Bible Studies

Part 11

Ultimately, conflicts in the home is not a battle between husband and wife, parent and child, brothers and sisters. It is a battle between God and the devil with his Eph. 6: 12 forces of evil.

“For our (spiritual) struggle is NOT against flesh and blood (people) but against the rulers , against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the (1st) heavenly places (Eph. 6: 12 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

The type of family structure that God designed was, and is, o be the base of operations for the execution of the post salvation spiritual life, and from which godly children are to be raised and nurtured.

This makes the type of family structure that God designed to be the primary target of satanic attack, with a divide and conquer strategy, here in the Church Age.

It is in the home where one (should) learn the need of, and respect for, authority. Some-o-n-e must be in the position of final authority, otherwise everything is up for debate and compromise.

Mothers undermine their own parental authority when they demonstrate their willingness to challenge the system of authority that places the husband and father of the children as the one with final authority.

In balance, the husband/father is entrusted with the responsibility of taking into account the needs of all others under his authority. A wise man will listen to the voice of a godly wife and mother, but will draw the line when he knows that the advice would violate the ways of God.

Eve was deceived and believed that eating of the fruit would improve things for she and Adam. Adam was not deceived, knew better, but went along with the plan of Eve anyways. We all know how that worked out.

Being guilty of insubordination to marital and parental authority that God has established is disobedience to God (Rom.13: 1), and opens the door for divine discipline (Heb. 12: 6).

Satan has had much success in redefining the roles of positions within the home. It takes a spiritually mature woman not to use the financial input she generates to put on the pants that God has given to someone else. It takes a spiritually mature man to be humble enough to accept the help, but wise enough not to be talked into doing things that he knows runs contrary to the Word of God, as did Adam.

I was ordained to teach the Word of God, and have not made performing marriage ceremonies a part of my ministry. But if I did , there would be two questions that I would have to ask.

To the future husband, I would ask, “Subject to obedience to God (Acts 5: 29), are you prepared to demonstrate your love for your wife, as Christ loves His Church, giving himself up for her benefit ?” See Eph.5: 25.

To the future wife, I would ask, “Subject to obedience to God (Acts 5: 29), are you prepared to obey your husband in ALL matters? See Eph. 5: 24.

If the answer is NO to either question, I would advise them that they are not prepared for Christian marriage. Christian marriage glorifies God. Alternative marriages produce alternative results.

Neither man or woman can serve two masters. One cannot serve God and money (Matt. 6: 24). You cannot always be a people-pleaser and be a bond-servant of Christ (Gal. 1: 10).

All born-again believers are indwelled (1Cor. 3: 16) by the Spirit of God 24/7, but are not always Spirit-filled, being submitted to the control and leading of the Spirit, evidenced by some of the things they think, say, and do.

Salvation is the result of having made a one-time decision to believe when presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message, but being filled with the Spirit is a moment-to-moment choice we make! These accumulated daily choices determines the quality of one’s post salvation spiritual life, for which we will all give an account of in Heaven (Rom. 14: 12).

Being filled (under the control and leadership) with the Spirit requires that we maintain fellowship with Him, by ongoing confession (1John 1: 9) and the forsaken (John 8: 11) of all known sin.

Evidence of having had a Spirit-filled life on Earth is all the souls (Mark 4: 19) at the 1Cor. 3: 12-15 event in Heaven that God saved or edified through one’s discipleship and participation in the Great Commission.

Discipleship (the study and application of the Word of God) is initially for one’s own edification and spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19,20).

This does not mean that one has to go around on the hunt for souls to evangelize or to edify. If you are living the life of Biblical discipleship, inquirers will come to you. If you don’t seem to have many such 1Pet. 3: 15 opportunities, it may be time for a 2Cor.13:5 self-examination.

One cannot be filled with the Spirit and be disobedient at the same time. Accumulated time spent out of fellowship with God, is time spent in which one is NOT going to be in the 1Cor. 2: 16 frame of mind to produce divine good.

When filled with the Spirit, one WILL be willingly obedient, and WILL develop the fruit of the Spirit in oneself, which are, “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5: 22, 23 NASB2020),” and will attract the attention of others.

When filled with the Spirit, one WILL have the desire to identify, prioritize, and execute the individual plan (1Cor. 12: 4-11,18) that God has in mind, as he or she advances in the post salvation spiritual life of Biblical discipleship.

When NOT filled with the Spirit, one will produce the fruit of the fallen nature instead.

Among THIS fruit are, “…sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, envy, drunkenness (Gal. 5: 19-21 NASB2020).”

When NOT filled with the Spirit, one will not have a strong desire for intimacy with God or for the things of God. Other things (Mark 4:19) will have the focus of our attention.

Through human effort, independent of God, one can produce human good that mimics divine good.

For example, an atheist or non-Christian can feed, clothe, and shelter the poor. They can have relatively stable marriages, strong family ties, be worldly-successful, and have worldly-successful offspring. But apart from God (John 15: 5), such things are at best human good, having no SPIRITUAL impact or significance, now, or in the world to come.

Human good impacts the here and now and can be produced by believer and unbeliever with human effort and ability, whereas divine good impacts the post salvation spiritual life in the here and now AND for all of eternity to come. Divine good is produced by God (John 15: 5) through Spirit-filled, born-again believers.

End of Part 11