RULING IN THE MIDST OF YOUR ENEMIES
(week 43/09)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Psalms 110:2 MKJV: Jehovah shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion; rule in the midst of Your enemies.
Here, the scripture tells us that God will send for a rod of strength out of Zion, which is symbolic of the perfect church (Ps. 50.2) that will rule in the midst of our enemies.
We have seen the application of this truth with regards to nations in our articles on breaking, ruling and discipling the nations; now, we will look at applying this truth on an individual basis.
Now, who are our enemies?
The desires of the sin nature in our carnal minds and flesh:
Romans 8:7 MKJV: because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be.
Ephesians 2:2-3 MKJV: in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience; (3) among whom we also had our way of life in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
When we overcome and rule over these enemies, we escape the corruption that is in the world that comes through the lusts of eyes, the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life:
1 John 2:16 MKJV: because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
2 Peter 1:4 AMP: By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.
How then do we rule over these enemies?
By the rod of strength out of Zion: diligent, effectual, fervent praying and walking in the Spirit like the Lord Jesus did when he was on the earth.
Hebrews 5:7 MKJV: For Jesus, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryings and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared,
As we do this, we generate and release:
a. The joy of the Lord which overcomes the lust of the flesh: sensual gratification.
Psalms 16:8-11 KJVR: I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (9) Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. (10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (11) Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
The pleasures at God’s right hand far exceed any pleasures of the flesh and sin (Heb. 11.25).
b. The humility of Christ which overcomes the pride of life (the pride of the attainment of human position, ambition and honour); this humility leads to our exaltation to reign as spiritual kings in Christ in this life time which far exceeds the attainment of any human position, ambition and honour.
Ephesians 2:4-6 MKJV: But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us (5) (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), (6) and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 2:5, 8-9 MKJV: For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (8) And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name,
1 John 4:17 MKJV: In this is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, that as He is, so also we are in this world.
c. The wealth in Christ which overcomes the lusts of the eyes: the desire for material things. In Christ we are made rich with financial and material wealth that far exceeds the finances and wealth of men in this world:
2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Mark 10:29-30 ESV: Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, (30) who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 ESV “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. (2) And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 28:12 MKJV: Jehovah shall open to you His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. And you shall loan to many nations, and you shall not borrow. 13 And Jehovah shall make you the head, and not the tail. And you shall be always above, and you shall not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I command you today, to observe and to do them.
Malachi 3:10-12 MKJV: Bring all the tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. And test Me now with this, says Jehovah of Hosts, to see if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you, and pour out a blessing for you, until there is not enough room. (11) and I will rebuke your devourer, and he shall not decay the fruit of your ground against you; nor shall your vine miscarry against you in the field, says Jehovah of Hosts. (12) and all nations shall call you blessed; for you shall be a delightful land, says Jehovah of Hosts.
Deuteronomy 15:4 ESV: But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess–
The time and season of the fulfilment of these things is upon us; so let us arise and rule in the midst of our enemies with the rod of strength out of Zion!
