Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 63 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit; walking by means of the Spirit.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 63 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit; walking by means of the Spirit.

 

Announcements / opening prayer:  

 

[Chafer] What spirituality is and what it is not. It may be said that a spiritual Christian is a Spirit-filled Christian in whom the unhindered Spirit is manifesting Christ (to him and through him) by producing a true Christian character, which is the "fruit of the Spirit"; by energizing true Christian service through the exercise of a spiritual gift; by personal instruction in the Word of God; by inspiring true praise and thanksgiving; by leading the believer in an unbroken walk in the Spirit; by actualizing into celestial heart-ecstasy that which has been taken by faith concerning the positions and possessions in Christ; and by inclining, illuminating and empowering the believer in the prayer of intercession.

 

True Christian character is produced in the believer by the Spirit, yet in the believer who has chosen to yield his life to the Spirit and the Word; not by the believer alone.

 

Every historic instance of the filling of the Spirit illustrates the principle that only Christians yielded to God are filled.

 

The problem facing the believer is not human improvements, which amounts to improvement to his old nature, but in making choices to maintain a relationship with the Spirit through dependence upon Him. These are choices to learn, choices to apply truth, choices to discern good and bad, choices to serve others, choices to pray, choices to produce fruit, etc., for all of these and more are in agreement with the desires of the Spirit. Yet, as the believer chooses, he allows the Spirit to manifest them in reliance upon the Spirit through faith, dependence upon the Spirit in humility, and yielding to the Spirit in will.

 

When he does so, the Spirit will work to improve his life through the outworking of the new nature. He will never improve the old nature, for it has been crucified with Christ.

 

GAL 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

 

The words "But I say," throw emphasis upon the statement which they introduce. Paul now introduces a statement intended to counteract the erroneous impression held by the Galatians, likely at the suggestion of the Judaizers, that without the restraining influence of the law, they would fall into sin. Instead of an attempted law obedience in their own strength motivated by the terrors of the law, Paul admonishes them to continue to govern their lives by the inward impulses of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of NT virtue and ethics.

 

The type of life and the method of living that life which he here speaks of, Paul had already commended to them in 5:5, in the words:

 

GAL 5:5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.

 

GAL 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

 

The context of chapter 5 is dealing with living the Christian life by means of the power of the Spirit, so "righteousness" in verse 5 is not positional righteousness but the experience of righteousness. Many think that Paul is here referring to heaven by the phrase “waiting for the hope of righteousness,” but I don’t think that fits the context as well. Of course, he could be referring to both: waiting for the hope of spiritual growth or experiential sanctification as well as the blessed hope of heaven, which is ultimate sanctification. Peter also combines the fact of ultimate sanctification with experiential sanctification. 2Pe 3 states the fact of our eternity in heaven and the present earth and heavens being destroyed and then asks, since these things are true what sort of people ought we to be in holy conduct and godliness. So then, the verse speaks of experiential sanctification and not justification at salvation.

 

Paul says that it is through the agency of the Spirit that we can hope for the presence of an experiential righteousness in the life, not by self effort.

 

The word we is emphatic. It is, "as for us, we (Christians) through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith," not as the Judaizers who attempted to live a righteous life by self effort rather than by dependence upon the Holy Spirit. The phrase "the hope of righteousness," is a construction of the Greek text called an objective genitive. It can be translated "the hoped-for righteousness." It is that righteousness which is the object of hope. The words "by faith," are to be construed with "wait." We wait for this hoped-for righteousness by faith.

 

The word "wait" is the same one used in Php 3:20 where it says that:

 

Php 3:20

or our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ

 

Thus, the secret of victory over sin is found, not in attempted obedience to a law that has been abrogated, but in subjection to a divine Person, the Holy Spirit.

 

Sometimes believers get impatient in waiting in grace and they get antsy for righteous living and that can be dangerous because it can motivate them to start trying to help God out in order to speed up the process, so they think. This can lead to false, works based doctrines, which supplant grace based doctrines.

 

At the moment the sinner places his faith in the Lord Jesus, the Spirit takes up His permanent residence in his being for the purpose of ministering to his spiritual needs.

 

GAL 5:16 But I say, walk [peripateo - lifestyle and conduct] by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

 

Walking with someone freely is not being dragged by that someone. To walk with the Spirit you must desire His way and walk with Him. This is all done by faith and not works.

 

Principle: By faith we chose His way and walk with Him and He empowers us in the works or the fruits of that journey.

 

GAL 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

 

GAL 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

 

The only thing that the flesh can do is stated before the fruit of the Spirit.

 

GAL 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

 

Immorality: illicit sexual intercourse

Impurity: uncleanliness

Sensuality: absence of restraint

 

GAL 5:20 idolatry [idols in fame, wealth, pleasure, or power], sorcery, enmities [hatred], strife [contention], jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes [faction], dissensions [division], factions [self-willed opinion or heresy],

 

Sorcery: incantations, occult, spells, amulets, and drugs.

 

GAL 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing [rioting], and things like these [there are more], of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Communion

 

The inspiration for this morning’s communion came from CS Lewis’ book, The Weight of Glory

 

If you asked twenty good men what they thought the highest of the virtues, nineteen of them would reply, Unselfishness. However, if you were to ask a Christian trained in the wisdom of the Bible, what the highest of the virtues is, he would easily reply, Love. One might conclude that love is unselfish and think that the man of the world and the Christian are of the same mind, but that would be misleading. You see, unselfishness is negative in kind and love is positive. The negative idea of unselfishness carries with it the suggestion not primarily of securing good things for others, but of going without them ourselves, as if our abstinence and not another’s happiness was the important point. The virtue love of God, which was first exhibited in the world by Christ and then gifted to the church, is not this. Certainly, love denies oneself of things in sacrifice, but that is not the end in itself. In love, such a denial is always for the benefit, blessing, and happiness of another. Denial of a thought or a thing for oneself is not based upon the Stoic idea that enjoyment is a bad thing, which would make asceticism good for its own sake. It is not as if Christ suffered so that He could reveal to us that having fun or enjoying time is an evil thing. He suffered because it was necessary for our good - our salvation. Love only has denial within it when it is necessary for the benefit of others. Asceticism is a human religion that is foolish, unnecessary, and worthless.

 

What God has given to us in Christ is staggering to comprehend. If anything, the desire of man is not enough. They are not too strong but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us. We are content with slums when mansions in heaven are offered. In fact, fallen man is far too easily pleased.

 

Christ offered Himself, knowing what the reward would be to us, and this gave Him infinite pleasure. Satan offered Him the kingdoms of the world, but our glorious Lord was not that easily pleased. What are the kingdoms of the world to eternity in heaven with His bride, the church, whom He redeemed and are His lover forever? The eternally grateful saved, joyous, graced-out, rewarded, saved people of eternity, in eternal thanksgiving to the Lord Almighty, and His infinite pleasure of bringing so many sons to glory cannot be compared to some earthly castle on a grand hill in the greatest earthly kingdom. Not even the Millennial reign, promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David as well as all the prophets is enough, for it all must be taken into eternity with a new heavens and a new earth.

 

This is all the result of love and not unselfishness alone. Love gives abundantly and in that is reward that is staggering to the eye, ear, and mind. Laying down our lives gives to others and it gives to us the most joy possible in this world. Did our Lord not fully know that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive? Yet fallen man has a tiny appetite and is easily satisfied and anesthetized with earthly things. Ours is the heavens, in which we are citizens, and where in lies our destiny. Our love is to be our Lord’s love. And here at this table is it shown to us in its plain glory. A body was given for you. A new covenant was made in His blood. Love gave all and denied itself when it was necessary. Love conquered all and left nothing that needed to be done. Christ, our glory, gave Himself for us and by that love the most infinite of joys is now a reality. In remembrance of Him let us celebrate again this one act of righteousness and let us remember to love one another as He has loved us.

 

1 Cor 11:23-26

the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.