When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are always not sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they talk about the purpose and effect of fasting.

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Andrew Wilson speaks about the need for every Christian to understand and love theology.  Andrew is an elder at Kings Church in Eastbourne, England and he has written multiple books, including Incomparable and Deluded By Dawkins.

Scott Marques oversees the Newfrontiers churches in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. He is also involved in Foundations for Farming, formerly known as Farming God's Way, an initiative to help pull people out of poverty while sharing with them the love and power of the gospel. Bryan Mowrey got to speak with Scott after a session at Together on a Mission, a Newfrontiers conference in Brighton, England.

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Scott Marques oversees the Newfrontiers churches in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. He is also involved in Foundations for Farming, formerly known as Farming God's Way, an initiative to help pull people out of poverty while sharing with them the love and power of the gospel. Bryan Mowrey got to speak with Scott after a session at Together on a Mission, a Newfrontiers conference in Brighton, England.

If you are having trouble viewing this email, please click here to view it in your browser.

Scott Marques oversees the Newfrontiers churches in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. He is also involved in Foundations for Farming, formerly known as Farming God's Way, an initiative to help pull people out of poverty while sharing with them the love and power of the gospel. Bryan Mowrey got to speak with Scott after a session at Together on a Mission, a Newfrontiers conference in Brighton, England.

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Born by the Holy Spirit

Christians and churches are born of the spirit, led by the spirit, and empowered by the spirit. Zechariah 4:6 says it is, "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." When the church was born in Acts, it was empowered by a move of the Holy Spirit that led to mass conversions, extreme boldness, miracles, rapid church planting and societal transformation. We must never confuse the source and the means by which we (the church) fulfill the great commission.

Having said that, I believe there is a misconception concerning the role of good systems and organization within a church. Sometimes we erroneously think that developing good systems and organization is in contrast to having a dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Now there is a good reason for this concern. It is, of course, possible to replace a dependence upon the Holy Spirit for a dependence upon human ingenuity and cleverness. May we never forget that no advancement is made in the fulfillment of the great commission operating in the arm of the flesh.

Gifted by the Holy Spirit

However, we must remember that the way the church grows is through Holy Spirit given gifts in the church and one of those gifts is administration (systems, organization, etc). I believe to minimize this gift in a church is actually to work against what the Holy Spirit is trying to do in and through a local community. The Bible is very clear that we shouldn't think too little or too highly of one gift over the other. It is the job of the lead pastor and the eldership team to ensure that all gifts are being honored; all gifts are being equipped and developed and that all gifts are being fully deployed. A body works best when every part is working as it should...not overworking or under working. So a body goes bad when it produces too much or too little blood; too much or too little skin. The body goes bad when you put too much on a particular joint or muscle. Therefore, it is possible to over- depend upon a certain gift in the church and it's possible to under-depend and minimize a certain gift in the church.

Perhaps your church over-depends on organization and systems? Or perhaps you minimize and squeeze out this wonderful gift that helps people connect to what God is doing and helps people to feel cared for.

Our source and our power come from the Holy Spirit. But how God has decided to work is to use people through the gifts that He has sovereignly given them. As church leaders, we must learn to depend upon the Holy Spirit in this way and properly recognize, equip, and honor all the gifts He has given the church.

When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are not always sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they answer the question, "Why is public prophecy important?"

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are not always sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they answer the question, "What should I do when prophecy hasn't come true?"

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

Meet Terry Virgo.

This is the third of four parts of an interview of Terry Virgo. Terry is the founder of Newfrontiers and is based at Church of Christ the King, in Brighton England. He travels internationally encouraging apostolic spheres and is the author of many books, including God's Lavish Grace.
If you cannot view this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

Meet Terry Virgo.

This is the third of four parts of an interview of Terry Virgo. Terry is the founder of Newfrontiers and is based at Church of Christ the King, in Brighton England. He travels internationally encouraging apostolic spheres and is the author of many books, including God's Lavish Grace.
If you cannot view this video, please click here to view it in your browser.