As a follow up to the message, "Building To Plan," the Apostle Paul says to the Corinthian church:
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and (each one of you are) members in particular. And God has set some in the church, FIRST apostles, SECOND prophets, THIRDLY teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, goverments, diversities of tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:27-28).
This is the only place in the entire New Testament where God specifies an order of function for the various ministry gifts. Because of its uniqueness here, it is important that we heed what God is saying.
The apostolic ministry for instance, comes first in God' divine order for ministry. This is so because of its role and the responsibility given to the ministry. The apostolic ministry, is the fatherhood ministry of the body of Christ. For out of the the apostolic ministry, came forth the othe ministries of the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers. It was as the apostles in the early times ministered and functioned in their true apostolic authority, that the other ministries began to come to light.
The apostolic ministry, it must be understood is not just the ministry of one man. It is the ministry of the body. The whole body for example, is supposed to be an apostolic body and all the other ministries are supposed to function in apostolic authority.
This is not a pecking order to show status- No. What we have here is a functioning order for accomplishing an assignment, a mandate and a task, relative to God's eternal purpose and plan. If we change this order it doesn't mean that nothing at all is built. Rather, it does mean that what is built will not be according to plan and will not be as effective or meet that which God intends. During these times of restoration, God is renewing our understanding of the apostolic and prophetic ministry gifts, but especially the apostolic ministry, so that the house is built according to plan and in the right order.
Friday, 18 November 2011
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Building To Plan
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
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
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
The Five-Fold Ministries And Their Primary Responsibilities
Ephesians 4:11-13
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
We see from the above verse of scriptures, that the five fold ministries named here, were fundamentally given to help equip the members of the body of Christ who actually are called to do the actual work of the ministry.
It follows therefore, that the primary work of the evangelist and of the other ministries, is first within the body. The evangelist for example, is not just to evangelize "the unreached," as it were. But to impart a love for the lost unto the whole body, and also to help all believers to be able to lead others to the Lord. This also, follows for the Prophet. The main job of a prophet is not just to hear from the Lord and to see visions, but also to help all believers to know the Lord's voice and be able to prophesy and discern the Lord's will. The primary work of a teacher is not just to teach and impart knowledge, but also to impart a love for the truth of God and the spiritual tools needed for all believers to be able to uncover for themselves the truths of God's Word. The primary ministry of the pastor is not just to lead people, but also to equip all believers to be able to help and minister one to another. The apostle is called to do all of these.
As we saw in verse 13, of the above chapter, this is to be done "until we all come or attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (mature) man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
Note that he does not say here until "some" come or attain, but "all." We cannot truly get to where we are supposed to go without each other.
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
We see from the above verse of scriptures, that the five fold ministries named here, were fundamentally given to help equip the members of the body of Christ who actually are called to do the actual work of the ministry.
It follows therefore, that the primary work of the evangelist and of the other ministries, is first within the body. The evangelist for example, is not just to evangelize "the unreached," as it were. But to impart a love for the lost unto the whole body, and also to help all believers to be able to lead others to the Lord. This also, follows for the Prophet. The main job of a prophet is not just to hear from the Lord and to see visions, but also to help all believers to know the Lord's voice and be able to prophesy and discern the Lord's will. The primary work of a teacher is not just to teach and impart knowledge, but also to impart a love for the truth of God and the spiritual tools needed for all believers to be able to uncover for themselves the truths of God's Word. The primary ministry of the pastor is not just to lead people, but also to equip all believers to be able to help and minister one to another. The apostle is called to do all of these.
As we saw in verse 13, of the above chapter, this is to be done "until we all come or attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (mature) man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
Note that he does not say here until "some" come or attain, but "all." We cannot truly get to where we are supposed to go without each other.
Monday, 7 November 2011
Understanding Your Perspective
The light of understanding must come to every true born of the Spirit, what the time we now live in looks like. We live in a very unique but sensitive season and time in God's agenda.
God is looking now for what I call the prophetic people. These are the people of His dreams. The very desire of His heart. The people of His will and purpose and pleasure in Christ. And for this people to come forth, we need revelations from heaven.
Revelation, which is the divine opening of God to a man and in a man, is what makes a man have heavenly stand on earth. The apostle Paul said:
Ephesians 1:16-18
"Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and REVELATION in the knowledge of Him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened...."
Divine revelations of God will empower your being for a supernatural perspective of life. The openings of God in your being called Revelations, will introduce your being to the supernatural dimension of all things of life. And until we gain the supernatural perspective, we may not enter the light and realisation of our true destiny on the earth.
If there be anything the body of Christ needs today and in the time we now live, is Light from above. And to understand all that we claim we believe in. For christians are very ignorant of the fact and reality of what they say they believe. And we cant go on this way. The enemy of our faith has taken great advantage of our ignorance and is oppressing and destroying christians. For example, Christians are no longer safe, because they understand not the secret of their protection in Christ. Only through revelations of God can we again, gain our supernatural perspective that will cause a revolution in our christian faith and walk.
Let us like the apostle Paul, cease not to pray and to ask God for wisdom and revelational knowledge in our christian faith and walk with Him. God bless you.
God is looking now for what I call the prophetic people. These are the people of His dreams. The very desire of His heart. The people of His will and purpose and pleasure in Christ. And for this people to come forth, we need revelations from heaven.
Revelation, which is the divine opening of God to a man and in a man, is what makes a man have heavenly stand on earth. The apostle Paul said:
Ephesians 1:16-18
"Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and REVELATION in the knowledge of Him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened...."
Divine revelations of God will empower your being for a supernatural perspective of life. The openings of God in your being called Revelations, will introduce your being to the supernatural dimension of all things of life. And until we gain the supernatural perspective, we may not enter the light and realisation of our true destiny on the earth.
If there be anything the body of Christ needs today and in the time we now live, is Light from above. And to understand all that we claim we believe in. For christians are very ignorant of the fact and reality of what they say they believe. And we cant go on this way. The enemy of our faith has taken great advantage of our ignorance and is oppressing and destroying christians. For example, Christians are no longer safe, because they understand not the secret of their protection in Christ. Only through revelations of God can we again, gain our supernatural perspective that will cause a revolution in our christian faith and walk.
Let us like the apostle Paul, cease not to pray and to ask God for wisdom and revelational knowledge in our christian faith and walk with Him. God bless you.
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Sunday, 6 November 2011
Growing Up Spiritually Part One
"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God." (Psalm 92:12-13).
First, I will like to begin by making reference to the above scriptural verse. And to say, that there is need for every man to be planted and rooted in the house of God through Christ Jesus. For to be rooted in God's house is to be rooted in God himself, for God lives in His house.
Let us understand, that no man, no matter his status in life, can be said to truly fulfil purpose who is not first planted in the house of God.
The Psalmist said, the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. The palm tree because of its depth in the earth, knows not wet nor dry seasons. It flourishes in dry season as much as in wet season. This is as a result of it haven taken root deep in the earth.
For a christian to prosper and grow spiritually, he must first be planted and rooted in God's house. You cant truly express destiny if you are not planted and have your root deep in God's house. It must be clearly understood by all christians that everything God does and will ever do, must first begin from His house. As a result, any man not planted and rooted in His house, will miss out of divine plans. This is why God's Word teaches us not to forsake the assemblying of ourselves together as the manner of some is.
Every great purpose and destiny must rise out of a place. And that place is the house of God. Every true born of the Spirit must as of a matter of necessity, belong to a local assembly or church, where he or she is fed God's truth that brings growth spiritually. It is only as a man is planted and rooted in God's house, that he begins to grow spiritually and in the realisation of destiny.
Spiritual growth, is a function of the growth and development of one's spirit in God and in spiritual realities of life.
Another very vital fact concerning spiritual growth, is locating the true ground for you. Every ground or assembly
First, I will like to begin by making reference to the above scriptural verse. And to say, that there is need for every man to be planted and rooted in the house of God through Christ Jesus. For to be rooted in God's house is to be rooted in God himself, for God lives in His house.
Let us understand, that no man, no matter his status in life, can be said to truly fulfil purpose who is not first planted in the house of God.
The Psalmist said, the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. The palm tree because of its depth in the earth, knows not wet nor dry seasons. It flourishes in dry season as much as in wet season. This is as a result of it haven taken root deep in the earth.
For a christian to prosper and grow spiritually, he must first be planted and rooted in God's house. You cant truly express destiny if you are not planted and have your root deep in God's house. It must be clearly understood by all christians that everything God does and will ever do, must first begin from His house. As a result, any man not planted and rooted in His house, will miss out of divine plans. This is why God's Word teaches us not to forsake the assemblying of ourselves together as the manner of some is.
Every great purpose and destiny must rise out of a place. And that place is the house of God. Every true born of the Spirit must as of a matter of necessity, belong to a local assembly or church, where he or she is fed God's truth that brings growth spiritually. It is only as a man is planted and rooted in God's house, that he begins to grow spiritually and in the realisation of destiny.
Spiritual growth, is a function of the growth and development of one's spirit in God and in spiritual realities of life.
Another very vital fact concerning spiritual growth, is locating the true ground for you. Every ground or assembly
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