AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Friday – July 10, 2020, Tamuz 18, 5780
GIFTS – PART THIRTY-EIGHT
GIFTS TO THE CHURCH – PART TWO
Greeting to all who come to this Bible teaching and welcome to this Friday series titled “GIFTS”. Would all of you please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible to expand the reach of this Ministry. We couldn’t get any of these gifts on our own for any amount of “good behavior” or money. There are many, many gifts now given to us by the Hand (Holy Spirit) of the Father, by the will of the Father, and paid for by Christ Jesus. We receive these gifts by faith just as we received salvation, the foundational, and first among many necessary gifts. If these various gifts are not present in our lives can we conclude that we are not in faith? Who chooses which if any gifts we individually might receive? Who decides what level of gift one might receive? Some gifts are all or nothing like salvation. No one is a little saved, we either have eternal life or eternal death not some mixture or lesser version of salvation. All things are complete in Christ Jesus. For example, Jesus paid for the whole healing package, it is never the will of God, nor does it bring glory (show God’s goodness) to God for any of us to die by the hand of the devil, the curse.
1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (Bold added)
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (Bold added)
How much healing do we have in our lives, none, a little, just for certain things, or have we taken the whole package and it is manifest in our lives? How long will we be slack? We like the children of Israel have not entered into God’s rest (provision) due to unbelief.
Now, let’s turn our attention to the gift of the Five-Fold Ministry our Lord has given to His Church, given to each of us individually. Remember, His Church, is His body, He wants a healthy body in every area just as we want whole and healthy bodies. Let’s take a moment and review the Ephesians 4 passage spelling this out.
Ephesians 4:10-12 (KJV)
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Many people are very familiar with the Evangelist, the Pastor, and the Teacher but many have little to no teaching, knowledge, of the Apostle, and Prophet. Have you wondered why that is so? They also have done little to no independent study of these gifts, offices in the Church. The need to study for oneself seems to have been lost in the Church but it is a critical skill. After the Day of Pentecost (Feast of Pentecost) we see many references especially to Apostles but do we really consider what they do? Apostles and Prophets play a significant role in the first century Church, what about now? Today the Pastor is the Czar of the Church, is this Biblical? The Pastor is the overall coordinator of the Church. Like a shepherd of sheep, he/she is responsible to keep the sheep safe, with good shelter, clean water, and high-quality feed. Perhaps the following passage will sharpen the role of the Pastor in our thinking relative to the other gifts, offices of the Church.
1 Corinthians 12:27-29 (KJV)
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Apostles are important to maintain a purity of the Word of God in the Church, and to bring correction. Prophets proclaim the vision God has for the Church, and brings correction. The Teachers bring instruction concerning the path to the vision and walking out the correction. Of course, if no one makes a record of the Prophetic Word and keeps it before the people what will get taught? Does your Church look anything like the preceding passage? One might wonder why not. One might ask, does this have anything to do with a lack of power in the Church. Let’s plan to pick up right here Lord willing next Friday.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name! Quit asking God to bless you, you are already blessed, you have the Blessing, give Him something to do by the words of your mouth. Once you know the will of God, decree the thing (Job 22:28, Isaiah 45:11, Mark 11:23). (The Blessing is the Holy Spirit) We have left God way to long with nothing to do in our lives.
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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