomers. The Lord said to Paul in relation to Corinth, “I have much people in this city”, Acts 18: 10. Christ has many at the present time. Perhaps very few are fully available, but He has many. Let us, beloved brethren, be those who are available to Christ, in the closing days of the dispensation in which we are!

So “These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Joseb-Bassebeth, Tachkemonite the chief of the captains: he was Adino the Eznite; he fought against eight hundred, slain by him at one time”. This was a tremendous military activity. In this particular case the character of the enemy is not exactly defined for us. In the others we have read of the Philistine force was against the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ, but here it just says, “he fought against eight hundred, slain by him at one time”. Think of the character of the opposition which is against the saints at the present time, beloved. At the close of the dispensation you feel that Satan’s power is strengthening. It is being reinforced constantly. I believe there are influences at work at the present time which have never been seen before. They are being reinforced and they are all opposed to Christ and to the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ in the closing days of the assembly’s sojourn here. But, beloved, this was a man who was able, I believe he was able in the Spirit’s power, to overcome and overcome completely “eight hundred, slain by him at one time.” Every influence which stood out against him he was able to overcome and to subdue. May each one of us avail ourselves of the power which has been made available to us in the blessed Holy Spirit of God to overcome in view of securing an answer to the heart of our David.

“And after him,” it says, “Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of an Ahohite”. This man was a son. If Christ has taken us up, He has taken us up for sonship. We are sons in privilege, but we are sons in responsibility and, as sons, God would give us the power to overcome in circumstances here in order that we may be for the heart of Christ. “He was one of the three mighty men with David, when they had defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone up.” This is like an entrenched position, but this man is able to stand and he is able to fight, he is able to overcome. It says, “He arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary”. He never gave up. Oh, beloved brethren, there is a call for tenacity and a great need for continuance at the present time, to be here for the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do not know how much longer we have left, but let us be prepared to smite this Philistine element until our hands are weary. The Philistine element is the mind of man, which would seek to intrude into the things of God. Let us come to a sober judgment of everything which is of Philistine character and smite it until our hands are weary.

It says, “and his hand clave to the sword”. I believe the power which he had to overcome the enemy was in the light which God would provide. “His hand clave to the sword”. “The sword of the Spirit … is God’s word”, Eph 6: 17. We have a wonderful resource in the Holy Scriptures, this Book which is so precious which we have in our hands. Let us read it and re-read it so that when opposition comes, we can use the scriptures, in the power of the blessed Holy Spirit, so that we can discomfit the enemy and overcome him. “He arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave to the sword; and Jehovah wrought a great deliverance that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.” The scriptures are the word of God, the scriptures are the power of God: “For the word of God is living and operative, and sharper than any two-edged sword”, Heb 4: 12. Beloved brethren, persons who know the scriptures and understand them are able to use them in the power of the blessed Holy Spirit with a view to overcoming this awful force, which is opposed to Christ, to His service and to His testimony at the present time. Therefore, let us each one imbibe the truth which is contained in the blessed holy writings!

“And after him,” it says, “Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite: the Philistines were gathered into a troop, and there was there a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people had fled before the Philistines; and he stood in the midst of the plot and delivered it, and smote the Philistines, and Jehovah wrought a great deliverance.” This is a man who stood for the truth, I think, in his own place. We each have a responsibility, given to us by God, to stand for the truth in our local places. This man stood for the truth there in “a plot of ground full of lentils”; he stood for the truth in order that the food supply might be maintained for the saints. How vital it is that the saints are fed, fed with that which would satisfy their souls. Now we know that the only thing that is able to satisfy our souls is Christ. This man, I believe, stood there in order that the saints might be fed with Christ and thus be able to overcome the Philistine power.

Then we have these three, so often spoken of, who broke through the ranks of the Philistines in order that they might secure that which could answer to the heart of David. These others we have read of overcame the might of military power but this exercise to secure something for the heart of David was probably the greatest feature of overcoming. It says, “when the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. And David was then in the stronghold; and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Bethlehem.” This was an entrenched position. What was dear and precious to the heart of David was in the hands of the Philistines. The church publicly at the present time is in the hands of the Philistines. The Philistines, you may say, have overrun Christendom at the present time. The mind of man is everywhere evident. So much has been given up: the basic truths of the gospel have been given up in Christendom as a system because of the intrusion of the mind of man. There is so little there that would answer to the heart of Christ. There is a responsibility, therefore, beloved, on the part of each one of us to break through the ranks of the Philistines, in spite of their military power, in order that we may secure that which would answer to the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, and God has given us the power to do so.

“And David longed”: I wonder if we are near enough to David to know the longings of His heart. “Oh that one would give me to drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is in the gate!” that which was so precious to his heart. I believe, as we are near to Christ, He would unfold to us what is precious to His heart. Let us therefore, beloved, be prepared to break through every feature of opposition in order that we may secure an answer to the desires and longings of His affections!

It says “he would not drink of it”. Was that a lack of gratitude on the part of David? Beloved, if we break through and give to Christ that which would satisfy His heart, He would use it in the service of God; He would use it to gratify and satisfy the heart of God Himself. We have been brought into wonderful things. God has wonderful things in mind. The greatest thing that we can have, the greatest experience that we can have is liberty in the service of praise: “If therefore the Son shall set you free, ye shall be really free”, John 8: 36. The Lord wants us to be free, free for Himself, but free to minister to the heart of God. Therefore, beloved, let us be prepared to overcome and to break through in order that we may secure that which can gratify the heart of the One we love.

In Revelation chapter 3 where we read initially we have the Lord’s address to Philadelphia. We may say, where can we find Philadelphia at the present time? Beloved, we cannot find Philadelphia publicly, but let us never give up the truth of what Philadelphia stands for, this precious feature of brotherly love which is so dear to the heart of Christ. Conditions in Philadelphia were such that the Lord Jesus was able to present Himself as “the holy, the true”, which I believe means that persons were maintaining the ground in holiness for Christ. The truth was being maintained at its very highest level. How wonderful! In this sphere where brotherly love was flowing freely, the truth was being maintained. You may say then, why was there a need for a word to an overcomer in such a local assembly? I believe that we need to overcome in order that such conditions might be maintained amongst the saints of God. “He that overcomes, him will I make a pillar in the temple of my God”. As I say, conditions here were wonderful: brotherly love was flowing freely; an open door had been set before them; I believe the service of God was proceeding. The open door would, I believe, involve access into the presence of the Father because you have the key of David. It says: “These things saith the holy, the true; he that has the key of David, he who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one shall open”. The key of David would involve, I think, that that door had been opened up to the service of praise. The service of God had been established and I believe as we overcome in our local companies it will be continued in its fulness and in its preciousness to God.

So it says, “He that overcomes, him will I make a pillar in the temple of my God”. Think of the possibility of having a place in the very presence of God, being a pillar, being able to adorn that area where God Himself dwells. “And he shall go no more at all out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven, from my God, and my new name.” I scarcely know what I can say about these precious things, but I think the greatness of having such a name written upon you relates to the stamp of divine authority, and divine ownership. God owns you, beloved, and owns you for Himself. Is that not therefore an incentive to be found here as overcomers in the closing days of the dispensation? We know that these last four churches go on to the end. Philadelphia can be found somewhere at the present time. Let us be exercised to find it, to identify ourselves with it and to hold tenaciously to the truth in order that we might maintain it for the pleasure of the heart of Christ.

But then we come to Laodicea. The Lord presents Himself to Laodicea as “the Amen, the faithful and true witness”. I believe in presenting Himself in that way to Laodicea He is seeking to induce the feature of faithfulness at the end of the dispensation. The church publicly, as we know, has failed. The church publicly is Laodicea. It may be that there are Laodicean features with me in my heart. Beloved Mr Stoney said, a Laodicean is a person with Philadelphian light but without Philadelphian power. I believe, beloved brethren, and I say this carefully, that we are in a position where there is indeed the greatest light and, where there is the greatest light, there is the greatest responsibility to answer to the light. The Laodicean assembly had the light but they were not prepared to answer to it. They had become lackadaisical. They were content with the light that they had. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and am grown rich, and have need of nothing”. They were content with what they had without realising that they had lost their power, they had lost their light. Another has said Laodicea was colourless, it was odourless, it was tasteless and it was heartless. That is Christendom at the present time and it could be your heart and it could be mine if we do not allow ourselves to be found here as overcomers in view of securing an answer to the heart of Christ.

Well, to this assembly He says, “He that overcomes, to him will I give to sit with me in my throne; as I also have overcome, and have sat down with my Father in his throne.” There is a wonderful reward, beloved, to those who overcome. Think of sitting with Christ in His throne as He also has overcome and has sat down with His Father in His throne. That is where He is at the present time, beloved, seated and crowned at the Father’s right hand in glory. Soon He will take His own throne. What a time that will be when He takes His own throne! At the moment He is on the Father’s throne. He has overcome. And you and I, beloved, can sit with Him in His throne. I scarcely know what to say about it, nevertheless I can see that the reward for overcoming is great; it is immense. What a wonderful incentive Christ has given to us!

Now, in Revelation 21 we have the great, the final, the eternal day, the day of eternity. What a day it is! What a wonderful system of things will be displayed in that day, “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” That is the assembly in her final conditions, no longer as an administrative entity, no longer administering for Christ. She is doing that at the present time in His absence. She will do so with Him as He comes out with the reins of government in the day of His public glory. She will reign with Him. What a day that will be! But at the end of that day, she comes out as a bride adorned for her husband and she will be maintained in bridal freshness and in her bridal glory and beauty throughout the countless ages of eternity.

And it says, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men”. I think we will touch something of this as we come together to the Supper and enter into the service of God. We touch the day of eternity; we touch the life of eternity. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall tabernacle with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, their God.” What a wonderful time that will be, beloved. As I say, we can touch it now for He comes on to the personal greatness of who He is: “And he said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that thirsts of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit these things”. That is now. We will not need to overcome in that day. There will be nothing to overcome in that day. When the tabernacle of God is with men, there will be nothing to overcome. We will be there like Christ. We will be in final conditions. We will be in conditions of glory. The time to overcome is now: “He that overcomes shall inherit these things,” that is, we can come into the good and gain of our eternal blessings now. How wonderful these things are! Beloved, are these things not an incentive to be found here as overcomers? “He that overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be to him God, and he shall be to me son.” That is presently; that is the current enjoyment of our relations with God, easy relations with God. If we come into the presence of One so great, we must ever remember who He is in the greatness and glory and majesty of His Person and yet in the infinitude of His grace and in the wonder of His love, He would bring us into this wonderful relationship of sons of God in order that we may be in His own presence for His own heart’s pleasure and delight.

Let us be found here, beloved brethren, as overcomers in order that we may indeed inherit at the present time what will be our eternal portion and that for God’s glory. For His Name’s sake.

 

DENTON

4 March 2000