I have found it necessary to write about the Body of Christ,
and it's members individually (1Cor.12:27).
Even though all anointed are given spirit and truth (John 4:24; 1John 2:20,27; John 16:13),
not all are given identical gifts of truth and spirit (1Cor.12:4,5,6,7; Acts 18:26).
God distributes these gifts in different capacities (1Cor.12:17,18).
All are to benefit from the gifts given to each (1Cor.12:7,21,22,25,26).
Many even among the anointed do not want to accept the scriptures which clarify this arrangement...
Eph.2:20; Phil.3:17; 1Cor.14:32,33; 1Cor.12:28; Eph.3:5,2,3,4,5.
These scriptures clearly show the arrangement and order God has designed Christ's body to have.
When it says,
"First apostles, second prophets, third teachers....."
(1Cor.12:28,29)
It is not speaking of a time frame.
How do we know this?
Did any prophets come before the apostles?
Did any prophets come before Christ (the cornerstone)?
Are there no more "prophets" after the emergence of "teachers"?
Are there no more teachers after there are healers?
By a brief examination of the fact that this is not a chronological progression of layers,
the question then arises; what does it mean to be first, second, third, etc.?
Jesus referred to that answer at Matt.20:16; Mark 10:40; and Luke 14:10,11.
1Cor.12:18 reads;
"But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them,
just as he wanted them to be."
Does this not make clear that the various parts of Christ's body are placed...
not according to time, but according to God's assignment for them?
This can be compared to a typical army.
Certainly a General can be appointed after the army already had Sergeants.
The scriptures prove this application accurate...
When we read Acts 2:17,18...
"‘And it shall come to pass
in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy,
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit
in those days;
And they shall prophesy."
and Rev.11:3;
"And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they
will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
Clearly, there
will be prophets after there were teachers.
There
are prophets in the last days, and there
were teachers in the first century
(1Tim.4:16; Rom.12:7; 2Tim.2:2,24; Matt.28:20; 1Cor.4:17; etc.).
(Link:
https://pearl-prophecycease.blogspot.com)
Since we know prophets are "second", and teachers are "third",
this cannot be referring to a chronological progression,
since some prophets (2nd) come after some teachers (3rd).
Many even among anointed, cannot accept that it is just as the scriptures reveal....
the foundation upon which the others are built, supported, and function,
is apostles and prophets
(Eph.2:20,21; 3:5; 1Cor.3:10; 2Tim.1:13; 2:2; 3:14; 2Pet.1:19; Heb.13:7; Titus 2:15).
We are told that Christ is BOTH... the root and the offspring of David.
This is not only about chronological order, but most significantly about a dynamic structure of purpose and operation.
To illustrate;
In a literal army, there are various classifications.
Each have their assignment and place within the functioning of that army.
The army is not built from the ground up, but rather all classifications are perpetually
renewed as vacancies open.
The army is not constructed by choosing the commander in chief first,
the generals, second;
the colonels third;
the lieutenants, forth;
the sergeants fifth; etc.
so that for a time there are only the commander and generals in the army,
and later the colonels are added, while there are still no lieutenants.
Instead...
God sent His people prophets, judges and deliverers first....
leading up to the Messiah cornerstone.
Even after the emergence of "teachers", there would be replacement prophets....
just as a literal army may need replacement Generals and Colonels to direct.
A General can receive his post and assignment, after sergeants already exist.
The appointment has nothing to do with a chronological progression of officers.
All that matters is a soldier's assigned position,
and the relation that position has to the rest of the army.
In this way, there is order and accomplishment.
It is God who chooses such positions in Christ's spiritual army (Rev.19:11,14).
He sees to it that all positions are filled as they are needed,
and He fills them with whomever He chooses, whenever He chooses.
Yet unlike a literal army,
the members of Christ's body love and respect one another,
as well as one another's God-assigned position. This is because
anything we have or do, is not from us, but from God
(1Cor.4:7; 1Pet.4:10,11; Rom.11:36; 12:3; Phil.2:3).
When we are told that God arranges things orderly, (1Cor.14:33)
this is especially true of His Temple, the body of Christ (1Cor.3:16; Eph.2:20,21,22).
All anointed are strongly commanded to discern that order within the Body (1Cor.12:18; Eph.5:17).
1Cor.11:29 reads;
"For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord, eats and drinks judgment on himself."
All members of the body must recognize the order within Christ's body, so that it can function according to the will of Him who created it.
One of the most important things a chosen one can do, is to soon discern their place in the body, following anointment.
Imagine someone chosen to be a "healer", deciding he will rather be a prophet...
or an administrator, deciding instead that he wants to be an apostle...
or a prophet deciding he would rather heal.
If this occurred, what would result?
Would the members of Christ "go on perceiving what the will of God is"?
Would they even be capable of accomplishing the will of their Father amidst such chaos?
How is it that the apostles and prophets are "first" and "second", and establish a "foundation" of orderly structure within the Body of Christ?
Imagine if we did not have the Greek scriptures which came from the apostles and Christ,
but rather, laid a new foundation written by someone chosen to be a healer (1Cor.3:11).
How could the final prophets sound the warnings sourced in God's Word, if that Word were ignored by them?
How could a teacher teach, without having the guidance of the apostolic accounts (2Tim.2:2), and the prophet's interpretations and insights given them by divine vision (Num.12:6; Amos 3:7; Rev.10:7; 2Pet.1:19,20)?
The Body of Christ is now in confusion (the meaning of "Babylon").
This should compel every anointed one to be sober in examining themselves (Gal.6:4; 1Cor.11:28).
They must also be sober to "discern the body" and their functioning place within it.
If someone chosen to be an apostle, ignored the cornerstone, would he be equipped to do his assignment?
If a prophet ignored Christ and the apostles, would he be equipped to offer the fine fruit of true interpretation of prophecy? (Matt.10:27; Rev.11:3)
If someone chosen to be a "teacher" ignored the prophets; would he be equipped to teach current revelation and warning?
(2Chron.25:15,16; Zech.1:6; Eze.33:4; Isa.58:1; Rev.10:7; Eze.3:7; Amos 4:12)
Many teachers today have become self-assuming and rebellious in this regard. Since Holy Spirit does not support their taking a position of prophet or apostle, they must resort to hours of independent research into worldly wisdom, in search of something to teach. Their doctrines are sourced outside both the Body, and outside God's spirit and design. They are working independently of the Body, God's will, and Holy Spirit (1John 2:19; Acts 20:30; Col.2:19). These do not "discern the body"; and when they partake of the emblems which portray that very arrangement of order, they are judged.
These rebel against God's will for them. As a result, their own works by divine calling, are not "fully performed" (Gal.6:4; 1Cor.11:28; Rom.12:6,7,8; Rev.3:2)
The Truth I have been shown, and in obedience, work to offer others,
is often rejected on the basis of my flesh (Gal.3:28,26; Acts 2:18), and upon a denial and lack of faith concerning my divine assignment within the Body. That assignment is completely unrelated to my own will (Rom.9:16; John 15:16; 1Cor.12:18; 4:1).
All those chosen who reject God's arrangement for them in this time of the end, are in peril (Matt.10:41; 1Thess.2:13; Prov.16:18; Phil.4:9).
I do not ask for others to accept my own authority
(Rom.3:23; John 5:43; 7:16,17,18; 12:49; 14:10; 17:21; 1Cor.4:7).
Certainly, we are warned about false prophets (Matt.7:15; 24:24; 1John 4:1).
But this should not result in the members of the Body, rejecting the prophets who are such at God's direction and choosing.
The scriptures tell us how to discern who we should accept or reject (Matt.7:20; John 7:17,18; 1John 4:1,2,3,4,5,6; Mal.3:18)! Put that knowledge to use, and stop being indecisive!
Should a prophet who proves to be offering fine fruit be rejected on the basis of their gender,
or based upon one's discontent with their own assignment?
(1Cor.3:3; 11:18,19; 2Cor.12:15,16,17,19,20)
Who are we to question God's choices (Isa.45:9; Rom.9:19,20,21)?
This is precisely the lesson of Luke 14:7,8,9,10,11.
As a prophet, should I be resentful that I am not an apostle?
Should I resent that I am not Jesus Christ?
Should I resent that I am not a healer, or simply a teacher, or a translator?
Do you imagine that I would not find joy in such relief ?
I expect that I don't fully understand the responsibilities of the other anointed members of Christ's Body; but I do know that the responsibility of being a prophet is crushing, if not in constant reliance upon God.
If anyone imagines that being a part of the Temple's foundation means to enjoy prominence or domination of others, I remind you of the words of Christ...
"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." (Matt.23:11)
(1Cor.4:9; Acts 7:52; Matt.23:37; Phil.2:17; 2Cor. 12:15; 1John 3:16; Col.1:24)
I am here only to serve, as I hope many of you are already aware.
Clearly by their obvious position within the Organization...the GB is the Steward over the household of God's slaves (Luke 12:42). Yet obviously, to be over slaves is not to be the only slave. Of all Christ's anointed slaves, any of them may and should, prove "faithful and discreet" (Col.3:24; 1Cor.4:2). Many anointed slaves have been thrown out of the Master's household by the wicked steward (Luke 12:45,46; Hosea 6:5)!
What will become of that house when all the faithful are out..faithfully functioning outside the condemned City (Luke 21:20,21,22; 17:29,30)?
(Matt.23:37,38; Rev.18:4,5,24; Matt.25:6; Heb.13:13; Rev.6:11)
Have not the GB violated Prov.25:6,7,8...by rejecting the foundation...
those chosen by God to be prophets and apostles?
They reject the healthful teachings of Christ, subsequently penned by the apostles.
They reject the present prophecies, as well as the present fulfillment of past prophecies.
The GB has laid a new foundation for themselves...
They have made themselves the cornerstone (Phil.2:6; 1Cor.3:11), being benefactor to a NON-anointed Organization of counterfeit priests (Rev.13:14,15; 19:20)...
creating a foreign temple to a "foreign god"
(Dan.11:37,38,39; Rev.9:11; 13:8,15; Eze.8:5,6,7,8,9,10).
They have erected a counterfeit Mt.Zion (Rev.8:8; Zech.4:7,9),
Link:
"YHVH's Genuine Mountain" (Isa.2:2,3)
and a decoy "Kingdom" while Satan yet rules.
LINK:
The Great Deception
The true anointed prophets will arise at God's direction, spirit, and will.
Their purpose is to warn those headed for death due to rebellion,
and a leaving of God and His expressed direction (Isa.42:8; 48:11; Rev.13:8,15).
This rebellion can be committed by anointed both within and without the Organization (Dan.11:35; Matt.23:37; 1Cor.12:18,28; 11:29).
We now live in the greatest time of grave spiritual testing. We are all in the "valley of the decision", where the Almighty God will pass judgment on all those claiming to know Him. In all humility, fear and trembling, we best focus on how to please
Him,
rather than griping about our assignments
(Heb.2:1,2,3,4; Rom.15:3,5,6,7; Jude 1:16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25).
Do we belittle our own place within God's plan of salvation and mercy, which is so expansive as to be beyond our comprehension?
There
will be order in the Temple of God, exactly according to His decree.
It is our
own choice, whether or not
we will be in harmony with the decree of
His order.
We will reap what we sow,
which may not be what we prefer to imagine, if we resist the Spirit
(Acts 7:51,52; 1Thess.5:19,20; 4:8; 1Cor.14:32,33; Amos 3:7,6; Rev.10:7).
I come as prophet, not only to the GB, but to all the captive chosen remnant (Rev.13:7,10; Col.2:8),
as well as all those deceived by the false prophet, it's sea beast, and all those marked as their slaves (Rev.13:11,15,8,14; 19:20; 16:13; 13:16).
I ask nothing for myself.
I only offer what I have been given,
to be accepted or rejected.
Beyond my own reactions of joy, grief, fear, and awe;
...the consequences due each anointed one,
based upon their acceptance or rejection of their own assignment,
and the assignment of another,
are up to them.
Here is another post about this subject:
LINK:
Prophets within Christ's Body / Temple Foundation
ADDITION, taken from my response to another Chosen one, who is offended by my accepting my assigned place in the body of Christ, as a prophet,
and that the work I do by the authority given me, is by demonic spirit and pride.
"Is it not the scriptures themselves that declare the apostles and prophets as the foundation of the Temple Priesthood?…
“having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord” (Eph.2:20,21)
“And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.” (1Cor.12:28)
Why would we first of all, submit to the apostles?
Jesus himself said that upon that rockmass, he would build his congregation (Matt.16:18; Rev.21:14).
Isn’t that true today, as we base what we teach upon the Greek scriptures?
Why secondly, to prophets?
Because it is to prophets that God declares the interpretations of the scriptures, and what He is going to do, before he does it…
“Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
“But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.” (Rev.10:7)
Are all members of Christ, Prophets?
Paul asked this same question…
“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?” (1Cor.12:29)
Well, although we know all are not apostles (There were 12 - Rev.21:14),
we can know if all are prophets by looking at Num.12:6…
“God said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.”
If we have not experienced God speaking to us in vision, we are not a prophet in the body of Christ, according to God.
But if we go back to 1Cor.12:4-7,12,18
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Just as a body, though one, has many different parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”
“And He gave SOME as apostles, and SOME as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph.4:12)
Why has God given different assignments within the body of Christ?
“If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” (1Cor.12:17,18)
1Cor.11:29 tells us that if we do not discern this body of Christ with it’s various parts, as well as our place within it (1Cor.11:31), we stand condemned.
God has placed us within an order so that the body of Christ can be built up, according to the assignment of each part. We are told that the spirit which prophets receive is used according to their own faith…
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith” (Rom.12:6)
“The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets, for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” (1Cor.14:32,33)
What is the reason given?
God is a God of order and peace. If a teacher does not submit to the apostles, is there order in the body of Christ, and is it built up?
“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” (Heb.13:17)
What does it mean to be the foundation? Is this merely speaking of an order of time?
No, that is not possible, because there were prophets before the apostles (Acts 7:52), and there are prophets which come in the time of the end, long after first century teachers (Rev.11:3; Heb.5:12).
Paul helps us to understand what it means to be a part of the foundation…
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s LABOR will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.” (1Cor.3:10,12,13)
Clearly this first scripture shows us that the foundation Paul laid, was not one of mere time, but was one of teachings, faith, and example (1Cor.11:1). The continuing work on that building, would continue to add “living stones” (1Pet.2:5,9).
“Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own LABOR. For we are God’s fellow workers (2Cor.6:1); you are God’s field, GOD’s BUILDING.” (1Cor.3:8,9)
“Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.” (1Cor.9:1,2)
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1John 1:3)
If you disagree with the divine order God has given the body, as depicted in the scriptures I have cited, please publish here how you understand these previous scriptures.
Just as Paul could not help where God placed him in the body of Christ, neither can I (1Cor.15:9,10). I do not take pride in my place in the Body, but I have anxiety and fear to fulfill what God has assigned to me.
To those given more, more is demanded (Luke 12:48).
Each slave is given according to their ability…
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. ″To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.” (Matt.25:14,15)
And yet, without Christ (John 15:5) and the power of God (Phil.4:13), we can do nothing.
Those given much are expected to serve others more…
“Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. ″But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.” (Mark 10:42,43,44)
"So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?" (2Cor.12:15)
