Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

Christ's Continuing Voice in the Church

are presently having a major impact on churches everywhere. Heart wor ship is emphasized-a major way to keep churches from formalizing so much that the Spirit is hindered. When spiritual people worship together in unity, wonderful spiritual cleansing takes place. The emphasis should be on worship, not just music. All types and styles should be utilized, especially the Davidic worship forms that involve the mouth (speaking, singing, shouting), the hands (lifting, playing instru ments, clapping) and posture (standing, bowing, dancing). 40 The Church is not a banking institution; it is a missionary enterprise. Church people should be seeking constantly to win their friends to the Lord and bring them to the house of God. Just as a business needs to advertise its products, we are the sales force of the Kingdom of God. Everyone is a missionary, regardless of where he or she lives. If the Church maintains a "harvest mentality"-a driving ambition to see souls saved and brought into the Church-we will experience yet another great deterrent to church death and help build the Kingdom of God. If we tithe for the support of the local church and give above that for the extension of God's work at home and abroad, a great spirit of faith and liberality will be birthed and maintained in the Church. The spirit of joyful giving encourages faith and expectancy. The gifts of the Spirit work liberally among people who are generous in giving time, money and effort for world outreach. Everyone is important and part of the team. Those with technical skills that may not be classified by some as "spiritual" are nevertheless essen tial. The Church is like a racing shell-one of those long, narrow racing boats propelled by people pulling oars. Every church member, when func tioning in the proper gifts and ministries (1 Corinthians 12), is pulling his or her oar. Today's Church needs a multitude of volunteers (not just paid staff members) who consider service to God and His Church a priv ilege, not an obligation. When a church is filled with people active in their ministries, worshiping God fervently, witnessing continuously and praying for the continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit, there is little danger of institutionalization. The prophetic ministry is at home in such an environment. 7. Encourage a Harvest Mentali-ty 8. Develop an "Every-Person" Ministry Concept

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