“The Theology of Spiritual Warfare” Chapter 11 of an eBook by Dave Bessey

Chapter Eleven: The Tongue needs to be set free too!

We have come to our halfway point in our walk together. Breaking chains is more about (perseverance, endurance and consistency) in faith and ministry. We don't want to break chains and then have them turn around and reform up, much thicker than before, as a deeper bondage. Better said, we don't want the demon to come back and bring its friends and then have you, your City or Nation worse off then before. Freedom isn't truly free, it comes with a great price. The price spiritually speaking is the cost of Jesus' shed blood on the cross and then the cost you count each day picking up your cross in following Him to the cross. The blood shed is precious. A similar analogy can be made for the military of our nations and the cost they bear to keep us free. Jesus said that there is no greater love than a man lay down His life for a friend. Each day around the world our military is sacrificing their life so we can live in freedom. What are we doing to help preserve this freedom. The politically correct folks (PC) are telling us they have the answer for the world today. Their way will bring true happiness, Not! This dismal lie will destroy us. It is from the depths of hell, the father of lies is the originator. Socialism will take everything we have and give it away to some despots who want to rule the world. Only Jesus is capable of reigning justly and bringing true freedom. Eventually the humanist will be thrown under the bus by the devil too. The liar will always take, destroy and never give any peace. Truth sets us free. Wake up my friends the lies are everywhere. Even in the Church. The bible is clear that we are supposed to be engaged in spiritual warfare yet the Church is asleep. What about you?

Are you spending more and more time on the computer social networking or playing “Candy Crush” or “Mobile Legends”, rather than sharing your faith with your City, your friends and family or co-workers? Be honest, because today we can break this lie. The messages, the books we read, the video games we play, the movies we watch are causing us to drift away from God and changing us very slowly to be more like the world system. We may not become a real flesh eating zombie (Flowers and Zombies or World War Z) , but actually it is making us become more and more dependent on our computer and our smart phone, rather than Jesus. We become spiritual flesh eaters rather than eaters of the word of God. It is no accident that Jesus called Himself the bread of life.

Does Jesus talk to you directly or do you only get your truth (bread of life) already chewed? You will notice that most of the time I have full chapters from the bible. I don't spend hours interpreting it for you. That is between you and the Holy Spirit. I post the full context so you can study the Word and grow. Also it helps you check and make sure I'm teaching the truth and you are receiving the truth. If you were to just read my words, that is not the word of God. You would spiritually starve. I am not God nor am I worthy. I may share a rhema or revealed word of God, but still it is not a substitute for the written word of God, or Jesus. There is only one true God, Jesus Christ and He alone is worthy and in whom I point you to at every opportunity. Here is an example, Paul is mentoring a new ascension gifted apostle, Titus, on how to plant a Church and the character expected:

Titus Chapter 2 World English Bible

1 But say the things which fit sound doctrine, 2 that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in patience: 3 and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; 4 that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed. 6 Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded; 7 in all things showing yourself an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, 8 and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned; that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us. 9 Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting; 10 not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. 15 Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise you.

Verses 11-15 are critical, for without Jesus we could never walk our faith. V13 We are always looking for our blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Notice here it is the women who are drinking too much!

Folks the freedom we have in Christ must not be just for us. We are to preach the gospel through our words and behavior. The apostle James preached this for the rest of His life. Early on in his life his half brother Jesus was living under the same roof. He joined in with the rest of those who insulted Jesus about being God. His tongue needed to be liberated. The chains on his tongue needed to be broken. The tongue is a very lethal weapon in the wrong control:

James 1:26 Word English Bible

If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious, while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

In the last Chapter we discussed the role of the Apostle and Prophet in the Church. Today I will briefly say this about the teachers and pastors. We need them in the apostolically anointed Church, but as with all offices there should be the same balance. Teachers and Pastors generally are inside the sheep fold to protect, comfort and feed the sheep. They are not there to become task masters or tyrants. They are there to encourage growth and not judge, condemn or place in bondage to the teacher by a controlling spirit. James has some strong words for them:

James 3 World English Bible

1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. 5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. 10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his deeds done in gentleness of wisdom by his good life. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.WEB

The chains are crashing to the ground. Pastors and Teachers, we thank you for you patience in teaching us the logos or written word of God. We love your heart for ministry, but please remember there are others who God has called to go into the battle. They are gifted for the battle and need to be honored for their ministry too. These are the apostles, prophets and evangelists too. We should submit to each other. A sniper snipes, and a tanker drives tanks, a fighter pilot flies planes and a Navy Seal swims and shoots. Many times Pastors and Teachers are going into the battle and even abandoning their sheep as they pursue community involvement of fame. Delegate! These churches where the Pastor and Teachers are so busy they become more like social clubs and eventually will die or are divided. There are warriors especially anointed and trained for the battle outside the walls of the church (harvest) or inside if there is an infiltration of religious spirits. Pray the Lord of the Harvest would send them into the fray. Embrace their ministry and equip them with the word and let the Holy Spirit appoint them and raise them up. They are not your competition, they are you team mates in the battle. Victory will come if we train our people and then activate them for the battle. Tomorrow we will talk more about activation of these five-fold ministry gifts.