Devo Week 32 - Discerning the Unseen Realm
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matt.10:16
Servant Leadership - Top-Down or Bottom-Up
Are we out of our minds? Well, let’s hope so. The ways of the Kingdom are counterintuitive: you overcome hate by forgiving and loving, you are exalted by being humble, and you lead by serving. This makes no sense to the carnal mind, but we have the mind of Christ. So, if we think leadership is a ladder we climb, then we better start climbing down and start over. It’s the spiritual principle of dying to ourselves and laying down our rights and privileges. (Matt. 16:24-25) It’s about losing in order to win in this spiritual war.
WHO IS FOR US
God understands spiritual warfare at its deepest level. He is a warrior, and our spiritual armor is called, “The armor of God.” (Eph. 6:10-18) One of our keys to overcoming is following the ways of God. Israel knew the deeds or works of God, but Moses knew His ways. (Ps. 103:7) One of the ways of God is selflessness or dying to ourselves. This oftentimes includes dying to our strategies, plans, and leadership methods. Following the Holy Spirit can even mean losing relationships and opportunities, but we trust in God’s wisdom and ways.
“The cross never knows defeat, for it itself is Defeat, and you cannot defeat Defeat. You cannot break Brokenness. It starts with defeat and accepts that as a way of life. But in that very attitude it finds its victory.”
– E. Stanley Jones, Christ of the Indian Road
WHO IS AGAINST US
While sanctification helps guard us from backsliding (drifting away from God), obedience to God’s ways protects us from frontsliding (moving ahead of Him). This principle is explained more in Devo Week 31.
Satan tempts us into backsliding, frontsliding, or altogether derailment. He opposes our walk of faith because faith is what keeps us connected to God. (Heb. 11:6) We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7), so things aren’t as they seem. God’s ways are counterintuitive -- and that helps protect us from the evil one.
Whenever our obedience to God requires dying to our own desires or plans, we are activating our faith by trusting Him with our future. Forced leadership is of the flesh and not the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25). God leads by serving, not by force. Denying ourselves deflates the flesh and empowers the Spirit. This is fighting the good fight of faith. (1 Tim. 6:12)
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH
Lord, teach us Your ways! Show us where we need to deny ourselves in following You. Keep us in step with Your Spirit and guard us from both drifting away and moving ahead of You. Protect us from derailment. Our desire is to join You in Your mission and serve others in Your Spirit, we pray.