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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: Here is the Scripture Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV) 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. This command was given to the eleven. They were given specific instruction what to do, an d later the Holy Spirit would bring "other things" to their remembrance of what Jesus said and done that was relevant to their on-going walk with Him. As I said, and as you can read, the command is for the eleven disciples to fulfill. It is not meant for everyone in the body of Christ as the church teaches new believers when they become saved and begin attending fellowship in a good church. However, the Scripture is for [our] training and admonition, as well as for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (and that righteousness we are trained and instructed in means we interpret the Scriptures correctly and not take specifics from the Word as is found in Matthew 28:19-20 and wrongly interpret them as the church does today (and in the past). However, being that we have the Scripture for our training and admonition and that God speaks to us through His Word by the Holy Spirit if God ever chose to call someone and gift them it will be through His Word, and a person can have the same call and instruction as the eleven, or the can have just the call and another instruction. It depends on the will of God for that person. It is in this that it "goes forward." We are not all apostles with the same call and instruction as the eleven disciples. But that is what the church teaches in general, to go out and evangelize, preach, etc. and they err in this also because they half step. Part of the instruction is to go to Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the [then known world - east - the Orient.] But the church doesn't obey this part of Jesus' instruction to the eleven, do they? (Acts 1:8). So, to interpret this in Matthew and say everyone is supposed to do what the eleven were specifically commanded by Christ to do is error in and of itself, and it is error because they pick and choose what part they want to obey (omitting the go to Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria part, etc.), and this is wrong too. As you can see from the text Jesus is commanding the eleven to do those things, not everyone in the body of Christ. Are you following me? One can be called to be the royal baker and given specific instruction of whether or not to teach another, it depends on what God and His Christ reveal to the person in the body of Christ. He is the Head and He determines who does what and with what gifts and instruction. We are all parts on the body of Christ. We are not the whole. Our call will be in part, our instruction will be in part, our gifts will be in part, etc. I know of an older brother, a senior, who's only instruction is to speak as led "to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles." I don't know his calling, but I am aware and know what he is to say when in his gift. As long as he is obedient (and I believe he is), then God will use him as the Lord leads. But to go and do and say what God and His Christ gave specifically to another in the body of Christ is to short-circuit your own call and instruction because while one thinks they are supposed to do what Christ gave specifically to the eleven to do and mimic their call and instruction is to be disobedient and Christ cannot use a horse that has no bridle or bit in his mouth. You understand uncontrolled, yes? Mavericks. So, who is really leading and guiding this Christian??? That is what I am saying. We are to be taught by those called to teach. We are to be shepherded by those called to shepherd, we are called to wait on the Lord, to read and study His Word, and when the Lord is good and ready He will reveal to the person (all persons individually) their call, their gifts, their instruction, etc., that they may serve Him obediently and fulfill their part in the body. |