The Danger of Being Well Equipped.

There’s an insidious danger in being “well equipped.” It’s the danger of trusting in the very tools, traditions, and truths we’ve accumulated rather than in the God who provides them.

This image of Jesus standing before a group of religious leaders—clothed in the garments of power, surrounded by the trappings of tradition—captures the tension perfectly. 

These men knew the Scriptures. They were trained, respected, and confident in their position. Yet when the Living Word stood in front of them, they couldn't recognize Him. Why? Because their trust was in their equipment.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5

We all carry tools we’ve picked up on our journey: our knowledge, experience, training, or even our ministry routines. These things aren’t inherently wrong. But when we lean on them instead of leaning on the Lord, they become stumbling blocks instead of stepping stones.

The Pharisees weren’t evil because they studied Scripture or upheld tradition. The problem was their confidence had shifted. Their identity and authority were no longer grounded in a relationship with God but in their role, their robes, and their rules.

The apostle Paul had once been one of them. But after encountering Jesus, he wrote:

“If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more… But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” — Philippians 3:4,7

Paul saw it: trusting in our qualifications, knowledge, or even our past faithfulness can keep us from present dependence. In the Kingdom, being well equipped is not wrong—but trusting in our equipment rather than the Equip**per** is.

So let’s ask ourselves:
- Are we walking by faith today, or by familiar tools?
- Are we listening for the Spirit, or leaning on our past experiences?
- Are we resting in relationship or relying on reputation?

God’s strategic will isn't revealed to the most “qualified”—it’s revealed to those who trust Him enough to follow, even when they feel unequipped.

May we become people who lay down our pride, our platforms, and even our preparedness to walk in radical dependence on Jesus.

Let us not be like the well-equipped who miss the One they’ve been waiting for. Instead, let us be like the child who says, “I can’t do this without You, Lord.” Because in His presence, that confession becomes our greatest strength.

Walking by Biblical Principles vs. Walking in the Holy Spirit.

While biblical principles are foundational, they were never meant to replace intimate dependence on God. Instead, they serve as guardrails to ensure our relationship with Him stays on course. But living as a "Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint" means moving beyond just principles to a dynamic, moment-by-moment obedience to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trusting God Over Our Own Understanding

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

This passage isn’t just about a general trust in God but about actively recognizing His presence and guidance in everything. If we truly acknowledge God in all our ways, it implies:

• Discerning His Presence: We must develop the spiritual sensitivity to recognize when He is leading.

• Understanding the Battle: There is another voice (the enemy, our flesh) trying to hinder our obedience. If we aren’t intentional about seeking God’s guidance, we may mistake our own reasoning for His will.

2. Jesus’ Example – Only Saying and Doing What the Father Revealed

Jesus lived in absolute dependence on the Father. He said:

• "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but only what He sees the Father doing" (John 5:19).

• "I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught Me" (John 8:28).

This is the essence of walking in the Spirit—not merely following biblical principles as static rules, but responding to the living voice of God. Jesus, though He knew the Scriptures perfectly, did not simply apply them apart from the Father’s direct guidance.

3. Continuous Dependence – Pray Without Ceasing & Taking Thoughts Captive

• "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). This means keeping an ongoing, active awareness of God's presence—not just saying prayers, but being in a constant state of listening and responding to Him.

• "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). We must not let our minds operate independently from the Holy Spirit. Even good ideas, if they are not from God, can become distractions.

• "In that very hour, it will be given to you" (Luke 12:12). This reinforces the idea that the Holy Spirit is our moment-by-moment guide. We don’t have to rely solely on principles or past knowledge; God gives fresh revelation for each situation.

4. The Great Commission – Are We Making Disciples of Christ or Disciples of Ourselves?

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19-20).

The danger today is that instead of making disciples of Christ, many churches and teachers unintentionally make disciples of themselves—reproducing their own understanding, methods, and theological systems rather than leading people into a living, Spirit-led relationship with Jesus.

• Biblical principles are good, but walking in the Holy Spirit is better.

• Principles can be learned, but the Spirit must be followed.

• Principles can be taught intellectually, but the Spirit must be discerned through intimate relationship.

Jesus didn’t send the disciples out with a systematic theology textbook. He sent them with the Holy Spirit. When we disciple others, our goal should be to lead them into a living, Spirit-filled relationship with Christ, not just teach them principles.

5. Fully Actualized Kingdom Saints – Walking in the Spirit

To be a fully actualized Kingdom Saint, we must:

• Acknowledge God in all our ways (Prov. 3:5-6). Recognizing His active guidance, not just assuming we know what to do.

• See and do what the Father is doing (John 5:19). Looking for His present activity and aligning with it.

• Speak what He is speaking (John 8:28). Not just teaching principles, but being led by the Spirit in what we say.

• Pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). Staying in constant communion with the Lord.

• Take thoughts captive (2 Cor. 10:5). Not letting our own understanding dictate our decisions.

• Make disciples of Christ, not ourselves (Matt. 28:19-20). Teaching others to walk with the Spirit, not just follow rules.

Conclusion: The Harder but Higher Path

“It’s much harder to walk in the Holy Spirit and only do what He wants us to do.” But that is the path of true discipleship. Principles are easy to apply in our own strength, but true faith requires radical dependence on God’s voice.

This is the core of God’s Strategic Will—to bring us into a relationship where we walk in His guidance, provision, and care every moment. Being a Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint means being fully yielded to His Spirit, trusting Him completely, and letting Him direct every step.

The Prophetic Power of Testimony: Revealing God's Heart and Mind

"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)

When we hear the word "prophecy," many think of predicting the future. While biblical prophecy does include foretelling, it is just as much—if not more—about forth-telling: revealing God’s heart and mind to His people right there, right then.

 Luke 22:11-12 "And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

The prophets of the Old Testament were not just predictors of future events; they were spokespersons for God, calling His people to repentance, trust, and obedience. In the New Testament, we see an even deeper connection between prophecy and testimony. Revelation 19:10 declares: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

This means that when we testify about what Jesus has done, we are engaging in a prophetic act—revealing His presence, power, and purpose in a way that invites others to encounter Him personally.

Prophecy as Sharing God's Heart

Paul exhorts believers to: “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1)

Why is prophecy emphasized? Because prophecy edifies, encourages, and comforts (1 Cor. 14:3). True prophecy expresses God's heart—His desires, His warnings, and His love for His people.

Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah were not just predicting events; they were revealing God's grief over sin, His longing for repentance, and His promises of redemption.

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

This same prophetic purpose is fulfilled when believers share their testimony of what God has done in their lives.

"Come and See" vs. "Go and Tell"

In the Gospels, two powerful invitations emerge:

1. "Come and See"

When Philip invited Nathanael to meet Jesus, he simply said, "Come and see" (John 1:46). Similarly, the Samaritan woman told her town, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did" (John 4:29).

2. "Go and Tell"

Jesus often instructed those He healed or transformed to share their experience: “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19)

After the resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).

Both invitations apply to us today. Our testimony invites others to "come and see" what God has done, and it commissions us to "go and tell" how His grace has transformed our lives.

Your Testimony as a Prophetic Invitation

When you share your testimony, you are not just recounting past events—you are revealing God's active presence in your life. The Holy Spirit uses personal testimonies to convict, encourage, and draw people to Jesus.

“If all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)

Your testimony can be a doorway for the Holy Spirit to speak into the lives of others.

Conclusion: Walking in the Prophetic Power of Testimony

To prophesy is to declare God's truth—His heart, His mind, and His redemptive work. Your testimony is a prophetic tool in God’s hands, revealing Christ to a world in need.

When you share what He has done and is doing in your life, you fulfill the calling to speak forth God's heart, bringing others into an encounter with Him.

So, let your life be a living prophecy. "Come and see." "Go and tell." Let the testimony of Jesus be the spirit of prophecy in your life, pointing others to the One who saves, transforms, and restores.