How leaders can grow in the skill to facilitate Spirit-directed ministry

Leaders carry the responsibility to promote, discern and facilitate the ministry of the Holy Spirit among His people. This calls for leaders with purity in heart, boldness and trained discernment. So how can we grow in this skill?

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

19  Do not quench the Spirit. 20  Do not despise prophecies, 21  but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22  Abstain from every form of evil.

Observation and reflection questions

1. In a general sense, what does it mean to “not quench the Spirit”? What within an individual or assembly could “quench the Spirit”? (verse 19)

·         What does this suggest of the task of leadership in promoting and facilitating the ministry of the Holy Spirit?

2. What does it mean to “test everything”?

3. How do you think verse 19 and 20 relate to each other?

·         What does this suggest of the task of leadership in promoting and facilitating the ministry of the Holy Spirit within an assembly?

4. Consider the context of the instruction to “not despise prophesy”; how do you think verses 20- 22 relate to verse 19?

·         What does this suggest of the task of leadership when individuals starts ministering in the group?

·         What does this suggest of the responsibility of leadership in facilitating the work of the Holy Spirit within an assembly?

Personal Reflection and Application

The responsibility of leadership is to promote, discern and facilitate the ministry of the Holy Spirit among His people – because there are false prophesies stemming from wrong motives or deceptive spirits – yet leaders should never allow tradition, competition, fear or control to quench the Holy Spirit within an assembly.  This calls for leaders with purity in heart, boldness and trained discernment.

1. Do you frequently bring words of prophesy to your congregation or small fellowship group?  Why, or why not?

2. Do you recall a time when the Holy Spirit prompted you to share or speak or do something, yet you resisted and quenched Him?  Pray about that now and ask the Lord to forgive you for quenching his Spirit.

2. When last were you corrected when bringing a word of prophesy (either directly or indirectly)?

• How did (or would) you feel when being corrected?
• How should you feel when being corrected?
• Pray for a love for discipline leading to life and growth, and a resistance towards offence.

3. Think of your own fellowship group.

• How do you promote prophesy and other Spirit-directed ministry?  How could you promote it?
• How often do you make time to wait on the Lord for prophesy and Spirit-directed ministry?
• How do you test prophesy?  How should you test prophesy?
• How do you obey these prophetic utterances?  How should you?

Pray about your answers here – ask the Lord to help you fan the flame of the Spirit in your fellowship group, and to not quench Him.

 

How leaders can grow in prophetic grace

Leaders lead people into the future the Lord has prepared.  It is therefore critical for leaders to learn to wait on the Lord for direction and instruction.

Look at this short inspirational video by Andre Kruger on growing in the prophetic anointing. For more on his teachings and obtain a copy of his book Increasing Heaven’s Flow in 40 days go to www.heavensflow.org

Scripture

Context: This book is entitled “the burden of Habakkuk” (1:1; dated about 605-608 BC) and starts off as the prophet unburdens his heart in prayer about the prevailing social injustices he sees. When God answers his prayers becomes a conversation with the Lord.

Habakkuk 2:1-3

1  I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. 2  And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3  For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end–it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay…”

Observations and reflections

1. The prophet uses the military language of “watchpost and station” – what does it suggest of his demeanor as he spends time with the Lord?
2. Rephrase verse one in your own words.
3. What do you think happened between verses 1 and 2?
4. Why would it be necessary for the prophet to withdraw and be alone with the Lord?
5. Note the instructions which the Lord gives Habakkuk before the vision is given – what does He say and why is that important when the Lord reveals something to you?

 

Personal Reflection and Application

During a critical time in Judah’s history (about 605BC) the prophet Habakkuk withdrew to be alone with the Lord, to gain God’s perspective of Judah’s situation, and to ask how he personally, and the nation should respond.

1. Follow Habakkuk’s pattern:

• schedule time alone (perhaps now?);
• unburden your heart to the Lord in prayer;
• wait for Him to answer and record what He says;
• record what you see (vision);
• ask the Lord what you should do with this message;
• declare your trust in the Lord.

(If you feel more comfortable to spend this time of waiting in prayer with a close Christian friend, do so. But to grow in the prophetic anointing, waiting on the Lord in this manner is very important.)

2. Share your experience and what you recorded with a mature Christian friend.

Prayer

Thank the Lord for the times you have heard him speaking to you in various ways.  Then personalize the prayer of young Samuel who prayed as Eli instructed him “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:9)

Ministry of Encouragement 5

The aim of this devotional study is to commit and grow into a lifestyle of encouragement.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 14:1-4

1  Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.  2  For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.  3  On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.  4  The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

Observations

1. According to this Scripture, what is the requirement to administer the spiritual gifts? (v1)
2. What are the benefits of prophesy for the recipient(s)? (v3)
   1. What does that mean in practice?
3. What would your simple definition of prophesy be?

Application and prayer

1. Do you need encouragement from God? Ask the Lord to speak encouragement directly to your heart – either through a dream, the Bible, through people or any way He wants.
2. Consider this description of Judas and Silas: “And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.” (Acts 15:32) Do you desire to be remembered as someone who “encourage and strengthen” people?  Ask the Lord to birth that spirit and habit in you! And commit to God to become a minister of encouragement!
3. Before Isaiah became a prophet, he confessed “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5) and the Lord had to purify his tongue. Ask the Lord to cleanse your tongue of all complaints, criticism and other corrupt speech.
4. When last have you asked God to give a message of encouragement to someone though you? Ask the Lord to give a word of encouragement to you for someone who needs it today.  Pray in the Spirit or wait on God until he puts someone in mind, then wait and pray and write down your thoughts.  It sometimes helps me to start affirming the person, until I can discern what the Lord says to the person.  Work on your letter until you feel this is what God says, and it is encouraging.  Then pray and send it to the person – don’t delay.

Holy Spirit 7

The aim of this devotional study is to learn from the Lord’s generous heart regarding empowerment through his Holy Spirit.

Scripture

Numbers 11:11-29

11  Moses said to the LORD, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?… 14  I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.  15  If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”

16  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.  17  And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone…

24  So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent.  25  Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.

26  Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp.  27  And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!”  28  And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!”

29  But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”

Observations and Reflection

Moses lead the Hebrews from Egypt towards the Promised Land and was overburdened to the point of despair, and he cried out to God to take his life in the hope of escaping the burden, but God had another plan.

1. What do you learn of the Holy Spirit with regards to the following topics from this text?(a) Leadership and appointment from God. (b) Prophesy and revealing the will of God.
2. What do learn from the heart of God regarding the Holy Spirit and God’s people from verse 29?
3. Why would God want to put his Spirit on all of his people?
4. Why would God want all his people to be prophets/ to prophesy?

Application and prayer

1. When last did you feel God prompt your heart to give a message to someone else (i.e. prophesy). How often does that happen to you?  When does that happen – i.e. what prompts the gift of prophesy in your heart?
2. Pray and make yourself available to the Lord to give someone a message from him. The pray until the Lord puts someone and a message from the Lord on your heart.  Write it down (or record it) then pray and refine the message until you are happy with the message.  Prayerfully send the message to the person, and ask for honest feedback.

Baptism 3

The Aim of this devotional study is to grow in understanding and desire of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 2:1-17

1  When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

2  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  3  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  4  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5  Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6  And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language… 12  And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

13  But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14  But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15  For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16  But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17  “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams …”

Observation

1. What is the reason why Jesus said he will give the Holy Spirit to his disciples, just before he ascended into heaven?
2. What happened when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost?
3. List what Joel prophesied would be the result of the giving of the Spirit on those who would receive the baptism?

Application

1. In which way have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
2. What has the baptism of the Holy Spirit changed in your witness for the Lord?
3. In which way has the baptism of the Holy Spirit changed your ministry to others? How does God minister more powerfully to others through your life because of the baptism of the Holy Spirit you received?

Prayer

Do you feel empowered to witness for the Lord?  Do you experience the power of the Spirit to prophesy and serve others with the grace and power of God?  “You have not, because you ask not” (James 4:2), so “ask, that your joy may be full!” (John 16:24)

Biblical Interpretation – Preparing your heart 3

The aim of this session is to cultivate a correct view of Scripture and to grow in an understanding of how to correctly interpret Scripture.

Look at this short Video link on “Accuracy and Reliability of Scripture” by the New York Apologists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWxwfFNyVws

Scripture:

2 Peter 3:1-18

1  This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2  that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3  knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4  They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

5  For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6  and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7  But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8  But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12  waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14  Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

15  And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16  as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

17  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Observations

1. Peter had one major motive when he wrote this last part of his letter to the first readers. Summarize it in one sentence for yourself.
2. There are several direct and indirect references to God’s Word / Scripture in this chapter, since it deals with the reliability of God’s promises. List these references.
3. Peter addresses a specific erroneous argument of people who turn away from God in Christ in verse 4. Shortly write in your own words this erroneous argument, as well as how Peter corrects this error.
4. Peter gives a few commands of holy living in response to Jesus’ pending return – list them.

Application:

1. In this last chapter of 2 Peter, the author comfortably places the authority of God’s Creative Word (Genesis 1:3), history of Noah (in the book Genesis), the commands of Jesus (primarily found in the Gospels), the writings of the prophets (with specific reference to the destruction of the world and the New Creation) and apostles (mentioning Paul), and even the final Word of Judgment on equal footing – equating all these as the Word of God.
   1. What do you think when you read this statement?
   2. How do you feel about this statement?
   3. If this is true, how does it affect your approach to and regard of the Bible?
2. If someone said to you today “It has been 2000 years since Jesus ascended into heaven. He said he will come back soon, but I wonder if that is true. Do you think he will come back literally?” Remembering Peter’s second letter, what will you answer him?
3. Peter urges his readers to a life of holiness and deliberate growth in the knowledge and grace of Christ. Write down what the Spirit is pressing on your heart in response to this call.
4. Peter writes that Jesus is coming soon, and he will judge the world – we will either be found in him and live, or the ungodly will be destroyed. When you read this text, who are you concerned about?  What will you do about it?  When?

Prayer

Look at your application points and pray through each point as your heart responds to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical Interpretation – Preparing your heart 2

The Aim of this devotional study is to rightly adjust our understanding and regard for Scripture.

Scripture

2 Peter 1:13-2:3

13  I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14  since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15  And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

16  For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17  For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18  we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

19  And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2:1  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2:2  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 2:3  And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Observation

1. List the names attributed to God and those attributed to Jesus in this section.
2. Peter speaks of a specific “prophetic word” and also of prophesy and Scripture in general – what specific prophetic word does he refer to? When was this word delivered and by whom?
3. We are reading from Peter’s last words. Looking at 2 Peter 1:13-21 write down what Peter intentionally wanted his readers to think of the message he wrote down, i.e. why was he sure this message is of God and why did he write it to them?
4. What does Peter say about the interpretation of Scripture and relation to the Holy Spirit? What does that mean?
5. Compare true ministers (prophets and teachers) with false ministers (false prophets and teachers) – what does this text teach of them?

Application

1. Regarding you view this letter of Peter:
   1. When you start reading, what is your attitude and regard of this writing? And then – what should it be? Write it down.
   2. Peter writes these things down as “reminder… so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things” and that he was “eye-witness [of Jesus and his teachings]” that “also heard this very voice borne from heaven”. Do you believe it when you read it?  Why?  Why not? And how does that affect your reading of it today?
2. Peter writes that false teachers twist scripture because of “sensuality” and “greed”. Search your heart to find to what degree the love for pleasure, power and money on earth influences your interpretation of the Bible.  Write down what you feel or think about this.

(Tell your Bible School Buddy or accountability partner about what you write down in Application 1 and 2).

Prayer

Worship God and Christ by the names listed in this section.  And then, ass you look at the text we read with your observations and application remarks, bring your thanks and/ or praise and/or doubts about the to God Bible to God and ask him for faith and understanding.