The Ministry of God

[Snooky]

There is a way that seemeth right unto aman, but the end thereof is the ways ofdeath.
Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that find it.
The foolish man built upon the sand, but the wise mandug down deep and built upon the rock and his house stood.
That day shall not come except there come a falling away first.
Behold I send a famine in the land, not a famine for bread to eat, or water to drink, but a famine for hearing the words of the Lord.
This is just a brief overview of Sundays bible lesson.

Joel chapter one speaks of the effects of the catapillar, cankerworm, and palmerworm ect. and the resulting effects on Gods people. Chapter 2, Joel speaks of a time of restoration and revival to come. God isn't coming back for a blackslidden church. The wife hath made herself ready! The manmade doctrines and teachings of those have appointed themselves into position of authority within the church without the call of God, must be concidered as a source of many falling away. It is time to cast away the teachings of men and return again unto the God of our Fathers and his doctrines.
1 Cor 12:28 God set some in the Church, first Apostles. Before prophets, pastors, evangelest, teachers, helps, goverments, gifts, ect. God set Apostles in the Church!!
Eph 4:11 God again gives record of his perfect plan and Apostles are the first mentioned. The 1st book after the death of Jesus Christ isn't called the Acts of the Prophets, Pastors, Evanglists, teachers, or the Church. It is the Acts of The Apostles!! It is the only book in the N.T. that isn't closed! Read the last sentance in Acts and see if there is a closing statement. Acts of the Apostles are on-going!
Who removed Apostles from the church? Under what authority? By what decree from God?
1 Cor 4:1 The "Us" spoken of is the Apostles. They are the stewards of the "mysteries" of God! V:2 declare that faithfulness is required! Faithful unto Gods Mysteries, doctrines, and teaching. Must avoid false doctrines of man-made origins, and preach no other doctrine lest they be cursed of God.
Webster defines "steward" as 1. one actively concerned withthe direction of an organization. 2. One who superintends for another, to have the oversight of. 3. To care for with authority.
Isn't it obvious that without Apostles, the church again becomes "sheep w/o a shepard"? Without Apostles, there isn't a steward to oversee and set the doctrinal boundries! No one to set the "course" for the Church! Every man is back to doing what is right in his "own" eyes, while they are blind to the things of God.
Acts 1:2 God sets the pattern by giving commandments unto the Apostles!
Note: A dead man isn't in touch with the living! The church today, needs Apostles today who in touch with its needs.
Also note that the Epistles weren't written to establish Churches, but rather to confirm what was already taught by the Apostles! They were founded upon the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief corner Stone.
The two main areas of concern to the Apostles were: Function, and doctrine.
Function= being what one does to show his faith in God. Prayer, study, fasting, praise, worship, lifestyle and communication, are some areas of function.
Doctrine= sets the guidelines of function, "in word and deed".
Acts 2 They continued STEADFASTLY in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship.
II John :9 Whosoever trangresseth and ABIDETH NOT in the Doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
Without the Doctrine of Christ, there is no operation of God. (dead, dull, dry, boring, powerless, services) There is no mediation of Christ. The working of The Holy Ghost is absent.
The continuation in the doctrine results in the demonstration of the presense and power of God that, heals, anddelievers, BOTH body and soul. Stand ye in the way and see, and ask for the old paths wherein is the good way and walk therein.

[Snooky]

The definition of an Apostle.
We gave a partial defination as: a living steward of the mysteries of God. Most commonly the definition is: a sent one. Mark 16:15 Go ye therefore into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. So is everyone sent an Apostle? Prophets, evangelists, Pastors, teachers are all sent as is every believer, but all are not Apostles. Acts 8:26 Phillip was call an evangelist, and was sent to preach to the eunich. That didn't change his calling and make him an Apostle. Phillip didn't have the measure of Grace to structure the church in doctrine, truth, and function. The function of an Apostle is much deeper than just being one who is sent. Sent for a reason!!

Moses in the Hebrew means "drawn out", but his calling was much more than just onecalled out. Moses was the deliever, he was the Law Giver, he was the one chosen to lead Gods people out of bondage. Moses was drawn out to do all these things. Drawn out for a purpose!!

The Apostles were sent to establish doctrine, truth, and funtion within the Church, the Body of Christ, with Jesus being the Chief Corner Stone.
God uses people to establish government, not written letters and epistles. God uses letters to confirm the words spoken by the Apostles. Jesus taught his Apostles, and opened their understanding before sending them out. Paul had Jesus appear and gave him his revelation of Jesus Christ, before he was sent out. They used the written scriptures to prove their new doctrine that turned the world upside down.
Eph 4:7 is a key scripture, But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
One cannot stretch beyond the measure of his grace that was given. The church has been severly handicaped as a result of men trying to work beyond their gift of grace. These read the Bible and map out what they think is in line with the will of God. These who are not called and charged with the stewardship of the mysteries of God, make ship wreck of the faith and cause many to fall.
True believers are not looking for a plausable answer to their questions concerning God and His salvation! They are looking for the Truth!
Who, what, and where one worships is critical to doctrine, truth, and function. Without living Apostles, the enemy will sow the field with tares.
Ro 6:17 one must obey that form of doctrine which was delievered.
Ro 16:17 Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine, which ye have learned, and avoid them.
Doctrine must be delievered, and learned. When one doesn't have a congregation with which he worships, he has no Apostle, no Prophet, no Evangelist, no Pastor, or Teacher. He is a sheep without a shepard.
When we understand the work of an Apostle, we see what the church is missing. We understand why they are called "Gifts".
Many would welcome Apostles with open arms if they would go out and bring multitudes of tithing members into their church. That isn't their measure of grace!! Their reproof, rebuke, their correction, their setting forth the doctrine, truth, and function necessary is not welcome. The scripture declares, "They have not rejected you, They have rejected me"

[Snooky]

For those who are sincere and not playing spiritual games with others.

Eph 4:5 (by grace are ye saved
Eph 4:8 For bt grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God;
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commomwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants (prual) of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world;
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 4:11-15 For the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Note V:14 Gods ministry is to reveal the false prophets who lie in wait to deceive. You don't see them as they are cowards, hiding in the brush, behind the rocks and trees, ect. Waiting to stab you in the back, but don't dare confront the ministry of God that leads Gods Church.
The true believers are not looking for a ministry that declared any way will do as well as another way, the only thing important is that you profess Christ. Believing anything will automaticallyplace you among the saved. The true believers settle for nothing less than the full truth contained in the scriptures. Call it splitting hairs, creating mountians out of molehills, ect. but nothing less than truth will quench that thirst for the knowledge of The True and Living God. Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The truth and false doctrine shares no common ground. He that is not for us, is against us. No man can serve two masters. We are members of the body of Christ, or we are of the world. Our citizenship is in heaven or it is on earth. Gods ministry is is placed on earth to direct the believers in the right way that leads to eternal life. Gods ministry does notpreach a gospel of man, neither a gospel taught of man, but a gospel received of God.
Man says, God understands, just do the best you can. Gods gospel says, You have sin in the camp, quit crying and complaining and do what you have to do, Take care of the problem once and forall. Get out of the sin game.God has given us everything to be an overcomer! There is no real excuse for playing pattycake with the devil! Calvary is a finished, complete, work. The Blood shed is for the cleansing of all sins! It has never lost one bit of its power! Satin is powerless before the one who dwells within the believer!
Ro 6:17 Believers must obey that form of doctrine that was delievered to the saints.
Ro 16:17 That doctrine must be learned
Ro 10:14 how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
How can one get his instruction while sitting in a tree stand? While shooting the white water? Sitting at home while others are attending church?
Gal1:16 that I might preach him among the heathen. Gal 1:11 the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Eph 3:8-9 that I should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; V9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.
RO 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ. Preaching is nesecessary for one to be established. One without a home assembly will always be tossed to and fro because of the lack of the stablishing agent.
1 Cor 3:10-12 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
II Tim 2:2 the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
The ministry is to teach others also of the teachings of the bible. The Bible is the christians handbook of "how to be a Christian". Paul taught the Ephesians for 3 years before he wrote the epistle unto them. They were familure with function and doctrine. Now Paul writes a christian guideline for all to follow.
Go to Home Depot and buy a blueprint on how to build picnic table, follow the instructions to the letter. Every person that builds a table from that blueprint will have a table exactly like all the others worldwide that were made from the same pattern.
Gods ministers all have the same blueprint!!

[motor]

Very enlightening essay snooky, thanks or sharing..