God’s Defeat Of The 35 Enemy

KEY TEXT

Joshua 12:1-24 (NKJV)

The Kings Conquered by Moses

12 These are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the River Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the eastern Jordan plain: ² One king was Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled half of Gilead, from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, from the middle of that river, even as far as the River Jabbok, which is the border of the Ammonites, ³ and the eastern Jordan plain from the ^[a]Sea of Chinneroth as far as the ^[b]Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), the road to Beth Jeshimoth, and ^[c]southward below the^[d] slopes of Pisgah. ⁴ The other king was Og king of Bashan and his territory, who was of the remnant of the giants, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, ⁵ and reigned over Mount Hermon, over Salcah, over all Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and over half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

⁶ These Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel had conquered; and Moses the servant of the Lord had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

The Kings Conquered by Joshua

⁷ And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel conquered on this side of the Jordan, on the west, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon as far as ^[e]Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir, which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions, ⁸ in the mountain country, in the lowlands, in the Jordan plain, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the South—the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: ⁹ the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; ¹⁰ the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; ¹¹ the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; ¹² the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; ¹³ the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; ¹⁴ the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; ¹⁵ the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; ¹⁶ the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one; ¹⁷ the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; ¹⁸ the king of Aphek, one; the king of ^[f]Lasharon, one; ¹⁹ the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; ²⁰ the king of Shimron Meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one; ²¹ the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; ²² the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one; ²³ the king of Dor in the heights of Dor, one; the king of the people of Gilgal, one; ²⁴ the king of Tirzah, one—all the kings, thirty-one.

                                      INTRODUCTION

1.  Life’s overwhelming enemies
2. Meaning of “Enemy”

“Enemy”:

• a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
• a hostile nation or its armed forces or citizens, especially in time of war
• a thing that HARMS or WEAKENS something else.

• Background of our Key Text

No. of defeated enemy kings:

1– King Sihon under Moses

1- King Og under Moses

1 – One unnamed king in Southern Lebanon under Moses

31 – Canaanite Kings in the Promised Land under Joshua

1 – Surrendered King of Gibeon in the Promised Land under Joshua

—-

35

===

                       Title

 ‘GOD’S DEFEAT OF THE 35 ENEMY KINGS’.

Outline:

• Symbolism of the 35 enemy kings
• Symbolism of the 35 victories of God
• 7 Lessons about His grace
• The King of Glory

MAIN POINTS

(I)  SYMBOLISM OF THE 35 ENEMY KINGS

A king is one who rules over us.

The kings in our key text were ENEMY KINGS.

They would rule over us with malignant intention.

The 35 kings were rulers who were hostile and opposing to Israel.

Whenever an enemy king gained victory over Israel, they would:

• oppress (Eglon to Israel – Judges 3:12-23),
• humiliate (Nahash to Jabesh Gilead -1 Samuel 11:1-4),
• bind them up (the northern kingdom capturing southern kingdom)
• strip
• burn (Assyrian and Babylonian kings)
• exile
• annihilate Israel

When they were captured by any enemy king, they would all be stripped of their:

• homes
• Land
• Identity
• Dignity
• Freedom
• Hope
• meaning in life

These 35 enemy kings in our life refer to the multifaceted PROBLEMS AND SUFFERINGS inflicted upon us by OVERPOWERING FORCES (kings) OF THIS FALLEN LIFE, FALLEN PEOPLE AND FALLEN ANGEL OF LIGHT (LUCIFER).

They come in the form of:

• Sicknesses and diseases
• Poverty
• Opposition and oppression
• Harassment
• Attacks (Literal war in Russia/Ukraine and Hamas/Israel; Figurative – verbal attacks, mental attacks like panic disorder, depression, insanity)
• Abuses (Sexual, verbal, domestic)
• Bullying (in schools, cyberspace, offices/workplaces, hierarchy of churches)
• Failures of life like disappointment, injustices
• Failures by people – betrayals, divorces, rejections, rebellion, insubmission, greed, humiliations, vendettas
• Chaos (anarchy, disunity, strife, quarrels)
• Personal sins (your own sins ruling over you like a king) – addiction to drugs, sex, laziness, video games, FB, food, pleasure, selfishness, arrogance, condemnation.

Application: Israel had not only one enemy king opposing them but 35 enemy kings against them. Similarly, we as Christians do not have one or two overpowering forces to contend with but we have a myriad of opposing forces coming against us from within and without.

(II)  SYMBOLISM OF THE 35 VICTORIES

Joshua 12 is a chapter recording GOD’S VICTORY OVER THESE 35 ENEMY KINGS.

It was God who led the children of Israel under the command of Joshua to DEFEAT a total of 35 kings.

What does God’s 35 victories for Israel symbolize?

HIS COMPLETED GRACE IN GIVING THE PROMISED LAND TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.

The number 35 is a multiple of seven times five.                                                

7 X 5 = 35

In the Bible:

7 = COMPLETENESS

5 =GOD’S GRACE

The record of these battles shows His COMPLETED GRACE in giving the children of Israel the Promised Land.

Not because the children of Israel deserved them.

Gave to show that HE IS FAITHFUL TO KEEP HIS PROMISES.

Application:  The good news for us is even though we have a myriad of opposing and overpowering forces to contend with, our God has already conquered these 35 enemy kings in the name of His Son, Jesus, the Greater Joshua.

(III)  7 LESSONS ABOUT HIS GRACE

1. TO BOOST YOUR FAITH, REMEMBER GOD’S PAST VICTORIES FOR YOU

• God’s Books of Record

Verses 1-6 record Israel’s victories under Moses.

Verse 1 -These are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the River Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the eastern Jordan plain: 

These conquests are most likely recorded in God’s “BOOK OF WARS.” (Numbers 21:14).

Take note of THE DETAILS THAT THE GOD OF UNIVERSE HAD GIVEN IN ITEMS LIKE THIS.

Lesson: God is a God of details. Talk about the details of your life. He wants to hear them.

Although we don’t know the contents in the BOOK OF WARS, we can assume that it also records Jesus’ righteous acts of judgment. We can also infer that other books exist recording our deeds in heaven. If you have lived a life full of acts of love, faith, and charity, there will be lots written in your book. Yet, if you have lived a carnal life, your book may be empty.

E.g. A professor who was very liberal in his theology, asked a pastor, “You take the Bible literally.” “Yes,” the pastor replied. “You certainly don’t believe that God has books up there that He is going to open and look at.”The pastor shocked him when he said, “I sure do.”  God keeps the record.

Here is a chapter where God RECORDS about these kings.

He has the record.

He has two books: The Book of Works and the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Your name is written in one of them.

It is written in the Book of Life when you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Your name will never be written there by your own effort.

If your name is in this book, you have eternal life in Christ.

There is also a Book of Works.

It records the details of everything you have ever done.

Application: Recognize the fact that God is keeping records on our lives as well.

• Remember God’s victories in your life

Believers must always remember God’s victories for them in the past.

Why?

• Remembering His past victories gives honor and praise where they are due.
• Remembering His past victories will help to boost your faith the next time you face a crisis.

 “Note, fresh mercies must not drown the remembrance of former mercies, nor must the glory of the present instruments of good to the church be suffered to eclipse and diminish the just honor of those who have gone before them, and who were the blessings and ornaments of their day. Joshua’s services and achievements are confessedly great, but let not those under Moses be overlooked and forgotten, since God was the same who wrought both, and both put together proclaim him the Alpha and Omega of Israel’s great salvation.” (Matthew Henry on Joshua 12).

Application: Are you recording His past victories to boost your faith for your next trial?

Alan Redpath – We are informed in this chapter of just the degree to which Joshua and his armies conquered part of the land of Canaan. There follows a list of thirty-one powerful kings who had occupied certain territory in the land, but all of whom are now subdued and submissive to the people of God. Sometimes in the course of human experience it is good to sit down and reflect on what has been conquered by the grace of God. Not boastfully, but with a humble and grateful heart, to survey the years that have gone and to go over the pages of memory carefully to recall where the grace of God has triumphed, so that we will be able to look into His face and say, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom 5:20). For some people, most of the battles of life are over; they have few left to fight. To many others, however, most of life’s battles are yet to be fought. Whether they have been fought or are yet to come, may God grant to us all to be able to say when the journey ends, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2Tim 4:7) (Victorious Christian Living)

• Importance of the Old and New Testament

Moses represented the Law and the Old Testament.

Joshua foreshadowed Jesus, who symbolizes mercy and grace and the revelation of the New Testament.

Israel’s journey to the Promised Land symbolized the journey of believers to the REST AND FULLNESS OF THE BLESSINGS IN JESUS WON FOR THEM AT THE CROSS.

Opposition of the devil in the journey of Israel at the Red Sea and East side of Jordan = hindrances to your SALVATION

Battles to the west of the River Jordan =the devil continues to fight through a BELIEVER’S FLESH after he or she accepts Jesus and the Holy Spirit dwells within them (SANCTIFICATION).

To win the battle, believers must remember what is written in both the Old and the New Testaments.

The Old Testament contains the Law, which the Holy Spirit will use to both guide you and convict you of your sins (John 16:8; Romans 3:20).

The New Testament reveals the power of Jesus to defeat the devil (Phil. 4:13).

Thus, just as Joshua celebrated His victories before and after crossing into the full blessings in Christ, you should do the same.

2. TAKE REFUGE IN HIM AND HE WILL SWEEP AWAY YOUR ENEMIES

• The territory of King Sihon.

Joshua’s record of God’s victories on behalf of Israel begins with two battles fought under Moses’ command in Jordan:

² One king was Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled half of Gilead, from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, from the middle of that river, even as far as the River Jabbok, which is the border of the Ammonites, ³ and the eastern Jordan plain from the ^[a]Sea of Chinneroth as far as the ^[b]Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), the road to Beth Jeshimoth, and ^[c]southward below the^[d] slopes of Pisgah. (Joshua 12:2-3)                  

The account of the attack of King Sihon(Numbers 21:21-22).

King Sihon =“sweeping away”

Application: You may face enemies until the day you die. But He will sweep away your most important enemy when you make it to the eternal Promised Land.

• God is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Immediately before this battle, the children of Israel sang praises at a place called Beer, which means “well.” (Numbers 21:18).

The children of Israel sang “Spring up, O Well! Sing to it.” (Numbers 21:17).

Jesus was in fact the water in the well which gave life (John 4:13-14).

After singing God’s praise, the children of Israel were protected in their journey through the area we now call Jordan (Numbers 21:21-35).

Application: He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him (Prov. 30:5; Ps. 18:30).

Singing His praise is an excellent way to take refuge in Him (Ps. 135:11-12; 136:17-22).

“You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Sela” (Psalm 60:4).

3. WHEN YOU WALK WITH GOD, YOU WILL DEFEAT THE GIANTS BEFORE YOU

• The territory of King Og

The attack by King Og on Israel:

Joshua 12:4-5 –⁴ The other king was Og king of Bashan and his territory, who was of the remnant of the giants, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, ⁵ and reigned over Mount Hermon, over Salcah, over all Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and over half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

The defeat of King Og by Israel

The defeat gave Israel control over Transjordan, which prepared them to invade Israel.

The children of Israel would not have understood God’s plan at the time in allowing these two kings to attack them.

But they would later learn through the harlot Rahab that God used these victories to

• sow terror into the hearts of the people of Canaan (Joshua 2:10; 9:10).
• serves the purpose of winning over the heart of a sinner (Rahab) who would later become part of the lineage of the Messiah (Matthew 1:5).

Application: The lesson is that God always has a plan for good, even if you cannot understand it (Romans 8:28). Do you trust that God has a plan for good for you, even when you can only see evil around you?

• By faith, you can defeat the giants who stand against you.

 King Og was a GIANT.

Yet, by faith in God’s promises, they fought and defeated him.

Application: God has not given you a spirit of fear in facing the enemy (2 Tim 1:7)even if it is looming powerfully and gigantically over you. You are to only fear Him (Prov. 1:7). And you fear Him when you hate evil (Prov. 8:13). Does FEARgovern any other portion of your life? What is the “giant” challenging and mocking your life now?

4. GOD GIVES ALL THE FREE CHOICE TO LIVE INSIDE HIS PROMISED LAND

• The missed inheritance on Ruben, Gad, and half of Manasseh

The deal that Moses struck with two and one half of the tribes who did not want to continue on into the Promised Land:

“Moses the servant of the Lord and the sons of Israel defeated them; and Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh as a possession.” (Joshua 12:6).

Before entering the Promised Land, God blessed the children of Israel with the wealth from four wars.

• He defeated the Egyptians and allowed the children of Israel to keep their wealth (Exodus 3:22; 12:35-6).
• He helped them defeat the Midianites (Numbers 31:7-11). The children of Israel captured 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, and 61,000 donkeys (Numbers 31:36-37).
• He defeated the Amorite King Sihon (Numbers 21:23-31; Deut. 2:24-37).
• He defeated the Amorite King Og (Numbers 21:32-35).

With the one exception of Moab in the south, the Jews controlled all of modern-day Jordan.

God gave the Jews these things to prepare them for the Promised Land.

But the tribes of Rueben and Gad assumed that God gave them this wealth for their own benefit.

Like the servant who was given a talent and hid it, these tribes decided to bury their talents in a foreign land instead of watching them grow in God’s Promised Land (Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28).

After receiving God’s many blessings, the tribes of Reuben and Gad noticed that they had “an exceedingly large number of livestock.” (Numbers 32:1).

They also noticed that the conquered land that they were staying in “was indeed a suitable place for livestock.” (Nu. 32:1, 4).

After realizing the comfort of God’s blessings, these tribes pleaded with Moses: “do not take us across the Jordan.” (Nu. 32:5).

Moses later agreed to let these tribes live outside Israel.

Application: God cannot force people into His Promised Land if they don’t want to be there.

But the two tribes then enticed others to also give up on God’s land.

Half of the Manasseh tribe joined them in living outside of Israel (Numbers 32:33, 40-42).                 

This is proof that bad company can corrupt a good individual (1 Corinthains 15:33).

Moses agreed to their request provided that they first fight to win the Promised Land.

Yet, because these tribes chose not to live in the Promised Land, they never had a land to return to after they went into exile.

 They became lost tribes.

• Everyone is needed in the fight to bring others to the Promised Land

Jesus is looking for people to serve in His army (2 Timothy 2:3).

 “You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.” (Deut. 10:20).

Application: Like these two and a half tribes, every member of the body plays a vital role in His army (1 Cor. 12:25-26).

If you truly love Him, you will want to serve out of love and not obligation: ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment.” (Matt. 22:36-38).

He wants you to fight to bring others to the Promised Land- the rest and the fullness of Christ.

Are you fighting the devil by helping to rescue non-believers? Or, like the tribes of Reuben and Gad, are you focused on the worldly things around you?

5. THROUGH FAITH, SEIZE THE FULLNESS OF YOUR SPRIITUAL INHERITANCE

• The territory of the king of southern Lebanon.

“7 Now these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel defeated beyond the Jordan toward the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even as far as Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir; and Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions,” (Josh. 12:7).

Southern Lebanon was part of the spiritual inheritance for Israel that God promised.

Had they continued to act in obedience and in faith, He was ready to give them lands stretching as far as modern-day Iraq:

“Every place where on the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness, and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even to the western sea shall be your border.” (Deut. 11:24).

 ‘“Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.’” (Josh. 1:3-4; Gen. 13:15, 17; 15:4-7, 18-21; Dt. 34:4; Ps. 105:8-11; Josh. 21:43).

Joshua had the faith to invade all of Canaan and southern Lebanon.

Yet, if Joshua had even more faith, he could have seized even more land for Israel.

While the faith of the first Joshua faltered, the second Joshua will come again and seize all of these lands for Israel during the Millennial Reign.

• Don’t squander your spiritual inheritance

Theme of Joshua – Acting in faith and obedience to seize your spiritual inheritance

Most believers in Christ understand the inheritance that they have received in the Promised Land (John 3:16; Roman 6:23).

Many understand that they have also received the Holy Spirit as a down payment on their spiritual inheritance (Ephesian 1:14).

Yet, few seize all of their spiritual inheritance offered through the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Character building (through the process called sanctification – J curve) is as important as your salvation because what you are is God’s gift to you but who you have become (a spirit-filled believer) is your gift to God.

Application: Are you missing any of these things in your life?

5. WITHOUT JESUS, ALL WILL FACE JUDGMENT FOR THEIR SINS

• The territories of the six Canaanite kingdoms

  Joshua listed the six nations within Israel that God defeated:

“in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, on the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the Negev; (1) the Hittite, (2) the Amorite and (3) the Canaanite, (4) the Perizzite, (5) the Hivite and (6) the Jebusite:” (Josh. 12:8).

In the Bible, six (6) is the number of mankind.

The six nations symbolized the nations of mankind.

“Be sure to observe what I am commanding you this day: behold, I am going to drive out (1) the Amorite before you, and (2) the Canaanite, (3) the Hittite, (4) the Perizzite, (5) the Hivite and (6) the Jebusite.” (Exodus 34:11).

Joshua in turn showed that he was faithful in fulfilling God’s command to Moses that he utterly destroy these six nations: “But you shall utterly destroy them, (1) the Hittite and (2) the Amorite, (3) the Canaanite and (4) the Perizzite, (5) the Hivite and (6) the Jebusite, as the LORD your God has commanded you,” (Deut. 20:17).

This symbolized the judgment of mankind.

None deserve God’s mercy and grace.

He did not want to judge them.

But He told Abraham that their sins would be ripe for judgment after the children of Israel spent 400 years in oppression (Gen. 15:13-16).

He also does not want any to perish today (2 Peter 3:9). But He will one day judge unrepentant sinners.

• Give thanks for your undeserved salvation

Like the six nations of Canaan, everyone is sinful before God.

There is nothing that believers can do on their own to be righteous: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Ro. 3:23).

“Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.” (Ecc. 7:20).

“And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no man living is righteous.” (Ps. 143:2).

“Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?” (Job 4:17).

“Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!” (Job 14:4).

If you think that you can be righteous by being a good person or for your deeds, then Christ’s death served no purpose: “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” (Gal. 2:21).

Application: Grace is, by definition, something that you do not deserve. If you are grateful for what Jesus did for you on the cross, what are you doing with your life to thank Him? (Romans 12:1-2).

7. OUT OF GRACE, GOD WILL REMEMBER NO MORE YOUR EVIL ON EARTH

• The territories of the 31 Canaanite kings west of the Jordan

Finally, Joshua retells the defeat of 31 kings within Israel:

(1)9the king of Jericho, one; (2) the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; (3) 10 the king of Jerusalem, one; (4) the king of Hebron, one; (5) 11 the king of Jarmuth, one; (6) the king of Lachish, one; (7) 12the king of Eglon, one; (8) the king of Gezer, one; (9) 13 the king of Debir, one; (10) the king of Geder, one; (11) 14 the king of Hormah, one; (12) the king of Arad, one; (13) 15 the king of Libnah, one; (14) the king of Adullam, one; (15) 16 the king of Makkedah, one; (16) the king of Bethel, one; (17) 17 the king of Tappuah, one; (18) the king of Hepher, one; (19) 18the king of Aphek, one; (20) the king of Lasharon, one; (21) 19 the king of Madon, one; (22) the king of Hazor, one; (23) 20the king of Shimron-meron, one; (24) the king of Achshaph, one; (25) 21 the king of Taanach, one; (26) the king of Megiddo, one; (27) 22 the king of Kedesh, one; (28) the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one; (29) 23 the king of Dor in the heights of Dor, one; (30) the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one; (31) 24 the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings.” (Josh 12:9-24).

The only king not listed is the King of Gibeon, who used deceit to surrender to Israel(Joshua 9).

What is remarkable is that not a single name of any of these kings is remembered.

Their names have all been forgotten.

Only God’s victories over these cities will be remembered in heaven.

Application: This symbolizes the fact that your evil acts will be forgotten once you reach Heaven. Only Christ’s victories in your life and your acts of faith and love will be remembered.

• Out of grace, God will forget your sins         

Through faith in Jesus, any believer is freed from the eternal consequences of their sins.

He is faithful to forgive your sins when you repent (1 John 1:9).

Moreover, like the names of the evil kings of Canaan, He promises to forget your sins in heaven: “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17).

There is also no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1).

If you are still carrying your old sins, your self-condemnation is not from God but from the devil.

Likewise, if you are judging others for sins that God has forgiven, you are doing the devil’s work.

Application: Have you let go of your old sins that you have repented of?

(IV)  THE KING OF GLORY

Under the leadership of Joshua, God defeated 35 enemy kings in the Land of Canaan, which is literal Israel today.

Jesus came to Israel in AD 1 as our Greater Joshua.

The war Joshua fought with the 35 enemy kings were earthly and human.

But the war our Greater Joshua fought was on a COSMIC LEVEL.

Before He could win, He had to be the Defeated (Vanquished) king of the Jews.

He had to take the hit for us for all our defeats, failures and inabilities to fight against the 35 enemy kings that war against us in hostility and harm.

The 35 enemy kings represent the overruling, overpowering and oppressive forces seeking to take over our lives in order to bring us into captivity, slavery, humiliation, distress and ultimately death – physical and eternal death.

So Jesus – King of the Jews had to allow the enemy kings of this earth namely Pilate, Herod and the religious Jewish leaders to strip him, clad him with a purple robe to mock his claim of kingship, slap him, mock him, whip him 39 times, put a twisted crown on his head, forced him to carry the rugged cross in his tortured and torn body, nail his feet and hands on the cross and spit at him.

There we see the “King of the Jews” being brutalized and humiliated on our behalf.

We were supposed to be the ones undergoing all these from the enemy kings from our flesh, the world and the devil.

We were supposed to be the ones being swept away by our king Sihon in our sins and destruction by this life and Satan.

Yet, this “king of the Jews”, laid aside His own glory to be our SUBSTITUTE.

He became THE DEFEATED KING OF THE JEWS so that in this life, all the evil intentions of any enemy king coming against us will never deal a FATAL BLOW to our lives because Christ took the ultimate blow from all the enemy kings known since the fall of Adam and Eve.

The ultimate defeat of the enemy king is this KING OG – the GIANT OF DEATH.

Our greatest giant enemy king is DEATH.

Jesus defeated this giant to the point Paul declared and challenges Death– “Death is swallowed up in victory,” O Death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory though our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

When Jesus shouted, “It is finished”= His victory over the 35 enemy kings is complete.

He was crucified in weakness as the Defeated King of the Jews but He was raised by God today as the ULTIMATE KING OF GLORY.

We can win because of Him.

Because of His atoning and substitutionary death on the cross, we can receive COMPLETE GRACE of God to wage war against any enemy kings of our life.

Application: Victory has been won by our Ultimate King of Glory- Jesus. And today, even if we are still being beset by enemy kings opposing and harming us, we can stand on the victory that God had won through Jesus and fight FROM that stand/platform. The complete grace of God is ready at your disposal.

We do not fight FOR victory because Christ has already won for us.

We fight FROM the victory Christ has won for us.

How?

And in every warfare God has called you to fight, you MUST HAVE THIS FAITH THAT JESUS IS FOR YOU AND NO WEAPON FASHIONED AGAINST YOU BY THIS FALLEN LIFE, WICKED PEOPLE OR EVEN SATAN SHALL PROSPER.

The worst an enemy king can do to you is to kill you physically……..yet even death is GAIN for Christians.

For to die is gain, to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21).

“Therefore, my beloved, brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

CONCLUSION

Regardless of who the enemy king of your life is and regardless of how many enemies we face, our responsibility is to obey God and wage a good war and one by one those enemies will be defeated and we will experience victory and peace.

 And even if we lose in certain warfare, it is not fatal because God says “a righteous man (those justified by the righteousness of Jesus) falls seven time but rises again” (Proverbs 24:16).

“Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed (swept away), for the LORD is holding his hand (Psalms 37:24).

Victory is the inheritance God has given to us through our greater Joshua- Jesus. Stand and rest on it. Fight FROM the victory of Jesus.