Five-Fold Today - The Apostolic/Prophetic Emphasis - A New Type of Preacher - Broken Pane - Visitation - The Ultimate Intention - Spiritual Abuse, The Abusee and the Abuser - Teams and Teamwork - Jesus, Our Kinsman Redeemer
The Apostolic/Prophetic Emphasis
Jose and Mary Alvarez
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,(" taking up the cause";
to aid) governments( from the word for "helmsman"; hence first to steer the church, and then to
rule.), diversities of tongues.
Greek: And certain has God set in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly
teachers, then varied and numerous works of God's dunamis, spiritual gifts consisting of cures,
helping and aiding in a variety of ways, governments, and diversities of tongues.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
Greek: It is He who gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some
shepherds and teachers.
Please observe with me the two lists that make up the structure of the New Testament
church. In both of these spiritual inventories we take note that apostles are placed first and
prophets second. Pastor and teachers, which are really not two separate ministries but one
class of people operating both; (in that a pastor must also have the anointing to teach his
congregation), comes after the mention of apostles and prophets in the second list. Church
governments, which todays are primarily in the hands of the pastoral staff are also found
towards the end of the first list.
When the Lord Jesus inspired the apostle Paul with these two blueprints for His church,
He was certainly not saying at any time, that apostles are more important than prophets, who in
turn are more important than pastors. Neither did He say that the gifts of healing are more
vital than the governments within the church.
All ministers and ministers are of equal importance. When they operate under the
leading of the Holy Ghost, they complement each other to bring the fullness of the glory of the
Lord Jesus Christ into the earth.
These lists of ministers and ministries are not describing RANK and IMPORTANCE but
EMPHASIS and STRESS.
The EMPHASIS and the STRESS on the New Testament church must be the apostolic and
prophetic ministries, and not on church government. This is an incredibly important point, as
we shall study.
The emphasis today however is on church government. This great error on our part
severely limits the glory of God, has thwarted the salvation of men and women for two thousand
years, obstructed worldwide revivals, forced the church to become like the world in order
evangelize it, and is now slowing down the second coming of Christ.
Today the church focuses on a host of administrative issues, the promotion of church
programs, the establishment of committees to supervise these programs, and innumerable hours of
pastoral counseling given to the congregation. In no way would I ever say that these things
should be disregarded; they will always be an integral part of church life. However, church
governments have ended up majoring in the minors of what God called the New Testament church
governments to be.
The main responsibility of New Testament church governments is to administer and
conduct the apostolic and prophetic ministries (which includes the evangelist's miracles
ministry manifesting itself in signs and wonders) within the local assembly.
The apostolic and prophetic ministries, and not church governments, are the
foundation on which any local assembly must build upon.
This is an introduction to The New Testament Church by Jose Alvarez and may be found at:
jealvarez@worldnet.att.net
A New Type of Preacher
A. W. Tozer
If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other
means than any now being used. If the Church in the second half
of this century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in
the first half, there must appear a new type of preacher. The
proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue type will never do. Neither will
the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his
pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type
who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to
everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting.
Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be
of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and
has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God
there will be not one but many), he will stand in flat
contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization
holds dear. He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name
of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment
of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt-
spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ
and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the
glory of the One and the salvation of the other. But he will
fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath. The Size of the
Soul, 128-129.
"Lord, in the first half of this current century this need is
even greater. Send to Your church today many who have 'seen
visions of God and...heard a voice from the Throne.' Amen."
_______________________________________________________________
Broken Pane
Ras Robinson
You have a "pane" broken and shattered
in your life. Your heart has been smashed in an area. As with
an automobile windshield, there are those who can come and stop
the spreading of the break. But you will always see and be able
to feel the damage. It will be ever before you. Listen. I
feel your pain and I see your struggle. There are times when
despair and hopelessness prevail. You wonder if healing will
ever come. At times you give up completely and end up with
bouts of depression. May I tell you that it is My very nature
to heal you? Your healing has always been in My heart. Jesus
has the healing of the brokenhearted as a permanent, perpetual
assignment. He heals by the power of the Holy Spirit Who lives
within you. Listen to me. I don't want to heal your "pane," I
want to heal your pain. I am not interested in just stopping
the spreading of the break. I want to give you a whole new pane
with no scars. You will remember no more this particular
brokenness. It will not be ever before you if you will but
humble yourself and come to Me. Cast yourself before Me and
ask. Trust Me. Exercise your faith by casting yourself totally
upon me, helpless. I will answer.
He heals the brokenhearted,
And binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed
me to preach Good News to the poor; he has sent me to heal the
brokenhearted and to announce that captives shall be released
and the blind shall see, that the downtrodden shall be freed
from their oppressorsLuke 4:18
Fullness in Christ Church, Pastor
Visitation
Thomas Bramhall
I will visit those you thought dead. I will make rich in me those you
thought in poverty and reveal the poverty of those who thought themselves
rich. I will pour My Spirit out upon all flesh that bear my name. I will
manifest my awesome presence in places even that don't think I do that
anymore. I care nothing for your or their traditions or constraints. I am
God.
Do not be offended by Me touching those I will and rescuing those I wish.
Do
not be like The Prodigal's other brother so offended at what was showered
upon his brother that was once thought dead. Rejoice! I will bring the body
into wholeness! Rejoice concerning all that will come to know me in
fullness! Rejoice! You will begin to act like My Body.
Tom Bramhall
The Ultimate Intention
DeVern Frommke
"Nothing will come out right for the person who either consciously
or subconsciously makes the universe to revolve around himself.
What a peanalty, to live with a self you can't live with. As
long as you center in yourself, you won't like yourself. Another
has put it this way. "It is so wonderful to get yourself off
your own hands and into the hands of God. It's like living in
a new world!"
"Man was not created to be the CENTER and any attempt to build
this false universe will only cause confusion. God has made life
that way, and there is no use kicking against the goad, as Paul
did to his own hurt."
"Paul explains it this way, "we thus judge, that one died for
all, therefore all died, and He died for all, that they which
live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him who
for them died and rose again." (2 Cor. 5:14-15). "Paul reveals
that it was God's purpose to take all of Adam's race to the cross
in order to deal with the "I" principle that stands in oppostion
to God. So when God looked down upon the cross, He saw us united
in death with His Son. All that is involved in the treachery
of S-I-N (Selfish, independent negation) is dealt with there.
Thus from God's viewpoint man was crucified WITH CHRIST- but
more. He was buried with Christ in Jospeh's new tomb. Yet even
more, He was raised with Christ to newness of life. But still
more than that, he was positioned with Christ in God in a new
heavenly position."
"Now all this which God reckons to have happened as he sees it
from His viewpoint, we must likewise reckon to be our experience
by faith-appropriation. So Paul describes it in four words: CRUCIFIED,
BURIED, RISEN, and ASCENDED. This is not something that we do.
No, we see it by revelation- see that it happened to us "in Him"
- and we by faith live in that reckoning."
"Man has been raised with Christ and is now in a new position
"in Him." We know of multitudes of believers who have well taught
about their position in Christ. They speak with conviction of
the finished work by which they have forgiveness, deliverance,
victory, and authority. And well they might rejoice in all that
has been done for them. Yet here is just the trouble- the snare.
They have never changed centers. All that has been made available
to them in Christ they continue to relate to themselves: the
old center. They have missed the deepest severing power of the
cross which would deliver them to a life centered in God where
all things are related to HIM."
"For almost fifteen years this writer preached the GLORIES OF
OUR POSTION IN CHRIST and emphasized the truths of identification
in the death and resurrection of Christ as this made available
a victorious walk- a truth which is now being taught by hundreds
throughout the country. Yet, I was, without realizing it always
relating all this to man and his needs and welfare. It was all
FOR MAN- what man received through his new position in Christ.
Thus the center had not really changed."
"Then one day the truth exploded. I realized just how short this
was of bringing man to a full and total emancipation from his
man centered-ness. It became evident as long as one is still
appealing to man FOR WHAT MAN CAN GET, it still fits into the
popular approach. But it is a vastly different thing to experience
the radical working of the Cross which liberates one from self
to a new center. As long as one is still more alive to what God
does for man, to what the cross realizes for man, to what our
positon in Christ means for man- that individual has never grasped
the Father's full intention for placing us in His Son: that we
might come to the same vision, purpose, dedication and philosophy
of life as the Son shares in the Father."
"God intends for man to live with an utterly new center of gravity.
We are not merely centered "in Christ" but with Him are centered
in God the Father. As we shall see, in this God centered position
it is no longer our victory, but living in His victory; it is
no longer our purpose, but living in His purpose; it is no longer
our dedication, but living in His dedication. All things have
truly become new."
DeVern Frommke
Spiritual Abuse, The Abusee and the Abuser
Maria Magruder-Taylor
Spiritual abuse is a term that many people have become familiar with over
the last few years. We have pastors who are controlled by their "boards",
we have church leadership that tries to control the flock, we have pastors
who control the leadership and flock and have verbally and spiritual
abused fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. No matter what position,
leadership or layperson, we have seen spiritual abuse in the body of
Christ, which is derived by a religious/controlling spirit.
Of course not all churches and ministries are in some sort of an abusive
situation, but we have seen a lot of it over the years, and praise God we
are all learning to love one another and learning how to "work" with one
another, submitting to one another in love.
For those of you however who are currently in a spiritual abusive
situation, God has a word for you!
For those of you who are the "abusers", God has a word for you too.
For those of your who are struggling with being afflicted by this (abusee)
religious/controlling spirit in your church or ministry, the Lord says, "I
have surely visited you and seen what is DONE to you in Egypt. And I have
said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of
milk and honey." (Ex 3:16-17)
My friends, God has seen your affliction, He has seen everything that has
gone on in your situation, and He is about to deliver you. Some of you
have "The Joseph Anointing" where you are about to be exalted in mans and
God's eyes. Though you have been in bondage, pushed down, stripped of
your coat of many colors, God is about to restore.
For His word to you from the beginning is the same word He gave to Joseph,
"I AM WITH YOU" (Gen 39:2) Instead of taking on the yoke of man and
religion, take on My yoke says, the Lord, For I am gentle and lowly in
heart and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my
burden is light.
My friends, know that God sees everything! He knows exactly what is going
on, He knows every sacrifice, every hurt, every burden you have been
carrying. God will see you through and bring you into the land of milk
and honey, a land of plenty, a land full of the anointing of God!
For God is pouring out His favor upon all you who have labored, and have
suffered for His name sake.
Ex 12:36 "And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the
Egyptians so that they granted them what they requested."
Have you requested anything lately from the Lord? Its your time! Begin
asking God for the things you need for the Kingdom of God! For there is a
great favor being poured out upon you in this hour.
People who have been spiritually abused, please remember that God always
uses what the enemy meant for harm into His good, and if you look at your
situation as an OPPORTUNITY to spiritually mature and grow, you will find
its much easier to get through!
Jesus had many OPPORTUNITIES to spiritually grow! We either grow
spiritually from these experiences or we slide backwards into hurt and
depression, which is what the enemy wants. So don't fall for that!
Now if we look at the "abuser" side of things, we find that many times the
"abuse" is derived from many different issues. Some of these issues can
be fear, hurts or wounds, and sometimes just being judgmental can cause
one to step into that category of "abuse" to other people. So it is
really EASY for any one of us to fall into this category, so we need to do
two things:
Evaluate our own hearts if WE have ever fallen into that category of
spiritually abusing people, or if WE are even doing that NOW.
If you have found yourself being spiritually abusive to a person in the
past (which most of us have some time in our life) then we need to
practice patience, LOVE & forgiveness with our current brothers and
sisters in the Lord who may have fallen into "spiritual abuse".
These are the most two important things concerning spiritual abuse. Now
if you are in a situation that is extremely harmful, then you need to get
out. God didn't create you to be a doormat! For example if a pastor
grabs you by the throat and is about to punch you in the face, you
probably shouldn't hang around! (true story, unfortunately)
Whatever situation you are in, PLEASE consult first the Holy Spirit and
secondly someone you can trust. Not someone that will tell you what you
"want to hear", but someone that always speaks "truth" into your life.
I think to really look at the abuser side of things, we need to narrow
down what IS spiritual abuse? This will help both the abusee and the
abuser. This will help the abusee, because many times, (especially women)
don't even know they are being spiritually abused. As well it will help
the abuser, because many times people don't know they are being
"spiritually abusive". Hopefully we don't fall in either
category!!!!!!!!!!! If we are ever going to have unity in the body of
Christ, we really need to evaluate our hearts.
Spiritual abuse is any sort of affliction that wounds your spirit that
results in harm to your spirit, by control or religion, which again
usually stems out of fear or hurt. That tells you that you are less than
what Christ purchased for you on the cross. Did that make sense?
So just as a person being emotionally abused, their emotions are damage,
or a person who is being physically abused, their body is damaged. Same
thing with being spiritually abused. Some examples of spiritual abuse
from church leadership:
Examples of possibly lay people abusing the leadership, yes its true, the
people in the congregation can be just as controlling as any leadership
could ever be!
So, these are some examples from both sides, however there are many more
not listed here, that I'm sure many of you could think of! Please
evaluate yourself on both sides and if there is anything in your heart or
life, just begin to repent and ask God to help you change in those areas.
For more information on spiritual abuse, you can check out this web site
at: www.spiritualabuse.org
PLEASE NOTE: Just because I recommended this site for more information,
does not mean I agree with everything on this site! Please use your Holy
Ghost discernment in what is Godly and righteous! Thank you.
Now, I said God had a word for the abusers. This is a harsh word, and
it's a word that God has given me for about 6 months now. It is not a
word that has come out of my flesh or out of hurt, but just something God
has had on my heart. I believe this is a word for people who have
SERIOUSLY gone overboard on the abuse issue. Whether they will ever see
this word or not, I have no idea, I can only hope that God will grab their
hearts and show them by the Holy Ghost what needs to change before its too
late.
For those of you who are currently controlling and abusing the sheep,
(this could be leadership or it could be lay people) for one who has ears,
let them hear the word of the Lord:
Woe to the people who do not feed my flocks. You eat the fat and clothe
yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed
the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those
who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven
away, nor sought what was lost, but with FORCE AND CRUELTY YOU HAVE RULED
THEM.
So the flock was scattered because their was no shepherd and they became
food for ALL the beasts of the field when they were scattered. (Ezk 34)
And I say, "REPENT" and change your ways. For My ways, are not your ways.
You think you are doing Me good, when you are really HURTING ME. For I am
the God who sees all and I see the intentions of the heart. I desire
mercy not sacrifice.
For those who will not repent, I will cause you to cease from feeding the
sheep and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more. For I will deliver
My flock from their mouths that they may no longer be food for you. For
thus says the Lord God, "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek
them out. I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away,
bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick, but I will destroy the
fat and the strong and feed them in judgment."
Ezekiel 34 says it all!
Again, whether abusee or abuser, we all need LOVE and FORGIVENESS towards
one another. None of us have "arrived", we are all growing and maturing,
from Glory to Glory. Lord help us all to evaluate our hearts on a daily
basis that we would not hinder our brothers and sisters in the Lord
spiritually! They will know we are Christians by our LOVE!
John 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have
love for one another."
Matt 6:15 "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will
you Father forgive you trespasses."
www.alaskaalliance.org
Teams and Teamwork
By Robert I Holmes
There is an alarming trend in the Body of Christ today. There seems
to be a stratum of people who one might term `the untouchables'. They
are not untouchable in an `unclean' and poverty stricken sense, but
untouchable in terms of being above reproach or question. This
stratum is made up of a wide variety of people, each who have
different reasons for being `up there'. Wounded prophets, whose only
accountability is `to God'; super apostles, who have no further they
can promote themselves; lonely pastors, who have forgotten how to
trust others; itinerant evangelists who can't trust others to work
with them; hurt people who have been abused by `authority'… The list
seems to be endless.
When a person leads alone, they may very rapidly begin to exhibit
spiritual despotism – the seat of an absolute ruler, tyrant and
oppressor. When a person stands alone, they may very rapidly begin to
exhibit spiritual exclusivity, lack of accountability and then begin
to rage.
I need you
The truth of the matter is, God made us to need other people. He made
us dependent, he left portions out of your package that can only be
found in others. He did not make us to be co-dependant, nor
independent. He made us to be inter-dependant.
Jesus told a stunning parable about this one day. He said, "Do not
judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make
you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you
get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour's eye, but do not
notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your
neighbour, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is
in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own
eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your
neighbour's eye" (Matt 7:1-5).
Most often we stress the `judge not' and the `examine yourself part'.
But f we finish there, we will have an insipid understanding of
Christ's point. The reason we do this is so that we can then help
others. He went on to say, having checked your motive, having
examined your own heart for issues, then by all means help your
brother! "You will see clearly to take the speck out of your brothers
eye".
The process of self examination precedes the process of helping your
brother, but it often seems we fall into either extreme – daring not
to `judge' another (thereby excusing ourselves from helping them), or
railing against everyone in a spirit of false judgement. Jesus tells
us we need each other, we are rubbing our eyes with a speck in them,
it is becoming inflamed and we have need of another to come and pull
it out.
Yes men
"Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of
counsellors there is safety" (Prov. 11:14).
There is no doubt that all of us needs counsellors – at work, at
home, in business, in church. You need good counsel, but you do not
need it from self appointed or self promoting `yes men'. Nepotism is
giving undue favour in appointing ones relatives and friends to
office, and unfortunately it happens all the time.
Spiritual nepotism begins to occur when we promote people who will
agree with us, who fit the mold, who are pursuing our dream at the
exclusion of their own and who want what we want. The danger is that
we all together become blinded, and fall into a pit.
The concept of unity
What is a team, and what does unity mean? Biblical unity does not
imply watering down or letting go of our beliefs until we are able to
stand along side other beliefs without clashing, that's called
ecumenicalism. Neither does it imply merging and meshing beliefs
together in one unified whole, that's called syncretism. Neither does
it mean taking a part of mine, a part of yours and a part of someone
else's to make a collage of belief, that's called polytheism.
The Biblical framework for unity can be understood by looking at a
rope. Rope is made up of intertwined cords. Those cords themselves
are made up of intertwined strands. The cords and strands are
separate, yet bound together. Their lives touch each other a many
levels, yet they do not stop being individual. The cords together
make a much stronger rope.
I have the privilege of working in a team of three – one with Indian
heritage, one with Chinese heritage and one with Australian heritage.
We like different foods, but enjoy a home cooked meal at the other's
house. We think differently (culturally) at times and this different
perspective is helpful. We do not agree on every point. Our various
personalities respond to stresses, problems and joys differently.
The power of the compass
A compass contains four opposing points in one setting: north, south,
east and west. These four are needed at all times. There is no
knowing true north without south, and no knowing you are slightly off
north without east and west. That is the power of a compass.
The tail of an arrow has three of four lateral feathers to keep it
straight and flying on target; the hand would be useless without the
opposing thumb and the foot would be unstable without the stabilising
pinky.
The apostle strains for fundamental, foundational issues but the
prophet strains for upward vision and purpose. The apostle thinks
strategically, the pastor thinks locally and individually about the
members of the congregation. The prophet rails against compromise,
the teacher rails against error. The evangelist looks outside toward
the world, the pastor looks inside toward the church. Each of these
is needed for balance.
shm@storm-harvest.asn.au
Jesus, Our Kinsman Redeemer
Linda Evans
How "sinners" related to Jesus...
In the Scriptures, we see Jesus fellowshipped with sinners. He was
"welcomed" at their
gatherings... in fact it was His [sinless] eating and drinking "with them"
that was the basis for the rebuke by the Pharisees, who found His friendship
and interaction with them, offensive.
Yet in fulfillment of Scripture's Prophetic picture of a Kinsman Redeemer
and a Perfect Servant, Jesus, "kinned" Himself to us all, while we were yet
sinners...manifesting a LOVE that 'meets' us right at our place of need
(root meaning of Mercy) and then leads us to LIFE, Himself. He is the Way,
the Truth and the Life. He is the goal and He is the means.
He is still "kinning" Himself to sinners, now through the members of His
Body... establishing
'relationship' between us and those He is calling/gathering unto Himself....
when this divine
connection is established in Love, then the Truth will flow through us and
into them... and they
will be led into the Fullness of Life. If we lift up the Name of Jesus, He
will draw all men unto Himself, the Scriptures declare.
May the Love of God freely flow through His Mystic Body, the Holy, Catholic,
Apostolic Church - The Only One True Church built upon the solid foundation,
that He knows those who belong to Him.. and All who confess HIS NAME must
turn away from all wickedness. (Paul's Second Letter to Timothy)
In Love's Service to God's Beloved Church
March 23 200l
Eph 2:19, 20 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the
saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.
http://christianindiantv.homestead.com/files/TheNTChurchone.htmBut none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to
myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry
which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of
the grace of God. --Acts 20:24
Read "Insight for Leaders" online at:
http://www.litmin.com/tozer.php3Lord is near to the brokenhearted,
And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
http://www.fullnessonline.org
fullness@airmail.net
Madison, AL
tommyb@arttech1.com
Forwarded by Trumpet Call Bulletin
info@DougFortune.org
maria@alaskaalliance.orgHe who wilfully separates and isolates himself from God and man
seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and
sound judgement" (Prov. 18:1 AMP).
By wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of
counsellors there is victory (Prov. 24:6).
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their
toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one
who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if
two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one.
A threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better is a poor but wise
youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice
(Ecc . 4:9-13).
Linda the BeguineFive-Fold Today Archives
The Lord has given us the grace to reconcile the children to their Fathers
As One Body
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