Category: Discipleship Foundations

One Reason Why It’s So Important to Keep Our Word

One of God’s attributes is his faithfulness to keep his word.

But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. 19  For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. 20  For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 21  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22  who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 (NASB)

How important is it for us to keep our promises? Many of us, who find it hard to keep commitments, go more by how we feel at the moment, instead of by what we may have promised. Sadly, this attitude impacts many a marriage. Too many of us blithely vow to be faithful unto death, but renege on our promises when “the thrill is gone.”

God is unchanging and he is absolutely truthful. He says what he means and means what he says. It is because of his faithfulness to his promises that we can have hope.

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19 (ESV)

All of us have lapses in our faithfulness to some degree or another. Most of us can bring to mind times when we let someone down. For some of us, this may have become a way of life. If so, acknowledging our sin and asking the Lord to help us change is in order. If we have placed our allegiance and trust in Christ, over time the indwelling Holy Spirit develops Christ’s character in our lives. He works into our lives faithfulness to our word. Perhaps he is speaking to your heart about this right now.

The more we become like God, the more faithful we will be to our promises.

King David wrote that God will honor…

 Those who…keep their promises even when it hurts. Psalm 15:4 (NLT)

One of Jesus’ titles is the Truth. (John 14:6) Every lie we tell is a betrayal of our Lord and grieves the Holy Spirit. It might even be said that lying is a form of idolatry because it elevates falsehood in our lives over the Truth. Conversely, the more we keep our word, the more Jesus’ truthfulness is evident in and through us.

God intends that our behavior should reinforce the gospel message. We do not want to give our hearers another excuse to reject Jesus by failing to live up to our word.

Practically speaking, if we prioritize keeping our promises, it will make us more careful about what we say. We will do our best to only commit to those things we actually plan to follow through on, rather than promising to do something simply because we hate to say “no.” We want to be regarded as honest persons who keep our word. It will make us be more respected, happier, a better reflection of God’s character, and a better transmitter of the gospel. None of us is perfect, but the Holy Spirit should be making progress in this area of our lives.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I praise and worship you for your perfect truthfulness. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you are the Spirit of Truth. Work your truthfulness in me. I repent from all forms of falsehood and ask you to develop Christ’s character in me. Help me to be an example that will not cause offense or a stumbling block to others. Amen.

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Chapter 97: Kingdom Teamwork

Just as our brains coordinate the efforts of each individual part of our bodies, the Body of Christ is composed of people who have a wide variety of gifts whom the Holy Spirit coordinates to accomplish the work of God’s kingdom under Christ’s lordship.

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work (Greek: energema - energy), it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.  Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

Following Christ is not a spectator sport. Each of us has a role to play and a job to do.

Therefore, one of our responsibilities is to discover who God created us to be and what he has equipped us to do so that we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit to fulfill that purpose.

For we are His workmanship (Greek: poiema - masterpiece, poem), created in Christ Jesus for good works (Greek: ergon), which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

Each of us has some understanding of our identity and our God-given capabilities. A portion of what we think about ourselves is based on truth, but not all of it. The devil lies to us constantly, and imperfect people often tell us things that damage us instead of encouraging us to fulfill our potential in Christ.

We learn the truth about our identity and God-given abilities from three sources.

  • The Bible,
  • The Holy Spirit, and
  • Godly people who speak truth to us.

Being human and having emptied himself of much of the privileges and power associated with divinity, Jesus seemed to have gained the knowledge of his identity and calling through these three sources, just as we must. We are not given a lot of information about how this happened, but below are some clearly identified parts of the process.

The Bible

After reading Isaiah 61:1 to the synagogue, Jesus announced that he was and is the fulfillment of that prophecy.

And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.  Luke 4:21 (NASB95)

At some point, while reading the scriptures, he understood that they spoke of him. We too can gain accurate information about our identity and calling from the Word of God, which offsets and corrects the lies spoken over us by our own hearts, ungodly people, the world, and devil.

Every good thing that is true of us is a result of our being “in” Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  Ephesians 1:3 (NASB95)

It takes faith for us to believe the words of the Bible. This is where the Holy Spirit comes into the picture. He is the one who reveals to us the meaning of the Word of God and imparts faith to us.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit speaks to us in a variety of ways. One of the most important is when he makes the written scriptures “come alive” to us.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.  1 John 2:20 (NKJV)

This happened to the disciples on the road to Emmaus as Jesus spoke to them about the necessity for the Messiah to suffer before entering his glory.

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”  Luke 24:32 (NLT)

Another way he communicates with us is by speaking in our hearts. Seldom do we hear an audible voice, but we can “hear” or perceive what the Spirit says. Every child of God has this ability.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  John 10:27 (NKJV)

It is also possible for the Spirit of God to communicate in an audible voice, as he did at the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus heard his Father says aloud:

… “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”  Matthew 17:5b (NASB95)

We all need to learn these things from our heavenly Father, whether audibly, through the scriptures, or in our hearts.

  • Identity – We are children of God.
  • Acceptance – We are well-pleasing to God in Christ.
  • Significance – We have something important to say and do.
Godly People Speaking Truth

Our Lord uses other people to speak the truth to us, too. John the Baptist, who was a prophet, was used by God in precisely this way. He publicly identified Jesus as the Messiah and informed us of his four main ministries.

  • Lamb of God
  • Lord
  • Baptizer in the Holy Spirit
  • Coming Judge

Paul exhorted Timothy to fulfill the calling on his life that came to him through prophecy.

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.  1 Timothy 4:14 (NASB95)

This is one reason why it is so important to be in fellowship with other believers who can speak over our lives and help us fulfill our calling and destiny in God.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.  Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
Teamwork

God places people in his Body in a strategic way so that our gifts and callings complement and strengthen each other, thus enabling us to corporately fulfill God’s purposes.

Now there are varieties of gifts (charisma), but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries (diakonia), and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects (energema), but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good… 11 But one and the same Spirit works (energeo) all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:4–7, 11 (NASB95)

The gifts of God in our lives equip us to do the work of the ministry.

God’s preloads each of us with gifts at birth that some call “motivational” gifts or charismata in Greek. Other gifts are manifested by the Spirit as the need arises in people who are open to them. Finally, we have gifts of service (Greek: diakonia) who are people Christ gives to the church. Some call this the “five-fold” or “ascension gift” ministry. Only a relatively few have this calling.

  • “Motivational” gifts (charisma) – Romans 12:6-8 – prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy
  • “Manifestation” gifts (charisma) – I Cor. 12:8-10 – word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning of spirit, faith, miracles, healing, prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues
  • “Five-fold” ministry (diakonia) – Ephesians 4:11 – apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher

In addition to these gifts, we have individual “callings,” which can be individually perceived and corroborated by others through gifts of the Spirit called prophecy and “words of knowledge,” whereby others perceive what God has put in us or called us to do.

Another important factor is ascertaining what energizes or motivates us. Some call this our “passion.”What we are passionate about can be a good indicator of our calling.

A final factor is to consider what natural or learned abilities or capabilities we have. For example, if we are fluent in a foreign language, this can open doors for us. If we are good with computers, this can be an indication that we could serve in this way.

We have a responsibility to discover what God has put inside us that he wants us to use for the kingdom and his glory. Once we figure that out, we have a responsibility to submit ourselves to the transformation process whereby the Holy Spirit works on our character to make us suitable representatives of Christ. When we are ready, then it is a matter of surrendering to what God wants us to do.

Usually, we will be working in teamwork with other members of the Body. This means we will need to humbly recognize our place on the team.

We are to consider others better than ourselves, and, if we have a leadership role, to use that position to encourage the whole team.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  Philippians 2:3–4 (NLT)

 

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Chapter 99: The Basis of Our Freedom

We got ourselves into our current terrible situation of sin and bondage by turning our backs on God and can only escape with God’s help. In fact, our deliverance, healing, and restoration depend entirely upon the help or grace of God; although, we do have a part to play. Without his initiative and intervention, we would be hopelessly and eternally lost. Without his continual sustaining power through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we cannot keep ourselves free. But through him, we can experience all that Jesus died to provide for us.

Jesus came to restore us to God’s intended way of living in complete harmony and partnership with the Holy Spirit. It is a gloriously liberated way to live!

All things begin, continue, and end with God.

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.  Romans 11:36 (NKJV)

Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Each Person of the triune God contributes to what the Bible calls our “great salvation.” (Hebrews 2:3) Our heavenly Father is the One who loved and chose us before the creation of the world and planned our salvation before we ever took our first breath.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 4 For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love. Ephesians 1:3-4 (NET1)

Abba Father is the kindest and most loving Person we will ever know.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:4–7 (NASB95)

But our heavenly Father is also completely just, holy, and righteous, and our sin created a huge obstacle to our ever being able to enjoy the fellowship and intimacy that he wants us to share with Him. We distanced ourselves from Abba through our sinful betrayal of his trust. His desire to show mercy to us stood opposed to the requirements of his truth and righteousness. How could God’s righteous anger at our sin ever be reconciled with his tender mercies?

Abba’s amazing plan manifested wisdom beyond that which is human. It is…

...the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (NET1)

Abba’s solution was for His only begotten Son, the eternal Word or Logos of God, to become a human being and offer Himself as a perfect substitutionary sacrifice in our behalf.

Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We] saw his glory — the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. John 1:14 (NET1) 

But when this priest [Jesus] had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy. Hebrews 10:12-14 (NET1)

In addition, by the genius of what theologians call “identification,” God caused us to participate in Christ’s death and resurrection, having placed us “in Christ”, in whom we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings.

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NET1)

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has 
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in 
Christ. Ephesians 1:3 (NET1)

 To make the solution perfect, our heavenly Father sent His Holy Spirit to indwell each believer.

God’s Spirit lives Christ’s life in and through everyone who is born again.

He is the Great Helper and Enabler. He is our life and power source. He is the One who transforms us into the people God wants us to be. He is our guarantee that God will complete what he began.

Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 (NET1)

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (ESV)

Every great team has unity, clearly defined job descriptions, and superlative abilities. The Trinity is no exception.

In fact, the very concept of team originates in God.

The Father is the planner. The Son is the executor who carries out the Father’s plan. The Holy Spirit is the administrator who works behind the scenes to assure the success of Father’s plan and the Son’s execution of that plan. Another way to put it is that the Father chose us to be his very own. The Son died and rose again to ensure the outcome, and the Spirit draws us to faith in Christ through the Gospel and applies the benefits of the finished work of Christ to our lives, bringing the Father’s plan to fruition. This plan will be completed at the Second Coming of Christ, when we will experience the final installment of our great salvation, the resurrection from the dead.

Paul tells us that:

When all things are subjected to him [Abba Father], then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:28 (ESV)

God is our final destiny, the goal or end of salvation. To Him belongs all glory forever and ever.

It is extremely important to understand and believe that our salvation begins and ends with God.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NASB) 

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34  For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 35  Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36 (NASB)

Our salvation began with Father’s plan to bring us into his family. The conclusion will be when we receive our resurrected bodies and heavenly reward. The in-between, the time in which we now live, is also dependent on God’s graciousness; although we play a vital role. The coming of our Lord, his death, burial and resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit were all accomplished before we were born. None of us had any “say” in that plan or the accomplishment of it.

As Paul wrote,

So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. Romans 9:16 (NET1)

Our part arises when we hear the gospel and respond.

If we are among those who believe, something happened in our hearts when we heard the gospel message. The Bible tells us that it was a result of the inner work of God’s Spirit combined with the outer call of the gospel that produced in us the desire to surrender our lives to Christ. Jesus made it clear that God is the initiator, not us.

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44 (NET1)

We must make the choice to believe in and serve Christ, but the mystery of God is at work beneath the surface of things, so that we can all agree that God deserves all the glory.

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NET1)

The reason I have gone to such great lengths to show God’s integral involvement with every aspect of our salvation is to give us a solid foundation for hope. If our salvation rests on our shoulders and faithfulness and depends on our abilities, our will power, our holiness, or our goodness, we are in big trouble. But if our salvation rests upon the Father’s choice to love us, the Son’s finished work, and the power of the indwelling Spirit, we are in good shape.

If we are going to experience true freedom, we will need to come to terms with acknowledging and relying on the God who works through his freely given grace.

We cannot approach him through our own goodness or performance. Likewise, neither our lack of goodness (apart from Christ) nor our poor performance thus far, is any deterrent to our being able to experience God’s ability to set us free. We are able to come to God solely because of Christ’s righteousness. We have none of our own. We must make it our goal to…

...be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness — a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness. Philippians 3:9 (NET1)

Only when we learn to rely on God’s love, kindness, righteousness, grace, power and authority can we experience all that Christ died and rose again to give us.

We dare not shortchange ourselves and “frustrate the grace of God” by trying to save ourselves. It will never work and will only leave us confused and frustrated.

Jesus did not come to help the religious and the self-sufficient. He came to save sinners who acknowledge their spiritual poverty. (Matthew 5:3)

The psalmist wrote:

They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them. 4 You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel. 5 Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes.  Psalm 44:3–5 (NLT)

We must answer Christ’s call and come to Him with no imagined ability to save or liberate ourselves, but with full confidence that freedom can be experienced by grace alone. Jesus said:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry. Matthew 11:28-30 (NET1)

God’s promise is that when we understand how much he loves us, learn to live by faith in the power of the Spirit, and believe what the Bible says is true, we will be able to live in a way that brings glory to God.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 (ESV)

If we will make it our goal to rely on God’s grace, believe his truth, operate in Christ’s authority, and live by the power of the Spirit, we too can experience freedom in Christ. That is the basis of our freedom.

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Chapter 98: Overview of Spirit-led Counseling

The Bible calls Jesus the Wonderful Counselor. (Isaiah 9:6) Since he created us and knows everything about us, he is the one person who knows how to set us free. When he launched his public ministry, he quoted the prophet Isaiah to summarize his mission.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”  Luke 4:18–19 (NLT)

Sin imprisons every human being. Jesus said that everyone who sins is a slave to it. (John 8:34) Satan takes advantage of our captivity to sin to hold us in bondage.

The gospel is the proclamation that Jesus died and rose again to provide for our release.

When Jesus rose from the grave, it demonstrated his victory of sin, Satan, sickness, and death. When we place our faith and allegiance in our Lord, we are born again in the spirit. The Holy Spirit takes up residence in our lives as our spirits become one with him. (I Corinthians 6:17) We are recreated in the spirit, becoming a new person on the inside. However, we are made up of spirit, soul, and body. The recreation and justification of the spirit does not automatically transform us at the soul or body levels of our existence. God provides salvation for the soul in a process the Bible calls sanctification or transformation, which takes place as we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit on a day-to-day basis. The body will not be completely saved until the resurrection.

Spirit-led counseling can help with the transformation process and assist in liberating the soul from bondage, which comes from a variety of sources related to sin.

  1. Inherited generational devastation,
  2. Lies that form strongholds in our minds and hearts,
  3. Unhealed traumatic pain, and
  4. Demonization

Each of these areas of bondage needs to be addressed as part of our liberation process.

Generational Devastation

Generational devastation is present in every family to some degree or another. Sin always has negative consequences, and some affect those we love. Children may suffer harm because of the sins of their parents. For example, if a father commits a crime for which he is imprisoned, the entire family suffers as a result. Fatherless households often produce insecure children who get into trouble. The family may not have adequate income to properly provide for the needs of their children, denying them the opportunity to get a good education. Without fatherly discipline and guidance, children face an increased probability of repeating their father’s sins and the generational cycle.

The judgments or consequences attached to sin are called curses in the Old Testament. Jesus took upon himself the curse attached to sin when he became a curse for us by being nailed to a cross.

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.  Galatians 3:13–14 (NLT)

Spirit-led counseling relies on the Holy Spirit to help the counselor and counselee to identify any generational sins and devastation that has been (is being) passed down in the counselee’s family. Each area needs to be addressed in the following manner.

  1. Confess the family’s participation in the sin(s) associated with the devastation and ask forgiveness.
  2. Proclaim Christ’s victory over every aspect of the judgment associated with that area of devastation.
  3. Confess that the family is no longer under that curse or judgment, thanks to Christ.
  4. Ask God to establish the very opposite as a new family legacy. For instance, if the generational devastation is verbal abuse, ask the Lord to make the family known for its kind and affirming words to each other.

Christ healed us by his wounds, but, when we get sick, we need to appropriate and confess his victory over sickness by faith. In the same way, we are to appropriate our Lord’s victory over generational devastation when we identify it.

Lie-Based Strongholds

Jesus is the Truth. (John 14:6) His truth sets us free. (John 8:31)

Satan uses lies to block us from experiencing God’s blessings.

These lies can come from a variety of sources.

  1. What we are told by family, friends, and enemies, such as, “you will never amount to anything.”
  2. Our own conclusions, which are based on life experience. For example, if we are abandoned by our mother, we may conclude that we are unlovable or that everyone we love will abandon us.

When we are young, we do not have an adult capacity to critique what we are told. Children believe what is spoken over them, and even when we find out later that much of what we were told was a lie, we may still believe it at a heart level.

True freedom from a lie comes when we believe truth in the heart. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can minister to a person at this level.

When we hear another person tell us the truth, we often deflect it by using the shield of the lie we believe at the heart level. For example, a person may feel unloved because he was abused by someone who should have protected him. When we tell him that God loves him, he may say, “I know that, but why did he allow the abuse to happen.” The presence of a “but” often reveals a lie-based stronghold.

Spirit-led counseling asks the Holy Spirit to reveal the lie. Once that is identified, we ask the Spirit to speak to the person about this. This can happen in a variety of ways. The person can discern the voice of the Lord in his or her spirit. God can make a Bible verse “come alive.” The person might discern the voice of the Lord coming through another person during a sermon, counseling, or simple conversation. In a counseling session, time should be set aside for silently waiting on the Lord to allow him to speak to the heart of the counselee. When he or she hears the Lord speak, it releases them from the lie in a most incredible way.

Unhealed Traumatic Pain

Jesus is the healer of body and soul. Spirit-led counseling addresses unhealed traumatic soul pain caused by deep wounds. These wounds can fester into bitterness and lie-based strongholds.

Whereas God’s truth liberates us from lies, Jesus must heal our wounded hearts.

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.  Psalm 147:3 (NASB95)

When a deep unhealed soul wound is identified, such as what may occur if a person is betrayed or abandoned, it should be brought to the Lord in prayer for healing. Most likely he will speak to the heart of the wounded one from Scripture or some other way. If bitterness attached itself to the wound, that should be confessed and forsaken and the offender verbally released from any debt owed, spiritual or material.

One cannot move forward in healing and deliverance if any bitterness is present.

Demonization

Demons seek to gain a foothold in our lives where there is generational devastation, lie-based strongholds, or unhealed pain. If any demons are identified, they should be cast out after dealing with what gave them entrance.

Conclusion

When we counsel people, we should bring together our knowledge of the Bible, whatever wisdom we have gained through life experience, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and prayer. We should commit the counseling session to the Lord in prayer, reminding ourselves aloud that we are clothed with Christ’s righteousness and authority. We should bind any and every evil spirit that might try to hinder the process. We should ask the Lord to help us hear his voice only. Once that is done, we should proceed with the childlike expectation that he will guide and assist us, since he desires the counselee’s liberation far more than we do.

After the session, we should commit the counselee to the Lord to watch over and protect him or her from any counterattack of the enemy. Usually, it takes several sessions to achieve the desired level of freedom.

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Chapter 96: Dangers to the Local Church

There are both external and internal threats to the local church’s well-being. Some of these are obvious, but others are more hidden. Some threaten her ability to be effective and fruitful. Others, her continued viability. Scripture warns us about these dangers. In this lesson, we will look at some of them.

Wolves among Leaders

Internal threats are quite often the most lethal.

Betrayal from within is difficult to defend. Paul warned the elders of the church in Ephesus that “savage wolves” would try to hurt the church and pull people away. Sadly, he predicted that some of the leaders would act in this manner.

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.  Acts 20:28–31 (NKJV)

It is noteworthy that Paul told them that it would happen after he was no longer on the scene. This likely would happen because of the absence of his keen discernment and apostolic authority. They would have to depend on the Spirit and learn to hear him for themselves. It takes practice to get good at this, and the devil wastes no time going after those who are new at overseeing the church.

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.  Hebrews 5:14 (NASB95)

Jesus warned us that it is often quite a challenge to distinguish wolves from the genuine sheep, at least at first.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits…  Matthew 7:15–16a (NKJV)

Wolves are often gifted individuals, in this case, prophets, who seem to be a blessing, but their character betrays them eventually.

Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) We always eventually act according to what is inside us. Some people have a strong ability to discern what is hidden beneath the surface in a person and recognize wolves immediately, even before they can do harm. Churches need people like this, and local church leaders do well to listen to their warnings.

Wolves seldom attack the strong ones in the herd. Rather, they seek opportunities to corner and lead astray young, weak, or spiritually unhealthy people, or anyone with a rebellious attitude, not protected by being in a right relationship with church leaders.  Those with oversight responsibilities need to beware of what goes on inside and outside the meetings.

Wolves operate under cover and not out in the open.

Those who are wolves in leadership roles will try to draw away a following. They will insinuate that the pastor is not someone to support. This is usually done on the sly and very deviously. Otherwise, it would be quickly spotted.

Absalom is a clear biblical example of this sort of behavior. He worked among the disgruntled to put a wedge between them and King David. He presented himself as a better alternative leader. Eventually he led a full-scale rebellion. Absalom was able to draw away some significant leaders into his coup attempt.

Wolves should be identified and removed by church leadership and every effort be made to keep people from being drawn away into sin and rebellion by them.

False Prophets and Teachers

False prophets and false teachers are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They use their spiritual gifts and influence to lead people away from devotion to God and to truth.

Both prophets and teachers are meant to present God’s Word to people. One does it via a gift of the Spirit called prophecy. The other through explaining the meaning of the Bible. Both prophets and teachers claim to speak for God, which requires faithfulness to God and truth. Those who go astray in this area open themselves to a stricter judgment from God. (James 3:1)

In the Old Testament, a chief characteristic or “fruit” of a false prophet was their attempt to lead people away from the truth and into the worship of false gods.

Instead of speaking for God, they spoke from their own misguided imaginations or from some demonic source.

If your brother, your mother’s son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (whom neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end), 8 you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him. 9 “But you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.  Deuteronomy 13:6–9 (NASB95)
And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.  Jeremiah 14:14 (NKJV)

It is not so much that prophets must be absolutely accurate in everything they say. Rather, the more important thing is the fruit that their prophecies produce.

In the New Testament, we are told that prophets prophesy “in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9) and their prophecies must be judged (1 Corinthians 14:29). This means that imperfection is expected and allowed, if it does not draw people away from the Lord, the truth of God’s Word, or the church.

It has been my observation that some put more stock in what prophets say than they do in the Bible. This is very dangerous and should be warned against. Nevertheless, we are told to highly esteem and desire the prophetic ministry, which is a powerful gift of the Spirit, either for good or for bad.

Even though Jesus warned us against false prophets (Matthew 24:11), the Bible also tells us to earnestly desire that spiritual gift. (1 Corinthians 14:39)

We should never try to quench prophecy to shield ourselves from its misuse. It is too valuable to the church.

False teachers are perhaps even more dangerous because they can cleverly weave the Word of God into error, thus capturing people’s minds in a lie that they think is biblical.

Peter warned us about their pernicious fruit.

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;  2 Peter 2:1–4 (NASB95)

The false teacher somewhat resembles Balaam, the false prophet, who operated from a basis of greed and immorality. Once again, we see that a false teacher, like a false prophet, is discerned by the fruit produced. All teachers are responsible to properly exegete God’s Word, to explain the meaning and application. Teachers do not get everything exactly right because God’s Word is very broad and deep. However, it is one thing to miss the meaning of a passage and quite another to lead people into sensuality and greed.

The Greek word translated “heresy” means to hold a divisive opinion that is contrary to Scripture. Truth can also be divisive, as proven by centuries of church history. A church can tolerate contrasting opinions about the meaning of difficult passages or concepts in the Bible, if unity is kept.

When teaching starts to divide the church, it is crucial for leaders to discern if truth is causing the division or error.

Paul wrote the heresies (divisions) must present themselves to make clear those who are following truth and those who are not.

But, of course, there must be divisions (literally: “heresies”) among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!  1 Corinthians 11:19 (NLT)

Over the years, the church has been divided repeatedly in its pursuit of truth. Error about core doctrines should not be permitted, but diversity in less important areas is acceptable. Love is always needed.

Legalism

Legalism is the attempt to attain or maintain a right relationship with God based upon our performance.

It can be blatant or subtle. It is dangerous in that it nullifies the gospel message of grace and holds people in bondage to the Law, which can never save us.

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. 5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. 6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. 7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.  Galatians 5:1–10 (NLT)

Legalism continually tries to invade our lives and local churches. It is like weeds in a garden: no matter how perfectly we think we have eliminated their presence, more always sprout. This is because our “flesh” is always trying to be good enough without God’s help.

Legalism is almost always “biblical,” in that it uses the Bible to support its claims. Those who do not understand properly the meaning of the Word can easily fall for a slick presentation of legalism, just as did the Galatians. In those days, the Judaizers were teaching the Gentile believers that they had to become Jews in observance to be proper followers of Christ. That error still exists and pops up repeatedly.

More subtle forms of legalism crop up when those who seem to be more earnest in the spiritual life insist that others “measure up” to whatever standard they think they have achieved. This can be related to time spent in Bible study, prayer, fasting, etc. All these things are good, but no measuring stick exists to be used as a template. We are complete in Christ, and our devotion should be motivated by the desire to know and serve him better, not to achieve or maintain a certain level of spirituality.

Critical Spirit

When we judge people in an unkind or unloving way, we side with the accuser of the brethren against mercy.

Those who possess a critical spirit forsake their own mercy and sow discord in the church.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.  Matthew 7:1–2 (NLT)

A critical spirit is always looking for faults against leaders, other believers, their circumstances, and even God. Korah criticized Moses’ leadership and character and led others into rebellion. His judgment was swift and severe.

But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. 11 What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.  Jude 10–11 (NLT)

The opposite of a critical spirit is worship and praise. Romans 8:28 is a good antidote for the poison of criticism.

Loss of First Love

This subtle danger is seldom apprehended if we become religious and stay busy with the outward trappings of Christianity without realizing that our hearts have drifted away from God.

Jesus warned that this is a very serious condition against which we should guard.

But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.  Revelation 2:4–5 (NLT)

Repentance and going back to spending time in worship, prayer, and meditation on the Word of God is a good first step to getting free from this great peril.

Toleration of Sin

If we tolerate or make excuses for sin, it can cause sin to proliferate in the local church and reduce the fear of God. This is easy to fall into in a culture such as ours, when we are continually bombarded with temptation. We need the Holy Spirit to help us walk in the tension between grace vs. a proper intolerance of sin.

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.  Revelation 2:20–23 (NKJV)

 

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Chapter 95: More about Five-fold Ministry

Five-fold or ascension gift ministries are appointed by our Lord Jesus to equip the church to fulfill its calling and function.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.  Ephesians 4:11–16 (NKJV)

Jesus appoints men, and sometimes women, to carry some portion of his unlimited ministry. A person may function in more than one category, but usually one is dominant. In other words, an apostle may also teach and evangelize, but his or her main gifting will be apostolic.

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;  Romans 1:5–6 (NASB95)

for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.  2 Timothy 1:11 (NASB95)

Five-fold or ascension gift ministers are not called to do all the work of ministry or be considered as “clergy.”  Rather, our job is to pass on to others what God has given to us. These ministers impart to the church what they have received. For example, apostles will not only mentor other apostles, but they will also equip and inspire the church to fulfill its apostolic calling to go and make disciples.

Five-fold ministers are first and foremost servants to the church, not some sort of ministerial hierarchy.

Anyone who uses the gift to carve out some sort of niche or position for himself is suspect of misusing the gift and falsely representing Christ.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:45 (NLT)
Apostles

The first people called apostles were the twelve our Lord chose to be closest to him.

Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  Matthew 10:1–7 (NASB95)

The Greek word apostolos as used here means a messenger or delegate, one sent forth with orders.

Jesus gave them authority to heal and cast out evil spirits and to announce the coming of God’s kingdom. When Jesus chose this word to describe his sent ones, it was not a religious term.

During the time of the ancient Greek orator Demosthenes (384-322 BC), the word apostolos was a naval term that described an admiral, the fleet of ships that traveled with him, and the specialized crew who accompanied and assisted the admiral. The fleet would be sent out to sea on a mission to locate territories where civilization was nonexistent. Once an uncivilized region was identified, the admiral (called the apostolos) — along with his specialized crew and all their cargo and belongings — would disembark, settle down, and work as a team to establish a new community. Then they would begin the process of transforming a strange land into a replica of life as they believed it should be. Their purpose was total colonization of the uncivilized territory. Within this special fleet of ships were both the personnel and the cargo required to establish a new culture, a new life, and a new community. When that fleet pulled up to shore, it contained workers trained to build roads, construct buildings, and teach uncivilized natives how to read, write, and function in a new kind of social order. Thus, the admiral became the team leader for the construction of a new society…

The word “apostle” also described a person who had the authority to act much the same way an ambassador represents his government to another government. This classical and secular meaning of the word apostolos meant an envoy sent to do business on behalf of the one who sent him. Thus, a governmental apostle served as a personal representative, emissary, messenger, agent, diplomat, ambassador, or charge d’affaires. This person officially possessed the clout and influence to speak and act in the place of the one who sent him on his assignment. So when the ambassador — apostolos — spoke, his words were counted as the words of his sender. When the apostolos acted, his actions were interpreted as those of his sender. The connection between the sender and the person who was sent was almost inseparable.

This reveals the New Testament apostle’s position to speak and act on behalf of the Lord. This is a governmental position within the Body of Christ, and as such, an apostolic ministry gift should be received as one with great spiritual clout and the backing of Heaven. (The Historical Meaning of the Word “Apostle” by Rick Renner)

Jesus gave his apostles this kind of authority to represent him and his kingdom. He told them that they were his representatives, and their acceptance would be the same as accepting him and God in heaven.

He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  Matthew 10:40 (NASB95)

Paul understood and embraced this concept of apostleship, too. He and his team ventured into unreached areas of the earth to preach the gospel and install kingdom of God communities called the church wherever he went, thus extending Christ’s rule.

Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.  Romans 1:5 (NLT)

One of the main functions of the apostle is to preach the gospel and then establish God’s oversight in the resultant churches in the form of ordaining elders to govern and oversee things.

After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Acts 14:21–23 (NASB95)

Apostles help establish churches in sound doctrine, too.

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 3:10–11 (NASB95)

Since they have authority derived from spiritually planting or “fathering” the churches launched through their preaching ministry, God uses them to bring correction when needed.

Apostles have what might be called “spheres” of authority based on their involvement and acceptance in local churches. Paul believed that he had such authority in the churches he planted.

I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.  1 Corinthians 4:14–16 (NASB95)

If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.  1 Corinthians 9:2 (NASB95)

In summary, apostles are delegates sent by God to evangelize through preaching the gospel and to establish sound doctrine and governmental oversight in those churches raised up under their ministry. They have authority to bring correction as needed, provided the local elders receive the apostolic ministry and authority.

Paul indicated that true apostles can be identified by the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit in their lives, too.

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.  2 Corinthians 12:12 (NASB95)

Today, we often use the term apostle to describe anyone who has oversight over a network of churches. This is more akin to the idea of a bishop or overseer. Those who seem to carry apostolic anointing and authority today usually have a heavy emphasis on world missions and travel extensively, strengthening and encouraging God’s people. This aspect of the apostolic ministry was fulfilled by Paul when he revisited the churches he had previously planted.

But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.  Acts 15:40–41 (NASB95)

The New Testament records that there were other apostles besides the original twelve, Matthias, and Paul. James the Lord’s brother, who became the lead elder in Jerusalem, was also numbered among the apostles. (Galatians 1:19) In Romans, Paul lists other apostles. (Romans 16:7) There is no reason for us to believe that God no longer calls and appoints men to be apostles. The need is great for such people.

We must be called by our Lord Jesus to be an apostle.

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),  Galatians 1:1 (NASB95)

We should never try to self-appoint ourselves but should wait for others to confirm this calling in our lives. Churches should be aware that some who claim to be apostles are not.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.  2 Corinthians 11:13–15 (NASB95)

It is our responsibility to identify these people and call them out to protect the church from their destructive influence.

Prophets

Prophets are uniquely called by God to be his spokespeople and deliver a rhema word of God at the appropriate time. God uses them in a foundational way to help establish churches in cooperation with apostolic ministry.

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.  Ephesians 2:20–22 (NLT)

Apostles, prophets, and teachers are instrumental in establishing the church in God’s truth.

A prophet is most concerned with God’s will being done more than anything else.

A prophet is not someone who merely prophesies. Rather, it is someone called by God to operate on a higher level of authority and maturity to be God’s spokesperson. Like other five-fold ministries, the person who carries this unique calling and grace is Christ’s gift to his church. It often takes years to properly prepare and “season” prophets. A mature prophet is God-called and God-trained. The prophet belongs first to God, then to the church, and lastly to him or herself. In other words, like other ministries, prophets are servants.

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers...  1 Corinthians 12:28a (NASB95)

Prophets often call the church to a deeper level of consecration to the Lord, which begins with repentance.

They sometimes warn the church about what may be coming, as Agabus did about a coming famine in the New Testament. (Acts 11:27-28)

They can also help identify those God calls to ministry.

Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for

John the Baptist was called the greatest of prophets by our Lord. (Luke 7:28) His greatest accomplishment or privilege was to identify our Lord as Israel’s Messiah and to describe his four-fold ministry as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), the Lord (v.26), the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16), and the coming judge (Luke 3:17).

They also can show the church what God is doing or going to do so that the people can properly understand and cooperate.

Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.  Amos 3:7 (NASB95)

In the Old Testament, prophets were called seers. (1 Samuel 9:9) This was because “seeing” in the Spirit is integral to the prophetic ministry, whether we are called as a five-fold prophet or simply operate in the spiritual gift of prophecy. When God called Jeremiah, he gave him a “crash course” in how to properly interpret what the Spirit of God enabled him to see. (Jeremiah Chapter 1.)

Unless we can interpret what we see, it is relatively worthless, like wheat compared to the outer husk or chaff that contains it.

Prophets can see in the Spirit and hear God’s words spoken either audibly or in their hearts and know how to properly interpret them, as required.

As with apostles, prophets receive their commission directly from the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:5) If we receive such a calling, others will be able to recognize and confirm it. Also, as with apostles, there is no reason for us to assume that God no longer appoints people to this ministry. There is as much need today as ever.

Being a prophet is no light thing. Even though the normal New Testament function of a prophet is to build up the church, exhort her, and offer comfort or consolation (1 Corinthians 14:3), quite often prophets see things before others do and go “against the grain” by challenging people in areas in which they may be resistant.  More mature prophets may be used by God to deliver predictive, directive, or corrective messages.

Prophets must have a high degree of courage which comes from fearing God more than men. (Jeremiah 1:17-19)

Jesus warned us that we must be prepared for disapproval and even persecution at the hands of our hearers.

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.  Luke 6:26 (NKJV)

Some prophets are called to the nations, as was Jeremiah.

“See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”  Jeremiah 1:10 (NASB95)

This is a much larger sphere of authority and responsibility. Most prophets will be used in the context of local churches.

One essential characteristic for New Testament prophets is that they love the church.

Prophets in general are held in high regard, since their ministry is somewhat sensational to the average person who is not so gifted. As such, they must be careful to speak words that will properly communicate God’s heart to the church at large and to the individuals to whom they minister. They will also bring words of correction and repentance, but there should never be any tinge of harshness or condemnation.

In the local church, prophets will develop others in the same ministry, giving away what they received from God. The church will grow in its prophetic capacity as a result.

Prophets should make room for others to prophecy by choosing to recede as appropriate.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;  1 Corinthians 14:29–31 (NASB95)

This passage addresses the difference between prophets and those who operate in the gift of prophecy. Prophets should make room for less gifted individuals to operate in the gift of prophecy, rather than hog the show, so to speak, through the strength of their gifting. When it comes to developing the overall prophetic ministry of the local church, prophets should probably adopt the attitude of John the Baptist, who said his ministry should decrease for our Lord’s to increase. (John 3:30) The average person will probably be somewhat intimidated by the strength of a prophet’s gift, unless the prophet makes it clear that his or her desire is for others to grow in their personal gifting.

Prophecy, and hence, prophets, are both one of the most desirable and powerful forces for good, while at the same time being fraught with danger.

Good results when prophecy is used properly. The danger arises when prophecy does not adhere to the Bible or if the prophet is not submitted to the government of the local church.

Mature prophets gladly submit to and work in harmony with the authority in the local church.

Prophets are meant to work in collaboration with the government of the church – apostles and elders. When the two operate in harmony and complementarity, things usually move forward at a wonderful pace. Problems arise when this is not the case, as I covered in the previous lesson.

Prophets are not a law unto themselves.

All prophecies should be judged since no one is perfect in our delivery of God’s message. Those who judge are other prophets (1 Corinthians 14:29), elders, and God’s people in general. Prophecies should be judged based on content, source, and effect.

The content must not contradict the Bible. The vocabulary of the Spirit is the Scripture. The source may be God, our own minds, or an evil spirit. It is rare that we will hear a demonically-inspired prophecy, such as happened to Paul in Phillipi. (Acts 16:16-18) The woman in question said correct things about Paul, but the apostle detected a wrong spirit of “python,” which operated in the oracle of Delphi. The effect a prophecy has upon the hearer is another test. It should direct the hearer toward Christ and minister peace. In the case of a corrective prophecy, the long-term effect will be peace; although, in the short run it may cause tension.

Lastly, it takes maturity to know what to do with what God shows us. Sometimes we are to pray about the revelation, waiting on God to show us what to do with it. At other times, we should share it openly. Sometimes, we may wish to have a more private setting, but always in the presence of trusted witnesses who can serve to judge the prophecy. We should beware of prophets who are outside of proper oversight. This can lead to manipulation.

Evangelists

The main motivation of the evangelist is to preach the gospel and see people born again into the kingdom of God.

They seem to have an intense understanding on the peril of those who are not born again. His or her heart may ache for the lost. They usually display great boldness when preaching the gospel.

Evangelists usually do not carry the burden to make disciples, plant churches, or provide pastoral care.

Evangelists need to work in cooperation with apostles, pastors, and teachers so that the people won to the Lord through their preaching can be properly discipled.

Evangelists have a responsibility not only to reach the lost but also to develop other evangelists and help the church in general grow in its evangelistic ministry.

Philip is a good example of the ministry of the evangelist. We see him preaching in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8) and to the eunuch (Acts 8:26 ff.) and promptly moving on to the next place. In the case of Samaria, God sent apostles on the heels of Philip’s ministry to lay hands on the new converts so that they received the baptism in the Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17)

Power gifts, such as healing, miracles, and casting out evil spirits usually accompany the ministry of the evangelist, corroborating the truthfulness of his message.

And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.  Acts 8:6–8 (NKJV)

The evangelist may be gifted to preach to large crowds or to smaller groups or maybe one-on-one. The anointing on their lives causes people to respond to the message. If an evangelist is the lead elder in a local church, the gospel will be continually preached with a heavy emphasis on people responding each week to be saved. In such a church, others on the team will need to provide pastoral care and in-depth teaching.

Pastor

The pastor or shepherd is anointed by God to care for God’s people through feeding (teaching God’s Word), leading, and protecting them from danger (false doctrine, sin and false brethren).

Pastors, following the example of Jesus, lay down their lives for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  John 10:11 (NKJV)

They are gentle toward the sheep, but fearless toward anything or anyone which threatens them.

When a true pastor is the lead elder in a local church, the people will be well loved and protected. They will be well taught, too, but probably with exhortation and practicality in view.

The Greek word poimen is only translated into the English word pastor once in Ephesians 4:11. The other 17 times it is used it is translated as shepherd. Over the years it has come to mean the one person who has overall responsibility for the welfare of a local church.

Pastors usually love and identify with the people. They often have a strong mercy orientation and may care more about people than issues.

The character of the pastor should match the qualifications of any elder. People in the congregation normally will grow to love and trust the pastor; so, it is vital that we do not betray that confidence and perhaps alienate them from the church and the Lord.

Today the ministry and responsibilities are often too great. He may be expected to preach the word, counsel hurting and troubled people, visit the sick, manage church business affairs and politics, and act as a type of CEO. The Bible ministry of shepherd does not require all these things. It is important that pastors assemble a team of ministers who can share these responsibilities. Five-fold ministers are not supposed to do all the ministry but to equip the church to do it.

Teacher

Teachers have no greater joy than searching out God’s Word and sharing what they discover with others.

Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.  Jeremiah 15:16 (NASB95)

The teacher receives revelation from the Holy Spirit which gives him understanding and knowledge.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.  John 16:13–15 (NASB95)

For example, knowledge is knowing that turning the key in the ignition of a car starts it. Understanding provides us with how and why this works.

Jesus was and is the greatest teacher. He has a way of taking complex subjects and making them simple, without eradicating depth of meaning. A teacher imparts life to his hearers and communicates truth in such a way that sets people free.

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.  John 6:63 (NASB95)

They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”  Luke 24:32 (NASB95)

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  John 8:31–32 (NKJV)

Teachers find fulfillment is studying the Bible, receiving revelation, and sharing content. They may sometimes lack in practically applying the Word of God and usually team well with other five-fold ministers who can effectively apply the concepts taught. When a teacher is the lead elder in a local church, the people will be well taught but perhaps need extra pastoral care and missional fervency, which can be supplied by others on the team.

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Chapter 94: Leadership in the Local Church

The government of the local church derives from the authority of our Lord Jesus.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

God appoints certain individuals to serve as “under-leaders” in the church. To these persons Jesus gives authority that corresponds to their responsibility to shepherd the flock of God.

 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.  1 Peter 5:2–4 (NKJV)
Elders

When Paul established new churches, one of the foundational things he did was appoint elders to govern them.

So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.  Acts 14:23 (NKJV)

Elders, which generally are older mature brethren who have godly character and wisdom, serve God by caring for God’s flock, the church, and are under the direction of the Great Shepherd, our Lord Jesus, and represent him.

Elders deserve our respect and honor as they fulfill their calling to care for God’s people.

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.  1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV)

Elders are to be selected from men who have solid character. These qualifications are listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and describe what should be the character of every disciple.

The anointing and authority given to elders and other ministers of the gospel cannot long endure if we are lacking the character to sustain them.

The anointing will destroy us if we do not have adequate strength of character.

It is important to keep in mind that governmental leadership is not the same as ministry excellence. Some people have both, but many of us have only one.

Elders are given governmental responsibility to oversee the local church. These men may not be proficient in pulpit ministry or spiritual gifts but they have a call to oversee and govern the church.

Those who are gifted teachers, prophets, and evangelists may not have governmental oversight responsibilities.

First Among Equals

Among the elders, God usually appoints or brings to the forefront one person to lead the group, a kind of first among equals.

Moses recognized the need for such a leader.

Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying: 16 “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”  Numbers 27:15–17 (NKJV)

God heard Moses’ request and appointed Joshua to fill Moses soon the be vacant responsibility of leading Israel. Moses ordained or commissioned Joshua for this task, thus communicating his authority to him.

You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him.  Numbers 27:20 (NASB95)

Without leadership, there often is confusion and perhaps even strife as leaders vie for influence. This leader is often called the “pastor” but may have another primary gifting, such as apostle, prophet, evangelist, or teacher.

Churches led by apostles will often have a world-wide missionary vision. When prophets pastor churches, there is a strong emphasis on holiness and obeying God’s current word to the church. When evangelists “pastor,” the church will have a heavy emphasis on evangelism and outreach. When teachers are the leaders, the church will be well-taught. Pastors will preside over churches in which the people are well-cared for.

Five-fold or ascension gift ministries – apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher – function at both the local level and translocally.

In other words, whereas elders on govern in their own local church, the five-fold ministry can function anywhere.

This leadership team should strive to maintain unity among themselves. This means that ideally there will be consensus in decisions, but we know this is not always possible.

A general rule might be for elders to follow the lead of the “pastor” unless one has a “check” or “red flag” about it.

In those cases, if possible, time should be set aside for seeking the Lord in the hope of reaching consensus. When this is not possible, the lead elder must make a decision, which the others should support.

The Nature of Godly Authority

Elders or under-shepherds carry an authority to build up God’s people rather than “lord it over” them.

I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.  2 Corinthians 10:8 (NLT)

God gives his under-leaders “spheres” or areas of authority.

It is important that we stay within these limits and not presume to have authority where God has not given us responsibility.

We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you. 14 We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ. 15 Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended.  2 Corinthians 10:13–15 (NLT)

For example, church planters have authority in the churches they plant. Elders have authority in the churches where they reside, but not elsewhere. Husbands have authority in their own families, but not in other men’s families.

In the church, we cannot demand people submit to our authority.

Authority from God must be first recognized and then received by the people, if it is to be effective. Leaders are not supposed to be “heavy handed” in how we handle the flock.

As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. 8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.  1 Thessalonians 2:7–8 (NLT)

Such godly leaders exercise their authority to protect, lead, feed, and watch over God’s people as a shepherd cares for his sheep.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  John 10:11 (NKJV)
Mentoring New Leaders

Leaders should make it a priority to develop those in the church who show potential to lead.

This means that those already in leadership will be willing to delegate responsibilities. Delegation means we still have overall responsibility, but we allow those to whom we delegate to devise their own methods to accomplish the task, under whatever level of supervision is appropriate. The greater the proven faithfulness of those to whom we delegate, the greater freedom we can give them. The goal is to develop the people around us to lead.

If we are unwilling for there to be any drop in the kind of excellence we might bring if we were to handle things ourselves, we probably will not be good at delegation. Training leaders requires us to allow those we are developing to grow into their roles over time.

When people in the church understand that making disciples is a priority, it will help them not only to tolerate the drop in excellence when people are first learning, but to cheer on those who are being mentored.

Calling, Vision, or the Burden to Lead

Those who are called and gifted to lead will have a “calling,” “burden,” or “vision” that comes from the Lord that motivates and sustains them.

Nehemiah is a great example of such a leader in the Bible. His heart was gripped by the plight of Jerusalem, whose lack of a protective wall made her defenseless against her enemies. His burden for Jerusalem’s welfare prompted him to ask the king for permission to return to his homeland to reconstruct the wall, which was granted. His single-minded devotion to this purpose gave him determination to see the reconstruction through to the end, despite continuous opposition, harassment, and threats from enemies. He clearly laid out the vision and influenced the people to accept the plan, worked hard to see it implemented, rallied the people when their courage and strength grew weak, rebuked internal enemies, and had the sense to avoid the traps set by external opposition.

Godly leadership, according to Jesus, assumes the role of a servant.

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.  Matthew 20:25–27 (NLT)

This creates tension between our understanding of how to fulfill the responsibilities of leading people set against the need to serve them.

The former asks the leader to step to the front and assume command. The latter instructs him or her to get behind or beneath people to push them upward or forward to become all they can be in the Lord. Tension is created between the leader’s courage and responsibility to tell people what God wants them to do and their need to have the humility to listen and help those who are hurting and stumbling along the path.

Perhaps the shepherd best describes this sort of leader.

It is no wonder that most who lead churches today are called pastor, another word for shepherd. Jesus was and is the greatest leader of all time. He is the Lord of lords, but he also humbled himself to serve all the way to dying on the cross.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:6–11 (NLT)

Leadership is listed as one of the motivational gifts, meaning that it is placed in us by God.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.  Romans 12:6–8 (NKJV)

Some people with dominant personalities are what might be called “born leaders.” Others, who are less dominant by nature, are also called by God and must learn how to lead along the way.

No matter which type we may be, if we are called to lead, we all need the Lord’s help because God’s way of leading differs dramatically from the world’s.

Dominant leaders must learn to serve and lead with humility, while deferring to the Holy Spirit. Those with less dominant personalities must learn how to step forward when they might rather stay in the background.

Moses is a great example of the latter sort of personality. He argued with God that he was not a fit leader to the point that God became angry with him. Before his time as leader of Israel was complete, however, he had become too self-confident, which cost him dearly. King David had a more dominant personality. He learned to submit decisions to God. When he did not, it usually got him into trouble.

God wants us to replace self-confidence, or the lack thereof, with God-confidence.

Some Desired Character Qualities of Leaders

Paul wrote that leaders must be diligent. (Romans 12:8) The Greek word spoude means to be earnest in promoting, accomplishing, or striving after something. God does not want anyone to be lazy or apathetic and certainly does not want leaders to behave like this.

Courage is another asset that leaders need. Sometimes we must stand for truth and God’s will when it is unpopular. We will also have to stand firm against those who resist or undermine our leadership or seek to manipulate us into following them instead of God.

Patience is another key character quality that good leaders need. Moses lost patience with the Israelites, and, in his anger, he misrepresented God to the people. This cost him by keeping him out of the promised land. (By the way, Moses represented the Law, which can never lead us into the promises. Only Jesus, (Joshua) can do that.)

Every leader needs keen discernment from God’s Spirit, which is an aspect of wisdom. Wisdom is knowing what to do and when. God wants every disciple to continue to develop the fruit of the Spirit, especially leaders who are out in front for everyone to see.

A Table Has Four Legs

Those who have leadership responsibility must rely on their God-given ability to lead, believing that God will show them what to do, the right way to do it, using the right people, at the right time.

God’s will might be thought of as a table with four legs.

Each leg is important to keep the table upright. These legs are God’s right thing, his right way, his right people, and his right timing. If one is missing, everything can be messed up.

For example, God told Abraham that his right thing was for him to have a natural born son. Abraham got tired of waiting and supposed that God wanted to have this son through Sarah’s servant, which led to the birth of Ishmael, whose descendants have been age old enemies of Israel. God’s right way was to use the right person, Sarah, at the perfect time, which came later. Isaac was the result of all four legs of the table being in place.

The Relationship between Government and Prophetic Ministry

Many local churches have prophetic people who are able to discern God’s will, which is the right thing. Often, they see what God wants to do far ahead of when he plans to do it so that prayer can be made to usher it in. If the prophet sees or announces God’s plan, it might be assumed that it is also the right time, which may not be the case at all.

God will not usually tell leaders the plan until it is the time for it to happen because they would probably mess it up by trying to make it happen too soon.

Prophetic people may become disgruntled with those in leadership because they do not think that they are adequately “hearing the Lord.” Leadership may become frustrated or intimidated by prophetic people because they do not seem to be hearing from God as do the prophets. If they dismiss or surrender their leadership responsibility to the prophetic, it will hurt teamwork. Both must appreciate what the other has to offer. The leaders should listen to the prophetic and then take it to God for his instruction and guidance. Prophetic people should communicate with leaders and leave things in God’s and the leaders’ hands.

The Role of Translocal Ministry in the Local Church

Local churches can benefit from trusted outside input or oversight. As mentioned before, the five-fold ministry can be thought of as being a gift to local churches to help them get started, mature, and handle serious situations that may arise. A wise eldership will invite translocal ministries to speak and interact with the leadership and people. It is a rare thing for a local church to have all five of these ministries present, but all are needed to help an assembly grow to maturity.

Over time, it is hoped that trust can be built between these ministries and the local eldership. Such trust will allow the eldership to turn to them for help on any serious issue that may arise.

Translocal ministries have an authority from Christ to minister and act governmentally, but their authority should always be submitted to the overseeing eldership of a local assembly.

If the eldership is fractured, this presents a more serious problem that might require five-fold ministers to exercise greater authority until the situation is rectified.

On a more positive note, we sheep are admonished to obey those whose responsibility it is to govern us.

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.  Hebrews 13:17 (NKJV)

 

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Chapter 93: The Spirit-Led Church

Teaching disciples how to partner with the Holy Spirit in ministry is one of the most important parts of the disciple-making process.

During the forty days after his resurrection, Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised outpouring of his Spirit.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)

After Jesus ascended to heaven, he poured out his Spirit upon the church on Pentecost to launch the church age, initiate the Great Commission, and to fulfill his promise to empower his disciples to be his witnesses.

This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.  Acts 2:32–33 (NKJV)

Jesus, the Word of God in human form, God’s own Son, partnered with the Holy Spirit to carry out his ministry.

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, Luke 4:18 (NLT)

Jesus demonstrated what it looks like to work in harmony with God’s Spirit.

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. John 5:19 (NLT)

If God’s only begotten Son depended on the Spirit to carry out his assignment, how much more do we need the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power to represent Christ and fulfill the Great Commission!

The Bible teaches that all believers live or abide in God’s Spirit.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV)

However, it is one thing to live in the Spirit and quite another to “walk” in step with the Spirit.

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  Galatians 5:25 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit lives inside every born-again person. It is important that we gain confidence in this enormous truth, which will enable us to trust in God’s transforming power within. When it comes to ministry, however, we must learn how to partner with him. Many people call this having God’s “anointing,” which simply means that the Holy Spirit is “upon” us in a tangible way.

The baptism in the Spirit is a gateway to effective empowerment for ministry.

(I cover this in other lessons in this series.) Once we receive the baptism in the Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, we need a daily refilling of the Spirit, because, as someone once said, we leak.

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-20 (NLT)

This refilling is available to us via a daily engagement with the Spirit in worship, thanksgiving, and prayer, which ideally should include times of simply listening. The Bible calls this “waiting on God.”

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!  Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)

The Bible and the Spirit always agree. They speak with one voice. The Spirit wants us to be continually alert. We never know when and how he will speak to us. Sometimes it happens as we worship, read the Bible, and pray. It could happen in our sleep through a dream, or as we contemplate. It takes practice to discern his voice. He wants us to get very good at it.

Jesus promised us that his “sheep” can and do hear his voice.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  John 10:27 (NKJV)

He wants us to believe this is the truth, even if we have not been able to properly hear him speak yet.

The Holy Spirit is our interface with God.

All followers of Christ can hear and communicate with God, but many do not know how or even believe they can. The Spirit will speak to us as we read and meditate on the scriptures. We can “hear” him in our own thoughts and heart, too. Sometimes his voice is so “quiet” that we must get quiet to discern it.

And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  1 Kings 19:12–13 (NLT)

At other times he breaks through unmistakably with a clear message.

When we are first learning how to detect his voice, we will probably need help from more seasoned disciples who can act as a “sounding board” for us to ask feedback on what we think God is telling us.

God is willing to work with us to give us more confidence that what we discern is indeed his voice. This happens when we are willing to “take a chance” and step out in faith.

He can and does speak to us through other people in sermons, counseling, and simple conversation, but it always takes practice to discern God’s will.

There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.  Hebrews 5:11–14 (NLT)

Lastly, circumstances can indicate what God is saying, but this too must be properly discerned. Sometimes we must press forward despite adverse circumstances. At other times, we should realize that God is closing a door. Once again, we may need to ask for help in discerning what God is saying. We can trust the Lord to make it plain to us and others.

Once we begin to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying to us, the next step is to gain confidence so that we can routinely and instantly obey his gentle promptings.

When we hear God, but disobey, it hinders our ability to hear, at least in the short run. As Henry Blackaby taught in his groundbreaking series, Experiencing God, when God speaks, it places us in a crisis of belief. Are we willing to make the necessary adjustments to overcome our fear and resistance to obey him?

Once we gain faith and experience in hearing and obeying the Holy Spirit, God wants us to develop proficiency in how to operate in the gifts of the Spirit.

Jesus’ ministry would have been very different had he not done this on a regular basis.

The gifts of the Spirit are provided to bless others and open their hearts to the Jesus and the gospel. For the uninitiated, operating in the gifts can be daunting, but it is not much different from learning to hear his voice. Once we discern God’s voice, it seamlessly transitions to operating in the gifts of the Spirit. In fact, we may discover that the Spirit of God has long been prompting us in the prophetic realm without our being aware. Once we become active partners, we might be surprised how fast he can develop us, but it requires faith and courage.

In conclusion, a huge part of the disciple-making process is to teach followers of Christ how to hear, obey, and partner with the Holy Spirit in every aspect of life, including ministry and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

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What do we do when we are unsure of our next move?

One of the most difficult and challenging times is when we are not sure of what to do next.

Because of Adam’s sin of partaking from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, we have an almost insatiable desire for knowledge. When confronted with an important choice in life, we want to know what to do. Not knowing creates a sense of angst inside us. Some turn to illicit means of gaining such knowledge, such as the occult. Because God was silent, King Saul turned to a medium on the eve of an important battle with the Philistine army to try to find out information God was hiding from him (1 Samuel 28). What should we do is such a situation?

God created us to rely him for everything. He is our Creator and Sustainer. Every breath we take is a gift. Without his continual upholding of our lives, we would fall dead.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power... Hebrews 1:3a (NASB95)

This does not mean that he wishes to keep us in an immature state, like a baby needing help all the time. Rather, God wants us to learn to trust him in an ever greater way to accomplish what would otherwise be impossible for us.

The devil tries to make us feel stupid and incomplete because we do not know everything. He tempts us to pridefully rebel against our God-given need to rely on the Lord. He used this successfully against Adam and Eve in the garden; so, we should not take this temptation lightly.

God did not create us as stupid beings, but he did limit our ability to know. Not knowing is part of the reason we are so dependent upon him.

The quest to be and act independently from God is a root behind all sin.

Jesus gave us the perfect example of God-dependent living.

He only did what he saw the Father doing (John 5:19) and spoke what he heard the Father saying (John 12:50). As a result of his perfect obedience to God, Jesus was completely free. Freedom is not doing what we please. Rather, it is pleasing God. Sin enslaves; whereas, God’s Spirit liberates.

Eve disobeyed God in a quest to know forbidden things. God asks us to trust him without having have all the information that we might desire. The Lord simply wants us to trust and obey. God tells us what we need to know at just the right time. Otherwise, we rest in the confidence that God knows all things and sovereignly oversees our destinies.

In God’s economy, faith in God’s faithfulness is more important than having knowledge.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

As the old hymn says,

Many Things About Tomorrow,
I Don’t Seem To Understand;
But I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,
And I Know Who Holds My Hand.

Everyone lives by faith in something, even if it is faith that there is nothing worth believing. Faith is based on believing what is unprovable using scientific methodology. The great mysteries of life must be accepted by faith.

  • Is there a God?
  • What is the purpose of life?
  • What happens after death?
  • What do I do next?

Those who say that faith is blind, do not know God.

When we take a step of faith, it should be based on something rock solid. God has given us his written Word in the Bible, and he has provided us with the Holy Spirit. It can still be “scary” to take God at his Word and act upon it, but such fear comes from a lack of experience of the faithfulness of God. The more we take such faith “leaps,” the greater our confidence in God.

The Spirit of God reveals God’s secrets to us.

But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 1 Corinthians 2:10 (NLT)

He speaks to our hearts and opens our minds to understand the scriptures. This is the kind of knowledge that God permits and encourages. Revelation from the scriptures and from the Spirit are gifts from God and minister life to us, just the opposite of what happened in the garden when the wrong kind of knowledge was pursued and brought death.

But sometimes God withholds what we might consider to be key information, leaving us feeling very unsure of ourselves and what to do next. Such a time is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our faith that God will reveal to us whatever we need to know and handle the unknowns for us.

If the Lord withholds information, it is because we do not need to know. Knowing that God knows all things and is faithful to keep his promises is enough.

God is good and trustworthy, and we can trust in him even when nothing else makes sense. We do not have to know everything. We just need to rely on the one who does.

To the uninitiated, living by faith without any knowledge of what is happening or going to happen can be disconcerting. But when we learn to live by faith, it produces a deep sense of joy and peace. God is more trustworthy than what we can see with our eyes or understand with our minds.

For we live by believing and not by seeing. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)

When we put our faith in him, he gives us a peace that passes understanding.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

So, when we are confused and unsure what to do next, it is time to find shelter in the “secret place” of God’s presence until he chooses to reveal what is the next thing we need to know. Until then we can choose to be content in knowing him.

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Overcoming Obstacles to Following Jesus

Followers of Jesus will face many obstacles on their discipleship journey.

Jesus warned that being his disciple is only for those who are willing to pay a price.

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT)

Because we are born with a sin nature and are inherently self-centered, we all tend to take the easy way, just as water seeks the path of least resistance. Very few embrace the difficult path by choice, but that is exactly what following Jesus requires. Is it any wonder that many of his would be disciples turn back from following him then and now? Let’s look at some of the obstacles to following Jesus that are listed in Luke’s gospel and see how we might overcome them.

Pressures from Family
If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26 (NLT)

One of the first hurdles every follower of Christ likely will face is the conflict between following Jesus and pleasing his or her family. Being a disciple is not something we do in our spare time. It is not something we add to our lives without fundamentally altering everything else.

Following Jesus is more like gutting a home and totally remodeling it than simply rearranging the furniture.

Following Jesus means that we choose to love him more than any other person or thing. Our relatives may misinterpret our dedication to Christ as hatred toward them. Jealousy and resentment may lead some in our families to demand that we choose between them and the Lord. Making this choice is a painful test which some fail to pass.

If we cannot put Jesus ahead of family, we may get mired into compromise and disobedience, which can dilute the power of our testimony.

We can only walk with those who agree to follow the path of obedience to Christ.

Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? Amos 3:3 (NLT)

A good way to overcome this obstacle is to ask God to protect our hearts from the pain of  rejection and trust the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to put God ahead of everything else, even family, if necessary.

Putting Our Own Interests First
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27 (NLT)

A cross was an horrible instrument of torture and death that served to remind people not to rebel against Rome. Everyone who heard our Lord’s words must have inwardly cringed. No one ever wanted to be crucified. Why would Jesus link following him with such a horrid death? Today, we use this term metaphorically, but to his early disciples, this was a real possibility. Many of his followers died painful deaths for maintaining ther allegiance to Jesus.

We are naturally motivated to preserve our lives. The second obstacle to discipleship is overcoming the impulse or habit to put ourselves first without regard for God’s will or the best interests of others. Being a disciple means we follow Jesus wherever he may lead. Evangelism is potentially a dangerous business, especially in countries that prohibit sharing the gospel. But even here in the USA people may suffer for their declared allegiance to Christ and his teachings. Following Christ means we choose to embrace our Lord and the gospel, no matter what the personal cost. God has a vested interest in enlarging his family, which happens when the gospel is shared and believed.

People who do not yet know Christ have a desperate need to hear the gospel, which trumps our desire for self-preservation. Jesus calls his followers to put their self interests behind his and those they serve, trusting that God will take care of them. Following Jesus may require us to make choices that may not always seem to be in our own best interests. In these cases we must choose Christ’s interests over our own.

These choices can involve to whom we relate , where we live, whom we marry, what job we take, how we spend our money and time, and possibly even whether we live or die. Martyrs make the choice to remain steadfast to Jesus at the cost of their own lives. This is the ultimate form of death to self, but the smaller day to day choices are usually what challenge most of us.

The ability to put others first and trust God to take care of us is a true test of faith. Overcoming the barrier of self-interest can be done with God’s help. We must trust the Holy Spirit to do this deep work in our hearts.

Paying the Cost

The third hurdle for every disciple is the financial cost of following Jesus, who is Lord of all, even our money.

But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29  Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30  They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 31  “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32  And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33  So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. Luke 14:28-33 (NLT)

The rich young man chose to walk away from following Jesus because he was unwilling to part with his wealth. Money represents different things to different people. It can be our ticket to comfort and material things. For others it provides security. Still others imagine that it provides power, recognition, and esteem.

Parting with our money means we are willing to let go of what it can provide for us and choose to trust God to provide everything we need instead.

The rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-24) did not realize he loved money more than God. He was surprised that Jesus’ offer of a place in his discipleship band carried such a heavy price tag – giving away all his wealth. When faced with having to make a choice between keeping his money or following Christ, he chose the former, to his own detriment and sadness. Jesus does not want us to be caught by surprise as was the young ruler, but to wisely consider the cost of discipleship prior to launching out on our journey with him.

Jesus claims the right to all we have because he is our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. If he demands that we give it all away to please him, we must do that. The cost of discipleship is more than monetary, however. Following Jesus will cost us our time, energy, freedom, family relationships, and may even impinge on our health. We are called to be willing to pay any and every price in order to follow Jesus. (Read Acts 4:34-37.) Overcoming this barrier requires that we honestly face our relationship with money and choose to put God first, trusting the Holy Spirit to develop faith in us that God is our ultimate Provider.

The Willingness to Endure Conflict

Anyone who chooses to follow Jesus will experience resistance and conflict. Spiritual warfare comes from the devil and from people who have a worldly perspective and are thus, perhaps unwittingly, aligned with Satan. Our enemy seeks to harass, intimidate, demoralize, and stop the work of God.

The more important our call and role is in God’s kingdom, the more intense the warfare we should expect.

God does not want us to be surprised by this, nor does he want us to surrender. God has made his children more than conquerors, but it takes courage and perseverance to overcome the enemy.

Spiritual warfare does not always show up the way we might expect. Suddenly everything may seem to start “going wrong.” Appliances or automobiles break. Loved ones get sick. Strife erupts. Discouragement pays a visit. Unless we are alert, we may be well on our way to losing the battle without even knowing that we are under attack. Disciples need to be alert and determined to acknowledge and praise God in all things because we truly believe Romans 8:28. Once we understand that we are in warfare, it actually gets easier to make a stand.

We cannot afford to be ignorant or oblivious to the devil’s tactics. (Read Ephesians 6:10-18.) What was the most costly conflict you have endured thus far that came as a result of being a disciple of Jesus? Were you surprised when it confronted you? Had you already made up your mind to push through it, or did you have to regroup? Have any loved ones suffered as a result of your commitment to Jesus? How is this different from personal suffering?

If we want to overcome this obstacle to discipleship, we should ask the Holy Spirit in advance to prepare and strengthen us to keep going when we encounter conflict and resistance. Retreat and surrender are not an option for a true disciple.

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)
Giving Up Everything

The last instruction Jesus gave to his followers was to renounce everything they owned. When we declare allegiance to Christ at water baptism, we sign a blank check and give it to the Lord. He gets to choose when, where, and how much will be the amount he asks us to pay, up to everything we have.

It is one thing to agree in principle that Jesus owns everything, but it is quite another to give up  all that we own.

Renunciation makes it official. All we have belongs to Jesus and every good gift comes from God. He allows us to use it as he sees fit, and we should be ready to dispose of it at a moment’s notice. I assure you that this is not my idea, but the Lord’s.

God is generous and wants us to enjoy what God has put in our hands, but he does not want anything to “own” us but God.

This is not necessarily a one and done proposition. We will probably need to continually disentangle ourselves from the pull of what we have until the day we let go of it all at death. He does not require the same things at the same time from everyone. We cannot compare ourselves to others in this matter. Ours is to faithfully follow the Lord on the particular path he has for us.

Prayer

Jesus, I choose to be your disciple and, with your help, I embrace the cost. I put my relationship with you over all my other relationships. I am prepared to be rejected by people who may misunderstand or hate my loyalty to you. My desire is for my family and friends to walk together with me on this journey of faith, but, if need be, I will choose to put you ahead of them, no matter how much it hurts. Lord, forgive me for loving myself more than I love you. I purpose to put you first from now on. Help me to boldly embrace any persecution or suffering which may accompany boldly witnessing to others and sharing the gospel. I ask you to help me choose to put your will over mine whenever there is a conflict. Lord, I give you my finances. All I have came from you and belongs to you, and I give it back to you. Help me to never back away from any cost associated with following you, even if it means death. Help me never to retreat or surrender to the attacks from Satan and those who serve him. I renounce everything I have – my relationships, my choices, my money, my right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, my comfort, my time, my peace – so that I can please you. I know that you will give me back more than I can ever give you. I totally depend on your grace and Holy Spirit to enable me to follow you as a disciple. Allow me to be an encourager to all those who call on your name. Amen.

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