to navigate within the spiritual order that governs His heavenly kingdom.

 

As anyone who has traveled to an unknown destination knows, if you do not have a good set of directions and a reliable map, and a common understanding of how to read and follow a set of directions, chances are that you will get lost and suffer the loss of time and resources.

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It is the same as we travel in our spiritual journey, we are traveling to an unknown destination, unknown to us that is, for God knows where He is taking us, but if we do not understand the spiritual order that governs our journey we will not be much help to God in Him getting us there on time.

 

That is why we are commanded that in all things we must follow the path of the spiritual order that God has foreordained.

 

1 Corinthians 14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

 

In our opening text Paul tells the Thessalonians that they know how they ought to follow them, because of the order with which he taught them.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:6 “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.”

 

Notice how Paul said, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, this was not a request, this is how vitally important this matter is, for spiritual disorder will frustrate the plan of God for our lives.

 

The flow of the authority of the Word of God, like electricity traveling through an electrical circuit, follows a clearly defined path that works perfectly as long as the orderly flow is maintained, any deviation causes the flow to trip the switch that immediately shuts off the power.

 

Let me see if I can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, lay out some of the basic rules that govern this spiritual flow so that we can learn how to maintain spiritual order in our lives, and thereby not hinder the plan and purpose that God has ordained for us to fulfill.

 

Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

 

God uses the illustration of how the rain and the snow that melts and waters the earth and accomplishes the purpose for which He sends it, to reveal how the spiritual power of His Word functions.

 

He sends out His Word as a flow of energy and those who partake, that is, come in agreement with His Word and live their lives accordingly, will fulfill the purpose for which they were created through the power that the energy of the Word of God provides them with.

 

So that the number one rule is:

 

Follow the directions that the Word of God provides, that is, if you want to fulfill the purpose for which He created you.

 

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ (the flowing power of the anointed One) who strengthens me.”

 

So that if I believe that my life is not an accident, but that God purposed me to be born and assigned to me His good plan and purpose for me to fulfill through the power that He provides, then that leads me to:

 

Rule number two:

 

I have to believe that God has a divine purpose for my life, and that I am not just here to mow the grass and tend the garden.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

 

It is belief in this truth that brings spiritual order into our personal lives.

 

That is we connect with the energy that flows from heaven above, the Word of God, and it is that energy that empowers us to change course, to turn away from the vanities of this life that perishes, and to aim for the goal of faith which is eternal life with Jesus, to be with Him we must be like Him, and that is what sanctification does, it prepares us for eternity.

 

Spiritual order also functions corporally, as in within the family unit and within the church. So that we also need to understand the path that spiritual order follows corporally so that we can function properly within the family unit and within the church, which is our spiritual family.

 

1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”

 

The above verse can be controversial to those who do not understand the flow of spiritual order. But we need to know that God has set the institution of holy matrimony as the foundation of the family unit, and as a type for the relationship between Jesus and His church.

 

So that if I come with the mindset of natural understanding and say, I am a man therefore I am the head of the woman, I immediately negate the spiritual fact that in Christ, I, as a man, am the bride of Christ also.

 

So that within the natural process, spiritual authority or order, flows from God to Christ, from Christ to man, from man to woman, from woman to children, but from the spiritual perspective all authority and order flows out of the unchanging and uncompromising Word of God, to which all things owe their allegiance to, be it physical or spiritual.

 

So that those who deviate from the natural order, that is, refrain from following in the tenants prescribed by the Word of God, fall into disorder, just as much as those who though in the proper natural position deviate from their responsibilities to the Word of God, and to their own peril fall into disorder themselves.

 

Ephesians 3:14-15 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven (spiritual order) and earth (physical order) is named.”

 

Paul writes that He is fully committed to the principle of spiritual order by bowing his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, do you see the progression? But then he adds, to whom the whole family, natural and spiritual belong.

 

We see in the natural how this principle works, when the family unit breaks down everything is prone to disorder, but we also witness that when the family unit, though intact, rejects or ignores the principles in the Word of God, that disorder rules there as well.

 

So that the key is in our understanding how the principle of spiritual order works and all that is at stake, for the results will be either order or disorder.

 

So that our third rule is made obvious by the fact that in spiritual order, God, His Word, and the Holy Spirit are the only One’s who are perfect, and who perfectly agree, and all that follows within that spiritual order must comply fully to the tenants of the Word of God, and if not, their position is nullified immediately and ceded to the next in line that believes and applies the Word of God.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:15 “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”

 

How do I know if my house is in the proper spiritual order?

 

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.”

 

Notice how the order is reversed, Jesus and then the Father, that means that the Lord wants us to look upward to see if we are conforming with God’s plan for us, the plan that was made available to us by our Lord Jesus Christ and the good hope and grace that comforts our hearts, for that is what establishes us to do His good word and works.

 

If there is enmity in your heart against His Word for you or the work that He has called you to do, chances are that you are out of His spiritual order and lack the power to fulfill His calling for your life.

 

Isaiah 30:15 “For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning (repentance) and rest (in His promises) you shall be saved (delivered); in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’ But you would not.”

 

Would you?

 

It is better to be hot or cold than to be indifferent, if indifference is not what you are dealing with right now, weigh the cost of your salvation, figure out the benefits of spiritual order in your life against the cost of disorder and chaos, which is more profitable to you now?

 

Which is more profitable to you in the age to come?

 

The Bible is full of characters that sold their future inheritance for a morsel of bread, and every single one of them live and died to regret it.

 

I hope that is not you my friend, for I feel as I am writing this, that your weariness is weighing you down somehow.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:13 “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.”

 

Do the right thing!

 

2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”