It's a long chapter and we're going to cover it all, 43 verses, and it records a battle
between King Ahab of Israel and Ben-Hadad, King of Aram or sometimes referred to as Syria.
And so what we're going to do is we're going to take it in three parts.
So I'm going to read a section and then we're going to look at it together, then we'll read
another section, look at it, and we'll do that three times.
And so we're going to read a bit at a time and look at it.
So just a little bit different today.
And again, if you've missed out on any of the talks, you can catch them all on the church
website and have a look for them there.
Thanks very much, Louise.
So let's pray and then we will look at God's word together.
Father, would you help us to see this morning the battle that we are in?
God's word together.
How you have won it for us so that we may walk in peace and not fear, that we may live trusting
you, rejoicing in your victory and enjoying the blessings that flow to us.
So Father, help us today.
Work in our hearts, we pray.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, the battle is about to start, so let's get straight into the action.
First, how not to win a battle?
How not to win a battle?
Let's read verses 1 to 12 of 1 Kings 20.
Now Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, mustered his entire army, accompanied by 32 kings, with all
their horses and chariots.
And he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it.
He sent messengers into the city to Ahab, king of Israel, saying, This is what Ben-Hadad says.
Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.
The king of Israel answered, Well, just as you say, my lord the king, I and all I have
are yours.
The messengers came again and said, This is what Ben-Hadad says.
I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children.
But about this time tomorrow, I am going to send my officials to search your palace and
the houses of your officials.
They will seize everything you value and carry it away.
The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, See how this man
is looking for trouble?
When he sent for my wives and my children and my silver and my gold, I didn't refuse him.
The elders and all the people answered, Don't listen to him or agree to his demands.
So he replied to Ben-Hadad's messengers, Tell my lord the king.
Your servant will do all you demand the first time.
But this demand I cannot meet.
They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.
Then Ben-Hadad sent another messenger to Ahab, May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely,
if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.
The king of Israel answered, Tell him, one who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.
Or as we might say, don't count your chickens before they hatch.
Ben-Hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents.
And he ordered his men, Prepare to attack.
So they prepared to attack the city.
Well, Ahab is under attack.
What should he do?
Well, despite Ahab's diplomacy, do you see it in verse 4?
The king of Israel answered, Just as you say, my lord the king, I and all I have is yours.
I don't want to fight.
Please take it.
Well, Ben-Hadad seems intent on having a fight.
Verse 6.
About this time tomorrow, I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials,
and they will seize everything you value and carry it away.
What should Ahab do?
Well, let's remember who's attacking who.
Ahab is king of Israel.
God's people.
Ben-Hadad, well, he was the enemy.
Israel are God's people.
And he has entered into a special relationship with them.
He loves them.
He's made a covenant with them.
Promised to be his God and they are to be his people.
Loyal and faithful to them.
And Ahab is the king of God's people.
Well, his role is to make sure they follow the Lord.
That they obey him.
And that they are equally committed to him.
So what should Ahab do when he's being threatened?
Well, what he should do and what he does are two very different things.
First, the tragedy of forgetting.
Look at verse 7.
So Ben-Hadad with his 32 other kings are about to attack.
What does he do?
Verse 7.
The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them,
See how this man is looking for trouble.
What should I do?
How am I going to win this battle?
Now it seems wise, but it's actually very, very tragic.
Not too long ago Ahab had witnessed first hand the power of God on Mount Carmel.
Through the prophet Elijah, God had sent fire on the sacrifice.
It was so powerful it burned up the sacrifice, the stones and the water.
And the evidence was clear for everybody to see.
God is the one and only true God.
The God of Israel.
The all-powerful God who made all things and controls all things.
He is God.
But sadly, with the threat of war, Ahab runs to his elders, his advisors, his military men.
It seems Ahab is stubbornly forgetting who the true God is.
So we have the tragedy of forgetting.
And then the stupidity of pride.
You see, after he's met with his elders and he's had a little pep talk,
he feels a little bit more upbeat.
A little bit of self-confidence never did anyone any harm.
Right?
Well, Ben-Hadad seems equally confident.
Verse 10.
He sent another messenger to Ahab.
May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely,
if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.
I'm going to obliterate you, Ahab.
I'm going to destroy you and your people and your cities from the face of the earth.
Well, look at this for a slap-down response in verse 11.
The king of Israel answered,
Tell him,
One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off.
Bring it on, big bad Ben.
You and your 32 kings don't scare me.
Threaten me all you like.
But you haven't won the battle yet.
Well, it's a display of self-confident pride, isn't it?
I can do this.
An extra 32 kings?
One king?
I could take on 32 kings.
I can win this.
Now, we can look on and see the tragedy and stupidity of Ahab.
But the question is,
can we see this same kind of thinking in our own hearts?
Don't we, too, try to live self-determined lives?
Refusing to acknowledge God who is Lord over all?
Arrogantly strutting our way through life as if we're sovereign over our lives and our world?
Listen to what the Apostle James would have to say many years later.
It's there on the screen.
Now listen, you who say,
Today or tomorrow we will go to this city or that city,
spend a year there, move here, move there,
carry on business, make money, take this job,
say no to that job.
Why? You do not even know what will happen tomorrow.
What is your life?
You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Instead, you ought to say,
if it is the Lord's will,
we will live and do this or that.
As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes.
All such boasting is evil.
You see,
I can be just like Ahab.
This is my life.
I can do it.
I'm strong.
I'm in control of my destiny.
Nobody's going to tell me what to do.
Well, forgetting who God is
and making prideful boasts
is never ever going to win the battle.
Second,
how the battle is won.
How the battle is won.
Verse 13 through to 30.
Let's read this passage together.
How the battle is won.
Meanwhile,
a prophet came to Ahab,
king of Israel,
and announced,
this is what the Lord says.
Do you see this vast army?
I will give it into your hand today
and then you will know that I am the Lord.
But who will do this?
Asked Ahab.
The prophet replied,
this is what the Lord says.
The junior officers
under the provincial commanders
will do it.
And who's going to start the battle?
He asked.
The prophet answered,
you will.
So Ahab summoned
the 232 junior officers
under the provincial commanders.
Then he assembled
the rest of the Israelites,
7,000 in all.
They set out at noon
while Ben-Hadad
and the 32 kings
allied with him
were in their tents
getting drunk.
The junior officers
under the provincial commanders
went out first.
Now Ben-Hadad
had dispatched scouts
who reported,
men are advancing
from Samaria.
He said,
if they've come out for peace,
take them alive.
If they've come out for war,
take them alive.
We're going to win this.
No problem.
The junior officers
under the provincial commanders
marched out of the city
with the army behind them
and each one
struck down his opponent.
At that,
the Arameans fled
with the Israelites
in pursuit.
But Ben-Hadad,
king of Aram,
escaped on horseback
with some of his horsemen.
The king of Israel
advanced
and overpowered
the horses and chariots
and inflicted heavy losses
on the Arameans.
afterwards,
the prophet came
to the king of Israel
and said,
strengthen your position
and see what must be done
because
next spring
the king of Aram
will attack you
again.
Meanwhile,
the officials
of the king of Aram
advised him,
their gods
are gods of the hills.
That is why
they were too strong
for us.
But if we fight them
on the plains,
surely we will be
stronger than they.
And do this.
Remove all the kings
from their commands
and replace them
with the officers.
Get rid of them.
They lost the first battle.
Verse 25.
You must also
raise an army
like the one
you lost.
Horse for horse.
Chariot for chariot.
So we can fight
Israel on the plains.
Then surely
we will be
stronger than they.
He agreed with them
and acted accordingly.
The next spring,
Ben-Hadad
mustered the Arameans
and went up to
Aphek
to fight
against Israel.
It was a valley
just outside.
When the Israelites
also mustered
and given
their provisions,
they marched out
to meet them.
The Israelites
camped opposite them
like two small
flocks of goats
while the Arameans
covered the countryside.
The man of God
came up and told
the king of Israel,
this is what
the Lord says,
because the Arameans
think the Lord
is the God of the hills
and not a God
of the valleys,
I will deliver
this vast army
into your hands
and you will know
that I am the Lord.
For seven days
they camped
opposite each other
and on the seventh day
the battle was joined.
The battle began.
The Israelites
inflicted
a hundred thousand
casualties
on the Aramean
foot soldiers
in one day.
The rest of them
escaped to the city
of Aphek
where the wall
collapsed
on 27,000
of them
and Ben-Hadad
fled
to the city
and hid
in the inner room.
Well, there's
lots of blowing
and blustering
isn't there
from these two kings?
But with all
the noise
and all the threats
there is only
one voice
that needs
to be heard.
verse 13
Meanwhile
or suddenly
in the midst
of all this
threat of war
a prophet
came to Ahab
king of Israel
announced
this
is what
the Lord says.
If we're to see
how the battle
is won
we need to
listen
to what
God says.
First
it's a word
of grace
look at
verse 13
the end
of verse 13
he says
do you see
this vast army?
I will give it
into your hand
today
and then you
will know
that I am
the Lord.
It's the same
as what happened
when Ben-Hadad
attacks a second
time.
Do you see it
at the end
of verse 28?
I will deliver
this vast army
into your hands
and you will know
that I am the Lord.
If the battle
is going to be won
God is going
to do it.
I will give it
into your hand.
I will deliver
this vast army
into your hands.
You would think
that after
Ahab's behaviour
and the way
he's carried on
in Mount Carmel
you would think
God would say
right Ahab
you're on your own.
You're confident
in your pride
and in your boasting.
Well off you go
do it yourself.
But that's not
how God works.
God doesn't act
according to our behaviour
or how good
we are.
He acts
according to
his grace.
God intervenes.
He takes
the initiative
and the battle
is won
because God
says
I will do it.
Don't you find
that incredible?
Ahab has
single handedly
introduced
Baal worship
and led all
the people
away from God.
He's ignored God.
He's rejected God.
Surely God
should step away
and leave him
to his own devices.
Yet God
steps in
and says
I will fight
the battle
for you.
Glorious
intervening grace.
But how
does God
actually win
the battle?
Well
first
God
chooses
the foolish
things
to shame
the wise.
He chooses
the foolish
things
to shame
the wise.
Look at how
this first
battle is won
in verse 14.
Ahab's
in a bit
of a fluster.
He says
who's going
to do it?
Who's going
to win
this battle?
The prophet
replied
this is what
the Lord
says.
The junior
officers
under the
provincial
commanders
will do it.
Sorry?
What did you
say?
The junior
officers.
I mean
they're hardly
out of college.
They've never
been in a battle.
They don't even
know how to
throw a spear.
How do they
know what to
do?
They're not
the kind
of people
you go
to get
and organize
a fight.
It all
seems rather
foolish.
But to
make sure
we get
the point
the prophet
of God
keeps reminding
us.
Verse 15
So Ahab
summoned the
232
junior
officers
under the
provincial
commanders.
Verse 17
The junior
officers
under the
provincial
commanders
went out
first.
Verse 19
The junior
officers
under the
provincial
commanders
marched out
of the
city
with the
army
behind
them.
I mean
what's
going to
happen?
Well
verse 20
And each
one struck
down his
opponent.
At that
the Arameans
fled with
the Israelites
in pursuit.
Who would
ever think
a bunch
of inexperienced
officers
could win
a battle?
It all
sounds
foolish
but they
did
because it
was a
battle
God said
he would
win.
So he
chooses
foolish
things
but God
also wins
the battle
because he
chooses the
weak things
to shame
the strong.
Look at
how the
second battle
is won
in verse
26
So Ben
Hadad
has kind
of figured
out that
well
you know
we fought
them up
in the
mountains
they're
too strong
and the
mountain
gods
are with
them
but let's
get them
down in
the valleys
and it's
springtime
because well
it's neither
too hot
nor too
cold
there's
plenty
of food
that's
going to
be the
time to
go to
battle
and we'll
get new
people on
board
and we'll
be ready
verse
26
the next
spring
Ben
Hadad
mustered
the
Arameans
and went
up to
Aphek
to fight
against
Israel
and when
the
Israelites
were also
mustered
and given
their
provisions
they marched
out to
meet them
now picture
picture what's
going on
here as
they come
down into
the valley
at one
end you've
got the
Israelites
and they
look like
two small
flocks of
goats
and then
over on
the other
side the
Arameans
they covered
the whole
countryside
this is a
battle of
the few
versus the
many
Israel army
is small
insignificant
and weak
Aram's army
is great
magnificent
in its
military
power
and strong
paddy power
isn't going to
give you great
odds for an
Israel win
in this
are they
nothing
glamorous
or spectacular
about Israel's
army
but this is
God's battle
and he uses
weak things
to shame
the strong
verse 29
so for seven
days they
camped opposite
each other
and on the
seventh day
the battle
began
the Israelites
inflicted a
hundred thousand
casualties
in one day
the rest
of them
escaped to
the city
of Aphek
where I
guess they
kind of
crowded around
the city
and the
walls came
down and
another
twenty-seven
thousand of
them fell
why does
God work
like this
why does
he take
foolish
things
and weak
things
well we're
told aren't
we at the
end of
verse 13
and it's
also repeated
at the
end of
verse 28
because you
will know
that I
am the
Lord
I will
take weak
things
I will
take foolish
things
and I'm
going to
win the
battle
and then
you will
know that
I am
the
Lord
I will
win the
battle for
you
to prove
to you
that I
am God
and I'm
in control
of this
world
and you
are not
you see
Ahab is
faced with
a question
and so
are we
when faced
with the
battle
who are
we going
to trust
am I
going to
fight with
my own
wisdom
am I
going to
fight in
my own
strength
or am
I going
to trust
the Lord
am I
going to
get through
life
with this
arrogant
strutting
around
and saying
I can
manage
I'm in
control
of my
destiny
I can
do it
you see
as we
journey
through
life
we're
in a
battle
but not
a battle
against
Ben Hadad
but a
much greater
battle
against a
greater
enemy
sin
and
Satan
and because
of our
sin
we are
facing
the
consequences
of sin
judgment
itself
we are
facing the
results
of what
that judgment
will be
hell
itself
and how
are we
going to
fight that
kind of
battle
well
we can
fight on
the basis
of our
pride
I can
do this
we can
do
in
Ahab
or
we can
turn and
look and
trust in
God's
grace
you see
just as
God had
won the
battle
for Ahab
it is
telling us
and pointing
us to
the fact
that well
God is
the one
who wins
the battle
for us
on our
behalf
keep your
finger in
1 Kings
chapter 20
and have
a look at
1 Corinthians
it is on
page 1144
on page
1144
1 Corinthians
chapter 18
you see
God won
the battle
for us
supremely
on the
cross
he doesn't
invite us
to come
and take
part in
the battle
but he
simply
presents it
and portrays
it to us
to say
watch
watch and
see what
happens
watch what
takes place
and then
you will
know that
I am
the Lord
1 Corinthians
1 verse
18
the message
of the
cross
is foolishness
to those
who are
perishing
but to
us who
are being
saved
it is
the power
of God
for it is
written I
will destroy
the wisdom
of the wise
the intelligence
of the
intelligence
I will
frustrate
down to
verse 25
still speaking
about the
cross
he says
for the
foolishness
of God
is wiser
than human
wisdom
and the
weakness
of God
is stronger
than human
strength
you see
to the
proud
and the
self-sufficient
the battle
that takes
place
on the
cross
is foolish
and weak
why would
you trust
a naked
bloodied
beaten up
crucified
and suffering
man called
Jesus
what can
he do
for you
well
through
Jesus
God won
the battle
didn't he
sin is
dealt with
as Christ
takes it
upon himself
Jesus
takes the
judgment
as it
falls on
him
he suffers
hell for
us
and it
is destroyed
and death
is defeated
watch
and see
you can't
win this
battle
but I
will do
it for
you
see
grace
humbles
us
it
says
to us
if you
want to
share
in the
battle's
victory
you need
to submit
to me
rather than
trust your
own wisdom
rather than
rely on your
own strength
rather than
do life
in your
own way
you need
to turn
to me
because
I am
the Lord
third
how is
Ahab
going to
respond
to all
of what
God
has done
for him
well
third
how to
exclude
yourself
from the
battle's
victory
how to
exclude
yourself
from the
battle's
victory
let's go
back to
1 Kings
chapter 20
and we'll
pick it up
in verse
31
so
verse 31
his
officials
that's
Ben
Hadad's
officials
said to
him
look
we have
heard
that the
kings of
Israel
are
merciful
let us
go to
the king
of Israel
with sackcloth
round our
waist
and ropes
round our
heads
which was a
sign of
submission
you won
the battle
where your
servants
perhaps he
will spare
your life
wearing sackcloth
round their
waist and ropes
round their
heads they
went to the
king of
Israel and
said
your servant
Ben
Hadad says
please let
me live
the king
answered
is he still
alive
he is
my
brother
the men
took this
as a
good sign
and were
quick to
pick up
on his
word
yes
your
brother
Ben
Hadad
they said
go and
get him
the king
said
when Ben
Hadad
came out
Ahab
bought him
up into
his chariot
I will
return the
cities my
father took
from your
father Ben
Hadad
offered
and you
may set
up your
own market
areas in
Damascus
where we
live and
just as
my father
did in
Samaria
Ahab
said
on the
basis of
a treaty
I will
set you
free
so he
made a
treaty with
him and
let him
go
by the
word of
the Lord
one of
the company
of the
prophet
said to
his
companion
another
prophet
strike me
with your
weapon
but he
refused
so the
prophet said
because you
have not
obeyed the
Lord as
soon as
you leave
me a
lion will
kill you
after that
the man
went away
a lion
found him
and killed
him
the prophet
then found
another man
and said
strike me
please
so the
man struck
him and
wounded him
then the
prophet went
and stood
by the road
waiting for
the king
that's king
Ahab
he disguised
himself with
his headband
down over
his eyes
as the
king passed
by the
prophet called
out to
him
your servant
went into
the thick
of the
battle
and someone
came to
me with
a captive
and said
guard this
man
if he is
missing
it will be
your life
for his
life
or you
must pay
a talent
of silver
which was
years of
wages
basically
it was
impossible
to pay
off
while your
servant
was busy
here and
there
the man
disappeared
that is
your
sentence
the king
of Israel
said
you have
pronounced
it yourself
then the
prophet quickly
removed his
headband from
his eyes
and the
king of
Israel
recognized him
as one of
the prophets
he said to
king Ahab
this is what
the lord
says
you have
set free
a man
I had
determined
should die
therefore
it is
your life
for his
life
your people
for his
people
sullen
and angry
the king
of Israel
went to
his palace
in Samaria
well Ahab
doesn't
respond as
he should
instead of
sharing in
the victory
he actually
excludes himself
from the
victory and
becomes an
enemy
how did he
do that
well
he made a
treaty
with the
enemy
it doesn't
take a whole
lot of
brains to
work out
that Ben
Hadad
wanted
rid of
Ahab
I mean
he's
tried
twice
he's
already
taken
an army
to him
twice
yes he's
been
defeated
but instead
of finishing
him off
Ahab
goes and
does a
deal
with him
end of
verse 34
on the
basis of
a treaty
I will
set you
free
so he
made a
treaty
with him
and let
him go
from his
enemy
oh you're
my brother
from an
attacker
to
you're
my
ally
let's
do
business
together
what's
going
on
well it
seems Ahab
feels he
can get
more and
do more
by keeping
his enemies
close to
himself
why get
rid of
your enemies
when they
can do
good for
you
Ahab
won't
see it
God
had won
the battle
he had
defeated
the enemy
so that Ahab
would be
loyal to
God and
to God
alone
that he
would be
devoted to
him and
worship him
but Ahab
isn't ready
to submit
to the one
true God
who won
the battle
for him
you see
we can't
share our
allegiance
with another
we either
submit to
God
or we
reject him
we are
either with
him
or we
are against
him
we can't
live with
a foot
in both
camps
kind of
going
well
you know
Sundays
is a good
day to
be with
the Lord
but the
other days
I'll do
it my
own way
but he
didn't just
make a
treaty
did he
making a
treaty
with the
enemy
was a
sign of a
much deeper
and greater
problem in
Ahab's
life
disobedience
to God's
word
now
disobedience
I mean
it's not
such a big
deal is it
it doesn't
matter
really
if I just
do my own
thing and
live my own
way
just okay
I mean I'm
not saying I'm
going to live
my own way
all of the
time but
just some
of the
time
that's
alright
isn't it
just a
little bit
now and
again
well
disobedience
to God's
word is
literally
deadly
serious
you see
look at
verse 35
36
we might
find this
punishment
of this
disobedient
prophet a
little bit
harsh
I mean
he's just
been told
cut me
no I'm
not going
to do
that
well a
lion's
going to
come and
kill you
we kind
of that
we don't
like hearing
that do we
are reading
it but you
know what
it's not
really what
I think
because look
at the issue
at hand
verse 36
the prophet
said
because you
have not
obeyed the
Lord
as soon as
you leave me
a lion will
kill you
he didn't
just make
it up
this was a
message from
the Lord
this was a
word from
the Lord
and he
disobeyed
it
you see
we can't
just disobey
God and
think it
doesn't
matter
this is
God's
world
not my
world
it's
my life
he owns
me
and I
am to
live in
obedience
to my
maker
and my
creator
I don't
get to
choose what
I like
and what
I don't
like
what I
want to
obey
and what
I don't
want to
obey
well the
time comes
for the
prophet to
confront
Ahab
with his
disobedience
I mean
it's brilliant
isn't it
what a
fabulous
scene
the prophet
pretends to
be a
soldier
put on a
few raggedy
old clothes
somebody's
cut him
he's wiped
the blood
in his
arms
and his
face
there he
is standing
out on the
side of the
road
it looks
like he's
been in
battle
verse 39
and as
the king
passed by
the prophet
called out
to him
your servant
went into
the thick
of the
battle
and someone
came to
me with
a captive
and said
guard
this man
if he
is missing
it will
be your
life for
his life
or you
must pay
a talent
of silver
well while
your servant
was busy
here and
there
don't know
what he
was doing
but he
was doing
something
the man
ran off
he escaped
the prisoner
escaped
basically
he's asking
Ahab
what should
the punishment
be
well look at
the end of
verse 40
that is
your sentence
the king of
Israel said
you have
pronounced it
yourself
you should
be killed
your life
for his
life
that's what
happens when
you disobey
orders
well without
knowing Ahab
has just
pronounced his
own sentence
hasn't he
the prophet
reveals his
true identity
he takes
off the
mask
presents
himself to
the king
verse 42
this is what
the lord
says
you Ahab
have set a
man free
I determined
should die
therefore it
is your
life for
his life
your people
for his
people
Ahab
because you
disobeyed the
word of the
true king
you will
die
and tragically
as we'll find
out in the
next couple
of chapters
it is his
so called
brother
the king
of Aram
who finally
ends
Ahab's
life
you see
it's not
safe to
disobey
God
is it
it's not
wise to
reject and
ignore all
that God
has done
Ahab
through his
own stubbornness
has excluded
himself from
victory
he's become
the enemy
at the very
least he
should have
fallen down
and submitted
instead
verse 43
he goes and
sulks like a
baby
sullen and
angry
the king of
Israel went
off to his
palace
you see
the problem
is
we all
have sinful
disobedient
hearts
we really
don't
obey as
we ought
to obey
we like
bits of
the bible
but not
all the
bits
we read
the parts
that we
think
yeah I
like that
I can
do that
but don't
ask me
to do
that
we
deserve
to die
we deserve
to be
judged
but God
in his
grace
has come
to fight
that battle
for us
and if we
are to share
in his
victory
if we are
to share
in the
blessings
of what
Christ
has done
for us
on the
cross
in response
we need
to turn
from our
enemy
and make
that decisive
break
repent
turn and
go in the
opposite
direction
bow the
knee to
the king
submit to
his word
not make
treaties
and live
with a
foot in
both
camps
turn
from our
arrogant
pride
and submit
to the
true king
the king
who went
to the
cross
for us
and said
my life
for your
life
the one
who gives
us the
spoils
the blessings
of the
victory
forgiveness
and peace
and joy
and the
promise
of his
holy
spirit
that we
would love
him
and obey
him
this is
all yours
you are
now my
children
you are
now part
of my
kingdom
this is
the king
we can
depend upon
in every
battle that
we face
if he's
won the
greatest
battle of
all and
defeated
sin and
death
itself
well then
whatever we
face into
in our
life
we have
a king
who will
be with
us
and who
will
equip us
my grace
is sufficient
for you
and even
when we
come face
to face
with the
battle of
death
itself
he has
reigned
victorious
from the
grave
he has
won
he is
victorious
he is
heaven's
champion
wouldn't it
be a
tragedy
to depend
on your
own
wisdom
wouldn't it
be stupidity
to stand
in your
own
strength
and end
up being
excluded
from the
victory
christ
christ has
won the
battle
he has
called us
to turn
and make
that decisive
break from
our enemy
to submit
to his word
and follow
him
and enjoy
the blessings
that he is
with us
and we
need not
fear
anything
because he
is lord
over all
let's pray
he
let's
he
what
he
says
here
he
the
word
he