Dear Ones,
The need for deeply trained and empowered teachers of the gifts of the Spirit has never been greater. That is why we are soon to release our free six-month training in the gifts of the Spirit called the Holy Spirit Seminar Intern Teacher training program, the ‘Intern Program,’ again this fall. If you are interested in learning more about it, just respond to this email with your interest and we will follow up with you.
Love you!
PAUL’S FIRST WEEK – SEVEN MINISTRIES
Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Acts 9:20 NKJV
Most new believers don’t stand for God because they have not experienced Jesus Christ. Paul was radically changed in a short few days, from a murderous persecutor to preaching the One that he sought to persecute. Paul had a life changing experience with Jesus Christ, an experience which can and should be repeated in every believer’s life.
In most crusades, even of the most eminent of modern evangelists, less than 5% of those reached actually join a church. In the first century a biblical case could be made that ALL who got saved joined the church. What made these first century converts to be so radically changed? They personally experienced Jesus Christ.
Paul’s conversion experience can be broken down into seven essential elements, six of which he experienced in his first week in salvation, and all of which can be reproduced in the life of EVERY believer. Paul was saved, healed, delivered of demons, filled with the Holy Spirit, water baptized, received a prophetic word that gave his life direction and purpose, and after a period of time, got a mentor, named Peter.
SAVED
…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NKJV
When Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus, the first thing Paul did, upon recognizing the risen Savior, was to confess Him as Lord. Romans 10:9 in Paul’s life! But this was only the beginning! Paul was saved in his spirit on the road to Damascus. The process of the salvation of his soul would begin and carry through his life, just like it does for all of us. His body still remains to see its full salvation when the Lord returns and the dead in Christ are raised. Paul has departed and is with the Lord now, which is far better than being here on earth (Phil. 1:23).
HEALED – FILLED – WATER BAPTIZED
The Lord sent Ananias to minister three specific things to the new convert, and to reinforce a fourth thing, the prophetic word that Jesus had spoken to Paul on the road. The three things were healing, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and water baptism.
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. Acts 9:17, 18 NKJV
Then one, Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:12 – 16 NKJV
DELIVERED
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest. Acts 9:1 NKJV
We are not told specifically in the Word that Paul was delivered of demons. But we can infer from the record that Paul was released from those driving desires that caused him to persecute Christians. Many new believers, and even more mature believers, are still bound and shackled by insidious spiritual enemies that rob their peace and drive them to evil. The simple, godly ministry of deliverance needs to be in operation in every believer’s life. This ministry should be a normal part of every conversion experience. The arguments against deliverance ministry for Christians are always based on fear, not on the Scriptures.
THE PROPHETIC WORD
Paul got this word while he lay in the dust of the Damascus road. Jesus spoke it to Paul. Then Ananias confirmed it three days later in the house of Judas.
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. Acts 26:16-18 NKJV
Every believer can and should receive a personal word from God that gives direction and purpose to their lives. Do you think Paul needed to fill out a questionnaire to find his spiritual gifts and calling? The reason we have questionnaires is because nobody can prophesy! We need men like Ananias who can hear what God is saying and then prophesy the confirming Word, that agrees with the Word the Lord has spoken into our hearts.
THE MENTOR
Jesus must have chuckled when He gave Paul a mentor…
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. Gal 1:18 NKJV
The two men were about as different as two men could be. Peter was rough, unlearned, ignorant, a fisherman, a blue collar worker, profane in his language and good in a knife fight, a man of calloused hands. Paul had no callouses. Paul sat at the feet of Gamaliel, a learned man, a Pharisee, and as a member of the Sanhedrin, a ruler of Israel. Yet they were alike: Peter the denier, Paul the persecutor. Can you imagine the stories that were told during those fifteen days? The laughter? The tears? Peter had something that Paul needed. Perhaps it was an intimate understanding of the mercy, love and understanding of the Lord his God. Perhaps Paul’s heart needed to be forgiven. Who would be better to minister that to Paul, than Peter?
Every believer needs a mentor…
THE RESULTS
Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Acts 9:20-22 NKJV
When Paul personally experienced Jesus Christ, through salvation, healing, deliverance, being filled with the Holy Spirit, being water baptized and immersed in the prophetic word, he was radically transformed immediately. He changed overnight. He became what we Americans call a ‘on fire believer’! One fiery believer can touch (or torch) a multitude…
THE PRECEDENT FOR ALL BELIEVERS
There is no other conversion so fully detailed in the New Testament as that of the Apostle Paul. I believe it sets a precedent as to how every believer should enter into the Kingdom of God. The seven essentials are for every believer. The challenge to every minister to retroactively take every one of their fellowship through the seven essentials, and then routinely incorporate them into the conversion experience of every new believer. Your EKKLESIA will be shaken by the power of God overnight! If we can help in any way, please let us know. Love you!
Remember, dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…