Spiritual Things

"We are knees and elbows, eyes and ears, internal organs. To remove any designated office is to run a race without limbs."

I HEARD A MAN SAY there are no more apostles in the church. My question is, Where does it state that in the Bible? 1 Corinthians 12:28 is clear, “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.” The word “apostle” means “an ambassador, messenger, he that is sent.” Verses 20 to 31 further enlighten us, “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts.” These are our instructions, we are to covet, to “burn with zeal” for these gifts from the Spirit of God. The word “gifts” actually refers to the grace of God or favor of God to us. These are God’s favor seen upon us, and God’s grace never runs out. Never.

Now, a man cannot appoint himself an apostle of the church nor a prophet nor any of the other administrative offices referred to in 1 Corinthians 12. They are given as the Spirit wills them to be used, and just as He is eternal and never-ending, just as God’s Word is eternal and everlasting, and effective, these offices are eternal, as long as the church remains. The offices of the Old Covenant Law, the priesthood and all temple sacrifice entailed, have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb sacrificed, the temple and the altar. He is the High Priest and all the elements on the sacred table. His flesh was the veil torn from top to bottom to allow us entrance to the Holy of holies where God’s Spirit resides. Jesus is now King of kings, and we have been made kings and priests, our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit.

READ “Kings and Priests.”
https://sdwauthor.blogspot.com/2024/06/kings-and-priests.html

Nothing obtained by Jesus in His death and Resurrection has been done away with. He did not create a temporary solution, but instead, the fullness of God’s design is seen in the complete portrait of the body of Christ, God’s church in all its parts. We are knees and elbows, eyes and ears, internal organs. To remove any designated office is to run a race without limbs.

The same can be said of the individual manifestations of the Holy Spirit, commonly called “gifts of the Spirit.” These are but different ways the Spirit chooses to speak publicly. They are only divided among us so that they can bring healing to all and bring us into unity. For 1 Corinthians 13, the next chapter, shows the love of God at the heart of them. None of them has faded or been taken away. “Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, to day, and for ever (Heb 13:8).” He is the image of the offices in the church. He is Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, and Teacher. He used all the ministry gifts, speaking wisdom and giving knowledge, working miracles, having great faith, and discerning of spirits. Through Him, to the church at Pentecost, came the gift of tongues.

What we do not understand, we tend to set aside. But the Spirit of God would have us not be ignorant of spiritual things (1 Corinthians 12:1). Otherwise, without understanding, how will we fulfill His words? Where are His “greater works” then? One must be sent. One must speak the words of the Spirit over our future. One must shepherd us. One must teach us His truth. We all must seek Him on a continual, daily basis and become walking epistles of the work of Christ. We are Jesus’ testimony, works that can be done again. That is the meaning of the word “testimony,” and to take away any parts of the church makes the picture of Him less.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12)

It is the glory of God seen in us, in these last days, built upon the apostles and prophets who have come and gone, that will bring the return of our Messiah. It is not that the church started strong but has grown weaker, but that we have strengthened and strengthened and will strengthen further under the power of the Holy Spirit until we are without spot or wrinkle and are simply glorious! Jacob saw angels ascending and descending from the house of God at Bethel. At Genesis, the waters descended so that the waters ascended. So it will be in Revelation. The fires of our prayers will ascend so that the fire of God will descend, and all evil will be consumed by it. It is not just that God’s wrath will come against all unbelief and sin, but that what has filled men of the fires of heaven will bring to pass the earth’s cleansing. The bride will desire the Bridegroom, and Christ will have full reign, and the Father will be felt upon every atmosphere.

“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” (John 3:13)

The Spirit desires us to lean into Him and to seek revelation of things of the Spirit, to move past our doctrines into Truth we can only receive from Him. Our “same old issues” hold us back. We’re too busy defining God instead of surrendering to Him. We’re looking for shortcuts to God’s power when it’s GOD’S power to use through us. He’s seeking willingness and humility, lives where He has first place, and our misunderstandings of the Word are answered as we sit in His presence. The Spirit searches or speaks the deep things of God, revealing them unto us, those that love Him, and we sit at His feet, soaking it in, as Mary did at the feet of Jesus. She chose the better part, not in neglecting the work of hospitality but that in knowing God, in having His Word implanted in our hearts, all the work will be through God’s power in us and not our own.

Whether we are apostles, sent out to form churches, as was Paul, or prophets, speaking the oracles of God, as did John, or some other ministry office dedicated to God’s work on this earth.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

Image by Abdullah Romman from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com