How does a fellowship of Christians submit to the Spirit?

[Mr. M]

Is there a clear apostolic doctrine as to how this accomplished?

Any direct experiences?

[grahampaul]

13 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

Is there a clear apostolic doctrine as to how this accomplished?

Any direct experiences?

not usre how you mean" submit to"

[Mr. M]

22 minutes ago, grahampaul said:

not usre how you mean" submit to"

submit to = obey. Let's say you are in men's group and you are seeking a vision

for how the Lord can use your group, how do you seek his input? Prayer, I assume

would be a start. Do you receive words of knowledge from the Lord in your meetings?

That kind of thing.

1 Corinthians 12:

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word

of knowledge through the same Spirit.

[grahampaul]

47 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

submit to = obey. Let's say you are in men's group and you are seeking a vision

for how the Lord can use your group, how do you seek his input? Prayer, I assume

would be a start. Do you receive words of knowledge from the Lord in your meetings?

That kind of thing.

1 Corinthians 12:

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word

of knowledge through the same Spirit.

 

i tend to seek fellowship where tongues and interpretation are spoken,the nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit being believed in.

visions i have had ,

bless

[Marilyn C]

2 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Is there a clear apostolic doctrine as to how this accomplished?

Any direct experiences?

Hi MM,

Good point for discussion. Now the word `obey` in the Greek, means to listen to. Thus a person needs to listen and weigh up whether what someone is saying is God`s word. Otherwise just to obey like a robot is not scriptural. we are all under Christ and our peers and/or leaders are alongside us. See how the Apostle Paul behaved, - like a nursing mother and a caring father. (1 Thess. 2: 7 & 11) 

In a group there needs to be recognition of each person`s gift in the Lord and the appreciation of that. It is a two-way reception. If not then it becomes control. 

[Mr. M]

35 minutes ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi MM,

Good point for discussion. Now the word `obey` in the Greek, means to listen to. Thus a person needs to listen and weigh up whether what someone is saying is God`s word. Otherwise just to obey like a robot is not scriptural. we are all under Christ and our peers and/or leaders are alongside us. See how the Apostle Paul behaved, - like a nursing mother and a caring father. (1 Thess. 2: 7 & 11) 

In a group there needs to be recognition of each person`s gift in the Lord and the appreciation of that. It is a two-way reception. If not then it becomes control. 

Here is a favorite of mine, in full agreement with your assessment.

2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we have dominion over your faith,

but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

That is the model of leadership. Here is Peter's take.

1 Peter 5:

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of

the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 

2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, 

not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 

3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 

4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory

that does not fade away.

Beautiful! The crown of glory that never fades! Why risk that for a temporary benefit?

[Marathoner]

I share the following as an example.

It's not a complicated matter. Simply put, when the Lord bids me to do something --- for example, join a group --- then that's what I do. It's not a work of man. 

When the Lord tells me to do a certain thing, He declares what shall come to pass before I take the first step. In declaring what will unfold, the Spirit instructs me regarding what it is I must do. 

When I arrive at that place which the Lord commanded me to go, I witness everything which the Spirit spoke unfold according to His every word; throughout it all I occupy myself with His commandment, doing what He told me to do. 

I struggled greatly with this in the beginning, my friends. I didn't grasp the fulness of what the Lord meant when I was in the shadow of death and He said, I restore what was taken from you in a measure far exceeding what you possessed before. Nothing will be the same; you shall never walk in ignorance of My purpose and will. I have shared how the Lord sent me to a tiny assembly of 13 people and before I went to them, He opened a vision declaring what would happen when I arrived. 

After my adopted mother passed and the Lord took her, the Spirit spoke the moment her heart beat for the last time. I was devastated and the Lord told me not to be afraid; He declared what would come to pass the very next day for I was overwhelmed and didn't know what to do. The Lord said that He would send an army of helpers to the front gate after sunrise and before the sun set, I would discharge my duty in a manner pleasing to Him. That's exactly what happened: a veritable army of people from the village appeared at the gate after sunrise, eager to help me carry out my mother's wishes. 

After sunset, the Lord called to me out into the land. He brought to mind that dream which He sent three months before He took the woman whom I loved dearly and served in His name; He reminded me that when I depart the land, I would never return. The Lord then declared where He was sending me: to that city I despised, which is where I have been for many years now. He spoke, revealing all that would come to pass when I came to the door of this organization which operates a transitional housing shelter for the homeless. I would come to this place and volunteer; I would do according to my custom which is to remain unseen, but He would incline their hearts toward me. They would favor me and honor me greatly, for this pleased the Lord. 

When the Lord desires for His servant to go here or there, then He speaks to His servant delivering the commandment; whatever the Lord desires for His servant to do, He explains to His servant as it pleases Him. We witness examples of this very thing in the scriptures; for example, when the Lord sent Ananias to Paul in Damascus. 

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” (Acts 9:10-12 NASB)

It's simple. 

Edited January 31, 2023 by Marathoner
typo

[Keturah 123]

 

I am thankful when I first truly came to know the Lord that he led me into a faith that believed in all God's fullness. Pentecostal here.

There is a time for everything and it must be in his will.

The Holy Spirit came AFTER Christ finished and accomplished SALVATION for all of mankind, those that will believe. God is NEVER out of time, nor out of what he wills.

So too must EACH INDIVIDUAL be in God's time & his will. 

All the body should work together as one, not some thinking " I'll go this way,or another I'll go that way"! We are to be of the same mind & same accord.

Now, NOT ALL that attend a church, faith, worship ect. are of the body of Christ. True followers, the obedient, those under subjection & those that are overcoming the flesh daily will be prepared to SUBMIT TO THE SPIRIT. Submission is giving another dominance or control over.

If we live by the Spirit & are led by the Spirit, then are we the children of God !

 

[Marathoner]

1 hour ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi MM,

Good point for discussion. Now the word `obey` in the Greek, means to listen to. Thus a person needs to listen and weigh up whether what someone is saying is God`s word. Otherwise just to obey like a robot is not scriptural. we are all under Christ and our peers and/or leaders are alongside us. See how the Apostle Paul behaved, - like a nursing mother and a caring father. (1 Thess. 2: 7 & 11) 

In a group there needs to be recognition of each person`s gift in the Lord and the appreciation of that. It is a two-way reception. If not then it becomes control. 

Indeed. As for that experience which @Mr. M is inquiring about, I have witnessed two things:

The work of the Lord;
The works of zealous men who strive to replicate the above in vain. 

When the Lord calls us together, then we arrive to find others who are likewise called by Him. It appears spontaneous to our eyes but rest assured, it is most certainly not. One may know about the others being called; another might say, "the Lord told me to come here," and so forth. 

As for that vision, the Lord provides whatever He desires as it pleases Him. I'm free to go wherever I please for the Lord doesn't command my every move; if I desire to visit a certain place, then I will. I have attended "men's meetings" which were the work of the Lord, and I have also witnessed men's meetings which were the design of zealous men. 

This is why each of us ought to occupy ourselves with serving the Lord wherever we happen to be, waiting upon His voice alone. I know that this runs afoul of the designs of zealous men who seek to organize and schedule everything according to plan; that is the structure under which many churches I've visited operate, and why I don't darken their doors unless the Lord sends me there. Truth be told, the Spirit sends me out on these streets almost daily, but I have yet to visit a church in this city. I know their works, and I'm only interested in applying myself to whatever the Lord requires of me here and now. The Spirit of the Lord never fails to make that known, and so I put my trust in Him to the exclusion of all else. 

I prefer a meeting of brethren at a food bank over a choreographed program of sitting down... standing up... sitting down... heads bowed, eyes closed!... and so on. There are more constructive things to do for the kingdom, yes?

[Waggles]

18 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Is there a clear apostolic doctrine as to how this accomplished?

Any direct experiences?

1: being actually Spirit-filled is imperative this allows for

2: praying in tongues - praying in the Holy Spirit > which allows for a disciple to put aside their intellect (natural mind) and allow the Spirit of God and our own God-given spirit to pray directly to the throne of grace. This builds up faith and submission to the will of God.

3: Understanding comes from patience and faithfulness. We grow in spiritual experience and learn to to prove things, how to test, how to discern - but more importantly what to pray for. 

4: Many saints still only pray for their wants and needs. But as we mature and become more Christlike, we learn to pray for spiritual growth and perfection, which comes from seeking to do the will of our Father while we serve the gospel.

5: Exercising the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives helps us to be open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed to the saints - the ekklesia - as we have need for such - 

1Cor 12:1  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 
2  You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 
3  Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 
4  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 
5  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 
6  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 
7  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 
8  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 
9  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 
10  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to discerning of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 
11  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Quench not the Spirit.