Author: prophministries

Working of Miracles

Posted on by prophministries

Working of Miracles

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: King Without His Crown


The Holy Spirit not only blesses us with unique spiritual gifts, but also gives us opportunities to exercise these gifts in different positions of power to carry out God’s Will. Saul was the first king of Israel, but, after he ascended to the throne, his humble nature was replaced with one of pride and fittingly, he was replaced as king.

Saul learned of his destiny to become king of Israel after seeking out Prophet Samuel for information about his father’s lost herd of donkeys. Though Saul is described as very handsome, coming from a prominent family, stranding a foot taller than anyone else, and the most promising man in all of Israel, he questioned Prophet Samuel’s declaration that Saul would own all the wealth of Israel as king, challenging that he was not deserving of such an honor since he came from the smallest family, of the smallest tribe (1 Samuel 9:1-21).

Samuel anointed Saul with holy oil and after coming across a band of prophets playing instruments, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and he prophesied amongst the musicians. When Saul returned home, he told his family that Samuel had informed them that the donkeys had been found, but he did not to talk about his experiences with the prophets, nor Samuel’s prophecy that he would become king (ref. 1 Samuel 10:1-16).

Saul’s humbleness was seen again when Samuel gathers all the tribes of Israel so that a king can be appointed over them. After being chosen as supreme leader, Saul does not take the stage and arrogantly claim he deserved the position because he was head and shoulder above all men (ref. 1 Samuel 9: 2; 10:23). Instead, Saul was found hiding amongst the military munitions (1 Samuel 10:22).

Before Saul was anointed King over Israel, Prophet Samuel informed the newly crowned Saul that there would come a time that he would have a need for Samuel to offer sacrifices on his behalf at Gilgal, one of the sacred locations on Samuel’s circuit. When this time came, King Saul was to stay at that location for seven days, until Samuel arrived to perform the sacrifice (1 Samuel 10: 7-8).

Two years into his reign, before a major battle with the Philistines, King Saul gathered his men at Gilgal and waited for seven days as Prophet Samuel had instructed him. Since Samuel had not arrived by the beginning of the seventh day, Saul’s army became afraid, since they were greatly outnumbered and many abandoned him. In frustration, King Saul took it upon himself to kill the animal for sacrifice and just as he was placing it on the altar, Samuel arrived. When questioned why he directly disobeyed God’s command, Saul reasoned that Samuel had taken too long, too many troops had already left, and if a sacrifice wasn’t made soon, the Philistines would attack him there. This impertinence cost Saul his family lineage as kings over Israel.

Later, when Samuel instructs Saul that he is to lead an army to utterly destroy the Amalekites who had attacked the Israelites, after they had escaped Egypt, Samuel made it extremely clear that all humans and animal were to be slaughtered. Rather than follow this command, King Saul listened to his men and spared the Amalekite leader, King Agog, and took the best sheep and cattle as booty. When Prophet Samuel confronted King Saul as to why he rebelled and didn’t follow God’s command, Saul admitted that he feared the army and listened to them instead, making the excuse that the captured King Agog and the best sheep and cattle could be used as a sacrifice to God.

After his victory over the Amalekites, Saul set up a monument in his honor in Carmel (1 Samuel 15: 12), a literal sign of his arrogance. Saul’s self-worship is also displayed when he talked to Samuel concerning offering sacrifices to Samuel’s God, failing to claim the Creator as his own focus of praise (ref. 1 Samuel 15:15, 21, 30). Even after being told through Samuel that, due to his disobedience, he would no longer be king and that his position would be given to a better man, Saul dismisses his sin and is more concerned with Samuel honoring him before the elders of his tribe and the nation of Israel.

Saul was initially chosen by God because Saul did not want to be king. He didn’t think his family was prestigious enough for the honor and though he was physically above all the other men, when given established power over his countrymen, he shrunk himself away. But the pride that came from being king swelled him up and he became more concerned with his military men no longer following him, rather than following the instructions the Lord gave him. When told to totally annihilate the tribe that attacked the Israelites when they had fled from Egypt, Saul kept the spoils of war and paraded the captured enemy leader before building a statue to himself. Even when told the kingship would be taken from him for his disobedience, Saul was focused on maintaining the praise of men, rather than the approval of God.

Saul’s fall is still relevant to modern Christians in our current Age, since we are not chosen by God because of how tall we stand, but because of how humbly we bow before Him. Any offerings and sacrifices pale in comparison to obedience to His Voice. By maintaining the humble serving hearts we had when He promoted us, He will continue to give us more responsibilities, opportunities, and positions within His Spiritual Kingdom.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: King Without His Crown

Posted on by prophministries

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: King Without His Crown

The Holy Spirit not only blesses us with unique spiritual gifts, but also gives us opportunities to exercise these gifts in different positions of power to carry out God’s Will. Saul was the first king of Israel, but, after he ascended to the throne, his humble nature was replaced with one of pride and fittingly, he was replaced as king.

Saul learned of his destiny to become king of Israel after seeking out Prophet Samuel for information about his father’s lost herd of donkeys. Though Saul is described as very handsome, coming from a prominent family, stranding a foot taller than anyone else, and the most promising man in all of Israel, he questioned Prophet Samuel’s declaration that Saul would own all the wealth of Israel as king, challenging that he was not deserving of such an honor since he came from the smallest family, of the smallest tribe (1 Samuel 9:1-21).

Samuel anointed Saul with holy oil and after coming across a band of prophets playing instruments, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and he prophesied amongst the musicians. When Saul returned home, he told his family that Samuel had informed them that the donkeys had been found, but he did not to talk about his experiences with the prophets, nor Samuel’s prophecy that he would become king (ref. 1 Samuel 10:1-16).

Saul’s humbleness was seen again when Samuel gathers all the tribes of Israel so that a king can be appointed over them. After being chosen as supreme leader, Saul does not take the stage and arrogantly claim he deserved the position because he was head and shoulder above all men (ref. 1 Samuel 9: 2; 10:23). Instead, Saul was found hiding amongst the military munitions (1 Samuel 10:22).

Before Saul was anointed King over Israel, Prophet Samuel informed the newly crowned Saul that there would come a time that he would have a need for Samuel to offer sacrifices on his behalf at Gilgal, one of the sacred locations on Samuel’s circuit. When this time came, King Saul was to stay at that location for seven days, until Samuel arrived to perform the sacrifice (1 Samuel 10: 7-8).

Two years into his reign, before a major battle with the Philistines, King Saul gathered his men at Gilgal and waited for seven days as Prophet Samuel had instructed him. Since Samuel had not arrived by the beginning of the seventh day, Saul’s army became afraid, since they were greatly outnumbered and many abandoned him. In frustration, King Saul took it upon himself to kill the animal for sacrifice and just as he was placing it on the altar, Samuel arrived. When questioned why he directly disobeyed God’s command, Saul reasoned that Samuel had taken too long, too many troops had already left, and if a sacrifice wasn’t made soon, the Philistines would attack him there. This impertinence cost Saul his family lineage as kings over Israel.

Later, when Samuel instructs Saul that he is to lead an army to utterly destroy the Amalekites who had attacked the Israelites, after they had escaped Egypt, Samuel made it extremely clear that all humans and animal were to be slaughtered. Rather than follow this command, King Saul listened to his men and spared the Amalekite leader, King Agog, and took the best sheep and cattle as booty. When Prophet Samuel confronted King Saul as to why he rebelled and didn’t follow God’s command, Saul admitted that he feared the army and listened to them instead, making the excuse that the captured King Agog and the best sheep and cattle could be used as a sacrifice to God.

After his victory over the Amalekites, Saul set up a monument in his honor in Carmel (1 Samuel 15: 12), a literal sign of his arrogance. Saul’s self-worship is also displayed when he talked to Samuel concerning offering sacrifices to Samuel’s God, failing to claim the Creator as his own focus of praise (ref. 1 Samuel 15:15, 21, 30). Even after being told through Samuel that, due to his disobedience, he would no longer be king and that his position would be given to a better man, Saul dismisses his sin and is more concerned with Samuel honoring him before the elders of his tribe and the nation of Israel.

Saul was initially chosen by God because Saul did not want to be king. He didn’t think his family was prestigious enough for the honor and though he was physically above all the other men, when given established power over his countrymen, he shrunk himself away. But the pride that came from being king swelled him up and he became more concerned with his military men no longer following him, rather than following the instructions the Lord gave him. When told to totally annihilate the tribe that attacked the Israelites when they had fled from Egypt, Saul kept the spoils of war and paraded the captured enemy leader before building a statue to himself. Even when told the kingship would be taken from him for his disobedience, Saul was focused on maintaining the praise of men, rather than the approval of God.

Saul’s fall is still relevant to modern Christians in our current Age, since we are not chosen by God because of how tall we stand, but because of how humbly we bow before Him. Any offerings and sacrifices pale in comparison to obedience to His Voice. By maintaining the humble serving hearts we had when He promoted us, He will continue to give us more responsibilities, opportunities, and positions within His Spiritual Kingdom.

 

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

 

Spiritual Gift of Healing(s)

Posted on by prophministries

Spiritual Gift of Healing


 

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: Breaking the Nazarite Vow


The Holy Spirit is the source of our deepest connections with our Creator and empowers us to fully experience His Presence and operate in our spiritual gifts. We must be mindful of this great privilege and honor and not take the Holy Spirit for granted. Though destined to serve as a powerful Judge on behalf of Israel against the Philistines, mighty Samson instead tried to live on his own behalf and failed to recognize the ultimate role that the Holy Spirit played in his heroic feats, and lost everything, including his life, in the process.

Judge Samson’s birth was announced to his barren mother by the Angel of the Lord, instructing her to not imbibe any wine or strong drink, and to avoid any unclean things while pregnant. These restrictions, which included never drinking alcohol, touching unclean animals or the dead, or ever shaving his hair, would continue throughout Samson’s own life as a Nazarite, dedicated to the service of God. Despite knowing his obligations to abide by these restrictions, Samson broke them repeatedly to fulfill his personal desires.

While on their journey to arrange Samson’s marriage to a Philistine woman, which his parents objected to, a young lion roared against him, which he tore apart with his bare hands, after the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. Samson didn’t tell his parents; if they had seen this carnage, they would have chastised him for breaking the restriction of touching an unclean animal. After meeting with the woman he intended to marry, Samson came across the carcass of the lion he had killed and saw that a swarm of bees had formed in it. Samson again broke his Nazarite vow and reached into the carcass and grabbed the honey comb, which he ate and shared with his parents, but didn’t tell them where he had gotten it (ref. Judges 14:5-9).

During the wedding ceremony, it is heavily implied that Samson broke the restriction on drinking alcohol, since the word used for feast is mishteh, whose root shalthah means “drink” (Judges 14:10). Amongst their other drinking games, Samson issued a riddle with the reward of thirty sets of clothes and sheets. After having nagged him for the answer, Samson’s wife told the men at the feast how to solve the question, and in his rage at her betrayal, Samson went to the nearby Philistine city and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he killed thirty men and looted their corpses to pay the reward (ref. Judges 14:11-19).

After his wife was given to his best man (Judges 14:20), in a fit of vengeance, Samson caught 300 foxes, yet another unclean animal, bound pairs of foxes’ tails together with a flaming torch between them and released them into the Philistine’s grain stores, fields, orchards, vineyards, and olive groves, which were ready for harvest, setting everything ablaze. The ensuing destruction intensely crippled their economy and food production. In revenge, the Philistines killed Samson’s wife and father-in-law with fire, but Samson retaliated and viciously slaughtered many Philistines, tearing them apart limb from limb (ref. Judges 15:1-8).

The Tribe of Judah calmly captured Samson to ransom a peace treaty with the Philistines, but again the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him and Samson broke through the ropes that bound him, as they approached the camp. Though he had just enacted a terrible defeat against the Philistines empowered only by the Spirit, Samson grabbed the fresh jawbone from a donkey skeleton, another unclean dead animal, and killed 1,000 men, while using it as a weapon (ref. Judges 15:9-16).

Samson broke his final restriction against cutting his hair after the devious Delilah convinced him to tell her the secret to his immense strength. Since he had already touched many unclean animals and their corpses and the bodies of dead men, and drank alcohol, he reasoned that his strength had always been in his hair, since it had never been shorn. After being bound while sleeping and having his hair shaved, Samson was unable to break the ropes that restricted him, not realizing that God had departed from him (ref. Judges 16:15-20).

After his capture, Samson had his eyes gouged out and was ironically forced to do the work of donkeys by treading out grain while imprisoned. He was flaunted as a war prize during the Philistine’s religious ceremony, where in his final moments, Samson pushed the pillars of their temple apart, killing over 3,000 of the Philistines’ societal leaders and himself in the process (ref. Judges 16:21-30).

Though Samson had been physically blinded by his Philistine captors, it was his inability to see how his strength was reliant on the Spirit of the Lord and keeping his Nazarite vow that truly disabled him. Likewise, we cannot expect to walk in the full grace, promises, and blessings God intends for us if we do not obey His Word, honor the Holy Spirit, or try to fulfill the purpose He has for our lives.

 

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

 

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: Breaking the Nazarite Vow

Posted on by prophministries

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: Breaking the Nazarite Vow

The Holy Spirit is the source of our deepest connections with our Creator and empowers us to fully experience His Presence and operate in our spiritual gifts. We must be mindful of this great privilege and honor and not take the Holy Spirit for granted. Though destined to serve as a powerful Judge on behalf of Israel against the Philistines, mighty Samson instead tried to live on his own behalf and failed to recognize the ultimate role that the Holy Spirit played in his heroic feats, and lost everything, including his life, in the process.

Judge Samson’s birth was announced to his barren mother by the Angel of the Lord, instructing her to not imbibe any wine or strong drink, and to avoid any unclean things while pregnant. These restrictions, which included never drinking alcohol, touching unclean animals or the dead, or ever shaving his hair, would continue throughout Samson’s own life as a Nazarite, dedicated to the service of God. Despite knowing his obligations to abide by these restrictions, Samson broke them repeatedly to fulfill his personal desires.

While on their journey to arrange Samson’s marriage to a Philistine woman, which his parents objected to, a young lion roared against him, which he tore apart with his bare hands, after the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. Samson didn’t tell his parents; if they had seen this carnage, they would have chastised him for breaking the restriction of touching an unclean animal. After meeting with the woman he intended to marry, Samson came across the carcass of the lion he had killed and saw that a swarm of bees had formed in it. Samson again broke his Nazarite vow and reached into the carcass and grabbed the honey comb, which he ate and shared with his parents, but didn’t tell them where he had gotten it (ref. Judges 14:5-9).

During the wedding ceremony, it is heavily implied that Samson broke the restriction on drinking alcohol, since the word used for feast is mishteh, whose root shalthah means “drink” (Judges 14:10). Amongst their other drinking games, Samson issued a riddle with the reward of thirty sets of clothes and sheets. After having nagged him for the answer, Samson’s wife told the men at the feast how to solve the question, and in his rage at her betrayal, Samson went to the nearby Philistine city and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he killed thirty men and looted their corpses to pay the reward (ref. Judges 14:11-19).

After his wife was given to his best man (Judges 14:20), in a fit of vengeance, Samson caught 300 foxes, yet another unclean animal, bound pairs of foxes’ tails together with a flaming torch between them and released them into the Philistine’s grain stores, fields, orchards, vineyards, and olive groves, which were ready for harvest, setting everything ablaze. The ensuing destruction intensely crippled their economy and food production. In revenge, the Philistines killed Samson’s wife and father-in-law with fire, but Samson retaliated and viciously slaughtered many Philistines, tearing them apart limb from limb (ref. Judges 15:1-8).

The Tribe of Judah calmly captured Samson to ransom a peace treaty with the Philistines, but again the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him and Samson broke through the ropes that bound him, as they approached the camp. Though he had just enacted a terrible defeat against the Philistines empowered only by the Spirit, Samson grabbed the fresh jawbone from a donkey skeleton, another unclean dead animal, and killed 1,000 men, while using it as a weapon (ref. Judges 15:9-16).

Samson broke his final restriction against cutting his hair after the devious Delilah convinced him to tell her the secret to his immense strength. Since he had already touched many unclean animals and their corpses and the bodies of dead men, and drank alcohol, he reasoned that his strength had always been in his hair, since it had never been shorn. After being bound while sleeping and having his hair shaved, Samson was unable to break the ropes that restricted him, not realizing that God had departed from him (ref. Judges 16:15-20).

After his capture, Samson had his eyes gouged out and was ironically forced to do the work of donkeys by treading out grain while imprisoned. He was flaunted as a war prize during the Philistine’s religious ceremony, where in his final moments, Samson pushed the pillars of their temple apart, killing over 3,000 of the Philistines’ societal leaders and himself in the process (ref. Judges 16:21-30).

Though Samson had been physically blinded by his Philistine captors, it was his inability to see how his strength was reliant on the Spirit of the Lord and keeping his Nazarite vow that truly disabled him. Likewise, we cannot expect to walk in the full grace, promises, and blessings God intends for us if we do not obey His Word, honor the Holy Spirit, or try to fulfill the purpose He has for our lives.

 

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

 

Spiritual Gift of Faith

Posted on by prophministries

Spiritual Gift of Faith


 

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: Equipping the Saints


Before the Holy Spirit became available to all those who were baptized by fire, prophetic signs foreshadowed the Spirit-filled Era we live in today. Moses desired that all of Israel could have the Spirit upon them, prophesy, and heed the Voice of the Lord. Likewise, Christ equipped His Followers to go before Him and also continue His Work after He Ascended.

While Moses was leading the Israelites through the Wilderness, they continually found new reasons to moan and grumble. The constant barrage of complaints and critiques overwhelmed Moses to the point that he cried out to God “I am not able to carry all these people alone; the burden is too heavy for me!” (Numbers 11:14). God heard Moses’ pleas and replied “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the Tent of Meeting, and have them take their place there with you. I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people along with you so that you will not bear it all by yourself.” (Numbers 11:15-16).

After the seventy elders consecrated themselves and went to the Tent of Meeting, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to prophesy. When two elders, Eldad and Medad, also received the Spirit and began prophesying in the camp, a young boy ran to the Tent of Meeting to inform Moses and the other elders. Joshua, the Helper of Moses and future leader of the Israelites, became afraid, since the men prophesying in the camp were not ordained under Moses in the Tent of Meeting, which Joshua feared would lead to people challenging Moses’ exclusive leadership. Moses did not want sole responsibility over the Israelites and expressly desired “that all the Lord’s People were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!” (ref. Numbers 11:24-29).

Prophet Joel predicted the era when God would pour out His Spirit upon ALL flesh; and sons and daughters would prophecy, old men would dream dreams, and young men would see visions and His Spirit would even be poured out on the least of them (ref. Joel 2:28-29).

After Christ’s Transfiguration on the Mount of Olives, He appointed seventy of His Followers and sent them two by two before Him into every city and home He was going to visit and He gave them the power to heal the sick, preach the Gospel, and have command over demons (ref. Luke 10:1-20). A little while later, Apostle John informed Christ that they “saw someone driving out demons in His Name and told him to stop, because he was not one of the [70 Followers]”. Christ enlightened His Disciples that “No one who does a miracle in My Name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me, for whoever is not against us is for Us. Do not stop him” (ref. Mark 9:38-40).

Apostle John mirrored the same fears Joshua expressed hundreds of years earlier, that the 70 Followers would not have exclusive access to Christ’s Power. But Apostle Paul understood Moses’ and Christ’s desires that all should prophesy and develop spiritual gifts which would build up the Church (ref. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 12).

The responsibility of leading the Israelites was so great that Moses could not handle it on his own, so God provided a way for His Spirit to overflow onto others so they could help carry the obligation of governance. When Christ began preparing His Disciples before His Crucifixion and Ascension, and the roles they would have in leading the New Testament Church, He ensured they understood that many others not ordained during His Earthly Ministry would be working alongside them doing His Will. During Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fulfilled the prophecy that God’s Spirit would come upon ALL flesh.

Though Christ is the Ultimate Leader of His Church, we all share a responsibility within His Spiritual Kingdom. After our baptism by fire and being filled with the Holy Spirit, we were equipped with a spiritual gift to fulfill our distinctive roles in our ministries. God does not desire that we be overburdened, but has given us the Holy Spirit as a Helper and our Brothers and Sisters in Christ to assist us as we mature in our gifts and walk with Christ and work together to build, edify, and govern the Body.

 

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

 

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: Equipping the Saints

Posted on by prophministries

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: Equipping the Saints

Before the Holy Spirit became available to all those who were baptized by fire, prophetic signs foreshadowed the Spirit-filled Era we live in today. Moses desired that all of Israel could have the Spirit upon them, prophesy, and heed the Voice of the Lord. Likewise, Christ equipped His Followers to go before Him and also continue His Work after He Ascended.

While Moses was leading the Israelites through the Wilderness, they continually found new reasons to moan and grumble. The constant barrage of complaints and critiques overwhelmed Moses to the point that he cried out to God “I am not able to carry all these people alone; the burden is too heavy for me!” (Numbers 11:14). God heard Moses’ pleas and replied “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the Tent of Meeting, and have them take their place there with you. I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people along with you so that you will not bear it all by yourself.” (Numbers 11:15-16).

After the seventy elders consecrated themselves and went to the Tent of Meeting, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to prophesy. When two elders, Eldad and Medad, also received the Spirit and began prophesying in the camp, a young boy ran to the Tent of Meeting to inform Moses and the other elders. Joshua, the Helper of Moses and future leader of the Israelites, became afraid, since the men prophesying in the camp were not ordained under Moses in the Tent of Meeting, which Joshua feared would lead to people challenging Moses’ exclusive leadership. Moses did not want sole responsibility over the Israelites and expressly desired “that all the Lord’s People were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!” (ref. Numbers 11:24-29).

Prophet Joel predicted the era when God would pour out His Spirit upon ALL flesh; and sons and daughters would prophecy, old men would dream dreams, and young men would see visions and His Spirit would even be poured out on the least of them (ref. Joel 2:28-29).

After Christ’s Transfiguration on the Mount of Olives, He appointed seventy of His Followers and sent them two by two before Him into every city and home He was going to visit and He gave them the power to heal the sick, preach the Gospel, and have command over demons (ref. Luke 10:1-20). A little while later, Apostle John informed Christ that they “saw someone driving out demons in His Name and told him to stop, because he was not one of the [70 Followers]”. Christ enlightened His Disciples that “No one who does a miracle in My Name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me, for whoever is not against us is for Us. Do not stop him” (ref. Mark 9:38-40).

Apostle John mirrored the same fears Joshua expressed hundreds of years earlier, that the 70 Followers would not have exclusive access to Christ’s Power. But Apostle Paul understood Moses’ and Christ’s desires that all should prophesy and develop spiritual gifts which would build up the Church (ref. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 12).

The responsibility of leading the Israelites was so great that Moses could not handle it on his own, so God provided a way for His Spirit to overflow onto others so they could help carry the obligation of governance. When Christ began preparing His Disciples before His Crucifixion and Ascension, and the roles they would have in leading the New Testament Church, He ensured they understood that many others not ordained during His Earthly Ministry would be working alongside them doing His Will. During Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fulfilled the prophecy that God’s Spirit would come upon ALL flesh.

Though Christ is the Ultimate Leader of His Church, we all share a responsibility within His Spiritual Kingdom. After our baptism by fire and being filled with the Holy Spirit, we were equipped with a spiritual gift to fulfill our distinctive roles in our ministries. God does not desire that we be overburdened, but has given us the Holy Spirit as a Helper and our Brothers and Sisters in Christ to assist us as we mature in our gifts and walk with Christ and work together to build and edify the Body.

 

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

 

The Word of Knowledge

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The Word of Knowledge


 

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: All Who are Skillful & Wise-hearted


Bazelel was the first person specifically mentioned by God as having been filled with His Spirit. Bazelel was also granted a myriad of gifts and skills to fulfill his role as Chief Architect of the Tabernacle. But, he did not complete this work alone, and was blessed with a godly assistant and many talented artisans to work beside him. Even today, the Church cannot be built up but a few, but by the many hands, talents, and contributions of the Body of Christ.

Before construction of the Tabernacle began, God commanded Moses to take contributions from all those who had a “willing heart”. The necessary materials included valuable metals, dyes, skins, weaving material, wood, oil, spices, and precious stones. Every one whose heart stirred him, and whose spirit made him willing, brought their freewill offerings (ref. Exodus 35:4-29). There was such an outpouring of generously donated materials that the people had to be restrained from giving more (ref. Exodus 36:5-7).

God instructed Moses to appoint Bezalel, as Chief Architect, over the construction of the Tabernacle. He was filled with the Spirit of God, in Wisdom, in Understanding, in Knowledge, and was a master craftsman in carpentry, metalworking, weaving, stone cutting, dying, and incense blending. His Deputy Architect, Oholiab, was also a skilled artisan, but most importantly, both he and Bazelel were blessed with hearts filled with the desire to teach.

Though there was undoubtedly other talented workers amongst the Israelites, it would be the previous brick makers, imbued with wise hearts desiring to give additional gifts of their work to the construction of the Tabernacle who would be taught the skills of “the engraver, and the cunning workman, the embroiderer, in blue, purple, and scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, to work in gold, silver, and copper, cutting and setting of stones, carving of wood, and of any of those that devise cunning and artistic works” (Exodus 35:32-35).

Bazelel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whom the Lord put Wisdom and Understanding to know how to do skilled work, and every one whose heart was stirred to come help with construction, worked together to build the Tabernacle’s structure, the holy furniture and instruments, the priestly robes, the oil and incense for offerings, amongst all the other things God had instructed them to craft (Exodus 36:1-2).

After the assembly was completed on the first day, of the first month, the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle (ref. Exodus 40: 34-35). The Tabernacle was constructed by the freely given gifts and talents of the people of Israel and served as a physical space for God’s Glory to dwell. Likewise, the Church Body must be built up by our spiritual gifts so the Holy Spirit can dwell amongst us.

Just as there was a variety of materials and artisanal talents required to construct the Tabernacle, “there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Each one is a manifestation of the Spirit and given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).

Though Bazelel was an extremely impressive and gifted man and filled with the Holy Spirit, it took donations of physical materials and artisanal skills from all God’s People to construct the Tabernacle. Today, each member of the Body of Christ, whom should all be filled with the Holy Spirit, must contribute to His Kingdom through the application of our individual spiritual gifts. It is only then, that our families, ministries, and communities can fully experience the Glory of the Lord.

 

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

 

Spiritual Word of Wisdom

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Spiritual Word of Wisdom

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: From Prisoner to Prime Minister

Joseph, son of Patriarch Jacob/Israel, was the first person definitively mentioned in the Bible as having the Spirit of God in him. Though his spiritual gifts were emerging in his youth, they were not fully realized until God had placed him in many unique circumstances, which allowed him to demonstrate and develop his gifts, so he would be ready for the grand plan God had for his life.

Joseph was the son of “Rachel, who was shapely and beautiful and Jacob loved Rachel” (ref. Genesis 29:17-18). Even though Jacob had ten other sons, it was only after Joseph’s birth, that Jacob insisted on moving the whole family from where they grew up, back to his homeland in Canaan, so that Rachel’s son, Joseph, had the opportunity to collect his portion of inheritance (ref. Genesis 30:25-31-18). When Jacob came across his blood-thirsty brother Esau, with 400 men, Jacob strategically placed Joseph and Rachel towards the safety of the back of the caravan, with the rest of the family upfront, just in case violence erupted (Genesis 33:1-2, 7), so his favored son and wife had a greater chance of escape. Jacob was open about his favoritism towards Joseph and the presentation of his beloved son with an ornate coat (Genesis 37:3) cemented his brothers’ jealousy and hatred towards Joseph because “his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, [and] they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him” (Genesis 37:2).

When Joseph began having prophetic dreams and interpreted them to signify that he would be glorified over his family, his brothers and father rebuked him angrily, accusing “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us? What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” Despite demonstrating a rare gift, they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said and were jealous of him (ref. 37:3-10).

Joseph first demonstrated his other gifts of organization and management as a young man of seventeen, when he was tending his father’s flocks. Joseph’s brothers were not thoughtful in how they kept the animals, carelessly moving from one region to another, without informing their father. Their mismanagement was recognized by their father Jacob, who sent Joseph, the youngest of his sons, to check in on the rest of the older brothers and the flocks, fearing something was amiss, since Joseph had previously brought a “bad report” possibly concerning how they conducted their shepherd duties. These critiques and possible suggestions on how to do their job better, especially coming from someone so young and comparably inexperienced, infuriated Joseph’s brothers and filled them with a murderous rage.

This hatred for Joseph led to his brothers initially planning on killing him, before deciding that selling him into slavery would at least benefit them with some silver.

Joseph was brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, the Captain of Pharaoh’s Guard, who saw that “the Lord was with Joseph and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, so Potiphar put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned [and] the Lord blessed…everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care.” When Joseph is approached by Potiphar’s adulterous wife, he responds that “With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am” (ref. Genesis 39:1-9).

After being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph was thrown into prison where “the Lord was with him; and granted Joseph kindness and favor in the eyes of the prison warden [who] put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there…and all that he did, the Lord made it to prosper” (ref. Genesis 39:10-23).

While Joseph was in prison, he was put in charge of two of the Pharaoh’s officials, the Chief Cup-bearer and the Chief Baker, who both had a dream the same night and were dejected when there was no one who could interpret their dreams. When they shared their concerns with Joseph, he replied “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me” before explaining that the Chief Cup-bearer would be restored to his position in three days, while the Chief Baker would be executed in three days, on Pharaoh’s birthday.

Two years later, Pharaoh had disturbing dreams two nights in a row and told the reinstated Chief Cup-bearer how he had “sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt, but no one could interpret his dreams” (Genesis 41:8). The Chief Butler remembered Jacob who had interpreted his own dream, while in prison, and “Pharaoh sent for Joseph [explaining that he] had a dream, and no one [could] interpret it, but [Pharaoh had] heard that when [Joseph] heard a dream, [he] could interpret it”. Joseph correct Pharaoh, “I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires”.

After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, which predicted seven years of good harvest before seven years of intense famine, Joseph shrewdly suggests that Pharaoh “look for a discerning and wise man and put him charge of the land of Egypt, appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance, collecting all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by famine”.

Pharaoh recognized Joseph as “being filled with the Spirit of God [and] since God made all this known to [him], there [was] no one so discerning and wise as [him], so Pharaoh put [Joseph] in charge of the whole land of Egypt,” (Genesis 41:37-41). It was the first day, of the first month, the same day Christ would later start His Ministry, that Joseph is elevated to Prime Minister over Egypt.

Joseph first began managing his father’s flocks, before taking over Potiphar’s household, then the affairs of the prison, and finally, the whole administrative system of Egypt. Likewise, Joseph started by first interpreting his own dreams, then those of Pharaoh’s officials, before finally explaining Pharaoh’s prophet dream, having developed so much in his gifting, that he recognized that “the reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter [had] been firmly decided by God, and God [would] do it soon” (Genesis 41:32). But Joseph realized that he was successful in his efforts because the Lord made them prosperous, just as his interpretations came from God.

Joseph’s chronicles, which began with tending sheep in the pastures, saw him falsely thrown into prison, and ended with him saving Egypt as Prime Minister, is a reminder that God gives us opportunities through each of our stages in life to not only grow deeper in our trust in Him, but also develop our spiritual gifts and prepare for the next responsibilities and positions He has planned for us.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

Angels & Gift of Prophecy

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Angels & Gift of Prophecy

Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: Restore & Refine

The Holy Spirit is the source of our spiritual gifts and their operation mirrors how the Spirit works in the world. Just as the Holy Spirit’s purpose is to restore God’s People to Him and refine them to be more like Christ, our spiritual gifts also are designed to refresh the quenched spirits of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ and work together to build up and edify the Church.

The Holy Spirit is seen at the beginning of Creation, when “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” and the “earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the deep” (Genesis 1:2) and “by His Spirit, He beautified the Heavens” (ref. Job 26:13). When the Spirit is poured out on God’s People, He also pours “water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground” (ref. Isaiah 44:3) and “the desert becomes a fertile field” so rich it “seems like a forest” (ref. Isaiah 32:15).

The Spirit’s ability to construct and repair is not limited to the physical world, but was also seen in the deepest parts of men.

When Prophet Nathan scorned King David for his affair with Bathsheba, David cries out “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” (ref. Psalm 51: 10-11). When confronted with Israel’s idolatry, Prophet Ezekiel is told that God will give Israel “a new heart and a new spirit”, that God would “take away [their] stony heart” and “give [them] a heart of flesh” and put His Spirit in them (ref. Ezekiel 36:26-27).

Throughout His Ministry, Christ demonstrated how we are to use our spiritual gifts for the restoration of the afflicted.

After being baptized by John and filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus is led into the wilderness where He is tested by the devil. Afterwards, Jesus returned to Galilee in the Power of the Spirit, and declared at the Nazarene synagogue that He was fulfilling Isaiah’s Prophecy (ref. Isaiah 61) that “The Spirit of the Lord [was on Him]” and anointed Him “to proclaim good news to the poor”. Christ explained that the Spirit had sent Him “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recover sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (ref. Luke 4: 1-19). And “God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with power: and He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him” (ref. Acts 10:38).

Apostle Paul explained the purpose of the spiritual gifts is to perfect and equip the saints for the edification of the Body of Christ. By speaking Truth in Love and the effective operation of our gifts, we can join together through the unity of Faith, and the Knowledge of Christ, developing towards the measure of maturity and fullness of Jesus (ref. Ephesians 4:12-15).

Though there are a variety of gifts, their manifestation through the Holy Spirit is for the benefit of the whole Church (ref. 1 Corinthians 12:7), but we should still “earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire [the best] spiritual gifts,” (ref. 1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1) and especially “strive to excel in gifts that build up the Church”. Paul specifically desired that all could prophesy, because it served to edify, encourage, comfort others, which strengthened and built up the Body (ref. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 12).

Paul writes extensive thanks to the Churches of Asia because he and his companions “were comforted in [their] comfort” and that their “spirit was refreshed by you all” (1 Corinthians 16:18; 2 Corinthians 7:13; Philemon 1:7, 20; 2 Timothy 1:16). Paul simplifies these two major roles of the spiritual gifts in his letter to the Thessalonians and Corinthians, urging them to continue to “comfort/restore and edify one another” (ref. Thessalonians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 13:11).

The Holy Spirit fell upon men to renew them when they needed to be re-tuned with Him and sought to bring them towards the fullness of God. Likewise, our spiritual gifts must focus on restoring those God has placed under our care and refine the Body of Christ to be built up in His Likeness. By understanding these two major responsibilities, we can better operate and mature in our gifts and fulfill our purpose within His Kingdom.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Posted on by prophministries

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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Fruits of Spiritual Harvest: Seven Species

As the Israelites marched towards the Promised Land, God eased their fears about what kind of country they would be inheriting by describing the land filled with the Seven Species. These agricultural crops (Wheat, Barley, Grape Vines, Figs, Pomegranates, Oil Olives, and Date Honey) not only blessed the Israelites pantries but served as Prophetic Signs of Christ’s future relationship with those who would be part of His Spiritual Kingdom.

Wheat
Wheat harvest began with the Feast of Weeks/Pentecost, which all the Jewish males from around the world were required to observe. Christ explained to His Disciples that true Christians would be separated based on their fruits, alluding to the distinguishing between wheat and weeds during harvest. Likewise, those who bore good fruits would be collected and protected in the barn, while the weeds would be burned in the fire. Christ clarified that like a wheat kernel’s “death” before its production of fruits, so too would Christians need to cast off the physical to produce spiritual fruits. After Christ’s Ascension, it was during the wheat harvest/Pentecost when the first of Christ’s Followers were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Barley
Barley harvest began on the Feast of First Fruits which coincided and overlapped with the celebration of Passover. All men were required to present the first designated sheaths of barley to the Temple to perform a wave offering. As their households had been emptied of all un-sanctified grain before Passover, this presentation of the first fruits of their field was a display of faith that God would provide for all of their physical needs. Barley was the food of the poor but God performed several miracles to feed the faithful through this grain. Because Christ rose on the Feast of First Fruits, we too can be assured that we will not only have our physical needs provided for, but also conquer Death.

Grape Vines
Christ proclaimed that He was The True [Grape] Vine and His Disciples were The Branches. Apart from Him they could nothing and would become a Useless Vine like Jerusalem, which would be thrown into the fire for its unfaithfulness, like a grape vine which had cross-pollinated with a wild variety and was now producing only stinking rotten berries. But, if they instead abided in Him, whatever they wished would be done for them and whatever they asked in Christ’s name, The Father would give them to empower them in their charge to bear much fruit that would last. The Father was the Husbandman who would cut away any unproductive branches, but those which bore fruits would be pruned and purified so that they could bring forward even more fruits.

Figs
Fig trees were first mentioned when Adam and Even sewed aprons/tunics to cover their nakedness. Though figs were symbols of prosperity, they also represented the decadent religiosity that Israel fell into when they were flourishing financially. Christ likened Jerusalem to the barren fig tree which had hid its nakedness and lack of fruit with leaves. The cursed fig tree served as a warning to believers that He did not want useless presentations of pious displays and that all trees which lacked fruits would be cut down and thrown into the fire. The unique nature of fig trees to put out immature unfertilized fruits before developing leaves was also a reminder to focus on the production of spiritual fruits ahead of anything else.

Pomegranates
Pomegranates were prominently displayed along the hem of the High Priest’s ministerial robes interspersed between golden bells. This coupling of pomegranates and Lilies of the Valley was mirrored in the decorated crowns of the copper pillars at the entrance of the First Temple. The ironic pairing of pomegranates whose juice is known to stain nearly anything it touches and pure white Lilies of the Valley, were prophetic symbols of Christ’s blood which would conceal our blemishes and wash us white as snow. The hundreds of fruits within the pomegranates also serve as an intense reminder of the spiritual fruits we are capable and responsible for developing.

Oil Olives
Olive Oil was one of the key ingredients in many aspects of the Tabernacle and Temple worship services, but raw olives could not be used to create this ever important oil. They had to be heavily processed through pulverization before they could have their oil extracted and then go through a filtration process to create the “clear/pure oil of beaten olives” required to fuel the Tabernacle’s Lamp. The Early Church was likened to a wild olive branch that had been grafted into the domesticated trunk of Israel, giving them access to Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom. Believers would no longer be limited to anointing by olive oil, but could now be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Date Honey
Dates were the first fruits that the Israelites encountered after crossing the Red Sea, and the succulently sweet fruit of the 70 glorious date palms and 12 springs of Elim would have been seen as a source of salvation while wandering in the desert. This connection to salvation was seen in the waving of the date palm frond during the Festival of Sukkot/Tabernacles, as each year the Temple of Jerusalem was surrounded by tens of thousands of Israelite men waving date palm frond bouquets while chanting (transliterated: “Hosanna!”) asking God to save them and to send them prosperity. When Christ made His Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem for Passover, the adoring crowds recognized Him as the Messiah and instinctively found palm branches to throw before His path while chanting “Hosanna!” amongst His praises. Just as their forefathers gazed upon the high hanging fruits of the date palms in the wilderness as a source of rescue, Christ also wound hang to provide salvation and eternal life.

Though the Israelites understood the Seven Species to describe the richness of the Promised Land, we can fully comprehend how God provided them as prophetic emblems of what He would do through His Beloved Son. Just these fruits were the only acceptable offerings in the Tabernacle, only our spiritual fruits will be considered and accepted by God. Through Christ’s Sacrifice we need not fear Death, as we are guaranteed forgiveness of sin and Eternal Life. By Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we can instead dedicate our lives which were bought by His Blood towards the development of spiritual fruits.

 

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator