SEA
SEA, THE
RIVER
RIVER
RED SEA
RED SEA, PASSAGE OF
EXODUS
RED SEA
I. The Bitter Lakes region
II. The Gulfs of Suez and Aqabah
JORDAN
I. Archaeological sites
II. Topographical features

a. CHURCH
The times throughout history when the church received its worst reputation, and finally was the least effective, have been when it has used the weapons of this world to promote the furtherance of the gospel.

This first major example was when Christianity became the state religion of Rome in AD350 under the Emperor Constantine. In his enthusiastic adoption of the faith, Constantine responded in the way he was used to, to convert others – by the point of the sword. This was the forerunner of many such efforts over the centuries since, the ‘lowlight’ being the series of Crusades, originating in medieval England in 1096 and extending over nearly two centuries, the eighth and final one commencing in 1270. In the endeavour to regain Jerusalem from the Muslims, the crusaders also chose to take vengeance upon the Jews along the way, successfully alienating both
groups from being open to the Gospel, right hrough to this day.

For the weapons of the church are to be different to those of the world. The ever-compulsive disciple, Peter, was the first one to learn this
lesson when he chopped off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Malchus, in an endeavour to stop Jesus being arrested. It didn’t work!

Unbelievably to our human understanding, our weapons are the opposite of those of the world. Incredibly, evil is to be overcome by doing ‘good’!

This is achieved through the meekness and gentleness of Christ, not the harsh authoritarianism of the world.

Yes, through the very foundation of the Christian faith – loving God and loving others.

This is neither natural nor easy, in human terms, but is what God requires of His church.

Even to the point of a martyr’s death.

For this is the battle we are in, like it or not!

But the church (symbolised by Peter) is built on ‘the rock’ of Jesus and satan cannot overcome it, no matter what illusion of success he may appear to have.

We to have the victory through the salvation of Jesus (the blood of the Lamb), the guidance of the Holy Spirit (the word of their testimony) and doing the will of the Father (they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.)

Until through standing firm in the faith until the end, we, His church, inherits the kingdom of God.

Overcoming the world through love is the twelfth challenge facing the church today. For Jesus will not return until we do!

as we look at the second part of our study, 'Winning the War' and summarise 12 requirements of restoration we have considered.

Adapting the ways of the world to grow the church is a huge, and often irresistible, temptation to leaders.

Gifted leaders with charisma and good selling skills may well appear to succeed. This encourages others without those human attributes to copy their apparent success. It inevitably ends in disappointment and disaster!

Ultimately, love, not technique, is the only answer, and it will win through!

Damascus, Zobah and Hamath

In the north David conquered Zobah and their mighty army which possessed 1000 chariots, 700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. (2 Samuel 8:3-4)

David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers.

It is interesting that David's army did not depend on chariots as the king of Zobah, as well as the Philistines and the Canaanites.

When the men of Aram Damascus heard of the battle they came to assist Zobah and were too late. David utterly defeated them as well and they paid tribute to Israel. At this same time the king of Hamath sent his son to pay tribute to David and this secured the northern region. David placed garrisons in Damascus as he had done in Edom.