Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 121 - Essential qualities of leadership: Prayer.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 121 - Essential qualities of leadership: Prayer.

 

 

ROM 8:26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

 

"in the same way" - ROM 8:18-25

 

ROM 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 

ROM 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

 

ROM 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope [confidence]

 

ROM 8:21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

 

ROM 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

 

ROM 8:23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan [sigh as a result of deep concern or stress] within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

 

ROM 8:24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees?

 

The CWL is not one of constant daydreaming about heaven, but in preparing for the day in which we present the Lord's own gold, silver, and jewels in glorification of Him.

 

So we too, are waiting for that blessed hope and meanwhile there is much to do in preparing for it, but not in achieving it. God has done all the work and eternity is secure, but we wish to glorify Him and hear from Him, "Well done, good and faithful servant." We wish to  be witnesses for the Lord of glory to as many as we can before that day comes when our hope is fulfilled. We wish to show the angels, fallen and elect, our faithfulness to God in the midst of this war.

 

1PE 1:3 Blessed be [worthy of praise and glorification] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 

Our hope is living and breathing just as our Lord is. His resurrection guarantees ours and His eternal inheritance guarantees ours and so, no matter what, fiery ordeal and all, we have a living hope.

 

1PE 1:4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

 

1PE 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time [ultimate sanctification].

 

1PE 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice [but now, back to reality], even though now for a little while [a few decades is a little while], if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

 

1PE 1:7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested [present passive participle of dokimazo] by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

 

1PE 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him [Peter has seen Him], and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

 

Notice that Peter says that "you have not seen Him," (past tense) " do not see him now," (present tense) but he does not say "you will not see Him," (future tense). He halts at the present tense because he knows, as we do, that we could see Him any second, whether it is physical death or the suddenness of the Rapture of the church. Believing in Him is akin to knowing for certain that I will see Him, and this makes for joy that surpasses and cannot be compared to the tests of fire.

 

1PE 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him [Peter has seen Him], and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

 

1PE 1:9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation [deliverance] of your souls.

 

1PE 1:10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry,

 

1PE 1:11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

 

1PE 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you [Christ's body - the recipients of His inheritance; the prophecies now serve us], in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven —  things into which angels long to look.

 

1PE 1:13 Therefore, gird [get ready, prepare, and be alert] your minds for action, keep sober in spirit [glorify Him in time despite not having seen Him and suffering for His sake], fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

It is not physical exertion that Peter has in mind here, but mental. Girding up of the loins of the mind would be the putting out of the mind all that would impede the free action of the mind in connection with the onward progress of the Christian experience, things such as worry, fear, jealousy, hate, unforgiveness, impurity. These things harbored in the mind prevent the Holy Spirit from using the mental faculties of the Christian in the most efficient manner, and thus from causing that believer to grow in the Christian life and so be more and more ready for action. The word "to gird up" is in the aorist tense which refers to a past once-for-all act. The living hope means that we do not get discouraged and that we fight on!

 

Fix your hope completely means that we have a complete and perfect hope that is wanting in nothing. There is no need to doubt it. Gird up and get going!