Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 111 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit - summary.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 111 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit - summary.

Announcements / opening prayer:

Summary of the doctrine of the filling of the Spirit:

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.

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."

Jam 4:17

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.

2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof [withdraw or avoid] from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.

The word "aloof" (stello in Greek) is a word of separation, but not in mental attitude sins, but in love. It means to shrink from, withdraw, or avoid. Divine love sometimes calls for separation. The believer priest must make this decision for himself in each case and the description of the person from whom separation is just is the one who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition that Paul had taught them concerning lifestyle. Unruly means disorderly and the tradition is the manner in which Paul instructed them to live, the Christian way of life.

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2Th 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

The context that pertains to the disorderly are those who will not work, but it is obviously in relation to the spiritual life in general and not just a case of unemployment.

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2Th 3:13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.

They were taking from the church but not working in a manner that would enable them to not be a burden to others. All in all, they were obviously and knowledgably throwing aside the spiritual life and striving for the self-life.

The positive believer must withdraw from such so-called believers and understand that it is the function of love in exposing their darkness.

2Th 3:14 And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that man and do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame.

1Co 5:11

But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler — not even to eat with such a one.

At first glance it would seem that all of the sins mentioned are overt ones, but that would be to overlook the word "covetous." A so-called brother would be identified with these things if they were his lifestyle and not if he was caught unawares in them or fell into such sins infrequently. All such sinful lifestyles emerge from an erroneous set of priorities from a mind that is in error.

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2Th 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,

Paul entered Thessalonica and, as in many cases, entered the synagogue and started teaching. He made converts out of Jews and Gentiles but was only able to stay for a short time (1-2 months at the most). The loss of prominent synagogue members and the conversion of many Gentiles caused residents to bring a charge of sedition against Paul and his other missionaries. Sedition was a very serious crime in Rome and one that was very sensitive at this time. Once the missionaries had fled, we can imagine the accusers lambasting the converts that this Paul that they listened to just ran when things got hot and left them to face the music. We can imagine with certainty the charge that Paul and his team were just after their money. This is why Paul wrote this and this is why he worked night and day, so that no charge could be brought against his preaching of the gospel.

2Th 3:8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you;

2Th 3:9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example.

Paul and his missionaries worked night and day in order to fulfill the will of God and then he entreats us to follow in his example. The believer alone determines the times for work and rest.

The believer priest determines for himself when the right time is for work and for rest, but he must be weary of the sin nature which will subtly attempt to confuse the two for selfish reasons. For this reason Paul is unrelenting in the consequences for those who will not work.

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat.

2Th 3:11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.

busybodies: literally "to work round about." It means that rather than doing what you should be doing, you're doing something else or nothing.

Man in general is given intelligence and ability far above that of the animal kingdom and he is to use it in order to function normally. If he does not, if he behaves as an animal, then he rots slowly away. Since this is true, how much more the believer who is graciously given the added resources of the Christ life? If he does not use what he now is, it will also lay dormant and slowly rot away. In the world that God has made, anything that lays dormant and is not either used or maintained decays to uselessness.

2Th 3:12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.

2Th 3:13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.

2Th 3:14 And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that man and do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame.

2Th 3:15 And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Again, the point is:

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.

And we must grow. We cannot stand still in the spiritual life.

Spiritual Christians will become weary in the work, since by the grace of God they have abundantly active lives, but they will not become weary of the work.

There will always be temptations, until the day you die. But God will never allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear.

You may find yourself on the front lines under the fiercest warfare from the enemy. You will be honored to witness the power of God within you, and through you and your volition, God's power will hand the enemy a crushing defeat.

You may find yourself behind the lines while some of your brethren are on the front lines. The Spirit filled believer is just as overjoyed for them as he would be for himself, because it is not himself that he desires to glorify, but His Lord. The Lord is glorified no matter who it is that He works through. And so, from behind the lines the believer prays for his brethren and does whatever he legitimately can to assist and bear them up.