Purpose by His Spirit

Being the holiday season many folks see the season in many different ways.  I want to draw on this to make a point about the work of holy spirit in believers.  We call this time of year Christmas season followed by a new year.  Now the New Year may or may not have any spiritual meaning to the church.  Some try to make it a spiritual time of renewing and fresh starts.  There is no biblical reference for new years but all the same if that works for you take the time to reflect and refresh your spiritual commitments.   

It is Christmas I want to use for an example of unity yet diversity.  In Christianity we have those who do not celebrate at all to those who may fully engulf themselves in the season celebration.  Now, today we have facts about Christmas, and a person only needs to remove all the folklore of Jesus’ birth and read the accounts for what they say in scripture to see how we celebrate Christmas today could really be called pagan more than Christian.  I am not going to split hairs with anyone about this.  Just to clear the air, I deal with the season out of tradition more than truth.  This is not the point I want to make.

The point I want you to see is that all over the world people look at and celebrate Christmas differently.  There may be a few and I do believe the numbers in comparison is few that may condemn those who celebrate Christmas.  I think there are a larger number of those who do not celebrate Christmas, but choose not to condemn those who do.  As a whole no matter what the doctrinal differences maybe about who Jesus is we seem to just let each person celebrate the birth of Jesus in there own way.  In doing so I have not heard very many believers question the fact that Jesus was born, is the son of God, which lived and died for all mankind. 

How does that fit into the subject we are dealing with?  You see many of the same people, who will overlook how one may celebrate the birth of Jesus, will not overlook a few doctrinal differences in other areas.  You see the fact is God did give his spirit to the church to help us and to produce His image in us.  Yet we will fight over all the details of how that works.  Yes, I hunger and search for truth, but as I find it I must learn how to first apply it to my own life and then to lovingly share with others. 

This Year I got a phone call from a person I never expected wishing me a Merry Christmas.  That person is a Muslim; I play golf with him now and then and he works at a place I do business with.  When I first started talking to this person he was afraid if I knew he was a Muslim I would hate him.  I reassured him that I would not hate or attack his faith.  Over time I have had a few moments to share with him about my faith and I have allowed him to speak about his. Knowing Christmas morning that he did not celebrate Christmas in any form but took the time to call and wish me Merry Christmas said a lot about his respect for me.  With that said I know a couple of others who call themselves Christians who may not celebrate Christmas but would speak with condemnation to those who do.

I have seen this very thing throughout the church and among all the varying doctrines.  We all claim to have the truth, no wonder the world is confused about Christianity.  There is more unity under the influence of spirits in a bar than in a church many times.  Yet we all claim to have the same spirit of God.  Yes we may differ in how we define the spirit or if it’s what or who.  The fact still remains God gave His spirit to the church for our good to bring us to completion.

Truth is what we all should seek and we should all be able to talk to one another about what we discover.  We need to have the love of God shining in our hearts to do this.

  (Eph 3:16-21 NRSV)  I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, {17} and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. {18} I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, {19} and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. {20} Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, {21} to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Truth solely based on knowledge in a person by reason of hurts, rejection, and anger is dangerous.  I have a brother who by nature is a very honest and truthful.  In his younger days he just believed that God always wanted him to tell the truth.  The only thing wrong with that was he did not know how to do it with tack or love.  I cannot tell you how many times I had to work with him or stand in the gap for him because of people he hurt or made mad.  Today, he still feels very strongly about truth and honesty, but now he knows how to speak in love or be patient with those who do not see what he sees.  This has helped him become an effective minister in a church where he serves, helping the pastor.  He has helped transform a church in many ways, by being loving and patient.

How does that work in our subject of gifts and ministry of the spirit of God?  I think we can all agree that God has given His spirit, where we are divided is how that works in today’s church.  Without Godly love it does not matter what we believe, we will miss it everytime.  I strongly believe that God has given His spirit to the church and that includes every believer that calls on the name of the Lord, Jesus.  I know that there will always be those who will say that unless you believe Jesus to be what I believe, you are not saved, or if you miss certain doctrines God can not be truly working through you. I know we all have our pet scriptures but I refuse to go there.  I think this is something we need God to deal with and we just do what we are called to do.  I will say here that I cannot believe God has called you to tear down the body. 

So with all this said lets go into our subject and look at God given purpose.

 (1 Cor 12:4-7 NRSV)  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; {5} and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; {6} and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. {7} To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

The Greek word here for services is “diakonia” meaning to attend, aid, service, minister.  In other translations the word ministry is used.  Let’s look at Romans again.

(Rom 12:5-9 NRSV)  so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. {6} We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; {7} ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; {8} the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. {9} Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;

Notice Paul is making a very similar point here as he did in first Corinthians.  We all differ and have different purposes. Paul uses the body demonstration in both places.  You should also notice that Paul is not making room for anyone to exclude themselves from God’s gifting to them and the operation of holy spirit in and through them.  There are big roles as well as small ones, everyone has a place.  Everyone should be working in their gift and the holy spirit should be manifesting through and in every believer.  Now, how or what, that is for each person to workout with God, and not judge others if they are different. 

We are all different and we all should be submissive to the spirit and manifesting what is at work in us.  Just think what our church services would look like if every believer came to a service, with a song, a word, ready to serve, ready to give, ready to pray with and for others, and then had leaders who would allow God to work in a church service as such.  Then think what it maybe like if every true believer allowed holy spirit to work in and through them in the public market place, wow maybe we could really make a mark on our world.   I am going to close with some scripture, I want you to read and then lets talk some more about this.  You do have a calling and purpose in the body and in this world; you just have to let God’s spirit do what it was given to do.

(Eph 2:19-22 NRSV)  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, {20} built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. {21} In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; {22} in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

(Eph 4:16 NRSV)  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.

(Heb 3:1 NRSV)  Therefore, brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

(1 Cor 1:26-29 NRSV)  Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. {27} But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; {28} God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, {29} so that no one might boast in the presence of God.

(1 Cor 7:17 NRSV)  However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches.

(Col 3:15-16 NRSV)  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. {16} Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

(2 Tim 1:9 NRSV)  who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Correction or Encouragement

(1 Cor 3:1-3 NRSV)  And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. {2} I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, {3} for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?

Now this may seem like a harsh verse to start out this week.  I just want you to catch the tone of Paul’s teaching in his first letter to the Corinthian church.  This tone seems to be carried out through out Paul’s first letter.  With that in mind we approach chapters eleven through fourteen to see how Paul addresses the manifestations of the spirit, and gifts to the church.  As we deal with these chapters I want to raise some points and questions for all those who do believe in the manifestations and those who do not.

In Paul’s correction to the Corinthian church we should note a few things, and with that ask a few questions.

1. Nowhere does Paul discourage them from manifestation no matter how messy it was.
2. I would like those who say that the manifestations is over or no longer needed prove it by scripture.
3. Paul makes no case that the gifts of apostles, prophets, or such were exclusive to the original twelve.
4. It is easy to see the Corinthian church operated in the gift offices and manifestations
5. Much of what Paul does address should be taken in a tone of correction, yet encouraged to continue.
6. Paul did encourage the church to seek to operate in the manifestations, gifts, and tongues.
7. Unity and love for each other is the core of what Paul was seeking to accomplish in this letter to the Corinthians.

The questions we should be asking after reading Paul’s letter to the Corinthians might be like as follows.

1. What’s the difference between gifts, services, and manifestations?
2. What did Paul mean by “to each is given”?
3. Is it just for an individual personal use or the good of all?
4. What was Paul trying to get the church to see by using the body example?
5. What is meant by desiring the best gift?
6. What is the more excellent way Paul was talking about?
7.  Did Paul say tongues, prophecy, and knowledge was no longer needed?
8. What is meant by “Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church?”
9. Did Paul really encourage tongues and interpretations, and no more than two or three?
10. What was Paul saying when he rather we prophecy?
11. Can a person control what happens?
12. What about the woman issue?
13. What should decent and orderly look like?
14. What is meant by the spirit is subject to the prophet     

I will start in chapter eleven to hopefully show you what I have seen Paul teach the church.  As I have mentioned before Paul was correcting the Corinthian church in their conduct and I believe you have to understand the context of Paul’s mind when he does address the manifestations and gifts.  This seems to be clearly reveled in chapter eleven. 

(1 Cor 11:17-19 NRSV)  Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. {18} For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. {19} Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.

I believe these instructions are carried on through the next three chapters.  Notice, Paul was not giving them credit for doing things right and pointed out their motives and actions were wrong.  They were clearly divided and everything they did as group was most likely confusing and un-orderly.  As Paul began to first address the Lord’s supper we will find he was not setting a precedence on how to take the Lord’s supper as we have it today.  He was not telling the group how often to do it and the way we do it today most likely would never be accepted by them then.  As a matter of simple reading one should be able to tell they broke bread as often as they came together. 

(Acts 2:42 NRSV)  They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

(Acts 2:46 NKJV)  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

(Acts 20:7 NRSV)  On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight

 (1 Cor 11:26 NRSV)  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Paul was making it clear however that when the Corinthian group was coming together there was a complete disregard for others.  They were being selfish and arrogant, eating until overfilled and drinking until drunk while others did without.  This same attitude seemed to carry over into all the Corinthian group did.  They were divided over food, purity, leadership, their gatherings, and how they moved in manifestations and gifts.  They judged one another and most likely divided socially, having their little clicks.  Does this sound like many modern churches?   As Paul put it they were not paying attention to the rest of the body of Christ.  They had sick, hurting, wanting, some even dying and no one seemed to be concerned for the others, but themselves.

Paul was correcting this issue when he continued into the spiritual gifts.  It is because of our modern Bible with chapter breaks we tend to separate chapter eleven from chapter twelve.  We need to start in chapter eleven so we may be able to see what Paul was saying in chapter twelve when he began to address spiritual gifs like such.  With my own paraphrasing of what Paul said, “This is the attitude and way I want you to break bread with each other.  Stop judging one another and be aware of the needs of others around you.  Wait on each other and do not come to the meeting hungry if you can.  Then concerning spiritual gifts let’s not be ignorant.  Stop acting like you did when you worshiped idols. God’s spirit works in anyone who He wishes and just because they are not doing it just like you, does not mean they are not the Lord’s. As a matter of fact no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the spirit.” 

Paul, does go on and starts to set the record straight.  I think a person could conclude that the Corinthian church was messing up the gifts as well as the Lord’s Supper.  They most likely were having the same attitude and behavior towards one another in the gifts as well.  I do want you to notice that even though they were wrong on so many things, Paul not once told them to stop the gifts, manifestations, or the speaking in tongues.

I want to break down chapters twelve through fourteen as much as I can.  By doing this it may take several postings and articles to complete these three chapters.  So, let’s begin from the top.

(1 Cor 12:4-7 NRSV)  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; {5} and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; {6} and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. {7} To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Paul to me broke down the operations of God’s spirit in the church into four areas. 

1.      Gifts

2.      Services

3.      Activities

4.      Manifestations

We will start with gifts first.  The Greek word used here is charisma.  We use this term when it comes to people who naturally can do things, saying things like Johnny is a great preacher he has charisma.  The Greek meaning is a spiritual endowment, miraculous faculty, and gift.  I think that everyone should know that when God gives out gifts he does not take them back.  It is up to the receiver of a gift to be responsible in how they use the gift given.  We should never judge a person by their gifts; often this will lead you astray.  In the end God will judge all those who have received gifts and how they used them.

(Rom 11:29 NRSV)  for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

This is the same word used in Ephesians four when Paul address the five gifts of leadership as well as in Romans twelve when he address operations in church along with leadership.

(Eph 4:8 NRSV)  Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people."

(Rom 12:6-8 NRSV)  We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; {7} ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; {8} the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

I feel we can come to the understanding that God has poured out His spirit and birthed the church (Acts 2).  It is the deposit of what is yet to come, but until then it works in corporation with us. The spirit never forces its self on us and makes us do what we would not do on our own, that would be called possession (I will deal with this more later).  Because it works in corporation with us, it works differently in each of us because of our nature and personality. Paul said there were varieties of gifts, how many varieties one could ask.  I would say that would be hard to number.  There are those who would say just five according to Ephesians four.  I say five plus those mentioned in Romans twelve, then multiply that times the number of believers God has gifted by the different personalities and cultures.  The point I want to close with this week is we should not judge one another by their gifts; God does not gift two people just alike.  Unity needs to come to the church through our diversity of gifts.

Let’s Not Be Ignorant

(1 Cor 12:1 NKJV)  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

In this series on the manifestations of the holy spirit, I have talked about many aspects, parts in gifts and manifestations.  I started last week in Romans and will start this week in Corinthians.  It is unique that Paul starts out dealing with this subject by wanting the church to be informed in this matter.  It seems obvious that Paul was dealing with division in the church, and how the gifts were being used and holy spirit was being manifested.

Before I go anywhere with this I want to lay out some background and help shed some light on how Paul was dealing with this subject.  Paul wrote two letters to the Corinthian church.  In the first letter Paul is correcting a lot of issues he sees the church doing wrong and addressing questions from them. 

(1 Cor 1:4-10 NRSV)  I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, {5} for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- {6} just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- {7} so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. {8} He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. {10} Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.

From the beginning of Paul’s first letter, he makes it clear that he wants the church to be active in spiritual gifts, but also knows there are many hindrances to the gifts and the church.  So let’s look at some of the corrections which I feel are hindrances to God’s gifts working properly in our churches. I will briefly go through these and lead you up to Paul’s dealing with the manifestations.  I do want to make clear that most of what Paul speaks about is in the context of correction and should be read as such.  

Paul starts out with division in the church over leaders.  Things sure have not changed over the last couple of thousand years.  We still have followers of men more than followers of Christ. In dealing with this problem, Paul makes it clear that it is the message that is important not the man. That message must be rooted in the truth and wisdom of God.  This will lead us to the message of God, His son, and the coming kingdom.  God has often not chosen the brightest, smartest, or most educated people to carry His message.  God does not want man to receive the glory that only belongs to him.  I feel in today’s church, people are giving to much glory to men and those men are letting it happen.  Like then, still today this is causing division among God’s people.

Paul then speaks in chapter two about the work of holy spirit in man giving us wisdom that is not of this world.  I feel Paul is letting the church know without the manifestation of holy spirit we can never fully understand God’s purpose.  For god’s plan and wisdom is only revealed by the holy spirit.

(1 Cor 2:10-12 NRSV)  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. {11} For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. {12} Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

Could it be that those who deny the work of holy spirit is denying the wisdom and purpose of God?  

(1 Cor 2:14-16 NRSV)  Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. {15} Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny. {16} "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Maybe those who are too focused on what other men teach or their handed down traditional doctrines never come to understand God and how He may work in the church.  It could even be the intellect of many that they rely on their own wisdom that they miss out on the simple wisdom of God.  In chapter three Paul tells the church there is only one message.  There may be many types of personalities and gifts but one message, one foundation, Jesus and the gospel he laid out.

In today’s world I see much of chapter three working in the church.  Many of today’s Christians have bought into the current world view of God, His word, and His moral way of living.  I grew up in church and I can tell you first hand that in all the years I can recollect, I am seeing a decline in the faith and moral godly living among so called Christians.  I know there will be those who will call me old fashion or judgmental.  I may be a little old fashion, but I am not judging anyone.  It is the fruit and evidence I see in the church as a whole.  When I began to pastor some years ago, I never dreamed I would deal with some of the issues I have among Christians that grew up in church or had been a believer for many years.  It is like the church stopped growing spiritually and began to rely more on the wisdom of this world rather than God’s gift to the church, holy spirit.

(1 Cor 3:18-20 NRSV)  Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. {19} For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," {20} and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

We have a responsibility to Christ and are the ones who have the secrets of the kingdom.  We are called to be faithful to Jesus, and His message of the kingdom.  We are to be fools in this world to be what God has called us to be.  Jesus told us in John that we would be hated by this world, but yet we find the church trying to be accepted by the world. 

(1 Cor 4:20 NRSV)  For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.

We need to grow spiritually and let the holy spirit be manifested in this generation.  This generation needs the truth and a demonstration of God’s power and Glory.  Yet, like Paul was dealing with issues we still today deal with those same issues.

 (1 Cor 5:1-2 NRSV)  It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife. {2} And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?

Immoral behavior had entered the church and the church was not dealing with it.  This was the same church that Paul deals with in chapters twelve thru fourteen about spiritual manifestations and gifts.  So, for those who reject manifestations just because of the behavior of some of those that have the manifestations working in them, this church was full of error, yet seem to flourish in the manifestations. Notice nowhere does Paul tell them to stop in the manifestations.

  (1 Cor 6:1 NRSV)  When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints?

Then there was the issue of slander and lawsuits.  They were taking matters among themselves to secular courts.  My heart just breaks when I see church matters taken to government courts.  Christians suing Christians, churches suing churches, rights and demands handled through our court systems.  What has worldly wisdom got that the church can not find in God and His word?  

At one time I belonged to a fellowship that I already struggled with because I did not agree with much of their teachings, but I loved the fellowship and loved many of its members.  The last straw was the day I received a letter explaining their reason for taking a church to court over compliance to their bylaws.  I felt this was something I could no longer be a part of and quietly quit the fellowship.

Paul deals with divorce, foods, rights, and getting along with each other.  You may ask the question what has this to do with spiritual gifts and manifestations?  I am building a platform to the spiritual matters Paul deals with in the context of all this. We must recognize that Paul was dealing with all these things as he brings up the subject of spiritual gifts.  I feel the need to lay this all out before I can deal with what Paul teaches about spiritual gifts.  He is not just teaching, but also correcting what is wrong and we need to discern them both.  I have come to believe that much of what many Pentecostals teach about spiritual gifts and manifestations have been wrong.  I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be ignorant in spiritual maters.  So, let’s talk about this more next time. 

God’s Spirit Within Us

It has been a few weeks since my last post.  We here in the US have gone through a presidential election, and some major disasters on the east coast.  I have been taking the time to reflect and consider all that is happening around us.  Take our election for one, we can plainly see how divided we are as a nation and a church.  I am not a doom and gloom person, but one must ask how long OH Lord? 

This week I want to start to get back to the subject I have left behind a few weeks ago.  The gift of holy spirit and it’s manifestations.  I have come to the conclusion that the church is as much divided on this subject as baptism, Godhead, and church traditions on how to conduct a worship service.  Everyone talks about the holy spirit from being a person to how does he work in the church today, or how it has worked in the beginning of the church.  Words of hatred have been used and disrespectful name calling.  All this should show us that we are not seeing a true work of holy spirit in a majority of today’s churches.  Just because one does not understand, feel, or seen it work for them, does not prove it is not for today’s believer.

Starting today I will go book by book looking at a few verses and offering thought as we go.  Like I have said before in other writings, I am not a scholar or expert. I just try to read the Bible for all its worth, study, and through prayer and reliance on the holy spirit in me try to come to truth.  I can not answer for you why you may not be seeing the holy spirit at work in you or your group.  I can only read what God says to us in His Word.  For myself I have seen God work in me as well as others, yet I feel at times we are not seeing all that God would like to be doing through His church.

In Romans we find Paul addressing a wide range of issues, from the sinfulness of man in need of hope, to encouraging us in love.  In the middle of all this Paul does address the holy spirit and it’s working in the believer.  Paul ends his discourse on sin and man’s need to have God’s grace at work in us in chapter seven and begins the ideal of a spiritual birth and identity of believers.

(Rom 8:4-9 NNAS)  so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. {5} For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. {6} For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, {7} because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, {8} and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. {9} However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Here we can plainly see that for one to belong to God they must have the spirit in them. Then Paul moves on to say how the spirit affects our lives and flesh.  He seems to make it clear that the spirit has begun a work that is to be continually at work in us to bring us to God’s desired results in the end.  Then verse 14 speaks a strong truth “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”  To be a son one must be led by God’s spirit, so how can one claim to be a son and yet reject God’s leading by His spirit.  I feel to be led by God’s spirit includes the fruit of the spirit, the gifting to the church, and the manifestations.  Yes, I know there are questionable people whose lives and beliefs could be held in doubt claiming to be led by God’s spirit. Yet, that does not erase the truth and God’s ability to truly work in those who will truly follow him.

(Rom 8:26-27 NNAS)  In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; {27} and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The spirit also works for our behalf, communicating with God in unspoken words.   I know many will interpret this to mean speaking in tongues, but I do not think that this is clear.   The word groanings simply mean words or sounds that can not be understood, or under ones breath.  This comes from the inside of a person not from a prayer book or rehearsed prayers.  The point I want to make here is we cannot make a case for or against speaking in tongues.  Yet, I feel there should be a point in ones prayers that they speak things they themselves do not understand when the spirit intercedes for us.  I think one could conclude that a believer should live a spirit led life and seeing the spirit at work in them.

(Rom 12:3-8 NNAS)  For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. {4} For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, {5} so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. {6} Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; {7} if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; {8} or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

We have been given faith, is this what Paul was saying?  The word used here is pistis, giving us the ideal of profession.  So, we could say that to each one God has given us the same gospel, brought us into the same beliefs, to understand the same truth.  This raises a question, how is the church so divided, in their beliefs about God and how his spirit works?  When we can clearly see God has delivered to us all, the same faith.  It should not take long to see historically, man has created the divides in producing teachings that have done great injury to the church.  This may be why the world does not want anything to do with the church.

I want to drop down a few verses and see Paul encouraging us to exercise the gifts that is in us according to the grace he has extended toward us.  This does not make us special people or proves how spiritual we are.  I have come to understand that once God has given or promised something He does not take it back.  “(Rom 11:29 NNAS)  for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”  I know that this cause some people problems, when they see people exercise gifts or manifestations after they have messed up.  It is God’s grace at work and it is the earnest deposit of His spirit that produces results. 

Notice, Paul is encouraging prophecy among believers, as well as other areas of ministry.  In this setting Paul is not dealing so much with spiritual manifestation, as a matter he does not deal with it in Romans.  Yet, we can conclude he is encouraging the church to let the spirit lead us in prayer, church leadership, and gifts.   To be sons of God we are to be filled with God’s spirit and all that entails.  This is how we can cry Abba Father.  It is how the true faith of the gospel of God’s kingdom is delivered to us.  To me, to reject the holy spirit, its gifts and manifestations is to reject the gospel. 

In all Paul does not leave us hanging.  He shows us what that true nature of holy spirit should look like as he concludes chapter 12 an on.  The holy spirit will lead us in how we treat others and respond to those who mistreat us.  This faith has been delivered unto us to work effectively in this life, to produce God’s purpose and bring us to completion on that day.   My word to you is seek God for yourself and to be led by His holy spirit.  Let the spirit work in you and your prayers.  Prophecy, minister, give, and love one another.

The Religion of Politics

This week as we get close to voting for President of the United States and many other major votes, I want to deviate from my ongoing subject and step up on my soap box.

I have been thinking about this very subject for many weeks.  As I watch the news and converse with many people I feel the need to speak up.  No matter who you are or where you live please bear with me and read what I have to say.  We all can learn a little from others and I only hope to get you to think for a moment.

Over the years dealing with people as a pastor and evangelist I have learned a lot and have asked myself many things about what I have seen.  Even in Christianity we are so diverse in doctrine and political views, I am amazed by what is condoned and allowed.  So, if I may I want to compare religion and politics.  This may even seem like I am on my soap box and you are probably right.  Politics in many ways are just like our religious systems.

I do believe as believers we are called to a life of holy living and obedience to the teachings of Jesus. 

 (John 14:23-24 NKJV)  Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. {24} "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.

(1 Pet 1:15-16 NKJV)  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, {16} because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

This should apply to everything in our lives even how we judge between one another and look at our leaders, in our land as well as our churches.  With this said I will try to do a parallel of religion and politics.

Today, there seems to be this prevailing ideal of separation of church and state.  So there are those who will ignore their own convictions when it comes to politics.  Then there are those who completely ignore what happens in politics completely, but complain about the results.  There are those who try to make everyone else live by their own convections, condemning all those who do not agree with them to hell. I just hope to encourage you to prayerfully look at your own convictions and ask God what He would have you do.

The parallels of both are:

1. Both have leaders that people follow blindly
2. Everybody stays true to their party or denomination (to many this is a lifetime)
3. Every group has their own way of doing things (doctrines, traditions, platforms)
4. Each group or party thinks they are right
5. They all vie for power or control of money and policy making
6.  Leaders of politics and religion will say anything to keep their followers
7. War, character assignation, and lies are OK to maintain control
8. When followers are confronted with different thinking or truth they are greatly offended.
9. The end justifies the means
10. Many are willing to ignore their leader’s failures and lifestyles just because of what they feel they may get in return.
11. There are a large percentage of people who are ignorant of the truth and are dependent on others for their well being and will follow whom ever just because of what is promised them, or told what they may lose if they do not follow.

I am sure there is more we could add to this list.  You may have a few to add yourself and I would like to hear them.  This is just to get you to think and look what is ahead of us in this world.  We should never follow anyone blindly no matter what.  Each person should first follow the Lord and His commands and then participate in their given rights in what ever country they live in.  If you live in a place where you are not given such rights and freedom then above all follow Jesus and his teachings, live a life holy before the Lord and well pleasing.

The thing I don’t understand is how can so called Christians condone or go along with thinking or policies that are clearly contrary to scriptures and the teachings of Jesus.  I do believe in a fallen world a country can not legislate morality.  When we have a nation diverse as ours, with many doctrines and ways of thinking no one particular group should be in charge.  Like the saying goes and history has proved out, he who has the power makes up the rules.  That is properly why our founding fathers proclaimed that there would be not state church.  The State is to stay out of the churches business and the church is not to run the State.

This does not mean that the church can not influence the state and make a mark on our society.  For instance when one person took schools to court over prayer, where was the Christians?  When creationism was removed from our school books and Darwinism was forced upon our students, where were our Christian teachers? We could go on and on over issue after issue and in all we will find the Christian voice silent.  Except for a few misguided radicals that give true Christian love a bad name, as a whole the Christian has been silent.  When our statistics show that Christianity as a whole makes up the largest part of our country how does non-biblical things prevail.

Growing up in church, it was hammered into us that we had to separate ourselves from the world.  We were not raised up to be leaders in our community, just followers of doctrines and traditions.  We were raised to serve the Lord through the church.  To be a good Christian one just followed their churches teachings and served with all they had.  The result of such thinking has raised spiritually and socially ignorant people who just follow depending on others to provide for them.  So while we were being busy being separate, the sinful world was raising up educated men and women to run our country without God.

A few years ago we had a President that was honest about his faith and lead by His convictions.  I will not say I agreed with all he did, but I was amazed at how many Christians bashed that man and called him all kind of things.  Then this year the Democratic Party tried to remove any mention of God out of their platform.  We have a current President that is open about his views about abortion and homosexuality.  He has demonstrated a lack for Christian thinking.  Yet we have people who say they are devoted church going Christians who will stand and vote for such a person.

A few weeks ago I was asked how I felt about a person who was of Mormon faith being President.  After some thought and considering what the doctrines and what I know about the current president, what’s the difference?  We are a country that does not endorse any particular faith, what should guide us are principles that agrees with our God given commandments. 

I am not telling anyone how to vote or to what party one should be a part of.  For me I do not consider myself belonging to any party.  I vote by God given convictions and principles.  I just can not agree with anyone who will violate God’s commands and ignore the rights of the unborn.  In my book there is only God given morals, and any other morals that choose to be selective are often based on Godless ideals and humanism.  Our Government was not formed to provide the well being of its people, but to protect the liberty and freedoms of all.  Government is not the answer to society’s problems, but God and His word can guide us to a higher level of living.  Right belief in the one true God can bring hope and faith. My confidence is not in government or man, but I will exercise my right as a citizen to vote for a leader who’s moral convictions is closer to God’s word.  As long as so called Christians have warped views of God, Jesus, and His word they will always follow and vote with a blinded mind.  

In conclusion, how do you vote?  Have you prayed about it?  Are you blindly following a party line just because you always have?  Is your motive based on what you will get out of it or fear?  Are you dependent on the government or God?   Is your faith and politics similar?  How do you act when confronted with truth?  Do you ignore the basic principles of God’s word and blindly follow just out of traditions?          

     

I pray for our government and our nation.  We need a change from the top down as well from the bottom up.  If truth does not prevail in our doctrines and nation, we are heading for trouble.  I can only imagine what our nation will look like if we don’t see some changes.

It’s time to step off of my soap box now, back to my ongoing subject next week.

The Apostles Revisited

A couple of weeks ago I thought I could leave this subject and move on to what I really wanted to talk about.  After several emails and messages I feel I need to clear up my thoughts some more.  There are many who may think I do not believe in the five ministries mentioned in Ephesians chapter four.  I was just stating that I disagree with most of today’s modern teachings on the subject.  So, if I may this week try to clear up my thoughts on this.

A large part of today’s teaching on this subject leads to people believing in a restoration of Apostles like in Acts.  This often leads to abuse and men taking leadership, claiming special callings from God.  In story after story we find where this happens there is abuse and false leadership.  People seem to follow such men blindly and fall into spiritual bondage.  If one would just pay attention to the teachings of these men and their lives, you would find many errors in what they say and do.

We have just in recent history, right here in America many so called revivals based on such false teaching.  Over and over again we hear the leaders tell those in their meetings to stop checking out what is done and just go with the emotions and feelings.  This very thing has left many a poor soul shipwrecked in their walk with God. During my time as pastor in a Midwestern town of Missouri, just down the road from a so called revival, I dealt with many a broken life after revival got done with them.

Each story was much the same. I was told of strong arm leadership and demands for the faithful to take their word for what was being taught.  If they disagreed with leadership they were told they were going to hell, missing God, or just too carnal to see and know what they were teaching.  These people were hurt and dejected, many telling me they had their fill of church, never wanting to be apart of any church again.  Their faith in God is questioned and some even begin to doubt their salvation and God’s love.

Like I said before I grew up in church and in my late teen years and early adult life was under strong leadership.  They too taught what was called the five fold ministry and the offices of the Apostles and Prophets.  This kind of teaching only ended up in what I call spiritual abuse.  I only survived such teaching because I refused to check my brain out at the door so to speak.  I was willing to confront and ask questions, of those who tried to control our lives by their teachings.  In the end I had to leave and ended up attacked by those who could not control me. 

Before we go any further I started out this series about the manifestations and will get back to that.  I just want to make very clear that the manifestations and leadership gifts are not the same and should be addressed separately.  I do believe in both and that they should be in operation in today’s church body.  I just disagree with how they are both being taught and used in many churches today.  Don’t get me wrong, I do not feel I am anyone special that has some kind of revelation on this matter.  I am however amazed how divided the body of Christ is on this matter.  Then again I am so amazed how the body of Christ could be so divided on many subjects that I feel are pretty clear in the scriptures.

I started this blog page to speak my mind and to spark your thinking as well.  I wanted to open dialogue on many subjects and see what we learn.  It is time for the body of Christ to come into maturity, each believer to step up and stop following blindly and let God work through them.  Too much has happened in the church that should not have, just because so called believers just refuse to step up and pursue truth.  It seems that the average believer is willing to let somebody else do their thinking and remain a spiritual baby all their life.  I will even be blunt here and say I seriously doubt they are a real believer.  Faith without works or action is dead.

(James 2:26 NIV)  As the body without the spirit (breath) is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (emphases mine)

After saying what I said, let me get to today’s point. (Eph 4:11-12 NIV)  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, {12} to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.  If you would read the whole chapter, I feel you may understand Paul was not talking about any special calling or office of leadership.  He was not elevating one gift over another. He was however teaching unity, peace and maturity in the body of Christ.  Upon my study I find there will only be that special calling that was given to the first apostles and prophets in the Bible.  Paul does however teach about God’s gifts to the church in Romans, I Cor., and Eph. Each time he states it a little different and helps us understand he is not setting up a high calling of leadership.  Has God set up leadership? Absolutely!  That is clearly seen and should be honored and respected. Do I think there is a restoration of Apostles and Prophets? Absolutely no!  Let me explain what I mean.

Let’s start with some scripture and then I hope to expound on the verses I share.

    (Eph 2:19-22 NIV)  Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, {20} built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. {21} In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. {22} And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

(1 Cor 3:10-14 NIV)  By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. {11} For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, {13} his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. {14} If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

(2 Tim 2:19 NIV)  Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

(Heb 6:1-3 NIV)  Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, {2} instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. {3} And God permitting, we will do so.

(Rev 21:14 NKJV)  Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

I am going to draw from my many years of construction and home building to expound on the above verses.  One thing I learned early on in building any kind of home or building was the importance of the foundation.  Without a good foundation, not matter what you build and how good it looks it will not last.  Jesus used this analogy in Luke 6.48&49 concerning obeying the teachings of Jesus.  Another thing I learned was no matter what you would build on the foundation, it had to remain true to the foundation that was laid.  When we built homes we could change the look of the walls or even move a few in the floor plan, but we could not build outside the perimeters of the foundation.

How does that apply to the above scriptures and the apostles and prophets?  Let me explain. In Eph. 2, Paul tells us that the church then and still today is built upon a foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus being the main cornerstone.  If you look in Revelations 21, there is only twelve who are considered foundation Apostles.  So what was Paul saying?  There were only those men God called to lay the foundation of His church, and the foundation is already laid.  There will be no other foundation, but the one where Jesus is the main cornerstone. 

I can only hope to make this plain or understandable as I see it.  The special prophets Paul is referring to is all those that have already spoken about God’s plan for man through Jesus. We call that the Old Testament, and there will be no other prophets to add to what has already been spoken and written concerning Jesus, God’s plan for man, then and for the future.  If anyone claims to be a prophet today he can not add to what is already spoken or take away.  The calling of those kinds of prophets are over and the foundation is already laid. If anyone today stands up and says they have a special revelation that does not match the foundation already laid is a false prophet. Another meaning for prophet which I believe applies to today, is a spokesman for God. 

God still uses people to speak His will concerning others today.  That is where the manifestations come in.  God may and often does use someone to forewarn someone, advise or admonish another believer.  God has people he has gifted to help the body of Christ come into maturity, but we have to understand that all those kind of prophecies are conditional.  The foundation that is laid can not be changed but the walls built on top can.  God has laid the foundation of all His plans concerning mankind, the church, the work of Jesus and the coming kingdom, which will not be changed. God is done with those kinds of prophets, but prophets in building up one another should still be in use today.

The same pretty much goes for the Apostles.  God chose special men through Jesus to be the foundation of the church and all that God intended for the church.  These men all have died by the end of the first century.  God has and will not call any others to this special calling.  Paul made claim to be one of these men and said he laid a foundation for others to build upon. He warned us how we should build and what we did build would be tested.  He spoke about those who have tried to appose what he had taught (II Tim. 2) and said the foundation of God stood firm.  The writer of Heb. 6 tells us that the teachings of the Apostles are a part of that foundation.  The teachings of the faith, salvation, baptism, resurrection, judgment is already laid.  We need to follow what they have taught, and you can find that by rightly dividing the Word of truth, not following mans ideal of what it says.  That foundation is already laid and there will be no other.   

Another meaning for apostle is one sent by God.  That does and should apply today.  God still calls men to go forth and build upon the foundation, reestablishing truth and drawing people back to the foundation that is laid by the Apostles of Acts. One today could feel the call of God to go and establish a work or teach a truth that is in line with the foundation already laid for the church.  Anyone who goes around calling themselves apostles trying to lay their own foundation built upon their own revelations is a false apostle.  Anyone that goes around demanding to be recognized as an apostle, claiming special anointing over other ministries should be rejected. 

I feel that Paul was not elevating one gift over another.  They should operate in the church as one then as needed.  He was not giving them a special office or position. The work of ministry is to be done by the whole body of Christ not a selected few.  When we start seeing the church go back to the foundations already laid and the teachings of the Apostles we will start to see true maturity in the body of Christ.  A church operating as God intended it to be working in love and the power of God.  God did give apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelist, and teachers, to build upon the foundation of the original teachings of the Apostles, Jesus being the main cornerstone of all that is built upon it.  How are you building and on what foundation is it being built upon?