Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 110 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit - summary.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 110 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit - summary.

 

Announcements / opening prayer:

 

 

Summary of the doctrine of the filling of the Spirit:

 

Spirituality is not about how you feel, but rather it is the result of the believer who is rightly adjusted to the will of God.

 

Emotions run high and low and sometimes are completely non-existent. We could be sick, tired, worn out from labor, frayed at the edges from an incredible amount of problems, but this does not mean that we need complain or despair or wonder why. We know why. We are in a war and the battle will get intense. We can maintain ourselves in conformity to the will of God, and as we choose that above the flesh and the world, we will be fully influenced, controlled and possessed by God the Holy Spirit. We will be filled with the Spirit and we will walk by the Spirit. Acknowledgment or confession of sin is embodied in the will of the believer who chooses God's will and way above his own and the world's.

 

Every believer makes mistakes. Every believer attempts to comply with God's perfect standard in an imperfect way. If we didn't there would be no need for growth.

 

EPH 4:14-15

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ

 

1PE 1:13 Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit [think straitspiritual], fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ [everything else is expendable].

 

1PE 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

 

1PE 1:15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

 

1PE 1:16 because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

 

1PE 1:17 And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work [not sentimental like man], conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth;

 

"fear" - true fear of being conformed to the former lusts and so not being pleasing to the Father.

 

1PE 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile [Greek: void of result or vain] way of life inherited from your forefathers,

 

1PE 1:19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

 

1PE 2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

 

1PE 2:2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

 

1PE 2:3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

 

1PE 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God,

 

1PE 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

 

"living stones" - used for Christ and the believer because the believer's life is Christ.

 

The spiritual sacrifices as opposed to the animal sacrifices of the OT priest are all the things that the believer royal priest performs in service of God and His people. Involved in this is thanksgiving as well as prayer, service, works, etc.

 

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2PE 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

 

"be diligent" - Christianity is not passive. It is a vigorous and full life of work, action, output, learning, growing, etc.

 

2PE 3:15 and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,

 

2PE 3:16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

 

2PE 3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness,

 

2PE 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

 

Too often Christians come to believe that they must cease from all effort in the direction of spiritual attainments and learn to live and serve by the power God has provided in a completely passive way. Basically stated metaphorically, they are waiting for their faith to get them off the couch. True spirituality knows little of quietism. It is life more active, enlarged and vital because it is energized by the limitless power of God.

 

The spiritual life is not passive, but active and vigorous because it is energized by the limitless power of God. We are not to wait for our faith to force us into action.