Rhetorical questions that many ask themselves, but often do not give voice to
Why do we teach on the joy of the Lord in such a serious and sober manner? Does not His joy cause our face to radiate with the light of His countenance and by reason of His indwelling presence, cause us to smile? ((Ne. 8:10, Ro. 14:17) Are we so serious about our spirituality that we have become religious and legalistic?
Why do we ask God to touch the lives of His people, when we have abiding within the Spirit of the Living God (2 Cor. 6:16)? Are we relying more on our prayer request than our ability from God to minister “ Who has also made us able ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit…?” (2 Cor. 3:6).
Jesus didn’t tell us to ask God to heal the sick, but gave the commission to “heal the sick” telling us “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, freely you have received (the gift of the Spirit) freely give” (Mt. 10”8). Should not our lack of power reveal the state of our spiritual condition?
Why do so many Church leaders neglect to equip and release the saints for ministry as noted in Ephesians 4:12? God did not commission leaders to do the work of ministry, but to reproduce their ministry in others (Discipleship). Thus reproducing their ministry that bears eternal fruit with multiplication. To empower and release the saints in their spiritual gifts is to release Christ in our midst.
Why do we invite a prophetic minister (prophet) to occasionally come as a quest speaker, when God has established the office of the prophet in the Church as a prophetic shepherd to help equip and oversee the work of ministry?
Why do we wait until we are “led by the Spirit?” That might sound noble and spiritual, but Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is our “HELPER” not the doer (John 14:26). As we step out to do the will of the Father as “doers of the Word” the Holy Spirit is released to empower us to fulfill our purpose (James 1:22-25).
Why do we encourage people to “obey the word of God” (referring to the Scripture) while neglecting to equip the people to know the voice of the Lord? Jesus gives the promise that those who love Him, will obey both His commandments and His Word that He has spoken, telling us that the Holy Spirit will teach us these things (John 14:21-25, See also Deut. 28).
One of the greatest needs in the body of Christ today is training on hearing the voice of the Lord, which is basic for all Christians.
In His heart with love and great joy,
Roy Roden
