Different Measures Given to Christ Himself, The Apostles, Early Christians, and to Us.

John 3:34 –  “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” Luke 4:1  “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.” Luke 4:14

Acts 1 and 2, for specific purposes:  Guided them all the truth, John 14:26, 16:12ff  Gave ability to declare the future, John 16:13  Helped them bear witness of Christ, John 15:26-7, Acts 1:8, Acts 5:32  Gave them ability to speak tongues/perform miracles, Acts 2:4; Mark 16:15-18  Helped them complete their revealing of the Bible (info from the mind of God), 1 Cor 2:9-13

1 Corinthians 12:1-10  Word of Wisdom – Ability to reveal Truth.  Word of Knowledge – Ability to Understand Truth.  Faith – Miraculous Faith (1 Cor. 13:2, Matt. 17:20)  Gifts of Healing – Can Restore Health  Miracles – Can Perform Supernatural Acts

 Prophecy – Speak directly from God; God’s mouthpiece.  Discerning of Spirits – Can tell the secrets of a person’s heart; judge a heart supernaturally.  Tongues – Speak in understandable human language.  Interpretation of Tongues.

How were the miraculous gifts received? Acts 6:1-8 – Seven men chosen to serve by apostles. Acts 8:15ff – Philip could do miracles, but could not convey gift to others. Simon wanted to be able to convey miracles to others. Acts 19:1-7 – Paul, apostle, gives gifts. Romans 1:11 – Paul to give gifts to Romans. 2 Timothy 1:6 – Tim rec’d gift from Paul.

What was purpose of the miraculous gifts? 1 Cor. 14:3-6, 26 The Bible was not written down. The gifts provided edification, instruction to meet needs of early church. Gifts were the only means of guidance, unless an apostle was present. What exhortation and comfort the gifts brought. 1 Cor 14:23-25 – Gifts convince unbelievers too.

Were the Miracle Gifts to remain forever? The purpose of miracles – Hebrews 2, Mark 16 “Confirm the Word” – Show Teaching is True The duration of spiritual gifts – 1 Corinthians 13 Shall Fail Shall Cease Shall Vanish Away When the Complete Revelation Comes

Acts 2:38; Romans 5:5; 8:9, 11, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 3:2, 4:6; Ephesians 1:13; Philippians 2:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; Hebrews 6:4; 1 John 3:24, 4:13

All Christians unanimously agree that they are led by the Spirit, Who dwells in them. The Father is within us, leading us. 1 Jno. 4:12-15; 2 Cor. 6:16 The Spirit is within us, leading us. 1 Cor. 6:19 The Son is within us, leading us. Rom. 8:10; 1 Jno. 3:23-24 And,

 Romans 8:9 And,  You dwell in the Father and the Son. John 6:56, 1 John 4:  God made us (past tense) alive from the dead. Eph 2:5.  God has placed us (past tense) in the heavenly places. Eph 2:6.

With God the Father Dwelling in You Seated in the heavenly places With All Your Sins Forgiven Do You “Feel Different”? Should you expect to feel or sense that something is different? Example of Mark 2:5-10 – Did the forgiven man look or feel “different” so people could see?

 Because we have Father, Son and Spirit in us does not mean we will sense or feel God reveal Himself. We will not “feel differently.”  God’s Presence is not sensed or felt in fleshly terms. For example, Jesus is here with us now; but, there is no evidence to our senses.  When you had your sins forgiven, did you feel the washing away of sins? Could you sense each sin leaving your body? Spiritual things are not “felt” like fleshly things. So it is with the indwelling of God.  At your baptism--when you received the gift of the Spirit--did you feel different? No.

There is only one way He revealed Himself: John 16:12-14  What portion of truth would apostles get?  Was there a portion that they would not get, so we would need to get it now?  Did Jesus leave any new truths to be revealed today?

There is only one way He revealed Himself: Jude 3  Was the faith (system taught by Jesus) delivered once in the first century or was it going to be delivered in portions throughout the ages?

There is only one way He revealed Himself: Ephesians 3:5  Through whom did God make known the mystery?  Did He promise to make His will known through another source?

There is only one way He revealed Himself: 2 Timothy 3:15-17  Is God’s source of revelation the scriptures or your feelings?

Is it Subjective (through Feelings) Or Objective (through Facts)

Some of Them Get Messages from God in Other Ways  Hunches – “God put it on my heart to go there.”  Inner Voices – This is also called schizophrenia.  Inner Illumination – While reading scripture, God reveals to them what it really says and means.  Promptings – “I felt like doing something, and knew this was from God.”  Circumstances – “I prayed fervently for a wife and the next day I met a young lady that I know God had provided.”  Open Bible by Chance – Wherever the open Bible falls, that is what God wants me to read/do.  Dreams – Brother in Dominican Republic said that he dreamed he was going to marry someone that he knew, so when he awoke he told this lady “Do not resist the will of God. You have to marry me.”

 Abraham (Gen 15 and 17) – but there was a 20 year span between communications.  Isaac (Gen 26:2ff)  Jacob (Gen 28:8-18, in a dream)  Joseph (Gen 41:32)  Moses – Exodus 3:6 (when he is 80 years old)  Zachariah (Luke 1:11)

 God communicated with a few select persons – not with every person in every place. He spoke to them only some times.  When God spoke to people apart from scriptures, it was always with words, never hunches, feelings or promptings. If our hunches are based on God’s word then we are being led indirectly by the Holy Spirit, by the Father, by Jesus.

 You read the book of James.  You are impressed with the need to help widows, orphans and the poor.  You see a report about Tenson Mangwinyana‘s work in Zimbabwe.  You feel a strong urge to make a sacrifice to send money for Bibles to Zimbabwe.  You have been led by the Holy Spirit to do it, not directly but indirectly.

1. When is it God and when is it not?  Jacob felt awful that “his son had been killed” Gen 37:33 – Was son’s death a fact from God or a feeling? Was his feeling wrong?  Often life is about several choices at once:  Where to move  What job to take  What car to buy  Hunches alone can get us into trouble, as they did with Jacob.

1. When is it God and when is it not? 2. “Hunches alone” means God’s Word alone is not sufficient (Bible is not enough).  Friend of Pegs indicated that when she was saved, she felt scales come off her eyes and she knew everything. No need to study, she says. She has hunches leading her.  Are hunches equivalent to scripture? Should they be given the same weight? If hunch and scripture contradict – then what?  Does God ever speak without authority? Adventists say that Ellen White, their founder, spoke for God, but that her words do not have the same weight as scripture. Hmm. Really?

1. When is it God and when is it not? 2. “Hunches alone” means God’s Word alone is not sufficient (Bible is not enough). 3. Produces Confusion  The Spirit supposedly leads one this way (apart from the Bible) and the same Spirit leads another one by a hunch to do something contradictory. Which one is right?  Now multiply this by millions of Christians being led apart from the Bible, going a million different ways. Is God leading them?! 1 Cor. 14:33, Eph. 4:4-6

 Romans 8:14 – You are led by the Spirit

True! And we have the Spirit’s sword, too, to do His work Eph 6:17. Are we led by the Spirit when we are led by His word?

 Romans 8:14 – You are led by the Spirit  Romans 8:16 – The Spirit bears witness with our spirit. True! But does it say He bears witness with hunches and feelings? He witnesses with our spirit. We match our spirit with the Holy Spirit, showing the fruit of Spirit.

 Romans 8:14 – You are led by the Spirit  Romans 8:16 – The Spirit bears witness with our spirit.  John 14:26; 16: True! And these are words to the Apostles, not to you or me directly. The direct application is for them. The indirect application, that we are guided by the apostles teachings (written down as the Bible) is for us.

 Romans 8:14 – You are led by the Spirit  Romans 8:16 – The Spirit bears witness with our spirit.  John 14:26; 16: These are words to the Apostles, not us.  2 Corinthians 2:12-13; Acts 14:27; 1 Corinthians 16:8-9; Colossians 4:3 - So True! There are open doors today. But is God going to lead us without the Word (the Bible) to help us.

These proof texts do not prove their point.

The church is considering a new building, perhaps. One brother perceives that they should move the congregation to a safer neighborhood across town. Another brother believes they should stay and get a $250k loan and expand their existing building. A third brother says he has a hunch that they should stay put, not build or expand and spend the money on evangelism in foreign countries. How can the church come to a right decision?

 Start with Scripture – Ask, what does the scripture say about church’s spending priorities, what church can afford, what is pleasing to God for church to do, etc.?

 Start with Scripture  Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8. This action does not “zap” us with wisdom, but it helps bring our will in harmony with His will.

 Start with Scripture  Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8.  Seek Wise Counselors Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 15:22

 Start with Scripture  Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8.  Seek Wise Counselors – Proverbs 15:22.  Consider Circumstances and Opportunities. But remember these are NOT mandates from God.

 Start with Scripture  Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8.  Seek Wise Counselors – Proverbs 15:22.  Consider Circumstances and Opportunities.  Desire Good – Example of I Tim 3:1. On a personal level, each member will develop a desire to do what it takes to become what would be most pleasing to God in his circumstances.

 Start with Scripture  Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8.  Seek Wise Counselors – Proverbs 15:22.  Consider Circumstances and Opportunities.  Desire Good – Example of I Tim 3:1.  Ask, “Do I/We Have the Ability.” No one has same abilities 1 Cor 12; Rom 12. And what person can do is diff from what church can do.

 Start with Scripture  Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8.  Seek Wise Counselors – Proverbs 15:22.  Consider Circumstances and Opportunities.  Desire Good – Example of I Tim 3:1.  Ask, “Do I Have the Ability.”  Even in this, God gives you the Freedom to Choose – Do all for God’s glory 1 Cor 10:31 (and 1 Cor 7:39 – she can choose, but with 1 restriction).

Anything more is an addition to the Scripture, which is His Word.

 Must the Indwelling of the Spirit be Miraculous in you?  Must we feel the Spirit in order to have the Spirit?  Can the Spirit be within each believer or is that “fragmenting God”?  Is the Spirit the same as the Word of God?