Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 104 - 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 104 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit; Overcoming the power and influence of Satan; Eph 6:10-18.
Announcements / opening prayer:
Belt of truth - application of truth to life; being true. Breastplate of R - walking in experiential R
Truthfulness means hiding nothing from the Lord. It is sin uncovered rather than hidden or self-justified. It is forgiveness, light, and peace. It is the freedom of truth over the slavery of deceit. It is our perfect relationship with God known in our own souls, untouched and unstained by the world forces and the lies of men. It is eternal and protected by God.
Mat 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished."
The cross is God's truth about us, and therefore it is the only power that can make us truthful.
When we come to the cross we are no longer afraid of the truth since our sin nature has been dealt with once and for all. We are no longer afraid of the future because we understand that we have been given eternal life. We are no longer afraid of life because we are in union with Christ and identified with Him in His resurrection.
Shoes - stability of soul from occupation with the good news (gospel), which makes the most effective witness.
We are to always live in our position in Christ, which was graciously given to us at salvation. You are to always see yourself in its light and always see the future in the light of eternity.
Our problems and adversities as well as our prosperities are ant hills compared to our eternity or eternal life.
Rom 5:15 But the free gift is not like [not worthy to be compared] the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.
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.
Shield of faith - living faith in the deliverance of God as Satan tries to set your heart on fire with doubt and mental attitude sins, as well as the faith to trust God as you lay down your life for others.
Remember that the shield is mostly a defensive weapon but it was also used as an offensive one. By faith we hold our ground and by faith we expose the darkness that hovers over this world.
Helmet of salvation - deliverance from the power of the sin nature and from the fear of death.
At salvation the reign of sin and death were dethroned and the reign of grace, righteousness, and eternal life were enthroned. The sin nature was severed from us through crucifixion and we were entered into union with Christ in His resurrection. Understanding these truths and seating your faith in them is what protects the mind, soul, spirit, and heart of the believer at all times. He is not only occupied with who he is in union with Christ (his position), but also with the work of Christ that made that possible.
Sword of the Spirit - skilled use of the word of God in application by means of the direction and power of God the Holy Spirit.
Just like you will never know the power of prayer unless you pray, the power of faith unless you trust, you will never know how to skillfully use the word of God unless you apply it often. The child of God needs to learn how to apply a specific doctrine that is appropriate to the situation. When our Lord was tempted in the wilderness by Satan He used the word of God to defeat His enemy. In each temptation He used a proper truth that applied directly to each specific temptation. He didn't quote random passages or repeat the same passage. He used the word of God with skill and precision and accuracy. We must all learn to do the same.
Prayer for all the saints - the Christian soldier in contact with headquarters for his own needs as well as requests in support of his fellow soldiers - not allowing Satan to hinder that communication.
Putting all of this together you have the armor of God, in the face of which, the enemy is powerless. Remember, we are to put on the whole armor. Nothing is to be neglected. One can see the amount of time needed to train with this armor in life so that it all becomes a comfortable and unified suit.
The armor is being truth and true within, walking in righteousness, firm and stable from occupation with the gospel, living in faith and exposing darkness, applying our identification with Christ in His crucifixion and resurrection meaning overcoming the rule of the sin nature and presenting ourselves alive, expertly applying the doctrines of the word of God, and finally, always ready to intercede for the saints in prayer. Put this all together and you have a particular person living a very particular life; the life of Christ.
Eph 1:18-19 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Spirituality and resurrection life are not only for heaven. They are for today. It is a supernatural life in the midst of much that is mundane and unholy. The believer is never looking for something unusual or ecstatic in his walk by the Spirit, but he is only looking in the confines of the scripture. Even in the mundane parts of his life, which is usually a good percentage, he lives and works unto His Lord and in the firm conviction of continual fellowship with God.
If Satan can’t get you to neglect the word of God and the plan of God in apathy, he will try to get you to put great energy into false doctrines. One such doctrine relating to the filling of the Spirit should be considered before we conclude this important subject and that is the doctrine of the gift of tongues.
The misleading counterfeit doctrine that the filling of the Spirit is related to emotional hysterics has caused much damage to the lives of Christians.
And so, before we leave this doctrine I think it is important that we look at the gift of tongues since there is probably no other doctrine that has done as much damage to the doctrines surrounding the Holy Spirit.
Principle: The temporary gift of tongues in relation to the work of the Spirit. |