IPHC Solemn Assembly

CONFESSION: God has gifted every member of the body of Christ for ministry. It is the work of church leaders to help them discover and develop their gifts and build in them the character of Christ. Each member of the Body is a minister whom God has called into full partnership (1 Corinthians 3:9).

The Pentecostal revival that swept the world at the turn of the 20th century spread rapidly, because Spirit-filled believers saw themselves as ministers. As Pentecostals, we still affirm that every Christian has access to God through prayer, worship and service, and that ministry is the domain of the whole body of Christ. A "controlling spirit," however, has often hindered us from releasing people into their God-given ministries.

The sin of control has caused us to withhold recognition from qualified people and to prevent the releasing of divinely-gifted ministries. We have often based our elections and appointments on favoritism, rather than upon the giftedness of individuals. We have often manipulated to gain and maintain position, rather than recognizing and releasing those who are anointed for leadership. Our desire for control has hampered newcomers from rendering gifted services that would have enhanced our church ministries. A controlling spirit has hindered the gifts of the Holy Spirit from operating freely within the body of believers.

REPENTANCE: Father, we confess the sin of control that has reaped in us spiritual leanness and barrenness. We confess our failure to train Your people for ministry, to release them for the development of their gifts, and to accept those whom You have sent to us. Forgive us and deliver us from this controlling spirit with its hurt, stinginess and evil. We cast it from us in the name of Jesus. Give us eyes to recognize the giftedness of every member and the loving concern to develop and affirm those gifts.

RESPONSE: Hear us, O sovereign Lord, as we make this confession, and deliver us from a controlling spirit.

AFFIRMATION: Father, we affirm that You have given gifts to every member of the body of Christ, and You have called us all into full partnership in ministry with You. We have cast from us the controlling spirit which has hindered the releasing of Your people into their God-given ministries and we surrender all control into Your hands.

RESPONSE: For You are the sovereign God.

AFFIRMATION: We accept those You send to us and will encourage and train them to reach their full potential in You. We release Your people into Your harvest for the work You have called them to do.

RESPONSE: For You are Lord of all.

AFFIRMATION: We receive and affirm the diverse and multiple ministries of all members of the body of Christ that You may bring wholeness and fruitfulness to the Pentecostal Holiness Church.

RESPONSE: Father, we now declare that we have been delivered from the spirit of control and acknowledge that You are sovereign God and Lord of all.

REFERENCE SCRIPTURES: I Samuel 9-15; I Samuel 15:22-23; I Samuel 18:7-9; I Samuel 18:28-29; I Samuel 28:4-7; I Samuel 28:15-18; I Samuel 31:3-4; John 14:6 Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:7; Galatians 5:13, 16; I Timothy 6:15