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NASB | Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God's people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; |
Subject: How do you share Jesus with others? |
Bible Note: PART TWO Acts 13:2 (KJV) 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. My question when looking at this Scripture is: "What call?" For partial understanding given the amount of information contained in these passages of Scripture we can conclude the LORD said something more specific than what is revealed in general to Ananias (Acts 9:15-16), and Paul's testimony to the crowd (Acts 22:21). Anything the LORD may have said to Paul would have to be verified so that those who were part of the external witness may know that God actually spoke to Paul and was speaking to them in Acts 13:2. I believe the only verifiable way to test this "spirit" manifested through prophecy (Acts 13:1-2) was through the Old Testament Scripture. Acts 13:3 shows there was more time that passed as they fasted and prayed some more. If these things are true, then the command Christ gave to the eleven in Matthew 28:19 and Acts 1:8 was a command given specifically to the eleven, and that today (or after the events in Matthew and Acts) when one is called by God and Christ, God will speak in accordance to the written and revealed Word of God. I am not saying that only the eleven were ever given the Matthew 28:19 command to service, I am saying that this call was not given to everyone in the Body of Christ as it is being taught today, thus making everyone an apostle. But if the Holy Spirit were to ever speak to one of His own today (as is described in Scripture), there will be an internal witness (God speaking directly to His servant and through His Word), and as described in Acts 13:2 an external witness through prophecy that will speak to the church fellowship IF the gift of prophecy in the fellowship is given free rein and is exercised and part of Biblical practice. If one of God's servants were to be called today the Holy Spirit can and may well have used the Scripture in Matthew 29:19 (or Acts 1:8), to get His message across to His servant and to reveal such a persons call to the church as well. There may well be some in the past and some today who may have a similar calling as the eleven, or as Paul, or as Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25), etc. To test the validity of such consequence when it does happen the Scripture is the basis and the source to which we go in order to verify what God may have said to a person and to a church fellowship. The Holy Spirit (I believe) will not speak anything that is not revealed in Scripture (Jn. 16:13-14). If and when He does speak to His people it will be found to be what is already revealed in Scripture. How will a believer know the voice? Because the words will be the Word of God. Recognize the Word and you recognize the voice. And of course, the Presence of the Holy Spirit will be there glorifying Christ (the Word). If Christ is King, then I believe in the Kingdom Principle. We all have gifts and pounds and talents and calling that is not the same for everyone. Just as there are many parts in the body so there are many members. The Kingdom Principle is that which says that the royal baker does not mosey on into the royal motor-pool, remove the keys to the royal coach and proceed to take the royal coach for a spin. If Christ is King (and He is), then He is the one to appoint in His kingdom who does what and who serves in which way, we do not mimic the gift(s) and calling of another in the body of Christ. We wait to be discipled and when God is ready He will reveal your place in the body of Christ and what gifts and talents He has given you to accomplish that service to Him. We do not interpret Scripture and take a specific command the King gave to one of His servant and make it our own (unless somewhere in our walk the King has spoken specifically to "you." And when one has been given a mission by the King it's best to get out of the way :) (2) This/these are my own understanding and conclusions. |