A House United Series
Recovery After the Wreck
May 22, 2011
Introduction
A The issue is not the issue in conflict at a church.
1 The issue isn’t carpet color, worship styles, how long the preacher’s sermons are, who does (or does not) take communion, etc.
a The issue is really if we’re going to let the devil come between us, or if we’re going to allow Jesus to come between us.
b If the issue is not the issue, then the apparent enemy is not the real enemy.
aa We’d like to say we have an issue with that person or this person, but that’s not the problem.
bb For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:12 (NASB)
c These spirits want to bring division/strife into our families & churches.
2 I’m going to identify 3 spirits that seek to gain access to our homes/house of worship. Their goals are all the same.
a The goal is to get a person (or a group of people) to try (in an ungodly way) to assume another person’s position of authority, thus creating division.
b Ancient character flaw. And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day...Jude 1:6 (NASB) In a home, this is what happens when children try to call the shots, make the rules, say how it’s going to be, what they will or won’t do.
aa That’s not God’s established order in the home!
bb Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6 (NASB)
Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.14 You shall strike him with the rod and rescue his soul from Sheol. Prov 23:13-14 (NASB)
Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; he will also delight your soul. Prov 29:17 (NASB)
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Eph 6:4 (NASB)
Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.10 "Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ’Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’ Deut 4:9-10 (NASB)
’Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you. Deut 5:16 (NASB)
c In a church, there can be those who try to tell the pastor/leadership what to do, how things are going to happen, do or nor do, call the shots.
aa Not God’s established order for the church.
bb And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ...Eph 4:11-12 (NASB)
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers , to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28 (NASB)
But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction...1 Thess 5:12 (NASB)
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness...1 Peter 5:1-2 (NASB)
• Rather preach the truth & be in trouble here than preach a lie & be in trouble there.
B Whenever our model doesn’t stack up to Scripture, Scripture always wins because it’s the higher law.
1 The spirits that attack homes/house of God will always try to being division, rebellion, & the conflict that splits relationships.
2 God doesn’t bring conflict, division, confusion.
a I’m going to teach about how 3 ancient spirits do these acts to the church, & how we can claim victory over them.
b Pray
I The Spirit of Korah Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took action,2 and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown.3 They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?" Num 16:1-3 (NASB)
Then Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi,9 is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;10 and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also? Num 16:8-10 (NASB)
...and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. Num 16:32 (NASB)
A Korah approached Moses out of ambition, pride, confrontationally & out of rebellion.
1 They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?" Num 16:3 (NASB) “You’ve done all you can here, let us take over.”
a Not everybody was holy, working with God (Korah was disguising his ambition under a cloak of concern for the congregation).
b Korah was accusing Moses & Aaron of being domineering leaders who were rebelling against God (you’re done, why are you still here?).
aa Lesson in discernment: as you listen to the ones who accuse your pastor or leadership-before you examine your pastor-examine his accuser.
bb You’ll find the accuser has the very flaws he/she says are in the pastor.
2 Korah was trying to remove Moses from the position God had given unto him.
a Trying to remove the man God has appointed is going against the Lord Himself.
b To confront a church leader in confrontation & rebellion is opening yourself up to the Lord’s wrath.
aa Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?" Ex 18:14 (NASB) Jethro confronted Moses out of love, meekness, & prosperity came to the nation.
bb Korah brought division (250 leaders) & death.
B To be free from the spirit of Korah...
1 Be content wholeheartedly, serve where God has placed you currently to serve.
a A time may come when He takes you to another church/house of God...until He does...be content.
b There may be a time when a new order comes to the church you’re at...until then, be content.
2 Until He does, He will not require us to challenge the authority of those over us, or divide the church in order to fulfill our religious obligations.
II The Spirit of Absalom
A Absalom isn’t an immediately recognizable name, but his story is one of the most heartbreaking in all of the Old Testament.
1 He was a favorite son of David, loved by the people of Israel, but suffered from deep anguish over the rape of his half-sister by his brother Amnon.
a Absalom had his brother killed.
aa Fearing for his life after Daddy found out he killed Amnon, he went into hiding for 3 years (estranged from Daddy).
bb King David, under great pressure from his leaders, went after Absalom, only to give him a cold shoulder when he arrived.
cc He felt hurt by Dad waiting 3 years, & it was made worse by the treatment he got when he went home...gonna take the throne (sneaky, subtle, not openly confrontational).
b Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city are you?" And he would say, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."3 Then Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king."4 Moreover, Absalom would say, "Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice."5 And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.6 In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel. 2 Sam 15:2-6 (NASB)
aa He wasn’t initially confrontational, seek to take the king’s authority: used subtlety, charm to steal away the hearts of David’s men (manipulation).
bb Jude warns us again. These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. Jude 1:16 (NASB)
These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly -minded, devoid of the Spirit. Jude 1:19 (NASB)
2 Absalom’s strategy was easy: 1) Grumble about how things are not getting done, blame the leader & paint a picture of how things would be done with a different leader, 2) Capture people’s hearts or sympathy, flatter them & bring them into your camp.
a I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Acts 20:29-30 (NASB)
b Be careful if someone comes to you complaining about the way things are done, speaking evil of church leaders, promoting himself/herself as the answer-you’re probably listening to a wolf in the flock of God.
B If there is a serious sin that it looks like the leader is involved in...If your brother sins , go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed .17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Matt 18:15-17 (NASB)
1 Before you go to anyone in the congregation, go to him, get the facts.
a Not confrontational, but as a father. Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers...1 Tim 5:1 (NASB)
aa Hear his side-if he’s guilty & doesn’t repent, then take 2 or 3, then go to public exposure.
bb “Serious sin”, not “I sense in my spirit there’s something under the surface”, or if he preaches against sin or immorality.
b Just because the leader doesn’t lead into what you want, or leads away from what you want, doesn’t mean he’s wrong.
aa If you feel you must see certain spiritual manifestations in church, go somewhere where the things you seek are occurring.
bb You don’t divide your church or speak things to draw disciples to yourself (footsteps of Absalom, not Jesus).
2 Freedom from the spirit of Absalom.
a Repent of pride and refrain trying to “win” people to your side.
aa Instead of manipulating the unmet needs in the church to your advantage-offer your talents, resources, to the leadership to help. Ask how you can help.
bb Don’t exploit needs, meet them.
b Joke or illustration
III The Jezebel spirit
A In the Old Testament, Jezebel is a woman who fought the authority of every man she came in contact with (spiritual leader [prophets] or secular leader [king]). In the New Testament, Jesus names this spirit as manifested in a prophetess at Thyatira.
1 In both testaments, this spirit of Jezebel desires to neutralize authority & take control over other people in the church and/or her family.
a When the Jezebel spirit attacks church leadership, its ultimate goal is to disable the spiritual authority of pastoral leadership.
b When the enemy strikes the shepherd, neutralize him, he can scatter the sheep.
2 By the way: Korah & Absalom spirits use issues that most of the time affect men, the Jezebel spirit targets women.
a ’But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. Rev 2:20 (NASB) Jesus describes her as a “woman who calls herself a ‘prophetess’”.
b She is self-appointed & submits to no one, and uses her gifts to divide the church.
B Ladies who have the propensity to gain control in relationships, follow in Jezebel’s stiletto footsteps, here is how freedom is achieved:
1 True humility as you wait for the Lord to promote you.
a Stay submissive
b Pray for those over you
2 The Spirit of Jezebel is usually hiding something...a fear.
a She’s probably been abused/taken advantage of, & is afraid of being hurt again, so she wants to control her world by any means available.
b The remedy is to learn to truly trust God.
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