The parable of the talents

 BY Argie Simonis

This parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, is about taking what the Lord has given us, whether in spiritual gifts or physical abilities, and increasing it. The Κingdom of Heaven is about increase and God is a God of increase.

All these gifts that the Lord gives us are intended to promote His kingdom and not to be kept hidden.

We also see that the Lord deals with his servants according to their own individual gifts and abilities. Servants who multiplied their master's money are praised just the same, even though one had brought in two and a half times as much revenue as the other. Every man's work shall be judged by its kind and not by its size:

"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." 1Cor. 3:13

When the time comes to stand before the Lord, we will be rewarded according to the potential that the Lord has given us.

The greatest gift that has been given to all of us is the gift of salvation. If all believers could lead at least one person to the Lord, the total number of believers would double. The same is true of the gifts we have, when we use them for His glory.

It is also wrong to compare ourselves with others:

"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2Cor. 10:12

The Lord gave different amounts of talents to His servants, but rewarded them equally, even though they did not have the same increase. Paul tells us the same thing in 1 Cor. 12:12-25, when he refers to the different use of the members of the body. There are no more important or less important members. All are equally necessary for the proper functioning of the body.

We also need to remember that no one would be talking about David today if he had not killed the giant Goliath. Anyone who is afraid of failure and doesn't even bother to try, he has already failed. Those who also believe that God is demanding, harsh and difficult to please are like the wicked and lazy servant who chose to bury his talent.

The Lord has called us to make a difference in this world. When we faithfully increase what the Lord entrusts to us, we please Him and there is great reward:

"His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord." Matt. 25:23

Amen 

The five fold ministry - Part 3: Evangelists - Pastors and Teachers

 BY Argie Simonis

~ Evangelists

"And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came to Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and stayed with him." Acts 21:8

"But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry." 2Tim. 4:5

These are the two references that the word "evangelist" is used in Scripture.

In Acts 21:8, Philip, one of the first six deacons chosen by the Jerusalem church, was called an evangelist. However, there is no clear explanation of exactly what he did as an evangelist.

In 2Tim. 4:5, Timothy, who was the first bishop or pastor of the church in Ephesus, was asked by the apostle Paul to do the work of an evangelist. This means that even those who may not have that particular calling can serve as evangelists. It is commonly believed that an evangelist is someone who has a passion for leading people to the Lord. But every believer must have a passion for lost souls.

I believe an evangelist is someone who has a supernatural gift to bring people to the Lord. He finds special favor with the people of the world and goes to places that other believers would hardly go (ministry in prisons, to addicts, homeless people and generally outcasts, people who are usually rejected by society).

All believers must share their faith with others by the power of the Holy Spirit. But an evangelist ministers under a special anointing and does so as a calling.

All believers are to teach but that does not make them teachers:

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 1Peter 3:15

All believers can prophesy:

"For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." 1Cor. 14:31

but that does not make them all prophets. Likewise, all believers can and should evangelize the lost, but that does not make them all evangelists. Remember the Samaritan woman who evangelized her entire village (John 4:7-30)

The ministry of the evangelist is very important for the Church. He is the one who will contribute to the growth of the Church as he recruits new believers to join the body of Christ.

Observing well-known ministries of modern international fame evangelists, the gift of faith, gifts of healing and working of miracles characterize their ministry. Also the prophetic gift is strong with words of knowledge and words of wisdom, as well as gifts of mercy and help.

-------------------------------------

~ Pastors and teachers

The ministry of the pastor or shepherd, is one of the most prominent ministries in the modern church. Apart from Jesus being described as the good Shepherd, the only time the word shepherd appears in the New Testament is in Eph. 4:11, when Paul refers to the fivefold ministry. In the O.T the only reference we see is in some places to the prophet Jeremiah:

"And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Jer. 3:15

"Woe be to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! said the LORD." Jer. 23:1

The word "bishop" is used instead of pastor (1 Tim. 3:1-2, Titus 1:7, 1 Peter 2:25) and was the common way of referring to the person who had oversight of the local church. The pastor as the leader of the local church or a group of believers, has a very important role in the body of Christ. Like a shepherd, the pastor will see to it that the Lord's sheep are spiritually fed, he will treat, help and counsel those in need. The pastor is the spiritual father of many believers.

Therefore, the qualifications of a bishop mentioned in 1Tim. 3:1-7 would be the qualifications of the pastor:

"This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." 1Τim. 3:1-7

------------------------------------

~ Teachers

 

In the four Gospels it is mentioned that Jesus spent twice as much time in teaching as in preaching. There is an essential difference between them: Preaching presents and proclaims the Word of God, while teaching interprets and explains the Word of God.

In general, the emphasis that has been given in the modern church is to get people born again, but the further training and deep grounding of believers in the Word of God is insufficient.

Teaching is the basic building block of desciple making. Jesus made disciples, not just converts, and this was the last command He gave His disciples:

"Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matt. 28:19

Anointed teaching is necessary to fulfill this mission. The Apostle Paul also had the gift of teaching:

"Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity." 1Tim. 2:7

"And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them." Acts 18:11

Teaching is also a characteristic of the pastor (1 Tim. 3:2). I personally cannot imagine a pastor being effective in his ministry without also being a teacher.

Most churches do not systematically teach through the Bible, so believers cannot be properly taught in just one hour a week in church. Pastors focus on bringing a motivating message that might encourage someone or fill a momentary need. The result is that believers are constantly in the "milk" without being able to move effectively in their calling.

"And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." 1Cor. 12:28

Paul's reference to the gifts here is very interesting. Looking at the same reference in Eph. 4:11, pastors and teachers are mentioned together, without a comma. Here, if you noticed in the chain of hierarchy, the pastor is absent. I believe that the ministry of pastor and teacher are together.

The teacher meets Paul's description in 1 Tim. 3:1-7. He loves systematic study and has a gift for communicating his knowledge with simplicity. I would liken the teacher to an architect. The architect will unfold in front of you the design of the house and will explain in detail the perspective, use and functionality of each space. It will help you understand your home and its potential.

The teacher's mission is to prepare disciples who will in turn make other disciples.

The five-fold ministry-Part 2: Apostles and prophets

 BY Argie Simonis

~ Apostles ~

"And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." 1Cor. 12:28

A modern day apostle would typically function as a church planter —someone sent by the body of Christ to spread the gospel and establish new communities of believers.

An apostle is a person whose main activity is church planting and their supervision. He is usually the spiritual father of believers who will later be appointed in charge of one of the ministries for the building of a church or a Christian community.

Being pioneers, the Lord equips the apostles with various spiritual gifts so that they can carry out their mission.

Without trying to put any limitations on how the Lord distributes the spiritual gifts, characteristic of the apostles are the gifts of healing and the working of miracles that follow them:

"Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." 2Cor. 12:12

Jesus also used healings and miracles as a bell to attract people to Him.

Until the new church is organized with evangelists, pastors and teachers, the apostle will assume this responsibility: The recruitment of new believers into the Body of Christ and their training:

"If I be not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of my apostleship are you in the Lord." 1Cor. 9:2

Some believe that an apostle has all the ministry gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11. This is something that may be true, but it cannot be supported Biblically.

There will be seasons when the apostle will settle in an area, until the local Christian community can function autonomously, leaving people in his place later.

Because apostles are at the top of the hierarchy in church government, they tend to speak with authority and boldness:

"But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." 1Cor. 4:19-20

Among his responsibilities are included the supervision, reprimand and correction of wrong doings.

He will have a strong manifestation of the gifts of knowledge and wisdom, discernment, prophecy, teaching and evangelism. Also a gift of governance/administration for the supervision of Christian communities.

------------------------------------------------

~ Prophets ~

The ministry of the prophet has always been very important to God's people. In the New Testament, the prophet is the second highest position in the hierarchy of the Church, comes after the apostle and holds an important role in the building of the church:

"And are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" Ephes. 2:20

A prophet is God's mouthpiece (2 Kings 17:13, 23, 21:10, 24:2; Hosea 12:10; and Amos 3:7) where he gives specific instructions, warnings, or rebukes. Although not limited to this alone, much of the prophetic ministry deals with the future. Attention: The Spirit of prophecy is one thing (John 16:13, Rev. 19:10) and the spirit of divination is another (Acts 16:16-18).

Prophets have also been used

 - to give God's perspective on past and current events (1 Kings 20:13-14 and 2 Chronicles 12:5), to anoint people for service (1 Samuel 10:1, 16:1, 13,1 Kings 19:15-16 and 2 Kings 9:1-6),

 - to preach God's justice to those who have practiced injustice (Nehemiah 6:7, Acts 15:32 and 1 Corinthians 14:3), as spiritual advisers to kings (2 Samuel 7) and

 - to be used for people to inquire of God (1 Samuel 28:6; 1 Kings 14:1-18, 22:7; 2 Kings 3:11; 2 Chronicles 18:6; and Ezekiel 14: 7).

Abraham was called a prophet (Gen. 20:7), although he never foretold any future events or spoke of judgment messages. The test of a true prophet who predicts future events is whether the prophecy comes true or not:

"When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of him." Deut. 18:22

There are six women in the Bible who were called prophetesses:

  - Miriam (Exodus 15:20),

  - Deborah (Judges 4:4),

  - Ulda (2 Kings 22:14 and 2 Chronicles 34:22),

  - Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14),

  - wife of Isaiah (Isaiah 8:3) and

  - Anna (Luke 2:36).

Philip also had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9). We also have references to other prophetesses:

  — Rachel (Genesis 30:24),

- Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10),

  - Elizabeth (Luke 1:41-45) and

  - Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:46-55).

The ministry of the prophet is different from the gift of prophecy. According to 1 Corinthians 14:3, this gift of prophecy is for edification, exhortation, and comfort:

"but he that prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and comfort."

The prophet will of course speak edification, exhortation and comfort to the Body of Christ as we are all called to do, but in addition the ministry of the prophet includes direction, rebuke and warning as we have seen in the previous examples.

In the next article we will close the teaching on the five-fold ministry with the evangelists, pastors and teachers.

To be continued...

The five fold ministry - Introduction

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Eph. 4:11-12

There are two different interpretations of the fivefold ministry that Paul mentions here.

- It can refer to individuals who were called to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. In other words, God gave some people the gift of being an apostle, others the gift of being a prophet, etc.

- But it can also refer to churches or ministries that receive these ministry gifts. That is, it is this characteristic, or otherwise the special anointing that characterizes the particular church or ministry. This is how we can have apostolic or prophetic churches and ministries etc.

The gifts that Christ gave to the church, or the five-fold ministry, were supposed to be more of a coach for believers, rather than operating the way we usually see them operating today. The coach's role is to train and help team members to function at their highest potential.

In most churches, the pastor is the one who does all the work of the ministry. The responsibility of spreading the gospel should not fall on the shoulders of the fivefold ministry. What should be happening is that the pastor, teacher, etc. should train the believers so that they can better share their faith, and as the members of His body are the real players doing the work, witnessing  Christ and people are saved.

Shepherds don't bear sheep. Sheep bear sheep.

Let's look at a similar reference made by Paul:

"And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." 1Cor. 12:28

The use of the word "first" implies that Paul established an order of authority-hierarchy among these gifts. Apostles have the greatest authority, then prophets, then teachers. The reason the shepherd is absent here is because I believe the shepherd is also a teacher (Eph. 4:11). Here it is very important to remember the way Paul described how the different gifts in the body of Christ resemble different members of the physical body:

"For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." 1Cor. 12:12.

"No, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:" 1Cor. 12:22

Members have different functions, some more important than others, but there are no unimportant members. Therefore, this authority should not be exercised as an unbeliever would exercise authority:

"But Jesus called them to him, and said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority on them.

But it shall not be so among you: but whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

And whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:" Μatt. 20:25-27

Ministers should not dominate over their brothers and sisters, but should lead by example:

"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." 1Pet. 5:2-3

Paul is not trying to promote an absolute chain of hierarchy in the church. This "lifeless" dominance has proven ineffective and damaging in many of the most functional churches.

It is biblical and necessary to have a system of church government that includes these ministry gifts (five-fold ministry). The solution lies in finding true apostles, prophets and teachers who answer to God and not to doctrines and traditions of men.

In the following messages we will deal with ministry gifts from Eph. 4:11. We will examine their characteristics and their function within the Body of Christ.

To be continued...

More gifts referred in Scriptures

 BY Argie Simonis

"For who makes you to differ from another? and what have you that you did not receive? now if you did receive it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it?" 1Cor. 4:7

This is a very good reminder to help us walk humbly. Any good we can find in ourselves is a gift from God. The Lord gives us gifts not because we are good or because we deserve them, but because He is good. Gifts are gifts, not wages, and are given 

"for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Eph. 4:12 

and 

"all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." 1Cor. 12:11

"And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" 1Cor. 12:28-30

In addition to the nine gifts of the Spirit that Paul mentions in 1 Cor. 12 that we studied in the previous messages, there are other gifts:

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching;

Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Rom. 12:6-8

Paul here mentions 7 gifts:

- prophecy

- ministry

- teaching

- exhortation

- giving

- administration

- mercy

Paul's purpose here is to show that different people in the body of Christ have different positions or functions.

I must point out again that all believers can function in the gifts mentioned here, but that does not mean that this is also their ministry, or in other words, their calling.

For example, everyone can and should teach others, but that does not make them teachers. The difference between teaching and preaching is that the preacher declares the Word of God, while the teacher explains it.

Paul also said "you can all prophesy one by one" (1 Corinthians 14:31), but he also made it clear that not everyone is called to be a prophet (1 Corinthians 12:29).

Likewise, all believers are to show mercy and give, but some people are given supernatural gifts in these areas.

- All believers are called to serve one another with love, but the gift of ministry or service, is a supernatural ability and grace that the Lord gives to a person to serve, help and minister to others.

- The gift of prompting

Exhortation is part of the preaching of the Word:

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." 2Tim. 4:2 

- The gift of giving (or offering) concerns people whom the Lord gives a special grace to make money in order to financially support God's work. We are all called to give to the Lord from our possessions:

"Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver." 2Cor. 9:7

but here Paul tells us that those who have a ministry of giving (offering) should be generous in giving.

- The gift of administration could refer to any of the many positions of authority within the church. This reveals that although everyone has some degree of authority, there are individuals who are given a gift of ministry to rule, or what we would commonly call "management" today.

- It is certain that all believers should show mercy and give, but some people are given supernatural gifts in these areas. This is what Paul is describing here. Regarding the gift of offering, he said that offering should be done with simplicity. Those who rule should be diligent in what they do and those who have the gift of mercy should administer it with joy.

- I would also like to mention the artistic gifts:

"See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship." Exodus 31:2-5

There are many gifted artists around the world, but not all of them dedicate their gift to the Lord.

Those whom the Lord has called to a specific ministry, even in the area of arts (music, theater, cinema) are to help and empower believers  to be able to better share their faith with the world. Then all together as one body become witnesses of our Christ and people are saved.

And since shepherds do not beget sheep, but sheep beget sheep, in the following messages we will look at the ministry gifts from Ephesians:

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers,

"for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Eph. 4:11-12

Gifts of healings and working of miracles

 BY Argie Simonis

Something we notice in 1 Corinthians 12:9 is that it speaks in the plural of gifts of healing:

"... to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" 1Corinthians 12:9

The gifts of healing are supernatural powers released through a person for the purpose of bringing healing to those who are sick. All believers can lay hands on the sick and see them recover (Mark 16:17-18 and John 14:12), but there are some people who have a calling to a ministry of healing. These people are gifted with the gifts of healing, and this is something that strongly characterizes their ministry. Healing gifts are expressed in various ways, depending on how the Lord distributes them.

It is the same with the gift of miracles.

Miracles are God's way of meeting the needs of those who seek Him in faith. Miracles will sometimes be used to show God's ability so that people will believe (Mark 2:10-11), but will not happen to skeptics who tempt God (Luke 4:9-12) .

So what is the definition of a miracle?

A miracle is a supernatural intervention of God's power upon natural law.

There is an essential separation between a miracle and a healing. Healings occur within the boundaries of natural laws, while miracles are not limited to natural laws. A person with a high fever who receives prayer and then begins to recover experiences a healing. The Lord intervened here, but in natural ways, as for example in Peter's mother-in-law:

"And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered to them." Luke 4:39

The virus, infection, or whatever it was that was causing the fever was rebuked, left her body and then her immune system took over the natural healing process (as it is designed to do in all of us).

When something totally supernatural happens, that's a miracle:

"And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

And Jesus answered and said, Suffer you thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him." Luke 22:50-51

When Jesus reattached Malchus' ear after Peter had previously cut it off (John 18:10), it was a miracle. It was also a healing, but it was a miraculous healing.

The feeding of the five thousand (Matt. 14:19-20), the walking on water (Matt. 14:25), the transfer of the ship and all the passengers from one end of the sea to the other (John 6:21 ), these are all miracles. Miracles are usually instantaneous, while healings are usually a proccess.

Are miracles happening today?

"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." Mark 16:20

The Lord confirmed the preaching of His Word with miracles. If Jesus and the first century Christians needed the Word confirmed by miracles, how much more we do:

"God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" Hebrews 2:4

The gift of Faith

BY Argie Simonis

The group of power gifts includes the gifts of faith, healings, and miracles.

The gift of faith is like the faith that every believer receives during the born again experience, but to a very higher degree. It's like when adrenaline enables a person to lift something extremely heavy that in a normal situation they would not be able to do. In other words, it is a supernatural impartation of faith intended to enable supernatural results.

All born-again Christians have faith, by which they were saved:

"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Eph. 2:8

Faith is like a muscle that needs practice to get stronger. We must practice it through the renewing of our minds:

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10:17

This is why the Scriptures speak of great faith (Matthew 8:10) and little faith (Matthew 8:26).

The faith referred to here as the gift of the Holy Spirit is different from the faith received at salvation, which is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It is a supernatural impartation of faith that does not come through the normal process of renewing the mind and is intended to help those who struggle with doubts or worries and struggle to believe.

What I want to point out here is that the gift of faith is given for a specific problem or at a specific time. Otherwise, if one has the gift of faith, nothing else is needed.

The person who moves in the gift of faith operates over the limitations of mind and reason and can impart this supernatural faith to someone who has difficulty believing.

Usually this gift works together with the gifts of healings and miracles which we will examine later.

We must not forget that the Lord gives us these gifts as a tool to help us, not as a substitute for our personal faith and our relationship with Him. There will be times when we will need the help of a person with the gift of faith, miracles or healings, but the primary way the Lord has set us to receive from Him is through our personal faith and relationship with Him.

On the next message I will talk about the gifts of healings and miracles.

To be continued...

Judgement and condemnation

 BY Argie Simonis

There is not only a right and a wrong way to judge, but what we judge is equally important.

The Lord said to judge what is right (Luke 12:57 and John 7:24),

and used the word "judge" and "discern" interchangeably:

"You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time?

Yes, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right?" Luke 12:56-57

According to the dictionary, the word "judgment" moves on a scale that starts from the form of an opinion or evaluation and reaches condemnation. It is certainly not a bad thing to discern or appreciate a situation or a person. The Word of God even tells us to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). When we do it with discernment it is good. But when this is done with condemnation it is not good:

"Who are you that judge another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yes, he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand." Rom. 14:4

"Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." Rom. 14:13

"Speak not evil one of another, brothers. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge." James 4:11

It is a reality that there will be times when we will be annoyed or offended by someone. It is not wrong to judge these actions. This of course must be done in the light of the Word of God, because any other attempt to interpret these acts based on our personal experiences or based on the opinions of others for example, will lead us to errors. When it comes to judge the motivation behind someone's actions, let us leave it to God, because only He knows the heart of a person.

We may have been hurt by words spoken to us, but most of the times we don't know the frustrations these people carry every day. If we could understand the real reason they do what they do, we would be much more compassionate in our judgment.

The Lord did not forbid us to judge, but warned us:

"Judge not, that you be not judged.

For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again." Matt. 7:1-2

So, we must judge whether something is right or wrong and sometimes pass condemning sentences, as in the example of Paul (1 Cor. 5:3-5, 1 Tim. 1:20).

Pastors and elders also bear the responsibility of rebuking and disciplining church members:

"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." 1Tim. 5:20

But it is something that should not be done lightly. This is a warning to be sure we have heard from God and we are not just venting our personal frustrations:

"So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment." James 2:12-13

The gift of speaking in tounges - Part 2

 BY Argie Simonis

On the previous message we started talking about the gift of tounges and here we will complete it, including the interpretation of tounges.

Faith moves against the flesh and by faith you enter the spiritual realm. When you pray in tongues and do so by exercising faith, it is like a switch that turns on your holiest faith. In the letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks of mysteries and of the hidden wisdom of God:

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory:" 1Cor. 2:7

Paul was revealing what had been a mystery until then. God explained these mysteries to him and took them out of the realm of mystery making them simple for everyone. Have you ever considered how Paul accomplished this and became the author of almost half of the New Testament? You can see a lot of this in Galatians and the book of Acts starting with chapter 9, where it talks about the apostle Paul. He was a Jewish disciple of Gamaliel, one of the greatest teachers of the Law. He persecuted Christians by consenting even to their death. Then he had his personal encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, where he saw that light and fell from his horse.

According to the first 2 chapters of Galatians, Paul said that he went down to Jerusalem once and saw Peter, but from there he went out into the deserts of Arabia and stayed there for 3 years and then returned as the apostle Paul starting the ministry and his missionary journeys. Paul, like most Jews of that time, could memorize the first 5 books of the Old Testament and also knew the rest of the books very well. He knew the Scriptures, but while being Saul, he had misinterpreted them. He saw everything through the eyes of the Law and not through the grace of God. So I believe that during those 3 years he was speaking what he knew from the Scriptures but the Holy Spirit was revealing to him all these mysteries that he wrote about. Paul wrote half of the New Testament revealing these mysteries. How did he do that? He says that he spoke the hidden wisdom of God in mysteries:

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory:" 1Cor. 2:7

And he himself was the one who, writing to the same audience, in the same letter (1 Corinthians), see here what he says:

"For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God: for no man understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries." 1Cor. 14:2

It may be something you do not understand, but you speak in the tongues of men and angels and here it says that you speak mysteries in the Spirit:

"For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful." 1Cor. 14:14

He also writes:

"Why let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret." 1Cor. 14:13

So when you pray in tongues you need to pray to receive the interpretation and here it refers to the gift of tongues that takes place within the church. In the same letter we also read:

"I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all:" 1Cor. 14:18

He spoke in tongues outside the church more than all of them combined! And I say outside the church because Paul himself had said:

"Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." 1Cor. 14:19

The reason I say all this is because some claim that you should only speak in tongues only if you can also interpret in the Church, but here we see Paul speaking in tongues to himself and not to the Church.

The gift of tongues can work on a personal level, privately, in the same way that it works in the Church, just as you can ask God for interpretation in the same way that you ask it in the Church.

I believe one of the reasons, not the only one, but one of the reasons that Paul received all this revelation upon the grace of God that many others just missed, was because he was speaking what he knew from the Scriptures, praying over them in tounges ​​and asked God for the interpretation. He believed that in his spirit he had the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) and prayed that this spiritual wisdom which was "stored up" in his born-again spirit would form his mind to see that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament and that we are no longer under all these regulations and ordinances of the Law and that there is a new way we can have a relationship with God through His grace!

Therefore, I believe that one of the primary ways Paul received all these revelations was by praying in tongues and asking for their interpretation. The field of your perception will be clarified and expanded and if you pray for the interpretation as well, the Spirit of truth will lead you to the truth and reveal to you the future (John. 16:13).

It is also very important to remember that when you pray in tongues it does not mean that the first thing that will come to your mind is also from God. This needs attention! You should check everything through the lens of God's Word. As with prophecy, for each word given it should be discerned:

"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge." 1Cor. 14:29

If you are very new to the faith and do not yet know God's Word, go to someone spiritually mature and share with them those thoughts that came to you after praying in tongues. Go to someone who has studied the Bible and has the wisdom of God, and let him discern whether what you heard was God speaking to you.

You can evaluate your thoughts through the Word because the word of God is living, and active, and searches the reasonings and thoughts of the heart (Hebrew 4:12)

It will determine if your thoughts are from God or just from yourself.

The gift of tongues is one of the most powerful tools God has given us and I believe that is why the devil fights it so much. Some may oppose you for speaking in tongues, especially religious people.

"Why, brothers, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues." 1Cor. 14:39

Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts, it is like trying to put out a fire with a water pistol! You need power to do this, the power that Jesus spoke of:

"But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come on you: and you shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8 

Amen!

The gift of speaking in tounges - Part 1

 BY Argie Simonis

Speaking in tongues belongs to the category of gifts of utterance (expression) and is a ministry gift that operates in the assembly of the Church. 

As with the distinction between the gift of prophecy and the ministry of the prophet that we discussed in the previous message, so the gift of tongues is different from the speaking in tongues that can be done privately by every believer who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit . It is one of the first supernatural manifestations accompanying the baptism of the Holy Spirit: (Acts 2:4, 10:46 and 19:6).

The gift of tongues is not given to everyone:

"Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" 1Cor. 12:30

Some have used this verse as an argument to teach that speaking in tongues is not for every believer. However, this speaks of the gift of speaking in tongues operating in the assembly of the Church. Not all believers are moved by this gift, but all believers who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit can speak in tongues in their own personal prayer time:

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;" Mark 16:17

When the gift of tongues is operating publicly and there is interpretation, it equals prophecy:

"He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church." 1Cor. 14:4

"I would that you all spoke with tongues but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying." 1Cor. 14:5

There are two different kinds of speaking in tongues. In 1 Corinthians 13:1 we read that we can speak with the tongues of men or angels. The tongues of men is reffering to known tongues, like what happened on the Day of Pentecost. This is the gift of supernaturally speaking a known language without having been taught it, and it comes for the purpose of bearing witness, as on the day of Pentecost:

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language." Acts 2:4-6

There is also a gift of tongues which speaks in a heavenly language (what is called the tongues of angels in 1 Corinthians 13:1). This is a language unknown to the speaker but allows the believer to communicate directly with the Lord through the Spirit.

"For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God: for no man understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries." 1Cor. 14:2

"For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful." 1Cor. 14:14

Speaking in tongues is not THE sign, but it is something that follows the baptism of the Holy Spirit and unless one has been negatively influenced or frightened by religion, I believe it would be normal for all who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit to speak in tounges. Speaking in tongues is neither from the devil nor becoming possessed of the devil:

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:13

If you seek God and want the power of the Holy Spirit that the Bible speaks of, then the Lord will not allow the devil to give you an evil gift!

God does not give His Spirit to those who beg or to those who deserve it, but to those who ask for it. You should by faith begin to speak and believe that God is the one who inspires you to do so:

"But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1Cor. 2:14

"For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ." 1Cor. 2:16

Some, particularly in Pentecostal circles, say they simply speak in tongues without being able to control it. This is not true:

"And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." 1Cor. 14:32

Fear, unbelief and listening to ourselves trying to assess whether what we are speaking is from God or not, creates doubt and brings hindrance within us. The mind rebels and says no, the flesh resists  because it doesn't make logical sense. This is exactly what makes speaking in tounges so powerful:

"But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life." Jude 1:20-21

The expression "Praying in the Holy Spirit" here is the speaking in tongues.

"He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church." 1Cor. 14:4

Our next message will be the second part of this series on the gift of speaking in tounges.

To be continued...

The gift of Prophecy

  BY Argie Simonis

"Follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy." 1Cor. 14:1

The gift of prophecy, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues are included in the group of the utterance gifts. In this message we will focus on the gift of prophecy.

This gift of prophecy is different from the gift of the ministry of a prophet (Ephesians 4:11), just as we said that the gift of faith that Paul mentions in this letter is different from the fruit of faith that he mentions in Galatians 5:22, when he talks about the fruit of the Spirit.

According to 1Corinthians 14:3, this gift of prophecy is for edification, exhortation, and comfort:

"But he that prophesies speaks to men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." 1Cor. 14:3

Certainly there were many prophets whose prophecies did not meet these standards:

------- In 2 Samuel 12:1-14 the prophet Nathan visits King David. He talks to him about the sin he committed and in the following verses announces the judgment of the Lord:

"Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? you have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon." 2Sam. 12:9

"Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house; because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.

Thus said the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun." 2Sam 12:10-11

---------------- In 1Kings 13:1-5, we see the prophet who brought the word of the Lord to King Jeroboam:

"And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus said the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense on you, and men's bones shall be burnt on you.

And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD has spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out." 1Kings 13:1-3

"And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.

The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD." 1 Kings 13:4-5

----------------- In 1 Kings 21:17-21, the prophet Elijah brings the word of the Lord to King Ahab:

"And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying," 1Kings 21:17

"And you shall speak to him, saying, Thus said the LORD, Have you killed, and also taken possession? And you shall speak to him, saying, Thus said the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood, even yours." 1 Kings. 21:19

-------------- The prophet Agabus prophesies the imprisonment of the apostle Paul:

"And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

And when he was come to us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus said the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that ownes this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles." Acts 21:10-11

Paul also emphasizes that:

"I would that you all spoke with tongues but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying." Α'Cor. 14:5

In other words, Paul wants us all to prophesy, but a little further down he says that not everyone is a prophet:

"Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?" 1Cor. 12:29

So how do these two harmonize together?

The gift of prophecy operating in the assembly of the church is limited to the general edification, exhortation, and comfort of the body (1 Corinthians 14:3). If a person begins to give an individual prophecy of personal direction to someone, this falls under the ministry of a prophet and is different from this simple gift of prophecy. The prophet will of course speak edification, exhortation and comfort to the Body of Christ as we are all called to do, but in addition to the ministry of the prophet, it includes direction, rebuke and warning as we have seen in the previous examples.

Someone moved by the gift of prophecy could, for example, give a word like that:

"My children I love you. I am with you and I will never leave you"

Failure to understand the difference between this simple gift of prophecy and the ministry of a prophet has led to abuses and extremes, where strange things are called words for prophecy in many churches and have made people skeptic or even completely negative of prophecy.

Some prepare entire teachings during the week and deliver them as prophecies to the congregation. Others use prophecy as an opportunity to rebuke someone or vent their own prejudices or push their own agenda about what the church should do. Neither of these things is the gift of prophecy that Paul is describing here.

We shall speak more on this topic and also on the order which all these must be exercised in the Church, in future messages. 

In the next message we will deal with the remaining two gifts of utterance, the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues.

To be continued...