THE UNDERSTANDING Acts 8:30,35
Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
It is not guaranteed that what you read, you understand. This applies as a general rule for any other kinds of literature or books.
For the Christian, it is a different thing all together in regards to the Word of Word as written in the bible. The believer should be able to understand everything they read in the Bible.
The believer should be able to see Jesus revealed or spoken of on every page of the Bible. If you can’t find Jesus, turn the page. Just like in our theme scripture, to understand the Bible, the believer ought to preach Jesus from the scripture they are reading.
The preaching of Jesus brings understanding to the believers listening. It also brings understanding to the non believers who hear Jesus for the first time. The scripture tells us; the entrance/unfolding of your Word oh Lord bringeth light and giveth understanding to the simple (Ps. 119.130).
This understanding is not just any kind of understanding. It is one which is given by God Himself to all His children that will dare to receive it. It is already given unto us to understand; we just have to receive what has been freely given unto us.
Only when Jesus is preached do the believers receive and understand the scriptures. Glory to God!!
PRAYER – Confess this with me
Loving Father, I am humbled that you love so much. Your reckless love is in abundance toward me and I blossom because I’m your child. I thank you Holy Spirit for living in me and always giving me revelations to understand the scriptures. I am not of them that struggle to understand the scriptures because you always guide me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
SPIRIT OF TRUTH vs. SPIRIT OF FALSEHOOD
1 John 4:6
We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
John 1.17 speaks of Grace and Truth coming through Jesus. Jesus is Truth personified. Truth in Hebrew is “Eh-mit” which is the beginning and the end.
For a Christian to be able to discern a spirit at work, they need to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Himself the Spirit of Truth because all he says, reveals and teaches agrees with the finished works of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
Whenever the Cross is preached, anyone who accepts it is said to be guided and led by the Spirit of Truth. As the Cross is being preached, the Spirit in you agrees with and confirms whatever is being preached.
The spirit of falsehood is described as a wandering spirit. It is not sure of what it actually says or believes. It has no fundamental truth by which it goes. It keeps on jumping from one ‘truth’ to another; none of which are eternal and life giving.
Our theme scripture speaks of “being from God” and those who know God hear those that are from God. This is the distinctive mark; that those who know (are acquainted with the knowledge of the finished works of Jesus Christ on the Cross and are in right relationship with) God will always listen to preachers who operate by the Spirit of Truth. And the reverse is also true. If you don’t know God, anything that makes sense to the mind will appear true to you yet it’s actually false. Truth is only found in God.
Hallelujah!!
PRAYER – Confess this with me
Loving Father, I delight in being born of you. I come from you and I am led by your Spirit of Truth. I decree and declare that out of my mouth shall flow words of life because I am led by you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FIVEFOLD MINISTRY – PROPHETIC GUIDE
Ephesians 4:11
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets , some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
The prophet or one under the prophetic ministry gift is meant to guide.
The prophet speaks God’s heart to the believers. God’s heart is also referred to as His mind and plan for His children. And this is what one with the ministry gift of the prophetic does. In revealing God’s heart, the prophet gives guidance both to individuals and to the body of Christ.
This ministry gift is usually confused with prophecy, the spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual gift is for comforting, exhorting, and edifying.
The prophetic ministry gift is about heart revealing and guidance. The prophet is sometimes referred to as the heart revealer. In revealing God’s heart, He gives revelation to the body of Christ, interpretation; and application and timing of what has been revealed.
The prophetic is meant to guide and not judge. The revelations received and interpreted are salvific and not condemning.
For example, say the prophet reveals to the body of Christ that it is God’s desire that His children are perfectly healthy. The prophet will go on to guide and teach believers on how to walk in supernatural health and healing; even during a pandemic.
The prophetic guidance also confirms what is already established or affirmed as Truth in the spirit. This goes a long way in helping believers realize the callings on their lives.
PRAYER – Confess this with me
Daddy, I thank you for this knowledge. I am appreciative of the prophetic ministry gift that continues to reveal your heart to me as it guides me to realize your calling on my life. Holy Spirit, guide me to fully understand the desire in my heart to extend Daddy’s Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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