Heb 1:2a Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his SON......
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 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:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Has the true body of Christ come into the unity of the faith? God gives the body of Christ the gifts of the Son- JESUS CHRIST, to teach, edify and equip the body of Christ. Jesus was all of those gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11.
Apostle: Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Prophet: Luk 24:19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
Evangelist: Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Pastor: Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Teacher: Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
And we see by Ephesians 4:8, Jesus gives these gifts unto the body. Jesus gives these what many refer to as "offices" for the body of Christ's benefit. How is it that so many churches accept pastors, evangelists and teachers, but do not accept apostles and prophets? Do we realize that those who are rejecting these two are in fact rejecting a part of Jesus?
Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Eph 3:3 How that by REVELATION he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is NOW REVEALED unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the REVELATION of Jesus Christ.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
God still has men and women who teach but it is only the anointing of the Holy Spirit that imparts and adds truth...
Gal 2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
Only true men and women of God can add anything to the true body of Christ.
The church makes known the wisdom of God to principalities and powers......
Eph 3:10 To the intent that NOW unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was REVEALED, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels DESIRE TO LOOK INTO.
Stay tuned for my next blog as I would like to show the roles of each of the five offices in the body of Christ.
Spot on! If only more in the Body would align themselves with the Holy Spirit doctrine and not the doctrines and commandments of men, there wouldn't be such flakiness and religion in the Church.
ReplyDeleteYes my brother. What is sad is we have a flood of false apostles and prophets. Because of this, many are afraid of counterfeits and do not seem to recognize the genuine.
ReplyDeleteHi Robert,
ReplyDeleteIt's a catch 22. People do not know what real apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers are because they don't read God's Word. They don't read God's Word because thy are to busy listening to the False apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They spend all their time reading what the false apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers write write in books and teach.
Modern day Scribes and Pharisees. The Scribes and Pharisees had God's Word yet they taught the oral traditions which they later wrote down and called the Talmud i.e the Mishnah and Gemara. The books containing the traditions i.e doctrines of men.
And the people cry out! Books of men, books of men, give me more and more books of men!
They read but they read the books of men, They listen but they listen to the doctrines of men, they learn but they learn the doctrines of men.
They should read but they should read the Word of God, They should listen but they should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches, they should learn but they should learn of Jesus.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
But how do we learn of Jesus. By Spending time with Him. How do we do that? By Reading God's Word cover to cover, Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 and then read it again and again.
Jesus is the Word of God. many who do read God's Word only want to read either the New Testament or the Old Testament. Someone can not truly comprehend the New Testament without reading the Old Testament, and they cannot truly understand the Old Testament without reading the New Testament.
Jesus, the Word of God whom was made Flesh and dwelt among men. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and End, the Old Testament and New Testament. The Beginning is found in Genesis Chapter 1 the End is found in Revelation chapter 22! The word of God i.e Jesus beginning and End!
Cover 2 Cover
Guy R. Epperson