Embracing the Warrior Spirit in Faith and Action
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound call to become people of a different spirit, a call to embody a warrior spirit that is both bold and full of faith. We began by acknowledging the privilege of being part of a vibrant, alive church community, one that is not merely surviving but thriving with purpose and mission. This community is called to be on fire, to be alive, and to carry the message of Jesus Christ to the world. Each of us, regardless of our roles, has a mission to fulfill, and it is through this mission that we declare the life and victory found in Christ.
We delved into the biblical narrative of Caleb, a man of a different spirit, who exemplified faith and courage in the face of daunting challenges. Caleb's story teaches us that God builds His church and our lives in such a way that the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. This is not a passive protection but an active call to conquer and possess the promises of God. We are reminded that faith is not passive; it is active and requires us to pursue the promises of God with determination and courage.
We also examined the story of Deborah, a woman of a warrior spirit, who led with strength and conviction. Her story, along with the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, illustrates the importance of being willing to risk everything for the sake of God's kingdom. These tribes were willing to jeopardize their lives, demonstrating a spirit of sacrifice and commitment that is essential for advancing God's purposes.
In contrast, we looked at the attitudes of other tribes like Reuben, Gilead, Dan, and Asher, who were hesitant, complacent, or distracted by their own pursuits. These examples serve as a caution against allowing intellect, comfort, or busyness to hinder our participation in God's mission.
Ultimately, we are called to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, to cultivate a deep relationship with Him, and to operate in the gifts of the Spirit. This call is not just for personal edification but for the collective strength and mission of the church. We are invited to join this movement, to be part of a tribe that is alive, bold, and ready to make a difference in the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. Embrace the Warrior Spirit: We are called to be warriors in the spirit, not through aggression but through faith and prayer. This warrior spirit enables us to conquer spiritual battles and advance God's kingdom with boldness and courage. [54:09]
2. Active Faith Pursues God's Promises: Faith is not passive; it requires action and pursuit. We must actively seek and possess the promises of God, not waiting for them to come to us but stepping out in faith to claim them. [01:04:32]
3. Sacrifice and Commitment: Like Zebulun and Naphtali, we must be willing to risk everything for God's kingdom. This involves laying down our desires and comforts to fulfill God's mission and purpose for our lives. [01:20:40]
4. Avoid Complacency and Distraction: The stories of Reuben, Gilead, Dan, and Asher remind us to avoid complacency, intellectualism, and distraction. We must be fully engaged in God's mission, not allowing comfort or busyness to hinder our calling. [01:15:38]
5. Strength in Relationship with God: Being strong in the Lord involves cultivating a deep, personal relationship with Him and operating in the power of His might. This strength is essential for fulfilling our mission and impacting the world for Christ. [01:25:32]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:02:00] - Opening Prayer and Thanksgiving
- [00:05:00] - The Honor of Being Part of a Vibrant Church
- [00:10:00] - Called to Be Alive and On Fire
- [00:15:00] - Introduction to People of a Different Spirit
- [00:20:00] - Caleb: A Man of a Different Spirit
- [00:30:00] - The Warrior Spirit in Us
- [00:40:00] - Deborah: A Woman of Strength
- [00:50:00] - The Tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali
- [01:00:00] - Avoiding Complacency: Lessons from Other Tribes
- [01:10:00] - The Call to Sacrifice and Commitment
- [01:20:00] - Strength in Relationship with God
- [01:30:00] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 16:18 - "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
2. Numbers 13:26-33 - The report of the spies and Caleb's response.
3. Judges 4:6-10 - The story of Deborah and Barak.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Matthew 16:18 suggest about the strength and resilience of the church? How does this relate to the concept of a "warrior spirit"? [54:09]
2. In Numbers 13, how did Caleb's perspective differ from the other spies when they reported back to Moses? What was his attitude towards the challenges they faced? [01:04:32]
3. How did Deborah demonstrate a warrior spirit in Judges 4, and what was Barak's response to her leadership? [01:10:27]
4. What were the attitudes of the tribes of Reuben, Gilead, Dan, and Asher as described in Judges 5, and how did they contrast with Zebulun and Naphtali? [01:12:30]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of the "gates of hell not prevailing" in Matthew 16:18 apply to the personal and collective mission of the church today? [54:09]
2. What can we learn from Caleb's faith and courage in Numbers 13 about facing seemingly insurmountable challenges in our own lives? [01:04:32]
3. In what ways does Deborah's leadership in Judges 4 challenge traditional views of leadership and courage? How does this apply to modern contexts? [01:10:27]
4. How do the attitudes of the tribes in Judges 5 serve as a warning against complacency and distraction in our spiritual lives? [01:12:30]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a challenge that seemed overwhelming. How can Caleb's example inspire you to approach similar situations with faith and courage? [01:04:32]
2. Consider the role of women in leadership within your community. How can Deborah's story encourage you to support and empower female leaders in your church or workplace? [01:10:27]
3. Identify areas in your life where you might be complacent or distracted, similar to the tribes of Reuben, Gilead, Dan, and Asher. What steps can you take to become more engaged in God's mission? [01:12:30]
4. How can you cultivate a "warrior spirit" in your daily life, not through aggression, but through faith and prayer? What practical steps can you take to strengthen your spiritual resilience? [54:09]
5. Think about the concept of sacrifice and commitment as demonstrated by Zebulun and Naphtali. What are you willing to risk or give up for the sake of advancing God's kingdom? [01:20:40]
6. How can you actively pursue the promises of God in your life, rather than waiting passively for them to come to you? What actions can you take this week to step out in faith? [01:04:32]
7. Reflect on your relationship with God. How can you deepen this relationship to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might? What specific practices can you incorporate into your routine to achieve this? [01:25:32]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace the Warrior Spirit with Faith and Prayer
In the journey of faith, believers are called to embody a warrior spirit, not through physical aggression but through spiritual strength and prayer. This warrior spirit is characterized by boldness and courage, enabling individuals to face spiritual battles and advance God's kingdom. The story of Caleb serves as a powerful example of this spirit. Caleb, a man of a different spirit, demonstrated unwavering faith and courage in the face of daunting challenges. His life teaches us that God builds His church and our lives in such a way that the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. This is an active call to conquer and possess the promises of God, reminding us that faith is not passive but requires determination and courage. [54:09]
Numbers 14:24 (ESV): "But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it."
Reflection: Identify a spiritual battle you are currently facing. How can you embrace a warrior spirit through faith and prayer to confront this challenge today?
Day 2: Active Faith in Pursuit of God's Promises
Faith is not a passive state of belief but an active pursuit of God's promises. Believers are encouraged to step out in faith, actively seeking and claiming the promises of God rather than waiting for them to come to fruition. This requires a proactive approach, where faith is demonstrated through action and determination. The biblical narrative of Caleb exemplifies this active faith, as he pursued the promises of God with unwavering courage and conviction. His story serves as a reminder that faith requires us to be bold and intentional in our pursuit of God's promises. [01:04:32]
Hebrews 6:11-12 (ESV): "And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
Reflection: What is one promise of God that you feel called to actively pursue? What steps can you take today to move towards claiming that promise?
Day 3: Sacrifice and Commitment for God's Kingdom
The call to follow Christ involves a willingness to sacrifice personal desires and comforts for the sake of God's kingdom. The stories of Deborah and the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali illustrate the importance of risking everything for God's purposes. These tribes demonstrated a spirit of sacrifice and commitment, laying down their lives to advance God's mission. This level of dedication is essential for fulfilling God's purposes in our lives. Believers are encouraged to reflect on their own willingness to sacrifice and commit to God's mission, recognizing that true fulfillment comes from aligning with His purposes. [01:20:40]
Judges 5:18 (ESV): "Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field."
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you are holding back from fully committing to God's mission. What sacrifices might God be calling you to make for His kingdom today?
Day 4: Avoiding Complacency and Distraction
In the pursuit of God's mission, believers must guard against complacency, intellectualism, and distraction. The attitudes of the tribes of Reuben, Gilead, Dan, and Asher serve as cautionary examples of how comfort and busyness can hinder participation in God's mission. These tribes were hesitant and distracted by their own pursuits, missing the opportunity to be part of God's work. Believers are encouraged to remain fully engaged in God's mission, avoiding the pitfalls of complacency and distraction. This requires intentional focus and dedication to God's calling. [01:15:38]
Proverbs 1:32-33 (ESV): "For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."
Reflection: Reflect on a specific area of your life where you may be complacent or distracted. How can you refocus your attention on God's mission today?
Day 5: Strength in Relationship with God
True strength comes from cultivating a deep, personal relationship with God and operating in the power of His might. Believers are called to be strong in the Lord, drawing strength from their relationship with Him. This strength is essential for fulfilling the mission and impacting the world for Christ. The call to be strong in the Lord involves not only personal edification but also contributing to the collective strength and mission of the church. Believers are invited to deepen their relationship with God, seeking His strength and guidance in all aspects of life. [01:25:32]
Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV): "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."
Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with God today to draw strength from Him? What specific practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to cultivate this relationship?
Quotes
1. "Now, some people, they're outside and they're looking in. You know, they're like testing the waters a little bit. Even though they've been here for a while, they're like, Yeah, I like that. They're very much on fire, but that's just not me. No, it is you. It is the future you. Actually, today, I want to give you an opportunity to step into that. Because that's what this church is called to be. Right? Yeah. It's not life. It's alive. So, you have no church. If you're part of a live church, you need to be alive. Right? It's not just that you're on life support. You have some life. No, no, no, no. No, you're alive. Yeah, you're alive. So, you are hungry. You are on fire. You are called. You are sent. You are here with a mission. Right? Everyone here has a mission." ([00:49:54] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "Matthew 16, verse 18 says that God will build this church in such a way, I'm not reading the verse, but you know this verse, that God will build this church in such a way that the gates of hell will not prevail against it, right? It's not just that God says, I will protect you. No, he says he will build the church in such a way that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. So what God is doing is building your life in such a way that the gates of hell will not prevail against you. It doesn't even say that your gates will remain standing. No, it says, the gates of hell will not be able to withstand you." ([00:54:31] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "We need to be a people that are full of expectation of victory in every situation. We need to have that expectation of breakthrough continuously. Now, that doesn't mean there won't be any challenges, but we need to have that expectation. And at the moment that you are low, at the moment you don't feel that, you need to be surrounded with people that have that kind of spirit. If I'm down, I don't want to be surrounded with other people that are down. I'm going to be more down, right? I want people, say, have you ever been in a situation that you're down and you want someone to uplift you, but actually you end up even, no, but even having to uplift them?" ([00:57:50] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "It is clear that God wants a powerful and a glorious church. He wants a strong church, victorious church, a people full of expectation that something new is going to happen. And I believe that God is raising up a generation here that is very different than so many other places around you. You are going, you are going to be different and don't be afraid to be different. It's okay. You don't have to look like anyone else. You don't have to look like another church. You don't have to speak like another church. You don't have to sound like another church. You just have to be who God has called you to be. Amen." ([01:00:24] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "How can we see this? How can we see this manifest is by building a strong spirit, by being aggressive in faith and not passive in faith. Faith was never meant to be passive. Faith was never meant to wait for things to come. Faith is active and pursues something, right? You pursue something. So salvation is free, but you pursue something. Salvation. The presence of the Lord is free, but you have to pursue it. And that's like this with all the blessings. We just read from Deuteronomy. It says these things will come upon you when you obey. That's a pursuing." ([01:01:36] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "We are well able to overcome. You are well able to overcome. Don't look at all the things that are stopping you to make it in your career, in your ministry, in your life, in your marriage. Don't look at all the obstacles. You need to look at the promises of God, and you are well able to overcome. But you need to overcome, and that's for many people, that's an issue, because they have learned, well, we just wait for the blessing of the Lord. No, you do not wait for the blessing of the Lord. You use the blessing of the Lord, and you advance." ([01:06:04] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "These are not even the main verses. I want to speak about what I like with Caleb is he refused to speak negatively, even though everybody around him spoke negatively. And this is how you recognize a person with a different spirit is that even when they are surrounded with people that speak negatively, they will not join into that negative speak. They will say something. No, that's not how I see it. I believe that we can do this. It doesn't mean that they don't have empathy or love or compassion. No, they want to give a different perspective." ([01:08:11] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "He stayed home, enjoying the praise and worship music. He was led by his intellect, and he liked discussing things with other people. He talked about the battle instead of being in it. We all know these people. They all want to talk about the problem, but they never do. They don't do anything about it. They talk about, oh, we need to do something about, you know, the culture. We need to do something about society because it's a mess. Well, what are you doing? Well, I'm just waiting. Well, it's going to get worse. If you wait, it's going to get worse. You're going to have to get involved." ([01:13:15] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "To bring the next move of God in Orange County, you need to be willing to surrender your own life. You need to lay down your own desires and wishes to build the kingdom of God. I know we always quote the verse that says, oh, God will give you the desires of their, of your heart. Of course, I understand. God has been a great blessing to me. But we need to be willing to sacrifice it all. We need to be willing to forsake all those blessings, all the material blessings. We need to be willing to forsake it. God is for you, but you need to be willing." ([01:22:45] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "Everyone always has a reason to not do something or not go somewhere, but Zebulun and Naphtali, they were not only willing to give their lives, but also to, uh, they, they were willing to leave everything behind. Caleb had the same attitude. He knew that there was opposition and danger, but he also knew that the land, could be conquered with the right attitude. So do we really believe that the Lord is with us? That we should become more active and more violent in our prayers. I see a lot of people that really love Jesus, but I see much fewer people that are really willing to build the kingdom." ([01:24:34] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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