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Test The Gifts Of The Spirit
Luke 22:13 'And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.'
When a true gift of the Spirit is in operation, things will always be as the Lord has said (an exception to this is if there are conditions to meet).
This is the ultimate test of whether or not someone's words are God-inspired (Dt. 18:22).
We cannot be led by just our own feelings concerning the gifts of the Spirit.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, the apostle Paul gives us direction governing the use of spiritual gifts that must supersede any urge or leading that we feel.
The first test to apply to any gift of the Spirit is to...
Resist The Temptation Of Sin
Luke 22:3 'Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.'
Some people have speculated that Judas betrayed Jesus in an effort to force Jesus into a confrontation with the Roman government. Then He would have to use His supernatural power in self-defense and overthrow the Romans, thereby giving independence back to the nation of Israel.
This idea is based mainly on the response of Judas when he saw that Jesus was condemned. Judas 'repented himself' (Mt. 27:3), implying that the condemnation of Jesus was never his intent. However, scripture does not endow Judas with noble (even if misdirected) virtues. He...
DO YOU REMEMBER THAT STORY? WHEN BLIND BARTIMAEUS WAS SITTING BY THE ROADSIDE BEGGING, HE HEARD THAT JESUS WAS PASSING BY AND CRIED OUT TO HIM. THIS STORY IS FOUND IN MARK 10:46-48 AND I WILL PUT IT...
Escape Condemnation
Matthew 26:2 'Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.'
In Israel, crucifixion was a common sight. This practice was first mentioned in scripture as one used by the Egyptians (Gen. 40:19). Anyone hung upon a tree was accursed by God according to the Mosaic law (Dt. 21:22-23).
Failure to obey the law brought on the curse. Praise God that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse for us. Now, through Christ, we will never receive any curse from God even though we still disobey the law in some way. Justice was satisfied when Jesus died for the law that we broke,...
How To Esteem Others More Than Self
Matthew 25:40 'And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'
STANDING ON GOD'S PROMISES
Follow The Leading Of Holy Spirit
Matthew 25:14 'For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.'
The parable of the talents continues the theme of being ready for the Lord's return, but it also makes a strong point that we are accountable to the Lord for the gifts He has given us. The Lord intends us to use these gifts to further His kingdom - not keep them hidden.
This parable also shows the Lord dealing with His servants according to their own individual gifts and abilities. The servants who doubled their Lord's money were praised equally, even though one had produced two and one-half...