Precisely how and through what means God will direct his people is in his sovereign, all-powerful hands. But I am determined not to miss anything he wishes to do for me or to give to me, simply because I did not believe it possible, or wasn't looking, or refused to listen when he spoke. "My sheep know my voice," said Jesus, "and they follow me." Certainly the Bible is the ultimate source for universal, eternal, general truth. It is the Church's "canon," a Greek word meaning "measure" or "rule." That means that it is a reliable norm, by which all other messages thought to be from God are to … [Read more...]
Archives for 2012
‘STILL WATERS’ OF GOD’S GUIDANCE (2)
Recently I was impressed, on reading Psalm 23, with the statement that God leads us beside the quiet or still waters. He does not require us to live frantically, to pick desperately between alternative paths, or to choose our course in a panic. Sometimes God provides guidance in extraordinary ways, such as by "illuminating" a particular Scripture, sending dreams and visions, or by giving an inner impression or nudge. He might direct through an angel, or speak in a divine voice (either silent or audible), or through some inspired word of prophecy or wisdom or knowledge. The Bible provides … [Read more...]
‘STILL WATERS’ OF GOD’S GUIDANCE (1)
Recently I was impressed, on reading Psalm 23, with the statement that God leads us beside the quiet or still waters. He does not require us to live frantically, to pick desperately between alternative paths, or to choose our course in a panic. Divine guidance often comes in very undramatic shapes. We might draw insight from a biblical story, or admonition or promise. We might see a light shining through from some past personal experience with God, or find new direction by reviewing the path he has brought us thus far. We might obtain guidance through specific research, or by talking … [Read more...]
SPRINGTIME IN SEARCY
April 13, 2010 -- The deadness of Winter has given way to the greening of new life, and the fields and forests of Arkansas are now lavishly adorned in a living palette of jonquils, firepinks and wisteria, complemented by redbuds, dogwoods and flowering trees of all kinds. Contributing the audio to this visual splendor, a host of robins, bluebirds and martins cheerfully announce the arrival of Spring. Meanwhile, the Grand Artist is also moving among the community of rescued humans, in whose lives he is working a rebirth and transformation fully as awesome as his work in nature. Sara Faye and I … [Read more...]
SPIRITUAL GIFTS SEMINAR
March 2006 -- Great joy, human brokenness and divine renewal marked our seminar on gifts of the Holy Spirit last weekend in Searcy, Arkansas. Sponsored by Covenant Fellowship Church (CFC) and hosted on Saturday by First United Methodist Church (FUMC), both of Searcy, the seminar included two teaching sessions followed by a question-and-answer session on Saturday morning and a healing prayer service on Saturday evening. Attendees came from CFC and FUMC, Churches of Christ and other area churches plus visitors from other towns including several guests from Tennessee. It was a pleasure to meet … [Read more...]
VERIFYING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
A preacher in the South asks: "If the miraculous spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians 12-14 are still available, has anyone in your congregation received them, and how do we verify whether they are genuinely from God?" * * * As the sovereign of heaven and earth, God bestows grace-gifts and performs miracles as he sees fit (1 Cor. 12:4-11; Gal. 3:5). Has anyone in my home congregation received spiritual gifts? If it is a church of God, they have -- although its worship style is not what people generally refer to as "charismatic." God graces and enriches his people, so that we are "not lacking in … [Read more...]
RECEIVING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
A preacher in the South asks: "If the miraculous spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians 12-14 are still available, how do we go about receiving them?" * * * Scripture does not distinguish between "miraculous" and "non-miraculous" spiritual gifts, so we must think of the grace-gifts (charismata) in general terms. We receive such gifts today the same way God's people always have. Scripture gives us no formula, but it does provide at least four principles. 1. By maintaining close relationship with the Father (1 Pet. 4:10) through Jesus the Son (Eph. 4:7) in the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11), since … [Read more...]
IMPARTING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
A brother from a Baptist church in North Carolina writes, "My view has been that only the apostles had authority to bestow spiritual gifts through the laying on of hands, but I've had to rethink that in the light of other passages of Scripture. What do you think, based on your study of Scripture?" * * * New Testament authors tell us that spiritual gifts come from the Father (1 Pet. 4:10-11), from the Son of God (Eph. 4:7-8) and from the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8-11). Only God gives divine grace (charis) or "grace-gifts" (charismata) -- regardless of the means, medium or intermediary he might … [Read more...]
POWER, LOVE & SPIRITUAL GIFTS
A gracEmail subscriber writes concerning a relative who has "discovered the amazing power of the Spirit," and is now eager to share this miracle-and-wonder power with everyone else. The subscriber admits that she would like to have more direct displays of supernatural power in her own life, but she thinks that this relative is stressing power to the neglect of love. She asks if I have any advice. * * * Like you, I want and need all the power God sees fit to channel through me -- for my own character development (fruit of the Spirit) and for ministry to others (gifts of the Spirit). God is … [Read more...]
WHEN THE PERFECT COMES
Scripture says that supernatural gifts of tongues, prophecy and knowledge will cease when "the perfect" comes (1 Cor. 13:10). "When will that be?" a gracEmail reader asks. "Does this verse refers to the last biblical book being written?" * * * The notion that "the perfect" here refers to the completion of the New Testament is of fairly recent origin. Barton W. Stone, a pioneer father of the Churches of Christ, spoke for Christians throughout most of the last two millennia when he wrote, "That time has never yet come; nor can we expect it in this state of mortality" (Christian Messenger, … [Read more...]
