MANAGING PROPHECY AND PROPHETIC INSTRUCTIONS- Perception, Acceptance and Rejection

Good afternoon readers,

Trust your Sunday was fulfilling and edifying. Glory to God. However, today, we will be expounding in detail, the topic of Prophecies and Prophetic instructions, How to perceive them, when to reject or accept them.

In my usual fashion of writing and expression, i will start with a nugget.

"God can never say anything outside His word".

It is foolhardy to judge the content of any prophetic instruction or word by the personality of the prophet or by the attitude or track record of the speaker. Often times, folks say "Oh, Pastor so so said this... ..., Oh Prophet so so saw a vision about this.It becomes imperative to ascertain the depth of such a speaker as regards the subject matter.

Let's listen to what John said about the imperativeness of the believer to ascertain the truth of the word being spoken.

 1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone into the world.

Trying out Spirits requires a high level of discernment. this can only be achieved through accurate and versed knowledge of what the word said about the issue in question.

Hosea the Prophet commented thus

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.....

Nothing embarrasses a believer than stark ignorance! You know why?

Because it contravenes the very purpose of God.

Paul makes this quite clear to Timothy

1 Timothy 2:4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Clearly God's desire for the new creation is knowledge. In-depth knowledge!

About what?

Let's see his again letter to Philemon

Philemon 6
That the communication of your faith might become effectual by the acknowledgement of every GOOD thing WHICH IS IN YOU IN CHRIST

God's will for the believer is self discovery. In-depth knowledge about the good things which are in you which are placed in you by Christ.

Any prophecy or prophetic injunction that does not acknowledge or take root from the Christocentric message which is the Gospel is a fraud!

John also asserts this

1John 4:2
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth tat Jesus is come IN THE FLESH is of God.

Apt! The New Creation was created by the sacrifice of Jesus. It was created by the sacrifice of a BODY NOT A SPIRIT.

The Gospel was created by the coming of Christ in the flesh. Any prophetic instruction that relates with you without basis on the finished works of Christ for you and the ongoing work of Christ in you is FAKE!

It doesn't matter how accurate they may have been especially by getting details of you. I'll share a bit of a testimony that may help us.

A certain sister in my fellowship was invited for an interview by the christian student body in my school at that time for a position in the executive committee. One of the panelists began asking her questions about her private life and she began to reveal. The panelist told her (by revelation supposedly)she was dating an exco in her fellowship and was having immoral affairs with this brother (which was true), the lady in question agreed and the pastor told this lady to leave the relationship in order for both the brother and sister to effectively carry out their ministry, adding that the relationship was not honourable in the site of God anymore

I studied this critically because it was of personal importance to me due to  my acquaintance with the individuals involved. I discovered something was faulty.

Know this:

As enticing or as spiritual as an instruction may be doesn't make it right. The Word is the litmus test for every prophecy or prophetic instruction.

I called the lady in question and sat and talked with her and told her that even though exit was imminent, it was not necessary. I told her to curb visiting this brother at odd hours and spending long useful time at his place and i told her to treat the things of God and the word with extreme priority( Prayer and word study).

Summary of the event was that things got better for both of them!

A prophecy should be accepted if it takes root and acknowledges the believer's  acceptance of the gospel as the power of life unto salvation. If it agrees with the word in detail.

Likewise, a prophecy should be readily discarded if it is "an opinion" or if it has no root in consonance with what the word says.

Every prophecy must pass the litmus test of the scripture.

It has no relativity withe the individual involved. God is not a respecter of persons.

He honours his word. His word is at work in you.

I call you blessed..

"THE HUSBANDMAN THAT LABOURETH MUST BE THE FIRST PARTAKER OF THE FRUIT" 1: What did Paul really mean?

Good evening to you dear reader.

Today, we are going to be clearly expounding a topic of personal interest to me because of it's frequent misinterpretation by zealously deceitful folks and for the interest of the church to be able to have a firm grasp and footing on the glorious liberty we have in Christ.

Let us examine the verse critically:

2 Timothy 2:6

The husbandman that laboureth shall be the first partaker of the fruit.

Note this reader.  

ANY TIME THE BIBLE IS MISINTERPRETED, A CIRCLE OF IGNORANCE HAS JUST BEGUN.
  
The need for bible study should increasee with each activity channeled at improving our knowledge of Jesus Chris. It goes beyon knowing and memorizing Greek words and transliterations.

To clearly understand this, we are going to have to look a bit into the post text of this amazing scripture.

Hear Paul begin

2 Timothy 2: 1

Thou therefore my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus

2. And the things thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou unto faithful men,who may also be able to teach others.

We will be limited to these two verses of scripture at least for now.

Our aim is to setablish who Paul was refering to?

What are the fruits?

Why is the role of the husbandman expressed fully by Paul?

Why must he be a partaker of the fruit?

The Greek for the word husband man is the word "Georgos".. This is used to imply a farmer of a vine dresser. The husbandman is one who upon reception and acknowledgement of ministry sets out to cultivate his message among the people who must first hear it before acting on it.

One of the greatest faith preachers of this generation, Bishop David Oyedepo taught me thus "Every minister is a messenger. A messenger with a message"

Fruits are used in the scriptures as the reward for productivty or as a pointer to the benefits we have as believers. The Greek is the word "Karpos".

Paul admonished Timothy to commit the same message which he had heard to faithful men who would do like wise. He went further with an asserted and much needed instruction to Timothy.

He said: "The husbandman that laboureth must be the partaker of THE FRUIT"

Paul was talking of the same fruit he received from Jesus who separated him from his mother's womb. He was talking of HIS MESSAGE!
'
Every fruit has a seed and every seed (Sperma) has life!

Paul was advocating the replication of His living message first in Timothy, then to thos whom Timothy was going to teach and then to those who that geneartion of ministers were going tro minister to.

 I call this The Generational Impact of The Message of Christ.

 The message given to every minister must first of all minister to him primarily before it ministers to anyone elese.

Hear Paul to the Romans

Romans 2: 20

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thous which preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Being a partaker of the fruit means being a partaker of your message!

Hear Paul again to Titus

Titus 2:7
In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity

You must be a pattern of the message you preach.
Men who have been mightily used by the Spirit of God in this times like Kenneth Hagin, Bishop David Oyedepo were defined by their doctrine. They partook of them.

Kenneth .E.Hagin was healed of a deformed heart and an incurable blood disease by Faith. He is now known as the father of the modern faith movement. His message was faith and he partook of it.

Bishop Oyedepo had on one or more occasions driven his car without gas!

RAW FAITH!

This is Bishop Oyedepo's message. The message of faith.

Now the minister of the fruit must be a partaker of the fruit himself so as not to contradict him in the long run.

Hear Paul's complete admonishment to Titus

Titus 2:7-8
In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity

8. Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Apt!

The minister must be an embodiment of his message. if you are a minister of the gospel, you must exhibit the finished works of Christ by right not by proxy.

Partake of Your Fruit!

SIN AND THE NEW CREATION 1

Sin is an elevated or revered topic of discourse in the body of Christ today. I believe sin consciousness is an erroneous and unscriptural doctrine in most churches today. I’ll attribute this development to two critical factors:

·        Knowledge

·        Religion

A pastor friend of mine was recalling a conversion he once had with a Muslim in which he said the Muslim credited Islam as the “True religion”. This pastor friend of mine said “of course you’re right”.

There’s a world of difference between eternal life and religion. The margin is spectacularly wide. We often mistake or rather misunderstand the reason for the Gospel.

 However let’s take a closer look at the scriptures for insights.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to him that believeth; to the Jews first and also to the Greek

Paul describes the Gospel of Christ as the revelation of the power of God unto salvation. In other words, it can be deduced further that the Gospel was God’s idea- The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all was intentional- God’s idea playing out!

Paul clarifies this also in further letters to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 2:4-5

And my speech and my preaching was not with the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

4 That your faith should not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The gospel which was committed unto the Apostle Paul according to Galatians 2:7 was not a physical gospel. It wasn’t a gospel that had any root or origin from a human point of view. The reason for the gospel was to demystify one person- The man Jesus Christ. This demystification was done to actualize the idea of God which is eternal life through His son Jesus Christ, given upon belief and confession of Jesus. This guarantees the believer a common identity with the Father and the household of God

Romans 10:8-10

But what saith it, the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart, the word of faith, which we preach

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

Ephesians 2:19

Now therefore ye are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God

The believer in Christ is NEVER in any portion of the New Covenant referred to in direct terms as a “sinner”, irrespective of his past, present or future. The scriptures however give a supportive alibi to the believer

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature: old things are passed away; behold ALL things have become NEW

Paul describes the man in Christ as new. The Greek word as used by Paul is the word “Kainos” which in direct term connotes “Unused or unworn” it is also used to refer to recently made objects of value. A Critical study of the preceding verse will give us a deeper insight into the definition of the man in Christ.

Culled from:  " Now are we"- The eBook by Agagwu Tochukwu

Send a mail to Proudlysoterian@gmail.com to get your own free copy.

KNOWLEDGE AND THE BELIEVER (DEMYSTIFYING GOD)

I am a evangelist by distinct calling and indeed a preacher of the word. i never accede to the opinions of individuals whether elite or not on issues bordering the spread of the truth. I am a sticker for anything true by the way.

 I believe it was the will of God to demystify himself by the sending of his son Jesus Christ. In other words, there is nothing mysterious about God.

It’s a gross foundational error to ascribe to mysteries, that which has been demystified.

The Apostle Paul was very keen to point these out to the Corinthian church

1 Corinthians 3:11

“For no other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ”.

Foundational errors were not created by the word of God. Foundational errors were created by human beings. Paul clearly states “MEN” as the progenitors of foundational errors.

Errors are hugely attributed to the lack or inadequacy of facts or knowledge bordering a topic of discourse.

Paul rightly explains painstaking bible study (which I call fact-finding) as an effective tool for maturity for the Christian

2 Timothy 16-17

“All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works”.

The greek words for “perfect” and “furnished” as used in the above contexts are “Artios” and “Exartizo”.  Both words have connotations similar in meanings but quite compatible when used in Paul’s mode of admonition to Timothy.

The word “Artios” connotes maturity and completion of an assignment, especially a functional one. However the word “Exartizo” means to accomplish or fulfill. It is used in Greek texts to chronologically define time of events and task assessment. It is used as an active word in his context of speech

Value is placed on knowledge of God’s word here. This is because precise knowledge is key. In other words, knowledge (epignosis in the Greek) transforms the Christian.

A hoard of prayers prayed by Paul for the early church was for knowledge (Epignosis)- a precise, accurate and definite understanding of the facts.

Ephesians 1:17

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory may give unto you, the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the KNOWLEDGE of Him”

Philemon 1:6

That the communication of your faith might become effectual by the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus

Colossians 1:9

For this cause, we also since the day we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that ye might be filled with the KNOWLEDGE of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding

Phillipians 1:9

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in all KNOWLEDGE and in all judgement

This word is used by Paul about 15 times in the New testament. It is actually used 20 times when reference is given to letters written by other writers such as Peter and the writer of Hebrews.

This emphasizes the greatest need and burden for believers is to KNOW!

Distortion and disparity in understanding of the Word often bring about fabrications and foundational errors. This is a lack of precise and definite knowledge.

Paul further admonishes Timothy that Painstaking bible study is indeed a requirement to stand on the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”.

False teachings will fall when tried against the right teachings. There will be no room for falsity to thrive.

The light of Knowledge shines on the darkness of falsity or ignorance and it cannot withhold it.

In subsequent blogs, I will be discussing how knowledge generates power for the believer

Till then, I call you BLESSED!

SONSHIP AND IDENTITY

ALL SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES ARE IN THE KING JAMES TRANSLATION UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

Good day folks, I trust God has been mightily working in us to impact the world. Today’s topic is engineered towards getting the believer to recognize and actualize his inheritance by means of an already done deed! I’m talking about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ now.

A lot of believers languish in the distasteful abyss of ignorance because they are unaware of Who they are and what they possess in the New Creation.

This teaching aims to expose or expound the following realities in the believer

• ·        The Adoption of Sons
• ·        The Calling of Sons
• ·        The witness or agreement of the indwelling Spirit as Sons
• ·        The Sons of God

Romans 8:15

For ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry , Abba Father.

Paul critically compares the life of the believer in distinct tangibility of what he has received and what He hasn’t.

The Spirit of Adoption. Paul intends to state here the reason and motive for the Holy Spirit in the first instance as we see in the post text (Verse 14)

“For as many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”

Clearly Paul distinctively relates sonship to a level of knowledge acquired by constant fellowship. The Son of God is expected to be led by the Spirit at all times

This account is corroborated by John the Beloved

John 1:12

But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.

Received in the Greek has the same connotation as association or taking possession or to obtain.

This implies losing yourself to gain HIM!

Paul expounds this in His letter to the Phillipians

Phillipians 3:7

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ

 The Son has an Identity fostered in Christ. He got this identity by receiving Christ at Salvation. The Son also believes on His name. Believe here has a slight connotation with the word for ”Called” which implies to be surnamed.

Surname indicates an identity! The believer has an identity with Christ. Every believer is identified in Christ.

Lets see Paul’s account in 1 Corinthians 7:24

"Brethren, let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God".

Abiding with God entails a unified existence with God.

The believer is one with God. There is no segregation whatsoever.

John 14:16

And I will pray the father, and he will send you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever.

Ephesians 1:13

In whom after ye trusted , after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.

Notice the word Sealed! A seal indicates ownership.

The Indwelling Spirit of God is the Security of the believer. More like a security vote. That is how we know we are children of God.

Romans 8:16

For the Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirits, that we are children of God

The Spirit acts as a surety. The very inheritance at Salvation.

The believer must be aware of who he is continually. He must be dynamic in his New creation realities. A believer without knowledge is like an empty carriage going to heaven. There’s a sure hope- a destination but no value.

Knowledge deepens and entrenches the value of any believer. It makes Christianity real.

I pray that deeper and deeper shall you c rave and desire the knowledge of Jesus entrenching your salvation by virtue of Knowledge and mighty workings.

Thank you for reading.

Agagwu Tochukwu