All irregular warfare is conducted by spiritual power, either Godly or demonic. This series on "Spiritual Irregular Warfare" has concentrated on our fight, based on walking with our Heavenly Father. The current fight to reclaim our country and our God given rights is but a skirmish in an existing, ancient war. The final installment of this series is an introduction to our standing orders as members of the Body of Christ.
What are "Standing Orders"? In military and paramilitary organizations, a general order is a published directive, originated by a commander, and binding upon all personnel under his command…A general order has the force of law…
A standing order is a general order of indefinite duration. For more information: Military History
In scripture, there are instructions which could be considered "standing orders". However, the instructions addressed to us cannot be considered as legal (religious) commandments contained in ordinances. They give us a general idea of what we should be doing as we function in the body of Christ, in order to bring forth the Will of God in the physical realm. I cannot emphasize this objective enough. This is NOT about "getting good enough" or achieving "religious perfection". The specifics of how we apply or fulfill these instructions are imparted to us via the gift of holy spirit.
Isaiah 30:21
[21] And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (ESV)
We can have great versatility in our life with our Heavenly Father. Religion has us walking on a "tightrope of holiness" where one misstep brings calamity. Rather, we walk on the broad "highway of holiness"!
Isaiah 35:8
[8] And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
Remember, we are NOT in a military force or conducting kinetic warfare. We function in the body of Christ as God would have us to function. In the first century congregations of believers, most of the people functioned in their home location among their extended family. Their objectives were not political or financial. However, their collective impact eroded the influence of the religious realm, which began affecting the other realms of life as well.
There are many written instructions available in scripture. This essay will handle a few of them. It is up to the reader to study these instructions and others. I have more in-depth teachings related to this on my website, under "Archives". Specifically, see the series on "Ephesians", parts 5 - 7: Ephesians Teaching Series
Our Standing Orders in Ephesians
Put On The New Spiritual Self
Ephesians 4:22
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
It says to put off your old self, the old self of the flesh. It is corrupt and decaying. God did not call us to reform the flesh, but to put it off like you would remove an old worn out coat.
Ephesians 4:23
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
It says to “BE renewed”. Renewed is to be completely and absolutely new, with nothing of the old remaining. Every time this verse is read, it will say the same thing, whether it is read 10 minutes from now or 10 years from now. The flesh is powerless to do any of this. The flesh is the old, unrenewable self – it is to be put off. This requires the “...riverS of Living Waters...” springing out of our hearts, which Jesus Christ prophesied in John 7:28.
Put On, Assume Your NEW Identity!
Ephesians 4:24
24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
This truly is walking in newness of life. We put on the new self, like putting on a brand new coat which was given as a gift. That's the simplicity of this action. This new self is not limited to the unrighteousness and unholiness of the past which belongs to the old self of the flesh. Colossians 3:10 says that the new self is “...being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator...”, who is God. What knowledge is this referring to? Sense knowledge? NO! Remember in Ephesians 1:17, God prays to “...give you spiritual wisdom and revelation knowledge of HIM...”. In Ephesians 3:18 and 19, God prays that we “...have strength to... know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. This knowledge is not something that can be held by the mind and brain of the flesh, but by the mind of Christ in the new self (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Become Imitators of God
Ephesians 3:20
20 Now to him who is able (and willing) to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
Now that we know that we can be filled with all the fullness of God, strengthened with His might in the new self, God declares that HE is not limited to OUR thinking or OUR asking. He can and will do FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY in us and for us.
God desires for us to elevate and expand our thinking so that it is released from the chains of the Flesh, idolatry, and religion. He wants our thinking to go way beyond where we ever dreamed that it could go. God wants to do FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY than ALL that we (the new self) ask OR think!
Now that we know God's passionate desire, now that our thinking is being unleashed, set free from the shackles, chains and limitations of the flesh, He presents us with a new capability, a new thought about our new self which out distances anything we have read so far.
Ephesians 5:1
1 Therefore (because of everything we have read up to this point) be (become) imitators of God, as beloved children.
How can this possibly be? Everything we have read so far is wonderful, but now THIS! How is it that you or I can become an imitator of the creator of the heavens and earth? How can this be? Add to this God's declaration that He passionately desires to “...do FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY than ALL that we (the new self) ask OR think...”. Now he is raising our thinking about ourselves to what was previously unthinkable heights!
Something else to consider. Ephesians 3:10
10 so that through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the (demonic) rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
God has declared that his manifold wisdom is to be made known to the demonic rulers and authorities in the heavenly places, by way of the assembly, the body of Christ.
God's very heart is open and available to HIS beloved children. He has created in us, as HIS children the ability to imitate Him as a child would imitate his father. No other created being has ever been afforded this capability or this opportunity that he has lovingly imparted to His children, starting with Jesus Christ.
John 5:19, 20
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing . For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing . And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
This is an example of our elder brother, Jesus Christ when he walked on this earth. This is how he lived, and this is how we live. Are ALL the actions of God, EVERYTHING that He is doing recorded in the scriptures? NO. God works mightily in His son Jesus Christ, and it is God's will to work mightily in each one of US.
John 5:30
30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear (spiritually, from God), I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
We seek God's Will. We just learned the passionate will of God for the believers, for our lives, to be imitators of God, as beloved children.
It is by way of the new self, the operation of the gift of holy spirit that we KNOW the will of God. That is how God shows us all that he is doing, that is how we perceive the declaration of all that the Father has given in Christ. God has enabled us to imitate Him as HIS beloved children. He wants to work mightily in us so that he can work FAR BEYOND ALL that we ASK OR THINK. Becoming an imitator of God is performing those good works that God prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).
Our Spiritual Walk
Further instructions in Ephesians 5, we are encouraged to:
Walk in Love
Walk as children of Light
Walk in Wisdom
Again, HOW we apply these instructions is by the specific knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual discernment we receive via the gift of holy spirit. There are NO recipes for this spiritual life. The objective of these instructions is to learn and do the will of God, bringing forth His Will in the physical realm.
Note - it is people that we love. We do not love institutions, social status, riches, careers, relationships, etc. We aren't called to perform "evangelistic crusades" or to build up corporate religious organizations. You are not expected to become scholars or experts of the written scriptures. In the assemblies of the 1st century, they had NO New Testament bibles. Yet they walked mightily with their Heavenly Father!
Conclusion - Having Done All
Ephesians 6:10
10 Finally (after all that was declared to us in chapter 5), be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
It does not say to find our strength in the flesh, in physical wealth, in politics, in finances, in religious organizations or in earthly powers and authorities. We are to find our strength in the Lord in his mighty power which is spiritual. This strength is only to be found within the new spiritual self of each individual functioning in the body of Christ.
Romans 13:12
12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of (the) darkness and put on the armor (weapons) of (the) light.
We throw away the works of the darkness like dirty, ruined, clothes. In their place we put on the ARMOR, the WEAPONS of THE LIGHT. Armor is defensive in nature, light is active, something that would be used in offensive operations. The word “weapon” is much more descriptive. When in battle, you cannot afford to be carrying any excessive weight, anything that would hold you back or impede your movements. We throw down works of the darkness and take up the weapons of the light, taking offensive action against our enemy.
Romans 13:14
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Christ in you, the new spiritual self), and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (How? See Galatians 5:16.)
Put on the new self, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, put on the weapons of the light, put on the entire armor of God – these are all equivalent actions. The weapons and the armor are in reference to walking by the spirit against our spiritual enemy.
It is in the new spiritual self that we walk. The new spiritual self is continually in fellowship with God and Christ. The new spiritual self is constantly being renewed. Putting on the new self, our true spiritual identity, created in Christ Jesus is how we crucify the old self of the flesh, it is how we render the old self of the flesh dead. Within the new spiritual self is found the power of God, the entire armor of God, the protection we must have to stand against the rulers of the darkness of this world.
Let me remind you, that to “put on” is not a passive action in preparation for something else. Notice that the instructions to put on the weapons of the light, and to put on the Lord Jesus Christ is in contrast to the works of the flesh and the works of the darkness which are referred to in the same section. The action “put on” is to put the new self to work, start walking in newness of life, start wielding the weapons of the light, start walking in the Lord. This is a call to action, a call to move and function as a member in particular in the body of Christ. Get in the battle as directed by
the head who is Christ!
God is not limited to our knowledge, level of expertise, or skill. No matter what, as we engage in this war, there is one thing that we always do! After having done all that we can, thought by though, day by day, 24/7, we STAND FIRM! HOLD THE LINE!
Ephesians 6:12
Identify the real enemy!
12 For (the reason we put on the entire armor of God) we do not wrestle against flesh and blood(not even your own old self), but (in contrast to wrestling against the flesh, we WAR) against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (which happen to be far below our feet).
13 Therefore (because of the war against our spiritual enemy) take up (put on and use) the whole armor of God, that you may (then you will) be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
This is much needed oil for lamps are getting dim, we’re fighting on many fronts in this dark age religious babble has weakened the spirit of those seeking Christ’s Kingdom , we need the light of Christ to see the enemy ,thanks for sharing your oil of understanding.
You are welcome. Many like you are awake now - God is on the move!
We sure do!!! Together in the Body of Christ!
This is much needed oil for lamps are getting dim, we’re fighting on many fronts in this dark age religious babble has weakened the spirit of those seeking Christ’s Kingdom , we need the light of Christ to see the enemy ,thanks for sharing your oil of understanding.
WWG1WGA!