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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Perfecting the Church, #12
These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. (II Samuel 3:8)
The pattern of strong Israelites leading their brothers to victory, and being singled out for distinction as "mighty men," is portrayed in the heroes who gathered themselves to David. Those who were close to David were identified in terms of their prowess in battle.
It is interesting to note there were three men who distinguished themselves above all the others: Adino, Eleazar, and Shammah (II Samuel 23:8-11). The Son of David, Christ, took three men with Him to the Mount of Transfiguration: Peter, James, and John.
Gideon's army was refined until there were three hundred men. God used Gideon and his three hundred to put the enemy to flight. As soon as the three hundred were victorious, all Israel was able to profit from the victory (Judges 8:28).
So will it be true in the Kingdom of God. The enemy will be destroyed as God in Christ works through the stronger members of the Body of Christ. The firstfruits always stand on "Zion," on the fortress area of God's city (Revelation 14:1).
The distinction between Zion, the fortress, and the remainder of Jerusalem will remain intact through to the end of the thousand-year period. The nations go up against "the camp [fortress] of the saints, and the beloved city [Jerusalem]," which brings down the wrath of God on them (Revelation 20:9).
The entire Church, the elect of God, is a "firstfruits" of mankind (James 1:18). The Lord Jesus Christ is the Firstfruits to God of all men (I Corinthians 15:23).
Those who achieve victory in the present world are a firstfruits of the Church and they will rule with Jesus throughout the thousand-year period (Revelation 2:27; 3:21; 20:4-6). There will be people who sit on Jesus' right hand and on His left in the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:40).
The firstfruits are anointed with the Spirit of God for the purpose of building up the Lord's people in the righteous ways of the Lord. When God's people become "trees of righteousness" they will go through the earth repairing all that has been destroyed by wicked spirits working through human beings.
The sixty-first chapter of the Book of Isaiah, the portion of the Scriptures with which Christ announced His ministry, reveals the program of restoration:
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion [the Lord's people], to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they [the Lord's flock] might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3)
First, the Body of Christ must be built up in obedience, righteousness, holiness, knowledge, beauty, and joy (Ephesians 4:13). After this has been accomplished the Lord will be glorified in His Body, His Church.
Notice what happens as soon as the members of the Church have become "trees of righteousness":
And they [the saints] shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:4)
To be continued.