Things we seldom see, which make all the difference between defeat and victory. Briefly stated,
1- A personal salvation from sin, through a living, faith relationship with Christ. True salvation, miraculous salvation, blood bought salvation saves from all sin in this present evil world. Christ not only forgives our sins, He cleanses us from all unrighteousness, He fills us with His Spirit and empowers us to do that which is pleasing in His sight and leads us into all truth.
2- A local church doing the work that God intended for it to do. God designed, defined, created, instituted, empowered, instructed, equipped, anointed and appointed the local church to edify and perfect believers, and to evangelize the lost.
The local church is the home for the family of God. It is the field hospital and field headquarters soldiers of the cross. When the church is fulfilling its duty, the parishioners are one body, a mighty marching army, an incendiary fellowship, a holy temple.
The local church is the Body, Bride and Building of Christ, in microcosm.
The church is a Divine combination of leadership and servanthood, where leaders serve the believers and lead them into atonement perfection, and where the fellowship submits to the Biblical authority, dwells in unity with one another and does the work of the ministry.
3- Submission to authority is another thing we seldom see, but it makes the difference between victory and defeat is submission to authority.
This includes submission to God, to parents, to husband.
I am not talking about Islamic submission or anything like it. I am talking about Biblical submission to legitimate authorities, which authorities are also subject to the God of the Bible and are guided by redemptive love. Even if a person has non Christian parents or a non Christian husband, or a non Christian government, there is still a Divine order of authority and submission.
But notice two things here.
1- Divine order does not allow anarchy or usurpation of Divine rule. In other words, if the person with authority misuses or abuses that authority, they are not exercising legitimate authority.
2- Those who are Christians are guided in their exercise of authority by Divine graces. Husbands will love their wives as Christ loves the Church.
In keeping with the theme of this post, this obedience to authority includes obedience to church leaders also.
Still, we see very little submission to Divine order and this contributes to the breakdown and confusion of our society.
I am not talking about Islamic submission or anything like it. I am talking about Biblical submission to legitimate authorities, which authorities are also subject to the God of the Bible and are guided by redemptive love. Even if a person has non Christian parents or a non Christian husband, or a non Christian government, there is still a Divine order of authority and submission.
But notice two things here.
1- Divine order does not allow anarchy or usurpation of Divine rule. In other words, if the person with authority misuses or abuses that authority, they are not exercising legitimate authority.
2- Those who are Christians are guided in their exercise of authority by Divine graces. Husbands will love their wives as Christ loves the Church.
In keeping with the theme of this post, this obedience to authority includes obedience to church leaders also.
Still, we see very little submission to Divine order and this contributes to the breakdown and confusion of our society.
