6. GUIDANCE BY SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Guidance through spiritual gift is possible, but discrimination must be used. This will become understandable by close study of the examples recorded in the book of Acts.

Acts 11:27-30 "And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul." (KJV)

The gift of the Holy Spirit, operating through Agabus, was a word of wisdom, showing hard times ahead. This revealing a great famine beforehand was a true word proved historically which did happen in the days of Claudius Caesar.

The disciples were:

	Led into providing for the needs of brethren beyond their immediate locality.
	Led into co-operation with God Himself in fulfilling His purpose.
	Led by inspiration of the Spirit into self-sacrifice. In this they were emulating Christ. (Acts 11:26 ).
	Led into practical union with the whole church, Gentiles happily providing for their brother Jews in the spirit of Jesus.
	Led by the Spirit into practising willing giving. "Each according to his ability" (Acts 11:29 ).
	Led to understand God's concern for His suffering church.

God can be trusted - He is faithful in your situation. Gifts of the Spirit used at the highest level are for the benefit of the people of God as a whole.

Acts 13:1-4, describes the commencement of the first missionary enterprise of the Early Church.

Understand that it was not the calling of them to become missionaries, but to be fully set apart to that calling. Paul was commissioned from his conversion (Acts 9:15; 22:21 ). He was a chosen vessel to bear the name of the Lord Jesus before the Gentiles. This word of the Spirit indicated it was time to go further afield than the radius reachable from Antioch, and to be wholly given to missionary work.

Paul's responded to his calling from the day of his conversion. Immediately he actively witnessed (Acts 9:22 ). He was ministering some three years between his conversion and his trip to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26; Galatians 1:17 ). Upon learning of a plot on his life (Acts 9:29 ) the brethren got him to return to his home in Tarsus.

Barnabas sought him out to help at Antioch (Acts 11:25-26 ). Antioch became the centre of Gentile evangelisation, in which Paul and Barnabas were the active missionaries. It is possible that Paul's mention of ministry in "the region of Syria and Cilicia" (Galatians 1:21 ) took place from Antioch. Acts 15:23 speaks of Gentile churches in Antioch, Syria, Cilicia. Had Paul departed from Tarsus, then Cilicia would have been mentioned first.

	They knew that the ministry of Barnabas and Saul was already a proven pioneer ministry.
	The Holy Spirit used established prophets with proven and accepted gift, to give the word.
	That what was said, fitted into place in that present forward move of God.
	These things bore witness to the reality of the message and led to obedience to the voice of the Spirit.

By the gifts of the Spirit chosen men were sent forth with the blessing and support of the local church. It was undoubtedly the will of God. It found perfect acceptance and obedience with Paul and Barnabas.

During Paul's journey to Jerusalem, that resulted in his imprisonment, prophecies of warning were given. Some went so far as to tell him not to go. A number of questions need to be answered.

He was constrained to go to Jerusalem. His inner convictions were expressed in Acts 20. He said to the Ephesian elders,

Acts 20:22,23 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me." (NKJV)

Paul fully accepted what the Spirit had revealed regarding his suffering for Christ and the gospel. What an example to the elders at that time, and to us now -drawn irresistibly into suffering permitted by God.

Acts 21:4 "... who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. " (KJV)

Paul evaluated their prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:29 ). He knew it did not fit with the constraint he experienced from the Spirit. God had not said he should not go, but had warned him of suffering.

The Lord sent Agabas, a proven prophet who testified that Paul would be bound in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-14 ). This settled Paul's mind, even though it unsettled those of his companions. The Tyreans had coloured, even misconstrued, a prophetic intimation, with their own feelings. A very good reason why prophecy has to be judged.

Important things to remember about prophecy:

	In its basic form prophecy is supernaturally speaking to edify, and to exhort and comfort.
	The gift of prophecy is inferior to the written Word of God, and is to be judged by the Word (1 Corinthians 14:29 ).
	Basic prophecy can become the vehicle for gifts of revelation.
	The possessor of this gift is responsible for its use or misuse (1 Corinthians 14:29, 32, 40 ).
	Prophecy must not be despised (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 ).

Bearing in mind these truths we can know confirmation of guidance through spiritual gifts.