HOW TO WIN THE around the king.

That is where the final

outcome of the battle will be decided. For
circumstances we face, we need not fear. Everyone had to be listed (‘by name, one by
The King is with us. one’ (v.2)). This expression occurs over
BATTLES OF LIFE us too, the battle today is taking place and over again in the passage. Each
The Christian life is a battle. I have been around the King … it is the person of Jesus Second, the Holy Spirit is within us. As the individual matters to God, and has an
following Jesus for four decades. As I look Christ himself that is the real point at Holy Spirit came upon Mary (Luke 1:35), to important part to play in his plans. What at
back at these years they have been years issue.’ bring about a physical birth, so the Holy first seems to be dry statistics, is in fact a
of great blessing – more than I could have Spirit comes upon us, to bring about a key tool in mobilising and equipping the
asked or even imagined. At the same time The theological battles of the twenty-first spiritual birth. We are ‘children born not of entire people of God.
there have been many challenges and century are not those of the eleventh natural descent, nor of human decision or Eugene Peterson writes in his introduction
obstacles. There have been very few century, which divided Catholic and a husband’s will, but born of God’ (John to the book of Numbers, ‘We need
periods when I have not been facing some Orthodox churches. Nor are the battles 1:13). organisational help. When people live
kind of battle. those of the sixteenth century reformation. together in community, jobs have to be
The battle today is the same as the battleThird, the King is over us. We are called to assigned, leaders appointed, inventories
The nature of these battles has varied of the first century: is Jesus a universalbe the Lord’s servants. Mary’s response is kept. Counting and list-making and rosters
enormously. There have been internal Saviour? one of strong, courageous, fearless and are as much a part of being a community
battles – times of intense temptation, dignified trust. She is the model of faith. In of God as prayer and instruction and
doubt, fear and anxiety. There have been Luke sets out right at the start of the the greatest and most decisive act of faith justice. Accurate arithmetic is an aspect of
times of deep sadness, great loss and Gospel a number of claims about Jesus in history she offered herself to God as a becoming a people of God.’
bereavement. There have been battles over (vv.31–35): clean page on which he could write what he
health, sleep, finances, work and wanted. I love the translation in the Living Lord, as we face the battles of the twenty-
relationships. There have been periods of Saviour Bible: ‘I am the Lord’s servant, and I am first century, we pray that we may hear
great opposition and criticism. The angel says to Mary, ‘You are to call him
willing to accept whatever he wants’ (Luke your instructions, that you would raise up
Jesus’ (v.31). The name ‘Jesus’ means 1:38). good leadership, both in the church and in
Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the ‘saviour’. society, and mobilise the people for the
Papal household, speaks of our battle being Messiah Lord, help us to focus on the real battle and battles ahead.
against a ‘triple alliance … the world, the He is the long-awaited Messiah in the line unite around the King: our Saviour, Messiah
flesh and the devil’. of David. The angel says, ‘The Lord God will
and Son of God. I want to say, like Mary, ‘I Pippa Adds
give him the throne of his father David, and
am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to Luke 1:26–38
First, our battle is against the world – ‘the he will reign over Jacob’s descendants accept whatever he wants’.
enemy around us’. Second, it’s against the forever; his kingdom will never end’ I am fascinated by Mary. What an
flesh – ‘the enemy within us’. Third, it’s (vv.32–33). 3. DO NOT BE UNPREPARED: extraordinary person she must have been.
against the devil – ‘the enemy above us’ – Son of God To be told that you are going to have a baby
which the apostle Paul describes as ‘the The angel goes on, ‘He will be great and will LISTEN TO GOD is a pretty awesome experience. But, when
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly Numbers 1:1-2:9
be called the Son of the Most High’ (v.32).
realms’ (Ephesians 6:12). The battles of life need not intimidate you. you are young, unmarried and a virgin, to
Jesus’ birth was unique, as is explained by
All the way through history God’s people be told that you will be carrying ‘the Son of
the angel in these verses. Mary was a have faced obstacles and challenges. The the Most High’ (v.32) would seem
Each of the passages for today has virgin, and so a ‘normal’ conception was
something to say about how to win the book of Numbers is about how God’s people impossible and terrifying. To be unmarried
clearly impossible (v.34). Instead she wasprepare for battle. and pregnant in that society was a terrible
battles of life. told ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and thing. Her total faith and acceptance of
the power of the Most High will overshadowIn Exodus we see Israel as a liberated God’s will is extraordinary. You would think
1. DO NOT TRUST IN YOUR OWN you’ (v.35a). The angel then immediately people. In Leviticus we see Israel as a holy that she would have worried for her own
STRENGTH: TRUST IN GOD explains why this is so significant; ‘the holy
people. In Numbers we see Israel as a reputation. It would have jeopardised her
Psalm 33:12-22 one to be born will be called the Son of fighting force. In the chapters for today we marriage to Joseph, hurt her family and
The key to winning your battles, according God’ (v.35b). We see here how Jesus is see a military emphasis that sets the tone her life itself would have been in danger.
to David, is not to rely on your own both fully human (born in the normal way),for the whole book. But she simply said, ‘I am the Lord’s
strength, but to put your trust in God. This and yet also fully God (conceived by the servant ... May your word to me be fulfilled’
goes against the grain, but at the end of Holy Spirit). When we read this through the lens of (v.38).
the day human strength and power is not Christians from all churches – Catholic, Jesus, we see that the Christian life is a
enough: ‘No king succeeds with a big army Orthodox, Protestant and Pentecostal – spiritual battle. We are liberated by the
alone, no warrior wins by brute strength. believe in Jesus as our Saviour, the cross. We have been made holy but we
Horsepower is not the answer; no one gets Messiah and the Son of God. To be a have a battle on our hands. As the people Notes:
by on muscle alone’ (vv.16–17, MSG). Christian is to be a follower of Christ. All
of God in the Old Testament prepared for Raniero Canatalamessa, Come, Creator
followers of Jesus are children of God their battles, so too do we need to be Spirit: Meditations on the Veni Creator,
Rather, God gives victory to those who (John 1:12). This makes us brothers and prepared. (Liturgical Press, 2002) p. 287
trust in him: ‘Watch this: God’s eye is on sisters. Furthermore, if we belong to Unless otherwise stated, Scripture
those who respect him, the ones who are Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in each of us In this passage we see three keys: quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New
looking for his love. He’s ready to come to (Romans 8:9). International Version Anglicised, Copyright
their rescue in bad times; in lean times he Take instructions from God © 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly
keeps body and soul together. We’re This is what unites us as Christians. ‘The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of International Bible Society. Used by
depending on God; he’s everything we need. Therefore, the battle should never be with Meeting in the Desert of Sinai’ (Numbers permission of Hodder & Stoughton
What’s more, our hearts brim with joy our brothers and sisters in Christ. In- 1:1). God can speak to you even in the very Publishers, an Hachette UK company. All
since we’ve taken for our own his holy fighting distracts and destroys. We need to
dry periods of your life, or in a place that rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered
name’ (vv.18–21, MSG). focus on the real battle, which is around seems completely godless. Of course, it is trademark of Biblica. UK trademark
the King. not enough simply to hear God’s number 1448790.
Merciful Lord, grant your people grace to instructions – you need to act on them too. Scripture quotations marked (AMP) taken
withstand the temptations of the world, the Mary sets a wonderful example of the right This initial set of instructions ends with the from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright ©
flesh and the devil, and with pure hearts attitude. For Mary, the Lord is with her report that ‘the Israelites did all this just 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The
and minds to follow you, the only God; (Luke 1:28), within her (v.35), and over her
as the Lord commanded Moses (v.54). Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Prayer (v.38). While, of course, Mary is unique as
Raise up good leadership (www.Lockman.org)
from the Anglican Book of Common the mother of Jesus, all believers can know
The leaders were appointed from the Scripture marked (MSG) taken from The
Prayer.) this same connection with the Lord. community (v.16), and represented it (v.4), Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995,
but ultimately they were chosen by God. 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by
2. DO NOT FIGHT EACH OTHER: The way we fight the triple alliance of the Leadership is key in every level and section permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
enemy is with the triple alliance of the
UNITE AROUND THE KING Lord.
of society. Parents are leaders in the
Luke 1:26-38 home. Teachers are leaders in schools. We
Raniero Cantalamessa points out that, ‘In First, just as the angel tells Mary that ‘the need good leadership in the church,
the tales of medieval battles, there always Lord is with you’ (v.28), so Jesus’ last marketplace, judiciary, government, media,
comes a moment when the orderly ranks of words to his disciples were, ‘I am with you arts, and so on.
archers and cavalry and all the rest are always’ (Matthew 28:20). Whatever
broken and the fighting concentrates Mobilize the people