Spiritual Gifts part 192: Affliction plus faith equals POWER.

Pastor-Teacher
John Farley
Sunday,
November 13, 2011

Spiritual Gifts Part 192: Affliction plus faith in the word of God equals POWER released.

What is discernment?

Mat 7:16
“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?”

Joh 15:2
“Every branch [believer] in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away [discipline]; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it [suffering for blessing] so that it may bear more fruit.”

Suffering is part of the plan of God for our life.

Once the pruning happens, I can look forward to a new season of tremendous spiritual growth, productivity and fruitfulness in my life.

This EVENT of affliction in our life, suffering for blessing, is designed by God to be the catalyst for many good things.

Several N.T. passages have this string of growth by stages. Each time the growth results from some form of suffering or affliction.

“He knows the WHY for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any HOW.”

Perfect = τέλειος
teleios; complete. completeness:
of mind and character, one who has reached the proper height of virtue and integrity.

Complete = ὁλόκληρος
holokleros
complete in every part, i.e. perfectly sound (in body).

holokleros :
no grace which ought to be in a Christian man is deficient.

teleios :
no grace is merely in its weak imperfect beginnings, but all have reached a certain ripeness and maturity.

So holokleros means that the ninefold fruit of the Spirit is all there.
 
teleios means that the fruit has come in in all of its fullness, that it is mature fruit.

Consider -take the time to change your mind.
Know – why we do what we do in Bible class.
Let - Let the Holy Spirit’s work in you continue.

Consider
Know
Let

The plan of God, as you allow it to unfold, it has its own power in residence to do all this!
The power is pre-packaged, progressive, and perfect.

It is the power of the word of God times the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and it is unleashed by faith, especially under adversity and pressure.

Faith in the Lord as our response to affliction releases the power.

 


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