QC and SG accountability (29/7/16)
Selwyn shared how many times in the distant and recent past, he had received impressions and even words from the Lord that had subsequently been shown to be true. And quite a few of us there also felt that we had similar experiences. So we said that, while these experiences can be an outcome of a close walk with God as we commune with Him, they can also serve as spiritual gifts of encouragement and prophecy to our brothers and sisters in Christ if the message or impression is directed for them.
However, we need to check those impressions against what Scripture teaches, and we also should check them with wise fellow Christians. We expect that the same Spirit will teach all of us and confirm impressions that He gives to one of us.
Eugene asked a question as to how we balance the injunction to take the log out of our eyes before we remove the speck from a brother's (Matt 7:4-5) while obeying the many many NT commands to care for Christian brothers and sisters. We talked about what judging (Matt 7:1-3) is not: not condemnation (with an attitude of moral superiority, without intent to help), but discernment (distinguishing between good and bad, or degrees of goodness and badness). We do see that right discernment can lead to a sanctified form of condemnation (Matt 7:6), but this can be difficult to achieve.
Wen Ai gave the helpful principle that we can stratify our care for others in circles of responsibility (c.f. Ac 1:8) where we start with our families, our small groups, then our colleagues and friends, before reaching out to strangers. This can help us discern who we should be investing our time and effort with to lead to God.
However, we need to check those impressions against what Scripture teaches, and we also should check them with wise fellow Christians. We expect that the same Spirit will teach all of us and confirm impressions that He gives to one of us.
Eugene asked a question as to how we balance the injunction to take the log out of our eyes before we remove the speck from a brother's (Matt 7:4-5) while obeying the many many NT commands to care for Christian brothers and sisters. We talked about what judging (Matt 7:1-3) is not: not condemnation (with an attitude of moral superiority, without intent to help), but discernment (distinguishing between good and bad, or degrees of goodness and badness). We do see that right discernment can lead to a sanctified form of condemnation (Matt 7:6), but this can be difficult to achieve.
Wen Ai gave the helpful principle that we can stratify our care for others in circles of responsibility (c.f. Ac 1:8) where we start with our families, our small groups, then our colleagues and friends, before reaching out to strangers. This can help us discern who we should be investing our time and effort with to lead to God.
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