As with any posting from anyone I do my best to try to communicate what is on my heart the best that I can. Please take all matters to the Lord in prayer. It is NOT my will that anyone be deceived. The enemy is after all of us, including me! I pray the Holy Spirit bears witness to all of you. If not then it could be for a different time in your walk with the Lord. DO NOT ACCEPT WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES NOT REVEAL BUT PRAY INTO IT. God bless the saints of the Lord and may the fullness of His love and spirit dwell and manifest richly within you.

The very first point of mention is that even though a sword is mentioned in both scriptures the spiritual implications of those scriptures above is completely different. You can read my posting of David vs. Goliath to get better understanding. https://abidingbread.com/2025/12/02/david-vs-goliath-the-mark-of-the-beast/

Too many Christians directly equate Hebrews 4:12 with the armor of God and they are completely different applications and one precedes the other in being equipped for battle. We know that a kingdom divided can not stand as well as when we are born again we receive imputed righteousness from Christ Jesus. This imputed righteous by the indwelling Holy Spirit still needs to do a work within us BEFORE we take the battle field in the Spirit realm.

Just because you received the Holy Spirit does NOT mean you are totally filled with light! We know this by the parable of the 10 virgins! So we still have darkness within us that the Holy Spirit wishes and desires to “cut away” from within us. That is the double edge sword. Too many also it is symbolic of the brethren as “iron sharpening iron” but that is just scratching the surface because when you sharpen any knife, sword or iron you need “honing oil” which is the Holy Spirit because we are talking about spiritual growth unto complete sanctification and holiness! Think Galatians 2:20 & 6:14.

The Word of God in Hebrews 4:12 is the living God not just the Written Word. It is the Lord by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit that crucifies our old nature and gets us to the Garden of Gethsemane. What sorrowed the Lord is that the disciples fell asleep which means the same application process of what Jesus went through was not a living witness to them. They were called to die to “self” just as when they partook of the last supper! When you take communion you are actively committing to dying to “self” as whoever does not partake of the Body and Blood is not worthy to follow Jesus.

Hebrews 4:12–13 (NKJV)

¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Notice heart, mind and soul! These represent the first commandment Jesus spoke that we must love Jesus with all of our mind, heart and soul! This is not possible when you deny the Holy Spirit access to these areas of our very being! Also notice the saints will give an account of denying the process of sanctification and pruning!

John 15:1–11 (NKJV)

The Relationship of Believers to Christ

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

⁹ “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

¹¹ “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

This is of vital importance as in the New Testament I can not reflect on even one single Apostle given unto a sinful nature! So this false metaphor Christians repeat that no one is without sin is TOTALLY VOID of the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus! You deny the gospel and the power of God by this statement! You deny the double edge sword which is the person of Christ Jesus! I say PERSON of Christ Jesus for a reason which I will expound on as we proceed. When you deny the double edge sword you deny THE FINISHED WORK OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST JESUS.

Romans 6:1–14 (NKJV)

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? ³ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶ knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ⁷ For he who has died has been freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, ⁹ knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. ¹⁰ For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. ¹¹ Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. ¹³ And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. ¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Have you allowed the Cross of Christ Jesus to work within you? I am not talking about stumbling as we live in a fallen world and the influences of darkness as no saint is exempt from spiritual attacks of Satan. I am talking about the same sin being repetitive. I realize that many forms of bondage are not easy but are you calling on the Lord to crucify that sin, asking for HIS power and GRACE to overcome? Why is the mindset stronghold of being saved your final destination. Why are the churches sending out newly saved people telling them they are ready to minister? They have a testimony but are not yet ready for ministry. There is no real discipleship from the Holy Spirit. I keep saying this over and over you are to reflect, represent and reveal Christ Jesus. This means you do not represent your pastor, church, denomination, your own beliefs which may be false but you preach and speak IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH. When you speak with a mixture of flesh and spirit I guess you could say you speak with a forked tongue. I am not saying this out of cruelty. I have witnessed by the Holy Spirit when someone speaks starting out in the Spirit and then adds their own interpretation of expounds with their own intellect rather than revelations of Spirit and Truth. Hey, we are human and all being refined. This is why prophet utterance is only speaking by the power and unction of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus said the words I speak are not my own but of my Father. I only do what I see my Father doing! We must all develop this in our own walk with the Lord. Today the church has people say a prayer, dunk them in water and sends them out. How come it took three and a half years for discipleship when JESUS TAUGHT THEM and even then without the Holy Spirit they would not remember what they had been taught. In addition there were things Jesus said He could NOT teach them until the Holy Spirit dwelt within them. That is why in my previous post I said all of the Apostles had the same Gospel but each grew in continued revelations of Christ. Paul preached on Grace because it was a personal revelation by the Thorn in the flesh. Paul knew this was also a spiritual attack and wrote Ephesians six. John wrote the Book of Revelations. All of the Epistles were their testimonies of continue Revelations of Christ Jesus. It is the Apostles and Prophets that lay the foundation of Christ Jesus but not only the denial of the five fold ministry but also the false people in the five fold ministry corrupt the Word of God. The five fold ministry is the fullness of Jesus as five is the biblical number of GRACE! A true Apostle walks in the total of the five fold ministry or how could you “BUILD THE CHURCH”. Today we only have a pastor who eliminates the five fold ministry and he alone represents an all in one presence. Is the pastor prophetic? Let’s put it this way which office of the five fold ministry in the bible battles Jezebel? What office of the five fold ministry took on principalities? Which office took on Kings of other nations? When the church does not have the five fold ministry the saints suffer in edification. There again just as there are false pastors/prophets there will be false in all five offices. That does not mean those offices do not exist. It’s so sad today that the saints can’t distinguish between prophecy and the office of a prophet! When Paul said above all the gifts he wish all would prophesy he was referring to being living witnesses/testimonies of Christ Jesus. The spirit of prophecy is testimony of Jesus. Anyone that speaks/proclaims/preaches is prophesying but that does NOT make them a prophet! So preaching is a testimony of Jesus Christ. Many have another Jesus that they preach and thus a different Spirit.

I get many excuses when I bring up these points when people say Moses wasn’t perfect and yet Moses was commissioned. They do not see the difference between the Old Testament and New Testament! Visitation is NOT habitation, why do you think they brought the Arc of the Covenant?

Exodus 33:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

It is important to understand when the Lord went with them did the Lord only go in part or in fullness? Is the fullness of the Holy Spirit been developed and established within you? Is there still any darkness that you have within you? If so, the fullness of Christ is NOT going with you or within you!

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant! Those born again do not live under the Old Covenant. To understand the New Covenant the Old Covenant is needed and visa versa. To understand the fullness of the Old Covenant the New Covenant is needed. That is why the full counsel of God’s Word is vital and essential!

Matthew 5:48 (NKJV)

⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Matthew 6:21–23 (NKJV)

²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²²  “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Now let us look at how by allowing the fulfillment of Hebrews 4:12 which is the Person of Christ Jesus to work within you unto complete sanctification and holiness you can not fulfill Ephesians 6:10-20.

Ephesians 6:10–20 (NKJV)

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

If you do not put on which means submit to Hebrews 4:12 you are unable to put on the power of His might or the completed armor. Thus you are not truly equipped for the battlefield! Are you sanctified by His Word? Has all of HIS WORD which is the LIVING WORD CHRIST JESUS FORMED WITHIN YOU. ARE YOU ESTABLISHED IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS. I know this is contrary to the preaching of today but this is critical in the hour we live!

John 17:18–23 (NKJV)

¹⁸ As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Christ Prays for All Believers

²⁰ “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Now let us try to wrap this up. As you seen in John 17 we are sanctified by truth. Is your church preaching in Spirit and Truth? Truth is established ONLY by The Holy Spirit. So are you allowing Hebrews 4:12-13 to be fulfilled in you? Christ Jesus was not glorified until after His death and resurrection and if Mary had touched Jesus before Jesus ascended that would have changed the outcome. You see human hands can not create the dwelling place of the Lord so a church structure or place of congregation is NOT the church. If Jesus had not ascended into glory before anyone touched Jesus the fallen nature would have been a contamination of the resurrection. You may ask how do we know this. Paul tells us and this is also why the modern day church is in the condition that it is and why false doctrines have created people influenced and inhabited by demons who call themselves Christians.

1 Timothy 5:22 (NKJV)

²² Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

I hope you have found this informative and that you received this in Spirit and Truth. I once had a woman come to a prayer group with several sicknesses. I was instructed by church leaders not to pray directly but to give any revelations to the leadership of the prayer group so they could pray. This is in total opposition to the Spirit of God! The one who receives revelation is the one empowered by that revelation because it was received from the Lord by the Holy Spirit. So the revelation empowers the prayer. The two leaders prayed with no healing. I said all that they have prayed is not your problem. I said the Lord revealed that your thyroid is the problem which is creating these illnesses and sickness. I asked if I could gently lay my hand on her throat and she said yes. As I prayed she began to cry as the Holy Spirit was manifesting. Her cry was not of hurt but of revelation of the prayer. When I finished my prayer she stated the revelation to me. She said she had been to a church for the “laying on of hands” for spiritual impartation and she feared she received a different spirit! There you go, the laying on of hands imparts spirits! I asked if I could pray again and she said yes. So I said greater is the Lord in her and greater is the Lord in me. In the name of Jesus come out now! She was delivered right there and set free! I was told this type of prayer was not allowed because the church had a SOZO deliverance ministry which is psychotherapy masquerading as spiritual deliverance! I know because the Lord allowed me to attend a few class session and even under a session. I was not blinded spiritually so I was unaffected by this process but it allowed me to discern and witness first hand this demonic false deliverance ministry. It is done by “probing spirits” as I have discussed in other postings. The Lord is not a probing Spirit He reveals to us by divine revelation as I mentioned a few sentences ago. The reason for probing spirits is to put a spiritual hook in you to create ungodly soul ties of bondage. You then are subject to repetitive sessions of SOZO or falsely believe you are set free. It’s of the devil! Impartation is the laying on of hands for the transference of spiritual gifts bu tit is the impartation of the spirit of those gifts which 99.9 percent of the time is transference of demonic spirits! You are receiving spirits! Paul approached this much differently with Timothy as the calling and gifting is from the Lord only! Notice the gift of God was already within Timothy!

2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Acts 19:1–6 (NKJV)

Paul at Ephesus

19 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples ² he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

³ And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

⁴ Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

The post THE PROGRESSION OF SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND GROWTH appeared first on Abiding Bread.

Ephesians 2:20–22 (NKJV)

²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Let me start out by saying I do not believe in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) at all, but that does not mean I do not believe in the five fold ministry or the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I also know the path to salvation is narrow and few find it so that being said the “path” or “call” to the apostolic or prophetic or any of the five fold ministry is even likely more narrow than the path to salvation. Many are called but few are chosen.

I also need to point out this simple truth that if vastly overlooked so it will help you understand why today’s denial of the five fold ministry is not true. It was NOT the Son of Man who taught the disciples it was the Son of God who taught them. All true disciples are taught by the Holy Spirit not man! So if a person teaches you without spiritual knowledge and revelation it is in vain! I will cover this more further in this posting.

John 14:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

Matthew 16:13–17 (NKJV)

Revelation of the Person of the King

Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–21

¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

As you clearly see in the above scriptures it was the Son of God (Spirit of God) that taught the disciples but when you listen to a man or person you will often get their “understanding or interpretation” and not spiritual revelation from the Holy Spirit or Jesus. I always tell people when you receive spiritual revelation from the Lord it is eternal, forever a part of your spirit. It is NOT head knowledge, it is heart and spirit knowledge.

Let us also reflect that ANY of the five fold ministry offices can be infiltrated by the Antichrist spirit. No office or person/saint is exempt from this. Just because an individual has not experienced or operated in the Holy Spirit and cast out demons or healed the sick doesn’t mean that this doesn’t happen today through a saint today. If you haven’t cast out demons or healed the sick perhaps the problem is not with the Lord, it is with you.

Matthew 10:7–8 (NKJV)

⁷ And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

I have personally witnessed and exposed demonic spirits by revelation of the Holy Spirit that are within the church assemblies everywhere I go and only to get laughed at, mocked and ridiculed. So let us look at which five fold offices exposed witchcraft, Jezebel, Ananias and Sepphira and other demonic spirits in the bible.

Peter received revelation from the Holy Spirit that Ananias lied which kept a lying spirit from entering the church of Christ Jesus. Paul in Acts 16 cast out a spirit of divination that was following his ministry potentially affecting the TRUE WITNESS and revelation of Christ Jesus. The prophets exposed false prophets and Jezebel throughout the Old Testament. Samuel rebuked Saul and said “rebellion is as witchcraft”! Wow, could rebellious denial be witchcraft in the church because they rebel against truth and do NOT seek the Lord in Spirit and Truth? We wonder why the church is in suck dismal and pathetic condition spiritually as the denial of true apostles and prophets existence has made things even worse.

Matthew 10:40–41 (NKJV)

⁴⁰ “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ⁴¹ He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

People will clearly tell you that true discernment is missing in the body of Christ and there are several reasons for this. Primarily the elimination of the five fold ministry which is necessary for true edification of the saints. While each born again person should have discernment I question why they don’t have personal discernment. The Holy Spirit is the only source of TRUTH and many have they put their trust in a person, NOT in Christ Jesus. I believe it is the lack of a true born again experience and/or total dependency upon the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus. If you know your spouse, shouldn’t you know who is NOT your spouse? Jesus is the Bridegroom and the church is called to be His bride, shouldn’t we know the Bridegroom personally and intimately?

Amos 3:7 (NKJV)

⁷ Surely the Lord God does nothing,

Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

While the scripture says prophets let’s focus on servants. I have heard right from the pulpits and lips of professing Christians that only the Lord knows the hearts of the people. This is correct but only a partial truth as the Lord reveals the hearts of people to His faithful and obedient servants! Just look back at Peter confronting Ananias, Paul with the young damsel with the spirit of divination.

Preachers are not called to preach to someone’s intellect they are to preach matters of the heart! Jesus wants to give them a NEW HEART AND A NEW SPIRIT. This is why there is no mention in much of today’s preaching about sin or matters of the heart! Preaching today is from man’s theology, man’s teaching, man’s beliefs, man’s wisdom rather than Spirit and Truth!

Ephesians 2:20–22 (NKJV)

²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Now I know what my critics might say. They look at the phrase “having been built” and take it out of context. This is why they say there are no more apostles and prophets. So tell me when did Christ Jesus stop building His church and why are you preaching the good news of the gospel if the church stopped being built? What that statement refers to is the established church on the foundation of Christ through the apostles and prophets. In truth many years ago the Lord showed me a primary reason the church is in such pitiful condition is because true apostles and prophets have been kicked out of the church of Jesus Christ and false ones are in the church claiming to be apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists. Additionally to many preach against the offices of apostle and prophet as well as some of the gifts of the spirit.

Jeremiah 17:9–10 (NKJV)

⁹ “The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?

¹⁰ I, the Lord, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give every man according to his ways,

According to the fruit of his doings.

So if the Spirit of God dwells in you how is it you can’t discern or preach matters of the heart? If you don’t preach matters of the heart how do you preach true repentance? In the book of Acts it clearly states the Holy Spirit added to the church not a sinners prayer.

Today we have preachers that deny the offices of apostle and prophet yet them themselves claim to be the only office necessary such as pastor/teacher. So here is a question to consider. If the Holy Spirit is incapable of lying and the Holy Spirit reveals all truth how do these preachers make the claims that the office of apostle and prophet ceased. How is it they claim that certain gifts have ceased! Where there is one untruth how many untruths might there be? I’ll let you discern if it is and untruth or a blatant lie.

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Numbers 23:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ “God is not a man, that He should lie,

Nor a son of man, that He should repent.

Has He said, and will He not do?

Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

1 Corinthians 3:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

There is a reason there is a five fold ministry and the number five signifies the fullness of grace! The divine power of God in fullness. I will admit and boldly proclaim that all five offices have been infiltrated by the Antichrist spirit but that does not mean they do not exist. Just because there are many calling themselves Christ doesn’t mean they are Christ. Many will falsely come in the name of the Lord but that doesn’t mean we don’t believe in the Lord.

1 Peter 2:6–10 (NKJV)

⁶ Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion

A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,

And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

⁷ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone,”

⁸ and

“A stone of stumbling

And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰ who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Matthew 10:40–41 (NKJV)

⁴⁰ “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ⁴¹ He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

Matthew 10:11–15 (NKJV)

¹¹ “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. ¹² And when you go into a household, greet it. ¹³ If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. ¹⁵ Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

I have been to churches that the Lord has spoken to me Matthew 10:11-15 personally. They have not rejected me they have rejected the Lord Jesus!

Ephesians 4:11–16 (NKJV)

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

So ask yourself this question. Why would Paul write this regarding the five fold ministry after the book of Acts/Pentecost was written if there are no apostles or prophets as they would have had to been with the incarnate Christ? TO PREACH THAT THERE ARE NO MORE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS TODAY BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO LIVED AND SEEN THE INCARNATE CHRIST IS LIKE SAYING THE BLOOD OF JESUS HAS NO POWER TODAY BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN AT CALVARY WHEN JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED.

Why were the Epistles even written in the first place if the “foundation” had been already laid and was established properly? Why was correction being brought to the “established” churches by the apostles if apostles are not necessary? Why is correction not allowed today within the church? When you say that someone would have to have been alive when the incarnate Christ was on the earth are you saying the resurrection never happened because NONE of the disciples became apostles until after the resurrection! My God is alive and living!

Why would Jesus tell the disciples that when the Holy Spirit came it would bring all of His teachings back to their memory? It was the power of the resurrection by the indwelling Holy Spirit that made them apostles. Has Jesus stopped His ministry by stopping the Holy Spirit to create born again believers and the five fold ministry? Has Jesus stopped building His church? I believe this is the major problem! Man is building his ministry and NOT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. How is it for salvation your faith must be in Christ and once you go or attend church your faith is in a man calling himself a pastor or preacher?

John 14:26 (NKJV)

²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

What they don’t see clearly is that none of the disciples became apostles until they received the Holy Spirit either by Jesus breathing on them or after Pentecost in Paul’s case. Jesus breathed on the disciples after His resurrection. So when you say you would have had to been with the Incarnate Christ this is not completely true as Paul was not with the original disciples Paul encountered the Resurrected Christ Jesus. The five fold offices are given by the Holy Spirit not by dispensational grace.

John 20:22 (NKJV)

²² And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

This is the perfect example of the New Testament church as Paul encountered the resurrected Christ not the incarnate Christ.

When Paul received the Holy Spirit he departed for approximately three years or more, but when Paul came back He wrote the epistles to put the Church back on it’s foundation! How could a relatively new convert see what was wrong with the church and people confessing to be Christians for many years can not discern what’s going on in the church?

One of the foundational oversights that goes neglected is that the incarnate Christ Jesus taught the disciples by THE SPIRIT OF GOD. It was the Spirit of God not the son of man that taught the disciples! The disciples were taught by the spirit of God! That is why Peter said to Jesus, you are the Messiah the Christ! Jesus responded flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father has revealed this to you! A man cannot teach things of the Spirit of God they must be taught and received by the Spirit of God! This is why Jesus said it was best if He left so the Holy Spirit could come and bring EVERYTHING THAT WAS TAUGHT TO THEM BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN THE INCARNATE CHRIST JESUS AND THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD BRING IT BACK TO THEIR REMEMBRANCE.

This explains how Acts 1:21-22 and 1 John 2:27 work together! Once the Holy Spirit is sent you would not need to have been alive with the incarnate Christ! The incarnate Christ taught by the Holy Spirit and 1 John 2:27 teaches by the Holy Spirit! In Acts 1:21-22 that is why they wanted someone who was around the teachings of the incarnate Christ because they were taught by the Spirit of God prior to Pentecost! It was the Lord’s desire that they all be commissioned/sent at the same time! So Paul was not with the incarnate Christ but by the Spirit of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit became an apostle for the Lord Jesus. That is why Paul spent approximately three years alone with the Lord because the Lord had been with the original disciples for three years. Do you see this similarity?

True discipleship has not changed! Today it is the Holy Spirit that disciples a born again believer!

1 John 2:27 (NKJV)

²⁷ But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

1 Corinthians 2:11–16 (NKJV)

¹¹ For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

There are many problems in the church today and they evolve from the basic principles that Christ MUST be the Chief Cornerstone and Head of the Church. When you deny there are apostles and prophets you deny how Jesus established and continues to establish His church and by doing this you allow the enemy to infiltrate the church because you have limited the fullness of how the Church is to be established. Just look at how Elijah mentored Elisha, Paul mentored Timothy and how Paul and the apostles encouraged the saints and edified the saints. Don’t confuse preaching with building a “spiritual house/church” for the Lord! They are not the same!

I know many will deny what this post reflects and that is your choice but be careful you do not deny the Lord or the fullness of the Lord by your lack of understanding, faith and belief! 

Let me ask you why then does Revelation 2:20 which is about the end of the age mention testing apostles to discern true ones from false ones if they don’t exist any longer in the church of Christ Jesus?

Revelation 2:2 (NKJV)

² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

James 1:5–8 (NKJV)

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Matthew 23:1–39 (NKJV)

Jesus Characterizes the Pharisees

Mark 12:38–40; Luke 20:45–47

23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, ² saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. ⁴ For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. ⁵ But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. ⁶ They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ ⁸ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. ⁹ Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. ¹⁰ And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. ¹¹ But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus Condemns the Pharisees

¹³ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. ¹⁴ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

¹⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁷ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? ¹⁸ And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁹ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? ²⁰ Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. ²¹ He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. ²² And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.

²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. ²⁴ Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

²⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰ and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’

³¹ “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. ³³ Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? ³⁴ Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. ³⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Jesus Laments Over Jerusalem

³⁷ “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! ³⁸ See! Your house is left to you desolate; ³⁹ for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

I have always prayed this simple prayer to the Lord as while I know my calling and gifting neither belongs to me, it belongs to the Lord.

“Lord help me to be whatever you need me to be when you need me to be it”. While I know my gifting and calling it is never about me it’s about revealing Christ Jesus and if that is preaching, prophesying, praying, counseling or whatever I just want to be what Jesus needs in the moments He needs it for someone else. This is being led by the Spirit of God not walking in an “office” because it is Christ and Christ alone that needs to be revealed, released and prophesied.

I hope this posting has brought understanding and clarity. Above all seek the Lord and read the full counsel of God’s Word. I offer this one posing thought, ask yourselves why it was the apostles and prophets that were martyred, imprisoned, stoned, whipped, tortured and despised by the religious leaders and why by denial of their existence today they are still being martyred spiritually by the religious leaders?

The post APOSTLES AND PROPHETS appeared first on Abiding Bread.

If you read and follow the Apostle Paul’s life all the way from the book of Acts through all of his epistles with the open minded view, you will see that Paul is the example of the NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. Paul was NOT discipled by the incarnate Christ but he encountered the Resurrected Christ Jesus and was discipled by Jesus through The Holy Spirit!

1 John 2:27 (NKJV)

27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

I have often posed this question to people and I believe it will help you to understand the principle of examining Paul’s conversion and how Paul walked out his calling with Christ Jesus. So here is my question: “Who discipled the disciples and who disciples the saints today? If you answer is Jesus to the first part of the question I have good news. Nothing has changed! Jesus still disciples today through the Holy Spirit which Jesus proclaimed would come. That is why Paul states who knows the things of God but the Spirit of God, who knows the things of man but the spirit of a man! The great commission is about preaching the Gospel so that they may be born again so the Holy Spirit can disciple them! Satan twists the real meaning and purpose. I’ll tell you if you try to disciple someone who is NOT born again you will get worn out quickly! Do you honestly think even with a hammer you could beat the Holy Spirit into them? Did not they torture Christ trying to beat the Holy Spirit out of Him! You can’t beat the Holy Spirit into someone or out of someone!

Note that Paul fasted 3 days after his encounter and was led into the wilderness after receiving the Holy Spirit. He fasted 3 days symbolic of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ “dying to himself”. He had no outside influences teaching him as Paul went in the wilderness. John the Baptist had no outside influences because he was in the wilderness. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness. Yes, Jesus also went into the wilderness after John the Baptist baptized Him.

There are no excuses ANY truly born again Christian can make about growing and maturing in Christ if they believe in the crucifixion, death and the resurrection of Christ Jesus and are TRULY born again.

Oh, I hear it quoted all the time but hardly ever witness any true spiritual or physical signs or spiritual fruit:

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

1 Corinthians 6:11 (NKJV)

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

2 Peter 1:2–4 (NKJV)

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV)

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Let each of us be honest with ourselves in our spiritual progress. It grieves the Lord and the Holy Spirit in me when a Christian tells me “I have been doing this for 30 years” and there is little evidence of spiritual fruit, holiness, discernment and true revelations of Christ Jesus. They make it sound as if there is age discrimination in the Kingdom of God! If your last revelation of the Lord is your salvation there is a problem. Jesus doesn’t just “clean you up”, He builds you up in HIS Spirit and Power growing deeper in Him so that you may REVEAL CHRIST and not just talk about Christ.

We all need to be ready for the Lord’s return without spot or wrinkle for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb of God. I don’t know any person that can say they are a Christian and yet not know the Lord Jesus. So why is it Jesus can say depart from me you worker of iniquity “I never knew you”. Well lets reflect on an earlier statement. I’ve been doing this for 30 years! The “I’s” have it! We can do nothing of ourselves as that is what the Word of God tells us. (John 15:5) People are busy building their ministry, being “noticed” and in the spotlight. First, if they even have a ministry it is NOT theirs it is Jesus’ ministry. Second, they are not revealing Christ they are building and revealing themselves using the name of Christ so that makes them false prophets.

Back in 2011 the Lord spoke to me while I was in my quite time with Him as I recently left a well known international school of ministry because they worshiped false gods and did not even know the true Living God. I was grieving in the Holy Spirit regarding the poor spiritual condition of the church assembly from all of my travels and personal witness as the Lord revealed. The Lord then spoke to me and said of all of the people who went to church only three percent at that time were truly His. If that was in 2011 what is the condition today! I don’t question there is revival but the BIGGER question is what is the spirit behind the revival? The world is being prepared for the coming of the Antichrist so are these revivals of the Antichrist or of the TRUE LIVING GOD CHRIST JESUS. Don’t be deceived as the Word of God clearly states about a great apostasy and falling away! I believe that much of what is called revival is the Antichrist spirit. I won’t speak more on that because you yourselves need a revelation from the Lord and truthfully should always be seeking revelations of Spirit and Truth.

Philippians 3:1–11 (NKJV)

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Now that you have read this far let us reflect on how the Holy Spirit operated through Paul’s life and what requirements it took Paul by the Grace and Power of the Lord through the Holy Spirit to life this life which we are ALL called to live. Even though we are not all called to be Apostles the Lord is no respecter of person and that is why I want you to read, study and think of Paul’s life in Christ Jesus.

Scriptures that come to mind are Galatians 2:20; Galatians 6:14; Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 2:11-16 just to name a few scriptures. Paul was able to bring correction to the church, discern unclean spirits, overcome principalities and powers of darkness and much more. Yet Paul did all this while overcoming whippings, beatings, imprisonment, hunger and the like. Paul wrote much of the Epistles from being imprisoned because as he states in Galatians 6:14 he was crucified WITH Christ and EVEN the world was crucified to Paul. This leads to something each us should consider. Is the world crucified to you? If we are “in the world but not of the world” should not the world hate us as it hated Jesus. A better way to describe this would be to think about this statement: I am imprisoned by this world because I don’t belong in this world. I belong with my Creator, Lord and Savior. The WORLD is persecuting TRUE CHRISTIANS because they do NOT LOVE THIS WORLD, THEY LOVE THE FATHER! So while Paul was in prison who put Paul in prison? Who cried out and yelled CRUCIFY HIM when Jesus was on trial.

You know I hear so much Christian “shop talk” about God has a plan for you and it sounds really encouraging as if to puff up ones ego/pride. Yes God has a plan for you and Jesus states it clearly and then Paul states it clearly also.

John 17:14–19 (NKJV)

14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

In verse 15 you find the plan of God for you. The rest of the scripture describes the reasons, preparations and plan of God. Let’s add some more scripture that continues on from verse 19.

John 17:20–26 (NKJV)

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

We see in verse 20 that the purpose Jesus spoke about in verse 15 is so that there will always be a remnant on earth bearing witness to incarnate Christ and His death and resurrection and ascension!

Now let us see how Paul and Peter state the same thing.

Philippians 1:23–26 (NKJV)

23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 (NKJV)

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Before moving on with more scriptures I would like to emphasize the importance of what Paul is TRULY saying as it states in Revelations 19:10. Paul is saying he wishes “even more” or as other translations “above all” that you would prophesy. What is TRUE PROPHECY, this is where the body of Christ misses it! It is not merely giving words of edification or encouragement it is to BEAR TRUE WITNESS OF JESUS CHRIST! This is why so many are deceived because most of today’s prophecy is FALSE and not a true testimony or witness of the Lord Jesus.

In addition because our adversary has blinded the eyes and closed the ears of so many they do not hear true prophecy because they are likely already deceived believing doctrines of men, doctrines of devils, man’s theology and are NOT led, seeking, listening or bearing witness by the Holy Spirit of what is being said!

I don’t care who claims to be speaking, preaching, or giving prophecy if it DOES NOT BEAR WITNESS WITH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT REJECT IT! The spirit that is talking through them is NOT the Holy Spirit. Immediately take it to the Lord! All truth and nothing but the truth as confirmed and witness by the Power of the Holy Spirit! I will back this up with the following scriptures:

Hebrews 4:12–13 (NKJV)

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

When we read Hebrews 4:12 you will understand why when you do not get a witness from the Holy Spirit it is NOT from the Lord Jesus. His Word is living and you should have the indwelling Holy Spirit which is living so when something is preached, prophecied, or any spoken words pertaining the the LIVING WORD you must have an internal witness from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 16:13–17 (NKJV)

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

In Matthew as stated above you masterfully see the Lord asking them about who do people say I am. This includes what religious leaders say as well as the general population. So if it includes religious leaders it includes your pastors or anyone that proclaims to speak of Jesus. In essence forget what you are hearing or being taught and tell me who am I too you! Simon Peter reveals what the Father revealed to him! This was before Pentecost so why is before Peter had the indwelling Holy Spirit Peter received this knowledge and a professing “Born Again Believer” is unable to bear witness in the Holy Spirit? So how do people get TRULY SAVED? It is by the power and conviction being preached by the Power of The Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit convicts and the Holy Spirit adds to the TRUE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST.

1 Corinthians 15:45–49 (NKJV)

45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

These scriptures clearly emphasis the difference between human and divine. Jesus is the Second Adam and Jesus is a life-giving spirit! Does your preacher, pastor and any person you listen to bare witness in the Holy Spirit or are you just listening to a bible recital?

I’ll say it again. The devil doesn’t care if anyone can read or preach the bible what the devil doesn’t want is for you to have the resurrected life in Christ Jesus. So the devil tries to REMOVE the Spirit of God from the Written Word and that leave image of the man of dust not the image of the heavenly Man!

When you sit under this type of preaching satan is attempting to drain you of the Holy Spirit getting you into a fallen nature because satan himself is fallen. Also you saints be on alert as you may have many false friends and even your false pastor may be a friend or appear friendly do not be deceived. They are likely attempting to use you because you are following Christ so that it increased the delusion because you sit under this false preacher. The object is for you to bring more Saints so they can be led to the slaughter also. It’s the frog in the pot once again where gradual deceptions lead you astray! When Jesus said His sheep are led to the slaughter He is referring to who you follow and obviously Jesus is not leading you to the slaughter!

A half truth is a lie, a truth told with ungodly purpose is deception and many won’t like this but where there is one lie how many more lies are there? The Holy Spirit is INCAPABLE of lying! There is NO darkness in Christ Jesus! Twisting a lie by stating “that is your interpretation” is deception. There is only one Truth not variations of what is truth. When a leader or anyone will not tolerate correction by the Living and Written Word it is because they are not of the Lord. I say this because the fruit of the Spirit includes meekness and the love of God is not self boastful or prideful.

I don’t care if ANYONE mentions the name of Jesus, God or Father! More importantly, who is your Jesus, God or Father? You see that is why Paul says IF ANYONE COMES WITH A DIFFERENT GOSPEL LET THEM BE ACCURSED!

Galatians 1:8 (NKJV)

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

2 Corinthians 11:1–4 (NKJV)

1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

1 Peter 2:4–10 (NKJV)

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

So how is it today there is so little discernment, so little growth in the Lord so little fruit of the Spirit? Are we to believe there is no power in the Holy Spirit and that Jesus is not able? Lord help us! Each and every day each of us, yes including me should examine ourselves and question ourselves. Am I complacent, am I hungry for righteousness, am I closer to the Lord, as well as other concerns and reflection. Let us read the scripture below in closing and in personal reflection.

1 Corinthians 2:6–16 (NKJV)

6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Well what was intended to be a short one page posting has lead to a lengthy one and I thank you for patience and attention to this posting. As usual when the Holy Spirit inspires me to write the Lord keeps expounding and giving more to write. I don’t mind as I enjoy it and it brings me closer to the Lord. The main thing is I try to convey exactly what the Lord wants me to convey and very often is goes against modern day belief and preaching. That alone should say something to you. Stay encourage in the Lord and if this posting has blessed you please feel free to share as the Lord leads you.

I utilize my blog as many forums will delete my postings, commentary and remarks to postings. At least this way if you are familiar with my blog you can always go there.

God bless you all and may the riches of Christ dwell deeply and firmly within you!

The post THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH THROUGH THE LIFE OF APOSTLE PAUL appeared first on Abiding Bread.

Let me begin by sharing a few words regarding a statement I made in a small group setting years ago so that it will open up your thoughts and self reflection.

Meditation and Self Reflection

I once asked a small group to meditate on this and it goes for all of the saints and even church leaders.

I asked them to reflect on this statement and I told them: “If I never preach, never prophecy, never lay hands on the sick, never have a ministry Jesus is enough for me and Jesus is my portion”. When they heard this the room went silent because it was something never mentioned to them before and they had never contemplated this before.

I proceeded to expound. If Jesus is not enough and your “portion” your spiritual gifting will never be enough for you. The focus of your heart will be based on your gifting as the measurement of spiritual success and not your relationship with Jesus! Your heart will be misaligned and the enemy will pull you away from Christ Jesus and personal pride will become your motivation not the Holy Spirit. The gifting and calling is irrevocable so a person may be gifted but that doesn’t make them Christ like. All of the spiritual gifts of Jesus must operate out of HOLINESS, nothing of us and ALL OF JESUS.

When Jesus was on the cross what was spoken to Jesus through the inspiration of the devil through a man: “If you are the King of the Jews remove yourself from that cross”. He wanted a demonstration of power AND it went against the will of the Father for Jesus to remove Himself from the Cross! What happened to Jesus in the wilderness when Satan tried to get Jesus to demonstrate His power and divinity? Did Satan not use Psalm 91 provoking Jesus to demonstrate His power, what about turning the rock into bread? We must not associate power or gifting with Spirit and Truth of Christ Jesus! Jesus spoke to the Devil “IT IS WRITTEN” for what is true godly power without The Holy Spirit and Truth! What did Jesus say to Peter when Peter said he would not let Jesus be taken captive? Jesus said get behind me Satan! It was contrary to the will of the Father.

I mention this because of what the Lord showed me and spoke to me about spiritual gifting as the Lord was revealing HIS gifting in me just after my salvation. I can not over emphasize that this was so liberating and almost as powerful as the gift of salvation! Spiritual gifts are not about performing or performance, it’s about revealing Christ Jesus! I don’t want you to deny the gifts of the Holy Spirit in fact I wish everyone would operate in the fullness of the gifts as when you allow Christ Jesus to operate through you, you grow in the knowledge, faith, trust and intimacy with Jesus. What I can’t stress enough is following the will of Jesus as stated above with Jesus on the cross, in the wilderness and Jesus rebuking Peter. I DO NOT QUESTION THE MOTIVE OF PETERS HEART as we ourselves would lay down our lives for loved ones and Christ Jesus. We must know the will of the Lord in all things before we act and only act or respond as the Holy Spirit leads us.

As I proof read this the Lord prompts me to write more. For those of you who are becoming aware of your spiritual gifts the Lord has prompted me to tell you DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK THE LORD QUESTIONS REGARDING WHAT HE HAS SPOKEN OR PROMPTED YOU TO DO OR SPEAK. The Lord is not offended by your desire to be obedient! He will answer you, so if you don’t fully understand just ask the Lord Jesus. Also remember that the words of knowledge or prophecy are not about you they are about the person receiving them and this may lead to your uncertainty. Using your “head knowledge” can taint, block and limit what the Lord wants spoken. When these situations arise just ask the Lord, how do you want me to speak this or apply this, what is my responsibility. Lastly and very vital, surrender the outcome! We are only responsible to do or speak what the Lord asks us. The Lord holds the outcome! That is why Jonah went through what he did. It is liberating and very freeing to surrender the outcome. We are not the Alpha and Omega, Jesus is!

We must not seek to perform or demonstrate the gifts but rather be led by the Holy Spirit to manifest and reveal Christ Jesus by letting Jesus work through us. It is by the power of The Holy Spirit that reveals Christ Jesus.

Gifting without the HOLY ONE is not operating in HOLINESS and the gifting is then corrupted and not of the Lord Jesus. This reminds me of what Isaiah spoke:

Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

“My” is capitalized as it means the word of God inspired by the Lord.

Jesus will not share His Glory with humanity and when the spiritual gifts have become perverted, twisted and quite frankly demonic in nature and characteristics. They do not reveal Christ Jesus. The divine purpose of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Christ Jesus and bare witness and testify of Christ Jesus. When we operate in the gifts without the prompting or leading of the Holy Spirit we do not reveal Jesus!

John 15:26 (NKJV)

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

Do not be misled by what people speak or claim they need such as prayer, healing or other needs. Stop and seek the Lord and ask the Lord, what do you say they need Lord, what would you like to do for them. This principle also applies when someone comes to you and says brother so and so, or sister so and so needs prayer because of this or because of that. DO NOT PRAY WITHOUT SEEKING THE LORD. If you are uncertain what to pray simply pray that the Lord’s will would be done and that the Lord would be glorified by His will being done. If you follow the words of what others say you might very well be cursing that person in the form of a prayer! Yes many prayers are actually witchcraft in disguise! I know first hand of this by personal experiences.

These are the words Jesus spoke to me about using spiritual gifts.

John 5:19–21 (NKJV)

19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

If we are to reveal Christ Jesus it MUST be Jesus doing the work through us, not us “performing” the gifts. There is a HUGE difference. This is Satan attempting to get us into PRIDE thinking it is us doing the work! As I refer to Satan’s trinity of ME, MYSELF and I. It is a snare as pride comes before the fall!

What I have written applies to ALL of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There is another point I would like to mention regarding the gifts especially the gift of prophecy and words of knowledge. Just because the Lord gives you a prophetic word or word of knowledge does not mean that is the time to speak it or share it. You may be called to intercession verses speaking the prophetic word or word of knowledge. If there is no unction from the Holy Spirit to speak do NOT speak the prophetic word or word of knowledge as it is the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT that fulfills that prophetic word or word of knowledge. Therefore it must be spoken only by the unction and prompting of the HOLY SPIRIT that leads you to speak, otherwise the adversary can easily twist and manipulate what is spoken or prophesied. Another example would be praying for an individual. For example, I love to read my bible in public while having coffee and quite often the Lord will have me pray for people. If the Lord puts it on your heart to pray for someone that doesn’t always mean you go to the person unless the Holy Spirit gives you the unction. You can pray for them from your seat. I have done this in public many times as well as approach the person as led by the Holy Spirit. What matters is that you prayed! Praise the Lord. You see quite often the delay is because the Lord is preparing them to receive the word of knowledge, prophecy or prayer that is why we must rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us on how we approach these matters.

I hope this helps some of you to stop striving and just let the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you. Don’t fall snare to the enemies schemes. I know I was blessed and thankful that the Lord spoke and revealed this to me early on in my walk with the Lord. Jesus kept me from the pitfalls of this. Don’t use the spiritual gifts because you can, do it because it is the will of God under the unction and prompting of the Holy Spirit. This will allow you to walk in greater spiritual peace, faith, trust, revelation and intimacy with Christ Jesus.

As I was talking with the Lord about writing this article He placed it upon my heart that this writing is critical be able to have spiritual discernment in these last days as the TWO WITNESSES will be coming forth in the near future. We must discern what miracles are of Jesus and what miracles are of the Antichrist. Oh, how the body of Christ needs spiritual discernment.

John 4:24 (NKJV)

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

1 John 4:1 (NKJV)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

If you have been blessed by this writing please feel free to share as the Lord Jesus leads you. Grace to you from our Lord Jesus and may you walk in peace and revelations of Christ Jesus.

The post PERVERTING THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT appeared first on Abiding Bread.