What Shall I Do - Part Twenty Five May 14, 2023 by: John Herbert | Series: What Shall I Do... Audio Study Notes PDF https://s3.amazonaws.com/cornerstonejax/sermonfiles/T002_20230514.mp3 Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Today we will bring our series to a close. The full text of this message can be found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday May 14th 2023 Mothers’ Day What Shall I Do…….. Part 25 1). Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? We have seen in our past weeks of study that a specific process had been set in place from the foundation, that is for the purpose of rulership in the Seventh Day. And we can identify the process this way, creation, fruitfulness, multiplication, filling the earth, subduing the earth and then dominion. And this was set in the mandate given to Adam and the Woman in Genesis 1:28. a). We have seen that through the last Adam a creation in Christ has taken place, and that from this new creation those who will be taken from Christ’s body to be His bride, along with the last Adam, will be fruitful and will multiply. Through Christ’s work among the saved, he will in a figurative sense, over the course of this dispensation, fill the earth with the many sons who will be brought to glory, in anticipation of the earth being subdued with rulership to follow. b). And we had seen, that just as Israel was to enter the land of Canaan and subdue it in order to rule at the head of the nations in a Theocracy, so those who will form Christ’s bride will engage in a spiritual warfare to ‘subdue’ the heavenly realm occupied by Satan and his angels in anticipation of ruling the earth with Christ from the heavens in the Seventh Day. c). And as we see from the verses we began with today, the Lord is at the Father’s right hand until He makes Christ’s enemies His footstool, until He has subdued them. And God’s subjection of Christ’s enemies and our own engagement with them in the spiritual warfare are not at odds with one another – Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Two things will become immediately apparent. Our strength to engage the occupants of our homeland is only found in the Lord and is confined therefore to the realm of the spirit. And the armor provided that we might have this victory is God’s armor, in fact it is to put on God Himself – Ro 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. From these verses we can see that to put on the armor of light, synonymous with the whole armor of God, is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ – 2 Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh [a physical body], we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…… Again, we see that the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God. It is God then who engages and defeats our enemies, just as He was to do with the Jews and the land of promise – Ex 23:23 For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. Our part in the spiritual warfare then, is to be faithfully obedient to the commands of Scripture and as we do so, God will subdue our and Christ’s enemies, giving us victory in the spiritual warfare. This is the same truth that we see expressed in - 1 Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The word translated ‘kept’ has to do with being protected as by a military garrison. And this ‘garrison’ is seen to be the power of God. And God’s power, deployed on our behalf is in response to our faith. Our faith to the saving of the soul, our belief in what the Scriptures teach about the Seventh Day, our belief in our homeland and our hope, and our victory. d). We then, do not directly engage with our enemy in any tangible sense, but through our faith, God engages him on our behalf, giving us the victory. e). And this subduing of the enemies, and thereby the subduing of their ‘land’ will be completed by God within the two-thousand years of this dispensation. As this dispensation ends, so that contingent of likeminded individuals who have separated themselves to Christ, who have been sought out by the Holy Spirit in His search for the bride, will be complete. In response to their faith the heavenly land and its inhabitants will have been subdued, they will have become Christ’s footstool. f). And Christ will return to take out of His body on the earth, those who have proven themselves worthy, like Caleb and Joshua. The earth and the Gentile nations will then be subdued during the tribulation and the events that follow, ushering in the glorious Seventh Day, when a new order of rulers, God’s three firstborn sons, will rule over the redeemed creation for a thousand years. 2). Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. As we know, our warfare is not against flesh and blood. It is not against the administration of Gentile world power on the earth in the present – 2 Ti 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. Our warfare is against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. And that which those in the heavenly places have arrayed against us are described as ‘the wiles of the devil’, the ‘fiery darts of the wicked one.’ And these are two ways of saying the same thing. And that which comprises the fiery darts, the devil’s wiles, have been set in place from the Garden, summed up in the word deception. a). And within our own experience, these come from the leaven, the wisdom brought forth from below that brings a challenge against, and a perversion of, the Word of Truth. That which we have believed from the Word of Truth brought forth from above, that is transforming our minds and forming Christ’s image in us, has to be destroyed if we are to be prevented from taking the heavenly land – Ga 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you…[ 9 my born ones, concerning whom I am again striving with intense effort and anguish until Christ be outwardly expressed in you. Wuest] 2 Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. This has always been our enemies focus, and he has been working almost six-thousand years to this end, and everything is in place. And if we are to stand against his wiles and deflect his fiery darts, then it is our faith that will do so – Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God….. We will remember that having our waist girded with truth is to enter into our pursuit of the Kingdom and the spiritual warfare in a correct manner, with honesty and integrity. It is being sincere in what we do, not just going through the spiritual motions, making the right spiritual noises. And this is only possible by faith. And faith is seen again in the breastplate of righteousness, the righteousness from God that is accounted to us through our faith. And faith again, through our feet being shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Faith with respect to the salvation we presently possess and faith to the saving of the soul. On the one hand, these are the solid ground upon which we stand, the anchor for our soul, that will keep us from being moved – Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard…….. And on the other hand, our feet are made for walking, sharing the good news of our faith to the saving of the soul with those who will have ears to hear, that God may give the increase - 1 Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear… The multiplication of likeminded individuals is an inseparable part of God’s work of subduing the heavenly land in preparation for rulership as we live by faith – Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 1 Co 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. And faith continues with the shield of faith with which we are able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one – 1 Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. Here is the shield of faith in action. To which we can add – 1 Jn 5:4 For whatever is brought forth out of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. We are brought forth from above out of God by receiving and believing the Word of Truth. And that which we believe from the Word of Truth, within the context of Christ and His Kingdom is our hope, and our hope is brought forth by our faith, and the goal of our faith is the salvation of the soul. b). And again, the helmet of salvation cannot exist apart from our faith, as it is through our faith that we wait patiently for the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Through our faith that we will be of one mind concerning the salvation of the soul. And as we know – Ro 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and our faith are inextricably linked. And in conjunction with the sword of the Spirit we see this – Eph 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. As the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, to pray and supplicate ‘in the Spirit’ in this context, will lead us to pray in line with the Scriptures, even to pray the Scriptures themselves, with respect to our involvement in the spiritual warfare, for all the saints. And we are to be watchful to this end; not becoming careless nor casual, nor neglectful. 3). As we consider the spiritual warfare and our enemy’s desire to deceive, let us go back to the foundation again, and to the Woman in the Garden and the nature and purpose of the serpent’s deception – Ge 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” We will notice that it was to the Woman that the serpent spoke, and he spoke about what God had said. It was to the Woman that the statement that she would ‘be like God’, if she ate from the tree was made. Now this may seem like an obvious detail, but let’s look at it within its proper context as we compare Scripture with Scripture – 1 Co 11:3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Can we see the serpent’s intent from this? It was for the Woman to assume the role of ‘head’, and even that headship that belonged only to God. The purpose was for her to step outside of her created high calling to assume a role, that within God’s economy, could not possibly be hers. And here is the nature of her sin, usurping Adam’s headship, stepping out of her role into one that God had not given to her, through handling God’s word out of her own resources rather than under Adam’s headship. And that which the Woman did has profound implications for the church, which we will take a look at. a). 2 Timothy Chapters 2-3 is where we will look, and these chapters have to do with the proper Scriptural organization of the church when it meets together as a corporate body – 1 Ti 3:14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Those things which must be in place if the corporate assembly is to operate as it should within God’s established order, all with a view of course to the salvation of the soul – 1 Ti 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. There are two statements in these verses that we must take note of, ‘that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men’ and ‘who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.’ And we must take note of these statements so that we might properly understand them in the light of later verses. The question we need to ask then is about the word ‘men’. Who is being referred to? Only the male of the species? Or is this a generic term for mankind? The answer is found in the word used and the context in which it is used. The word is ‘anthropos’ which is used in a generic sense, mankind. And contextually, it would be ridiculous to say that God desired only men to be saved. b). Now this is an important thing to understand because of what follows – 1 Ti 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting…. ‘That the men pray everywhere’, so what about ‘men’ here? This word is the Greek word ‘aner’, a word that means men as distinguished from women. c). God desires that all mankind, men, and women [Anthropos], be saved, but in the corporate assembly, when the church comes together, as we are today, if prayers are to be made before the congregation, then ONLY the men [aner] are to pray. And to make sense of this we would go back to 1 Corinthians 11:3 on our way back to the Garden. d). Within the corporate assembly, the women [gune], have their own instructions, which begin with – 1 Ti 2:9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. In like manner to the men being commanded to pray in the assembly, so the women are to adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation. And the command continues – 1 Ti 2:11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. Now, please keep these verses within their proper context. Within the corporate assembly of the church, as we are today, when the Word of Truth is to be handled either through prayer or teaching or both, then women are to keep silent. Not that they cannot speak, but they CANNOT teach or pray when men and women are gathered together for a ‘church service.’ And the reason is given in the next two verses, which will take us back to the Garden again – 1 Ti 2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. V13 states a simple Scriptural truth, ‘Adam was formed first’, and Adam was given the role of head, because he was formed first. This is God’s design, the assignment of a high calling, His established order. And Adam’s headship must be understood in terms of that which the serpent challenged, ‘has God indeed said’. With respect to handling that which God has said, Adam was the head. e). In the corporate assembly, as we are today, when it comes to handling that which God has said, the teaching of the Word of Truth, the men, whether married or not, it makes no difference, occupy the role of head. Because Adam was formed first. f). And we should be clear here that the role ‘head’ does not suggest superiority, such is nonsense as we see that God is the head of Christ. How could the Son, who is God, be in any way inferior to the Father? He could not be, and He isn’t. g). The Woman taken out of Man to be his helper is God’s design and a high calling equal to the role of the Man. This is what we find with respect to a man and a woman in a marriage relationship – 1 Pe 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life [for the age], that your prayers may not be hindered. The Holy Spirit, who is God, was given as ‘the Helper’, and no complexion of inferiority can be found in this role at all. h). Not here of course, but if a woman should teach in the corporate assembly where both men and women are present, or to take the office of pastor/teacher, or bishop, is to do exactly that which Eve did, the consequences of which are still with us even today. i). To continue in 1 Timothy Chapter 2 – 1 Ti 2:15 Nevertheless she [referring to all women, not just Eve] will be saved in childbearing if they [all women] continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control. What we have been looking at throughout has been the unique and exclusive roles that God has given to men and women, established through Adam and the Woman. And we must keep this in mind as we look at this verse. This can have nothing to do with literally bearing children for obvious reasons. But if there is one thing that reveals the profound uniqueness of a woman, it would be childbearing, something no man can ever do. And so, childbearing is used metaphorically in this context to define the uniqueness of the role given to a woman. And if a woman will remain in her unique role and continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self- control, then she will be saved. And likewise, if a man will remain in his unique role and continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control, he will be saved also. j). Now, all of this has been within the context of the proper functioning of the corporate assembly when it meets together, as we are today, but one final thing to say about the unique roles of a man and a woman within the marriage relationship. A husband may not relinquish his role as head to his wife and nor is he to exchange roles with her by mutual agreement, and nor can a wife assume the role that is not hers. And this is the serious bit, to step away from the God given role which the husband and wife have is to step down from God’s high calling, to go outside of the realm in which the salvation of the soul can be realized. k). To deliberately step away from the role given by God is to forsake the saving of the soul, irrespective of whatever else may be done. After all, isn’t this part of having faith to the saving of the soul? And with respect to the spiritual warfare, has our enemy not provided a plethora of challenges, wiles, and fiery darts, to God’s established order? l). Would you have victory in the spiritual warfare? Then embrace the truth of this, be likeminded with what the Scripture teaches about headship and by our faith we will be protected by the power of God for salvation to be revealed in the last time. Praise the Lord. What Shall I Do - Part Twenty Five May 14, 2023 Speaker: John Herbert Series: What Shall I Do... Category: Sunday Morning https://s3.amazonaws.com/cornerstonejax/sermonfiles/T002_20230514.mp3 Download Audio x
Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Today we will bring our series to a close. The full text of this message can be found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday May 14th 2023 Mothers’ Day What Shall I Do…….. Part 25 1). Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? We have seen in our past weeks of study that a specific process had been set in place from the foundation, that is for the purpose of rulership in the Seventh Day. And we can identify the process this way, creation, fruitfulness, multiplication, filling the earth, subduing the earth and then dominion. And this was set in the mandate given to Adam and the Woman in Genesis 1:28. a). We have seen that through the last Adam a creation in Christ has taken place, and that from this new creation those who will be taken from Christ’s body to be His bride, along with the last Adam, will be fruitful and will multiply. Through Christ’s work among the saved, he will in a figurative sense, over the course of this dispensation, fill the earth with the many sons who will be brought to glory, in anticipation of the earth being subdued with rulership to follow. b). And we had seen, that just as Israel was to enter the land of Canaan and subdue it in order to rule at the head of the nations in a Theocracy, so those who will form Christ’s bride will engage in a spiritual warfare to ‘subdue’ the heavenly realm occupied by Satan and his angels in anticipation of ruling the earth with Christ from the heavens in the Seventh Day. c). And as we see from the verses we began with today, the Lord is at the Father’s right hand until He makes Christ’s enemies His footstool, until He has subdued them. And God’s subjection of Christ’s enemies and our own engagement with them in the spiritual warfare are not at odds with one another – Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Two things will become immediately apparent. Our strength to engage the occupants of our homeland is only found in the Lord and is confined therefore to the realm of the spirit. And the armor provided that we might have this victory is God’s armor, in fact it is to put on God Himself – Ro 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. From these verses we can see that to put on the armor of light, synonymous with the whole armor of God, is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ – 2 Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh [a physical body], we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…… Again, we see that the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God. It is God then who engages and defeats our enemies, just as He was to do with the Jews and the land of promise – Ex 23:23 For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. Our part in the spiritual warfare then, is to be faithfully obedient to the commands of Scripture and as we do so, God will subdue our and Christ’s enemies, giving us victory in the spiritual warfare. This is the same truth that we see expressed in - 1 Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The word translated ‘kept’ has to do with being protected as by a military garrison. And this ‘garrison’ is seen to be the power of God. And God’s power, deployed on our behalf is in response to our faith. Our faith to the saving of the soul, our belief in what the Scriptures teach about the Seventh Day, our belief in our homeland and our hope, and our victory. d). We then, do not directly engage with our enemy in any tangible sense, but through our faith, God engages him on our behalf, giving us the victory. e). And this subduing of the enemies, and thereby the subduing of their ‘land’ will be completed by God within the two-thousand years of this dispensation. As this dispensation ends, so that contingent of likeminded individuals who have separated themselves to Christ, who have been sought out by the Holy Spirit in His search for the bride, will be complete. In response to their faith the heavenly land and its inhabitants will have been subdued, they will have become Christ’s footstool. f). And Christ will return to take out of His body on the earth, those who have proven themselves worthy, like Caleb and Joshua. The earth and the Gentile nations will then be subdued during the tribulation and the events that follow, ushering in the glorious Seventh Day, when a new order of rulers, God’s three firstborn sons, will rule over the redeemed creation for a thousand years. 2). Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. As we know, our warfare is not against flesh and blood. It is not against the administration of Gentile world power on the earth in the present – 2 Ti 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. Our warfare is against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. And that which those in the heavenly places have arrayed against us are described as ‘the wiles of the devil’, the ‘fiery darts of the wicked one.’ And these are two ways of saying the same thing. And that which comprises the fiery darts, the devil’s wiles, have been set in place from the Garden, summed up in the word deception. a). And within our own experience, these come from the leaven, the wisdom brought forth from below that brings a challenge against, and a perversion of, the Word of Truth. That which we have believed from the Word of Truth brought forth from above, that is transforming our minds and forming Christ’s image in us, has to be destroyed if we are to be prevented from taking the heavenly land – Ga 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you…[ 9 my born ones, concerning whom I am again striving with intense effort and anguish until Christ be outwardly expressed in you. Wuest] 2 Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. This has always been our enemies focus, and he has been working almost six-thousand years to this end, and everything is in place. And if we are to stand against his wiles and deflect his fiery darts, then it is our faith that will do so – Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God….. We will remember that having our waist girded with truth is to enter into our pursuit of the Kingdom and the spiritual warfare in a correct manner, with honesty and integrity. It is being sincere in what we do, not just going through the spiritual motions, making the right spiritual noises. And this is only possible by faith. And faith is seen again in the breastplate of righteousness, the righteousness from God that is accounted to us through our faith. And faith again, through our feet being shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Faith with respect to the salvation we presently possess and faith to the saving of the soul. On the one hand, these are the solid ground upon which we stand, the anchor for our soul, that will keep us from being moved – Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard…….. And on the other hand, our feet are made for walking, sharing the good news of our faith to the saving of the soul with those who will have ears to hear, that God may give the increase - 1 Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear… The multiplication of likeminded individuals is an inseparable part of God’s work of subduing the heavenly land in preparation for rulership as we live by faith – Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 1 Co 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. And faith continues with the shield of faith with which we are able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one – 1 Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. Here is the shield of faith in action. To which we can add – 1 Jn 5:4 For whatever is brought forth out of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. We are brought forth from above out of God by receiving and believing the Word of Truth. And that which we believe from the Word of Truth, within the context of Christ and His Kingdom is our hope, and our hope is brought forth by our faith, and the goal of our faith is the salvation of the soul. b). And again, the helmet of salvation cannot exist apart from our faith, as it is through our faith that we wait patiently for the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Through our faith that we will be of one mind concerning the salvation of the soul. And as we know – Ro 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and our faith are inextricably linked. And in conjunction with the sword of the Spirit we see this – Eph 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. As the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, to pray and supplicate ‘in the Spirit’ in this context, will lead us to pray in line with the Scriptures, even to pray the Scriptures themselves, with respect to our involvement in the spiritual warfare, for all the saints. And we are to be watchful to this end; not becoming careless nor casual, nor neglectful. 3). As we consider the spiritual warfare and our enemy’s desire to deceive, let us go back to the foundation again, and to the Woman in the Garden and the nature and purpose of the serpent’s deception – Ge 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” We will notice that it was to the Woman that the serpent spoke, and he spoke about what God had said. It was to the Woman that the statement that she would ‘be like God’, if she ate from the tree was made. Now this may seem like an obvious detail, but let’s look at it within its proper context as we compare Scripture with Scripture – 1 Co 11:3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Can we see the serpent’s intent from this? It was for the Woman to assume the role of ‘head’, and even that headship that belonged only to God. The purpose was for her to step outside of her created high calling to assume a role, that within God’s economy, could not possibly be hers. And here is the nature of her sin, usurping Adam’s headship, stepping out of her role into one that God had not given to her, through handling God’s word out of her own resources rather than under Adam’s headship. And that which the Woman did has profound implications for the church, which we will take a look at. a). 2 Timothy Chapters 2-3 is where we will look, and these chapters have to do with the proper Scriptural organization of the church when it meets together as a corporate body – 1 Ti 3:14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Those things which must be in place if the corporate assembly is to operate as it should within God’s established order, all with a view of course to the salvation of the soul – 1 Ti 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. There are two statements in these verses that we must take note of, ‘that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men’ and ‘who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.’ And we must take note of these statements so that we might properly understand them in the light of later verses. The question we need to ask then is about the word ‘men’. Who is being referred to? Only the male of the species? Or is this a generic term for mankind? The answer is found in the word used and the context in which it is used. The word is ‘anthropos’ which is used in a generic sense, mankind. And contextually, it would be ridiculous to say that God desired only men to be saved. b). Now this is an important thing to understand because of what follows – 1 Ti 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting…. ‘That the men pray everywhere’, so what about ‘men’ here? This word is the Greek word ‘aner’, a word that means men as distinguished from women. c). God desires that all mankind, men, and women [Anthropos], be saved, but in the corporate assembly, when the church comes together, as we are today, if prayers are to be made before the congregation, then ONLY the men [aner] are to pray. And to make sense of this we would go back to 1 Corinthians 11:3 on our way back to the Garden. d). Within the corporate assembly, the women [gune], have their own instructions, which begin with – 1 Ti 2:9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. In like manner to the men being commanded to pray in the assembly, so the women are to adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation. And the command continues – 1 Ti 2:11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. Now, please keep these verses within their proper context. Within the corporate assembly of the church, as we are today, when the Word of Truth is to be handled either through prayer or teaching or both, then women are to keep silent. Not that they cannot speak, but they CANNOT teach or pray when men and women are gathered together for a ‘church service.’ And the reason is given in the next two verses, which will take us back to the Garden again – 1 Ti 2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. V13 states a simple Scriptural truth, ‘Adam was formed first’, and Adam was given the role of head, because he was formed first. This is God’s design, the assignment of a high calling, His established order. And Adam’s headship must be understood in terms of that which the serpent challenged, ‘has God indeed said’. With respect to handling that which God has said, Adam was the head. e). In the corporate assembly, as we are today, when it comes to handling that which God has said, the teaching of the Word of Truth, the men, whether married or not, it makes no difference, occupy the role of head. Because Adam was formed first. f). And we should be clear here that the role ‘head’ does not suggest superiority, such is nonsense as we see that God is the head of Christ. How could the Son, who is God, be in any way inferior to the Father? He could not be, and He isn’t. g). The Woman taken out of Man to be his helper is God’s design and a high calling equal to the role of the Man. This is what we find with respect to a man and a woman in a marriage relationship – 1 Pe 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life [for the age], that your prayers may not be hindered. The Holy Spirit, who is God, was given as ‘the Helper’, and no complexion of inferiority can be found in this role at all. h). Not here of course, but if a woman should teach in the corporate assembly where both men and women are present, or to take the office of pastor/teacher, or bishop, is to do exactly that which Eve did, the consequences of which are still with us even today. i). To continue in 1 Timothy Chapter 2 – 1 Ti 2:15 Nevertheless she [referring to all women, not just Eve] will be saved in childbearing if they [all women] continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control. What we have been looking at throughout has been the unique and exclusive roles that God has given to men and women, established through Adam and the Woman. And we must keep this in mind as we look at this verse. This can have nothing to do with literally bearing children for obvious reasons. But if there is one thing that reveals the profound uniqueness of a woman, it would be childbearing, something no man can ever do. And so, childbearing is used metaphorically in this context to define the uniqueness of the role given to a woman. And if a woman will remain in her unique role and continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self- control, then she will be saved. And likewise, if a man will remain in his unique role and continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control, he will be saved also. j). Now, all of this has been within the context of the proper functioning of the corporate assembly when it meets together, as we are today, but one final thing to say about the unique roles of a man and a woman within the marriage relationship. A husband may not relinquish his role as head to his wife and nor is he to exchange roles with her by mutual agreement, and nor can a wife assume the role that is not hers. And this is the serious bit, to step away from the God given role which the husband and wife have is to step down from God’s high calling, to go outside of the realm in which the salvation of the soul can be realized. k). To deliberately step away from the role given by God is to forsake the saving of the soul, irrespective of whatever else may be done. After all, isn’t this part of having faith to the saving of the soul? And with respect to the spiritual warfare, has our enemy not provided a plethora of challenges, wiles, and fiery darts, to God’s established order? l). Would you have victory in the spiritual warfare? Then embrace the truth of this, be likeminded with what the Scripture teaches about headship and by our faith we will be protected by the power of God for salvation to be revealed in the last time. Praise the Lord.