heaven's tree book club

September 27, 2012
Building Strategic Alliances With Heavenly Allies
Today continues to be physically challenging. My dad went off to the bay area to take care of the house and this was one very rare time I could not join him. I even struggled walking to the front door of the house. I wanted to join my dad on the ride like so many times before and be at his side when working on the house and perhaps a breakfast or lunch at one of the many Asian restaurants, but I physically could not go this time. Although today was a big improvement from yesterday, today was still hard and I stayed either on the couch or in the dining room chair most of the day. I got so alone tonight that I went searching for an internet church for online community. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any real internet church. They have online sermons and songs, but that is not church. Church is actually doing life together, encouraging, challenging, praying for one another. Church is community. It is not listening to a sermon by ourselves. So, I felt a little bit more alone than when I started.

SPIRITUAL covering is essential for God's royal priesthood to experience the blessing He wants them to have in His family. Though many of us struggle with the issue of submission because of the abuse of authority and the rebellion in our own hearts, it is something we are commanded to do throughout Scripture. The apostle Paul had a lot to say about submitting to leaders, spouses, and one another in the Body. I have to believe he had firsthand experience watching people try to live and minister without the spiritual covering that comes from submission. Acts 19 deliberately contrasts Paul's ministry with exorcists who were trying to minister without a covering.
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches. "Also there were seven sons ofSceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul 1 know; but who are you?" Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they /led out of the house naked and wounded (Acts 19:11 - Id NKJV).

"It's amazing that an apostle with a hanky has more power than seven sons of Sceva with the right name. Paul had something they didn't—an apostolic commission.There are two reasons why that is significant: the first is that Paul was an apostle because he was commissioned to be one in Acts 13 by the Holy Spirit and by the other church leaders. He was under authority, and Scripture shows us that we only have as much authority as we have submitted to. The centurion in Luke 7 recognized that Jesus had authority because, like him, He was a man "under authority."
The second reason Paul had authority is because he was commissioned as an apostle. Although there are other roles and levels of leadership in the church, apostles and prophets are specifically called the foundation of the church (see Eph. 2:20). Paul was designated as a governmental leader of the Body of Christ, and as such was assigned to a much larger sphere of spiritual influence than most of us are. Because of how authority works, when we come into submission to an apostolic leader and are commissioned to serve their mission, -we can operate with their authority. That is probably the broadest and most fundamental level of our spiritual covering.
How does spiritual authority work? When we pray, prophesy, and minister in the name of the Lord, we know that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate source of power and authority. In the same way that we are invited to co-labor with Him, God commissions angels to carry out His will. In Hebrews 1:14 it says of the angels,"Are they not ministering spirits sent out to render service for the sake of those who will receive salvation? "The angels are there to make sure that the sons and daughters of the King come into their destiny and that the mission of the Kingdom actually happens. What many of us don't realize is that we have a role in commissioning the angels."
I think this chapter so far has been the most confusing and the least uplifting of all the chapters that I have read so far. I am not too sure I understand what the author is getting at. I understand the Holy Spirit has ultimate authority and I understand that the Apostle Paul had authority to act that only few had because he was an Apostle, but I am not sure about the practical significance of the passage in this chapter. One point is that we need to submit to authority and I know this can be difficult for some especially when there is a leader that people do not like to submit to. The term submit does not go well for many who like a more democratic leadership format.
"Notice that Joseph submitted to Pharaoh's authority, even though Pharaoh was a pagan leader. God could trust him with the position he had dreamt of years earlier because he had learned submission through his trials. He maintained that attitude in his position of authority. Submission to Pharaoh didn't mean he abandoned his identity and belief in God. It was precisely Gods plans and ways that gave him the wisdom Pharaoh deferred to. Romans 13:1 states,"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." Because Joseph recognized God's delegated authority and His way of testing, he proved himself worthy to walk in authority.
Joseph's extended family, who believe he is dead, come to Egypt for food.When his brothers find out he is alive, they beg for their own lives. He tells them that what they meant for evil, God used for good. He forgives them and invites them to move to Egypt so they will be safe from the famine. Seventy members of his family relocate to Egypt, where Pharaoh gives them the best land.They multiply and spread all over the nation, growing prosperous and remaining free until Joseph dies.
After Joseph dies, a new king comes into power. He becomes very jealous and afraid of the Israelites. He enslaves and kills thousands of them. Now, without Joseph, that's probably the treatment they would have gotten in the first place.They were shepherds, and Egyptians hated shepherds, but because of Joseph's covering, they were treated like he deserved to be treated. The Israelites lived a life of incredible blessing during the years of Joseph's rulership, not because they deserved it, but because Joseph did!
Joseph was in a powerful position when he decided the fate of his family in Egypt. Joseph had gone through the tests of character and his personal victories were many: he believed God would fulfill the dreams of his life, even though circumstances were against him; he submitted to authority, was faithful and trusted God through everything; he stayed clear from sexual sin, and he was willing to forgive his brothers. His successes allowed him to become a corporate covering and a trusted general in the kingdom to protect all those who came under him (see Gen. 37-48).
Joseph continues to impress me about how he endured so many difficulties and maintained his faith in God. God gave him a dream and vision and God kept the vision even when it looked very bleak for him. As a result, God blessed the Hebrew people for Joseph's sake and they were under his covering. Imagine Joseph's today and how they can influence nations and communities. Many are faced with challenges and yet it is so hard to maintain faith in God through them all. Joseph also submits to the governing authority. We learn so many things from the life of Joseph, and because Joseph walks in integrity and faith, God was delighted to bring Joseph into a place of leadership.
"One of the principles that is important for us to understand here is that physical obedience brings spiritual release. Paul said that the natural is first, then the spiritual (see 1 Cor. 15:46).We have been investigating the lives of people who passed their character tests, completing the process of promotion in the natural (visible) realm of life, which then resulted in gaining authority in the spirit (invisible) realm. Much of the church hardly acknowledges the invisible realm at all, much less realizes the implications that it has on our daily lives.The invisible kingdom that lies within us and around us is more powerful than the visible world that is perceived with our natural eyes.We are either benefited or befuddled by the invisible world, depending on how we relate to it."

Prayer:
Father, today's chapter was not as uplifting as the previous ones. Nevertheless, I am reminded of the life of Joseph and the difficulties he faced and because of his faithfulness, You rose him up to a place of leadership and blessing for others. Many of us are unaware of the spiritual realities in this fallen world. Physical faithfulness leads to spiritual victories as we see in the life of Joseph. In this present season, I find it hard to maintain a steadfast faith in You while facing some challenges. Please help me to endure and see Your goodness at all times.