Blessings to you and yours!
Let's continue our study so you can better find where you fit in the body of Christ. You have gifts, talents and wonderful God given abilities that are needed in the world around you. The Bible says in Timothy.
II Timothy 2:15 "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
That is exactly what we are doing. We are getting equipped for the works of service/ministry the Lord would move us into. Let us begin by reading our foundation verse:
Ephesians 4:11-15
11-13 So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for the works of service, so the that the whole body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in he knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14-15 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Ministry Gifts - the apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor and teacher.
In Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you are also being built together for a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
The Gift of Prophet - a divinely inspired speaker, or teacher through whom the revealed will of God is expressed or interpreted. In conjunction with the Holy Spirit prophets edify, guide, encourage, warn, correct with love and compassion, and perceive the will of God for the body of Christ. Prophetic utterances will never be expressed in contradiction to the person,will, or Word of God, as they must have and carry the burden of the Lords heart. The role of a prophet and his/her ministry is to individuals and groups of people and those the Lord has chosen. They have authority to bring about change so that the people of God can move into the fuller life that the Lord has intended. The desire of the prophet should be the same the Lord has for His people, as with the other Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The desire is to see individuals hearts, minds and lives changed toward the Lord and His will, and releasing people to fulfill their God given destiny and purpose for their lives. The ministry of a prophet may entail the intents and motives of the heart, where sin is concerned or there is a hearts desire to serve God. This in and of itself will cause others to become uncomfortable at such times when one moves under this anointing, influenced by the Holy Spirit of God.
We Read in the book of Jeremiah 1:9-10 "Then the Lord put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, "Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant."
We see in these verses that the Lord set Jeremiah over the people of Israel to be delivered spiritually and established in the things of the Lord. To root out, to pull down, to destroy, and to throw down, are all commands given by God. A mandate of what needed to be done or corrected.
We read in John 10:10 "That the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come come to give you life and that more abundantly."
We see that Jesus was making known to His hearers that the only intent of the enemy/devil/satan is to steal, kill and to destroy. Who or what? I'm glad you asked. Us the church, the body of Christ and those who will come to believe. Whether the enemy is attempting to destroy us through our thoughts, emotions, others or a situation we may find ourselves in. There are no good intentions from anything that would attempt to hinder our growth in Christ and the knowledge of the power of His resurrection.
However, Jesus said this is why He has come. To give us life and that life more abundantly and to the fullest! Now, remember, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with the body of Christ until He comes again to retrieve His bride (us)! The Gifts of God operate by the Spirit of God, the anointing of God is from the Spirit of God, the utterances of God come from the Spirit of God. Remember we read previously that ever Jesus said "I can do nothing of myself, except what I hear of the Father." John 5:30. Neither can we. That is why it is very important to remain humble. As much as the Lord knows the hearts of those we may minister to, do we not think He knows ours?
In Colossians 2:15 "When He (Jesus) having disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them by the cross."
The nature of the enemy is to deceive and everything else evil with intentions that goes right along with it. The Lords work of the cross is to deliver us from this evil one. This is where the gifts are given to the body of Christ, for the body of Christ, to equip, build up and bring into the unity of faith. There may be times when the enemy has gained a foothold in someones life that must be brought to light, so that it can be mended and healing can take place. This is where we see terms like: Root out, pull down, destroy, throw down. All these things give us the notion of being against us and not for our benefit or well being. They must be removed. When we find ourselves in the position of correction, we must do so with the love of Christ as stated in Jude. Do as unto others as we would do for our own, in reverent fear of the Lord.
Jude 1:23 "But others save with fear, snatching them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."
Let us read in II Corinthians 10:5 "We are destroying and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
This is where the prophetic gift is a blessing to the body of Christ. Given the authority by God to operate in this fashion, secures the utmost for the believer who receives in faith. After the deceiver or his fruits, have been uprooted in ones life, now comes the finished work of Christ to overflow in abundance in the life of the believer, to receive healing, instruction and restoration.
In regards to the clauses of: to build and to plant, that we read in Jeremiah 1:10. That expressly speaks of establishment, a restoration, a settled-ness, liberty, a wholeness in the life that has been delivered by the grace of God, through His Holy Spirit. Praise God!
I must admonish at this point. As much as we may operate in some measure of the prophetic, we are not called to judge, expose - leave naked emotionally, embarrass, intimidate, demean, bully, curse, gossip, defame someone or their character, manipulate, control, etc. I think you understand. The list goes on.
However, the denominator that is not present with these terms is LOVE. Remember the gifts operate with and by love. They operate by the Holy Spirit of love. Let me say, that if you find yourself operating under anything else except the love of God by the Spirit of God, you are operating in rebellion. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft - I Samuel 15:23. People are the Lords commodity and we must, in the fear of God, awesome respect, handle them with care. If we can not operate in and with the love of God, we should not be in ministry at all. We are called to restore as we have been restored.
Galatians 5:13 "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
I pray the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds until Christ comes again, to the fullness of His glory.
If this message has been a blessing to you please share it with someone!
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