ACTS 29 TODAY
coming to the knowledge of the TRUTH
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Only God Can Give the Increase
Paul was trying to get the Corinthian church to look
past the ministry of men and to focus on the ministry of
the Holy Spirit within them — the only ministry that
could actually transform their lives and cause them to
walk in the biblical principles that they were learning
from their teachers.
Notice the terminology Paul used when he said, “I
planted.” He was speaking of his apostleship, his proper
gift of God. He had pioneered the original ground for
the Corinthians.
So Paul was saying, “I came and got you born again. I
planted you into God’s Kingdom. Later I sent Apollos,
and he watered your life by teaching you about faith
and your inheritance in God.
“But who are we but men by whom you have heard the
Gospel? I can’t heal you. I have only my gift from God. I
can only preach salvation and healing to you, but God is
the One who saves and heals you. Although I have sown
and Apollos has watered, it is God who must come and
work inside of you to give you the increase.”
Then Paul went on through the entire Book of
Corinthians to outline many spiritual principles that
will take us out of carnality if we apply them to our
lives. He dealt with important issues such as brothers
in Christ suing one another; marriage problems; the
callings, offices, and anointings of the Church; walking
in the love of God; the resurrection of the dead; and
questions regarding Communion. Although all these
issues fall under the category of “the milk of the Word,”
they still have to be spiritually discerned.
In essence Paul was saying, “All we preachers can do is
to lay out these basic principles that are designed to
take you out of carnality. But if you won’t allow the
Holy Spirit’s ministry in you to transform you according
to the principles you are hearing, we can’t do anything
about it. That’s where our ministry ends.”
You Are God’s Building
Then in First Corinthians 3:7-11, Paul says this:
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he
that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and
every man shall receive his own reward according to
his own labour.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s
husbandry, YE ARE GOD’S BUILDING.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me,
as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and
another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed
how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.
What are you? You are one lively stone in a vast
spiritual structure called the building of
God. As a lively stone, you are called to fulfill a unique
ministry as a colaborer in the Body of Christ, always
building on the foundation that Paul laid as a wise
master builder the revelation of “Jesus Christ, and Him
crucified” (1Cor. 2:2).
So where does my ministry as a minister of the Gospel
end and the Holy Spirit’s ministry take over? Well, I can
instruct you in your inheritance in God. I can give you
an occasional word of wisdom or word of knowledge as
the Spirit wills. I can teach you about faith, love, and
the anointings of God.
But I cannot give you the anointing and the equipping
for your individual call as a lively stone in the building
of God. You are going to have to go to God for what no
man can give you.
It is the Holy Ghost and His personal involvement on
the inside of you that brings the increase.
Acts 29 Today 
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