INTRODUCTION
The next journey I since the Lord leading me on is discovering ministry as He intended it. He wants me to make sure I am modeling myself after His Son and not by the traditions of man. For we are not called to our own ministry but to continue the ministry of Christ. It is not about what we can do for God, but what Christ can do through us. Our ministry is to be an extension of Christ and He is to be the one ministering through us. He wants us not to look to the body as the guide to successful ministry but to the Head which is Himself, the Commander and Chief, for we can only be the body if He is the Head. We are each to supply to the body what the Head gives to us for us to fully grow up into the image of Jesus Christ.
When something deteriorates and is being restored it doesn't look good, but upon restoration the beauty that was once is seen again. The Roman empire tried to conquer the followers of Christ through persecution but Christianity only grew. What nearly conquered Christianity was when it became institutionalized by Rome and became a state religion. Knowledge was taken away from the laity as scriptures were no longer allowed to be read. The Five-Fold Ministry became a religious heir-achy full of corrupt politicians called Priests seeking power and fame. Christianity was mixed with pagan rituals and man made traditions. Ultimately Christ the head of the church was replaced with man. Just like Israel had chosen man to replace God as King during the time of Samuel's leadership in which God gave them their wishes and provided Saul. The Kingdom of God was replaced with the Kingdom of Rome.
Just like God has restored the nation of Israel naturally and is also restoring them spiritually as many are coming to know Jesus Christ as their savior so is He restoring His church. God used Prophets in the Old Testament to call the nation of Israel back to Himself, restoration would follow with the law and all it's practices, so has God raised up Reformers who brought Revivals over the past 700-800 years who have been restoring foundational truths as found in Hebrews Chapter 6:1-2 and the governing offices of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher as found in Ephesians 5:22-23. Jesus is the fullness of God, He is the Glory of the church. When Jesus went to Heaven He distributed gifts upon the Church, the five-fold ministry, when these gifts work together, the saints are fully equipped for the work of the ministry. The body now has the knowledge needed to fully function as an extension of Jesus Christ on earth. The bible says Jesus is awaiting in Heaven for the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). Church we are in the finest hour. The foundation has been reset and proper Government is back in place, now the stones which represent each saint can be put in their rightful place like Nehemiah did with the burnt stones in rebuilding Jerusalem. We are the spiritual stones that God is building New Jerusalem, His spiritual house, where His Glory can fill the earth.
The 1950's saw the restoration of the office of the Evangelist, the 1960's saw the restoration of the office of Pastor, the 1970's saw the restoration of the office of Teacher, the 1980's saw the restoration of the office of Prophet, and the 1990's saw the restoration of the office of Apostle. The year 2000-2010 was the Saints Movement, as the five-fold ministry was in place the saints were properly equipped for ministry. 2010-2020 is now the Kingdom movement where discipling the nations is the emphasis. God is increasing His government upon the earth. Everything that can be shaken as it says in Hebrews 12 is being shaken so the Kingdom of God which can not be shaken can come forth. Let us become a people that are unshakable, true citizens of His kingdom.
We must make sure therefore we are not building our own kingdom but His kingdom by making sure we are following the King of kings and not man. So come along on this journey with me as we go into the book of Luke and study the ministry of Jesus and into the book of Acts and study how the church began through the Apostles who were the mirror reflection of Jesus through the Holy Spirit bringing the kingdom of Heaven to Earth.
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