Spoudé – “Diligent” (Romans 12:8b)

Spoudé

If it is leadership, with diligence (Spoudé) – Romans 12:8b

Definition of “Spoudé” in different Bible Dictionaries –

Short definition of “Spoudé”: haste, diligence,
(a) speed, haste, (b) diligence, earnestness, enthusiasm. “move quickly, speed on”) – properly, swiftness to show zealous diligence, i.e. one’s “best” (full effort by making haste). diligence, earnestness , effort, hurry. earnestness, diligence: universally, earnestness in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after anything, haste, diligence, forwardness
From speudo; “speed”, i.e. (by implication) despatch, eagerness, earnestness — business, (earnest) care(-fulness), diligence, forwardness, haste.
GREEK speudo

Dictionaries “Diligent”: Marked by persevering, constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything:
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Strong – Greek: σπουδή (spoudé) — 12 Occurrences

Mark 6:25 N-GFS
BIB: εὐθὺς μετὰ σπουδῆς πρὸς τὸν
NAS: she came in a hurry to the king
KJV: straightway with haste unto the king,
INT: immediately with haste to the

Luke 1:39 N-GFS
BIB: ὀρεινὴν μετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς πόλιν
NAS: and went in a hurry to the hill country,
KJV: with haste, into
INT: hill country with haste to a town

Romans 12:8 N-DFS
BIB: προϊστάμενος ἐν σπουδῇ ὁ ἐλεῶν
NAS: he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy,
KJV: with diligence; he that sheweth mercy,
INT: takes the lead with earnestness he that shows mercy

Romans 12:11 N-DFS
BIB: τῇ σπουδῇ μὴ ὀκνηροί
NAS: not lagging behind in diligence, fervent
KJV: slothful in business; fervent
INT: in earnestness not lazy

2 Corinthians 7:11 N-AFS
BIB: κατειργάσατο ὑμῖν σπουδήν ἀλλὰ ἀπολογίαν
NAS: what earnestness this
KJV: what carefulness it wrought
INT: it produced in you earnestness but [what] defense

2 Corinthians 7:12 N-AFS
BIB: φανερωθῆναι τὴν σπουδὴν ὑμῶν τὴν
NAS: of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf
KJV: that our care for you
INT: being revealed the earnestness of you which [is]

2 Corinthians 8:7 N-DFS
BIB: καὶ πάσῃ σπουδῇ καὶ τῇ
NAS: and in all earnestness and in the love
KJV: and [in] all diligence, and [in] your
INT: and all earnestness and in the

2 Corinthians 8:8 N-GFS
BIB: τῆς ἑτέρων σπουδῆς καὶ τὸ
NAS: through the earnestness of others
KJV: by occasion of the forwardness of others,
INT: the of others earnestness and the

2 Corinthians 8:16 N-AFS
BIB: τὴν αὐτὴν σπουδὴν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν
NAS: the same earnestness on your behalf
KJV: the same earnest care into
INT: the same earnestness for you

Hebrews 6:11 N-AFS
BIB: αὐτὴν ἐνδείκνυσθαι σπουδὴν πρὸς τὴν
NAS: the same diligence so
KJV: the same diligence to
INT: same to show earnestness to the

2 Peter 1:5 N-AFS
BIB: τοῦτο δὲ σπουδὴν πᾶσαν παρεισενέγκαντες
NAS: all diligence, in your faith
KJV: giving all diligence, add to
INT: this however earnestness all having brought in besides

Jude 1:3 N-AFS
BIB: Ἀγαπητοί πᾶσαν σπουδὴν ποιούμενος γράφειν
NAS: every effort to write
KJV: all diligence to write
INT: Beloved all earnestness using to write

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10 Different Translations of Romans 12:8b

If it is to lead, do it diligently
If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.
The one who leads, with zeal
He who leads, with diligence
He that ruleth, with carefulness;
He who leads, with diligence
If it is leading, lead enthusiastically.
He that ruleth, with diligence
If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically
He who is in authority should be energetic and alert

15 benefits of the Prophetic

1. Reveals the heart, mind, will and purposes of God,
2. Bring Spiritual Life,
3. Helps in Spiritual Warfare,
4. Releases the Presence of God,
5. Open up Spiritual eyes and ears,
6. Helps in prayers and Intercessions,
7. Releases the Supernatural, signs and wonders,
8. Prophesy future,
9. Can bring confirmations in the plans of God,
10. Bring people closer to God and into the love of God,
11. The prophetic gives us inner strength,
12. Helps people to hear God for themselves,
13. Protect us from religious spirit and legalistic,
14. Helps us see the greatness of God in people,
15. Helps to bring success in our destiny, family, works for God, and for the Advancement of the Kingdom, bring divine directions for our life.

– David Chawngthu

4 Levels of the Prophetic

1. Spirit of prophecy: Where everyone can hear God for themselves, and where everyone can prophesy, especially in the presence of Prophets. We find in the Bible that King Saul prophesied in the presence of Prophet Samuel. (1 Sam 19:24)

2. Gift of prophecy: This is the gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:10), it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s their calling, but they have that gift of the Holy Spirit to prophesy, but if it’s the Holy Spirit speaking through them, that’s what important.

3. Prophetic people: This is another high level of the prophetic ministry, even though they are not Prophets.

4. Prophets: This is the Highest level of the prophetic, this is a calling to be a Prophet, it’s the person, the way they were born and created, it’s a life time calling, no retirement, and this is more than just having a gift, this is an Identity, this is who they are,

God also said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

(Note: Eagle is regarded as representing the Prophetic)

- David Chawngthu

Angels

Heb 1:14 says, “Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

God communicate to His people in many different ways including Angels. Angels are one of the ways God speak to His people, we find countless of angelic manifestations in the Bible, we find in the Bible that many times God sent His angels to minister to people in a really important matters.

When Jezebel tried to kill Elijah and Elijah ran for his life, an angel of the Lord appeared to him (1 Kings 19:5-8).
The birth of Jesus Christ was foretold by an angel of the Lord to Mary (Luke 1:29-38).
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream while he tried to leave Mary the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:20-21).
When Herod tried to kill the baby King, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream (Matt 2:13)
An angel of the Lord told Joseph in a dream that those who tried to take the child’s life are dead (Matt 2:19-20)

So, angels are one of the ways God speak to His people, and many times they come in really important matters. It is also important to know that when there are angelic manifestations, or when God speak to us through angels, it is more clear than many other ways of hearing God’s voice, it is easy to remember for a long time, and seems more real in our thoughts and hearts.

We know that God can speak to us in many different ways, for example, when God speak to us through impressions, sometimes we do not recognize that God is speaking to us, because it comes in the form of our heart desires, that means God speaking to our heart, putting His heart in our heart, sometimes we don’t know that God is speaking to us even though every voice of the Lord is valuable. Again Still small voice is more clear than impressions where we can communicate with God, but when God sent His angels, it is very clear, it can be remembered for a long time, it can even break our made up stubborn minds in an instant where our friends, family, and others wouldn’t win over us, an angelic manifestations and God speaking to us through angels can win over us, it is a very high level of God speaking to us very clearly, therefore many times God will often use angels to communicate His words in many important matters.

On the other hand it is also important to know that even though God may use angels many times to communicate important matters to His people, God can also use any form of ways to communicate a very important matters, for example God can also use Impressions, songs, friends, and anything else to communicate one of the most important matters of your life, there is no limit where we can put them in a box in the way He communicate to us, when it’s God’s voice they all are important.

Another 2 ways where we can say that angels are greatly involved in our life is when we are in Worship, deeply worshipping God, and in the presence of the Father heart of God to minister to God’s people, to bring healing to people.

If God spoke to Mary the mother of Jesus that she is going to conceive a baby through impressions, still small voice, Prophets, or any other form of ways, it would be hard for the virgin Mary to believe that she is going to conceive a baby, it would be hard for anyone to believe that, we can conclude that the virgin lady Mary would thought it’s just her voice rather than the voice of the Lord, but she could say, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it happen to me according to your word”, it was because God sent an angel to communicate to her. Even though there are many different ways God can speak to Mary, God chose angels to minister to her, therefore God has a purpose for His angels to communicate to His people. And therefore many times God would use angels to communicate some really important matters to His people.



– David Chawngthu

God wants to speak to you regarding your children

God wants to get involve in many areas of our lives, even in what we think are simple things. Sometimes it’s just that we don’t recognize it.

Two Experiences of Hearing God’s voice for example, from the month of April 2015 –

1. After we’ve got a new baby, our 2nd son Rock stayed with his Grand parents and his aunty for a while, after 2 days I don’t feel good, I felt like we need to get him back now, it’s time to get him back for he was only 3yrs old.

So we took him back, that was the Holy Spirit speaking to us that it’s time to get our son Rock back at home.

It was okay for 1 or 2 days, but for more than that we don’t feel good. That was simply God’s voice.

2. Several times our son Rock wants to play games with me, want to watch movie with me, wants me to get interested in what he is interested even while we were busy, So I felt like he need more of my attention as a child, that was simply God speaking to me.

Even though we are not to go by our feelings, many times God will speak to us through our feelings and thoughts.

After feeding back these Hearing God experiences, this verse came to my thought – Ephe 6:4 “Fathers (mothers, guardians), do not anger your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction that comes from the Lord.”

- David Chawngthu

Logos word and Rhema word

(Both means “Words”)

Logos – The written word of God, the Bible
Rhema – The spoken word of God

Logos = written word, usually referring to revelation as found in the Old and New Testaments
Rhēma = spoken word, usually referring to additional revelation that extends beyond the written word of Scripture

Rhema word of God – A Bible verse or story jump up into your thought, and is highlighted in your thought. Sometimes God can take scripture out of context to speak to you, however we still need to know the overall meaning of the scripture, the context.

Rhema Word of God – The characters and natures of God, or “Who God is” is highlighted into your thought

Rhema Word of God – God can speak to you through anything, quotes of people, new revelations, however Rhema will not contradict the written word of God (the Logos), as well as the characters of God and WHO GOD IS. Rhema is said to be the true leading of the Holy Spirit.

Rhema is the word that God gives to your current situation and circumstances, is alive, quickening, specific word to you personally. Rhema might be for your personal life, family, for your church, ministry or for the Kingdom of God, which speaks for your current situations and circumstances, and what you should be doing.

Sometimes Rhema word –

– Tells us how much He loves us, or bringing comfort and healing into our lives through Bible stories or other scriptures and verses, and motivating us.
– Tells us how we must be living,
– Could be the Lord giving direction to us and what we must be doing.

When you were born again, and God speak to your heart about His love, and you received God’s love into your heart, you received the keys of Heaven, you unlock the Kingdom of Heaven on earth for yourself, that’s a Rhema word of the Lord you were receiving.

Examples of Rhema –

1. All things are possible – Mark 9:23
2. Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God – quote by William Carey
3. God’s love is unconditional
4. God will provide
5. Almighty God

You can wait on God to speak to you for your current situation or circumstances, personally, or for your work and ministry. You can wait on God to give you specific Bible verse or words for your current situation or circumstance to direct your path.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Ps 119:105).

That's the Kingdom.

– David Chawngthu

Some similarities between Apostles and Prophets

Signs, Wonders and Miracles:

We know that Jesus work many signs, wonders and miracles on earth. Jesus was a Prophet, Heb 3:1 tells us that He was an Apostle as well.

And 2 Cor 12:12 tells us that – The things that mark true apostles – signs, wonders and miracles.

We find in the Bible that Prophet Elijah and Elisha work signs, wonders and miracles. We also find in the Bible that Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Paul, Peter and all the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ in the Bible all seems to work signs, wonders and miracles.

Imparting Spiritual gifts:

Elders impart Spiritual gifts through prophetic messages and laying on of hands – 1 Tim 4:14

Apostles impart Spiritual gifts – We find Paul the Apostle impart Spiritual gifts by laying his hands.

Paul wrote a letter to the saints in Rome that he long to see them, one of the reason he long to see them was TO IMPART SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO THEM. Paul wrote in Romans 1:11 – “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong–”

2 Tim 1:6 – Paul wrote to Timothy – “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands”.

Paul in Ephesus: Acts 19:6-7 – When Paul had laid his hands upon them (upon the people of Ephesus), the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. There were about 12 men in all.

Foundation:

Apostles and Prophets, both are foundational and both are Kingdom builders.

Kingdom of God:

– Prophets shows us the real world, the greater world, the invisible world, there is a earthly realms and the heavenly realms, they reveal the invisible Kingdom of God. Prophets reveal the hearts, mind, will, plans and the purposes of God on earth.

– Apostles bring down heavenly plans of God, download the blueprints of heaven, and they carry the purposes of God on earth.

(The plans, will, and purposes of God can come to either Leaders, Apostles or Prophets – Acts 11:27-30; Hag 1:1-8; Amos 3:8-9; Acts 15 12-22; 30-32; 16:4)

Wisdom:

– Apostolic Wisdom
– Prophetic Wisdom

Apostles and Prophets face persecutions:

God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ (Luke 11:49)

War:

– Both wage war for the Kingdom of God

The Bible speak about both, False Prophets, as well as False Apostles.

– David Chawngthu