This coming year of 2001
will be a year of activation. We have had a year of separation, a year of preparation and now, a year
of activation.
Activation involves busily
exerting energetic, inventive and organized motion (work) to accelerate changes. Activation
produces real, instantaneous and progressive practical effects as distinguished from the theoretical,
ideal or speculative.
We will see activation in
every conceivable area: spanning from good and evil, from corporate to personal, universal to local,
major and minor, big and small and from present to future.
Much of what has been
prophecied in the Bible, unfullfilled to date, will begin to be activated.
There are three priorities
involved in this activation:
1. Attitude, which
accompanies activation, whether positive or negative. Attitude is an indicator of faith. Again this
attitude will run the gamut from good and evil, from corporate to personal, universal to local, major
and minor, big and small and from present to future. Failure to engage in activities (i.e., passivity)
will subject the unactivated agent to the force of activation of another.
2. Taking responsibility
for attitude, which will determine the outcome of activities, or the lack of them. Since responsibility
and authority go together, the active agent and the passive agent, both, have the authority and
responsibility to decide the course of actions.
3. Grappling or coping with
reality, both before and after active or passive activation and measuring results, both seen and
unseen, i.e., natural and supernatural. And again reality will run from good and evil, from corporate
to personal, universal to local, major and minor, big and small and from present to future.
The key to the
manifestation of your personal activation is the word “desired” above.
Do you desire that which pleases self and others or that which pleases God?
God desires that we be salt
and light, witnesses for Him, making disciples of all nations by preaching the kingdom of God and
teaching Jesus Christ.
What do you desire for
your self?
Our Options
“Then said they unto
him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them,
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:28,29).
The first instance of the
word work is ergazomai, meaning “to toil (as a task, occupation, etc).”
“Works” and the next instance of “work” is ergon, meaning
“to work; toil (as an effort or occupation).”
If we will focus our labors
(activating self) upon believing a biblical Jesus we will be doing the work of God.
“While he yet talked
to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then
one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren And
he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For
whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and
mother” (Matthew 12:46-50).
“Not every one that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”
(Matthew 7:21-23).
“Work” here
is also ergazomai, to toil, i.e., labor. “Iniquity” is anomia, lawlessness,
wickedness and unrighteousness.
Notice that in both
scriptures Jesus mentions the will of the Father. Those who “shall do the will of my
Father” and “he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Jesus
contrasts those who do the will of the Father as being His “brother, and sister, and
mother” and entering into the kingdom of heaven against those who don’t do the will
of the Father as unknown to Him. “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.” “Knew’ is ginosko, used here in the sense that He never had
a relationship with them. Yet they had prophesied, cast out devils and had done many wonderful
works.
We see here in these verses
that those who, by their toil and labors (activation), believe in Jesus of the Bible are doing the work
of God. Furthermore those doing the will of the Father are considered by Jesus as brothers, and also
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Those whose toil and labors produced lawlessness,
wickedness and unrighteousness He says He never knew.
“For the mystery of
iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And
then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and
shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of
Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness
in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might
be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians
2:7-12).
The word in verse 11, for
“strong” is energeia, from which we get our English word
“energy.” It’s from energes, which means “active,
operative.” “Delusion” is plane. Vines Expository Dictionary of Biblical
Words (Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers) says this about the word: “lit.,
“a wandering,” whereby those who are led astray roam hither and thither, is always used
in the NT, of mental straying, wrong opinion, error in morals or religion.”
This group of individuals
who “received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” have been
energetically activated by God to mentally stray, harbor wrong opinions and to err in morality and
religious matters.
I said earlier that:
“Activation involves busily exerting energetic, inventive and organized motion (work) to
accelerate changes. Activation produces real, instantaneous and progressive practical effects as
distinguished from the theoretical, ideal or speculative.”
In the scriptures quoted
above we see the tremendously different practical effects produced by activation that comes from
work. The eternal consequences of attitude, responsibility and coping with the reality and measuring
results of these activities is awesome.
As wonderful as it is that
we might work the works of God, as we ourselves define those works, isn’t it much more
wonderful to believe on Jesus as chronicled by the Holy Bible, and nothing else?
As wonderful as it is to
superficially call each other brother or sister, isn’t it much more wonderful to do the will of
the Father and be counted as brothers, sisters and mothers to Jesus? Does it stand to reason that to
count others as brothers, sisters and mothers to us, that they also must do the will of the Father? And
that we also must do the will of Father to be recognized as their brothers?
As wonderful as
prophesying is, as wonderful as casting out demons is, as wonderful as it is to do mighty
works—doing those things by our own choice and will—isn’t it much more
wonderful to enter into the kingdom of heaven by doing the will of the Father?
As wonderful as it is to
hear preachers, teachers and others expound upon the word of God, —according to what they
perceive as the truth—isn’t it much more wonderful to first receive a love of the truth?
The truth of God and the truth of the Bible? So that God doesn’t send us strong delusion, that
we should believe a lie?
Our Choices
We can believe on a
biblical Jesus and do the works of God.
Or we can
“personalize and customize” our own personal Jesus and not do the works of
God.
We can do the will of the
Father and be a brother, sister or mother to Jesus and to each other.
Or we can not do the will
of the Father and not be a brother, sister or mother to Jesus and to each other.
We can do the will of the
Father and enter into the kingdom of heaven
Or we can not do the will
of the Father and not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
We can receive a love of
the truth that we might be saved.
Or we can not receive a
love of the truth, and not be saved, and be energetically activated by God to mentally stray, harbor
wrong opinions and to err in morality and religious matters.
What do you desire for
your self?
2001 is a year that you
have an opportunity to activate yourself to do the works of God, to do the will of the Father and be
a brother, sister or mother to Jesus and to each other, and to know that you will enter into the
kingdom of heaven and to receive a love of the truth that we might be truly saved.
Or 2001 is a year you can
customize your own personal Jesus according to your criteria, to not do the will of the Father and
not be a brother to Jesus and others, to make no attempt to enter the kingdom of heaven, to not
receive a love of the truth, not be saved and to stray from the righteous path, harbor wrong opinions
and to be in error in moral and religious matters.
Let’s take a look
at Ephesians 1:19,20:
“And what is the
exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty
power,” (Ephesians 1:19).
The first usage of the word
“power” is dunamis, ability, might and strength, i.e., force. It specifically means
miraculous power of supernatural origin and character. “Working” is energeia,
“active, operative.” “Mighty” is ischus, about which Vines
Expository Dictionary says: “In <Eph. 1:19> and <6:10>, it is said of the strength
of God bestowed upon believers, the phrase “the power of His might” indicating
strength afforded by power.” “Power” is kratos, indicating manifested
power.
“Which he wrought
in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly
places,” (Ephesians 1:20).
“Wrought”
is energeo, “to work in,” indicating to be active and operative.
We see the miraculous
power of God active and operative in believers, the same power that was actively at work in Christ,
when God raised Him from the dead and set Him at His Own right hand.
In Ephesians 3:7 Paul says:
“Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by
the effectual working of his power.”
“Effectual
working” is energeia, “active, operative.”
And in verse 20 (of chapter
three), he states: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”
“Power” is
dunamis, supernatural power, and “worketh” is energeo, actively and
operatively working in.
This same miraculous
power that actively worked in Christ, raising Him from the dead, was also working in Paul, and is
also actively working in us.
You will activate or be
activated, i.e., you will expend your energy in work, in attaining to Godly goals,
clearly defined in the Bible, and receive the powerful, active working assistance of God, or you can
be passive and you will be worked on, by God, in a way that is to your detriment.
“For the word of
God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents
of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Quick is zao, to
live. Powerful is energes, active, operative. God’s word is alive, active and operative.
The reading and studying of God’s word introduces an element into your soul and spirit that
is alive, and active and operative and is conducive to your receiving a love of the truth.
God’s mighty
working active power is yours by your choice. You may choose to receive a love of the truth and you
will continue to recognize and experience truth.
Or, you may choose to
receive a strong delusion, by not receiving a love of the truth, and you will continue to be unable to
recognize and experience truth.
What do you desire for
your self?
God’s Eternal Purpose
Ephesians 1:1-10:
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus
Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and
peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ:
4 According as he hath
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his
will,
6 To the praise of the glory
of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath
abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto
us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation
of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven,
and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have
obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things
after the counsel of his own will:
We see here in verses 9
and 10 God’s eternal purpose, which is to bring all things together in Christ, in heaven and
on earth. What are “all things” of which he speaks?
Verse 4 says God has
chosen us in Him. It should be perfectly clear that Paul’s meaning of “us”
encompasses all the saints of all generations. So we know Paul is speaking of the saints.
When did God choose us?
Before the foundation of the world.
What did He choose us
for? To be holy and without blame. “Holy” is hagios, consecrated to God as
sacred. “Blame” is amomos, which literally means “without
blemish.”
This is the same word,
echoing the same thought, used in Ephesians 5:27: “That he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish.” It’s also used in Philippians 2:15, there translated as “without
rebuke:” “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in
the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” in
Colossians 1:22 (“unblamable”): “In the body of his flesh through death, to
present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” in Jude 1:24
(“faultless”): “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy ...”
It’s also used in
Hebrews 9:14 (“without spot”) in speaking of Jesus: “How much more shall the
blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” and in 1 Peter 1:19 (“without
blemish”), again, in speaking of Christ: “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of
a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
It’s used in
Revelation 14:5 in referring to the 144,000 virgins (“without fault”): “And in
their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
Returning to Ephesians
chapter 1, verse 4:
“Before” is
katenopion, “directly in front of” which would indicate that when we stand
before God for judgement that we will have been consecrated to Him as sacred (holy) and found to
be without blemish (blame), “in love,” which most probably would refer to our love for
Him and His love for us.
In verse 5
“predestinated” is proorizo, “to limit in advance, i.e. (figuratively)
predetermine.” The Ryrie Study Bible has this comment on the word: “God has
determined beforehand that those who believe in Christ will be adopted into His family and
conformed to His Son (cf. Rom. 8:29). It involves a choice on His part (Eph. 1:4); it is done in love
(v. 4); it is based on the good pleasure of His perfect will (vv. 5,9,11); its purpose is to glorify God
(v. 14); but it does not relieve man of his responsibility to believe the gospel in order to bring to pass
personally God’s predestination (v. 13).”
The word
“will” in verses 5,9,11 is thelema, a determination, choice, or inclination and
implies volition and purpose. As a noun it means a wish, desire or longing. It speaks here of
God’s wish, desire and longing, the fulfillment of which by man brings God pleasure.
In verse 10 we see the will
of God: “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all
things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”
“He might gather
together in one” is anakephalaioo, to sum up. Vines Expository Dictionary comments:
“... of God’s purpose to “sum up” all things in the heavens and on the
earth in Christ, a consummation extending beyond the limits of the church, though the latter is to be
a factor in its realization.”
God will sum up all things
“in Christ,” which includes those who will have been consecrated to Him as sacred
(holy) and found to be without blemish (blame), in mutual love of God and saint.
In verse 11, we see that this
is the purpose of God working all things after the counsel of His Own will. “Working”
in this verse is energeo, literally “to work in.” It indicates to be active and
operative.
In Ephesians 3:10,11, Paul,
gives us additional information relative to the purpose of God’s will discussed in Chapter
1:
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,
11 According to the eternal
purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
We see here in the eternal
purpose of God, His intent that His manifold wisdom be made known, through the church
(ekklesia, the called out assembly of Jesus), to the principalities and powers in heavenly
places.
To reiterate part of the the
comment from the Ryrie Study Bible: “... but it does not relieve man of his responsibility to
believe the gospel in order to bring to pass personally God’s predestination (v. 13).”
Verse 13 reads: “In whom” (Christ) “ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word
of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that
holy Spirit of promise ...”
Our personal responsibility
is to trust Jesus Christ, accept the word of God as truth, and the Gospel (good news ) of our salvation
and that having believed, that we have been sealed with God’s Holy Spirit.
If we are to be part of
God’s eternal purpose, and make His manifold wisdom known to the principalities and
powers in heavenly places, then we must be activated “according to the purpose of him who
worketh” (works in as active and operative, i.e., activates) “all things after the counsel
of his own will...”
A Personal Word To Each Saint
Don’t be fooled,
church. You may think this prophetically inspired word is for someone else and not for you. No, this
word is for you.
Let’s look at
Ephesians 1:11 again: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”
“All things,” is pas, all, any, every the whole.
There is no waste in
God’s economy. There is a reason and a purpose “of him who worketh all
things after the counsel of his own will:” (Emphasis mine).
Judas Iscariot worked
miracles (Matthew 10: 1-5). He also betrayed Christ, thus fulfilling scripture.
In Deuteronomy 13:1-4
God said: “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign
or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us
go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them Thou shalt not hearken unto
the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth”
[read: tests] “you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his
commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”
False prophets are one of
God’s standards for measuring our love, obedience and service to Him.
God sent a lying spirit into
the mouths of 400 false prophets so that King Ahab would be killed (1 Kings 22:1-37; 2 Chronicles
18).
King Saul had an evil spirit
from the Lord that troubled him because God had rejected him as king of Israel (1 Samuel
16:14).
In all these things, God had
a purpose.
There is also a purpose for
the tares, the hirelings and the leaven that proliferate in the kingdom of God. There is also an eternal
destiny for such and that will begin when they hear with their very own ears, to their very own
amazement, to their very own terror and horror these words spoken to them by Jesus Christ: “I
never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Yes, you
that prophesied, you that cast out demons and you that worked
miracles in the name of Jesus. This has been in the Bible for 2,000 years and each and every
generation has discounted themselves from that possibility, attributing these to others in the end
times.
Church, we are here, now,
in the end times and God is activating many things that have not as yet transpired that are recorded
in the Bible. Somebody in these
end times is a tare. Somebody in these end times is a hireling. Somebody in these end
times is considered leaven. Somebody from among us will depart from the faith (apostasize).
Somebody is the (or an) anti-Christ.
What makes you think
it’s somebody else?
“Examine
yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how
that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
The NIV makes the verse
a little clearer: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do
you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
Honest examination,
according to scriptural standards is a simple fail or pass test.
What do you desire for
your self?
Apostles
In Ephesians chapter 2, note the time frame of what I will loosely call the “past” (verses 2,11,12 specifically speak of the past). This will explain the “Now therefore” in verse 19, which brings Paul back to his present time. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” (Ephesians 2:19). This is a key to understanding what he says in verse 20: “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” (Ephesians 2:20).
Paul then completes the building analogy: “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21,22).
Since Paul has spoken of the “past” it’s clear that the apostles and prophets he is speaking of in verse 20 are the New Testament apostles and Old Testament prophets—not those coming after he made the statement (but see the Jamieson, Fausett and Brown Commentary, below). It is they who laid the foundation. That was their purpose, their calling, their anointing. They laid the foundation for the building of which Paul speaks in verses 21 and 22.
Excerpts from the Jamieson, Fausett and Brown Commentary on Ephesians 2:20:
“20. Translate as Greek, “Built up upon,” &c. (participle; having been built up upon; omit, therefore, “and are”).” ... “foundation of the apostles, &c.—that is, upon their ministry and living example (compare Mt 16:18). Christ Himself, the only true Foundation, was the grand subject of their ministry, and spring of their life. As one with Him and His fellow workers, they, too, in a secondary sense, are called “foundations” (Re 21:14). The “prophets” are joined with them closely; for the expression is here not “foundations of the apostles and the prophets,” but “foundations of the apostles and prophets.” For the doctrine of both was essentially one (1Pe 1:10, 11; Re 19:10). The apostles take the precedency (Lu 10:24). Thus he appropriately shows regard to the claims of the Jews and Gentiles: “the prophets” representing the old Jewish dispensation, “the apostles” the new. The “prophets” of the new also are included. BENGEL and ALFORD refer the meaning solely to these (Eph 3:5; 4:11). These passages imply, I think, that the New Testament prophets are not excluded; but the apostle’s plain reference to Ps 118:22, “the head stone of the corner,” proves that the Old Testament prophets are a prominent thought. David is called a “prophet” in Ac 2:30. Compare also Isa 28:16; another prophet present to the mind of Paul, which prophecy leans on the earlier one of Jacob (Ge 49:24). The sense of the context, too, suits this: Ye were once aliens from the commonwealth of Israel (in the time of her Old Testament prophets), but now ye are members of the true Israel, built upon the foundation of her New Testament apostles and Old Testament prophets. Paul continually identifies his teaching with that of Israel’s old prophets (Ac 26:22; 28:23). ...”
Excerpted from Vine’s Expository Dictionary: “FOUNDATION (TO LAY), FOUNDED 1. themelios, or themelion is properly an adjective denoting “belonging to a foundation” (connected with tithemi, “to place”). It is used” ... “ metaphorically, (a) of “the ministry of the gospel and the doctrines of the faith,” (Rom. 15:20; 1 Cor. 3:10,11,12; Eph. 2:20), where the “of” is not subjective (i. e., consisting of the apostles and prophets), but objective, (i. e., laid by the apostles, etc.); so in (2 Tim. 2:19), where “the foundation of God” is “the foundation laid by God,”—not the Church (which is not a “foundation”), but Christ Himself, upon whom the saints are built; (Heb. 6:1); (b) “of good works, (1 Tim. 6:19).”
Paul states that Jesus Christ is the only foundation to be laid: 1 Corinthians 3:11: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
We find the same thought expressed by Paul in Romans 15:20-21: “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.”
Paul’s thought is consistent: where someone has laid the foundation of Christ, be it apostle or prophet or another servant of God, then that is all sufficient. No other foundation can be or should be laid.
The sense of the meaning of Ephesians 2:20 then is: You were once aliens from the commonwealth of Israel (in the time of her Old Testament prophets), but now you are members of the household of faith of the true Israel having been built up upon the foundation, which is Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, laid by the New Testament apostles and Old Testament prophets.
It should be easily understood by this short study on Ephesians 2:20 that the New Testament apostles and the Old Testament prophets were responsible for laying the foundation of Jesus Christ Himself as the chief corner stone in the household of faith of the true Israel. Jesus is the foundation, not the apostles and prophets, who were simply the instruments by which the foundation was laid. No servant of God can or should attempt to build another foundation. We are to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ which has already been laid in place.
Moving to chapter three of the same book, Paul in a long parenthetical statement makes another observation. Please note that Paul has now moved from the “past” to his “present,” again, loosely speaking.
Ephesians 3:4-6: “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”
Note in verse 5 he refers back to the “past” (“which in other ages’) in which the mystery of Christ (and the Gospel) was not made known unto the sons of men. He then brings himself current to his own “present” and makes the statement “as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;” (Emphasis mine.)
I’ll just point out a few things in verse 5. Law transited to grace, and grace involves, among other things the giving of the Holy Spirit to the saints. By the Spirit, then, God’s holy apostles, still speaking of the New Testament apostles, wrote the New Testament, just as the Old Testament prophets wrote the Old Testament.
However, the prophets (and apostles) he refers to in verse 5 are those of his “present” time, not the Old Testament prophets (“as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets”). We have to keep in mind also, that the Apostles of the Lamb, the Twelve, were also either prophets or prophetical, especially in their New Testament writings.
The New Testament apostles and the Old Testament prophets are the ones who laid the foundation of Jesus Christ Himself as the chief corner stone of Paul’s allegorical building. However, the revelation of the inclusion of the Gentiles as “fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” was given to the apostles and prophets of the New Testament period in which Paul lived. The Old Testament prophets had written of it, but the meaning of what they had written was a mystery to them. This was a sovereign act of God to progressively reveal His plan of salvation for all of mankind. This revelation has now been made known in all of its fullness as I’ll discuss in following paragraphs.
First the established building, then further revelation knowledge. All by the apostles and prophets at different times (the past and Paul’s present).
In Ephesians 4 Paul speaks again of apostles and prophets (and the gifts from Jesus of evangelist, shepherd and teacher). Paul has spoken of the past, and the present. He is now transitioning from his present time and speaking of the “future” (his future). It was during his lifetime that the transition from Paul’s “present” apostles and prophets to his “future” apostles and prophets occurred.
Speaking of Jesus, Paul says in Ephesians 4:11-16:
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:
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:
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;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Note that the “future” apostles and prophets (and the evangelists and shepherds and teachers) now have a different gifting from the “past” and from Paul’s, “present” apostles and prophets. This is simple to determine because the scripture says in Ephesians 4:8: “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
Were there not already prophets? Were there not already apostles? Yes. But scripture says “he ascended up on high ... and gave gifts unto men”—gifts which include “prophets,” and “apostles.”
It’s clear from scripture that the gifts of Jesus to His church (Ephesians 4:7-11) are not founded upon the Law, as the Law and the Old Testament prophets came to an end, and when Jesus came He fulfilled the law. “... for ye are not under the law, but under grace” Romans (6:14b). “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7).
When Jesus ascended and gave gifts to men the Old Testament prophets and prophecy had ended. Jesus gave new gifts, under grace, instead of under the law, for His ekklesia, which now would include Gentiles also.
In the phrase “pastors and teachers” the word “and” in the Greek is the article “kai.” This word is used in a copulative and also an informational sense. So it doesn’t mean just “and.” I believe what Paul said was that Jesus has given gifts to mankind, some to be sent, some to speak the mind and counsel of God, and some to be itinerant preachers and some shepherds. In the phrase “pastors” [shepherds] “and teachers” the word “kai” is used in the informational sense and would be better translated as “namely” or some such intent. In other words, Jesus has given us those four gifts of public service—apostles, prophets, evangelists and shepherds—namely as teachers for the maturing (perfecting) of the saints and etc. In the framework of this understanding, “five-fold” may be a misnomer. However in actual function there still remain five distinct giftings. The actual identification would be more along the lines of apostle-teacher, prophet-teacher, evangelist-teacher, shepherd-teacher, which is four distinct doma ascension gifts, each however, combined with a teaching “gift”—a total of five servanthood “gifts” given by Jesus to His ekklesia for the purpose of maturing the saints.
The existing building and its foundation, still stands. The revelation knowledge of the original apostles (that is to say, those mentioned throughout the New Testament) still stands. There is no “new” foundation to put in place (unless, of course, you have replaced the chief corner stone, Who is Jesus Christ Himself, in which case what I’m saying is pointless to you).
There are no “new” revelations of Jesus and the Gospel which can replace the revelations of the New Testament apostles.
No, the “future” apostles of which Paul spoke have a detailed job description as given by Paul. I repeat that it was during Paul’s lifetime that the transition from his “present” apostles and prophets to his “future” apostles and prophets occurred. And those future apostles and prophets are the ones that continued after the New Testament and include what is our present-day apostles and prophets.
These present-day apostles and prophets have a different gifting from the Old and New Testament apostles and prophets. Today’s apostles and prophets (and evangelists and shepherds as teachers) are to mature the saints by preparing them for works of public service, or ministry. And to teach them how to build up the body of Christ. The purpose is to bring about unity of the faith that comes with the knowledge of the Son of God so that the body of Christ will mature into the full measure of Christ Himself.
There are no “super-apostles” coming to lay a “new” foundation and to give us further “revelations” that surpass those of the New Testament apostles and prophets regarding Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Christ.
Today’s apostles and prophets have a different function and that is to help the body of Christ grow in understanding and experiential knowledge of that which has already been written for us.
With this understanding of the scriptures you will be able to recognize the false prophets and false apostles that the word says will be among us in these latter days.
True unity of the faith is based upon the knowledge of the Son of God, which, of course, includes the truth of the word of God which teaches us of Christ. Unity in the body of Christ must be based upon the truth of scripture, not ecumenical councils or other devices which simply overlook the truth of the Bible.
Understanding the scriptural role of today’s prophets will help you recognize today’s false prophets and apostles that the word says will be among us in these latter days.
What do you desire for
your self?
(For a profile of a true
apostle see the article “Will The Real Apostles
Please Stand Up?”).
A Word For The Church
The Father says to His
church for the next coming year:
There will be a shift in the
balance of various forms of power which will be manifested throughout the earth in several different
arenas—the political arena, and personal scenarios and many things in between those two areas.
As this power shift continues to transition it will have a noticeable effect on the lives of people in
many different areas.
This will affect lifestyles
and will cause many to reevaluate their position in the scheme of things. Also, to begin to seek
answers outside of the area of human wisdom. This is only the beginning of a shaking that will
change many things that are now accepted as the standard of normalcy.
This is all for the purpose
of bringing about much needed change in the human heart. Those things which have influenced
establishment of human behavior need to be changed in order to change the pattern of human
behavior. As these things take place and the familiar and the comfortable and the anticipated begin
to change and fail to materialize it will produce confusion, fear, and speculation on the part of those
who are so affected.
However, those who are
firmly rooted and grounded in My word will recognize what is happening and they will know, and
they will understand from My word and from My Spirit. As they become more and more aware of
the correlation of their understanding from My word and from My Spirit of those things that are
occurring, many will step forth, with a new boldness, as a witness for their Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ. In many cases, they will do so at great peril and risk to their own safety and well-being and
protection, but I, the Lord, shall encompass them about with My holy angels to protect them.
In the fullness of their
boldness—springing from faith—they shall walk in signs and wonders and miracles as
testimony of My word. Many shall hear and be glad and accept with joy the good news of the Gospel
of My Son, Jesus Christ. Others will turn away; sadly, they will turn away, and they will reject the
Very One Who came and died and was resurrected so that they may have life more abundantly.
But My people, those who
are called by My Name, and who walk in the fullness of My Spirit, shall evidence much activity and
they shall reap much fruit. The changes in their circumstances about them will not deter them from
walking in the fullness of My Holy Spirit and from the fullness of all that I have for them.
Fear not, for I am with you
always, yea, even to the end of this age.
