Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 88 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit; Overcoming the power and influence of Satan; Eph 6:10-18.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 88 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit; Overcoming the power and influence of Satan; EPH 6:10-18.

 

Announcements / opening prayer:  

 

 

Principle:

Overcoming the power and influence of Satan demands the filling of the Spirit. Since he is a supernatural foe, human power cannot overcome him.

 

EPH 6:10 Finally, be strong [keep being clothed with strength] in the Lord [not self effort], and in the strength of His might.

 

EPH 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

 

EPH 6:12 For our struggle [wrestle: close quarter contest] is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places [Satan's demon organization which has the sole purpose of opposing God].

 

EPH 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor [emphasis on the entire armor] of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day [pernicious attack], and having done everything, to stand firm [hold your ground - don't become spiritually lazy or apathetic, but be alert].

 

This takes mental discipline and alertness.

 

I have another quote from Gibbon: "It was scarcely possible that the eyes of contemporaries should discover in the public felicity the latent causes of decay and corruption. This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans, introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of the empire. The minds of men were gradually reduced to the same level, the fire of genius was extinguished, and even the military spirit evaporated." [The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire]

 

I wonder how many contemporary eyes see the causes of decay and corruption in our own nation. These causes are like undiagnosed cancer in a person's body, and when symptoms arise that are a clear indication that something is wrong, the person chooses to ignore it rather than attend a physician.

 

More importantly, every Christian must be alert to anything within himself that is causing decay and corruption of his spiritual life. If he is humble, the word of God and the Holy Spirit will point these out in the proper time.   

 

EPH 6:14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

 

The girdle held the other parts of armor in place and allowed freedom of movement. It was essential. It is essential that the truth be in us and that we not be deceived.

 

The truth is like a great T-cell for the immune system of the soul. Since it is alive and powerful, if learned in humility, it will pierce to the division of soul and spirit and will judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. In this many corrections and reproofs will be felt by the believer. He must accept them in humility. If he is a superficial, arrogant learner, then he is not allowing the word to destroy the cancerous thoughts and conclusions in his soul.   

 

In the analogy, the word of God holds everything in place and allows us freedom of movement or spiritual freedom in Christ.

 

To be deceived is to be enslaved. The truth sets us free. It is equally important that we be true. In other words, superficial knowledge of knowledge for the sake of something selfish is not what is in view, but rather humility under truth and submission to the truth.

 

It is not enough to have knowledge of truth. We must be true.

 

Php 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

 

The breastplate protects the soldier from a fatal wound by protecting the major organs.

 

Righteousness, which in the context is obviously experiential righteousness, protects the believer from a spiritual fatality.

 

Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

 

Php 1:10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

 

Php 1:11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

 

1TI 6:11-12

But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called

 

2TI 2:22

Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

 

2TI 3:16-17

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

 

2TI 4:8

in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

 

EPH 4:24 put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

 

EPH 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

 

EPH 5:9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

 

EPH 5:10 trying to learn [dokimazo = proving] what is pleasing to the Lord.

 

Hence, in order to overcome the enemy, we must apply the truth in life and not just be academics. If we have all knowledge but do not have love we are useless and will be easily defeated. Through the power of God we must present ourselves alive to Him and our members as instruments of righteousness to Him.

 

The Roman soldier wore sandals which were bound by throngs over the instep and around the ankle, and the soles were thickly studded with nails. This would give him a firm footing in case of attack.

 

The believer will not stumble when the gospel is his mind's occupation, in that, he has peace with God eternally. The gospel is the foundation of his life.

 

EPH 6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

 

The gospel of peace gives us to the courage to firmly face our foes, who are God's foes. It is extremely difficult to face an enemy on a shaky foundation, but with the gospel of peace, our foundation is rock solid as if we had spikes in our shoes that went deep into the ground.

 

While we are full time witnesses of the gospel and blessed are the feet of those who bring the gospel, the main meaning here is steadfastness or being firmly established on the foundation that is
Christ.

 

1PE 5:10

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

 

With the gospel as my mind's occupation, heaven is always on my horizon, unshakable and eternal. My enemy cannot shake me from such a foundation.

 

HEB 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. [as they did at Mt. Sinai when they refused to hear Him] For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.

 

In other words: "Do not stop up your ears to the voice of God as the Israelites did at Mt. Sinai. Beware lest you refuse Him."

 

He is here making a contrast between earth and heaven, in which the same contrast is found between Moses and Christ.

 

HEB 12:26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying [HAG 2:6], " Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven."

 

His voice shook the earth at Sinai and at the Second Coming He will shake both heaven [atmosphere and universe, including the KOD] and earth. Before then, He is now speaking softly in grace.

 

HEB 12:27 And this expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

 

The fact that this earth was shaken once and will be shaken again shows this earth is temporary.

 

The birth pangs of this shaking have already begun.

 

The unshaken are all the eternal things.

 

From this the writer draws the conclusion.

 

HEB 12:28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show [echo = have] gratitude [charis = grace], by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;