Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:19-26

19 Quench not the Spirit.  20 Despise not prophesyings.  21 Prove all things;  hold fast that which is good.  22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.  23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;  and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.   24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 25 Brethren, pray for us.   26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 

Tuesday, 8^th October 2024

A GOOD DEVOTIONAL LIFE

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:19-26

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

To operate in the Word of Knowledge and been accepted you need to have a good devotional life. That is, building a personal relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit in prayer and the studying of the Word of God. It is through taking time to be with God that we learn to recognize His voice when He is speaking to us. If we do not know His voice, we will never be able to respond to Him or exercise the gifts.

The importance of being established into the life of a church cannot be overemphasized. If we want to be effective in the Word of Knowledge we must be "rooted into" a church home where our gifts can be exercised, developed and proven that they are indeed the Holy Spirit and not some human ego trip. It is vital that our gifts can be "judged" by the Body of Christ. The manner of prophesying: let two or three propound, and let the others judge of that which is propounded, whether it is agreeable to the word of God or not.  If in this examination the Lord indicates that nothing was wrong, let them give him leave to speak.  Let every man be admitted to prophesy, severally and in his order, so far forth as it is required for the edifying of the church.  Let them be content to be subject to each other's judgment.

1 Corinthians 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. The word "other" is supposed to refer to the other prophets; and that the meaning is, that they should decide whether what was said was dictated by the Holy Spirit or not. It can also refer to the rest of the congregation, to compare one doctrine with another, and deliberate on what was spoken, and determine whether it had evidence of being in accordance with the truth. This is for those who have the gift of discerning spirits, and they were to determine by what spirit the prophets who spoke were stimulated. It is possible that those who claimed to be prophets might err; and it is the duty of all to examine whether that which was uttered was in accordance with the truth. And if this was a duty then, it is a duty now; if it was proper even when the teachers claimed to be under Divine inspiration, it is much more the duty of the people now. No minister of religion has a right to demand that all that he speaks shall be regarded as truth, unless he can give good reasons for it; no man is to be disqualified from the right of canvassing freely, and comparing with the Bible, and with sound reason, all that the minister of the gospel had said. The Scripture everywhere encourages the most full and free examination of all doctrines that are advanced; and that true religion advances just in proportion as this spirit of honest, and earnest, and prayerful examination prevails among the people.

CGDS HYMN 22: SS&S 844:

I COULD NOT DO WITHOUT THEE

1. I could not do without Thee,
O Savior of the lost,
Whose precious blood redeemed me
At such tremendous cost;
Thy righteousness, Thy pardon,
Thy precious blood, must be
My only hope and comfort,
My glory and my plea.

2. I could not do without Thee;
I cannot stand alone,
I have no strength or goodness,
No wisdom of my own;
But Thou, beloved Savior,
Art all in all to me,
And weakness will be power
If I lean hard on Thee.

3. I could not do without Thee;
No other friend can read
The spirit’s strange, deep longings,
Interpreting its need;
No human heart could enter
Each dim recess of mine,
And soothe, and hush, and calm it,
O blessed Lord, but Thine.

4. I could not do without Thee,
For years are fleeting fast,
And soon in solemn loneness
The river must be passed;
But Thou wilt never leave me,
And though the waves roll high,
I know Thou wilt be near me,
And whisper, “It is I.

 Prayers 

1.  Lord Jesus plant me in a local Church where I would be effective.

2.  LORD God Almighty, help me to build a solid relationship with the Holy Spirit to serve You better in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.