by Chuck Black
CHAPTER 13
Second Timothy 1:7 is a good verse about overcoming fear. We don’t have to be afraid because the Holy Spirit lives within us and is greater than “he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4)!
Satan uses many devices to try to hinder our work for the Lord. He can (and does!) use fear, mental distraction, sickness, procrastination, temptation, disagreements among believers, and a variety of other tools to hinder our work with the ultimate goal of terminating it.
CHAPTER 14
Answer based on personal experience. Jesus tells us that there are many lost people ready to be brought to salvation, but the workers in this spiritual harvest are few, so we should pray that God will send more workers. We should pray for ourselves as workers, too, so that by the Holy Spirit we’ll be able to see the opportunities when God presents them.
CHAPTER 15
There are three roads a person can take once he decides to enter the stronghold of rebellion:
The most common response is to get caught up in the indulgences and pleasures and to become discontented with the world outside of the rebellion. This will strain the person’s relationship with authority figures. When this person grows up, he may leave the worst of the indulgences behind but still expect his own children to rebel against him. He may even consider this normal and healthy—not realizing how close he came to destruction and how he is allowing his children to do the same. Because sin is pleasurable for a time, he is blinded to the enduring goodness of walking in the light instead of the darkness. In our society, this response looks normal to many who expect rebellion from youth. Many teenagers happily dabble in illegal activities while their parents pretend not to know. Youth disrespect their parents by breaking or bending their rules, and parents wait in frustration for their children to grow up and become responsible. The effects of their rebellion may follow them as they continue to be discontent with a “boring and responsible” life and have trouble with authority figures like bosses, law-enforcement officers, the government, spouses, and even God.
The second response is to become so taken with the sinful activities of rebellion that a person can think of nothing else. The person who responds this way eventually abandons everything in his former life (including things like relationships and future dreams) and chooses to live in complete darkness and sin. He becomes a prisoner of the devil, so weak and vulnerable to the power of the pleasure that he is unable ever to leave under his own power. The devil sets “snares of death” (Proverbs 14:27) for people in our society with drugs, alcohol, fornication, and other activities. However, the power of God can break these strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).
The third response is to grow strong from the rebellion rather than weak. This is most desirable to the powers of evil because these people can be used to spread and cultivate evil. These people are represented by the Vincero Knights. Some examples of who these people might be in our society include drug dealers, murderers, slave traders, and sex traffickers. The good news is, the transforming peace of Jesus’ love can save even one such as this.
A fourth response would be to refuse to enter the stronghold of rebellion in the first place. Youth in our society make this response by respecting the authority of their parents and choosing to walk the path of righteousness. Ultimately, maintaining a good relationship with the Lord is the only thing that will protect us from the schemes of the devil. Elise is an example of a character who chose this response.
Two good choices are John 3:16 and 2 Peter 3:9.
CHAPTER 16
No one can fathom the richness of God’s good plans, both here on earth—in Christ—and in heaven. Rest of answer based on personal experience.
Kendrick’s call to battle symbolizes the need for Christians to unite in Christ in order to reach the lost and to stand against evil. We battle against evil not with worldly weapons but with the Word of God and the power of prayer in the authority of Jesus’ name. Personal and corporate prayer is one of the most powerful and effective weapons to use against Satan. Revival begins with God’s people dedicating themselves to prayer. Acts 2:42–47 is an excellent example of the power of prayer, fellowship, and unity in the cause to further God’s kingdom.
One choice is Gideon. In Judges 7–8 you can read the amazing story of how God used this meek servant and only 300 men to defeat an army of 135,000. God did and still does this so that no one will wonder whose power accomplishes the goal. If the vessel God uses is fully capable of succeeding on his own, God does not receive any glory. God loves to use unlikely candidates. This tactic builds great faith and blesses both the person (or people) and God!
Some possibilities are Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5; Galatians 5:1; 1 John 4:4; Ephesians 6:11.
CHAPTER 17
Duncan made a “deliberate decision to embrace the pain, to let it make him stronger.” Jesus says that we must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. Often this is not easy, for it may require us to face our fears and possibly even persecution as represented by the cross.
CHAPTER 18
One choice is Mark 9:23. (Rest of the answer based on personal experience.)
Second Corinthians 10:1–6.
The words of the Prince draw Kendrick to realize that he can forgive Landor. This symbolizes the importance of rooting God’s Word deep in our hearts, because the Word will lead us down the right path. Forgiveness is so important because it is the very heart of God—“while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, KJV).
Kendrick’s testimony for the Prince through his words and his life finally convinces Landor to believe in Him. We should live our lives as though every moment we are witnessing to others for Jesus (because we are!). Inviting someone to believe in the real Prince, Jesus Christ, and to receive salvation through Him is simple. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” John 3:16 is also an excellent verse to help lead someone to Jesus.
CHAPTER 19
This is a reference to God’s restraint put upon Satan and his demons until the end times as indicated in Revelation 9 and also in Luke 8:27–31, where Jesus could have cast the legion of demons into the abyss.
Kendrick’s prison was revenge. Jesus sets us free from all types of “prisons,” including grudges, greed, hatred, fear, religious legalism, addictions, and many more.
A similar story is the parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15:11–32.
One example is Mark 6:30–34.
CHAPTER 20
If Christians aren’t determined to be faithful and loyal to Christ, believing His Word even when the world tries to convince us otherwise, we won’t be able to access the mighty power He has made available to us. Just as Bronwyn had long been aching for something to be done and jumped at the chance to help the Knights of the Prince when Kendrick made the decision to stand up to evil, the Lord’s power is ready and waiting to be used.
The chief vices are rebellion and impulsiveness (or foolishness), and the virtues are forgiveness and loyalty. Hamlin, the prisoners, the Vincero Knights, and many of the other citizens of Bel Lione represent the trait of rebellion. Duncan represents the trait of impulsiveness or foolishness. Ancel represents the traits of rebellion and foolishness. Elise and Lady Odette represent the trait of loyalty, and Kendrick represents the traits of loyalty and forgiveness.
Ancel’s heart change was caused by the immediate consequences his choice brought. Many of the prisoners’ hearts were changed by the realization that their behavior had caused their imprisonment. Landor was changed first by the recognition of extreme evil and then by the love and forgiveness that the Prince showed him through Kendrick. Duncan was changed by the suffering (including his own, Elise’s, and Kendrick’s) that was caused by his unwise and rash behavior. Forgiveness was developed in Kendrick because coming face to face with the object of his former fury tested his faith in the Prince and forced him to finally giv
e up the pain of his past through forgiving this enemy that he loved. Loyalty was developed through his relationships with Duncan and Teara. The realization that no one else would rescue these people and the need to persevere in order to do it spurred him on.
Answer based on personal experience.
“I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” (Isaiah 42:6–7, KJV)
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
Unlike the Kingdom Series allegory, in which characters and events are based on people and events taken directly from Scripture, the Knights of Arrethtrae Series presents biblical principles allegorically. Each book teaches about virtues and vices conveyed through the truth of God’s Word. Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione teaches about loyalty, forgiveness, foolishness, and rebellion.
Rebellion of the heart is always a dangerous path, for it is preceded by pride and always separates us from the Lord. Our culture today encourages it, not fully understanding the consequences of dancing about its flames. It seems to especially strike the heart of youth whose understanding and wisdom have not yet fully matured. It is my heart to honor the Lord by opening the eyes of some to the dreadful consequences of a rebellious heart and to the joyful reward of loyalty and forgiveness. But ultimately it is my prayer that all who read this allegory of biblical principles will be drawn to Jesus Christ and trust in Him as Lord and Savior.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war
according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare
are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds.
—2 CORINTHIANS 10:3–4