Overwhelming Partnering

It’s not enough to have superior weapons and personnel. There must also be a strategy of utilizing those resources in a manner that will result in victorious freedom from an evil threat. Throughout the conflict between the North and South forces of the Civil War, a strategy of overwhelming force was proven to be necessary. Lincoln went through several generals who were unwilling to go all out with their superior numbers and munitions. General after general seemed to be more concerned about conserving lives and resources than completely dominating the Confederate army. It wasn’t until generals Grant and Sherman came in line with Lincoln’s insistence on an unrelenting commitment to overwhelming force that both the Southern army and its population could be subdued. Grant’s “unconditional surrender” policy along with his “hammering continuously” proved to be an overwhelming military approach. Sherman went to the heart of the South’s will to fight on in his march of destruction to their infrastructure. These dual persistent and unrelenting approaches overwhelmed and utterly defeated a foe that would give in to nothing less.

Our enemy is throwing everything at us to inflict his slavery and oppression. With our superior numbers of weapons and personnel, we are but in need of a strategy that will utilize them in an effective manner. With an attitude of unconditional surrender and continuous hammering of the Word there will be no option but for him to run as if in terror. His utter defeat must take priority, though, over any consideration of conserving or preserving anything. Everything mut be thrown at him with no consideration of rest or saving back.

This approach will include specifically a commitment to love with unity as if life itself depended upon it. It is the area of strength and support coming from each of those we’ve been called to join together with that will enable an overwhelming God response the enemy must run from. Alone, there is no possibility of victory, but thanks be to God and His ultimate strategy of a church joined together in Christ. Completely committed to His plan we are empowered to be totally invincible as an overwhelming unending attack against an enemy intent on his own overwhelming. With far superior munitions, the victory is yet waiting upon a warrior body that will become far more devastating than any overcoming threat against us.

Notes

The power of Partnership with Christ

John 16:33 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Partnership with Christ – overwhelming force against hell

Matthew 16:18 (AMPC) And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros–a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra–a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].

Most important body part – Head

Each joined part – critical part of overwhelming force

Overwhelming God response - teamwork

Matthew 18:19-20 (TLB) 19 “I also tell you this—if two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask for, my Father in heaven will do it for you.  20 For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I will be right there among them.”

God response – 2 with God

1 Samuel 14:6-7,13-16 (TLB) 6 “Yes, let’s go across to those heathen,” Jonathan had said to his bodyguard. “Perhaps the Lord will do a miracle for us. For it makes no difference to him how many enemy troops there are!” 7 “Fine!” the youth replied. “Do as you think best; I’m with you heart and soul, whatever you decide.” 13 So they clambered up on their hands and knees, and the Philistines fell back as Jonathan and the lad killed them right and left, 14 about twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre of land. 15 Suddenly panic broke out throughout the entire Philistine army, and even among the raiders. And just then there was a great earthquake, increasing the terror.  16 Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah saw a strange sight—the vast army of the Philistines began to melt away in all directions.

Each part requires partnership for purpose, power, prevailing

Romans 12:3-6 (NKJV) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. [4] For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, [5] so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. [6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…

Overwhelming Partnership – Christ’s completed triumph with us

Ephesians 4:4-16 (NKJV) 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore He says: “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” 9 (Now this, "HE ASCENDED"—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—  16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Overview:

An overwhelming response requires partnership or teamwork.
From a triumphant leader power is imparted for a triumphant unit.
Christ’s triumph over hell is completed together in us.
The very gates of hell cannot stand up to the partnership of God with man in Christ.
Love purifies and lubricates the connecting body parts to produce the overwhelming God response against any enemy.

Prayer:

In You I have been taken from the vulnerable, precarious, and lonely place of self-reliance to a body where I am joined together with other essential parts with You as our head. Help me to grow in my part of this partnership to boldly provide and receive the necessary resources for Your overwhelming response to any worldly threat. Make me to be a fully functioning part of a force that completely destroys the works of the enemy.

Declarations:

I have been reborn into the body of Christ and freed from the limitations of what I can do on my own.
As I walk in the light of God’s presence, I am liberated from partnership with the world and am given a significant role in God’s overwhelming response.
I cannot be defeated, discouraged and overwhelmed as I am joined together with Christ and His body. His triumph is being completed through us.
My victory is dependent upon the supply I receive from the parts of Christ’s body I’ve been called to partner with.
As God responds with overwhelming force, I get to participate in its dominance as I live, move and breath in Christ, partnered together with His body.