This episode continues applying the holistic cross of self-denial to all areas of life that aren't sinful per se. Christ Himself set the example: He didn't use His abilities without submitting them over to the Father's discretion. The God-man could easily have overwhelmed his hearers with His wit and mental acuity but chose on many occasions to refrain. Isaiah 42:3 says about Him "a broken reed He would not break nor a dimly burning wick He would not snuff out." He didn't break broken sinners but submitted all His talents and abilities over to the Father, to be used only at His discretion. Christ exemplified TOTAL submission to the Father and it had little to do with sin, for He was morally perfect and free from sin. So when believers subsequently identity with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection they ideally should present their whole selves as living sacrifices, to be used for His pleasure.
Present All of You as a Slave of Righteousness
This episode addresses the cross of self-denial with respect to all of our natural abilities and talents. Identifying with Christ is His death, burial and resurrection doesn't just apply to our sin issues and suffering for Christ: it also refers to holistically submitting to the will of the Father, presenting our natural giftings over to Him to be used at HIS discretion. Paul modeled this kind of self-denial to the Corinthians: to the weak he became weak, "becoming all things to all men that he might win some." (1 Corinthians 9:19-22) The episode cites several examples in which Christians win battles but lose souls when they fail to lay their knowledge and verbal acumen at the Master's feet, only to be used upon His leading.
Responding to Slander
This episode addresses how believers should respond to slander. The ultimate slanderer is the devil, who typically seeks to accuse believers based on their past failures. Just as Nehemiah confessed the sins of his people before being used by God, anyone pursuing ministry should initially come clean before God with prior failures (1 John 1:9) This helps inoculate the believer against possible accusations and slander made by carnal believers, tares, and unbelievers. The ultimate objective behind demonically inspired slander is to cause fear and derail the work of God. Nehemiah continued his work and entrusted the divine project and his reputation to God Himself, even when Sanballat and Tobias supposedly maligned the work among the nations. The lesson for believers is obvious: continue the work God began through you and trust God to vindicate you when opposition arises through slander.
Spiritual Warfare, spiritual poverty, and God’s power
This episode builds on the previous episodes on spiritual warfare, with an emphasis on the indispensable nature of God's power in transforming individual thought life. Casting down thoughts, imaginations and strongholds rests squarely on spiritual poverty and total dependence on God's empowerment to take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (Eph 6:10) is in the passive voice, and therefore it commands believers to be made strong, indicating our inability to be strong in ourselves. The subsequent command to put on the armor of God corresponds to human responsibility in making oneself available for God's empowerment. The latter part of the episode highlights how demonic activity is principally aimed at the thought-life and our fleshly sympathies to satanic suggestion. "Triggers" and the dynamics of addiction are also addressed.
Avoid the Goading of the Enemy
This episode is a continuation of a spiritual warfare series based on 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 in which believers are admonished to only fight God-inspired battles using divine/spiritual power. The broadcast highlights the numerous ways in which the devil sidetracks believers into fighting unwinnable battles that are based on fleshly categories like "winning arguments, ego contests, the rat-race of popularity, seeking the approval of others, etc. The devil often establishes the narrative that Christians foolishly embrace. Spiritual Christians should constantly be vigilant about the underlying spiritual goals of Christ which is winning souls for Christ and/or inspiring believers to commit to Him more. Spiritual warfare is often less about "winning" verbal contests than portraying the respectful, magnetic character of Christ that woos people to love Him. Additionally, successful spiritual warfare is often less about the evil out there, than dealing with our own sympathies with demonic agendas and devices.