Breaking The Missional Code (Review)

In his book, “Breaking the Missional Code,” author, Ed Stetzer describes a plethora of ways churches are effectively reaching the 21^st century North American culture. The adjective, “local” church has been referred to as, “glocal,” to better illustrate for us how diverse our country has become and to better define the church that’s reaching out to that diversity. Communal awareness, (i.e. ethnicity, age, location, vocation, education, etc…), is what the glocal church digests; an understanding of these cultural characteristics, marinated with a desire for outreach, is what allowed Christ to transform the church into the type of body He needed them to become in order to reach the community they found themselves in. The churches that become aware of their community and submit to this transformation are the glocal churches that are reaching people and growing exponentially in the process.

As Mr. Stetzer shares the locations many of these churches have manifested and how they came to be, we discover methods used to establish successful churches in these areas in the past have changed. The message from God hasn’t changed but the methods used to relay His message has, and it is completely related to the church’s understanding of its missional outreach to a specific people. The author describes what God is doing through this glocal church as, “breaking the missional code”.  Here is where the author suggests the need for a church to become indigenous; within the culture, but not to be a participant in its behavior. The indigenous church offers sanctuary for people to come as they are, without expectations from them to conform to a certain behavior or type. An indigenous church learns to contextualize Scripture, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to its culture, therefore, transforming behavior and type from within a person. This is a description of a glocal church; breaking the missional code and reaching people for Christ!

As a church pastor wanting to obey the Commission as commanded by Christ, succeed in the battle for the lost, and become part of the church Christ is establishing and growing, I see the value of becoming, for loss of a better term, a “glocal” church. Why? Number one, the harvest is right before us. One of our stumbling blocks has been looking beyond the community, our Judea, thinking that in order for us to grow we needed to reach out beyond our boundaries. Although this may happen, and should, it never will, if we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to sensitize us and make us aware of the lost right beside us. This book has challenged me to re-access the community in our midst. It gives me hope to know we have an opportunity to reintroduce ourselves to the culture surrounding us as a body that cares for them, understands them, and welcomes them as they are without expectations from them to conform to us, but be transformed by the Holy Spirit. Number two, instead of falling into the trap of copying the success of another church, we can focus through prayer and practice what kind of a church Christ needs us to be in order to reach the culture we are a part of; our identity becoming whatever Christ transforms it into. Number three, and the most important, as a glocal church, submitted to the culture Christ has planted us in, we can be certain through obedience that everyone in our immediate area will have the opportunity to hear the gospel, repent, be baptized and walk in the power of Christ! It alarms me to think of how many people in our neighborhood go overlooked and therefore, fall through the cracks! I’m not suggesting that simply becoming an indigenous church that learns through grace, how to effectively contextualize the Word for the culture is going to bring salvation to everyone within the given community, but a church that is intentional about breaking the missional code within that community is going to give everyone a chance to receive Christ, and no stone will be left unturned!  

Thy Will Be Done

 When is the last time you did something kind for someone without expecting anything in return? Have you thought about what motivates you to reach out to help others? Do you know for certain where your wisdom to serve others is coming from?
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.” (James 3:14,15)
 Through the book of James, God gives us a warning that wisdom can come from three different sources other than from Himself! As we examine ourselves, especially during these next forty days of lent, I thought it would be appropriate to point out these different sources of wisdom that would like to change us in ways that don’t line up with God.
*Earthly wisdom is plentiful and quite easy to acquire. We receive earthly wisdom from each other, the media, and many various outside sources that are separate from God’s Word. We’ve adopted the mentality that if it has been printed in the paper or announced on the television or broad-casted on the radio, it must be the gospel. How have many of us come to be so gullible? The answer lies in our unwillingness to read God’s Word and place His wisdom in our hearts. With this lack of spiritual discipline, earthly wisdom molds us and changes us into a being that doesn’t line up with God. The sad reality here is that we are being changed without knowing it’s in the wrong way!  
*Natural wisdom or sensual wisdom is that wisdom that comes from within us. In (Proverbs 12:15) God says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes.” Jesus tells us plainly in (Mark 7: 23), “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” Brethren, how easy it is to be deceived in our own thinking that we know what is best for ourselves. Scripture challenges us to think, and often times after reading scripture we are left with nothing more than questions. Instead of seeing the chance to grow by searching deeper into the scriptures for answers, we choose to rely on what we think the answers might be and therefore become molded and shaped by natural wisdom instead of God’s wisdom. What a tragedy! This is the reason many Christians don’t grow in faith!  
*Demonic wisdom can also change you in ways that don't line up with God. Do you experience dark confusion or fear? Are you still experiencing feelings of bitterness or even anger in your life? Have you ever thought about how these feelings invaded your thoughts and actions? God tells us in the book of (2 Timothy 1:7), "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." This verse alone gives us evidence as to who is shaping our lives. The contrast couldn't be more clear!
 *Godly wisdom comes to those that practice spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading and earnest prayer; we witness this in the life of Jesus Christ. He spent a lot of time in prayer and spoke the words His Father gave Him to speak. He tells us in the book of (John 14:10), "The words that I speak to you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwells in Me, He does the works." Jesus did nothing apart from God's endorsement. To make His point quite clear, Jesus prayed to His Father for divine guidance in the Garden showing us that the only true way forward is not by our will, the world's will, or Satan's will, but by God's will. Not my will Father but Thine be done.
Blessings, Jim

Time on the Mountain

“Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves” (Mark 9:2).
Greetings brethren –

Jesus called to Peter, James and John saying to them, “Come, follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). At the invitation they laid aside what they were doing and immediately followed the Lord.

Along the path Jesus told others, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). We are not told how many heeded Jesus’ instructions and followed, but we are told later that many fell away from Him out of disbelief and decided to follow Him no longer (John 6:66).

We are also told that Jesus commanded his disciples to let the children come to Him saying, “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (Luke 18:17). This He told us to teach us there is a way to come to Him that will be received and a way to come to Him that will not be received by the kingdom of God.

I share these precepts of Scripture with you to suggest that to truly be with Jesus one must have a renewed heart. This renewal begins with an unconditional desire to be with Jesus; to trust Him, to long for Him, to want to be in His presence above all other things.

When we find ourselves coming to Christ out of a sense of duty, expectation, routine, or self need, we must immediately pause and ask God to remove these practices of fear from within us and replace them with a genuine desire to quietly and reverently be in Christ’s presence with the sincerity and innocence of a little child.

Seek the kingdom and God will supply your needs (Matt 6:32-33). He will be with you to carry you through difficult times, the moments in the valley and the splendid times, the moments on the mountain. Your desire to be with Him sparks His compassion to gently lead and guide you through all that has been planned for you during your life on earth. Pray to the Lord and ask Him to give you a desire to do His will (1 Kings 58). Let the moments Jesus shares with you on the mountain give you the faith to follow Him during the trials in the valley.

Remember, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt 22:14). Few are chosen because it is not their desire to follow Jesus in the way he instructs them to. Few are chosen because they fall away out of disbelief in Jesus. Few are chosen because they will not submit to Christ a follow Him with a childlike innocence.

Of the twelve disciples Christ called upon, only three were chosen to go up the mountain to witness His glory. Why, because it was their desire to be with Christ at all times and knowing their hearts He joyfully supplied their needs.
Blessings,

Pastor, Jim Bringman

www. pastorstudy.org

The Spirit of Error

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus –


As we walk together in this New Year, preparing our hearts and minds to serve and build up the body of Christ, I want to take a moment and expose a threat that will always try to work its way into our assembly, the spirit of error. It is my conviction that the Word of God and only His Word will enable us to see this menacing strongman and take action against it.

“We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (I John 4:6).

Error finds its way into the church and operates successfully there when there is and ignorance of God’s Word. It is not my position or thought that people desire to follow a false religion; I believe they get caught up in one because they cannot discern the truth of the Gospel and then just follow along in a wave of deception without even realizing it.

Confronting a spirit of error can only begin with prayer and submission to the Spirit’s authority. This can be accomplished more effectively when a plurality of like minded believers who operate under the authority of Scripture gather in unity to call out to God to bind the spirit of error in the name of Jesus Christ.

A commitment to the Word: from the pulpit and the classrooms is where this battle against error is fought. A strong eldership that adheres to the command to guard the flock against false teaching is another dynamic that works in tandem with the teaching of the Word.

Allowing the Word to put the body in action and encouraging each other in the kingdom’s purpose(s) also thwarts the strongman of error. The importance is to allow the Word to grow the body so that when a false doctrine does show up everyone can identify it immediately and with the power of Christ exterminate it!

It is a wonderful thing to live in unity under the authority of Scripture and it is most essential in the body of Christ. The Word corrects us, rebukes us, instructs us and edifies us to a place where the unity of faith and Spirit keeps us all on the narrow path of Truth. “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:17). Submission to the Word protects us from potential offenses that occur. We who live under the Words authority hear the wisdom from a brother or sister who points out our shortcomings in love and compassion when we most need it. “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).

The Word of God is our only foundation. As the Scripture says, “study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15); proving there is a right and a wrong way to interpret Scripture. Gathering around the precept that God is always right and Scripture does not contradict Scripture the body submitted to this truth will always be protected from error; it will prosper in knowledge and grow in grace.

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Witnessing to the Lost

The Witnessing Method’s of Jesus Christ

Introduction

            Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt 4:19). Any conversation surrounding methods of witnessing must center on the precepts Jesus introduces to His disciples in this personal invitation, “come and follow Me” and in the promise, “I will make you fishers of men.” To witness for Christ one must submit to the leading and teaching of Christ on the subject. To follow Christ means to put away selfish ambitions and/or personal agendas and give Him our complete and undivided attention. To witness to or disciple others one must first be discipled (I will make you). In each case one must decide for Christ and submit to His teaching in order to effectively witness to men.

            This paper will focus on the methods Jesus used while witnessing to others. In particular we will examine and compare the different ways Jesus presented the gift of eternal life to every dynamic of mankind during His time of ministry. As we study three of the Master’s individual witnesses of many we will discover stumbling blocks like riches, Law, racial bias, jealousy, error, and a host of other deceptions employed by Satan against men that Jesus confronted (Matt. 12:29) and without compromise, rendered in order to provide His lost sheep with a clear understanding of how to receive eternal life.

            It is my prayer that after careful discernment of the facts presented in this paper that the reader will see how powerful and successful Jesus was in witnessing to others. The success I testify to will not be affirmed by worldly standards but by spiritual kingdom standards only!

Nicodemus (Jewish Pharisee)

(John 3:1-17)

            Nicodemus, our first case study, was a Jewish Pharisee who served the Sanhedrin as an instructor (rabbi) of Leviticul Law and the Law of Moses (John 3:1) As a Pharisee, Nicodemus believed in a resurrection (Acts 23:8), but had no concept of how it worked or how to teach it. Knowing Jesus was a gifted teacher with blessed insight, Nicodemus made a decision to visit Him and discuss this issue rabbi to rabbi. Jesus was a marked man at the time; Sadducees and a majority of Pharisees of the Sanhedrin were plotting His death. Nicodemus therefore approached Christ in the cover of darkness with the hope his visit would go undetected (John 3:2).

As witnesses for Christ we must be vigilant and expectant that people will approach us when we least expect it. God does send people our way and rather than seeing this moment as an interruption, we must embrace it as an opportunity to bring the truth of Christ to their life.[1]

            Rather than getting into a debate about whom He was (God), Jesus confronted Nicodemus with the truth about what he came to find out, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus responds with a question that confirms he only understands this comment from a natural perspective and not a spiritual one, “Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”(vs. 4) Jesus confirms this point further with His comment, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit” (vs.6). He continues by telling Nicodemus not to marvel that He says ‘You must be born again.’ Nicodemus however continues to respond with a natural mans misunderstanding (1 Cor. 2:14), “How can these things be?” (vs.9) Jesus then responds by telling Nicodemus the only way he is going to understand the concept of “new birth” is to surrender man’s perspective (Law) and call out for spiritual insight (grace) which was right before him, the only begotten Son of God who would soon be lifted up (Num. 21:9), ‘that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’ (vs. 11-17).

Reflection

            Although Nicodemus came to see Jesus, it was Jesus who truly met Nicodemus. Christ knew Nicodemus did not grasp who He truly was, but rather than addressing this issue first, Jesus met Nicodemus in his inquiry, (eternal life). Christ shows us here the importance of engaging a person with what they are struggling with, joining with them in their dilemma before sharing advice or giving any spiritual enlightenment. How can we assist someone with truth before we even know what their position or belief is on matters pertaining to God? Meeting a person with an invested interest in their position is the first step to effective witnessing. It is a prerequisite actually, “Love the Lord with all of your heart…” (Luke 10:27) and, “love your neighbor...” (Mark 12:31), that Jesus issues. Jesus is showing us His true love for Nicodemus even though he doesn’t acknowledge Jesus as God.

            After listening to Nicodemus present his suppositions on which He was perceived to be, Jesus confronts Nicodemus with spiritual truth concerning the kingdom of God and what a person had to do to see it. After presenting this spiritual precept, Christ shares Scripture from Numbers to help Nicodemus begin to see the correlation between the bronze serpent and Himself raised up to save men from certain death.

            Witnessing without Scripture to confirm spiritual truth is simply bad practice. Even if a person does not grasp immediately what they hear or see in the Scriptures does not mean they won’t at a later time. In this example, we do not see Nicodemus receiving a revelation from Christ in this witness. But later we find Nicodemus attending the sacrificial body of Christ (John 19:39); a spectacular conformation that the seeds planted from Numbers 21:9 in the heart of Nicodemus the night he visited Christ rooted down deep and saved his life!

The Rich Young Ruler

Mark 10:17-27

            As Jesus set out on a journey a young rich ruler ran up to Him to inquire of the good teacher what he needed to do to inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17). Jesus immediately confronted him on his perspective on the definition of good using the Ten Commandments to make his point that no one except God was good enough to keep them without fault. Countering, the young man stated he had obeyed these commands since his youth (v. 20). Jesus then flushed out one Command he had forgotten to consider. To help him see his error Christ challenged the young ruler to sell his possessions, give the proceeds to the poor and then come and follow Him (v. 21). The result was the young man walking away saddened; realizing his material possessions were more important to hang on to than receiving eternal life.

Reflection

            The first thing we can glean from this encounter is that Jesus put himself in a position to witness to this young ruler simply by moving out to do so. Remember, Jesus states the Words He spoke and the steps He took were guided by His Father (John 12:49-50). As witnesses, we must listen and move out as the Holy Spirit directs and speak as the Holy Spirit gives us utterance. It is from our obedience to the commission that manifests witness opportunities. Evangelism was never intended to be carried on inside a church building. Evangelism must be done out where sinners are.[2]

Next, Scripture confirms one of man’s critical deceptions, his position before God. It is easy for man to compare his goodness to others and actually see himself as good when using this horizontal standard of comparison. Only when the standard is vertical (God/man) do we begin to see our shortcomings and realize we are not good enough to receive eternal life alone. Jesus said we must be perfect (Matt. 5:48). Who can justify themselves in God’s sight if we are commanded to be perfect?[3] The best way to examine ourselves in comparison to God is alongside the Ten Commandments. The young ruler addressed Jesus as, “good teacher” (v. 17). Jesus conveniently used this adjective to walk the young man through the Ten Commandments. Once the man was focused on the Commandments (God) Jesus could confront his stumbling block (idolatry). It was from this point of focus that Jesus was able to help the young man to see his love for material riches was his god rather than the true God he thought he was obeying by adhering to the other Commandments. Jesus was able to further prove His point by challenging the young man to give up his riches. Immediately the man realized two things. One, eternal life was not inherited or earned; and two, under the circumstances presented and based on the options given, he was not going to receive it; he was truly grieved and walked away in this position.

In this witness Jesus shows us how to revert common conversation and casual comments to spiritual truths. We can all as witnesses, learn to move from natural conversation to spiritual matters; and as Jesus illustrates here, the transition can be smooth and inviting.

Another point to be made here is that even though we may not stumble in every Commandment equally, we do fall short of God’s glory! The rich young ruler was so focused on obeying a portion of the Commandments that he was oblivious to others he failed in; particularly, the first one, “no other God’s before Me.” Getting the lost to focus on the Commandments will bring to light the sinful condition that needs attention. Even though it can be a painful discovery, as we witness in the rulers emotional response, it does convict the lost in a way we as witnesses cannot in and of ourselves accomplish.

Why is this important? Christ knew the young man’s fatal position and without human limitations was able to bring him to and understanding of his sinful consequences. Since we are human the only chance we have to witness effectively like Christ did here is to trust in the Commandments to do their job (Gal. 3:24).

Lastly, Jesus instructed the man to come and follow Him. In other words Jesus was telling the rich ruler he needed to put his trust and faith in Him to receive eternal life and not in his own ability to inherit eternal life through the Law. The fact that the young man knew keeping the Law was not all there was to attaining eternal life he wasn’t prepared at the moment to let go of his wealth and submit to Jesus. He was still lost for saving faith involves recognizing that Jesus is the answer to one’s sin problem.[4]

How do we know this witness was successful? Many judge success by an affirmative decision for Christ and would probably suggest this was a failed witness. But the true disciple, one who has been discipled, knows that success is determined by the fact that truth was delivered, not compromised, but planted in the depths of conviction. Perhaps the rich man will not receive Christ, but he did receive the truth and simply because of that his chance to receive eternal life was deposited.

The Woman at the Well

John 4:1-42

Scripture records that Jesus was traveling through Samaria, a place Jews avoided, teaching His disciples witnessing for the kingdom had no boundaries; walls of bias, jealousy, hatred, and tradition had no hold on the fishers of men!

Jesus was at the well when the Samaritan woman approached it to fulfill her daily task of filling the water pot. As witnesses, we must be aware of where people visit frequently with the kingdom agenda to share Christ. Often these are places we wouldn’t normally attend, but as we will soon discover, this witness was anything but normal. The fact that Jesus, a Jew, was talking to a Gentile woman at a well in Samaria, encroached upon every customary rule and cultural boundary as it applied to relationships at the time (John 4:9).

Jesus engages the woman with small talk, “could I have a drink?” (v.7) She converses back and soon we discover Jesus switching the conversation from well water to “living water” (v.10). Again, Jesus illustrates for us the art of taking natural conversation and transitioning it to spiritual conversations and matters.

Once engaged in matters of the Spirit Jesus confronts the woman’s sinful condition with the commandment of adultery (v.18). Convicted, the woman labels Him a prophet to which Jesus corrects her by announcing He is the Messiah she knows will come one day (vv. 25-26). It is at this point the woman leaves her task and goes home to announce Christ to her people.

Reflection

            Led by the Spirit we will be able to step out of our comfort zone and witness for Christ in places the flesh would never go. Samaria, Samaritans, and strongholds such that they represent exist everywhere we live. We describe them as the wrong side of the tracks, the strip joint, the local bar, the slums, the ghetto; we address them as gangs, prostitutes, drunks, drug dealers, etc…, and we keep our distance which is accepted by the world as socially excepted behavior. The commission, however, is to go out into the entire world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15). This is not an easy task but the fact that it has been commanded by Christ tells us that by the will of God it can be done; Christ shows us how, in fact He labels this kind of work as spiritual food for the body (John 4: 32-34).

            Jesus, as this narration has highlighted previously meets this woman where she was in her daily life. In moments, using Scripture laced in love and knowledge Jesus was able to bring the Samaritan woman to the well of living water. The woman was so convicted that she left her daily task to evangelize for Christ to her whole village!

Comparison Between the Witnesses of Christ

Comparing each of these witnesses gives us a fuller understanding of how and what is required in the kingdom assignment to reach others for Christ.

Nicodemus was a Jewish leader who was well studied in the Law. One who is set in their ways, anchored in a position of tradition, is often one of the hardest of lost sheep to reach. We can all fall into this trap if we are deceived in the notion we know all there is to know about God’s ultimate plan of salvation. Approaching Scripture with reverence and respect soon disappears from the one who thinks they have spiritually arrived and the renewing of the mind (God’s work in us) ceases to manifest in spiritual maturity. Jesus was hard on Nicodemus in this matter pointing out that a teacher of the Law should know these things (John 3:10-12). A teacher of the history of Israel should be able to see the correlation of the bronze serpent, representing death lifted up and Christ representing the sinful Jew lifted up for redemption and life!

The rich Jewish ruler was different is this aspect. Although he grew up in the custom of Jewish Law he was not a professing teacher but rather a devoted Jew and ancestor of Abraham. Jesus’ witness to him was over the Commandments he was so careful to obey while hypocritically ignoring honoring God as the only God! Being rich was not his sin, loving and serving his riches however, was the issue. We all have our little gods flushed out when we are confronted about them and more to the point are painfully convicted when asked to let them go! Being rich in Jesus’ day was looked upon as one being favorable in the sight of God but the young ruler and Jesus’ disciples soon found out this was not the case (Mark 10:23-27). The lesson we must take from this witness is we are not good enough to enter heaven; we can only get there by receiving the good works of Christ. The rich young man thought perhaps he cornered the market on good. We are not saved just because our parents are saved. The young ruler thought he was perhaps protected as an ancestor of Abraham. The witnesses between these two Jewish men were handled as they approached Christ with their hopes of working out eternal life on their merit; an attitude of tell me what to do and I’ll do it. What is equally important to focus on as a witness however, is the fact that they approached Jesus with a life changing concern. As a witness, you want to visit with persons when their anticipation and anxiety levels are at their highest. This is a moment when they are open and ready to advance their lives and their futures.[5]

The last witness discussed is different in that Jesus sought after the woman. In fact, He went through Samaria, a place shunned by Jews, to witness just to her. Although she was a Gentile Jesus was still able to flush out her sinful condition with the use of the Law. She knew the Law and she knew she was guilty. What she did not know was that she could be forgiven and even though guilty as charged, through forgiveness she could receive living water.

In all three witnesses Jesus showed us the importance of joining the lost sheep where they are in their walk of life. He showed us we do not have to condemn a sinner in fact He proved to us the Law itself was the tool to employ to do this work. He was able to witness to these three in a very personal and loving way. He never gave credit to Himself but always gave glory to God and used God’s glory to show each witness their shortcoming.

In each witness Jesus divided the Word of truth without compromise. He let the Word have its effect by staying out of the way with personal suggestions or affectionate misleading. For example, He could have called the ruler back and explained to him a way to love God and his material riches together. He could have found ways to appease each of the people He witnessed to; many do with the temptation to be popular. False teachers do this to be misleading every day. But Jesus let the Word linger and cut like a two-edged sword; knowing the conviction of the Holy Spirit in the Word was the saving grace that would bring the lost sinner to salvation (Romans 1:16).

Conclusion

Each witness in this writers mind was successful. Each person was given the truth, incorruptible seed that produces fruit. Each person was tilled and cultivated with the Law and exposed to the presence of loving grace. We as witnesses can and must learn from these examples. Focusing any successful witness on the merit of always being right alone must be abandoned. The mentality that says, “I don’t think I’m always right, but I do always think I’m right”[6] must be closely examined. We must understand that our opinion is irrelevant; that being right or wrong on any spiritual issue is not a concern when the truth of God’s Word is before us. We must be willing and submit to the Spirit’s call and leading once and forevermore; only then, will we like Christ, be about the assignments the Lord has already prepared for us in advance (Eph. 2:10).     

           

  

Bibliography

Callahan, Kennon. Visiting in an Age of Mission  Jossey Bass Publishers, 1997

Comfort, Ray. The Way of the Master Bridge-Logos, 2006

Copan, Paul. True For You but Not For Me. Bethany House, 1995

Hixson, J.B. Getting the Gospel Wrong. Xulon Press, 2008

Osborn, T.L. Soul Winning. Osborn Publication, 1967

Sanders, Oswald. Spiritual Leadership The Moody Bible Institute, 1994

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[1] Sanders, Oswald. Spiritual Leadership. The Moody Bible Institute, 1994, 81

[2] Osborn, T.L. Soul Winning. Osborn Publication, 1967, 55

[3] Comfort, Ray. The Way of the Master Bridge-Logos, 2006, 83

[4] Hixson, J.B. Getting the Gospel Wrong. Xulon Press, 2008, 91

[5] Callahan, Kennon. Visiting in an Age of Mission  Jossey Bass Publishers, 1997, 59

[6] Copan, Paul. True For You but Not For Me. Bethany House, 1995, 125

Spiritual War (Part 4 of 4)

Spiritual War against the Church Today

 

I graduated from college with a BA in Business Management. Studying business I learned to focus on core values, short and long term goals, plurality of leadership, customer equity, and making money on the margin. I was good at developing a business strategy where we could operate without overhead and serve the demand of the public better than our nearest competitors. I studied geography, demographics, and long established competitors in the areas where I thought we could be productive, competitive, and develop a strong customer base. I studied habits of the people within the scope of the area; where they shopped, when they shopped, where they went to church, when they went to work, what roads were used in transit, all to get a better idea of who to target, how to advertise and when to advertise. This and many other dynamics of good business ethics I practiced all in the hopes of being successful for myself, co-workers and their families and of course our boss, the public.

When God called me into ministry, I brought all these talents to the office only to find out the knowledge I’d accumulated and business practices I’d exercised in the world were as Paul described, filthy rags compared to what I was now discovering in Christ Jesus and Him crucified. The world’s standard of success, measured by volume, cash flow, and profits was exchanged for the standard of Holiness, measured by submission, humility, and willing service to others through Christ. I discovered that to be the leader one had to be the servant of all. Rather than using polls to find out what people wanted to keep them happy, content, and loyal, a good business tool, I found what they needed in God’s Word to bring them deliverance, safety, and eternal life. It did not take long to see that giving people what they needed instead of what they wanted made a difference in the volume of parishioners attending. While I was struggling to find a compromise, God showed me through Scripture the call to Christianity is a call to martyrdom not a call to success and luxury as the world portrays. All of heaven rejoices when even one is saved (Luke 15:7)! Just try to humanly measure success by that standard!

Somewhere along the line, evangelicals bought the lie that the Great Commission is a marketing mandate. It was shocking to hear a leading pastor of mega church comment, “If you want to advertise your church to the unchurched, you must learn to think and speak like they do.” Speaking and thinking like I did in the business world was not communicating the Gospel. However, given my understanding of worldly success with this practice, I was not surprised to discover it was implemented in church strategies after studying spiritual warfare. This is exactly how Satan operates. He will do everything in his power to keep the Gospel from being preached! Every tactic Satan is using against the church is an attempt to nullify the Word. He takes Scripture out of context, uses a portion of Scripture to prove a major doctrine rather than using the full counsel of the Word. He even uses Scripture against Scripture in an effort to plant a lie in the pastor’s mind that the Word contradicts itself. 

The war goes on but God has His army positioned where they need to be. Stay vigilant, study the Word, contend for the faith, and stand firm in the full armor of God.

Put on the Armor of God

Under God’s Protective Armor (Part 3)

Satan blinds the mind of an unbeliever (2 Cor. 4:3, 4). But even as we become a born-again Christian Satan still looks for an opportune time to tempt us (Luke 4:13). We as Christians need to be fully aware of the spiritual principalities and powers of this dark realm that wait for opportune times to advance their cause but not as those who live in fear but rather as those who are vigilant, living under the protection of truth and righteousness. The devil can be resisted since God has provided all the necessary resources for battle. Putting on the armor is putting on the light of Christ (Rom 13:12-14). In essence we put on the robe of Christ which replaces our flesh. The Gospel of John reminds us the prince of this world has no hold on Christ (John 14:30), so when we put on Christ, we are protected and Satan cannot touch us (1 John 5:18). O’Brien comments that Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16 speaks, ‘that you may be strengthened with the power of the Holy Spirit’, indicates believers do not empower themselves but rather are empowered with strength from an external source, the Lord Jesus. He is the person with whom believers have been brought into union with (cf. 2:21; 4:1, 17; 5:8; 6:1, 21). The fact also remains that Christ has been raised up and positioned at the right hand of God where He rules over every power and authority (Col. 2:10). As believers we have been marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). This is our true position in Christ, this is our protection; this is our seal!

The Belt, Breastplate, and Shoes

Only after being enveloped by Christ in reception are we then commanded to put on the full armor of God to be able to stand firm. It is because of God’s victory in His Son that believers are in the battle at all.

Receiving Christ unites us with the truth, as Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). With the belt of truth we can discern Satan’s deceptions by comparing his invoking thoughts with the Word of God. Jesus prayed for his disciples safety from the evil one (John 17:15) by being sanctified in the truth; Thy Word is truth (John 17:17).

Receiving Christ covers us with His righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30). As Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10) it is important we have the breastplate of righteousness to combat his lies and continual accusations. We cannot forget that although we have received Christ, sinning is still going to occur. We still have physical fleshy bodies and therefore sins in the flesh will happen. Although the new Spirit within us does not want to sin, the existing nature of our flesh does. God tells us if we sin we have an advocate with the Father, Christ Jesus (1 John 2:1). Learning to confess our sins when we are immediately convicted of them restores our righteousness with God.

Receiving Christ unites you with His peace for He is the Prince of Peace: this establishes your new position in Christ (Rom. 5:1). Paul also informs us that we need to press on “being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). After we have been clothed in Christ we are then commanded to put on the ‘full’ armor of God.

The Shield, Helmet, and Sword

Faith is established by God and His Word. Faith within the believer increases as knowledge about God increases. Faith comes by hearing the message (Rom 10:17). We deflect the lies and accusations of Satan with the shield of faith. To take up the shield is to trust in the promises of God alone for protection.

Satan will constantly try to deceive you by placing evil thoughts in your mind. He will challenge your faith by trying to get you to question your position in Christ. In 1 John we have complete confirmation as believers in Jesus that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). As the serpent attacked Eve in the garden, filling her mind with doubt by questioning her about what she knew to be true, he continues to try on believers today. The helmet of salvation protects us from these attacks on the mind. The Holy Word reminds us we have been saved by the good works of Christ and that we are now united with Him and “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom. 8:16).

The Word of God is our only offense against Satan’s attacks. Jesus illustrates this by addressing Satan with the Word of God and only God’s Word during His time of temptation. Jesus spoke out loud the Word of God as He was being attacked. It is imperative that the Sword of the Spirit is spoken out loud trusting that as we have hidden God’s Words in our heart through diligent study and intense meditation, the Holy Spirit will bring them to our mind and out of our mouth as we are confronted by temptations, lies and accusations from the evil forces in the spiritual realm! Again, we are not called on as believers to defeat Satan and his many evil forces, he has already been defeated; we are only commanded, so God can protect us, to put on His Armor and leave it on so when the day of evil comes, we may be able to stand! These last three pieces of armor are available but it is incumbent on our part to seize them. God has provided us with His Word but He cannot study for us. He will join us in His Word but until we join Him there our spiritual growth will suffer. We have the gift of unity in Christ who has made us one. We need to exercise this gift of unity by praying and interceding for each other. We are called upon to pray in the Spirit for the brethren. The reader can be sure the discipline of prayer as requested by the Apostle has the power to move and protect God’s children.

Praying in the Spirit

Our prayers need to be Spirit-led because in all truth we often lack knowledge in what to pray for. Praying to God gives us an opportunity to line up with His works. God knows what is going on and if we want to be effective in the battle, we need to ask the Spirit to bring us into the presence of God’s movement; into His ministry. In Ephesians 1:18,19, we find Paul praying that the eyes of the believers heart may be enlightened in order that they might know the hope in which they were called, the spiritual power, authority, and protection which was their inheritance in Christ. Like Paul we need to be supportive of one another in our prayers, spiritually led before God so as to be certain our petitions and intercessions for others are received by the request of the Spirit. A major target for prayer from this perspective on intercession for others is against what Jesus called the “strongman” (Matt. 12:29). Rescuing people from the bonds of spiritual blindness cannot be achieved until we bind the strongman. Satan is powerless, but if a brother has any unforgiveness, resentment, or unrepentance of any kind in their heart Satan has access to them. As they belong to God, it is our duty to pray in the Spirit with certainty that what is bound on earth is already bound in heaven and whatever is loosed on earth has already been loosed in heaven (Matt 18:18). Our prayers may often go unanswered and denied because we ask amiss but the prayers of the Spirit are always answered with great authority from the kingdom!

Blessings,

Pastor, Jim Bringman