Weapons of Warfare
Dear sisters, so great is the carefulness, watchfulness, steadfastness, and faithfulness which we must practice DAILY in order to overcome in this battle of remaining faithful to the LORD by remaining faithful to our husbands. For saving faith directs the soul to walk in righteousness within the specific lot, cross, and walk that the LORD has granted. As you read the manifestations of saving faith in the hallmark of faith in Hebrews 11, you behold the manifold and glorious journeys of these individuals that were a result of an enduring persevering heavenly faith, a gift of God, not of works lest any should boast (Eph 2:8-9). Surely it the majestic faith of Christ! Such faith of Christ causes us to be found in Him having the righteousness which is of God, justifies the soul, and causes the soul to live as Christ lives in the soul for the life lived in the flesh is lived by the faith of the Son of God who loved His people and gave Himself for them (Phil 3:9, Gal 2:16, 20)! Oh sisters, may you have the faith of Christ in the lot that He has given you! May you be faithful to your LORD in being faithful to your lord!
Certainly the leaven of the world has diluted and erased the significance of the lot of woman, in which she must maintain saving faith to righteously perform. Surely her subjection to her God-given head is her salvation! For this is the obedience of her faith (Rom 1:5, Rom 16:26)! Her role regarding being a help meet unto her husband is no small portion of her calling of saving faith; her subjection within her calling is her main purpose! This subjection bears great weight and is a major indicator of her standing before the LORD! For the man was not created for the woman but the woman for the man (1 Cor 11:9). Consider that the significant passages in Scriptures in woman addressing woman deal with her role in subjection unto her God-given head (see 1 Cor 11—coverings, Prov 31:10-11,23—the virtuous woman, 1 Pet 3—daughters of Sara, woman learning in silence—1 Tim 2).
The Adorning of the Daughters of Sara—a Picture of a Wife’s Saving Faith
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (1 Pet 3:3-6)
The Adorning—the manner in the old time of holy woman who TRUSTED in God
· Not of plaiting the hair, wearing of gold, putting on of apparel
· The hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible
· The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price (remember the Biblical calls to WORTHiness; see ch 22 of the Condescension of God)
· Subjection to their own husbands
· Obedience to husbands; calling him lord
· Doing well
· Not afraid with any amazement
Dear sisters, this adorning ought to give our souls a vision by the Spirit of how our saving faith is manifested. When the Scripture speaks of the faith of Sara, it does not mention her great utterances, her prophetic gifting, her volunteering among the church community (though these are also significant in a measure), rather, it mentions her MEEK and QUIET spirit, which is in the sight of God of GREAT PRICE! It mentions her subjection to her husband. It mentions her fearlessness evidencing her FEAR OF GOD. The passage de-prioritizes, even shuns, the carnal adornment which pleases carnal men. For favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised (Prov 31:30)! Oh dear sisters, when the LORD judges your works, the evidence of your possession or lack of saving faith, He is looking to your adornment, and above it is declared unto you what the LORD is looking at. This is how we will be judged on the final Day! Oh this is how we will most certainly be judged! Foremost we will be judged by whether we contain a meek and quiet spirit and in we are subject to our God-given head above our revelations, our knowledge, our utterances, our signs and wonders, our doctrinal exploits… Oh that we may find out what pleases God, that we may prove what is ACCEPTABLE unto the LORD (Eph 5:10)!
Meditate and exceedingly ponder upon this evidence, the greatest evidence, of a woman’s saving faith, her greatest outcome of granted free grace. Even as you work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12), and as you examine yourself to see whether ye be in the faith and prove your own selves (2 Cor 13:5) meditate on Sara’s adornment. Our major inquisition: are we Sara’s daughters?
The purpose in giving you a brief description of the manifestation of true faith in a woman in this section “Weapons of Warfare” is to ascertain to you that your ability to be faithful in your calling as a wife is dependent upon whether you have saving faith, for we have just proven with Scripture that the inevitable result of saving faith in a woman is that she will fulfill the fruit of this faithfulness: meekness, subjection, fear of God. And likewise the inevitable result of a breach in saving faith is a breach in the woman’s meekness and subjection to her husband. When a woman is drifting from Christ, from her first love, from required Spiritual zeal and fervency…such a state will most assuredly be expressed within her soul towards her husband and in the course of time manifested in an unbridled tongue and unseemly behavior.
Thus, as we speak of weapons of our warfare to attain and maintain faithfulness in our subjection to our husbands, the drawing near of our souls unto theirs continually, our unchanging charity…we are speaking of maintaining saving faith. And thus, if you have walked before the LORD in Christ for any significant amount of time, you have known in some measure the weapons of warfare to maintain saving faith. You have seen that saving faith is something to be laboured to maintain constantly. For the weapons of the enemy are utilized frequently, unexpectedly, in a crafted prowling, devouring, crouching manner. And any breach in saving faith results in the succumbing to the flesh, and the falling to the temptations of Satan, the wiles of the devil. Dear sisters, so it follows that when you have breaches in your saving faith, you will have certain failures in your meekness and subjections towards your husbands. And when you find that you are frequently failing, you know that you must learn to fight daily to maintain saving faith.
Oh saving faith do to me impart
That I may my course of faithfulness hasten to start
Teach me to keep this faith without fail each day
That my will to obey and please my lord the devil may not sway
In learning this faithfulness in meekness and subjection, the world has a multitude of resources to impart carnal wisdom to the simple. But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Cor 10:4). Do you wonder in astonishment at your frequent fallings? Could it be sister that you are a backslider before that LORD, that you fail to be faithful to trust in your LORD Jesus Christ? Would you expect to be victorious over pride, fear, idolatry, lust, covetousness, and the like if you failed to pray faithfully? May it never be! How then would you expect to be perfectly subject unto your husband without a daily watchfulness, a constant prayer life? It is impossible! You cannot be meek or subject when you refuse to seek the LORD wholeheartedly, when your heart has craved other things, when you have been slothful in your soul, when you have been complacent and lukewarm! If you desire any hope of being healed of your backsliding, you must learn to walk in fear and trembling before the LORD constantly, to be broken and contrite before the LORD constantly, and to fear Him! You must fear Him! Oh sisters, it is all for the sake of His glory and great name! He must be feared that you may obey that His name may be praised!
I want a principle within of watchful, Godly fear,
A sensibility of sin, a pain to feel it near.
I want the first approach to feel of pride or wrong desire,
To catch the wandering of my will, and quench the kindling fire.
From Thee that I no more may stray, no more Thy goodness grieve,
Grant me the filial awe, I pray, the tender conscience give.
Quick as the apple of an eye, O God, my conscience make;
Awake my soul when sin is nigh, and keep it still awake.
Almighty God of truth and love, to me Thy power impart;
The mountain from my soul remove, the hardness from my heart.
O may the least omission pain my reawakened soul,
And drive me to that blood again, which makes the wounded whole.
Hymn: I Want a Principle Within
Most assuredly and swiftly will you falter from your steadfastness if your mind is engrossed in carnal matters, when you have neglected your soul, when you have attempted to perform many labors without humbling yourself to receive His empowering grace for them! The slothfulness of soul that results in frequent faltering before your husband may be far more subtle and beguiling than you know. In your lightness of heart you may not even feel that you had sowed to the flesh and thus when you reap corruption you feel that you were unexpectedly ensnared and cast down. Consider a believing woman who wakes up and immediately starts tending to her young children, performs many labors in the home, reads a few passages of Scripture while the children nap, even shares the WORD of God, prophetic utterances, to some sisters who visit; she hugs her husband and expresses her love verbally. All seems well to her. Following this course of events her husband reproves her for some negligence or deceitfulness he sees in her. The pride of her flesh surmounts and she speaks rashly to her husband. Before she knows it she is in a state of full course rebellion and insubjection to her husband. She is cast into darkness before the LORD. She will not be recovered until she finds repentance. How had she erred?
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (Jam 1:14-15)
She had not taken heed to her own spirit so as not to deal treacherously against her husband and the LORD but had taken heed to seducing spirits (Mal 2:15, 1 Tim 4:1). Though in the deception of her heart all had seemed well to her, the true reality was that she was not having life-giving vital reality with her LORD Jesus Christ! She was not possessed by the Spirit and faith of Christ! She was not wholeheartedly loving and seeking God! She was not seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. She was not waiting for God in the way of His judgments, the desire of her soul was not fully to His name and to the remembrance of Him (Is 26:8).
It may even be the case that she had been abiding with Christ in a measure prior to her fall. It is possible that she even had glorious revelations that day. But remember that sin is a weight that must be laid aside, and does so EASILY BESET us (Heb 12:1). Remember Peter who in one moment filled with the Holy Spirit declared “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” to which Christ responded “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” And yet as Christ began to show His disciples how He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day, Peter began to rebuke Him and deny the what Christ proclaimed. Christ turned and said unto Peter “Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for Thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (see Matt 16:15-26) Therefore dear sisters we must look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. We must consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds. (Heb 12:2-3)
How then beloved sisters must you walk? Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the LORD are right, and the just walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein (Hos 14:9) How then shall we fight a good fight, finish our course, and keep our saving faith (2 Tim 4:7)? There are 4 aspects I will emphasize here which I believe the Spirit does convey specifically to us: Taking Heed Daily, Patiently, With Continuance, and Holding Fast.
1. Taking Heed Daily
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Heb 3:12-15)
And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.(Luke 9:23)
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:34-36)
2. Patiently
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Gal 6:7-9)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (Jam 1:2-4)
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. (Jam 1:12)
In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19)
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Rom 2:7)
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. (2 Thess 3:13)
3. With Continuance
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; (John 8:31)
As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. (John 15:9)
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Rom 11:22)
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled 22 In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church: (Col 1:21-24)
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Col 4:2)
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (Jam 1:25)
4. Holding Fast
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thess 5:21)
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (2 Thess 2:15)
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 1:13)
Holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Tit 1:9)
Seeing then that we have a great high Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Heb 4:14)
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) (Heb 10:23)
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Rev 2:13)
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. (Rev 2:25)
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (Rev 3:3)
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Rev 3:11)
Finally beloved sisters, I must make mention that you must be willing and prepared to cast yourself upon the mercy of God when you do fall, that you would quickly repent and return unto Him whom you have so greatly revolted against (Is 31:6). Surely He will lift you head when you humble yourself in acknowledgement of the loftiness of your heart in your rebellion. For a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief (Prov 24:16) How great are the multitude of His tender mercies! Surely the LORD’s eye and pleasure are upon those who fear Him and hope in His mercy (Ps 33:18, Ps 147:11). At the very same time that you must fear Him and His ability to cast you away and thus cast you into hell with repeated rebellion, you must hope in His mercy when you have fallen. For by the blood of the Covenant He has sent forth His prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water, and the LORD commands you to turn to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day does He declare that He will render double unto you (Zech 9:11-12)! He will restore to you the years that the locust have eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which He sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath death wondrously with you; and His people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that He alone is the LORD your God, and His people shall never be ashamed! (Joel 2:25-27) Such unfathomable mercy has conditions of wholehearted humble repentance and acknowledgement of iniquity. Consider what the prophet Samuel said to the Israelites after they had sinned in asking for a king.
“Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart;21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you His people.23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king. (1 Sam 12:20-25)
The swifter you humble yourself after each fall before your husband and the LORD, the faster will you hasten unto the glorious refining fire of the bridegroom, and remember the outcome of this: a glorious, spotless, blemish-less, holy bride! Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Heb 12:11-13)
Into the vile wickedness of lying pride did I fall
Fast as can be to His Holy Temple I gaze, in my misery, upon His Name do I call
The Spirit did strive, my will was overwhelmed
Praise to the Captain of the ship of this soul, He has retaken His seat at the helm
Where else can I return? Who else can revive me to infinite grace
Though it be the seventh time by the glorious light will I be revived shining from His face
Far be it that I err again in this way
For increasing severe chastening from the loving Father, yea, from the righteous Judge will surely come my way
Have mercy on me, O God, and purge me from deep within
That I may on the final Day not be damned but see Your face and forever be free from all wretched sin
Go to Chapter 6 The Beguilement of Eve
Dear sisters, so great is the carefulness, watchfulness, steadfastness, and faithfulness which we must practice DAILY in order to overcome in this battle of remaining faithful to the LORD by remaining faithful to our husbands. For saving faith directs the soul to walk in righteousness within the specific lot, cross, and walk that the LORD has granted. As you read the manifestations of saving faith in the hallmark of faith in Hebrews 11, you behold the manifold and glorious journeys of these individuals that were a result of an enduring persevering heavenly faith, a gift of God, not of works lest any should boast (Eph 2:8-9). Surely it the majestic faith of Christ! Such faith of Christ causes us to be found in Him having the righteousness which is of God, justifies the soul, and causes the soul to live as Christ lives in the soul for the life lived in the flesh is lived by the faith of the Son of God who loved His people and gave Himself for them (Phil 3:9, Gal 2:16, 20)! Oh sisters, may you have the faith of Christ in the lot that He has given you! May you be faithful to your LORD in being faithful to your lord!
Certainly the leaven of the world has diluted and erased the significance of the lot of woman, in which she must maintain saving faith to righteously perform. Surely her subjection to her God-given head is her salvation! For this is the obedience of her faith (Rom 1:5, Rom 16:26)! Her role regarding being a help meet unto her husband is no small portion of her calling of saving faith; her subjection within her calling is her main purpose! This subjection bears great weight and is a major indicator of her standing before the LORD! For the man was not created for the woman but the woman for the man (1 Cor 11:9). Consider that the significant passages in Scriptures in woman addressing woman deal with her role in subjection unto her God-given head (see 1 Cor 11—coverings, Prov 31:10-11,23—the virtuous woman, 1 Pet 3—daughters of Sara, woman learning in silence—1 Tim 2).
The Adorning of the Daughters of Sara—a Picture of a Wife’s Saving Faith
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (1 Pet 3:3-6)
The Adorning—the manner in the old time of holy woman who TRUSTED in God
· Not of plaiting the hair, wearing of gold, putting on of apparel
· The hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible
· The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price (remember the Biblical calls to WORTHiness; see ch 22 of the Condescension of God)
· Subjection to their own husbands
· Obedience to husbands; calling him lord
· Doing well
· Not afraid with any amazement
Dear sisters, this adorning ought to give our souls a vision by the Spirit of how our saving faith is manifested. When the Scripture speaks of the faith of Sara, it does not mention her great utterances, her prophetic gifting, her volunteering among the church community (though these are also significant in a measure), rather, it mentions her MEEK and QUIET spirit, which is in the sight of God of GREAT PRICE! It mentions her subjection to her husband. It mentions her fearlessness evidencing her FEAR OF GOD. The passage de-prioritizes, even shuns, the carnal adornment which pleases carnal men. For favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised (Prov 31:30)! Oh dear sisters, when the LORD judges your works, the evidence of your possession or lack of saving faith, He is looking to your adornment, and above it is declared unto you what the LORD is looking at. This is how we will be judged on the final Day! Oh this is how we will most certainly be judged! Foremost we will be judged by whether we contain a meek and quiet spirit and in we are subject to our God-given head above our revelations, our knowledge, our utterances, our signs and wonders, our doctrinal exploits… Oh that we may find out what pleases God, that we may prove what is ACCEPTABLE unto the LORD (Eph 5:10)!
Meditate and exceedingly ponder upon this evidence, the greatest evidence, of a woman’s saving faith, her greatest outcome of granted free grace. Even as you work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12), and as you examine yourself to see whether ye be in the faith and prove your own selves (2 Cor 13:5) meditate on Sara’s adornment. Our major inquisition: are we Sara’s daughters?
The purpose in giving you a brief description of the manifestation of true faith in a woman in this section “Weapons of Warfare” is to ascertain to you that your ability to be faithful in your calling as a wife is dependent upon whether you have saving faith, for we have just proven with Scripture that the inevitable result of saving faith in a woman is that she will fulfill the fruit of this faithfulness: meekness, subjection, fear of God. And likewise the inevitable result of a breach in saving faith is a breach in the woman’s meekness and subjection to her husband. When a woman is drifting from Christ, from her first love, from required Spiritual zeal and fervency…such a state will most assuredly be expressed within her soul towards her husband and in the course of time manifested in an unbridled tongue and unseemly behavior.
Thus, as we speak of weapons of our warfare to attain and maintain faithfulness in our subjection to our husbands, the drawing near of our souls unto theirs continually, our unchanging charity…we are speaking of maintaining saving faith. And thus, if you have walked before the LORD in Christ for any significant amount of time, you have known in some measure the weapons of warfare to maintain saving faith. You have seen that saving faith is something to be laboured to maintain constantly. For the weapons of the enemy are utilized frequently, unexpectedly, in a crafted prowling, devouring, crouching manner. And any breach in saving faith results in the succumbing to the flesh, and the falling to the temptations of Satan, the wiles of the devil. Dear sisters, so it follows that when you have breaches in your saving faith, you will have certain failures in your meekness and subjections towards your husbands. And when you find that you are frequently failing, you know that you must learn to fight daily to maintain saving faith.
Oh saving faith do to me impart
That I may my course of faithfulness hasten to start
Teach me to keep this faith without fail each day
That my will to obey and please my lord the devil may not sway
In learning this faithfulness in meekness and subjection, the world has a multitude of resources to impart carnal wisdom to the simple. But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Cor 10:4). Do you wonder in astonishment at your frequent fallings? Could it be sister that you are a backslider before that LORD, that you fail to be faithful to trust in your LORD Jesus Christ? Would you expect to be victorious over pride, fear, idolatry, lust, covetousness, and the like if you failed to pray faithfully? May it never be! How then would you expect to be perfectly subject unto your husband without a daily watchfulness, a constant prayer life? It is impossible! You cannot be meek or subject when you refuse to seek the LORD wholeheartedly, when your heart has craved other things, when you have been slothful in your soul, when you have been complacent and lukewarm! If you desire any hope of being healed of your backsliding, you must learn to walk in fear and trembling before the LORD constantly, to be broken and contrite before the LORD constantly, and to fear Him! You must fear Him! Oh sisters, it is all for the sake of His glory and great name! He must be feared that you may obey that His name may be praised!
I want a principle within of watchful, Godly fear,
A sensibility of sin, a pain to feel it near.
I want the first approach to feel of pride or wrong desire,
To catch the wandering of my will, and quench the kindling fire.
From Thee that I no more may stray, no more Thy goodness grieve,
Grant me the filial awe, I pray, the tender conscience give.
Quick as the apple of an eye, O God, my conscience make;
Awake my soul when sin is nigh, and keep it still awake.
Almighty God of truth and love, to me Thy power impart;
The mountain from my soul remove, the hardness from my heart.
O may the least omission pain my reawakened soul,
And drive me to that blood again, which makes the wounded whole.
Hymn: I Want a Principle Within
Most assuredly and swiftly will you falter from your steadfastness if your mind is engrossed in carnal matters, when you have neglected your soul, when you have attempted to perform many labors without humbling yourself to receive His empowering grace for them! The slothfulness of soul that results in frequent faltering before your husband may be far more subtle and beguiling than you know. In your lightness of heart you may not even feel that you had sowed to the flesh and thus when you reap corruption you feel that you were unexpectedly ensnared and cast down. Consider a believing woman who wakes up and immediately starts tending to her young children, performs many labors in the home, reads a few passages of Scripture while the children nap, even shares the WORD of God, prophetic utterances, to some sisters who visit; she hugs her husband and expresses her love verbally. All seems well to her. Following this course of events her husband reproves her for some negligence or deceitfulness he sees in her. The pride of her flesh surmounts and she speaks rashly to her husband. Before she knows it she is in a state of full course rebellion and insubjection to her husband. She is cast into darkness before the LORD. She will not be recovered until she finds repentance. How had she erred?
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (Jam 1:14-15)
She had not taken heed to her own spirit so as not to deal treacherously against her husband and the LORD but had taken heed to seducing spirits (Mal 2:15, 1 Tim 4:1). Though in the deception of her heart all had seemed well to her, the true reality was that she was not having life-giving vital reality with her LORD Jesus Christ! She was not possessed by the Spirit and faith of Christ! She was not wholeheartedly loving and seeking God! She was not seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. She was not waiting for God in the way of His judgments, the desire of her soul was not fully to His name and to the remembrance of Him (Is 26:8).
It may even be the case that she had been abiding with Christ in a measure prior to her fall. It is possible that she even had glorious revelations that day. But remember that sin is a weight that must be laid aside, and does so EASILY BESET us (Heb 12:1). Remember Peter who in one moment filled with the Holy Spirit declared “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” to which Christ responded “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” And yet as Christ began to show His disciples how He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day, Peter began to rebuke Him and deny the what Christ proclaimed. Christ turned and said unto Peter “Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for Thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (see Matt 16:15-26) Therefore dear sisters we must look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. We must consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds. (Heb 12:2-3)
How then beloved sisters must you walk? Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the LORD are right, and the just walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein (Hos 14:9) How then shall we fight a good fight, finish our course, and keep our saving faith (2 Tim 4:7)? There are 4 aspects I will emphasize here which I believe the Spirit does convey specifically to us: Taking Heed Daily, Patiently, With Continuance, and Holding Fast.
1. Taking Heed Daily
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Heb 3:12-15)
And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.(Luke 9:23)
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:34-36)
2. Patiently
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Gal 6:7-9)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (Jam 1:2-4)
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. (Jam 1:12)
In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19)
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Rom 2:7)
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. (2 Thess 3:13)
3. With Continuance
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; (John 8:31)
As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. (John 15:9)
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Rom 11:22)
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled 22 In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church: (Col 1:21-24)
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Col 4:2)
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (Jam 1:25)
4. Holding Fast
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thess 5:21)
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (2 Thess 2:15)
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 1:13)
Holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Tit 1:9)
Seeing then that we have a great high Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Heb 4:14)
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) (Heb 10:23)
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Rev 2:13)
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. (Rev 2:25)
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (Rev 3:3)
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Rev 3:11)
Finally beloved sisters, I must make mention that you must be willing and prepared to cast yourself upon the mercy of God when you do fall, that you would quickly repent and return unto Him whom you have so greatly revolted against (Is 31:6). Surely He will lift you head when you humble yourself in acknowledgement of the loftiness of your heart in your rebellion. For a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief (Prov 24:16) How great are the multitude of His tender mercies! Surely the LORD’s eye and pleasure are upon those who fear Him and hope in His mercy (Ps 33:18, Ps 147:11). At the very same time that you must fear Him and His ability to cast you away and thus cast you into hell with repeated rebellion, you must hope in His mercy when you have fallen. For by the blood of the Covenant He has sent forth His prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water, and the LORD commands you to turn to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day does He declare that He will render double unto you (Zech 9:11-12)! He will restore to you the years that the locust have eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which He sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath death wondrously with you; and His people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that He alone is the LORD your God, and His people shall never be ashamed! (Joel 2:25-27) Such unfathomable mercy has conditions of wholehearted humble repentance and acknowledgement of iniquity. Consider what the prophet Samuel said to the Israelites after they had sinned in asking for a king.
“Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart;21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you His people.23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king. (1 Sam 12:20-25)
The swifter you humble yourself after each fall before your husband and the LORD, the faster will you hasten unto the glorious refining fire of the bridegroom, and remember the outcome of this: a glorious, spotless, blemish-less, holy bride! Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Heb 12:11-13)
Into the vile wickedness of lying pride did I fall
Fast as can be to His Holy Temple I gaze, in my misery, upon His Name do I call
The Spirit did strive, my will was overwhelmed
Praise to the Captain of the ship of this soul, He has retaken His seat at the helm
Where else can I return? Who else can revive me to infinite grace
Though it be the seventh time by the glorious light will I be revived shining from His face
Far be it that I err again in this way
For increasing severe chastening from the loving Father, yea, from the righteous Judge will surely come my way
Have mercy on me, O God, and purge me from deep within
That I may on the final Day not be damned but see Your face and forever be free from all wretched sin
Go to Chapter 6 The Beguilement of Eve