The Lord Jesus did not allow the first church to do anything without first being empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5)

Yet these were the same disciples whom He had earlier sent out to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God, to cast out demons and to heal the sick. Even the 70 disciples returned with great rejoicing that the demons were subject to them in His name (Matt 10:1,7-8; Mk 3:13-15; Luke 9:1-2,6; 10:1,9,17-20).

What can we learn from this about God's qualifications for ministry?

They did it God's way, with extraordinary, world-changing results

The first church began with 10 days of prayer meeting in obedience to the word of the Lord (Acts 1:4-5;12-14).

That was why, when they had been filled with the Holy Spirit, they could powerfully preach the word with amazing results and move in many wonders and signs (Acts 2:1-4, 43; 4:33).

They knew the Kingdom they were representing

During the 40 days before His ascension, Jesus had focussed on teaching them the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Many Christians today do not know their King and the Kingdom. Christianity has become religion, not reality.

They had been with Jesus

Being in ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ was not so much based on head knowledge as it was on knowing the Lord. Peter and John were uneducated (without formal religious training) and untrained (laymen). But one thing was perceived about them: they had been with Jesus.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13 NKJV).

What gave credibility to their ministry?
The man who had been lame from birth for over 40 years was standing beside them, healed (Acts 4:14,22).

They had to be full of the Holy Spirit

Even those who waited on tables (the deacons) were required to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Stephen was also full of faith and power (Acts 6:3,8).

The early church had power because the Spirit gives life (2 Cor 3:5-6). The preaching of the gospel is not only about theology but also about demonstration of the Spirit and power so that our faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Cor 2:1-5).

In Mk 16:15-18, Jesus said that when we preach the gospel, "these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

We are not told to understand the works of the Holy Spirit but to just believe the word and see signs following. Only believe and we will see. The only way we can win nations for the Lord is by the Spirit of God (Zech 4:6).

The desire of every servant of God should be to know Him (Phil 3:10-11) and to live by the Spirit (Rom 8:14).

As men and women hungry for the move of God in our nation and the nations, let us come together, earnestly seek the Lord and learn to live by the Spirit.

WHY THE JESUS HEALS SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

• To release you into the supernatural
• To train you to minister in power
• To help you be strong in Word and Spirit
• To return to being the church as God intended it to be
• To bring down God's glory of the latter days
• To prayerfully prepare the church for a great and awesome revival that will sweep our nation and the nations, a revival that will be sustained and shall last till Jesus comes

For more information, please contact:

Tel: 6-06-799 6122
Fax: 6-06-799 8586
E-mail: info@jesushealsmi.com