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When leaders fall from grace 2 of 3

9/28/2024

Hi all,

Last week I shared how the pyramid structure can separate a leader at the top, isolating them, and if they have lusts in their heart, the arrogance of position can allow them to act on their lusts, to their own hurt and downfall, as well as hurting others.

Today I'll share God's priorities which are family based since He invented the family, and how modern churches usually deal with issues.

God's ways: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the uttermost parts of the earth
The way the Lord works in our hearts is like He said in Acts 1:8 about the way the gospel would spread: Jerusalem first, then outward to Judea which was the countryside just outside the walled city of Jerusalem, then outward still to Samaria, then outward again to the 'uttermost parts of the earth'.

We are the Jerusalem, and we can include our spouse and family in that. But we are also individually 'Jerusalem'. Judea is relatives who live outside our walls; like church family, those related by blood and those in the faith but not living in our 'Jerusalem' behind our 'walls'.

Samaritans in 1st century were more distant relatives of the Jews, so in this illustration represent Christians we know in life and the Lord but more distant - the person you know at church but don't really know them, the neighbor, the coworker, store clerk, the waitress, and so on. The 'uttermost parts of the earth' are the strangers, the public at large whether Christian or not.

For our illustration,
Let us say a pastor/minister has an affair with another woman - it began as a lust, an imagination in their heart in their 'Jerusalem'. It manifests by him acting on the lust - having an affair. He has violated he and his wife's Jerusalem, he let another woman enter their city, he opened a gate for her that was never intended for her. He violated boundaries with another woman.

The wife finds out about it, but he is in authority in a church, so what is next? The next outward circle the Lord will allow that lust and sin to be known is 'Judea' - Judea would be the lead pastor and board of that church. Like Judea surrounds Jerusalem, they surround the pastor and his wife.

At this point many churches will discipline the minister
They usually require spiritual guidance or counseling for him and his wife, and restore him though on probation, not making the affair public. The revelation to the wife and church board is so the lust can be dealt with. How can a church board work to help the fallen pastor deal with his lust? How can they reach out to 'the other woman', for she was taken advantage of. But she also had lust that caused her to have the affair or allow the inappropriate actions.

No one knows the heart except the Lord, but there are safeguards that can be put in place - spiritual guidance, partnering with a web-tracking site so an accountability partner knows every website the fallen minister's phone and computer visits. There needs to be a plan, and at this stage most church leaders will choose to keep the issue between those who are directly involved. They usually won't tell the congregation as both guilty people and their families need time to work through it, and hopefully receive help dealing with the lust that started it all.

The concern is that if these measures have been done in private, but then maybe a year later news comes out about it so that everyone in the congregation suddenly knows of the affair, it may appear as a 'cover up'. A congregation member may think it was covered up by leadership when in fact leaders were just trying to protect the wife, children, the other woman, and help the fallen minister deal with his lust.

It isn't necessarily a cover up, it is helping those involved deal with his lust while preserving the marriage and their ministry through steps of discipline and accountability.

How do they know a pastor hasn't just called a truce with his lust, instead pressing on to victory?

That is the real question. How does anyone know if the pastor has called a truce with his lust instead of cutting it out of his life. Paul said to run from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, in II Timothy 2:22.

It isn't just fleeing youthful lusts, but it is: "...fleeing youthful lusts and pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace which is found in the hearts of all those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Paul also said to expose a leader's sin 'that others may fear' - what is that about?

Next week we'll start with truce or victory, and why should we fear if it their sin exposes? Today I've outlined a common problem of lust and the resulting sin among ministers and how some churches will deal with them. My purpose for this series is to bring clarity as to God's higher purpose while helping the hurting, and outline what we are to think when those we love or respect fall from grace.

Blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected] or [email protected]

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When leaders fall from grace:How? 1 of 3

9/21/2024

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Hi all,

Separated by 3,000 years, it is easy for us to look at King David who had an affair with Uriah's wife Bathsheba, got her pregnant, and tried to cover it up, and say; "Shame on him, but look at the grace of God."

But in our day when a minister has an affair, it hits close to home. There is no need in this space to share names of pastors and ministers who have fallen. We've have all heard or seen the news. Scandals range from Australia to Nigeria, South Africa to Dallas, North Carolina to California, to New York City and cities and towns in between. We are all aware of the failures of numerous ministers in recent weeks and months. Pastors and those in ministry having affairs seems to be an epidemic.

There are two elements in common between King David and the modern minister who has fallen from grace:Long held lust in the heart, and then acting on that lust. People with lust in the heart that is not dealt with, at some point act on that lust, and the public finds out. It leaves us hurting and asking how we can trust anyone in authority in ministry today? It leaves us trying to figure out how people so gifted in the Lord and placed in such authority could do such things.

We expect a higher standard for leaders, for scripture supports that. But if all we see is the act that became public, we miss the point of why God judged them, allowing their sin to become public.

God's point is to expose the lust that was never dealt with in the heart of the minister.
His hope is finally the lust will be dealt with. As Paul wrote:If we won't judge ourselves we are judged of the Lord. If we are chastised of the Lord it is so we won't be condemned with the world. The facade of their life has crumbled, and hopefully true holiness may have its way in their heart. I Cor. 11:31-32

Jesus is the sword of the Spirit that divides between soul and spirit, and critiques our thoughts and motives (Hebrews 4:12-13) In Matthew 5:28 Jesus said to look on a woman not one's wife with lust has committed an affair of the imagination with her in his heart.

Using 1st century Jewish teaching style, He said to pluck out the eye (the lust in the heart that makes a man look upon another woman), and cut off his hand (the action following the lust of the eye). Lust and acting on that lust is the issue. Lust comes first in the imagination, and leads to the act. In context of Matthew 5, adultery is the lust of the fantasy, fornication is the acting on that adultery/fantasy.

Jesus was, and is concerned about motives and secrets of the heart. In Mark 3:1-6 Jesus exposed and was angry with the motives of leaders when He asked a simple question they knew the answer to, but refused to answer. In Matthew 9:9-13 He exposed the arrogance of leaders who considered others to be sinners, excusing themselves. He did not chase after the Rich Young Ruler when his love of money and status was exposed. In Matthew 6 accused the leaders of hypocrisy, calling out their love of attention, and their preaching of one thing but doing another.

Jesus is the same today:Sin made public is the expression of lusts and imaginations not dealt with for years. Because leaders entertained those lusts until they acted upon them, Jesus allowed their lust and sin to become public knowledge, judging them that they might repent and deal with the lust.

The pyramid structure is prone to such moral failures in high places
If you have read my book Return of the First Church then you will remember I liken the auditorium church structure of the last 1700 years as a pyramid. When Israel first came out of Egypt in Exodus 18, Moses' father in law Jethro, helped Moses set up the Federal Government of Israel.

Aaron as High Priest would set up the religious government of the tabernacle, but Moses needed a federal government in this newly formed nation to handle day-to-day issues. Jethro advised him to set himself up at the top of what would be a pyramid structure, with 'captains' over 1000's who answered directly to Moses. Beneath them were captains over 100's, and under them men who were over 50's, and they were over men who oversaw 10's of people.

Because Moses only got the more difficult cases, information that came to him therefore had first been filtered through the people in charge of 10's, 50's, 100's and then 1000's. It is the structure of any government today, and it is by its very nature, political.

The church met in homes for the first 300 years...
...with the family being the foundation of the government of God. That has a built in protection against such sins because people met (meet) in small family groups and everyone knows what is happening in each family. If something isn't right in a marriage, it is noticed by all. It was and is now based on the family unit. Leaders serve and are at the lowest level like the bottom point of the letter V, following the example of Jesus the Cornerstone of the foundation, giving their lives for others.

When Constantine legalized Christianity and called them to meet in the former pagan temples, the V inverted, becoming a pyramid structure with a 'Moses' sitting at the top with the congregation way down at the bottom of the pyramid, propping up and supporting each 'Moses'.

That is why the auditorium church is political in nature. That structure serves a federal government well, but Jesus said in Mark 10:42-45 that a structure that causes a leader to be lording their authority over the others as non-believers do, 'shall not be so named among you.'

Fast forward to our modern pyramid system called church, and we find 'Moses' isolated at the top with no direct accountability. He is separated from the real life of the average person who attends and gives, because he has captains over 1000's, 100's, 50's, and 10's to insulate him. It sets those with lust issues up for failure because faith has left the family in favor of faith in a political structure called 'church'.

How judgment works; How a sin moves from private to public
The Lord can deal privately and secretly with a person in their heart for years on any number of subjects. To one He might deal with them about their spending habits motivated by lust for things. To another about arrogance motivated by a lust to get live the life of the rich and famous.

To another it might be a lust for food to self-medicate inner hurts. It could be any number of lusts and hurts we humans battle in our soul - and the Lord keeps working on the inside of each person, maybe for decades. And it remains private, between them and Him.

But what we've seen in recent weeks and months are church leaders and s*xual sin. We know the ways of the Lord, we know He has certainly been dealing with each of them internally for years. Nathan's confrontation with David was about his abuse of power. The parable he used in II Samuel 12:1-9 was of a man being rich in sheep lusting after the 1 lamb of his poor neighbor, and stealing it. When David's lust was acted on, manifest by an abuse of power, God judged him and made it public.

The person motivated by lust in the heart to an expression of that lust, is what makes the headlines and stuns congregations. They are abuses of power which violate moral, ethical, and often legal boundaries. The pastor who runs off with the worship leader, the youth pastor who m*lests a young person, the leader who embezzles money, a pastor who fakes miracles. At some point those lusts not dealt with in the heart, grow to such a point the person acts on them. Why aren't these dealt with by church leadership? Where is the accountability? How do they get promoted to such authority?

Next week I'll share the usual pattern a modern church takes to deal with the sin of a leader, and how the Lord's priorities should be in our hearts. Until then, blessings,

John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
If anyone would like the PDF of Return of the First church, email me and I'll send it to them

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Do we need the Bible? 4 of 4, Word and Spirit

9/14/2024

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Hi all,

I will close this series talking about the balance between the Word and Spirit, and how to walk that out in daily life - how to stay balanced and prevent ourselves from getting off into error.

The guideline is very simple:The Word and Spirit always agree.
Therefore, if someone claims God is doing something (by His Spirit) then it will be seen in chapter and verse (Word), and/or in the last 2,000 years of Christianity. The reverse is true:If someone claims the Word says something, then we will see the Holy Spirit doing that today and/or during the last 2,000 years of the faith.

Additionally, no single verse stands alone to be taken as doctrine. If someone claims scripture says something, there will be 1-3 verses saying the same thing. For example, John 3:16, that God so loved the world He gave His son, is not a stand alone verse. In I Timothy 2:4 it says the same thing in a different way:"God...who wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." It supports and agrees with John 3:16.

How to perceive error? Peter said...
In II Peter 1:17-18 he describes his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration (Lk 9:29-31). In that experience Jesus became pure white in glory, and the Father in a similarly bright white glory cloud enveloped them and spoke to them. Moses and Elijah (law and prophets) spoke to Jesus about His approaching death in Jerusalem.

BUT, Peter writes in v19-21as great as that experience was:"We have a more sure word of prophecy (scripture)...for no writing of scripture is of private interpretation, but was written down by holy men as they were inspired by God, moved by the Holy Spirit to do so."

Peter says as great as a spiritual experience was, scripture is a more sure word, for it is inspired by the Father under the direction of His (Holy) Spirit. The Word and Spirit agree.

This means if you hear someone talk of their experience, dream, or vision, it will be in agreement with scripture. If you can't find chapter and verse on what they say, the principle will be found in scripture AND it will resonate in your spirit as true.

If someone says something like they go to heaven at will and can teach you how to as well, we look at scripture. Do we see anyone in scripture who regularly visited heaven at will? Do we see anyone having a spiritual dream, vision, visitation or experience initiated by them? No. Every supernatural experience of God in scripture was initiated by God. Never by man.

Paul wrote in II Corinthians 11:3-4...
That he was afraid they would be deceived by listening to people who present another gospel, another Jesus, another spirit. He said Satan's efforts to get them off into error was very subtle, but he did give some characteristics of such ministers.

In v4 he says 'they preach a different Jesus than what we preached, a different spirit, a different gospel.' That's the first clue, the Jesus they present is different from the classic understanding of Jesus, contrary to His character.

If someone says Jesus asked them to do something, ask yourself:"Does that sound like Jesus?" "Did He ever ask anyone to do something similar in the gospels or Acts?" "Does Paul instruct or mention that in his letters?" If the answer is 'no', we also balance it by how our spirit receives it. Does it resonate with our spirit? Has the Holy Spirit done the same with with others in the last 2,000 years? If no, then it is error. The Spirit and Word agree, and that agreement isn't found, so it is error.

Our spirit man has been recreated by the Holy Spirit, who is Truth.
Because our focus is knowing the Father and knowing Jesus, and fellowshipping by the Spirit with them*, we first check our spirit man. It if resonates with our spirit, that is the Holy Spirit testifying that what the person says is right and true. *I Corinthians 1:9, I John 1:3, 6

Learning to perceive that witness in your spirit is a process, and step of faith at first. But soon it becomes automatic, the way you live and measure all things.

If something resonates in your spirit as true but your mind doesn't understand it and you are confused, it is because the light of His Spirit of Truth is shining on your confusion, showing that your thinking has been wrong about the issue. If something doesn't feel right in your spirit but intrigues your mind - follow your spirit and don't continuing listening to the error the person is teaching.

In recent years
We've seen the prosperity gospel, twisting verses to justify pastors living like the rich and famous, rather than at a level their average church members live. It is seen in preachers who make formulas that make the fearful think they must do those things lest the devil get an opening into their lives. That's a different Jesus than what Paul preached and wrote about. Is that what the Holy Spirit would lead someone to? Is that the way Jesus lived in His ministry? Is that the gospel?

It is seen in those who make the Father the adversary:That we must gather as many as possible to storm the gates of heaven (though He says come boldly directly to His throne) to convince Him to send (fill in the blank:Revival, healing, money, loved one saved, etc). That's a different spirit and gospel.

In II Corinthians 11:19-20 he describes these ministers. He says they manipulate you and your emotions, exalt themselves, take your money, and insult you - either directly or by preying on fears ignorance to make themselves a name and feeling more important.

In the Greek Paul says "..or slaps you in the face."
This is a reference to the way the Pharisees silenced their opponent. Paul later writes a leader in a church should not be a 'striker'*, referring to this. It means if a Christian leader teaches or stays something, when someone questions them, they should not strike back just to silence another perspective. *I Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7

Anyone making a statement from scripture or experience they had in the Lord, should be easy to challenge or ask questions without them 'slapping you in the face' to shut you down and insult you.

The summary of this series is this:
Anything we read in the Word is secondary to knowing the Father and knowing Jesus. We do this by the Holy Spirit within. As we get to know the Father and Lord, we become increasingly aware of the Holy Spirit in us. As that awareness increases, we learn to trust Him more and more as we walk with the Father and Lord, perceiving truth and error by the Spirit of Truth within.

The scripture is greater and more sure as Peter said, than any spiritual experience. And we measure our experiences by the Word and by the Spirit of Truth. Use common sense, weigh things out, but first, focus on knowing the Father, knowing Jesus, for all things flow from knowing God.

Talk to the Father conversationally throughout your day. Find things to be thankful for. As any good thing happens to you during your day, learn to say 'Thank you Father for that'. When you fellowship with Him like that, you build an awareness of He direct and personal involvement in your day, and the Spirit of Truth in you will help you judge all things spiritually.

New subject next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]

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Precisamos da Bíblia? 4 de 4, Palavra e Espírito

9/14/2024

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Do we need the Bible? 4 of 4, Word and Spirit
Precisamos da Bíblia? 4 de 4, Palavra e Espírito

Olá a todos,

Termino esta série abordando o equilíbrio entre a Palavra e o Espírito, e como aplicar esse equilíbrio na nossa vida diária - como permanecer equilibrado e evitar cair no erro.

A diretriz é muito simples: A Palavra e o Espírito sempre concordam.
Portanto, se alguém afirma que Deus está a fazer algo (pelo Seu Espírito), então isso será visto em capítulo e versículo (Palavra), e/ou nos últimos 2.000 anos do Cristianismo. O inverso também é verdadeiro: se alguém afirma que a Palavra diz algo, então veremos o Espírito Santo a operar assim nos nossos dias e/ou durante os últimos 2.000 anos de Fé.

Além disso, nenhum versículo isolado pode ser considerado doutrina. Se alguém afirma que as escrituras dizem algo, haverá de 1 a 3 versículos a dizer o mesmo. Por exemplo, João 3:16, que afirma que Deus amou o mundo de tal maneira que deu o Seu filho, não é um versículo independente. Em I Timóteo 2:4 diz o mesmo de outra forma: “Deus...que quer que todos os homens se salvem, e venham ao conhecimento da verdade”. Apoia e concorda com João 3:16.

Como perceber o erro? Pedro disse...
Em II Pedro 1:17-18 ele descreve a sua experiência no Monte da Transfiguração (Lc 9:29-31). Nessa experiência, Jesus tornou-se resplandecente em glória, e o Pai, numa nuvem de glória branca e igualmente brilhante, envolveu-os e falou-lhes. Moisés e Elias (lei e profetas) falaram a Jesus sobre a Sua morte iminente em Jerusalém.

MAS, Pedro escreve nos versículos 19-21, por melhor que tenha sido essa experiência: "E temos, mui firme, a palavra dos profetas (escritura)… Sabendo primeiramente isto: que nenhuma profecia da Escritura é de particular interpretação. Porque a profecia nunca foi produzida por vontade de homem algum, mas os homens santos de Deus falaram inspirados pelo Espírito Santo"

Pedro diz que por melhor que tenha sido uma experiência espiritual, a palavra escrita é uma palavra mais segura, pois é inspirada pelo Pai sob a direção do Seu Espírito (Santo). A Palavra e o Espírito concordam.

Isso significa que se ouvir alguém falar sobre uma experiência, sonho ou visão, isso deverá estar de acordo com as escrituras. Mesmo que não consiga encontrar capítulo e versículo sobre o que eles dizem, o princípio em causa será encontrado nas escrituras E ressoará no seu espírito como verdadeiro.

Se alguém disser algo como, por exemplo, visitar o céu à vontade e puder ensiná-lo a fazer o mesmo, devemos olhar as escrituras. Vemos alguém nas escrituras que visitava regularmente o céu à vontade? Vemos alguém a ter um sonho espiritual, visão, visitação ou experiência iniciada por si? Não. Cada experiência sobrenatural de Deus nas Escrituras foi sempre iniciada por Deus. Nunca pelo homem.

Paulo escreveu em II Coríntios 11:3-4...
Que tinha medo de que fossem enganados ao ouvirem pessoas que apresentavam outro evangelho, outro Jesus, outro espírito. Ele disse que os esforços de Satanás para levá-los ao erro eram muito subtis, mas deu algumas características de tais ministros.

No v4 ele diz: “se alguém for pregar-vos outro Jesus que nós não temos pregado, ou se recebeis outro espírito que não recebestes, ou outro evangelho que não abraçastes”. Essa é a primeira pista, o Jesus que eles apresentam é diferente da compreensão clássica de Jesus e contrário ao Seu caráter.

Se alguém disser que Jesus pediu que fizesse algo, pergunte-se: “Isso soa como Jesus?” "Ele alguma vez pediu a alguém para fazer algo semelhante nos evangelhos ou em Atos?" "Paulo instrui ou menciona isso em suas cartas?" Se a resposta for “não”, também a equilibramos pela forma como o nosso espírito a recebe. Isso ressoa com o nosso espírito? O Espírito Santo fez o mesmo com outras pessoas nos últimos 2.000 anos? Se não, então é um erro. O Espírito e a Palavra concordam, e se esse acordo não for encontrado, então é um erro.

O nosso homem espiritual foi recriado pelo Espírito Santo, o qual é a Verdade.
Como o nosso foco é conhecer o Pai e conhecer Jesus, e ter comunhão com eles pelo Espírito*, primeiro verificamos o nosso homem espiritual. Se ressoa no nosso espírito, é o Espírito Santo testificando que o que a pessoa diz é certo e verdadeiro. *I Coríntios 1:9, I João 1:3,6.

Aprender a perceber esse testemunho no seu espírito é um processo e, a princípio, um passo de fé. Mas logo se torna automático o modo como você vive e mede todas as coisas.

Se algo ressoa no seu espírito como verdadeiro, mas a sua mente não entende e você está confuso, é porque a luz do Seu Espírito da Verdade está a focar a sua confusão para mostrar que o seu pensamento está errado sobre o assunto. Se algo não parece certo no seu espírito, mas intriga a sua mente – siga o seu espírito e não continue a ouvir o erro que a pessoa está a ensinar.

Nos últimos anos
Vimos o evangelho da prosperidade a distorcer versículos para justificar pastores que vivem como os ricos e famosos, em vez de viverem no nível médio dos membros da igreja. Isto é também visto em pregadores que usam fórmulas que instigam medo e fazem as pessoas pensarem que devem fazer determinadas coisas para que o diabo não tenha uma abertura nas suas vidas. Esse é um Jesus diferente daquele que Paulo pregou e escreveu. O Espírito Santo levaria alguém a fazer isso? Foi assim que Jesus viveu no Seu ministério? É isso o evangelho?

É visto naqueles que fazem do Pai o adversário: Que afirmam que devemos reunir o maior número possível de pessoas para invadir os portões do céu (embora Ele diga para nos chegarmos ao Seu trono com ousadia) para convencê-Lo a enviar (por exemplo: reavivamento, cura, dinheiro, ente querido salvo, etc.). Esse é um espírito e um evangelho diferente.

Em II Coríntios 11:19-20 ele descreve esses ministros. Ele diz que eles manipulam as suas emoções, exaltam-se, exigem o seu dinheiro e o insultam - diretamente ou aproveitando-se dos medos, da ignorância, para se tornarem conhecidos e se sentirem mais importantes.

No grego, Paulo diz ".. ou bate-lhes na face."
Esta é uma referência à forma como os fariseus silenciavam os seus oponentes. Mais tarde, Paulo escreveu que um líder de uma igreja não deveria ser um “atacante”*, referindo-se ao mesmo. Significa que se um líder cristão ensina algo, quando é questionado não deve responder com violência para silenciar a outra perspetiva. *I Timóteo 3:3, Tito 1:7

Qualquer pessoa que faça uma declaração das Escrituras ou da experiência que teve no Senhor deve ser fácil de desafiar ou fazer perguntas sem que eles “batam na sua cara” para o calar e insultar.

O resumo desta série é este:
Tudo o que lemos na Palavra é secundário relativamente ao conhecimento do Pai e ao conhecimento de Jesus. Fazemos isso pelo Espírito Santo no nosso interior. À medida que conhecemos o Pai e o Senhor, tornamo-nos cada vez mais conscientes do Espírito Santo em nós. À medida que essa consciência aumenta, aprendemos a confiar Nele, mais e mais à medida que caminhamos com o Pai e Senhor, percebendo a verdade e o erro no nosso interior pelo Espírito da Verdade.

As escrituras são mais seguras, como disse Pedro, e estão acima de qualquer experiência espiritual. Medimos as nossas experiências pela Palavra e pelo Espírito da Verdade. Use o bom senso, avalie as coisas, mas primeiro concentre-se em conhecer o Pai, conhecer Jesus, pois todas as coisas fluem do conhecimento de Deus.

Converse com o Pai durante todo o dia. Encontre coisas pelas quais ser grato. À medida que algo bom acontece consigo durante o dia, aprenda a dizer 'Obrigado, Pai, por isso'. Ao ter comunhão com Ele desta forma, constrói uma consciência do envolvimento direto e pessoal Dele no seu dia, e o Espírito da Verdade em si o ajudará a julgar todas as coisas espiritualmente.

Novo assunto na próxima semana, até lá, bênçãos,
John Fenn
cwowi.org e envie-me um e-mail para [email protected]

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Do we need the Bible? You do it already 3 of 4

9/7/2024

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Hi all,

I've been talking about which is more important:Studying scripture or knowing the Father and Lord?

Look at how you got saved
"Everyone who has heard the Father, and been taught by Him, comes to me." "....for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven." "That the Father...will give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Him, that the eyes of your understanding would be enlightened." John 6:45, Matthew 16:16-17, Ephesians 1:17-19

All this comes directly from the Father via His Spirit which is Holy. Everyone who is born again has heard and learned from the Father in direct revelation. He is so humble though, that He doesn't announce 'Hey this is God who created you, the Head of the universe asking you to think about 'is there more' and 'why am I here' and 'do I have a purpose in life.' The Father is so humble He just submits questions that stir our heart to make us think. Jesus, just like His Father, is also meek and lowly of heart.

Each of us has had that revelation from the Father that Jesus is Lord. Once part of the Father's family, we continue to receive revelation from Him - the eyes of our understanding are enlightened.

How long was it that you debated about Jesus before you committed yourself to Him? That process was the Father asking you to work through all those thoughts - but at that stage of life we didn't know Him, so we didn't realize it was the Father God stirring our heart to consider Jesus.

We made the decision for Jesus because we first heard and learned of the Father, by revelation. Then we were directed to Bible study. Sometimes a Bible study is part of the Father's process before we decide for the Lord as we wrestle with our heart and Him. But it all started with the Father.

It was the same in the first century. It is the same now in nations where having a Bible could be life-threatening or they are forbidden or just aren't available. Millions upon millions of people around the world have no Bible, they rely on knowing the Father and knowing Jesus.

"This is eternal life, to know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 17:3

You still hear from the Father, you receive revelation (enlightenment) via the Holy Spirit.
You hear a pastor or teacher teach something that doesn't feel right in your spirit. Your mind notices that 'off' feeling in your spirit. You see a TV personality, actor or Bible teacher/preacher or whatever, and they give you an 'icky' feeling in your spirit - you are perceiving they have a wrong spirit about them. The Spirit of Truth in you is bearing witness with your spirit they have a wrong spirit with them.

OR...You hear a teacher and it 'resonates' in your spirit. You realize you knew what that teacher is saying, you knew it in your spirit, but that teacher confirmed what you knew. I like to say it this way:Revelation is something you knew, but never realized. The Spirit of Truth in you is bearing witness with your spirit that what is said is spot on.

You say something and the moment it leaves your mouth your mind notices a grievance, a stab of conviction in your spirit. You ask forgiveness, sometimes you may need to go to that person you were talking to and ask forgiveness

A friend plans a trip, and you feel a 'check' in your spirit that something about it isn't right. You pray for them and that trip - you are responding to a revelation from the Father in your spirit.

On a day to day basis it is our interaction with the Father by His Spirit in our spirit that arranges and rearranges our lives. Scripture is secondary to that.

You search for a place to live, and you process information mentally - budget, location, safety, convenience - but out of the choices, when you think of one of them you notice a joy, a peace in your spirit. You 'feel right' about that one. There is a peace in your spirit when you consider moving there.

In all these things you never stop everything right at that moment to look up a verse. It is in fact regular communication between the Father and you as you go about your day.

This is where we live, in that day to day communication, shifting attention between natural senses and our spirit man's senses. This give us insight into what our Father and our Lord are thinking about situations in our lives.

That's why scripture is so vague on what to do - we have to walk with Him to know
For all these things we have no chapter and verse. Love your neighbor is great, but how to do that in a meeting where I know strife wants to rear its ugly head? Love your neighbor is what we try to do, but at what point are we enabling them to continue in their condition instead of helping them out of that condition? There is no chapter and verse, we must know the Father, know the Lord to get true Wisdom from above on each and every situation.

"We have the Spirit of God so that we can know the things He has freely provided for us." I Corinthians 2:10-12

Paul wrote:"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, rebuke, correction, and instruction in righteousness." II Timothy 3:16

But notice it doesn't say scripture is good for actually knowing the Father and Lord.
Scripture is for knowing about Him. For knowing doctrine, correcting us, teaching us - but the ink on the page is supplemental to knowing Him.

When we pray about our day, when we somewhere in that day ask the Father for help, we are emphasizing knowing Him, walking in the Spirit in His will - we are already doing it, already walking with Him. The Bible is supplemental to knowing Him. Our goal is to become more 'tuned in' to His communication via the Holy Spirit to our spirit.

Balancing Word and Spirit is next week. Until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]

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