Where is Wisdom?

 

One of the things the Holy Spirit spoke to me about recently is to continue to be very deliberate and intentional in supporting other ministries in a number of different ways.  In some cases I experienced that we have to support a ministry by building a platform of success under them, even if their vision is not part of the vision God gave us at Free 2 Celebrate. In other cases the support was of a financial nature, and in yet another way the Holy Spirit has led us to attend other courses, seminars, Bible studies, or to read outside of our field of interest.

I believe one of the moments the Holy Spirit spoke to me about this was when He gave one of our prayer walk team members an image of a heart.  A healthy heart has 4 chambers and it “receives” de-oxygenated blood from the body and “gives” it to the lungs.  Then it “receives” the oxygenated blood from the lungs and “gives” it to the body.   In the event where a baby is born with a heart where both these systems work properly on their own – but do not work together – the baby will die (unless there is medical intervention to rectify the problem).  In other words, the heart must be able to give and receive to function in such a way that it can sustain life for the whole body.

This was a profound revelation to me since I have more than once experienced  how something in the spirit dies because ministries in the body of Christ cannot give and receive from each other.  We are supposed to be one body with one Head – Christ- but also with only one heart.  We should be working together in His Kingdom.  However, we often are so focussed on our own visions that we cannot give and receive oxygen from each other.  And… it is a condition of the heart…. and it causes the whole body to suffer and die. 

And so it happened on one of the occasions where I attended another ministry’s meeting that the Holy Spirit gave me the following scripture… it is from Proverbs 8.  Please read the whole chapter but I am only going to quote the beginning and the end of the chapter:

Verse 1-3

Does not wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
² She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
³ She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:

And verse 32-36: 

“Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favour from the Lord;
³⁶ But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”

Whoever finds Me finds LIFE…  Where is wisdom to be found?  In this scripture Wisdom stands at the high places, where the paths meet and at the city gates, entrances and doors…. It is great Wisdom when we stay teachable, when we give and receive at the crossroads where we meet other travellers within the body of Christ.  It is the Holy Spirit’s Wisdom when we make sure that Jesus is enthroned in the high places of our lives (our minds), and when we allow Him to infuse us with the oxygen of His truth through the gates, entrances and doors of our lives.  When Wisdom is enthroned in her rightful places of authority the body can give and receive life from each other without fear, without foolishness and without trying to function in isolation.

Where is Wisdom?  Is Wisdom enthroned in her rightful place?  In my life?  In your life?  In our city?  In our church?  Where is Wisdom?  It is time to repent of dethroning Wisdom and enthroning our own wisdom by closing our borders in pride, fear, arrogance or through being unteachable, not wanting to either give and/or receive from the rest of the Body of Christ… let us step across that border and reach out to the rest of the body enthroning Wisdom as The Gatekeeper, guarding the heights, gates and doors, receiving His guidance at the crossroads of life. 

 © November 2016 Gerda Venter - Author and Picture

The Spirit of Discernment or the spirit of criticism?

  ©Photo: Lizaan Venter October 2016

A question that has hovered in my mind for some time now is the topic of discernment vs. criticism in the body of Christ.  Just too often I think we criticise each other rather than discerning, interceding and speaking the truth in love.  We have an auto-immune disease, so to speak.   We attack the members of our own body as if they were the enemy.  We are the only army in the world that attacks its own soldiers. 

 

While discernment is absolutely necessary and probably increasingly so in the end-times, a spirit of criticism unfortunately is just too often presented as so-called discernment.  This is nothing but a spirit of religious pride.   

Are there any guidelines we can employ from the Word to help us to not fall into the trap of criticism, and yet help each other to deal with the unfinished business in our lives?  What does the spirit of discernment look like and what does it look like when Jesus confronts something sinful inside the camp? I believe an answer can be found in the letter to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2.  God speaks to this congregation in a very specific way.  It is the only letter in Revelations that is written in this manner.  I believe what He is doing is modelling the way the spirit of discernment addresses sin within the body - in love, without criticism and yet with a decisive straight forwardness.

He starts off with introducing Himself to the congregation as the One who dwells between the seven lampstands.  What a beautiful and reassuring picture.  In spite of our imperfections, sin etc.,  God still dwells amongst His Bride, His church - perfecting her in love.  This church does not have it all together and yet God dwells amongst them.  Far too often we act as if we have it all together (which is pride) and therefore God dwells with us and when we discern something that is out of place in someone else’s life we assume that it implies that God does not dwell with them (which is criticism).  Well both of those attitudes are grossly wrong.  

So let’s see how God addresses this issue.  He continues speaking to them and in the first few verses He takes the time to give them praise and honour for a long list of things they do right.  Amongst many things He mentions their hard work, patient endurance and the fact that they critically test those who call themselves prophets, yet are imposters and liars.  He has no problem with the fact that they critically test others to make sure they are the real deal – in fact, later on He agrees with this congregation that He Himself also hates this falseness.  However, I believe it’s the way He goes about doing this that models to us a pattern of how to address sin, problems, offenses or hurtful behaviour within the body of Christ. We hardly ever tell each other what we are doing right, since we are hurt, offended, or so fearful that either we or others will become prideful should we do that.  However, ironically we think it’s nobler and less prideful if we “discern” the wrong in someone’s life or ministry and then just stop associating with them or start to warn others of the woes in their life or ministry.  This is not the way God goes about addressing this problem.  Let’s continue reading to see what He does next.   After He praised them for all the things they do right, He then goes over into speaking the truth in love to them.  He states that there is this ONE THING – note not a lengthy list of do’s and don’ts that this congregation is doing wrong – He mentions the ONE THING that is out of place which they should address as a matter of urgency.   They have left their first love, and He urges them to return to doing the things they did before out of Love for Him.  Note that He also does not stop the conversation here.  He continues by explaining to them what the root cause of the problem is – he reminds them to remember from which heights they have fallen.  This is a reference to satan’s fall from pride.  This congregation is no longer walking in love, with the consequential result that they are falling prey to pride.  After explaining the root cause of the problem He offers the solution – REPENT – simple and straight forward.  Repentance will solve this problem of pride and lovelessness.  He continues to spell out the consequences - should they not repent He will take away their lampstand!  If there is unrepentant sin and hardness of heart the lampstand will be taken away.  However, the lampstand will only be taken away after He has brought to their attention the sin within the camp and only after they have made an informed choice not to repent but to hard-headedly continue in their sin.   Having done this, He identifies Himself with the congregation, once again bringing them into favour with Him, mentioning another thing they do right!  He does this by agreeing with them that He hates the works of the Nicolaitans just like they do.   Finally He explains to them what the reward would be when they overcome this problem they are faced with.  Their reward would be the tree of life.  The tree of knowledge of good and evil brings criticism and death.  The tree of life brings love and relationship.  What a reward – the tree of life! 

All too often we come with our spirit of criticism wrapped in religious gift wrap which we pride fully call a spirit of discernment and we declare that we discern this or that and that the lampstand has already been taken away from someone.  Without addressing each other in this way I believe we will always be wrong even if we are right.  The way we go about doing it is so wrong that it is nothing but a spirit of criticism displaying the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil resulting in death instead of bringing life. 

None of us – no individual, no ministry, can claim that our healing and deliverance is 100% complete and that there is nothing God still has to deal with us on our journey with Him.  The question is: “Are we willing to listen when someone speaks into my life or do I take offense?”  And secondly the question is:  “How do we speak to each other?  Do we do that in love from a “tree of life” standpoint or do we come in a spirit of criticism expecting life to grow out of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?” 

So let’s summarize in a practical manner the model God gives us through which His Spirit of discernment flows to bring life: 

1.       Praise and give honour to all that is being done right.
2.       Speak the truth in love.
3.       Explain the root cause of the problem.
4.       Spell out the solution – be specific about what needs to be done or repented of.
5.       Be clear about the consequences should there be no repentance.
6.       Offer hope by mentioning something good the person does, and by drawing attention to the
        fact that the Lord calls us to be overcomers. 
7.       Explain what the reward will be should the problem be effectively dealt with.

One more thought:  As the body of Christ we were called to unity - unity in Christ as the head of the body but likewise we are called to be mutually depended and part of one another (Rom 12).  Now more than ever do we need to learn how to walk in unity with each other.  

© Author:  HG Venter 2016

Never say never again….. and an unshakeable Kingdom.

12 years ago I resigned my job as a social worker.  I remember the day I pulled close my office door for the last time and took off the board with my name on.  In my mind I said “Never, ever again…” I was burnt out, bored out of my mind and disillusioned with all the supposedly wonderful theories and tools I was supposed to have after 7 years of study and 14 years of experience as a counsellor.  People does not really change, are not really helped and healed nor come to a point of maturity, I thought.

Well somehow God seemed to have different plans for my “Never, ever again…” He embarked with me on a different journey, a journey of finding Him in so many different ways. I got to know Jesus as my saviour, the one who died and was resurrected, who traded His life for my sin in a whole new way.  He revealed himself to me as my Bridegroom and is still teaching me how to walk in intimacy with him.  In the last 4 years He increasingly showed me his character, his nature, the “how” He is.  He revealed himself to me as the Prophet, Servant, Teacher, Exhorter, Giver, Ruler and Mercy God.  He showed me that the fullness of who He is, is in me.  He showed me who He is in others, in His body on earth.  He showed me that people can heal, can be delivered and can grow into maturity – when He does it, with His tools.  The tools in the world’s manuals is just is not as effective and successful as the tools of the Master Creator of mankind.

 

Towards the end of last year He gave me a word which I posted on the blog.  It was titled “Two mountains and an unshakeable Kingdom”.  I think if I knew just how difficult and painful the shaking would be I would probably have hidden that word far away hoping I heard wrong... but I apparently did hear the Holy Spirit and I am thankful that I was warned that the shaking will come, and that it would be from God himself.  The first half of this year had been one of the most difficult and painful times for me in a looong time…

While all this was happening, I felt the unction in my spirit to get the paperwork ready in order to re-register as a social worker.  I thoroughly ignored this initially.  Thought I would wait until the feeling go away…. Well it did not go away and eventually I applied for restoration of my professional registration.  On Wednesday 20 July I received the certificate of registration, this time from the Association of Christian Counsellors.    I was deeply relieved.  Someone once said that if one door closes – stand in the hallway and praise God until the next door opens.  I don’t think I did a very good job at praising Him while waiting in the hallway and yet in His grace he opened another door.  I am not sure where this door will lead to – not yet – I cannot see the destination yet.  What I do know is “Never say never again…” Someone said to me this past weekend “God never wastes a qualification” wise and true words it seems…   

Nothing much will change in practice in “Free2celebrate – land" the only change is that

“Free 2 celebrate” now stands on the "earthly" platform of “Christian Counselling” probably where it should have been from the beginning… Far more profound than earthly papers and qualifications  though - it stands on The Rock - Jesus - and the Mountain of the fear of the Lord in His Unshakeable Kingdom. 

Thank you Lord for your wisdom and guidance… Ebenhaeser… Until here you have helped us… so you will be with us from here forward…

© Author Gerda Venter 2016

The Gatekeeper...

While on the brink of our annual Free 2 Enthrone Him seminar, I have it on my heart to post this photo.  A few weeks ago I had a dream where I was in my kitchen and it was perfectly clean except for a few crumbs that I was in the process of wiping from one of the counters .  The next moment Father walked in and brought His Son into the Kitchen with the words "You can legitimately date My Son".  This dream brought a profound breakthrough for me in a time of intense difficulty.  I was also reminded when Jesus washed his disciple's feet in John 13 he said to Peter "You are already clean, it’s just your feet that needs washing".  When I saw this photo I realised it carried the same message.  We are already washed by the blood of Jesus, and covered by Him - but we have to keep our gates clean.  It is at the gates of our spirit where the battle is fought.

It is my prayer, Lord that you will cover us with your Crown of Glory, give us the strength to clean and to turn back the battle at our gates…   

Isaiah 28:6

In that day the Lord of hosts will be
For a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty
To the remnant of His people,
⁶ For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

 

© Author:  HG Venter 2016 © photo taken in Mauritius, Copyright Lizaan Mouton

Frequently asked questions....

Frequently Asked Questions

1.     Is the study about grace gifts personality analysis?
No.  Personality analysis forms part of psychology and some of it is even based on occult practices, questionnaires, Greek Mythology and even Astrology.  The focus of the grace gifts, is about getting to know God's character as He revealed Himself to us in His Word.  We get to know Him as the Prophet, Servant, Teacher, Exhorter, Giver, Ruler and Mercy.  The Word teaches us that we have been created in His image, therefore the more we get to know Him, His nature and character, the more we understand what it means to be created in His image.  He takes us on a journey of character building, being transformed into His image more and more.  Growing into spiritual maturity is a daily journey that flows from our relationship with God so that we can reflect His character more and more every day. We did not make use of a questionnaire in this study or in the seminars simply because we focus on hearing from the Holy Spirit who we were made to be and what function He purposed for us to fulfill in the body of Christ.  He made us in His image, from the beginning of time, and within our intimate relationship with Him we can come to “really mature manhood, which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection” (Eph 4).

2.    Are the grace gifts not ‘labels’ or ‘boxes’ that we put people in? 
It is extremely important that we understand that we should NEVER try to analyse or decide or tell someone else what WE THINK their gift is.  This cannot be emphasized enough.  From the outside chances are that we will be and can be very wrong when we decide what another person’s gift is, no matter how well we think we know that person. From experience we know that doing this is counterproductive in the body of Christ and it does more damage than good.   People should be presented with all the information about the grace gifts and then encouraged to discover the character of God, to get to know Him in all His different facets and in doing so we will inevitably discover who He made us to be and what function He wants us to fulfil in the body of Christ.  We as counsellors or facilitators should NEVER do or try to do the work of the Holy Spirit.  We should allow the person the freedom to journey with the Holy Spirit and to make the discovery as the Holy Spirit leads and reveals to them.  When we analyse or decide what we think someone else’s gift is, we steal that person’s opportunities of discovering it within their own intimacy with God and we intrude in their personal journey of discovery that is meant only for them and God to walk out.  This is a well known principle in counselling – we NEVER give advice or make decisions for people in other aspects neither should we be doing it in this respect. 

Having said that the author has also become aware of the fact that some people in the body of Christ are very cautious about “labelling” people or being put into a “box” and therefore do not want to talk about, attend teaching or acknowledge the specific gift God has given them or others as a double dose gift. The current understanding of the grace gifts is that man has been created in God's image and that the grace gifts are the expression of God's character in us. This is a precious treasure that God has created within us before the foundation of the earth. When He dreamt about us and planned how to put us together, He chose to place something of His own character, His image of Who He is, into us and each of us has an own unique gifting and a different part of God's character that is primary within us.  Both in Romans 12 and in 1 Cor. 12 it is spelled out in no uncertain terms that everybody within the body of Christ does not have the same function.

It is our current understanding that God gave us more of the gift we need to fulfill our purpose, so that it will be easy for us to fulfill that purpose for the body of Christ and so that it will be an area of function that is filled with enthusiasm and fulfillment when we operate in it as He intended us to do.  This is a thought bigger and more precious than we could fully comprehend.  If a grace gift then is an expression of God's character in us, there is no way that we could make that precious treasure out to be a so called “label”, “box” or something to that effect.  It cannot be seen like that, nor can we talk about it in that way. It is true that the fall of man damaged that image of God within us, but because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Word teaches us that He continually takes us on a journey towards spiritual maturity, so that the character of Christ manifests and is formed and created more and more within us. Thus, to then refer to a gift that the almighty, perfect, sovereign God who created us, has placed within us as a so called label is, to say the least, disrespectful towards Him. 

Perhaps the simple illustration of an apple tree can be used to understand this concept better.  An apple tree was created to bear apples as fruit.  It is by no means demeaning to the apple tree to be called an apple tree.  In fact it is a constant acknowledgement, a prophetic declaration of the identity, purpose and calling of the apple tree to be named an apple tree.  It is not something that will ever be disgraceful or damaging to the apple tree to be called an apple tree.  What it does do is that it confirms the apple tree’s identity and does not put a false expectation on the apple tree to also bear strawberries, broccoli or carrots.  If that is done to the apple tree it will develop an identity crisis in not knowing who it really was created to be and the more it tries to bear strawberries, the more it will fail in that function or calling.

3.    Do we not have all the gifts since the Bible says we have the fullness of God in us?
If the same illustration of an apple tree is kept in mind we will discover that having the fullness of Christ in the apple tree still does not mean that the apple tree will bear strawberries.  What it does mean is that the apple tree will bear the healthiest, most nutritious, juicy and tasty apples possible.   If this can be understood in terms of the nature, character and purpose with which apple trees were created by God, how much more should it not be understood in terms of living human beings, that bear the character and image of God but who is not God Himself? God is the only supreme almighty sovereign being that in Himself possesses all of the characteristics and all of the gifts in completeness and in equal measure.  If it is claimed that any one individual possesses all of the gifts in completeness and can fulfill all of the functions for the body of Christ, are they not claiming to be everything, to everybody in effect then, claiming to be God Himself? 

4.    What is the best way to have the discussion about what is typical of the various gifts?

When one sees the grace gifts in the light of God's character in us and we then say to one another "that is typical of my/your gift or of my/your gift’s battlefield", we must ensure that the discussion is conducted in love and respect.  Never should this discussion be allowed to be disrespectful in any way. It goes without saying that the members of the body of Christ should be respectful and show the love and character of Christ to one another.  It should be an acknowledgement of that which God has created within us. In fact it should at all times indicate respect and appreciation for the specific gift with its differences that God has placed within us.  It should be in recognition of the fact that we do not have the same functions in the body of Christ and that we give one another permission to be what God has created us to be. We declare thereby that it is not expected of us to live out a different purpose, function or calling than the one which God has created within us. There is therefore an acceptance and celebration of who you were made to be.  It creates awareness in practical, everyday life situations of how the gifts are displayed in and through us. 

The way members of the body of Christ talk to one another about this topic should NEVER be done in a way that is disrespectful, destructive or critical, that would not be speaking out of love or by the Holy Spirit of God and if anything like that is done in a wrong way, it should be addressed. One should always remember that you are talking about the image of God, His nature and character, in another person.  We should also take note that we often do not like to be made aware of a battlefield and the areas we need to grow in.  This may cause us to take offence or blame the other person while they were lovingly trying to point us to areas of growth where we need to change.  

In summary, when pointed out in relationship and in love, four things happen:

·         There is recognition of and acceptance is given to the precious gift which God created within the  individual.

·         As individuals we are called to be accountable, to become aware of our battlefield and the fact that we are commanded by God to overcome it.

·         The gifts should be part of the body of Christ’s everyday discussions as we endeavour to grow into maturity with them.  As a body we should be creating a safe place for all the members of the body to discover, discuss, practise and learn to live out our gifts to the fullness God intended for us.  This can only be done if a safe environment for growth can be created.  This environment will out of necessity include having to talk to each other about the gifts, their different characteristics and their battlefields.

·         It brings greater insight into who we are and how we function and interact in relationship with each other.

5.     Are the gifts not only referenced briefly in a small section of scripture?

In 2 Timothy 3:15-17[2] Paul teaches us the following:

“But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them],  And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].  Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),  So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

So firstly, even the smallest part of scripture is God-breathed and profitable for instruction, conviction of sin, correction of error, training in righteousness or holy living, so that we will be growing and equipped for every good work God called us to. 

Secondly, if we understand that the grace gifts in Romans 12 is a list of seven gifts and it is part of God’s character, it can also be understood that God expresses His whole character in all of scripture and that we must just discover that.  The number seven is God’s number for perfectness and it is a fractal or a repeating pattern in the Bible which occurs repeatedly from Genesis to Revelation.  The initial study of these included 150 lists of seven from scriptures in both the Old and New Testament.  For example the seven days of Creation, seven compound, redemptive names of God, seven symbols in the Tabernacle, seven Words on the Cross, and seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation.  The list in Romans 12, where the grace gifts are specifically named, is therefore one of these repeating patterns because it is also a list of seven.  This study confirmed that, throughout Scripture, God is modelling, expressing, showing forth and revealing His perfect character. Therefore the study of the grace gifts is about how God reveals His character to us in His Word and the purpose of studying it is to grow in knowledge of God’s character.   The more we get to know God’s character and the more we realise that we are created in His image, the more we learn what our character ought to be.  Romans 12 is therefore one of the pieces of a very large puzzle about God’s character which is revealed throughout Scripture.  Every time we encounter a list of seven in Scripture, we therefore get to discover something of the perfect character of God and accordingly also something of the grace gifts because He is all seven grace gifts in perfection.  Each writer of Scripture expresses that which he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write through His specific colour of grace gift.  So, for example, we see the teacher gift of Isaiah, expressed throughout the book of Isaiah, we see the exhorter gift of Jeremiah, expressed throughout the book of Jeremiah.  It is no coincidence that God used John with his mercy gifting to write the book of Revelation, and God purposefully uses David with his mercy gifting to establish Kingship in Israel.  Paul’s exhorter gift is just as evident in the manner in which he persecutes the church before his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus as thereafter.  Before his encounter with Jesus he builds the kingdom of the enemy with his gift and after Jesus redeems Him and his gifting, he builds the Kingdom of God with the same zeal and enthusiasm.  Grace gifts are everywhere in Scripture.  Should one omit the lists of seven from the study of grace gifts, one would be removing the Scriptural basis which is the character of God as well as the traits of each gift all together. 

6.     Some people develop an “I-am-the-way-I-am” attitude, how should this be handled? 

From time to time an attitude in some people who have been exposed to the teaching about the gifts has surfaced that can only be described as the “I am the way I am because God made me that way and that is my gift and everyone around me has to accept that no matter how ungodly I act towards others”. This attitude is completely unacceptable.   We do understand that for some individuals, especially when discovering their grace gift after a lifetime of not being validated, the discovery of who they are made to be is a tremendously significant experience.  Sometimes this causes that person to swing like a pendulum completely over to the other side where they initially develop an attitude of “I-am-the-way-I-am-and-the-rest-of-the-world-has-to-make-its-peace-with- it.”  They start living in that extreme validated thinking for a time before balance is restored.  Although it is easy to understand how this happens and why it happens it is strongly renounced.  Such an attitude indicates that the person is getting stuck in his/her battlefield, rather than realising that the battlefield must, can, should be and is rewarded when it is overcome.  Most frequently this is a passing phase and people quickly regain the perspective that their battlefield must be overcome.  The battlefields are given a lot of attention (addressed in depth) in all the seminars and during the discussion groups, and as the body of Christ we should be confident that it is clearly communicated that this kind of attitude is ungodly and unacceptable.

Should the balance not quickly be restored, we should pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us if there is something like a deep seated hurt or specific type of brokenness that should be addressed.  One such type of brokenness that was discovered in practice was that the person was operating under a spirit of entitlement, even before attending the seminar and discussion groups.  That spirit was already present by the time the person attended the teaching and it will skew any teaching to justify its pride and entitlement.  As previously stated, this attitude is completely unacceptable and should be addressed in no uncertain terms whenever it is encountered.

7.     Are we not all prophets?

This statement is correct when discussing the Holy Spirit’s supernatural gift of prophecy.  Born again children of Jesus receive the Holy Spirit and our spirit also has a prophetic grace gift because we do possess all the gifts in our spirit, but we are not all born with a double dose of the grace gift of prophesy, i.e. we do not all have the function of being a prophet for the body of Christ, neither are all of us are called to the office of prophet in the body of Christ.

It is therefore important to differentiate between 

·         The grace gift of prophet.

·         The supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s prophecy.

·         The office of prophet.

These three differences are explained in depth in Chapter 1 of this dissertation as well as in the introduction to the initial seminar, and it is discussed throughout the focus groups discussions.  Everyone who attended the course will therefore be able to understand these differences and explain it to others.  Each attendant receives complete notes with the scripture references on which these truths are based.

8.     Do we not speak “Christianese” or a language that others who did not attend a seminar cannot understand?

When the Bible describes the gifts as “Exhorter / Encourager” or “Prophet” etc., this is the common language used in scripture.  Concepts like “birthright” and “battlefield” are clearly explained throughout the focus groups and seminars.  A very important aspect of this journey of growth in the body of Christ is that we are all aware of things that happen in relationships with others, but as a body there is no language to describe, no language to talk or communicate to each other about these important issues.  When, as a body we start to talk, discuss or communicate with each other about these experiences, it helps tremendously to have language to express ourselves in.  It is imperative that we see this as part of the mandate given to us by Father to open the discussion about the grace gifts in the body of Christ so that maturity and reconciliation in relationships can have a starting point, a place from where a discussion, healthy communication, and the resolving of conflict can flow from.  It is impossible to do this without words, terminology or a way to communicate to each other about this topic.  As a body it is very important to always remember to be respectful to each other and all discussions should happen in love, enhancing the unity in the body of Christ. 

9.    Does the discovery of the grace gifts cause a disturbance, or even disunity in existing relationships? 

The answer to this question is yes, it can.  The discovery of the grace gifts in essence forms part of a counselling process or then a process of renewal of the entire mind, so that we will no longer be conformed to this world but be transformed to know the perfect will of God.  Therefore, in short what happens is, that this, or for that matter when any counselling process is introduced and brings change in the life of an individual, the existing balance or way in which that individual relates to himself and others around them is changed.  The significant others in this person’s life may not like this change, nor may they necessarily think the change is positive.  Likewise the discovery of the grace gifts by an individual does change the way they think about themselves as well as the way they relate to the world around them, and the way they interact within relationships.  By far the overwhelming majority of respondents experienced this change as positive within themselves, as well as having a positive influence in all their relationships, although change is not always easy.  However, when change is introduced, especially in a closed system, or a closed set of relationships where there is no healthy giving and receiving to and from this system or set of relationships, the influence of this change that is introduced causes a great upsetting of the existing status quo.  A new status quo or balance or equilibrium then needs to be found and established.  This takes some time and sometimes it feels like the counselling process has caused disunity in these existing relationships.  This is not a negative change though.  If there really is a huge upsetting in the relationships, it mostly means that the relationships within the group was not healthy anyway, and what should happen is that the counselling process should be continued, helping all the members of the group to smoothly make the transitions necessary.  When this is done the relationships in the group will be strengthened and they will be much healthier than before. 

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[2] Biblegateway AMPC

© 2017 HG Venter (excerpt from D min dissertation TICU Baton Rouge Louisiana)

 

 

 

We Believe...

 

We Believe.... News Boys

Our Statement of faith

We believe:

·         In a triune God that reveals himself in 3 persons namely God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit
2 Cor 13:14 "The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (NKJ)

·         The Bible is the inspired Word of God
2 Peter 1:20,21 "...for no prophecy ever originated, because some man willed it to do so it never came by human impulse but men spoke from God who were borne along, moved and impelled by the Holy Spirit" (Amplified Bible)

·         God created all things that exist, and Jesus Himself is the Living Word
John 1:1,4 "In the beginning before all time was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God and the Word was God Himself, He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life and the Life was the Light of men..." (Amplified Bible)

·         That Jesus Christ of Nazareth who came in the flesh is the Son of God
1 John 4:2 "By this you may know perceive and recognise, the Spirit of God, every spirit which acknowledges and confesses the fact that Jesus Christ the Messiah actually has become man and has come in the flesh is of God has God for its source." (Amplified Bible)

·         In the virgin birth of Jesus
Matt 1:23 " "Behold the virgin shall become pregnant, and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel which when translated means God with us." (Amplified Bible)

·         That Jesus died on the cross of Calvary and shed His blood as atonement for the sin of every human being
1 John 1:7 "...But if we really are living and walking in the light as He, Himself, is in the light, we have true unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses, removes us from all sin and guilt, keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations..." (Amplified Bible)

·         In the resurrection of Christ and His victory over satan
Rom 8:34 "Who is there to condemn us? Will Christ Jesus the Messiah, who died or rather who was raised from the dead. Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?" (Amplified Bible)

·         That every person has to make a faith-based choice to accept that Jesus died for their sins on the cross of Calvary and through His death and subsequent resurrection the believer can be saved from eternal death (hell) into eternal life with Christ (heaven)
John 3:16 "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He even gave up His only begotten unique Son, so that whoever believes in, trusts in, clings to, relies on Him, shall not perish, come to destruction, be lost, but have eternal, everlasting life." (Amplified Bible)

·         In repentance of sin
1 John 1 8-10 "If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts]. (Amplified Bible)

·         In believers' baptism
Rom 6:4 "We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father so we too might habitually live and behave in newness of life..." (Amplified Bible)

·         That Jesus baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire
Matt 3:11 "I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me, is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (NKJ)

·         In the rapture of the bride of Christ
1 Thess. 4:16, 17 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first, then we, the living ones who remain on the earth shall simultaneously be caught up along with the resurrected dead in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so always through the eternity of the eternities we shall be with the Lord! Also, see Matt 25:1-13. (Amplified Bible)

·         In the second coming of Christ in bodily form to rule and reign as King on earth for 1000 years
Rev 1:7 "Behold He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him even those who pierced Him and all the tribes of the earth...." (Amplified Bible). Rev 19 and 20 describes His second coming and the 1000 years of rule on earth. (Amplified Bible)

·         In final judgment over all
Rev 3:20 "He who overcomes, is victorious, I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God; he shall never be put out of it or go out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God the new Jerusalem, which descends from My God out of heaven and My own new name. Rev 20:15 "And if anyone's name was not found recorded in the Book of Life he was hurled into the lake of fire." (Amplified Bible)

·         In a new earth and a new heaven
Rev 21:1 "Then I saw a new sky, heaven and a new earth for the former sky and former earth had passed away, vanished and there no longer existed any sea...." (Amplified Bible)

© Author:  HG Venter 2016