Faithfulness in Prayer and Spiritual Warfare

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:1-4)

 

There may be some who would read this and come to the conclusion that the twelve apostles believed that they were above serving tables. However, it’s my belief that was the furthest thing from their minds when they instructed the disciples to choose worthy men among them to fill this position. The fact of the matter is that the twelve apostles, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, was putting the welfare of the church front and center. They had learned quickly that their prayer had to be continuous because spiritual warfare is continuous. Faithfulness in prayer had become their first priority because the Lie Whisperer (Satan) sought their defeat as his first priority. Thus, their earliest recorded administrative decision after Pentecost places the ministry of prayer (with the Word) as highest in importance.

 

As the church continued to grow in leaps and bounds, circumstances required more of the apostles’ time. But wisely realizing they needed more prayer, rather than increased activity, the apostles chose seven men to serve as deacons to care for the church. Note, the apostles had directed the church to find seven men that they had felt would serve their needs faithfully and to bring them before the apostles. In doing this we see the church leaders wisely delegating administrative tasks to the church body. This freed the leaders to focus on prayer and ministry of the Word. Of the two, prayer, rightfully, is listed first. Faithfulness to prayer recurs throughout the Scriptures.

 

Church growth demands organization and delegation. We must move past the lie of the enemy that dictates that the pastor and elders are to do everything in the church. Sadly this does happen in many church bodies where just a few do all the work from setting up tables, cleaning, and tending to all the daily administrations of the body of believers. This then leaves very little time for them to spend in prayer and the ministry of the Word, which of course is the most important thing as we have learned here in the early church. We must all be part of the solution and apply our gifts and talents to aide in the growth of the church, so that the pastors and leaders can be faithful in prayer and studying of the Word to fight the spiritual war that is raging.

 

 

Dale LaFrance   (please look up Romans 12:10-12)

Flesh and Spirit at War

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.  I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:14-20)

 

Before one becomes a believer that is a follower of Christ, the experience of the flesh and spirit at war within ones self simply does not exist.  Before I accepted Christ into my life and became a new man by which the bible calls born again, I never mourned nor felt grieved when I did sinful things, which would displease God.  However, now, as a regenerated man, because of what Christ has done, I now have the Spirit of God living within me that convicts me and grieves when I am disobedient to God.  The flesh is so used to doing what it pleases at a moments notice with out giving thought to whether it’s right or wrong, seeking only self-satisfaction, where as the spirit seeks to obey and bring glory to the Father.  This is what causes the war within me between the flesh and the spirit, as Paul states at the end of our focus passage.

Every true believer that I have talked with has had at times in their walk with Christ doubted their salvation.  The war between the flesh and the spirit within can be used as an indicator that you have given your life totally over to Christ and His precepts.  True followers of Christ have the double self of the renewed man, “In me dwells no good; but this corrupt self is not my true self; it is sin dwelling in my real self, as a renewed man.”  As an unregenerate man I sought to please my self, which is the flesh.  Now as a regenerated man (born again) I seek to please the Father and Jesus Christ with the aide of the Spirit now living within me.  The moment I take my eyes off of Christ the flesh takes hold and seeks to please it’s self, this is why it’s imperative that we daily moment by moment set our eyes on Christ and rely on the guidance of the Spirit within us.  Paul is expressing himself in this passage to vividly reveal to his readers the conflict of two opposite principles, and how entirely, as a new man—honoring from his inmost soul the law of God—he condemned and renounced his corrupt nature, with its affections and lusts, its stirrings and its outgoings, that is all of it.  Left to our own we will surely fail. The good news is Christ has not left us alone!  The war that wages within has already been won by His redemptive work.  When the old man (the flesh) raises his ugly head within us, we can send him away in the name of Christ and live in victory!

 

 

 

Dale LaFrance                (please look up Psalm 84)