Since a number of you inquired as to when I would be speaking in Wisconsin, I've decided to post this weekend's meeting schedule. Tomorrow we will continue with the series on the Holy Spirit discovering what it is that the gift of the word of knowledge and the gift of the word of wisdom truly are. For now, thank you to all those who continue to read this series, and if you are able I hope to see you at one or both of this Sunday's meetings.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Sunday November 13, 2011 10:00 AM
Hillside Assembly of God
1501 North Pier St.
Merrill, WI 54452
Sunday November 13, 2011 6:30 PM
Pleasant Valley Christian Center
W1741 Easterson Rd
Eleva, WI 54738
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 99
The Gifts Part 4
Words of Wisdom and Words of Knowledge continued...
Solomon knew in his heart he did not possess the requisite aptitude to judge over God’s people, or rule over them. At the time of this prayer he was a young man, yet he was mature enough in his thinking to realize that he needed wisdom in order to rule. So rather than ask for riches or wealth which could readily be squandered, rather than ask for the life of his enemies which would have been a selfish thing to ask for, rather than ask for long life which can become empty and void without knowing what you’re living for, Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge which he realized would carry him throughout his days.
It so pleased God that Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge, that not only did God grant him these things, He added riches and wealth and honor to the list of blessings He bestowed upon him.
Wisdom is something we can grow in, wisdom is something we can increase in, but the gift of the word of wisdom is something that must come from God through the Holy Spirit. Even the Son of God increased in wisdom, albeit in His early years, but it was an important enough point that it was included within the pages of the Bible.
Luke 2:52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
Moving on to the gift of the words of knowledge, one thing that it is not is a deep or profound knowledge of the Word of God obtained through diligent study. The gift of the words of knowledge is not, and cannot be the result of personal effort, or the result of diligence on the part of man. Since it is a gift, it is given of God; it is something that the Holy Spirit breathes into a chosen vessel, and not something that the man can accomplish through industry or exertion.
If we have indeed studied the Word of God with diligence as we ought, if we have meditated upon the Word of God as we ought, not for a day, or for a week, but for many years, and have accumulated knowledge of the Word and have perceived the deeper things of Scripture, it does not mean that we now possess the gift of the words of knowledge, it simply means that we were doing our duty in discovering Christ and the message of the cross through His word.
Yes, it is the duty of every believer to know the word of God, as is the duty of every believer to be diligent in presenting themselves approved of God. There is nothing more tragic than seeing professing Christians get stumped by unbelievers concerning certain Biblical truths. It is not something that happens once in a great while, but something that happens more frequently than we would like to admit, wherein men professing Christ have no knowledge of His word, and are unable to rightly divide it when they are called upon to do so.
From the ever famous preachers who attribute certain quotes to the Bible that were never in the Bible, such as the pastor who I heard say, ‘like the good book says, an apple a day keeps the doctor away’, or another who attributed Shakespeare’s ‘to thine own self be true’ to none other than Jesus, there are many so called representatives of the Bible who have no clue what the Bible really says concerning certain matters.
As I said, it is our duty to know the word of God, and be diligent in our study thereof, that we might rightly divide the word of truth, and present ourselves as workers who need not be ashamed.
2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
So to anyone that thinks they don’t have to study the Bible because when the time comes the Lord will give them a word of knowledge to put to shame those in opposition to their viewpoint, the Book that you’ve been putting off reading tells you that it is your responsibility to be diligent in presenting yourself approved of God, and to rightly divide the word of truth.
I can’t remember how many conversations I’ve had with believers who came up to me after church meetings, adamant that what I had said was not in the Bible until I would show it to them.
If you are going to talk about the Word of God, know what you’re talking about and don’t guess at it. Be diligent, take the time to read, to meditate, to understand and to accumulate the knowledge of the Word of God, and only when you have accumulated the requisite knowledge espouse on a certain topic, whether it be the seven seals, the seven bowls, or the seven trumpets.
No one can read the Scriptures on your behalf, no one can be diligent in seeking out truth on your behalf, no one can meditate on the deeper things of God on your behalf, it is you who must put in the time, it is you who must make the effort, and it is you who must be diligent.
Will God give greater insight if we meditate on His word, become diligent in the study thereof, and put in the time to know and understand scripture? Yes, because He is a good God, and when we seek Him we find Him, and when we knock He opens.
There is no such thing as a one sided relationship with God. We can’t expect God to perpetually attempt to draw close to us while we keep Him at arm’s length, nor can we expect Him to perpetually pursue us while we are constantly indifferent toward Him. If we truly love God, if we truly serve Him, if Jesus is truly Lord of our lives, then we will be diligent in discovering the entirety of Him in His word, and seeking out the deeper truths contained therein.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Words of Wisdom and Words of Knowledge continued...
Solomon knew in his heart he did not possess the requisite aptitude to judge over God’s people, or rule over them. At the time of this prayer he was a young man, yet he was mature enough in his thinking to realize that he needed wisdom in order to rule. So rather than ask for riches or wealth which could readily be squandered, rather than ask for the life of his enemies which would have been a selfish thing to ask for, rather than ask for long life which can become empty and void without knowing what you’re living for, Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge which he realized would carry him throughout his days.
It so pleased God that Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge, that not only did God grant him these things, He added riches and wealth and honor to the list of blessings He bestowed upon him.
Wisdom is something we can grow in, wisdom is something we can increase in, but the gift of the word of wisdom is something that must come from God through the Holy Spirit. Even the Son of God increased in wisdom, albeit in His early years, but it was an important enough point that it was included within the pages of the Bible.
Luke 2:52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
Moving on to the gift of the words of knowledge, one thing that it is not is a deep or profound knowledge of the Word of God obtained through diligent study. The gift of the words of knowledge is not, and cannot be the result of personal effort, or the result of diligence on the part of man. Since it is a gift, it is given of God; it is something that the Holy Spirit breathes into a chosen vessel, and not something that the man can accomplish through industry or exertion.
If we have indeed studied the Word of God with diligence as we ought, if we have meditated upon the Word of God as we ought, not for a day, or for a week, but for many years, and have accumulated knowledge of the Word and have perceived the deeper things of Scripture, it does not mean that we now possess the gift of the words of knowledge, it simply means that we were doing our duty in discovering Christ and the message of the cross through His word.
Yes, it is the duty of every believer to know the word of God, as is the duty of every believer to be diligent in presenting themselves approved of God. There is nothing more tragic than seeing professing Christians get stumped by unbelievers concerning certain Biblical truths. It is not something that happens once in a great while, but something that happens more frequently than we would like to admit, wherein men professing Christ have no knowledge of His word, and are unable to rightly divide it when they are called upon to do so.
From the ever famous preachers who attribute certain quotes to the Bible that were never in the Bible, such as the pastor who I heard say, ‘like the good book says, an apple a day keeps the doctor away’, or another who attributed Shakespeare’s ‘to thine own self be true’ to none other than Jesus, there are many so called representatives of the Bible who have no clue what the Bible really says concerning certain matters.
As I said, it is our duty to know the word of God, and be diligent in our study thereof, that we might rightly divide the word of truth, and present ourselves as workers who need not be ashamed.
2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
So to anyone that thinks they don’t have to study the Bible because when the time comes the Lord will give them a word of knowledge to put to shame those in opposition to their viewpoint, the Book that you’ve been putting off reading tells you that it is your responsibility to be diligent in presenting yourself approved of God, and to rightly divide the word of truth.
I can’t remember how many conversations I’ve had with believers who came up to me after church meetings, adamant that what I had said was not in the Bible until I would show it to them.
If you are going to talk about the Word of God, know what you’re talking about and don’t guess at it. Be diligent, take the time to read, to meditate, to understand and to accumulate the knowledge of the Word of God, and only when you have accumulated the requisite knowledge espouse on a certain topic, whether it be the seven seals, the seven bowls, or the seven trumpets.
No one can read the Scriptures on your behalf, no one can be diligent in seeking out truth on your behalf, no one can meditate on the deeper things of God on your behalf, it is you who must put in the time, it is you who must make the effort, and it is you who must be diligent.
Will God give greater insight if we meditate on His word, become diligent in the study thereof, and put in the time to know and understand scripture? Yes, because He is a good God, and when we seek Him we find Him, and when we knock He opens.
There is no such thing as a one sided relationship with God. We can’t expect God to perpetually attempt to draw close to us while we keep Him at arm’s length, nor can we expect Him to perpetually pursue us while we are constantly indifferent toward Him. If we truly love God, if we truly serve Him, if Jesus is truly Lord of our lives, then we will be diligent in discovering the entirety of Him in His word, and seeking out the deeper truths contained therein.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 98
The Gifts Part 3
Words of Wisdom and Words of Knowledge continued...
Since the gift of the word of wisdom is first on the list, we will begin with it, and discover what this gift does not entail.
The first thing that the gift of the word of wisdom is not is a source of help or a source of wisdom concerning earthly issues or daily life. Having the gift of the word of wisdom will not help you better plan for your retirement, it will not help you better manage your finances, nor will it help you better remember your spouse’s or your children’s birthdays.
We cannot confuse natural wisdom, or earthly reason with a spiritual gift, nor can we hope to receive a certain spiritual gift to help us in our earthly pursuits. Are there some people who are better at planning for their retirement than others? Are there some people that are better at managing their finances than others? The answer to both questions is a hearty yes, but this has to do with natural wisdom rather than the supernatural gift of the word of wisdom.
If we are lacking in wisdom however, and we are wise enough to realize that we are lacking in it, the Word tells us that we can ask for wisdom of God and He will give it to us. Once again receiving general wisdom from God, and receiving the gift of the word of wisdom are two different things, and we cannot blend the two together just because it might seem simpler.
James 1:5-6, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
So if we are lacking wisdom in any particular area of our lives, and we realize that we are lacking it, biblically there is a remedy, that of asking God for wisdom, in faith, with no doubting, and He will give liberally and without reproach.
God is glad when we come before Him in faith and ask Him for wisdom, it brings joy to His heart to see His children desire to be wiser in certain areas of their lives, and He gives the desired wisdom without reproach, as long as we ask it in faith.
One of the areas that I was personally lacking wisdom in was managing my time. No matter how early I would wake up, or how late I would go to bed, there were still certain things I had planned to do that day, that never seemed to get done.
I realized I needed wisdom in this area, and as the word instructs, I asked God for wisdom in faith, and in His gracious goodness He gave me the wisdom I was requesting in this particular area. One day as I was in prayer, I realized suddenly that little things were consuming my time, and at least for me it was an epiphany. There was no drastic change in the way I approached my day, because seemingly no drastic change was required, but little things like turning off my telephone when I sit down to write, only checking my e-mails once a day, having an allotted time of no more than fifteen minutes to peruse the news in the morning after my prayers, added up to enough time that I now regularly finish doing everything I had purposed for that particular day.
Because of this wisdom, and I realize that for some of you it is evident and obvious but for me it was not, I’ve been able to post something every day for the better part of the past two hundred days.
As I said, in retrospect it seems obvious enough, but at the time, I didn’t realize just how many hours of the day I wasted with distractions, and how difficult it was to get my train of thought going again once an interruption occurred.
Whatever area of our lives we are lacking in, whatever area of our lives we need wisdom in, we need only ask it of God in faith, and He will give it to us, however this is not the gift of the word of wisdom which the Holy Spirit imparts.
The gift of the word of wisdom is not a general gift, it is not for everyone and this is why Paul the Apostle is quick to point out that ‘to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge trough the same Spirit’. So while the wisdom of which the gospel according to James speaks of is for all who ask it in faith, the gift of the word of wisdom is something distributed by the Holy Spirit as He sees fit.
There is an example in the Bible of one who asked God for wisdom, and because he asked for wisdom it was granted to him. I speak of course of Solomon, the man of whom God said would possess wisdom and knowledge as none of the kings that had come before him, nor would any after him have the like.
2 Chronicles 1:8-12, “And Solomon said to God: ‘You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?’ And God said to Solomon: ‘Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life or your enemies, nor have you asked long life – but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king – wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Words of Wisdom and Words of Knowledge continued...
Since the gift of the word of wisdom is first on the list, we will begin with it, and discover what this gift does not entail.
The first thing that the gift of the word of wisdom is not is a source of help or a source of wisdom concerning earthly issues or daily life. Having the gift of the word of wisdom will not help you better plan for your retirement, it will not help you better manage your finances, nor will it help you better remember your spouse’s or your children’s birthdays.
We cannot confuse natural wisdom, or earthly reason with a spiritual gift, nor can we hope to receive a certain spiritual gift to help us in our earthly pursuits. Are there some people who are better at planning for their retirement than others? Are there some people that are better at managing their finances than others? The answer to both questions is a hearty yes, but this has to do with natural wisdom rather than the supernatural gift of the word of wisdom.
If we are lacking in wisdom however, and we are wise enough to realize that we are lacking in it, the Word tells us that we can ask for wisdom of God and He will give it to us. Once again receiving general wisdom from God, and receiving the gift of the word of wisdom are two different things, and we cannot blend the two together just because it might seem simpler.
James 1:5-6, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
So if we are lacking wisdom in any particular area of our lives, and we realize that we are lacking it, biblically there is a remedy, that of asking God for wisdom, in faith, with no doubting, and He will give liberally and without reproach.
God is glad when we come before Him in faith and ask Him for wisdom, it brings joy to His heart to see His children desire to be wiser in certain areas of their lives, and He gives the desired wisdom without reproach, as long as we ask it in faith.
One of the areas that I was personally lacking wisdom in was managing my time. No matter how early I would wake up, or how late I would go to bed, there were still certain things I had planned to do that day, that never seemed to get done.
I realized I needed wisdom in this area, and as the word instructs, I asked God for wisdom in faith, and in His gracious goodness He gave me the wisdom I was requesting in this particular area. One day as I was in prayer, I realized suddenly that little things were consuming my time, and at least for me it was an epiphany. There was no drastic change in the way I approached my day, because seemingly no drastic change was required, but little things like turning off my telephone when I sit down to write, only checking my e-mails once a day, having an allotted time of no more than fifteen minutes to peruse the news in the morning after my prayers, added up to enough time that I now regularly finish doing everything I had purposed for that particular day.
Because of this wisdom, and I realize that for some of you it is evident and obvious but for me it was not, I’ve been able to post something every day for the better part of the past two hundred days.
As I said, in retrospect it seems obvious enough, but at the time, I didn’t realize just how many hours of the day I wasted with distractions, and how difficult it was to get my train of thought going again once an interruption occurred.
Whatever area of our lives we are lacking in, whatever area of our lives we need wisdom in, we need only ask it of God in faith, and He will give it to us, however this is not the gift of the word of wisdom which the Holy Spirit imparts.
The gift of the word of wisdom is not a general gift, it is not for everyone and this is why Paul the Apostle is quick to point out that ‘to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge trough the same Spirit’. So while the wisdom of which the gospel according to James speaks of is for all who ask it in faith, the gift of the word of wisdom is something distributed by the Holy Spirit as He sees fit.
There is an example in the Bible of one who asked God for wisdom, and because he asked for wisdom it was granted to him. I speak of course of Solomon, the man of whom God said would possess wisdom and knowledge as none of the kings that had come before him, nor would any after him have the like.
2 Chronicles 1:8-12, “And Solomon said to God: ‘You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?’ And God said to Solomon: ‘Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life or your enemies, nor have you asked long life – but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king – wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 97
The Gifts Part 2
Words of Wisdom and Words of Knowledge
There are few things in this world that complement each other as readily or as beautifully as do the gift of word of wisdom and that of word of knowledge. Some have even said that the gift of the word of wisdom and the gift of word of knowledge are like twin siblings who grow side by side, work hand in hand, encouraging each other in righteousness and virtue.
No, neither the gift of word of wisdom or that of word of knowledge for that matter are as bombastic as the working of miracles, prophecy, or the gift of healing, but just as every gift of the Holy Spirit has its place within the Body of Christ, just as every gift of the Holy Spirit has a time and place where its use is mandatory and necessary within the church, words of knowledge and wisdom likewise have their place.
Perhaps it’s the need to be wowed, perhaps it’s the need to see the bombastic and extraordinary that makes many dismiss the beauty of the gift of the word of wisdom, and the beauty of the gift of words of knowledge. Life isn’t always about fireworks, life isn’t always about pyrotechnics, life isn’t always about excitement and adrenaline coursing through our veins, in fact most often, the most sublime and memorable moments of our lives are those moments of quiet introspection, those moments when the sun hits a sunflower at dusk just the right way, or when you inhale clean mountain air for the first time after many days of being in a smoggy city, or when you wake up next to the one you love and just watch them sleep for a breath.
Both the gift of the word of wisdom and that of word of knowledge are subtle gifts, the fly under the radar as the saying goes, but they are extraordinary gifts in their own right, and deserve our knowledge of them, as well as desire for them. When speaking of these two gifts in particular, we are not speaking of their natural counterparts, human wisdom, or human knowledge, but the supernatural gifts of words of wisdom and words of knowledge that come from the Holy Spirit. There is a distinct difference between the wisdom of this world, and the wisdom of God, as there is a difference between the knowledge of the things of this world and the knowledge of the mysteries of God. The first can come from diligent study, reading of books, higher education, courses and workshops, but the wisdom of God and the knowledge of the mysteries of God can only come from the source of sovereign wisdom and knowledge, God Himself.
Throughout our discussion of both the gift of word of wisdom and word of knowledge, we will be focusing on their supernatural aspects, and not on the natural ones, perceiving them as what they rightly are, gifts of the Holy Spirit for the edification and wellbeing of the Body of Christ.
Throughout this introduction I have emphasized the fact that the gifts which we will be discussing today are those of the word of wisdom, and the word of knowledge, because neither of these gifts entails the fullness of the knowledge of God, or the fullness of the wisdom of God. When one possess the gift of the word of wisdom, or the gift of the word of knowledge, they are given a glimpse into the wisdom and knowledge of God, a certain truth is breathed into them via the Holy Spirit, it is not as some say the fullness of God’s wisdom and knowledge residing in one individual.
The human mind is too frail and fragile a thing to contain all the wisdom of God, it is too frail and fragile a thing to contain all the knowledge of God, and as such we are given words of wisdom, and words of knowledge, glimpses and fragments that aid us in our understanding of the mysteries of the heavenly Father, and help us draw closer to Him in righteousness and true holiness.
Since most everyone has a pre-established notion of what they believe the gift of the word of wisdom and the gift of the word of knowledge are I want to begin by dispelling some long held misconceptions, and discuss what these gifts are not.
Why would it be important to know what these gifts are not?
Simply put, knowing the truth will keep us from being deceived, and knowing what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are and are not, will allow us to walk boldly in the calling to which we have been called.
When we are uncertain concerning spiritual matters, there is always a certain timidity, a certain reluctance concerning stepping out in faith, and allowing God to use us to the fullest. When we are certain however of what the gifts of the Holy Spirit entail, what it is that we have access to in God, then there is no timidity, there is no reluctance, there is no fear, because we know the truth of the matter and nothing will be able to shake us from the truth.
We have one truth to stand on, and that is the word of God. It is not men’s suppositions, it is not men’s opinions, it is not men’s conclusions that ought to be the foundation of our faith, it is the Word of God, and nothing else. Opinions fail, suppositions turn out to be wrong, but the word of God will remain true in perpetuity. We cannot place our trust in temporal things, because temporal things are fleeting, and often times they abandon us when we need them most. When we place our trust in God however, when we place our trust in His word, there is permanence there, there is continuity there, and there is no shadow of turning as there is in men.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Words of Wisdom and Words of Knowledge
There are few things in this world that complement each other as readily or as beautifully as do the gift of word of wisdom and that of word of knowledge. Some have even said that the gift of the word of wisdom and the gift of word of knowledge are like twin siblings who grow side by side, work hand in hand, encouraging each other in righteousness and virtue.
No, neither the gift of word of wisdom or that of word of knowledge for that matter are as bombastic as the working of miracles, prophecy, or the gift of healing, but just as every gift of the Holy Spirit has its place within the Body of Christ, just as every gift of the Holy Spirit has a time and place where its use is mandatory and necessary within the church, words of knowledge and wisdom likewise have their place.
Perhaps it’s the need to be wowed, perhaps it’s the need to see the bombastic and extraordinary that makes many dismiss the beauty of the gift of the word of wisdom, and the beauty of the gift of words of knowledge. Life isn’t always about fireworks, life isn’t always about pyrotechnics, life isn’t always about excitement and adrenaline coursing through our veins, in fact most often, the most sublime and memorable moments of our lives are those moments of quiet introspection, those moments when the sun hits a sunflower at dusk just the right way, or when you inhale clean mountain air for the first time after many days of being in a smoggy city, or when you wake up next to the one you love and just watch them sleep for a breath.
Both the gift of the word of wisdom and that of word of knowledge are subtle gifts, the fly under the radar as the saying goes, but they are extraordinary gifts in their own right, and deserve our knowledge of them, as well as desire for them. When speaking of these two gifts in particular, we are not speaking of their natural counterparts, human wisdom, or human knowledge, but the supernatural gifts of words of wisdom and words of knowledge that come from the Holy Spirit. There is a distinct difference between the wisdom of this world, and the wisdom of God, as there is a difference between the knowledge of the things of this world and the knowledge of the mysteries of God. The first can come from diligent study, reading of books, higher education, courses and workshops, but the wisdom of God and the knowledge of the mysteries of God can only come from the source of sovereign wisdom and knowledge, God Himself.
Throughout our discussion of both the gift of word of wisdom and word of knowledge, we will be focusing on their supernatural aspects, and not on the natural ones, perceiving them as what they rightly are, gifts of the Holy Spirit for the edification and wellbeing of the Body of Christ.
Throughout this introduction I have emphasized the fact that the gifts which we will be discussing today are those of the word of wisdom, and the word of knowledge, because neither of these gifts entails the fullness of the knowledge of God, or the fullness of the wisdom of God. When one possess the gift of the word of wisdom, or the gift of the word of knowledge, they are given a glimpse into the wisdom and knowledge of God, a certain truth is breathed into them via the Holy Spirit, it is not as some say the fullness of God’s wisdom and knowledge residing in one individual.
The human mind is too frail and fragile a thing to contain all the wisdom of God, it is too frail and fragile a thing to contain all the knowledge of God, and as such we are given words of wisdom, and words of knowledge, glimpses and fragments that aid us in our understanding of the mysteries of the heavenly Father, and help us draw closer to Him in righteousness and true holiness.
Since most everyone has a pre-established notion of what they believe the gift of the word of wisdom and the gift of the word of knowledge are I want to begin by dispelling some long held misconceptions, and discuss what these gifts are not.
Why would it be important to know what these gifts are not?
Simply put, knowing the truth will keep us from being deceived, and knowing what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are and are not, will allow us to walk boldly in the calling to which we have been called.
When we are uncertain concerning spiritual matters, there is always a certain timidity, a certain reluctance concerning stepping out in faith, and allowing God to use us to the fullest. When we are certain however of what the gifts of the Holy Spirit entail, what it is that we have access to in God, then there is no timidity, there is no reluctance, there is no fear, because we know the truth of the matter and nothing will be able to shake us from the truth.
We have one truth to stand on, and that is the word of God. It is not men’s suppositions, it is not men’s opinions, it is not men’s conclusions that ought to be the foundation of our faith, it is the Word of God, and nothing else. Opinions fail, suppositions turn out to be wrong, but the word of God will remain true in perpetuity. We cannot place our trust in temporal things, because temporal things are fleeting, and often times they abandon us when we need them most. When we place our trust in God however, when we place our trust in His word, there is permanence there, there is continuity there, and there is no shadow of turning as there is in men.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 96
The Gifts Part 1
It is a natural progression of sorts that from the advent of the Holy Spirit we would continue on to the individual gifts of the Holy Spirit. If the Lord wills it, and I feel led to continue this journey, after we discuss the individual gifts of the Holy Spirit it is possible that we will backtrack and do an exegetical study on the twelfth and fourteenth chapter of Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, but that particular crossroad is a ways off, and for the next few weeks at least we will be busy with our discussion of the gifts.
Having spent countless hours amassing all the scriptures concerning the Holy Spirit, the work of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, having been able to track the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout the Word from mankind’s creation onward, one thought that continually pops into my head, is why would God allow so much to be written on the person of the Holy Spirit, having possessed the foreknowledge that at some point it would all be included into what we have now come to know as the Bible, if His presence was to be a brief interlude in the symphony of human history?
We know that God is not the author of confusion, and we likewise know that He does not desire for His children to be ignorant of all that they have access to in Him. If we were no longer given to have the Holy Spirit, or the gifts of the Holy Spirit, why would so many scripture passages be dedicated to these two topics, and why would the Bible encourage us to desire spiritual gifts?
Seeing as Paul outlined the gifts in his first epistle to the Corinthians, tomorrow we will begin the journey of discovering these gifts of the Holy Spirit, discussing them in the order they are presented in the Word.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
Since the word of wisdom is first on the list of the gifts Paul lists, it is with the gift of the word of wisdom that we will begin.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
It is a natural progression of sorts that from the advent of the Holy Spirit we would continue on to the individual gifts of the Holy Spirit. If the Lord wills it, and I feel led to continue this journey, after we discuss the individual gifts of the Holy Spirit it is possible that we will backtrack and do an exegetical study on the twelfth and fourteenth chapter of Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, but that particular crossroad is a ways off, and for the next few weeks at least we will be busy with our discussion of the gifts.
Having spent countless hours amassing all the scriptures concerning the Holy Spirit, the work of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, having been able to track the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout the Word from mankind’s creation onward, one thought that continually pops into my head, is why would God allow so much to be written on the person of the Holy Spirit, having possessed the foreknowledge that at some point it would all be included into what we have now come to know as the Bible, if His presence was to be a brief interlude in the symphony of human history?
We know that God is not the author of confusion, and we likewise know that He does not desire for His children to be ignorant of all that they have access to in Him. If we were no longer given to have the Holy Spirit, or the gifts of the Holy Spirit, why would so many scripture passages be dedicated to these two topics, and why would the Bible encourage us to desire spiritual gifts?
Seeing as Paul outlined the gifts in his first epistle to the Corinthians, tomorrow we will begin the journey of discovering these gifts of the Holy Spirit, discussing them in the order they are presented in the Word.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
Since the word of wisdom is first on the list of the gifts Paul lists, it is with the gift of the word of wisdom that we will begin.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 95
The Advent Part 87
Besides the four principal pillars upon which the Congregation of God rested in its infancy, namely the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer, we see that the praising of God was also added to the list shortly after its inception. They did not do these things infrequently, they did not do these things once in a while, they did these things daily. Since we covered the four pillars in previous posts, today I wanted to focus on the praise of God and see what it entails, and why it is that we must daily praise God with all our hearts with all our minds and with all our souls.
Praise of God is a holy sacrifice, one that God receives with joy from the lips and hearts of those who are truly His.
Hebrews 13:15, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
It is by Christ, the ‘Him’ which this passage in Hebrews is referring to, that we can offer the sacrifice of praise to God, and we must do this continually. The continual praise of God and the sacrifice thereof is something established by the Holy Spirit, and just as the Holy Spirit has not ceased from among us, the need to continually offer up the fruit of our lips and the sacrifice of praise to God has not ceased.
The atmosphere of heaven is one of unceasing praise and worship to God, and knowing that our spiritual state is likewise heavenly we must continually be in His presence offering our worship and our praise to Him who is worthy.
Revelation 5:11-14, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”
If we were raised up together and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, then our praise and worship of God must ring forth just as the praise and worship of those in heaven rings forth.
Worshiping God is not a chore, praising God is not a chore, and these are not things that are reserved only for a particular church service, or for once a week as has become customary in many a believers’ lives. We worship and praise God continually, for He is worthy, we worship and praise the Lamb continually for He is worthy, and a state of worship and praise is the natural environment of a regenerate and born again soul.
It is impossible to miss the simplicity, originality, hunger and passion with which the primary church pursued God, and I fear it is these things that are missing in today’s modern church. Sure we have big beautiful building, sure we have political influence, sure we have programs and courses and workshops, but we are missing the passion and the hunger for the things of God, we are missing the simplicity of worship and praise that was the staple of the primary church.
When someone came to God, they took their place in the Congregation of God. Nobody had to fill out a membership form, nobody had to direct deposit ten percent of their income into the church account, there were no denominations there were no hidden agendas, and Christ united them all and made them one in Him.
There was only the Congregation of God where He was present, where He revealed Himself, where He did signs and wonders, and where He led. There was no system that was formed by the will, judgment or opinion of man, there was only God and the worship and praise of Him.
There is no place in the Bible where we are commanded to be members of a certain denomination, or to belong to a certain group. Every true believer is a member of the congregation of God, a member of the Body of Christ, and one can only be a member of one body. Just as my arm could not be the member of another body, a true believer can only be a member of the Body of Christ. When we place our denomination above Jesus, when we circumvent His teachings in lieu of the teachings of our church or our pastor, then we are not members of the Body of Christ, but members of that church.
Wherever man sits upon the throne, wherever a man is the head of a body and not Christ, wherever a man is the leading authority the spirit of dominance and religious politics is protected and even lauded. The authority of man makes a servant of someone that has no gift or calling from Christ, while at the same time one who has a gift and calling on their life cannot serve unless the man in charge gives his blessing or otherwise approves. This however is a dishonor to the name of Jesus, and to that which He birthed through His death, burial, resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit among us.
In every denomination, whether great or small, in every religious system, the authority of men is acknowledged and recognized, and men are constantly seeking the approval of other men. We however are servants called of God and approved of God, not through man, but through Jesus Christ and the Father who raised Him from the dead, for the true definition of a servant is one who obeys and serves his Master.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Besides the four principal pillars upon which the Congregation of God rested in its infancy, namely the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer, we see that the praising of God was also added to the list shortly after its inception. They did not do these things infrequently, they did not do these things once in a while, they did these things daily. Since we covered the four pillars in previous posts, today I wanted to focus on the praise of God and see what it entails, and why it is that we must daily praise God with all our hearts with all our minds and with all our souls.
Praise of God is a holy sacrifice, one that God receives with joy from the lips and hearts of those who are truly His.
Hebrews 13:15, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
It is by Christ, the ‘Him’ which this passage in Hebrews is referring to, that we can offer the sacrifice of praise to God, and we must do this continually. The continual praise of God and the sacrifice thereof is something established by the Holy Spirit, and just as the Holy Spirit has not ceased from among us, the need to continually offer up the fruit of our lips and the sacrifice of praise to God has not ceased.
The atmosphere of heaven is one of unceasing praise and worship to God, and knowing that our spiritual state is likewise heavenly we must continually be in His presence offering our worship and our praise to Him who is worthy.
Revelation 5:11-14, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”
If we were raised up together and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, then our praise and worship of God must ring forth just as the praise and worship of those in heaven rings forth.
Worshiping God is not a chore, praising God is not a chore, and these are not things that are reserved only for a particular church service, or for once a week as has become customary in many a believers’ lives. We worship and praise God continually, for He is worthy, we worship and praise the Lamb continually for He is worthy, and a state of worship and praise is the natural environment of a regenerate and born again soul.
It is impossible to miss the simplicity, originality, hunger and passion with which the primary church pursued God, and I fear it is these things that are missing in today’s modern church. Sure we have big beautiful building, sure we have political influence, sure we have programs and courses and workshops, but we are missing the passion and the hunger for the things of God, we are missing the simplicity of worship and praise that was the staple of the primary church.
When someone came to God, they took their place in the Congregation of God. Nobody had to fill out a membership form, nobody had to direct deposit ten percent of their income into the church account, there were no denominations there were no hidden agendas, and Christ united them all and made them one in Him.
There was only the Congregation of God where He was present, where He revealed Himself, where He did signs and wonders, and where He led. There was no system that was formed by the will, judgment or opinion of man, there was only God and the worship and praise of Him.
There is no place in the Bible where we are commanded to be members of a certain denomination, or to belong to a certain group. Every true believer is a member of the congregation of God, a member of the Body of Christ, and one can only be a member of one body. Just as my arm could not be the member of another body, a true believer can only be a member of the Body of Christ. When we place our denomination above Jesus, when we circumvent His teachings in lieu of the teachings of our church or our pastor, then we are not members of the Body of Christ, but members of that church.
Wherever man sits upon the throne, wherever a man is the head of a body and not Christ, wherever a man is the leading authority the spirit of dominance and religious politics is protected and even lauded. The authority of man makes a servant of someone that has no gift or calling from Christ, while at the same time one who has a gift and calling on their life cannot serve unless the man in charge gives his blessing or otherwise approves. This however is a dishonor to the name of Jesus, and to that which He birthed through His death, burial, resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit among us.
In every denomination, whether great or small, in every religious system, the authority of men is acknowledged and recognized, and men are constantly seeking the approval of other men. We however are servants called of God and approved of God, not through man, but through Jesus Christ and the Father who raised Him from the dead, for the true definition of a servant is one who obeys and serves his Master.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Friday, November 4, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 94
The Advent Part 86
Acts 2:46-47, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God had having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
With these two verses we come to the end of a long and arduous journey, one that revealed to us not only the advent of the Holy Spirit, but also the birth of the Congregation of God, the Ecclesia, or the Church. The Acts of the Apostles, from a historical standpoint, presents the Church at its inception, and the gospels and epistles are written to the Church for instruction, edification, rebuke and even correction.
Although throughout history men have attempted to insert themselves, their traditions and their ceremonies, the Congregation of God knows that the Word of God, the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit are sufficient for the salvation of man, for his sanctification, and for the life of the Body of Christ here on earth. We either doubt the divinity of Scripture, and the completeness thereof, or we acknowledge that Scripture is enough for the wellbeing of the church. We either believe the Word of God and submit to its authority, or as rebellious children attempt to find loopholes and justifications where none exist, in the hope that we might ease our burdened consciences.
In the beginning, the church was still tethered to the temple, and so they continued daily with one accord in the temple. Slowly but surely the Holy Spirit was maturing the first believers, growing them in knowledge, until the light of the New Covenant overwhelmed those practices which had been ingrained into their daily lives. What we must understand is that we must keep the teachings of the apostles, and not the practices of the apostles, thinking that only by going to temple will we see the presence and power of God.
The temple in Jerusalem was the harvest field of souls for the primary Church of Christ, not the place where they rejoiced and had fellowship. Here, in the temple the Disciples of Christ did not pray, nor sing, nor break bread, they did none of the things that constituted intimacy with God and with Jesus; they simply preached the gospel to those who were unsaved.
Acts 5:42, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
The temple was a work of the Old Covenant, a shadow of the living Temple of the New Covenant, and those who were born again creatures of the New Covenant went to the temple teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
It took a while for the new believers to understand the truth of the New Covenant, to understand that they were now living stones, they now made up the temple of God rather than a building of brick and mortar, and beginning with Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews, then to the Galatians, the Romans, and the Colossians we see how the Christians of the day came to understand the truth about the living House of God.
Hebrews 9:11, “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.”
Hebrews 10:19-22, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
The House of God of the New Covenant, the temple of God in which the Spirit of God dwells is no longer something made with hands, or of this creation, but rather your heart and my heart and the hearts of all those who worship the Christ have been made living temples, holy and undefiled unto Him.
Just as the first Christians continued daily with one accord in the temple, we must also daily continue in the temple of truth and love that is Christ Jesus. It is the Christ who opened the door to the Holy of Holies that we might be in the presence of Him who is and was and is to come in perpetuity.
When we are in His presence daily, when He is our delight, then all that we do we do with gladness, and simplicity of heart. Whether it is breaking bread, being a comfort to a brother or a sister, preaching the gospel, or extending a helping hand to someone in need, we do it with gladness and without any hidden agenda or ulterior motive.
Sadly too few today do unto God with gladness, and fewer still do what they do with simplicity of heart, having no other purpose in that which they do than obedience to the Father, and submission to His will.
The ‘what’s in it for me’ mentality has seeped within the house of God, and unless we get some sort of accolade, unless we get a plaque on the wall, or a mention from the pulpit, a special thank you applause, or some sort of recognition we drag our feet, and are slow to do our part in the house of God. May you be known for doing all things with gladness, and with simplicity of heart, knowing that the Father sees that which you have done in secret, and He will be faithful to repay you at the appointed time.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Acts 2:46-47, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God had having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
With these two verses we come to the end of a long and arduous journey, one that revealed to us not only the advent of the Holy Spirit, but also the birth of the Congregation of God, the Ecclesia, or the Church. The Acts of the Apostles, from a historical standpoint, presents the Church at its inception, and the gospels and epistles are written to the Church for instruction, edification, rebuke and even correction.
Although throughout history men have attempted to insert themselves, their traditions and their ceremonies, the Congregation of God knows that the Word of God, the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit are sufficient for the salvation of man, for his sanctification, and for the life of the Body of Christ here on earth. We either doubt the divinity of Scripture, and the completeness thereof, or we acknowledge that Scripture is enough for the wellbeing of the church. We either believe the Word of God and submit to its authority, or as rebellious children attempt to find loopholes and justifications where none exist, in the hope that we might ease our burdened consciences.
In the beginning, the church was still tethered to the temple, and so they continued daily with one accord in the temple. Slowly but surely the Holy Spirit was maturing the first believers, growing them in knowledge, until the light of the New Covenant overwhelmed those practices which had been ingrained into their daily lives. What we must understand is that we must keep the teachings of the apostles, and not the practices of the apostles, thinking that only by going to temple will we see the presence and power of God.
The temple in Jerusalem was the harvest field of souls for the primary Church of Christ, not the place where they rejoiced and had fellowship. Here, in the temple the Disciples of Christ did not pray, nor sing, nor break bread, they did none of the things that constituted intimacy with God and with Jesus; they simply preached the gospel to those who were unsaved.
Acts 5:42, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
The temple was a work of the Old Covenant, a shadow of the living Temple of the New Covenant, and those who were born again creatures of the New Covenant went to the temple teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
It took a while for the new believers to understand the truth of the New Covenant, to understand that they were now living stones, they now made up the temple of God rather than a building of brick and mortar, and beginning with Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews, then to the Galatians, the Romans, and the Colossians we see how the Christians of the day came to understand the truth about the living House of God.
Hebrews 9:11, “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.”
Hebrews 10:19-22, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
The House of God of the New Covenant, the temple of God in which the Spirit of God dwells is no longer something made with hands, or of this creation, but rather your heart and my heart and the hearts of all those who worship the Christ have been made living temples, holy and undefiled unto Him.
Just as the first Christians continued daily with one accord in the temple, we must also daily continue in the temple of truth and love that is Christ Jesus. It is the Christ who opened the door to the Holy of Holies that we might be in the presence of Him who is and was and is to come in perpetuity.
When we are in His presence daily, when He is our delight, then all that we do we do with gladness, and simplicity of heart. Whether it is breaking bread, being a comfort to a brother or a sister, preaching the gospel, or extending a helping hand to someone in need, we do it with gladness and without any hidden agenda or ulterior motive.
Sadly too few today do unto God with gladness, and fewer still do what they do with simplicity of heart, having no other purpose in that which they do than obedience to the Father, and submission to His will.
The ‘what’s in it for me’ mentality has seeped within the house of God, and unless we get some sort of accolade, unless we get a plaque on the wall, or a mention from the pulpit, a special thank you applause, or some sort of recognition we drag our feet, and are slow to do our part in the house of God. May you be known for doing all things with gladness, and with simplicity of heart, knowing that the Father sees that which you have done in secret, and He will be faithful to repay you at the appointed time.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
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