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New
Website! Check out the new
Elijah Ministries Website! I would enjoy seeing you at an event near you. Go to www.spiritofelijah.com/schedule to find out about events in 2010. Treasure in
earthen vessels
I
hope this finds you enjoying a wonderful Christmas season. Have you
realized that as you celebrate the birth of Christ, that you are
celebrating God's wisdom and battle strategy of overcoming evil and death
by revealing His power in weakness? Imagine,
God's plan for bringing peace between God and man was inaugurated by the
coming of a baby. In 2 Corinthians Paul explained that the ministries of
man follow God's design, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so
that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from
ourselves." So it is with Elijah Ministries. I have a treasure, the gospel, in my weak vessel, and I have seen the power of God at work again this past year. I'm not commending myself to you, because my adequacy in this ministry doesn't come from me, but from God. I invite you to join me in this ministry by helping send me out through your giving. Are you looking for a way to invest in the Kingdom of God and keep the gospel message such as you have read here going out to the world? I need the financial support of many to keep this ministry going and am grateful to have participants such as you in the building up of the local church through equipping men with the gospel. Please pray about co-laboring with me by either a one-time gift here at the end of 2009 or by monthly or periodic contributions throughout 2010. You can donate online at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate. I thank God and you for your love and encouragement! Merry Christmas. Chariot
December 2009 -
Norm Wakefield
Tearing Down Walls, Part 3
The last two
months, we've been discussing spiritual warfare and have looked at Satan's
weapons and how they are used to destroy relationships. I hope it has been
helpful to become aware of Satan's weapons, which are...
Wrong thoughts
The "I want"
syndrome
The flesh
weaknesses and sins of others
Your own strengths
Disguise ...and his
strategies to get you to...
Blame others for
their weaknesses
Boast in strengths
Compare
Use others for
selfish gain
Attack the person
who hurts you
We're going to
learn how to tear down walls built to protect ourselves and keep hurtful
people out of our lives from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. He
faced relational difficulties just like we face, and he was victorious. We
are going to learn his strategy for tearing down walls and for relating to
people who hurt him? What do you do when God places someone in your life
who hurts you? What is your strategy for handling such spiritual warfare?
Do you know how to gain the victory? God has provided
the basis for victory in Christ
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ (2
Corinthians 2:14).
Paul had warfare
on his mind. He mentioned "Satan's schemes" (2:11), the afflictions and
suffering he's endured (4:8-9; 6:4-5, 11:24-27, 12:10), the weapons of
warfare (10:4), Satan's disguises (11:14), Satan's messenger of torment
(12:7), the sins of the Corinthians (12:20-21), and his authority for
building up and tearing down (13:10). All of these hint at the spiritual
warfare going on between Paul and the Corinthians. At the beginning of the
letter, we see Paul's declaration of victory: God leads us in triumph in
Christ.
Paul's declaration
of victory is packed with powerful truth. First, he acknowledged God's
provision in Christ. We know that Christ overcame sin and death at the
cross and that Paul's boast of all boasts was the cross (Gal. 6:14). But
notice that he did not say that God wins this fight for us so that we don't
have to fight. He said God "always leads us in triumph in Christ."
In other words, he was saying that when we follow God's lead for fighting
Satan and use his weapons in our warfare, we always gain the victory. God
provided a basis for victory in Christ.
What does Jesus'
victory on the cross have to do with our warfare against those who hurt
us? I'm going to provide a list of the things Paul mentioned in his
letter, but I'll wait to unpack them in subsequent Chariots.
God
paid for and removed the sins of the flesh from consideration through Jesus' work on the cross (2
Cor. 5:14-16). That means He tore down the wall of separation between God
and you and those who hurt you by the power of the cross. That's grace!
Because of the
cross, God no longer recognizes any man in Christ in the flesh
(2 Cor. 5:16-17). That's grace!
Because of the
cross, God attributes the righteousness of Christ to all believers,
thus overcoming our weaknesses and sins of the flesh (2 Cor. 3:21, 6:7).
That's grace!
Because of the
cross, God gave believers a new purpose in life: to no
longer live for themselves but for Christ (2 Cor. 5:15). That's grace!
At the cross, by
God's uniting us with Him, He created a new man, namely,
Christ no longer with a body of flesh, but a body of many members who are
forgiven, cleansed, and united with one purpose to honor Christ (2 Cor.
5:17). That's grace!
The point I want
to make is this: In Christ, God provided a basis for victory in the
spiritual battles that develop in relationships. If he tore down the
wall between Himself and us, then we have a basis for tearing down the
walls in our own hearts toward others. Think about this. We could do
nothing to tear down the wall of righteous, holy, eternal hatred for us
and our sins. A lifetime of service and good works couldn't make God tear
down that wall. Jesus Christ on the cross shouts loud and strong
throughout eternity: God destroyed the fortress of sin and self-protection
around us and the veil between us which protects His holiness. Sin and
death are conquered! The wall of separation is removed! Reconciliation is
accomplished! What incredible grace! But God's grace toward us has done
more. When we follow God's
lead for fighting Satan and use His weapons in our relational warfare God
manifests that we know Christ.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and
manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every
place (2 Corinthians 2:14).
When
people are hurt and they war according to the flesh, the stench of hell
and Satan are manifested. To war according to the flesh is to use Satan's
weapons and his schemes in response to those who cause hurt and pain.
Walls are always built, and Satan leads them into defeat (regardless of
arguments won, successful manipulations, etc) because they are using Satan's
strategies as their basis for warfare. (Read about this in previous Chariot
of Fire articles at www.spiritofelijah.com/chariot). When we follow God's lead and base our responses to
the hurts and sins of others on grace through the work of Christ on the
cross, a very different aroma is manifested the sweet aroma of the
knowledge of Christ.
Notice
that the aroma that others smell isn't Christ Himself, but the knowledge
of Him. To know by experience the grace of God in Christ's work on the
cross and to apply it to relationships permeates the spiritual atmosphere
with a wonderful, sweet aroma. Those who hurt us should notice the sweet
smell of grace that proceeds from us as it covers their sin and weaknesses
like the smell of spring pleasantly captivates our senses.
This
manifestation of grace is not something we can do in our own strength and
manipulation. Only God can spray the attractive scent, namely, that we
know Christ, in the faces of those who hurt us. This happens only when we
follow God's lead of overcoming their sin and weakness through the work of
Christ on the cross and tear down the walls by the power of the cross.
Thank you, God! That's grace! But God is also to be profusely thanked for
another amazing provision of grace. When we follow God's
lead for fighting Satan and use His weapons in our relational warfare,
namely Jesus' work on the cross, we are a fragrance of Christ to God.
For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved
and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to
death, to the other an aroma from life to life (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).
Paul's primary
motivation in his relationships was his relationship with God. How very
important it is for us to make this connection with the life of Jesus
Christ. Why did Jesus go to the cross? Was it primarily for us? No, it was
primarily because it pleased His Father. Isaiah reported, "But the Lord
was pleased to crush Him" (Is. 53:10). Jesus prayed in the garden, "Father,
...not My will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42). The primary reason for
forgiving others and covering them with the grace that is in Christ is the
same as Jesus' reason if we are to follow His lead. When we forgive and
apply the cross to others' shortcomings and offenses, we do so because it
pleases our Father who forgave us and applied the cross to our offenses.
Thanks be to God
who always leads us in triumph in Christ! We love our Father because He
first loved us in Christ at the cross. It is the true manifestation that
we know the power and grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ that smells so
sweet to our Father. Another way of putting what Paul wrote in verses
15-16 is this: When we tear down the walls created by others' sins and
weaknesses because He tore down the walls between He and us, we
remind Him of the glorious work of His Son on the cross. That's grace!
When we love those
who are being saved, namely our brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul said
we are an aroma to God "from death to death." Paul unpacked this statement
in Chapter Four.
...Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life
of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are
constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life
of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us,
but life in you (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
Here's what I
think he meant. How did Jesus fight the fight against Satan's schemes, our
sins, and tear down the wall between God and us? He physically and
emotionally bore the weight of our sin and died for us so we might live
before God unhindered, eternal union and fellowship. So when Paul
humbled himself and bore the weight of the weaknesses, offenses, and
stinging criticism of fleshly, misguided brothers in Christ, he considered
it as "being delivered over to death for Jesus sake." Why did he do
this? He says, "So that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in him,"
and thus he was an aroma of Christ to God.
"From
death to death" also means that the forgiveness and grace extended to
those being saved, as he follows God's design in Christ, was repeated
every time he was offended or hurt by another member of the body of
Christ. If a brother of sister in Christ offended him repeatedly, then he
died to himself repeatedly so the life of Christ could work in them. That's
grace healing the body of Christ!
On the other hand,
when Paul suffered persecution at the hands of those who were perishing,
to God this was an aroma of "life to life." When Christ died at the hands
of those who were perishing, it brought life into being. It's a spiritual
warfare principle. When our supreme commander went into battle, he died at
the hands of his enemies. Was that the end? Absolutely not! In God's
wisdom and power, that which was weak in their eyes proved to be life!
The kingdom
principle is this: whoever gives up his life for Christ's sake gains his
life. Whoever tries to keep his life, loses his life (Matt. 16:25). Our
commander always leads us in triumph when we by grace do as he did in our
relational warfare. That's why he said, "If any man wishes to come after
me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Follow him
where? To victory before God His Father! So when we suffer at the hands of
the wicked those who are perishing and bear their offenses for
Christ's sake, we remind God of His Son, who fought the spiritual war the
same way. It's an aroma of "life to life" to God. Again, this is a
repeated act of faith and grace in our lives. What is your aroma
to God?
If you've been
hurt deeply and often by someone, this may seem cruel, unthinkable, and
impossible that God wants you to bear the pain and hurt of others
(especially those who call themselves Christians and should know better).
In fact, it doesn't feel like fighting at all to you! It feels weak,
cowardly, and depressing to allow someone to cause great pain and go
without punishment or without reproof. You probably feel that you have a
right to be angry and your offender banished behind your wall. But please consider your ministry to them in the sight
of God. What is your aroma to Him? First, to fight as Christ fought and bear the sins of others in apparent weakness doesn't mean those who offend or hurt us shouldn't be reproved even by us in love. Paul did just that in 1 and 2 Corinthians! He reproved the Corinthians quite soundly, but he never allowed walls to be built in his heart to protect himself from them.
Second, Paul
concluded this letter with an astounding revelation. "My grace is
sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly,
therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of
Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with
insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's
sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Paul followed
Jesus lead in the spiritual warfare, confident that he would be
victorious before God. He gave the basis again before closing his letter, "For
indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the
power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him
because of the power of God directed toward you (2 Corinthians
13:4)"
Paul knew how easy
it was to be misunderstood. This kind of relational warfare seems foolish
to people who haven't seen God's wisdom and strategy in Christ and the
cross clearly. After writing the verses about being content with weakness
for Christ's sake so God's power could be seen in him, he wrote
facetiously, "I have become foolish." Why did he write that? "Because the
foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger
than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25). The cross work of God has always appeared
weak and foolish to proud men and women. But to those who are being saved,
it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).
Third, fighting in
God's way through Christ and the cross does not depend on your ability.
Read what Paul wrote next in Chapters 2-3. "And who is adequate for these
things" (2:16)? "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again" (3:1)? Paul's
answer should be encouraging to you. "Not that we are adequate in
ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our
adequacy is from God" (3:5). If you have experienced the saving grace
that comes through the cross work of Christ, then you may depend totally
on God to lead you in triumph and manifest this reality in your life as
you fight the same way Christ fought and apply the cross repeatedly to the
offenses and hurts of others. Tear down those walls in Jesus' name! You'll be victorious and a
pleasing aroma of Christ to God. Fighting the way
Jesus fought takes practice. Every relationship is an opportunity to practice what you believe about the power of God and the wisdom of God in the cross. You get to put into practice daily what you are learning in this series of Chariots. Every time you are hurt or offended, every time you think about someone who has hurt you, place yourself in the sight of God, and look up at the Father and Jesus at his right hand. Then follow His lead. See! There is no wall between you and God because of Christ (unless you are unbelieving). That's grace! Now apply that grace to the offender and watch God raise his nose, take a deep breath, and look pleasingly at His Son. Watch Him tear down those walls at the cross between you and your brother or sister and welcome him or her into His presence, and rejoice!
I invite
you to repeat this practice until the fortress that surrounds your heart
is destroyed. Every time you are offended, step into the battle confident
of the victory to come as you apply the cross work of Christ to them. You'll
find yourself healed and taking part in Jesus' victory march before the
Father to the praise of His glorious grace! Would
you like to be on the Elijah Ministries Prayer Team? The backbone of Elijah Ministries is the prayer team who pray diligently for God to turn the hearts of men to Himself, their wives, and their children. Before I leave to speak, I send out a prayer team invitation to those who will intercede for God to work for His glory in us as a team for the Kingdom. Not only is it a blessing to those whom I speak and myself; but it is also a reminder to the team about the direction of their own hearts. If you would like to enter into the labor together with me, you may go to my website and click on "Prayer Team". Has Norm's Chariot or other resources been an encouragement to you? As a nonprofit organization, Elijah Ministries needs support from people like you in order to function. If God has ministered to you through Elijah Ministries and Norm Wakefield, would you consider supporting the work? You can do so here. (Elijah Ministries is a tax-deductible 501c3 and is financially accountable to an overseeing board of 8 non-paid members from around the country.) The Chariot is also available as a podcast. You can automatically receive the Chariot each month in iTunes by subscribing here. (An RSS capable browser such as Internet Explorer 7 or Safari is required.)
If you
haven't visited our website, www.spiritofelijah.com,
please stop by sometime. You'll find: * Resources to equip you and your family * Previous Chariot articles * Norm's speaking schedule *
Free MP3 downloads * Subscribe to the Chariot Podcast here. * Various resources/pages translated and available in Spanish * An online store to purchase resources and make tax-free contributions by credit card
I invite you to be a part of the
moving of the Spirit of Elijah in your church, community, and the world.
How?
1.
Send this article to other men or families that you know would
benefit from it. You might inform them of the previous articles
available on-line at our website.
2.
Share resources from the Spirit of Elijah Ministries with others.
If Equipping Men or Rising to the
Call have been a blessing to you, then you know it will be
beneficial to others. Either share your resources, tell them about the
resources, or purchase a set or two as an investment in their lives. 3. Share with others what you have learned and put into practice in turning your heart to God, your wife, and your children. If God has done this in you, then He wants to affect others through you.
4.
Join the Elijah Ministries email prayer team and make
intercession for others that their hearts would be turned in revival to
the Lord, their wives, and their children. This can be done on-line at www.spiritofelijah.com.
Norm
Wakefield 12.09 To unsubscribe, click here.
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