by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Christian Living Truth's
Holy Spirit led ministries have accountability that can be substantiated. Acts 11:4 says, “ Acts 11:12b says, “…these six brothers also went with me…”
Acts 11:2 gives the heart attitude of those overcome with the cancer of legalism and traditionalism, “So when Peter went to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him.” Just as Peter was called to break traditional ministry, ministries on the cutting edge face criticism from church attendees who have not taken the time to gain Biblical understanding.
I love the way the New American Standard Bible puts it, “But Peter… proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence…” Peter gave a full and fair accountability without argument or apology. Holy Spirit illuminated Christians have such a conviction and understanding of their revelation from God that they have no problem presenting and substantiating their ministry to those who may criticize their work. They are able to do so because they are devout, God-fearing people who have a respect for the ministry of Jesus Christ. They are able to tell you how revelation came to them as they prayerfully sought the Lord and took time to listen to His instructions. Their ministry is birthed from the whole counsel of God’s Word, thus their revelation can be explained and supported from the Word of God, because the Bible is the sword of the Holy Spirit. They have such an illumination of their calling they are able to pray through to completion that which God calls them to do. They are able to test their work by the Word of God, they are able to share how God used them and they are able to substantiate their ministry. Acts 11:12 tells us that there were six men who could bear witness to the work God had done in Cornelius’s home.
When Christians are exposed to ministries of Biblical accountability, they are to die to their own opinions, throw off spiritual traditionalism, legalism, and denominationalism, and rejoice in what God is doing. Acts 11:18 says, “When they heard [Peter’s full accounting], they had no further objections, and praised God…” Connect with mature ministry!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Christian Living Truth's
There are many well meaning Christians who will say that they are Holy Spirit led, yet what they think and say is only a product of human reasoning and opinion. Jesus knew this was a problem, He even rebuked Peter. Matthew 16:23 says, “Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’” Every anointed ministry has had to deal with the opinion of man. Sadly, this occurs even in the church, especially when having to deal with leadership, spiritual or governmental.
This rebuke from the Lord was an act of true love which prepared Peter’s heart to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Acts 10-11 record the maturity of Peter’s heart. The great news is Peter learned something from the Lord’s rebuke and enjoyed sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:19-20 says, “While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him,..” Peter was not spoken to by an angel nor was it in a vision, but the speaking of the Holy Spirit. Peter enjoyed what was taught by Jesus about the Holy Spirit. In John 16, our Lord said, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” (John 16:13-14) Peter received a “word of knowledge” (1 Corinthians 12:28) on what to do. Please note that the Holy Spirit had this Word for Peter after he spent time in heart seeking, surrendered prayer.
Christians who have the same illumination as Peter have full revelation of Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” To be led of the Holy Spirit, a child of God must be willing to set aside dependence on self and natural wisdom when led of God to do so. It is important to note that the Holy Spirit can use our natural wisdom as long as we are willing to “Live by the Spirit and walk in step with the Holy Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the dessert. (Luke 4:1) Simeon was led of the Holy Spirit to be in the temple to meet baby Jesus (Luke 2:27) The Bible says those who are “…led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14) Being led of the Holy Spirit is a sign of Christian maturity. Be led of the Holy Spirit!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Christian Living Truth's
The counsel of God’s Word records the lives and work of devout, God fearing men. These men received revelation from God, had a personal relationship with Christ and walked in step with the Holy Spirit. One such man was “Cornelius, a centurion… He and his family were devout and God-fearing…” (Acts 10:1-2)
“Devout” (eusebes), means to be respectful to God and things regarding worship unto Him. Devout people are dutiful in their efforts to seek God and know His will for them. “God-fearing” (phobeo) means to have a reverential obedience toward God. In the New Testament the term “God-fearing” had become what we would call a technical term for Gentiles who became frustrated with their gods and the result of the immorality of mankind. They attended some kind of meetings or had some kind of influence that enabled them to seek God. In Cornelius’s case, he had enough revelation to become a man of prayer and have a heart for the needy. (Acts 10:2)
The Lord will give devout, God-fearing Christians that which they seek, and fill their spiritual hearts with divine revelation which satisfies the spiritual heart and soul. Today, devoted God-fearing people seek the Lord through the whole counsel of God’s Word. Just as the Lord called Peter to take a Word to Cornelius’ home, (Acts 10:22b) the Lord has given the Holy Spirit gift of “prophesying” (Romans 12:6) to the church, so that people may be informed of the will of God through the expounding of Scripture for making known the will of God.
The Pittsburg Christian Advocate covered the story of Dr. Alexander Maclaren, a devout, God-fearing man who was recognized as being one of the clearest expositors of the Word of God in his day. They wrote, “How Dr. Maclaren became such a Bible scholar is worthy of note. …[he] had one ministry habit that was never broken, ‘one hour alone with God every day.’ Dr. Maclaren would sit in his well-warn armchair with his Bible on his knees. He would not read to get a teaching text, nor read as a student, but as child would read a letter from [his] Father; [with] a loving heart drinking in every Word.” Are you a devout and God-fearing Christian?
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Christian Living Truth's
Over the course of time the Apostle Peter oversaw his work with the Lord in a way that showed spiritual maturity. He, like every servant of the Lord who is sent to bring forth a new work, faced criticism. The Book of Acts records one of the times when the cancer of traditionalism kept Christians from recognizing a powerful move of God. “The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.’ Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened:” (Acts 11:1-4) “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.’” (Acts 11:18) A ministry matured in the Holy Spirit defeats criticism.
The Holy Spirit reveals the importance of God’s work through Peter by moving Luke to refer to the events of the ministry in Cornelius’s household three different times in the Book of Acts. I would propose to you if the work of the Lord was important enough to have the Holy Spirit move Luke to write down the events of Peter’s ministry, it should be important enough for the Body of Christ to take note of the truths surrounding Peter’s ministry.
It is important to note that those who criticized Peter’s ministry to the Gentiles were Jewish Christians, “circumcised believers” who needed a fuller understanding of the whole counsel of the Word of God. Everyone in the church can easily fall into the same spiritual blindness as the religious people of Peter’s day. Thus Christians prayerfully seek Holy Spirit illumination of the whole of Scripture to cleanse them from the cancers of traditionalism, legalism, faddism, and denominationalism. They desire to mature in ministry and give Biblical accountability, like Peter did.
When Christians learn how to Biblically seek revelation from God and Biblically present His revelation to the Body of Christ, spiritual leaders will rejoice in the work of the Lord. Seek Biblical maturity and defeat human criticism.
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Thankful for Christians
Paul knew how to say thanks to God and to those who were in partnership with him in the Lord’s work. Philippians 1:3-11 says, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God.”
The Apostle Paul presents to us the heartbeat of a mature Christian. These passages of Scripture present concisely and clearly the expressions of thanksgiving that are so desperately needed in the Body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul at Philippi is maltreated; there he is scourged and put in the stocks. At the time he writes of this portion of the letter he has seen little fruit from his labors, and yet he remembers Philippi with joy. He looks upon his sufferings for Christ as his credit and his comfort, and he is so thankful. The Apostle is not alone in the world, he is not the only one living for Christ. He is part of a great family of believers. He is not in the presence of the Body of Christ, yet in his Roman prison he has great joy in remembering that there are others who are serving the Lord and living in a sweet fellowship with God and Christ.
Those involved in the work of the Lord are not alone. There is the whole Body of Christ with different spiritual gifts and committed to their work for the Lord. Those who are illuminated with this truth are just like the Apostle who wrote, “…giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:12) Whether you are with a certain group of Christians or you are just remembering the labors and faithfulness of others, there can be a wonderful joy that floods your heart as you thank God for calling you into Kingdom service. Be Thankful for other Christians!
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