Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Proverbs 29:18 (06/08/23)
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TITLE: The Loose Cannons Of Spiritual Warfare | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
06/13/23 -
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“Vision” is an English transliteration of the Hebrew word c-h-a-z-o-n, referring to a dream, oracle, or revelation.
The English phrase “are unrestrained’ is a translation of the Hebrew word p-a-r-a’ meaning to leave or to cast off.
Happy is an English transliteration of the Hebrew word e-s-h-e-r, referring to being happy or blessed.
In light of the original language and making a Church Age application of Proverbs 29: 18, the proverb could be paraphrased, “BLESSED (worthy to be praised) is the one who does not go off in other directions, but KEEPS (remains on course and completes) the vision he was given.”
The “vision (aka The Great Commission) that the Church was given is recorded in Matthew 28: 19, 20.
“Go therefore and make disciples (students and appliers) of the Word of God) of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you… (Matt. 28: 19, 20 NASB parenthesis mine).”
Christians pray for His kingdom to come, but how many participate in the Great Commission?
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and THEN the end (of the Church Age) will come (Matt. 24: 14 NASB parenthesis mine).”
For many, the Great Commission has become the Great Omission on the denominational, congregational, and individual levels.
If the Rapture took place today, would you be found among the Luke 18: 8 faithful, participating in the Great Commission in your personal, social, and occupational peripheries?
“… when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith (in action) on the earth (Luke 18: 8 NASB parenthesis mine)?”
While no longer prioritizing the Great Commission, much of the Christian Community is spending its time and resources on “alternative” activities. Such activities include the providing the needy with humanitarian aid, political activism, and the pursuit of racial and social equality.
There is a time and place for such activities, but something is amiss when, in the process, the Great Commission is neglected.
“For what does it profit a man to gain (be given) the whole world (every good thing that this world has to offer), and forfeit(s) his soul (Mark 8: 36 NASB)?”
. . .
Advancing disciples become front line soldiers in the realm of spiritual warfare (1), adhering to the 2Tim. 2: 4 requirement.
“No soldier in active service ENTANGLES himself in the affairs of EVERYDAY life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier (2Tim. 2: 4 NASB capitalization mine).”
The key word in 2Tim. 2: 4 is entangles. Entangles is an English transliteration of the Greek word e-m-p-l-e-k-o which, in context, means to be involved with something to the extent that he or she becomes ineffective in his or her capacity as a soldier of the cross.
Scripture contains many principles of how a man or woman of God is to interact with other people. Luke 14: 26 teaches us where to draw the line.
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not *hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple (Luke 14: 26 NASB).
*Hate is an English transliteration of the Greek word m-i-s-e-o that in Luke 14: 26 means to love less. Luke 14: 26 is not telling us to have negative feelings towards people or things, but that our love for God (2) is to be greater than our love for anyone or anything else.
The phrase, “even his own life” potentially speaks of a one- time act of martyrdom. 1Cor. 15: 31 speaks of dying daily, calling for the daily sacrificing of our own plans in order to fulfill the individual (3) plan that God has in mind for us.
For an advancing disciple, to live is for Christ and to die (once as a martyr or daily as a disciple) is gain (4).
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will (corporate and individual plan) of the Lord is (Eph. 5: 15-17 NASB parenthesis mine).”
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(1) Eph. 6: 12-17 (2) Rev. 2: 4 (3) 1Cor. 12: 7, 18 (4) Phil. 1: 21
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