With the rise of the prophetic movement in the
Philippines, it is essential that we fully understand the works, its purpose
and rules when ministering through the different spiritual gifts the Lord has
bestowed to His bride, the church.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and
marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12
As a prophetic people being called by the Lord, I
felt that we need to fully understand the difference we can make if we align
everything and base our knowledge on the written word of God, the bible.
Unless we fully grasp the final authority of the
bible to every prophetic utterance can we truly experience the real prophetic
movement God is raising up in the end times.
"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and
sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed...There are different kinds of
gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different
kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working,
but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work."
(12:1-6)
The Holy Spirit brings balance to the community
of believers by bringing these gifts to different people, with different
background of ministries and measure of grace. Simply put, God loves diversity!
This also means that it is the Holy
Spirit who calls men and women, place these gifts to them and build it up for
service. We are only vessels whom the Lord will use and we don’t choose our
gifts but the Holy Spirit is the sole authority to whom he calls to have it.
“Now to each one the
manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is
given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of
knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same
Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another
miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing
between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to
still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and
the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he
determines….” (12:7-11)
The role of prophecy is to edify, encourage and
build our brethren in the Lord. Prophecy for one is just
one of the many manifestation gifts the Holy Spirit can work through us. It is
an important gift just like serving, leadership and mercy is but does not
overtake the other gifts in the body of Christ. Every gift (and people) in the
Kingdom of God is important and valuable.
In the Kingdom of God, He has placed offices to take
care of His sheep while he’s away. He also called us to equip the saints, build
them up for service and unite the church and fulfill the great commission. And
yet, not all of us are called to be in a high position and not everyone is
qualified for such a role.
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all
its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave
or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.Even so the body
is not made up of one part but of many.” (12:12-14)
God is raising up his people like a big puzzle with
different parts working together to bring completion to the work of God in this
earth. God placed ministers to oversee and ensure we are on track both in our
ministry and spiritual upbringing.
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are
all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of
healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” (12:27-31)
We do not rule over our brothers and sisters in the
Lord just because we are visible in the local body. All the more that we be careful
with our words, we continue to place humility as an utmost desire as we will be
held accountable to God and to men.
Also, not everyone can do what we do or the other
way around. This protects us from thinking that we are “SUPERMAN” and the only
person who can do these things. We need others to bring completion to the harvest's call. We should not think that others are not important to God's work because this will only lead to apostasy.
Let us remember that God's purpose for the gift is to unite the body of Christ not tear it apart.
My prayer is that God will raise men and women in
this season that will align others for the purposes of our King. May He also
call forth the forerunners of this end time season for the harvest field!
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