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?

Acts, The Apostle Question

After a my last entry, I have had much feed back and time for reflection.  This week there are a few things I want to clarify, then a few more points on the book of Acts.  In my last entry I asked some questions that when I received feed back nobody seemed to answer. The main one was, when did the manifestations stop and where in scripture can we back that up? 

There seems to be this prevailing thought that many think God only worked through the twelve apostles. Where do we find that. Now, I will not debate with anyone on the ideal that the church was established on the foundation of those apostles and they will be represented in the coming kingdom (Eph 2:20 NKJV) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,) In the ideal that there were only twelve who were with Christ who may have been called apostles and none since I would agree.  Yet I can not throw the whole ideal out that God uses people in an apostolic way.  Let’s look at what Paul had to say about this.

(Rom 1:1-6 NKJV)  Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God {2} which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, {3} concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, {4} and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. {5} Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, {6} among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

(Rom 11:13 NKJV)  For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

Paul in several places sets the record strait about his apostleship.  I used these first two just to show you his claim.  I have heard from those who say to be an apostle you had to have seen Jesus.  In all my searching I could not find any place in scripture where qualifications are given to be gifted, or called by God other than being faithful and obedient.  I guess one could try to make the case in Acts 1. 15-26, that to be an apostle, one had to be with Christ during his earthly ministry.  That then would eliminate Paul, for he only saw him in vision. If seeing Jesus is qualification for being an apostle then everyone who claims they have seen Jesus could be an apostle.  We all know we cannot thrust in everyone’s claims alone.  Yet I would like to see where we get the ideal that only the twelve plus Paul were apostles, Barnabas is called an apostle in Acts 14.14.

Let’s look at the very word apostle. The Greek word used is apostolos, which means delegate; spec. an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ["apostle"] (with miraculous powers):--apostle, messenger, he that is sent.  With this understanding I feel anyone who is obedient to the gospel and have a God called purpose on their life could possibly operate as an apostle.  A missionary for example going to a land that has not heard the gospel and establishes a group of believers could be considered an apostle, like Paul who took the gospel to the gentiles, establishing groups of believers.  Paul even said that we are ambassadors for Christ II Cor. 5.17-21.

Lets look at another scripture where Paul mentions apostles.  We should take notice in how Paul gives an account of the resurrection and those who give witness to the event.  He first mentions Peter and the twelve.  Which twelve is Paul talking about, Judas had already committed suicide by the time Jesus arose and appeared to Peter.   Was he referring to Matthias, who was chosen by lot not called by Jesus?   Then Paul mentions five hundred brethren, none of whom he mentions names.  The next verse he says James the brother of Jesus had seen Jesus alive.  In the book of Acts we understand that James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem.  Could he not be considered an apostle since many of the other apostles answered to him and the church council?  In verse seven, Paul tells us all the apostles seen Jesus alive.  Notice no number is given and the time line would exclude Judas and Paul from this group. He already mentions twelve so who was Paul talking about when he says all the apostles?  Paul then mentions his own testimony of seeing the risen Lord in his vision, and him being one of the apostles.  Is it me or does it seem that Paul is making a distinction here?  Not all the twelve were apostles, but some of the foundation apostles were a part of the twelve in which Paul was not a part of the original twelve.  My Point is this, if one is to make the case for whom is an apostle based on what we read only in Acts 1, that one had to be with Jesus, then the foundational twelve would have been completed in Acts 1, with Matthias by lot.  Then if you read it to be just those who have seen Jesus after resurrection (I Cor. 15) the number is more than twelve, including Paul, and maybe the five hundred.

(1 Cor 15:4-9 NKJV)  and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, {5} and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. {6} After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. {7} After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. {8} Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. {9} For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Now, before you get upset at me, I want to state here that I do not believe in the abused use of the term apostle today.  There are many false leaders calling themselves apostles.  There is the false teaching of the five fold ministry. There are those who claim they have special callings who teach false doctrines, in which I fully disagree with.  This is nothing new Paul even dealt with this as well.

(2 Cor 11:12-15 NKJV)  But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. {13} For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. {14} And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. {15} Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Paul used some strong language in the above scripture, and I think we should not be afraid to do so as well.  There are false teachings out there that only leads people into bondage and false hopes.  Those who follow such teachings always end up in despair and confusion.  This will bring us to another scripture from Paul that will help clear up this confusion and lead me to the point I made last time and want to make clearer. 

(1 Cor 12:27-31 NKJV)  Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. {28} And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. {29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? {30} Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? {31} But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

 (Eph 4:1-7 NIV)  As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. {2} Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. {3} Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. {4} There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- {5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism; {6} one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. {7} But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

(Eph 4:11-14 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 {13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. {14} Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

With the understanding of what the word apostle means I want to make the case that God still have all aspects of His gifts working in the church today.  One would be hard pressed to prove otherwise with scripture. We do however need to look at what is said by Paul.  In I Cor. Paul makes it known that there is diversity in the gifts.  We need to understand there is a difference between gifts and manifestations and I will deal with this later. It is God who gives the gifts and chooses to whom they are given.  It’s not yours or mine to decide who gets what.  We are encouraged to desire the greater gifts.  Yet, Paul tells us there is something more important. I will deal with I Cor. 13 later.

In Eph. Paul does the same thing as he did in I Cor.  He lays out what is more important and what we should be looking for in knowing a gift that is in us or another person. He stress that there needs to be humility, love and an effort to keep unity. 

When I questioned the lack of true manifestations in today’s church, I said that maybe it was because the gospel was not being preached like it should in unity.  I was talking about manifestations and not gifts. I had many responses asking to whom I was referring to. No one is my answer to that.  I think if we take what Paul says here and begin to understand some basics, we can come to an understanding.  I feel it is very clear that there is only one faith and one God, well you can read it.  No mater what, almost everyone would say Amen to those verses.  Now, how that is defined becomes the many doctrinal differences.  I will stand firm in believing is says what it says. In Acts we find this was not a problem for they all followed the apostle’s doctrines. The basic message I was referring to in Acts last time was the simple message of Jesus the son of God who lived a sinless life, died and rose again to set all sinners free, then ascended to the Father with a promise to return and set of a kingdom on this earth.  This basic message has over the years been muddled up so much by doctrines of men that hardly anyone knows what truth is. Yet it is so plain in scripture.  You have to just open your eyes and read for yourself without your doctrinal glasses.

In the above verses Paul lets us know two things.  God through Jesus gave gifts to lead the church into truth that produces unity.  (It should be obvious that we are not in unity) Not one of those is mentioned to be finished or done away with.  They are all needed to complete the task that is before us. If you remove one gift you have to remove them all. Until we reach the unity in the faith we need all the gifts.  Who God chooses to give what gift to is not up to me.  However I have been given a measuring stick so to speak, to make sure those who claim they have truth and a gift do measure up. Like I have told many in my responses , it’s by God’s grace who He chooses to use and not mine to fight against.  Yet I will measure all that I see today by the Word of God, like the verses in Eph. Four. 

If you are not seeing spiritual manifestations, it could be one of several reasons and only you can answer for yourself.  Just don't dismiss them as not of God or not for today.  Maybe you feel you have the true gospel message but reject the gifts.  You may feel you have a gift but reject the true gospel (I am not sure you can have a gift without truth, but that’s up to God). Maybe you lack Godly love, or real compassion.  You might have the gospel, but you are not bringing people into unity.  I could go on an on.  I can only seek God for myself in these matters and desire the best God would have for me.  Who am I to judge another in their heart?  I just want to be found obedient to God and the faith.  Over the next few weeks we will look at the manifestations some more and I just want to be a humble servant as I present some thought and insight.  

The Acts

Some call the first book of the new church as chronicled by the writer Luke, the acts of the church.  There are others that call the book acts of the holy ghost.  I think either one really fits, but I lean towards the church.  This is a book showing us the birth of the New Testament church of which we are still a part of.  This week I want to point out a few observations I have mad of Luke’s retelling of our beginnings, and the fulfilling of Jesus’ promise of holy spirit.  Then there are a few points I would like to make with a few questions for those who struggle with holy spirit manifestations.

If we take Luke’s account of everything in the book of Acts to heart I feel we need to admit a few things.  First, it needs to be understood that this book is not a complete history of the beginning of the church.  It comes from one writer and focuses on just a few people and events that were important to the transition of ministry to the gentiles.  That is how many of us have been given this wonderful privilege of knowing the gospel message and being born again in baptism of holy spirit. Let’s start at the beginning.

  (Acts 1:1-3 NIV)  In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach {2} until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. {3} After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Notice here that nowhere is there a mention to how many people saw Jesus alive.  None of the writers of the gospels give an account of how many people saw Jesus after the resurrection.   Yet it is Paul who later gives us some ideal of how many witnesses there were to Jesus being alive. 

(1 Cor 15:5-8 NIV)  and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. {6} After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. {7} Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, {8} and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Paul tells us that one time Jesus appeared to over five hundred before he was taken to the Father.  This is also giving us an indication that it was some time during those forty days before he was taken.  The five hundred were not on the mountain when he was taken.  The only record we have is Luke’s and he does not tell us but gives us some kind of ideal.  That it was the apostles and maybe a few others who are mentioned in verse 14.  Mary, Jesus’ mother and his brothers, there is no indication to any others. 

Why is what I am pointing out important?  I want to make a point here that nobody really knows how many were in that room when God gave the gift of holy spirit.  Yes, in verse 15, Luke mentions about a 120, but there is no time line given from that verse to chapter 2.  Some could have been added or for some reason some could have left, we just don’t know.  I know we have heard the massages telling us there were 120 that day that received the holy spirit,  but they just did not read the account right. So what, you may say.  It does make a difference when coming to truth and trying to understand what God was doing and still doing in His church.

You see for those who say that the manifestations and tongues was just for the Apostles or just for then, miss understand Luke’s account and the rest of the scriptures.  One should notice how Luke starts Acts and then how it finishes.  It is like he is continuing from his gospel Luke into Acts, but never gives it a finish or real end.  No salutation, farewell or mentioning of continuing thought.  He does not even mention the end of Paul’s life of whom he was giving an account of at the closing. The book is left open like it is to be finished.  That brings me to a point I want to make.

A number of years ago I heard a well known Bible teacher say that the days of the Apostles, signs and wonders, tongues, and the manifestations were over because we had a completed Bible today. I may not be saying it exactly like he did but basically this is what he said.  Since then I have heard him say it on a number of times and have also heard others say basically the same. Before I go any further, I want you to know I do believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and is complete cannon of scripture.  Then there is where I draw the line.  I do not think it was an accident that Luke did not finish the book of Acts.  It is still being written.  The acts of the church are not over until Jesus returns.

Where do we find in scripture that it is all over, done and God does not need the church to be filled with holy spirit?  Where does God say he stopped needing the gospel preached with signs following?  Where does He tell us we don’t need tongues anymore?  If God is no longer working through the gospel message with power of holy spirit, what’s the point of us gathering, worshiping, or praying.  Why should we bother God with our prayers if He does not do any of those things today?  If I need a miracle, I don’t want to ask any of you who think God doesn’t operate in the manifestations to pray, you’re not going to believe for answers to your own prayers. Then what would be the point in believing for anything if those days are over.

My point is this, I truly believe what God started in Acts chapter 2 was just the beginning.  The birth of His glorious church was done, but the church is not complete, or finished.  Yes, God has given us His word; we call it the Bible, but he has not stopped talking to and operating through His church. The gift of holy spirit was given to us to bring us to completion, the day of resurrection, and the return of our Lord Jesus.  In the book of Acts, the writings of Paul and the others we can conclude this also includes all the manifestations.

Another thing I observed is, this was not just to a select few.  We can also see it was not just to leadership, but all those who were faithful to the gospel message.  Acts chapter 3, 4, 8, 10, I could go on an on.  Paul in chapter 19 found a few that where just baptized in Johns gospel and he laid hands on them and the spoke in tongues.  Even in chapter 2 everyone who was in that room spoke in tongues.  Now this is the only recorded time that what they spoke was understood by those who heard.  Yet, in that same account we may be able to say that not all of them spoke an actual language.    (Acts 2:13 NIV)  Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."  With this statement, that some considered them drunk, maybe there was some just babbling in tongues.  Luke gives no other account of understandable language being spoken.  He does however give witness to many other accounts of people speaking in tongues upon receiving holy spirit.

Another thing I noticed was the first eleven chapters is about the growth of the church in Jerusalem.  How it grew from those baby stages and dealt with the struggles of all that was going on.  Luke gives us a pretty good picture that they had to learn on the fly.  They were just doing what had to be done as it developed.  We also see because of this that God moved mightily on others that were not in leadership.  Then there are the seven that were selected by the people, yet God seemed to endorse this as well.

Then the rest of the book of Acts is primarily devoted to the ministry of Paul.  Yet we find God using many others in the manifestations as well.  Paul did not back down or give any indication that the holy spirit was different for the gentile believer.  I will say this, Luke shows us that Paul never claimed everyone he prayed for was healed or spoke in tongues, yet we can see he expected it to happen every time he prayed.  Paul’s ministry was that of a delivery of the gospel message to the nations in which he did have signs following and that brings me to my next observation.

There seemed to be a close connection to with the gospel message and the manifestations of the holy spirit.   Maybe that is why today we are not seeing the manifestations like they had.  We have stopped preaching the true message of the gospel and the coming kingdom; therefore there is no power or true manifestations.  I know there are those who will say they have it all working in their church, or point out their favorite evangelist.  My question is, are they true manifestation or embellished stories, emotional frenzies, or just something that happens now and then. 

Upon close reading you will find that many of the signs and wonders happened, not in a group of believers, but before unbelievers. From the beginning it was the speaking in tongues that got the crowds attention.  There was not a church service going on when people put their sick loved ones in the street, hoping that the shadow of Peter would fall on them and be healed.  Paul did more in adverse situations than many of us do in ideal church conditions.

The point I want to make is we need to get the gospel message back.  We need to seek for the true message of Jesus and the coming kingdom.  Jesus himself was moved to obey his Father and stick to the message he was given.  The people in Acts did the same.  They were faithful to the message and like Jesus, had real compassion on those who were lost. They used the scriptures to show God’s love and fulfillment of promises.  They never made claims that God was done or that was all there was.  They preached with expectation, of God’s promises and the return of Jesus.  They understood why the gift of holy spirit was given and had expectations for its manifestations.  God worked through and on anyone who would believe, and I say he still does today.       

(Mat 9:35-38 NIV)  Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. {36} When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. {37} Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. {38} Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."