As a result of the rapid growth in the early church, Apostolic communities of believers sprang up wherever the gospel is preached, each a living example of the message they proclaimed.
The apostle Peter likened the building of these communities to the raising up of a spiritual house for God to dwell in, a house in which he saw the believers as living stones built together (1 Peter 2:4-5).
Building a house cant be done haphazardly. Imagine that you have laid the foundations for the structure of an house. Then the electricians came up and say, 'We're here to wire the house.' With surprise you sure will reply, 'We haven't built yet, and as such, there is nothing to wire!'
Each task must be done in its proper order. Yet people try to build the Church of Christ, without observing God's order. For example, many pastors in the ministry, finds themselves forced by circumstances, fulfilling the missing function of an apostle of God. In fact, and in most cases, you find the pastor, become apostle, prophet, evangelist, as well as pastor and teacher to his people. And as a result, both the pastor and his people suffers.
The fact remains that God by His infinit wisdom, have set in the church, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and each of these ministries have their stated role and functions within the body and can never be over emphasised.
The understanding must come to every one in the times that we are now entering, that each of the ministries must stand in their true place and position and function in their true ministry to the body. The pastor cannot deny his need for the apostle, the prophet and the other ministries, and vice visa. These ministries are meant to function more as a team not as individuals. The vital role and ministry of the apostle for example must be fully restored again to the body, for the true order to be restored, and for the building to be according to plan.
The order of God has been disturbed and, as a result, the teaching has become little more
No comments:
Post a Comment