Overcoming Life

T. Austin-Sparks quotes Sir Smith in The City Which Hath Foundations, p. 43:

Sir Smith, on speaking of the Moslem invasion of Syria (Palestine), by which Syria became swept and dominated by Islam, he writes---

“The Christianity of Syria fell before Islam because it was corrupt, and it deserved to fall.”

“In attempting by purely human means to regain her birthplace, the Church was beaten back by Islam because she was selfish and worldly.” (My note: of the Crusades)

“In neither of these cases was it a true Christianity that was overthrown, though the true Christianity bears to this day the reproach, and the burden of the results.  The irony of the divine judgment is clearly seen in this, that it was on the very land where a spiritual monotheism first appeared that the Church was first punished for idolatry and materialism: that it was in sight of the scenes where Christ taught and healed, and went about doing good with His band of pure devoted disciples, that the envious, treacherous, truculent hosts of the Cross were put to sword and fire.  They who in His Name sought a kingdom of this world by worldly means could not hope to succeed on the very fields where He had put such a temptation from Him.  The victory of Islam over Christianity is no more a problem that the victory of Babylon over Israel.”

I would add my statement of the victory of the world over the church is no more a problem than the victories of Islam and Babylon.

Church history continues to confirm through the “cycles of time” that she continues to seek “a kingdom of this world by worldly means.”  His kingdom is not of this world or His diligent disciples would fight.  His kingdom is a heavenly kingdom and He will bring that kingdom to the earth through the diligent prayer and overcoming life of His disciples.

The fervent prayer of His disciples will also allow Him to reward His diligent disciples with overcoming life.”  This “overcoming life is not one of “ascendancy;” it is a life of everyday duties and the common occurrences of the traffic patterns of living which result in the disciple living sensibly, righteously, and godly.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.”  Colossians 3:23-25

Diligent disciples do not do what they do to be “rewarded.”  They do what they do because it is the right thing to do.  Yet, as we shall see, all men are rewarded when He comes.

So, then what is the “right thing to do?”

It is our WORK! 

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men:” 

One of the prime functions of ekklesia is the encouragement of the members of the body of Christ to do their work!  Ekklesia is not about making everyone an “evangelist” or “missionary.”  Ekklesia is about every member doing his or her everyday work.

Each member of ekklesia, the body of Christ, has been gifted and placed in the body, as He desires.  These “giftings” are unique to the individual members of His body and are the work that they must do “heartily as for the Lord rather than for man.”  There is “dual” work of “spiritual” work and “secular” work.  All work is spiritual for it is to be done “heartily” unto the Lord.

The work habits and attitudes of diligent disciples should be an indication of their recognition of their place in His body.  With this in mind, the disciple can maintain “overcoming” work habits, which in turn will keep the focus on “seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness.”

His kingdom cannot come by worldly means.  His kingdom is coming by the overcoming living of His
diligent discipleship.

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.” Revelation 22:12

“My reward is with Me!”  Jesus, in every generation, comes quickly “to render to every man according to what he has done.”  What we do day in and day out will receive a just “reward.” 

In the case of the 1st century Church in Palestine, the invading armies of Islam destroyed her.

Let us be diligent to overcome by the spiritual work that is given to us.  By this, we shall run our race and endure to the end.