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Wow, wow, wow, wow. I think you believe what you're singing. I think you believe it. I love that song. I just want to scream. If you know that your sins are forgiven by the work of Christ, you're a worshiper. You can't keep from worshiping. I don't know how you worship, but when I'm singing a song like that, and I hear these words, love before I had a name, wash before I knew my shame. Oh, the lamb was slain before the earth was laid. What an awesome price. How can you not worship, right? And that line about one day.
If you really want to know about worship, think about him. Think about his work. When you sing songs, I can let this worship team sing for me, and it wouldn't be worship. I can let you sing for me, and it wouldn't be worship. I need to be in among you. I need to be a worshiper among you. Today, I believe you're doing. You're worshiping. When you come in here and gather here on Sunday morning, you come with expectation, I trust, desiring to meet with the corporate body. There's no insignificant gatherings of the saints. Every time we get together, there's purpose in healing. So, Father, I thank you for this holy moment of worship that we boldly declare these words of the song, blinded eyes will one day see. Lord, I love this part. Every loss made victory. Let us see the redemptive work in our lives, looking back and saying, Lord, you redeem every one of those areas, and we give you glory and praise.
Come on, one more time for just about 10 seconds. Give him praise. Out of your heart, let the rafters, let the city hear in his name. Wow. Wow. Find somebody you just worshiped with and hug them, high five, or handshake, whatever you want to do, and greet them and get acquainted with them if you've not met them yet, if you haven't introduced yourself. Well, I trust you had a great holiday weekend. I guess we're kind of still in the midst of that, aren't we? Between the storms and the fireworks, did anybody get any rest last night? You're not allowed to doze off. You worship like you're awake. That's great. I love that. I love that. Hello, Mom Bell over there. Don't you love family being together? It's just great, isn't it, being together? I met a couple this morning that knows Michael Luton, a guy I've been wanting to see. For 40 years, we went to Bible college together. Man of God, I still remember the message he preached here on missions because he did that. I've got to tell him that. Man, I love the body of Christ, don't you? I love the church, the body of Christ. When I say the word church, I don't know what you mean. I know what I mean. I mean his bride. I mean that organic living body. And to see these younger generation worshiping, I just, man, it makes me want to run and hug you. I love it. I love it. I love it.
We'll begin a new series today. It's two weeks, this week and next week. On spiritual authority. Authority is spiritual, not carnal. So we're going to be addressing that because we're preaching through the book of 2 Corinthians and obviously we're in chapter 10. So chapters 10, 11, and 12 have become very meaningful to me over the years. In fact, I was on my way to a conference in Texas in 1986 in the month of August. And I said to my wife, my wife, they're going to ask me to preach. Now, I wasn't invited. I wasn't the guest. But I said, they're going to invite me to preach. And sure enough, I'm sitting back there, about 1,200 people. I'm about way back in the back of the auditorium, about midway. And the speaker was pretty demonstrative. And he gets up and he says, the head of the church visited me last night. I would just say the Holy Spirit was speaking. But the head of the church visited me last night. And Glenn Schaefer, it's supposed to finish this conference. So I grabbed my Bible and I went up there and preached out of what I'm going to preach to you this morning. I preached for an hour on 2 Corinthians chapter 10. And then the second hour, he said, y'all can all go home. This is for me. So I preached another hour. I'm not going to do that to you this morning.
But those verses, this passage, that may seem immaterial to some people, I think are foundational really in our life and really how we function. Here in the church and the body of Christ. And so I want you to go there with me, if you will, because authority is probably one of the most misunderstood subjects in the body of Christ, I would think, because we've not understood it biblically. It has a connotation, almost like a four letter word. It's like, it's a terrible word, authority. And it's because it's been interpreted through the flesh, through man. And what the word means, because in the world it means force, intimidation, coercion, force if necessary, right? That's what we call power. We associate that with authority, but biblically that's not true. So it's caused us, I think, to miss something about God. You just got through singing about all authority. How is it that God has all authority and how do we associate with that? That's interesting, isn't it? It's interesting how we would have to address that. And I think that it, if I was the enemy, I would want us to misunderstand. One of the attributes of how you meet God is in his glory and his authority. When Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus, he saw his glory by the bright light, fell to the ground by the glory, and then he said, Lord, what would you have me do? He encountered God's authority. So it has to be understood because kingdom authority is spiritual. It's not carnal. Paul was dealing with this because he was under attack by false teachers, false apostles who were saying to him, Paul doesn't look like what he's supposed to look like, doesn't sound like what he's supposed to sound like in order to have importance or spiritual authority. They mistook his gentleness for weakness. They didn't understand what I'm going to try to teach this morning.
And so many Christians have not understood it. They mistook it. And so Paul is teaching us some powerful lessons out of this chapter. So this Sunday and next Sunday, I want you to be a part of that. I think one of the greatest temptations of the church is to think we fight spiritual battles with worldly means, with what we would interpret. So sometimes when we feel attacked, what do we want to do? We want to respond some way and we want to use personality. We want to use, we want to use politics. We want to use, I can out argue you and I can influence you and I can intimidate you and I can manipulate you. If you don't believe me, just get on social media and I'll show you I can outdo you. And if you've ever felt that, it's like, how does the church move in authority? Because I think Paul reminds us that kingdom of God never advances. Listen to me now. It may appear to some people it's advancing, but the kingdom never advances. It never advances through carnal means that some people would call authority. It never does. So through second Corinthians, Paul addresses many things. But one of the things he addresses, because he was said, he's not impressive when you see him. He's not a great speaker. He didn't take money from them like everyone else was doing. He was in jail and prison all the time. He's a nobody.
And yet God gave him an unusually amount. I don't think Paul understood the amount that God gave him. Intentionally. Grace and authority to have an apostolic call equal to the 12, though he was born out of new season. He said, the apostolic grace that was given to me is equal to what was given to Peter. I believe that's why Paul had the authority to write scripture because a grace comes with the commission and he was given a commission to be the apostle to the nations, to the Gentiles. And that required something from God that, others did not require. There were other apostles did not require that. Even post-ascension apostles that were not of the original 12, they didn't have that same commission. And Paul had that. And he carried with him such a grace and authority. The scripture says this, lest he gets exalted above measure. There was given to him what? A thorn in the flesh. You know what a thorn in the flesh was? It was a messenger from Satan. Now put that in your theology. Don't think, what's a messenger from Satan? It's a messenger from Satan. It's a messenger from Satan. It's a messenger from Satan. It's a demonic power. It is a angel from Satan. A measure assigned by God. Come on. I know it's going to mess you up, but I'm going to go ahead and say it. Paul said it. He prayed for it to leave him. Now, no one knows exactly what it does, but here's my opinion. A messenger from Satan to buffet him, lest he became exalted above measure. Such revelation of Christ was given to him, such anointing to deal with the church. He could have perverted it had he gotten big. In his mind. So to have authority, God had to deal with him in this way.
Are you with me? So assigned to him was a messenger from Satan, lest he become exalted above measure in that process. And here's what I think it was. I think it was these false apostles you're going to hear about in the next few weeks that went around and saying, Paul's a nobody. Paul's a nobody. And he gave himself to the church. And with no receptivity, they came in and took those people to their own account because they received offerings and they did different things. They had notoriety. They were great speakers. They were great charismatic leaders and they were attracted. And Paul's laboring with the church. I think that was a messenger from Satan to buffet him, to take from him what ought rightfully been him. But God said, no, does that make sense? Well, let's read a passage here. Beginning in verse one, we believe in reading the scripture. So let's read through this. Notice how he starts by the humility and gentleness of Christ. Mark that. Wow. Starts that with the concerning what true spiritual authority is. Humility and gentleness of Christ. I appeal to you. I, Paul, whom am timid when in face to you and bold towards you when I'm away. Now he's quoting them. Notice that's in quotes because that's how they saw him. I beg you that when I come, I may not have to be bold as I expected to be towards some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. He says, some of you are going to think I'm going to come and I'm going to dress you that are out of order. With the carnality of what you might call his authority. But he's saying, no, I'm going to come just as I am. See, spiritual authority addresses and deals with things. And sometimes you don't even know God's dealing with it. Dads, if you walk in spiritual authority, God will deal with things in the home and the family. And you don't even know he's dealing with it because it's not carnal. Leaders, employers, hear me on this. Spirit is from God and he addresses it. Paul says, when I come, this is what's going to happen. And notice what he's verse three, for though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. He calls that war. The weapons we find are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary, they have divine power. Remember that. To demolish strongholds and we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. And we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we'll be ready to punish every act of disobedience once your obedience is complete. That's a hard one. That's a hard one. That's a hard one. That's a hard one. That's a hard verse. We'll come back to that one. Okay. Now watching what he does in verse seven through verse 11, he just says, you're judging by appearance because that's what carnality would do. If anyone's confident they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. In other words, they associated these false apostles are really belonging to Christ because what they saw and Paul said, I do just as much. Verse eight, even so I boast somewhat freely about the authority of the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down. Spiritual authority is totally opposite of carnality. It builds you up. It never puts you down. That's one way you can see if you don't have discernment, you can at least see that, right?
And you as parents need to hear this. Husbands need to hear this. Leaders need to hear this. He goes on to say there, I will not be ashamed of it. I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.
For some say his letters are weighty and forceful, but in person, he's ungrateful. He's ungrateful. He's ungrateful. He's ungrateful. He's unimpressive. And his speaking amounts to nothing. I've taken comfort in that verse a few times. I heard a laugh out of Jim over here and somebody over here, you must've spoken before to know what I'm talking about. Such people should realize that what we are in the letters when we're absent, we will be in our actions when we are present, meaning they don't discern it. They don't see it, but they need to know this. So what are we hearing? Here's what we're hearing right out of the very first is that authority through meekness. Spiritual authority is not as imaginative. That's why I think we've missed something and we lose something when we don't understand this because he starts off by saying that here in this passage, he says, but by humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you. Rather than commanding them, he's appealing to them. It's interesting, isn't it? And he's coming in meekness. See, Paul, he begins his defense in a surprising way. He does not quote his pedigree. He does not quote his confidence in himself. He does not threaten. He doesn't boast. He appeals to them as Christ as the model of humility. Here's what he's saying. Meekness is not weakness. The word meek in the Greek could be best described this way. It's controlled strength. You might not even know someone has it unless you discern it. They're not loud. They're not demanding. They're not boasting. They're moving in it. God has given me to do this. He's given me to do this. He's given me to do this.
He's given me to do this. given you his grace. And I want you to understand what spiritual authority is, lest sometimes in the church, we don't understand it in our call to the city. If that be the case, then true authority never needs to prove itself. The false apostles were loud. Paul was gentle.
You ever notice how we want to be loud when we, I've told you once, I've told you that. You have no authority. You're just getting loud. Come on, mom and dad. Remember that.
Teachers, when I did that in the first service, a safety team came running in. No, they didn't, but they almost wanted to. They told me that. What are you saying in there? You're not moving in authority. Authority is not bolder, louder, stronger, intimidating. It's a trust in God that he's at work.
That's why God said, my grace is sufficient, not only in you, but to work through you when you don't even know what I'm doing. I don't think Paul even realized. See, when you move in spiritual authority, God changes things that you're not even aware of. Because it's not about you anyway. It's about him.
We're his instruments in the earth. The church doesn't even realize the authority of God in the church. Because we're often looking at the outward appearance. So true authority is different. In Matthew, the book of Gospel of Matthew, he quotes out of Isaiah when he says, he says this, he will not whirl or cry out. No one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a pouring wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name, the nations to put their hope. The whole work of God's work of gospel would not be through human assertion. This really became a reality to me in 88, 1988. We were being influenced. I was being influenced at that time by a great speaker, a great leader. And he had a revelation on the soul and the spirit. But he also dealt with issues in his heart where he would find himself intimidating people or coming harsh with people. And it brought some real distraught in the body of Christ among us. And this is where we really began to look at this. Where is this coming from? And I remember when I saw this verse, I went to visit him in Texas. Spent three days with him. And I included myself in it. I said, Jesus said he would not put out a smoldering flax. Well, buddy, we've put out some forest fires. Jesus said his voice would not be heard in the streets. He would not put out a smoldering flax in the streets. Ours has been heard everywhere. In other words, Jesus was not going to assert himself. Sometimes when you think you're right, you can come on so strong, can't you? Because I have to make my point rather than letting the Lord be who he is. And when you let the Lord be who he is, this takes faith in God that you're walking with him. Can you imagine how Paul would have struggled wondering how, God, you're going to do this when these people are being taken away from me? And I'm trying to convince them that I'm not going to do this. I'm not going to I'm their spiritual father. They don't see it. They're being pulled aside. And he had to trust that the weapons of his warfare. Now, this is why this is so important. Because if meekness is God's means, wasn't it Moses who was the most meek man of all the earth that confronted Pharaoh? Wasn't it Jesus who rode in on the donkey that was given all authority? Wasn't it the apostles that did not revote, but rather preached the gospel? Did you ever read Acts 4? God, give us boldness. They didn't ask to be free from any of that. Give us boldness. To do what? To speak truth. So when we look at this whole idea, it can be leadership anywhere.
It can be parents, husbands, employers, shepherds, pastors, leaders. It fits in every area.
It's not self-promotion, is it? Our authority is increasing only in Christ. You'd be resembling Christ. Not loud, not demanding, not selfish. What?
But humble, patient, firm, yes, control. Carnal authority demands submission. I want you to hear this.
Spiritual authority calls for it. You have to discern it.
And here's why this is so important. If you don't discern authority, you don't see God's authority. If it's imposed upon you, you're not seeing it. Stay with me, okay? If you don't see it, this works in families, works in marriages.
It was not imposed upon Jesus. He willingly took it upon himself. You get that? He willingly became in submission, the Lord himself, though in all eternity, the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit, one in essence, no subordination in any of their essence, only in activity. So when the Father sent the Son, the Son submitted to that. He had to have taken that on willingly himself. If it was imposed upon him, it was not. If it was imposed upon him, it was not. If it was imposed upon him, it would not have been true spiritual submission authority.
Same way in the home. If it's not the position of the wife, the institute submission, there'll be none. By the way, we got one more night of marriage class Wednesday night. Don't watch me. I'll get on you this morning.
No. If you're married, be here Wednesday night. We had a great time together last Wednesday night.
But did you hear what I just said? Submission is not understood. See, we think submission is making somebody submit.
If you do that, that's not submission. That's manipulation. That's control. That's what Paul is doing. That's what Paul is doing.
That's what Paul is doing. With the church. So I have to trust God to let God be God in people's life and move as God would call me to move and let him address.
You're going to see the real understanding of this here in just a minute because here's why. The authority, we also see some here. Authority is through divine power. It's not through human will. It's through divine power. Either God is at work in the earth or he's not. Either God is at work in the church or he's not.
God is at work in your home or he's not. Isn't it? Isn't it? Why? He says this, though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.
It's an interesting term he uses there. He was realistic. We're humans. We live in this life. We deal with things and we appear to be like everyone else. But our warfare is not through human means. It's not carnal. That word carnal. It's not thought through worldly means. The false apostles thought according to the flesh. They relied on the flesh. They relied on the flesh. They relied upon their personality. They relied upon their eloquence, their popularity, their image, their manipulation. That's why they're always contrasting themselves with Paul because he did not appear to have that.
Paul relied on something totally, entirely different. He said the weapons included. Guess what? Watch this. Watch what the weapons include.
Now, normally you read that verse of scripture. For the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God to the pulling down their strongholds. Amen. Let's go out there and let's pull them down. How many have heard it used like that? That's not the context at all. That may surprise you. It's not the context. The context. Listen to what he's saying. The weapons of his warfare. Here's how you look at the strongholds. The strongholds he's talking about. Verse five explains those in verse four when he says what the strongholds are. They're not cities. Even though I believe there's principalities assigned to cities. That's not where the struggle is because Jesus has already defeated the principalities. They operate. They operate in darkness. Satan has no authority except in his world of darkness. He's not in charge of the earth. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.
It's very important that you see that because in the doctrine of Adam's lease doctrine, there would be people who think that we as humans have that full responsibility. Christ maintained that. No thing was lost except the loss of their spiritual place. But they were stewards, not owners. So Christ did come back as the last Adam to restore back spiritual authority, but it's still under the count of God, meaning it's his authority, not ours.
So I need to keep that in mind. So what does Paul mean when he says the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God, the pulling down of strongholds? What does it mean?
Watch what he says. He says they're not demons. Demons are involved. Come on. But they're not demons. What are they? They are arguments. Anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. How do you deal with an argument against the knowledge of God? You deal with the way Paul is in chapter 11.
He said, I'm going to preach out from underneath them their knees. It is the gospel, the word of God, the gospel that he's talking about here. The strongholds are arguments in a culture and society that's opposite to the will of God. How do you win against that? You win against that, number one, knowing the scriptures. Knowing a biblical worldview. You'd be surprised how many believers do not think biblically. Corinth had gotten into the Corinthian church. They thought like Corinth. To be a Corinthian was to be in debauchery, to be Corinthianized, they called it. It slipped into the church. Paul dealt with that in chapter one, or first Corinthians. And now he's dealing with it somewhat in the area of authority in second Corinthians because it's crept into the church of Corinth. The way to reason has slipped into the church. The only way we can deal with that is to teach biblically and to teach clearly the gospel.
Here's what this means. That means the weapons of this house or the body of Christ is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We think little of the gospel. Can you imagine what was it that transformed you? What took you out of darkness?
When you were thinking opposite of God and your mind was in contrary and thoughts that exalted himself against the knowledge of God, what changed you? You're not going to be a Christian anymore. You're going to be a Christian It was the power of the gospel. The gospel is still the power of God. We've underestimated the power of the gospel.
We think, no, we're going to get into arguments. No, let me tell you something. The gospel is going to save your family. You can't disciple your kid until he has a conversion. You can train them, but you can't disciple them. Why? They have to have a conversion.
No kid of mine is not going to be a Christian. Well, good. Share the gospel.
That'll save you a lot of heartache. Trying to straighten out someone that's not converted. You can have authority with them, but to really see them as they get older, they have to be converted. Is the gospel shared in your home? Is it shared in your life? It is the power of God. You know what would happen in this nation if the church preached the clear gospel and lived it out? It would oppose every philosophy. Right now, there's philosophies. I mean, I don't need to teach you. I don't have to tell you how to vote. By the way, if you want to know, I'll be happy to tell you. But I need to teach you biblical thinking. I know you say, I think that way because I'm a Christian. No, you don't just because you're a Christian. Reason every area, and you're not going to find anybody in office but sinners. Some of them are saved by grace, but stay with me. So you're expecting other than what the gospel can do. What you can do is say what lines up with the word of God most closely. Does that make sense?
That's all you can do. And be the church to preach the gospel and declare the gospel and the biblical. And here's what Paul is saying. The battleground is the human mind. The gospel tears down lies.
You say, Glenn, what are you going to do in a culture? What are you going to do in a family when there's lies that come up against the word of God? I'm going to go straighten them out. No, I'm not going to go straighten them out. I'm going to pray for entrance of the gospel and preach the gospel and the truth because until the heart shifts and change and they see the word of God, they're not going to be able to shift. As a pastor, my burden for you has to go deeper than just getting you to change. All y'all straighten up. Well, that doesn't help you, does it?
But if I weep over you and prayer and teach the word of God and the word of God gets a hold of your heart, guess what's going to happen? You're going to change. Isn't that what happened to all of us? We're all the same, aren't we?
So the power of God is the gospel. I mean, how can a marriage make it if you're not praying and reading the Bible together some? Did I hear an amen somewhere?
Okay, I'm going to preach right here. That's something I'm going to preach right there.
I mean, seriously, it's that simple. See, discerning versus carnality. If you can discern, it's very easy by spiritual, but you just don't judge on the outside.
Paul says you're judging by appearance. We're not careful. The church can get caught up in that, can't they?
Discerning evaluates spirituality. The world says who has the biggest platform?
I got to get a bigger platform. Who has the strongest personality? I got to get a better personality.
I remember working my way through Bible college in sales, working 84 hours a week. We sold Bible.
We sold Bible books door to door, making 100 doors a day and 30 demonstrations a day. And that's how I earned my way through college.
And I read all the books on how to be successful, and they're great books. And so I came here pastoring that way. And I didn't know what was my strong personality and what was God.
I remember struggling with that. Do I get people to do something by my personality and my strength and my leadership or am I trusting God? That was a big struggle for me. And I did something.
I did something that my wife did not like. And I said to the leadership team, I'm not going to lead for six months. It was chaotic, man. It was terrible. It was the most worst six months. But I needed to know, has God really placed me here or was I just the last guy voted in?
That may not mean any much to you, but it meant a lot to me back in 1988 because we're learning this. Because it can't be intimidation. It can't be loud. It can't be personality. It can't be excellence.
I like excellence, but that can't be what causes spiritual authority. It's got to be by the grace of God.
Does anybody listen to me on this? And we have to be a people to discern that. And those six months was terrible.
Finally, some of our leaders came to us and said, Glenn, you've got to start leading because I'm not smart. And that's where we learned about placement. You've got to be in your place because you are connected with other people, aren't you? So it's not about who's the loudest or who's the best. It's about am I functioning in my place?
So to discern that, the world says who's got the strongest, but God says who is faithful. God says who speaks my truth.
God says who walks in humility. See, for us to see it, I cry out for it. For us to discern spiritual authority is such a refreshing thing because then you can honor Christ in people without fear.
I know churches today try to borrow from the world. And I love tools, but let them just be tools. Nothing else.
Because they're not divine power. Only God changes hearts.
And our confidence must never be in our methods. It's God remaining Christ.
Here's why. If even if I used carnality or persuasion or intimidation or manipulation, you really loved God, you'd be in our next prayer meeting. You'd be in the prayer meeting because you're really with this vision.
You'd be a part of it. You can feel it when I say it, can't you? What is that? That's not spiritual authority. Prayer then has to be and obedience has to be demonstrated to where people see and discern Christ in you.
When they discern Christ in you, that's him speaking through them. That's why.
We want to see each one of you raised up in the gifts and grace that God has in you, not by your gifts and talent in the sense of what you can do, but your gifts of spiritual gifts, the talents he gave you used in the kingdom of God. Then that is seen as real ministry. Every person, as we often say, that shares their faith, makes disciples, serves one another out of the gifts of grace and heals a broken heart, they're in full-time ministry because they're gracious.
That's why I don't really. I'm not against, but I guess I sound like I am, against some mission groups that send young people away for two years. Because I've seen a lot of those young people backslide because they came back and now they've got to get a job. I could really be a man of God if I didn't have to get a job. Now I'm getting married.
Well, that's messing up my ministry. Now I've got to have kids.
It's amazing how we've made this whole mindset of making a platform out of ministry. Rather than seeing God ordained. His authority in every believer.
If I could see that, then I could discern that, and I could respect that, and I could honor that. And here's why this is important. Because Paul goes on to say that authority produces a corporate obedience. I don't know if you saw that in the scriptures when I read it. But it really produces that.
He said, when your obedience. This is an interesting verse, by the way.
We are ready to punish every act of disobedience once your obedience is complete. That's a difficult verse, isn't it? What does he mean by punish?
Is he going to spank them? I mean, what's he going to do? You know? What does it mean by that? Listen to what he's saying.
He's saying something here. Paul is not threatening. He's not threatening unbelievers. He's saying to the church. Watch.
When your obedience is complete, it affects others and exposes disobedience. Your obedience matters. You may not have ever thought that is spiritual warfare. But he said, this is our weapons of our warfare are mighty through God. To pulling down every stronghold.
So anything exalts itself against the knowledge of God. When you shift to the word of God and you live it out.
Guess what that does? That breaks the power of darkness. There's nothing that breaks the power of darkness than a godly marriage and a godly home.
What is the opposite in our culture right now? Family. Do you know what you represent?
Don't underestimate what you represent. Because of marriage, Christ and the church.
You represent. When you walk.
Listen, husbands. When you are in obedience, it affects your family. Dads, it goes through your family.
It goes through your family. When you get some healing and some deliverance, your family doesn't even know why they got some freedom. Think we're living to ourselves? You're not even living to yourself in this congregation. Why?
Because you think you're planted here. You're not drifting around.
That means that we're baptized in what? One body. One Lord.
One faith. And your spiritual obedience affects me. And mine affects you.
Maybe you never thought about that. But when one is honored, we all rejoice.
Didn't say you ought to. It says you do.
Honored by whom? The Lord. When I learned that, it made me embrace the saints so much.
Because I saw their faithfulness. Oh, I know we're human.
But when you see the faithfulness of people, there's a strengthening that happens. You. You, younger generation, your faithfulness affects each other big time.
I've watched one faithful young person, I want to say infect, influence a whole group righteously. I watched it when I was a young person have effect on me.
I've watched it with marriages that are examples in the house bring something of a desire in the heart of others. Watched obedience have a great influence. And then we've all watched the other way too, haven't we?
You can look at your own life, and you can tell what obedience does. You know, when you first got saved, you didn't know every week if you're saved or not, did you?
You just didn't know. Why? Because you're feeling that spiritual struggle.
And when you would be in obedience, you'd think that's how I got saved. That's not how you got saved at all.
You got saved by faith in Christ. But you don't know. But you feel the strength of obedience.
I was so moved at the end of my message this morning. We were praying for people. And a couple came up and shared their testimony. How being around other disciples. They said, we decided we can't live together anymore, and we might not have been doing that.
And we're free from other areas because obedience just permeates your life. I mean, you know what I mean?
You know, you're doing well, so to speak, and then your flesh, you saw it coming three months ago. You just ignored it way back there. I can handle this.
That's the biggest mistake you can ever make in your life. I can handle this. I know by experience, I know what I'm talking about. I can handle this.
You can't handle it. . That's why you need the Holy Spirit, you need God. And then all of a sudden, you find yourself, you know you're born again, but you feel no spiritual life.
Come on, help me preach this this morning. But then you know when you're walking after him, you feel strength, don't you? What is it?
He's saying when your obedience, even in your own life, it affects you, doesn't it? It's spiritual warfare.
Every time, Dad, you make a righteous decision, you just beat the demons. Mom, every time. I'm telling people it's called spiritual warfare.
Obedience is a big part of that. You don't even realize it is.
Why? Because you're born again. Christ is in you.
Here's what it says to the church. Church, in Claremore, the body of Christ, you know what effect it would have if just one congregation walked in greater obedience.
You know what it would do? It would permeate people and you just, you'd want to be a part of it, wouldn't you? You'd be drawn to it.
Even in our gatherings, have you ever noticed at our ATI gatherings, it's just powerful. Have y'all noticed that?
It's not who's preaching, they don't even care who's preaching. Our conference every year, anybody know what I'm talking about? Our worship, they don't even care who's worship.
Why is it that there's such dynamic expression in a conference? Can I tell you? People want to be there. It's not a Sunday morning duty. They pay money to come, so to speak.
They get off vacation, they take off work, and they want to be there, and they're engaged from the first moment. Can I suggest to you, every week gathering of the saints can be the same way.
Because you come with intentionality. Otherwise, you're going, all right, Glenn, let me see your stuff today. We're in trouble.
That's what it's about. Or let me see the praise team, let me see what you got. We're in trouble, aren't we? If that's what it is. But when you come with intentionality, what is that?
That's your heart engaged. It affects others.
If that would happen here, wouldn't it happen in a whole city? The body of Christ, walking out in obedience.
What would happen in a nation if the church preached the gospel, clearly lived out the gospel?
It would come to the church. It would contradict every false idea and ideology that raises itself up against the knowledge of God.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but are mighty to God, through God, the pulling down of strongholds. Name everything that's wrong in our nation, and I'll show you the gospel will solve it. I'll show you Christians living out Christianity, standing for truth in spite of everything.
Yes, there's a place to speak up, you just don't have to argue. The gospel has the power of that.
Righteous living has the power of that. Here's my desire for us this morning. My desire is, I don't know what you think about authority.
It grieves me that that's been taken from us, when it's God himself that has all authority. It grieves me. It grieves me because I saw it differently.
You know, the Lord had to begin to shift and change me. When I saw it, I just couldn't believe it, how much effect it was.
But what if in this room here today, there's somebody God's speaking to about shifting your whole mindset. Say, God, what is it about authority?
I see it as dominance, I see it as controlling, I see it as intimidation, I see it as power, I see it as politics, I see it, all those things are carnal. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but in the meekness and the gentleness of Christ. So that's my second call.
Not just how have you seen authority, but have you participated in carnal authority? We all have, haven't we?
In making this happen, through intimidation, through control. Maybe you've never seen that for what it is. It's a lack of trusting God, it's a lack of trusting God, being patient.
Can you imagine how patient Paul was? Paul said, I came to you with the signs of the apostle, with great patience.
Patience to trust God is going to change people's lives and work on your behalf because you're walking it out, praying and interceding, but you're walking out. So first of all, I call this. What do you think about authority?
When I use the word authority, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? Has the enemy robbed that from us through experiences, through whatever it might be?
Can we rearrange that? Number two, have I participated in what I would think is authority when it's not authority at all? Every husband in this room has tried that, haven't they?
Every parent has tried it. Rather than teaching correctly and walking in it, I'm not saying you can't be firm, but you know the difference when you're trying to fearfully make something happen.
And thirdly, here's the third call I have on my heart for us today. Is there areas of obedience in my life that would help my brother in this house or my family, my marriage? Because we can't see it, it's often not believed.
I've got to tell you, I had to see it. That my obedience affects my sons, their home, even go down generationally.
You may know what I just said because there's an umbrella. There's a responsibility.
And watch it in homes. Watch it in homes. When that is not taken seriously, it affects the whole household.
Did you know the statistics are if the man comes to Christ, 95% of the time, the whole family comes to Christ. That's not coincidence. That's the order of God.
I've forgotten the statistics on if the wife comes to Christ, but it's a very low number if the husband doesn't and just the wife. There's a measure of authority. How you live, parents live affect your children.
So I'm going to invite you to stand with me right here. I'm going to pray a prayer.
At the end of our day, we'll have our prayer teams. For those of you that want to come up for further prayer, it was precious this morning in the 9 a.m. to see hearts so open.
So I want you right there, if you don't mind, just close your eyes before the Lord and forget about everybody else for just a moment, if you will. And ask yourself the question before I pray. How do I view authority?
Do I see it spiritual or do I see it carnal? What's been my view? And would you just ask the Lord to shift that in you?
Would you just ask him to shift that in you? Say, God, open my eyes.
I've seen it because I've seen the abuse of it. I've seen the misuse of it.
See, what you've seen is not authority. You've seen coercion.
You've seen manipulation. You've seen intimidation.
None of that is authority.
That's man. And Jesus said it this way.
To you who are in the kingdom. He said to his disciples.
Among the Gentiles, they want to exercise authority. Exuadzo is the word.
They want to bring under their power another. And he says, in the kingdom, that can't be so.
In the kingdom, that's not at all. In the kingdom, it's the opposite, he says.
So if you've misseen authority, would you use this week and next week as a time for you to shift your thinking and pray right now?
I'm going to pray in just a moment. And if you see where you have participated.
Moms. Dads.
Husbands. Employers.
Leaders.
If you've used that means of manipulation, thinking it's your authority. Loudly lifting your voice to the humbly speaking truth.
Lord, I pray. And then lastly, I want to ask yourself again, one more time before I pray.
I remind you, where is an obedience in your life that's affecting other people?
Father, I pray over this house. I pray for the grace.
I pray, Lord, not one person that's walked in this building or walked out this house. I pray in the same way.
That the presence of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit from one side of the building to the other, from the front to the back, in every aspect.
I pray, Father. For those who have not seen authority as spiritual from God from heaven.
As Paul met Christ on the road, he saw the glory of God and he found the authority of God. For he said, Lord, what do you have me to do?
Lord, may we see that's heaven itself. Reveal it from heaven, Father, I pray.
I ask you, Lord.
To cause there to be meetings and homes and families this week with husbands and wives and parents and children and children with parents. To say, I'm seeing it differently.
And Father, I ask you right now, most of all, for a conviction upon my heart and every heart in this room of how we live does matter.
How we live does matter. I pray for the power of your Spirit.
Work right now, I pray, Lord. Let faithfulness in these precious saints be stirred up.
Faithfulness to serve you in every way be stirred up. We ask you, Father.
We ask you, Father. In your name.
By your Spirit right now, Lord. By your Spirit.
The fear would dissipate by truth. Fear would dissipate by truth.
It's almost as if I could hear someone saying, but you don't understand my situation. I want to tell you God does.
I want to tell you the Word of God is truth.
It may be a burden for a long period of time. God said to Paul, my grace is sufficient.
Mom and Dad, God's grace is sufficient. Dad, God's grace is sufficient.
Leaders, God's grace is sufficient.
Lord, do a work in us like never before.
My burden is for couples. Right now, my burden is for couples.
Lord, I pray in Amy and I's home, in our home, that this would be lived out in such a way that affect others. Let it be so in this room right now, I pray.
I feel like there's some conversations that you're going to have when you get home, husband and wife. Husbands, if you, the Holy Spirit's showing you something, would you initiate it?
Obedience is big right now in your home. Obedience to God. Obedience to the grace of God.
Father, I bless this moment, these precious saints, that your Word that was not returned void would accomplish everything that you desire for it to do. We ask you in Jesus' holy name.
Amen. Amen. You may be seated for just a moment.
As we transition, we will have an opportunity for prayer here in just a minute. Thank you, Glenn, for sharing the Word of God today with us.
I trust the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart today. I know He is.
He's pointing right here to me, too. But I just don't neglect what the Word of God and what the Holy Spirit is speaking.
Don't walk out of here and just, okay, push it aside. No, listen to the Holy Spirit today within your heart and let it challenge you to be obedient to the Lord.
Amen. We're going to continue in our worship this morning in our giving. What an opportunity to worship the Lord as we give unto Him. So grateful for those in the house that are faithful. They're faithful in their giving and tithes and offerings. And it's such a blessing to the work here in Claremore and Owasso. And so this is our opportunity.
So if you're giving by text, the information there is on the screen. And you can just take the text number and put the amount in, whether it's tithe or whether it's to missions. You can just put those amount in there or offerings. You can just put that in there. And that will be designated.
And that's one way to give. Also another way to give is to offer an envelope. This should be in front of you if you give cash or check. You can just fill that out and drop it in the bucket in the back of the auditorium.
And so we're just honoring the Lord together in our worship. Also, if you're new, first time here today, there's a guest card that's right there in front of you in the seat back.
If you don't mind filling that out for us, we'd love to have your information and be able to connect with you as considered the body of Christ. And so take a moment to fill that out for us and just drop it in the bucket container as you leave this morning.
Also, there's a black book. I forgot, failed to mention it at first.
If it hasn't been passed down your aisle, please do so and fill that out so those can be picked up. And information on there for it helps us in the office as well.
Well, let's pray over the offering. And then we'll check out some announcements that are happening around here.
Father, I just thank you, Father, for your provision.
You are Jehovah Jireh as we sung about. We thank you, Lord, that you're our provider.
And, Lord, we in turn want to honor you, Lord, with our giving because we recognize you as King and as Lord. And so, Lord, bless this offering today as people are faithful to give.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Amen. Check out these announcements that are happening around DLC.
What's up, DLC fam? My name is Teddy, and we are so glad that you're here with us today. Let's check out just a couple of things that we have coming up for you and your family.
Last Wednesday, we kicked off our marriage seminars for our Summers for Families. And this Wednesday is our second night of marriage.
Whether you've been married for six months or 60 years, this is a great opportunity for you to invest in your relationship, grow together, and to be encouraged. We hope to see you there.
If you're new to Destiny Life or just looking to get more connected, the Meet the Family dinner is tonight, 6 p.m. on the Owasso campus.
This is a great chance to meet some of our pastors, hear more about our heart, and take your next step in getting connected. If you'd like to join us, be sure to scan the QR code on your seat flyer to tell us that you're coming.
Students, the Summer Summit is almost here. Camp is happening July 25th through the 29th, and it's going to be an incredible week full of fun, friendship, and encounters with God.
If you haven't signed up yet, or you'd like more information, head over to dlcy.tv to get that. You don't want to miss it.
Our Freedom Celebration this last Thursday was absolutely fantastic.
It was such a fun evening as we gathered together with our church family and community to celebrate Independence Day. We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who served and volunteered to make the night possible. Whether you're setting up, helping with activities, parking, cleanup, or serving behind the scenes, thank you for giving your time.
Thank you for making the event possible. You are so greatly appreciated.
Well, that's all the announcements for this week. If you have a prayer need, please let us know.
We would love to walk alongside you in prayer. But with that being said, have a good week, DLC.
Just repeating what some of the things that Teddy shared with us.
This Wednesday night will be the second session of the Marriage Conference, and so we want you to, if you avail yourself of that, it'll be held right here. And then if you're fairly new to DLC and you've not been to one of our Meet the Family dinners, it's in Owasso this evening over there, and we would love to have you included, a free meal. Come on and eat and get acquainted with some of the elders and the deacons there.
We'd just love to get acquainted with you. Amen.
Stand together with me one more time.
And I want to invite the prayer teams to come to the front. And as we close out this service this morning, if just there's a prayer need within your family, in your life, we want to pray with you and agree with you as we go this morning.
So Father, just thank you, Lord, for your presence. Thank you, Lord, for speaking to us.
And Lord, we don't neglect your Holy Spirit that is within us, challenging us to walk in obedience to what you've called us to, Lord. And we thank you, Holy Spirit, for leading us and directing our lives.
In every family, in this city, we just thank you, Lord, that what you're doing in their body, in the name of Jesus we pray. And thank you.
Amen. Amen. God bless you as you leave.
