Ephesians 4:11-16 (KJV)
"And he gave some, APOSTLES; and some, PROPHETS; and some, EVANGELISTS; and some, PASTORS and TEACHERS; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the UNITY OF THE FAITH, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the TRUTH IN LOVE, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the WHOLE BODY FITLY JOINED TOGETHER and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in LOVE."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If I were the devil, I would make the church misunderstand these passages of scripture so that they would be afraid to recognize and operate in the Five Fold Ministry Gifts of Ephesians 4:11-16. After-all, these FIVE ministry gifts are described as the KEY that brings the perfecting of the saints. These FIVE leadership gifts bring edifying to the Body of Christ and help the Body to GROW UP into all that God has called them to become.
If I were the devil, I would make sure that the Body of Christ did NOT fit together with unity. I would cause some Christians to believe that we don't need Apostles and Prophets today, and I would cause other Christians to falsely label themselves as an Apostle or Prophet, so that I could cause confusion and quarreling over the doctrine of Christ.
Yes, if I were the devil, I would puff some Christians up with such pride that they would think that their way of ministry is the only legitimate way. These prideful leaders would only believe what they've heard or been taught, continuously turning a deaf ear to the voice of the Holy Spirit concerning the importance of the Five Fold Ministry Gifts.
If I were the devil, I would make the term APOSTLE so misunderstood that the position/title/anointing/
If I were the devil, I would make it difficult for church people to identify the real false prophets of our day by creating strife through the endless opinions in the Body of Christ that causes the TRUE PROPHETS of our day to be shunned, discounted and disrespected. I would encourage doctrines within leadership circles that are so profoundly at odds with each other over certain scriptures that many in the church body would be AFRAID of the position/title/anointing/
If I were the devil, I would cause the term EVANGELIST to be so misunderstood that those who are called into this ministry gift would be afraid to step into their calling. Instead, I would water the voice of the Evangelist down by making him or her believe that they are to stay put, not flow in their spiritual gifts, and not speak in the power and authority that was gifted to them by God that brings liberty to the captives. If I leave the Evangelist alone, he will get people to convert to Christianity; so as the king of darkness, I must keep the Body of Christ ignorant about the function of the Evangelist.
If I were the devil, I would tell the Body of Christ that if someone is not a true "preacher" then they are a false prophet/teacher. I would blind the average church member to the fact that this person is gifted in one of the other ministry leadership positions and I would continuously work to discredit those who are anointed to be an APOSTLE, PROPHET, EVANGELIST or TEACHER. I would plant seeds of doubt, jealousy, criticism, hatred, envy and disgust about this person in the ears of other leaders who aren't willing to recognize the needed differences in ministry gifts for certain areas, congregations and platforms in the world-wide ministry of Jesus Christ for our day. If I were the devil, I would work on one end to divide the Body of Christ while working diligently on the other end to cause the sinner to hate the word PREACH. In fact, I would leverage the discord among church people to fuel the disgust in the mind of the sinner toward the things of God.
If I were the devil, I would cause PASTORS to be run over by the deacons. These pastors would be over-worked and under-paid. Their congregations would always expect far too much from them; yet, would be slow to give the respect and honor due for their unselfish service in the Kingdom. I would make the work of a Pastor seem trivial so that many who are called to be a pastor would ignore the calling in order to provide for their families.
If I were the devil, I would really be intent on scrambling, confusing, causing fear, causing discord and causing ignorance in the Body of Christ over the Five Fold Ministry Gifts. After-all, if I couldn't keep people from worshiping God, the least I could do is to keep them from coming into the fullness of who God called them to become.
Oh, and my favorite reason for causing such confusion in the Body of Christ is that while they are looking within and pointing fingers at each other, I would be free to create disastrous governmental and moral decay without. When church leaders are so intent on rallying support to discredit, blaspheme and drive out ministers of the world-wide gospel of Jesus Christ who don't think like, act like or preach like they want them to, the Body of Christ will hardly notice the destruction that I will do to their churches, families, states and even their entire country... until it's too late! I just love it when the Body of Christ doesn't read their Bible, but acts and reacts according to the arm of the flesh in the name of God. As the devil, It really makes my job so much easier...
These FIVE ministry gifts are described as the KEY that brings the perfecting of the saints. These FIVE leadership gifts bring edifying to the Body Of Christ and help the Body to GROW UP into all that God has called them to become.
These FIVE ministry gifts are described as the KEY that brings the perfecting of the saints. These FIVE leadership gifts bring edifying to the Body Of Christ and help the Body to GROW UP into all that God has called them to become.
1 Corinthians 12:28 (KJV)
"And God hath set some in the church, first APOSTLES, secondarily PROPHETS, thirdly TEACHERS, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."
Luke 9:49-51 (KJV)
"And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."
Mark 9:38-41 (KJV)
"And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."
Psalm 105:15 (KJV)
"Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."
JUDE 1:9 (KJV)
"Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil and disputing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke thee!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In religion, a false prophet is one who falsely claims the gift of prophecy or divine inspiration, or who uses that gift for evil ends. Often, someone who is considered a "true prophet" by some people is simultaneously considered a "false prophet" by others, even within the same religion as the "prophet" in question. The term is sometimes applied outside religion to describe someone who fervently promotes a theory that the speaker thinks is false.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_prophet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So what is a false prophet according to scripture...
Jude 1:11 (KJV)
"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core."
Cain = Killed his brother
Balaam = Deceived people for money
Core (Korah) = Rebelled against authority
Entire Jude 1 (KJV) Various Passages
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
...
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
...
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
...
Matthew 7:15-20 (KJV)
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
So... THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT would be a test of how we will know the REAL from the FAKE!
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
Galatians 1:6-7(KJV)
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
What is the gospel of grace? The gospel of grace is the saving, healing, cleansing, power of God through the belief that Jesus the Christ came to earth in the flesh to accomplish God's salvation plan through His life, death, burial and resurrection. We are saved by grace through faith in the Son of God. (Ephesians 2:8) So, anyone who teaches you another way to God besides through Jesus, they would be a false prophet.
Matthew 24 (KJV)
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Behold, I have told you before.
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
People who flow in spiritual giftings are not to be labeled false prophets (1 Corinthains 12 - below). Spiritual gifts are given to believers for the edifying of the Body of Christ. On the other hand, there are some who will abuse spiritual gifts by claiming a form of godliness to promote themselves. These wolves are usually easy to spot, because they are not as compassionate, not as righteous and not as humble as a true believer who flows in their spiritual gifts should be.
On the other hand, all "flesh and blood" is prone to mistakes. The litmus test is the fruit of that believer. Does their motive line up with the word of God and the character of God.
The elect will be fooled when they are so desperate for a miracle that they are willing to by-pass the truth of God's word to get it. Basically, they sell out their birthright for a bowl of soup (Genesis 25 - Esau sells his birthright). When people are so intent on seeing the supernatural that they are willing to throw all knowledge and understanding of God's word out the door, they place them self in a position where they can be easily fooled by a false prophet. Again, this does NOT mean that Christians who flow in spiritual gifts are false prophets.
Never believe anyone who claims to be Christ! Christ will return like lightening and not like some individual who rises up out of nowhere who claims to be Christ. So many hungry souls have lost their lives by getting involved with crazy men and women who claim to be Christ only to lead them down a road of bondage, sexual perversion, isolation from family and brainwashing.
1 John 2:22 (KJV)
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Don't follow any religion or any leader who says Jesus is not the Son of God. If they say Jesus was a good man; if they say Jesus was a good prophet... they are denying that Jesus was the Christ. Do not follow such religions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My purpose for this article is:
1) Just doing my own personal study
2) I get so weary of skeptical Christians who spend more time analyzing, ridiculing, criticizing, name-calling and disrespecting each other who are not in their denomination, who preach/teach in a style that they don't care for, who may be weak in a certain area but strong in another area (who's not?), who share the GOOD NEWS of the gospel in a powerful way (negative/whiny people don't want to hear good news), who are anointed in specific areas of ministry and so on. If the church cannot come together in unity, the WORLD WILL NEVER BE WON!
3) Just trying to shed some light on the silliness of Christians focusing on things that don't matter instead of focusing on how to defeat darkness, drive out the enemy, and WIN SOULS TO CHRIST!
4) Exposing the truth of God's Word to the blinded eyes of those who are bent on reading the Word with tinted glasses of pride, erroneous doctrine (even if it was learned in cemetery... I mean seminary), assumptions, and an unwillingness to change.
1 Corinthians 12 KJV)
12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Ephesians 4 (KJV)
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Denominations
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. Divisions between one group and another are defined by doctrine and church authority.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denomination
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denomination
Question: Does it please God when His children are divided?
