Your relationship with GOD is personal in that no one else can believe for you or worship for you. Each of those requires a personal knowing of GOD from our own heart. However, getting to that place and remaining in that place, by GOD’s design, involves the whole body of Christ. Understand, for the maturing of the church, Christ has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell within us personally to lead and guide us into all truth, but that is not to the exclusion of the fivefold ministry for the perfecting of that revealed truth through pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelist, and bishops.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation… (2 Peter 1:19-20 NKJV)
By prophecy, this scripture is referring to the gift of communicating and enforcing revealed truth. When anyone speaks about GOD revealing something to them, they are declaring revelation from GOD and that information is subject to spiritual scrutiny by the body of Christ to ensure no harm comes to the heritage and inheritance of GOD. The validation of revelation from GOD is not based on strong feelings but biblical precedence and confirmation by holy ministers of Christ. I have heard many people talk about their own truth and understanding given them of GOD and I tell you that many people have become a cult of one. The plan of Satan is to divide us all into as many factions as possible and one of his darkest achievements is the development of these cults of one person. If you are a person that only trusts yourself to affirm revelations from GOD, then you are a prime candidate for delusion.
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14 KJV)
For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. (Proverbs 24:6 KJV)
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. (Proverbs 21:2 KJV)
For his own safety and the safety of those he influences, a man should at least entertain the counsel of another who has a demonstrated history of walking in the faith of Christ. This counselor need not be perfect but at least has demonstrated a consistent lifestyle of humbly submitting to the truth of GOD’s word. This is important because whether we want to accept it or not, we are responsible for how our lives affect others. This responsibility includes our inactivity as well as those things we actively do, it also includes what we say as well as what we do not say, and all of these are reflections of the beliefs and the unbelief in our heart.
The Lord created the human body with the intent to use it as an example of how interrelated our lives are to one another. There is not one part of the body that acts totally independent of another. When people say their relationship with GOD is personal in reference to what they believe and understand, they have taken a position against the truth set forth by Christ, who also made all things. Read John 17 for a record of the unity which Christ expects of His followers. To be identified with the life that is in Christ is to surrender our individualism. As the body of Christ, we only thrive as we acknowledge our interdependence on one another, since the power and revelation of GOD has been established as a commonwealth shared through the single body of His only begotten son, where the mind of Christ is a single consciousness.
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-7 NKJV)
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