Charismatic Bible Studies - 2 Peter 1:1-4, Part 1

[Hidden In Him]

I'm still contemplating the connection between those with true Christian living and belief in the charismatic gifts. Since the Charismatic Movement is new in history, I doubt this connection is essential even though in my experience it is often true. There are seasons in history when God is upset with the Church in general and leaves it without a strong witness. God doesn't want to sanction poor performance, even though a relative few exemplify Jesus who like Jesus did not perform miracles where faith lacked.

I agree with your last statement here, Randy, but not the first, but then maybe it's a difference in perspective. But for me, the Charismatic movement technically began on the day of Pentecost. I know there it wasn't referred to as such, so in a sense you are right, but I regard the Azusa St. Revival as a restoration of the outpourings that began in Acts 2, so to me it's more like a continuum.

I think the connection between obedience to God's internal word, together with its spiritual evidence, should be taught and emphasized. Unless obedience results in spiritual vitality and the operation of spiritual gifts the Christian religion is nothing more than "works."

I agree.

The 1st command of God involved marriage and childbearing. Celibacy was emphasized in times when the famiy was vulnerable to severe persecution. For those who simply, like Paul, wished to devote more time to ministry, there was no prohibition on it unless it created an unhealthy sexual appetite.

I also agree here, and I would add that Paul's teaching on it was in the context of Christ's soon coming return. As he said in one place:

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the mode of this world is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7)

As it turned out, the mode of this world (i.e. living out our entire lives without the Lord returning yet) did not pass away as they presumed, so some argue that the teaching should be done away with. But I think the general principle he was teaching still holds. A married man or woman still has more responsibilities in the world, and an un married man or woman is still more free to serve the Lord with their entire life, IF they are called to it.

I don't think the Church will become larger and better in these end times. I think the group will become smaller and thus more refined or separated from those who are not willing to stand up to trial.

I think in the over all scheme of things at the end you are correct, but you have to remember that the harvest is the END of the age. I think there will be a massive influx to Christianity before she begins to be persecuted down and whittled down to something akin a high-powered laser beam, the likes of which the earth has never seen. But before that, I DO think the end-time church will become larger for a time, possibly MUCH larger for awhile, although we can certainly agree to disagree there.

I'm going through some of these problems myself. Personally, I'm contemplating leaving a weak Pentecostal assembly where the pastor is afraid of saying anything political or controversial.

The sermon is all that holds the church together, and it is a weak recitation of biblical passages. The Spirit is not gone, but it is weak, as I see it.

I may have to leave and join in with home Bible fellowships. In the last few months several people have each approached me about doing this. We can't grow strong in a weak church. And we can't hold up a weak church if our word is being rejected.

Gonna respond to this later on tonight, and thanks so much for posting. It's a blessing to read your posts.

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

11 [Jesus] said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.” (Matthew 19:11-12).

This pretty clearly juxtaposes marriage against celibacy, just as with Paul, and gives preference to it IMO.

"All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given". This is not general preference. This is stating that God will give the preference specifically, by act of God, to some, and for that some, it is right for them.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I will suggest, that the meaning of the parable of the tares is far, far broader than the coming of one little group stamped out by Roman quasichristian mass murder.

LoL. They're alive and well, Jonathan. But I'll get to that in a bit. If you stick with this series of studies, I'll eventually show you how they have infiltrated this forum in the past (and others), and have been present here even recently. You were interacting with a couple of them recently and likely didn't know it, but I'll get to that a little while later.

 

[Hidden In Him]

It looks like the brother was talking about a different but related topic, namely the separation of sheep and goats at the end of the age. Let the tares grow up with the wheat as long as the tares still look and act like immature wheat. Though many seeming Christians are really not, it may ultimately be at the 2nd Coming that they are exposed as frauds.

So, you are talking about the exercise of discipline in the church to remove sinners. This can apply to actual believers and not just Gnostics. If we treat ungodly false brethren like brothers and sisters, we will be guilty of sanctioning their ungodly behavior. If we tolerate sin in genuine brethren who are backslidden or rationalizing their ungodly behavior, again we are guilty of sanctioning sin.

No, Sheep and the Goats is a different thing. You can easily tell the difference between a sheep and a goat, whereas wheat and tares look almost exactly alike, at least on the surface. It's only when you get into the internal content of each one that you find out one provides true spiritual food and the other leads to spiritual delusion. But there's like 12 more studies to go here, so I will better explain things in time. For now we're just trying to go through things passage by passage.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I will suggest, that the meaning of the parable of the tares is far, far broader than the coming of one little group stamped out by Roman quasichristian mass murder. I will rather suggest, that the tares refer to everyone in the churches who (to maintain the metaphor) look like wheat and talk like wheat, but whose primary purposes are attractive deceptions which lead the sheep astray. I'll suggest 'tares' include, for instance, those of leadership in both the United Methodist Church and the Disciples of Christ who, over many decades, have subverted all stated principles and purposes, in favor of affirming and glorifying all manner of sexual sin, witchcraft, and dead faiths of unbelievers (I speak as a witness).

Yes. Those denominations who have succumbed to the enemy's teaching could be applied, and I would personally point more to people like the Jehovahs Witnesses. But what you have to never forget is the New Testament contexts. Those prophecies were not primarily given to you and I in the 21st century. They were given to people in the 1st century who witnessed their fulfillment in the 1st century as well. Historical context is always very important in interpreting the word. We can apply it in different ways, but when it comes to its initial and primary meanings, you have to start with what they meant to the people back then.

And I shall suggest that we must not attempt to remove them, because of that which Christ the Lord has said. We can make them uncomfortable, for the glory of God, by adhering to and promoting that which Christ the Lord has Personally said, done, and discussed. But just as Christ the Lord did not cast out Judas Iscariot, who behaved not dissimilarly, we must not try to cast them out, we must love them as our neighbors. I will further suggest that in our case, many of them will convert and be saved, as a result of that which God causes us to do with them and for them.

That's a lengthy discussion, and depending on if you were talking about the Gnostics or a more exclusively modern group, it would affect the discussion. For the New Testament church, the instruction was that the Lord was not going to destroy them before harvest time, "lest he tear up the wheat also." Relationships were being built, and watching judgment come down on someone you knew personally would have been hard for some Christians to take, even though the Gnostics were sometimes very wicked people.

Like I said, that would be a lengthy discussion, depending upon who you were talking about.

 

[Hidden In Him]

In conversation with others, I will not care whether they label themselves, or are labelled, as "gnostics", or not, any more than I will for any other labels. I have seen much more perversion of and distraction from the Gospel in national self-glorification than any other form of tare-ishness. Quasichristian nationalists still promulgate most publicly; "gnostics" hide in shadows. As has happened before, when the lie of quasichristian nationalism is exposed, perversion-promoters gain power in the vacuum produced. But in the circles I have visited, I have not seen "gnostics" as a specially powerful group, and frankly I do not find that it matters: I will regard them as yet more neighbors as according to Christ the Lord.

They practice witchcraft on Christians, including members of this community, and have deliberately attempted to destroy their lives. There are other things I could say, but I'll refrain for now.

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

Relationships were being built, and watching judgment come down on someone you knew personally would have been hard for some Christians to take, even though the Gnostics were sometimes very wicked people.

I will suggest, that the only judgement coming down from God, of which we have specific record, since the birth of Christ, has been Ananias and Sapphira. Luke 13:2-5. I shall not consider that Roman mass murder is ipso facto the judgement of God coming down. The Roman mass murderers, were also sometimes very wicked people, as were those they murdered, and those that murdered them.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I will suggest, that the only judgement coming down from God, of which we have specific record, since the birth of Christ, has been Ananias and Sapphira. Luke 13:2-5.

At least 7-8 New Testament passages I could quote which suggest the opposite, Jonathan, including Revelations 2:

18 These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

We're getting too far afield from the study, however, so hold up for a little bit and let others participate before it winds off into unrelated issues.

Blessings,
- H

 

[RandyK]

I agree with your last statement here, Randy, but not the first, but then maybe it's a difference in perspective. But for me, the Charismatic movement technically began on the day of Pentecost. I know there it wasn't referred to as such, so in a sense you are right, but I regard the Azusa St. Revival as a restoration of the outpourings that began in Acts 2, so to me it's more like a continuum.


I agree.


I also agree here, and I would add that Paul's teaching on it was in the context of Christ's soon coming return. As he said in one place:

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the mode of this world is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7)

As it turned out, the mode of this world (i.e. living out our entire lives without the Lord returning yet) did not pass away as they presumed, so some argue that the teaching should be done away with. But I think the general principle he was teaching still holds. A married man or woman still has more responsibilities in the world, and an un married man or woman is still more free to serve the Lord with their entire life, IF they are called to it.


I think in the over all scheme of things at the end you are correct, but you have to remember that the harvest is the END of the age. I think there will be a massive influx to Christianity before she begins to be persecuted down and whittled down to something akin a high-powered laser beam, the likes of which the earth has never seen. But before that, I DO think the end-time church will become larger for a time, possibly MUCH larger for awhile, although we can certainly agree to disagree there.


Gonna respond to this later on tonight, and thanks so much for posting. It's a blessing to read your posts.

Yes, some of what I shared are convictions I have, and some are simply speculations. Thanks for raising the issues.

 

[RandyK]

I will suggest, that the only judgement coming down from God, of which we have specific record, since the birth of Christ, has been Ananias and Sapphira. Luke 13:2-5. I shall not consider that Roman mass murder is ipso facto the judgement of God coming down. The Roman mass murderers, were also sometimes very wicked people, as were those they murdered, and those that murdered them.

I'm not very clear on what you're saying here? Are you saying that God was never part of any judgment in which evil men killed other evil men? Of course, I may be completely missing what you're saying.

Habakkuk seemed to have had a problem with this, as well. But God answered him.

 

[hawkman]

2. For at least a decade now there has been a movement aimed at encouraging Christian youth to "Wait until marriage." Some opponents of it, however, have argued that the movement can be hypocritical, and that many who adhere to it have engaged in premarital sex at some point without admitting it. Do you feel such teachings would be more effective in accomplishing their goals if greater stress were laid upon operating in the supernatural gifts and walking in the Spirit? If so, how and why?

Of course I do! The empowerment that comes from walking in the Spirit is exactly what is needed. Is a chastity belt the answer? No! Your prayer life will be very important and can't be neglected. Our flesh should be brought under subjection by our holding our thoughts captive with the Holy Spirit working in out lives. If you do slip into sexual sin then repent! Don't give up. Fasting and intercessory prayer should be the considered also.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Context​

2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

I'm not very clear on what you're saying here? Are you saying that God was never part of any judgment in which evil men killed other evil men? Of course, I may be completely missing what you're saying.

Habakkuk seemed to have had a problem with this, as well. But God answered him.

I was referring to post-Advent. HIH set me straight on that, with the first few chapters of Revelation.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I'm going through some of these problems myself. Personally, I'm contemplating leaving a weak Pentecostal assembly where the pastor is afraid of saying anything political or controversial.

The sermon is all that holds the church together, and it is a weak recitation of biblical passages. The Spirit is not gone, but it is weak, as I see it.

I may have to leave and join in with home Bible fellowships. In the last few months several people have each approached me about doing this. We can't grow strong in a weak church. And we can't hold up a weak church if our word is being rejected.

Randy, I had what sounds like a very similar situation when I was in college. It was an AoG church, and the Youth Pastor was the leader of the college group who was present when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and he was very good. The pastor of that church, however, was.... well, almost a waste of space. His teachings never edified, and I remember some services where they were so lacking in the Spirit that I was literally getting angry about it and wanted out of that service. Everyone else did too because when the service finally let out there was like this mad rush to get out of there, LoL. It was that bad. So his offerings kept drying up. And that in turn caused him to preach on tithing incessantly. I finally left when for three Sundays straight that's all he did was hammer away at why everyone needed to be tithing.

I suppose I could also say the Spirit was not gone completely, but "weak" would be a very good way to put it, and this is not any where near as rare an occurrence as it should be. When I moved to this city, there was a large Pentecostal church and it was largely the same thing. They were going megachurch, and the worship was very high polished and pretty strong, so you could feel His presence during that, but the minute the pastor or co-pastor took the mic, you could literally feel the Spirit going out of the place. VERY disheartening and discouraging. I don't say it's like that everywhere by any means, just telling you that I have been where you are before, and I would strongly suggest you consider either starting or joining a home fellowship. Even with the worship I often found it was easier to enter in during practice than during services, because it's not the number of people but the quality of level of being Spirit-filled and anointed that really matters.

Sorry it took me so long to get to this, btw. Had a rough day.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Our flesh should be brought under subjection by our holding our thoughts captive with the Holy Spirit working in out lives. If you do slip into sexual sin then repent! Don't give up.

Exactly. It saddens me when I see some men post on the forums and it is like this total despair that they are never going to get victory, and yada yada yada. The whole teaching of the New Testament is that Christ In Us is our only hope of glory, and contrary to what some may teach, entering completely into Christ so that every word and every action is of Him is NOT a piece of cake. It takes a great deal of discipline and self-sacrifice. So when we see failure, all we are really seeing is ourselves again, which shouldn't be some astonishing surprise. Just accept the fact that we don't have it all, and that we need to keep investing ourselves in Him because only He does.

 

[RandyK]

Randy, I had what sounds like a very similar situation when I was in college. It was an AoG church, and the Youth Pastor was the leader of the college group who was present when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and he was very good. The pastor of that church, however, was.... well, almost a waste of space. His teachings never edified, and I remember some services where they were so lacking in the Spirit that I was literally getting angry about it and wanted out of that service. Everyone else did too because when the service finally let out there was like this mad rush to get out of there, LoL. It was that bad. So his offerings kept drying up. And that in turn caused him to preach on tithing incessantly. I finally left when for three Sundays straight that's all he did was hammer away at why everyone needed to be tithing.

I suppose I could also say the Spirit was not gone completely, but "weak" would be a very good way to put it, and this is not any where near as rare an occurrence as it should be. When I moved to this city, there was a large Pentecostal church and it was largely the same thing. They were going megachurch, and the worship was very high polished and pretty strong, so you could feel His presence during that, but the minute the pastor or co-pastor took the mic, you could literally feel the Spirit going out of the place. VERY disheartening and discouraging. I don't say it's like that everywhere by any means, just telling you that I have been where you are before, and I would strongly suggest you consider either starting or joining a home fellowship. Even with the worship I often found it was easier to enter in during practice than during services, because it's not the number of people but the quality of level of being Spirit-filled and anointed that really matters.

Sorry it took me so long to get to this, btw. Had a rough day.

Randy, I had what sounds like a very similar situation when I was in college. It was an AoG church, and the Youth Pastor was the leader of the college group who was present when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and he was very good. The pastor of that church, however, was.... well, almost a waste of space. His teachings never edified, and I remember some services where they were so lacking in the Spirit that I was literally getting angry about it and wanted out of that service. Everyone else did too because when the service finally let out there was like this mad rush to get out of there, LoL. It was that bad. So his offerings kept drying up. And that in turn caused him to preach on tithing incessantly. I finally left when for three Sundays straight that's all he did was hammer away at why everyone needed to be tithing.

I suppose I could also say the Spirit was not gone completely, but "weak" would be a very good way to put it, and this is not any where near as rare an occurrence as it should be. When I moved to this city, there was a large Pentecostal church and it was largely the same thing. They were going megachurch, and the worship was very high polished and pretty strong, so you could feel His presence during that, but the minute the pastor or co-pastor took the mic, you could literally feel the Spirit going out of the place. VERY disheartening and discouraging. I don't say it's like that everywhere by any means, just telling you that I have been where you are before, and I would strongly suggest you consider either starting or joining a home fellowship. Even with the worship I often found it was easier to enter in during practice than during services, because it's not the number of people but the quality of level of being Spirit-filled and anointed that really matters.

Sorry it took me so long to get to this, btw. Had a rough day.

I appreciate that brother. I always fear getting too critical, but the Prophets were critical too--critical in the Spirit of the Lord. They spoke the harsh, difficult truth to bring God's People to repentance.

Sometimes leaders are in a place where they make themselves unapproachable in terms of correction. And they see any form of correction as rebellion.

I just want to be where the Spirit is active because the harvest is ripe. I don't want to just spin my wheels, in meaningless repetition. I did that in the Lutheran Church as a child. Don't want to look back!

 

[Hidden In Him]

I appreciate that brother. I always fear getting too critical, but the Prophets were critical too--critical in the Spirit of the Lord. They spoke the harsh, difficult truth to bring God's People to repentance.

Sometimes leaders are in a place where they make themselves unapproachable in terms of correction. And they see any form of correction as rebellion.

I don't like to be critical either, but at the same time there's no running from the truth. I just try to avoid being judgmental. Maybe that pastor had a lot on his plate in his family life. Maybe he was never really called and just doing his best under the circumstances. But whatever the case, if things are not right it needs to be fixed, and problems need to be recognized. People can't fix what they refuse to acknowledge is even there.

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

Exactly. It saddens me when I see some men post on the forums and it is like this total despair that they are never going to get victory, and yada yada yada. The whole teaching of the New Testament is that Christ In Us is our only hope of glory, and contrary to what some may teach, entering completely into Christ so that every word and every action is of Him is NOT a piece of cake. It takes a great deal of discipline and self-sacrifice. So when we see failure, all we are really seeing is ourselves again, which shouldn't be some astonishing surprise. Just accept the fact that we don't have it all, and that we need to keep investing ourselves in Him because only He does.

Agreeing.

There is another element just as important: His yoke is easy, His burden is light. Whenever I witness anyone speaking as you cite, I know that that person is demanding for themselves, burdens that Christ the Lord does not wish for him or her.

When I came to Christ, I came as a repentant believing Jew, which is to say, one having enormous and terrible burdens having to do not merely with ritual, but more importantly, with purposes and affirmations. In the relatively large Jewish religious group from which I was rescued (they called it "Conservative" Judaism), there is very strong dedication taught as doctrine, to the power and publicly-stated purposes of two profoundly sinful nations of this world, one quite large in geography, one very small. This constituted enormously heavy burdens upon myself, and the more I learned of the truth of them, the heavier they became. The Holy One of God has freed me very much from these burdens, and more freedom given over time, and I praise Him and thank Him for this every day. Many are so rescued only through death of their body.

It is interesting to study how absolutely furious some church-preachers, church-leaders, and others get, when one encourages freedom from such burdens, in Sunday school classes, especially involving young people. It is most astonishing and joyful, when one witnesses lifelong emburdeners, open their eyes and smile in joy, sometimes after a half hour, or weeks, or months, or years. One of my favorite things.

The leader of the class I'm in lately gets it in droves, and is wiser than I am in a number of ways. We are needing a new crop of folks, because some have just moved away; pray with me?

 

[RandyK]

I don't like to be critical either, but at the same time there's no running from the truth. I just try to avoid being judgmental. Maybe that pastor had a lot on his plate in his family life. Maybe he was never really called and just doing his best under the circumstances. But whatever the case, if things are not right it needs to be fixed, and problems need to be recognized. People can fix what they refuse to acknowledge is even there.

Yes, the pastor has had difficulties in life, and is sincere in his ministry. It may be that he just wishes to confine his ministry to a small area, managing any opposition to his ministry by maintaining a tight grip on his control and leadership. Our church has had numerous splits and rebellions.

My time there may be limited. But I always keep my friends insofar as it is possible.

 

[Angelina]

1. What thoughts came to your mind in reading this study? (Is there anything that came to mind, or that you remember thinking as you were reading through it).

Yes, I remember a situation where I was asked to lead the worship because none of the team had arrived, so I did this with a church leader. We were doing well, and I felt that we were in unity in the spirit as we led people into the presence of God. Then I noticed him looking my way, and I felt an unusual spiritual connection. He was shocked because he thought we had connected soulishly, but we didn't. It was definitely spiritual and from the Lord, but he was sensing this connection through his own soul rather than the Spirit. It gave him the impression that it was soulish I didn't get a chance to explain to him what had happened, but I understood that if we were both worship leading in our spirit, this would never have been misunderstood.

2. For at least a decade now there has been a movement aimed at encouraging Christian youth to "Wait until marriage." Some opponents of it, however, have argued that the movement can be hypocritical, and that many who adhere to it have engaged in premarital sex at some point without admitting it. Do you feel such teachings would be more effective in accomplishing their goals if greater stress were laid upon operating in the supernatural gifts and walking in the Spirit? If so, how and why?

No, I don't believe so. Encouraging youth to wait for marriage sets a platform for a good marriage, even if the young people have not waited. I know of many who abstained after finding out the teachings of abstinence before marriage because they want to start their lives on the right path in Christ.

3. Both Christ and Paul gave teachings speaking favorably of celibacy, and Jesus even taught on the virtuosity of becoming a eunuch (Matthew 19:10-12). Do you think it should still be taught today, or do you think such teachings are going too far in today's society and thus outdated in a different context from New Testament times?

Yes, I believe it should still be taught today because the Lord and his teachings have not changed. His word does not adapt to accommodate the various generations. They remain the same, and we would be doing God an injustice if we did not preach the whole word of God. We are not responsible for what people do with it, but we are responsible for representing Christ wholeheartedly, which includes teaching his word.

4. Revelation 19:7-8 speaks of the bride of Christ preparing herself with "fine linen, bright and pure," which symbolizes righteousness and purity, and Revelation 21:2 represents the church in her final, glorified state, as being "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." What do you think it will take for the church to finally become spotless, and fully adorned in the beauty of holiness for the returning King?

A personal revival, and then a worldwide revival! The fire of God to come down and burn all the dross.

5. As an aside, for people who might be reading along and do not have a Charismatic fellowships to attend, and have little or no experience of the supernatural gifts yet desire to, what would your advice to them be?

Read the word daily; pray incessantly; worship the Lord even when things are hard; fellowship with other believers in a body or church that is Bible-based and spirit-filled and activate in the gifts; consider fasting on a regular basis.

 

[RandyK]

I don't know whether this fits in or not, but God used me early in my "Pentecostal" Christian life, perhaps because I had been raised a Christian. I was just new to the power of God.

In High School the schools in WA had just determined to separate out religion from our public education. But our school found a way to allow our own personal expressions by initiating, for a short time, "mini-courses," led by students themselves.

I and 3 others took it upon ourselves to teach a class on Christianity, perhaps only 1 of 2 in the whole school who did so. I taught on Revelation 12, as I recall. The class was full, and everyone was attentive as I shared my view on what Rev 12 meant. Suddenly, one girl in the class turned her back on me and started talking to the person behind her, and the unity of the Spirit in the class was broken.

I boldly spoke to her directly, in front of everybody, in the kindest, gentlst way I could, suggesting that she is free to go elsewhere if she isn't really interested in this class. She bolted for the door, and unity was restored for the rest of the session.

I view this as an operation of the gift of discernment--perhaps even a kind of prophetic spirit.. Sometimes boldness is called for in obeying the Lord--certainly not trying to please men. But the result was positive, edifying, and good.

This is how important it is that we operate by the Spirit, in my view.