The Need for Gifts
One of the shared experiences between the early reign church and the latter reign was the need for gifts. Paul made a prophetic statement about the latter reign church.
1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
1 Corinthians 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
1 Corinthians 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1 Corinthians 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Humanity today is experiencing differences in history, etymology, society, and modernization. The body of Christ has a long history of apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors and teachers. We can look back to their teachings and gifts to provide the faith and knowledge needed to allow the saints to know God and Jesus. This will enable us to reach perfection.
We have the spiritual etymology of the old and new testament to draw analogy and wisdom.
Our latter reign church's development can be traced to the earliest Biblical accounts of the early reign. We understand by tracing its transmission from one usage of spiritual understanding to another, by analyzing scripture into its component parts, by identifying its cognates in other spiritual scriptures, or by connecting it and its cognates to a common scriptural form in biblical understanding.
The world has changed many times, but the bible allows us to recognize the comparisons necessary to establish the truth.
Modernization has occurred, but we can draw upon the understanding of the early church society that all things change, but always stay the same spiritually.
The ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers was established in the early reign.
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: this was said about the early reign church..not the latter reign church..but, it was meant for the church as a whole..the combined church..of both eras..within the Body of Christ.
The Body was created and given all the gifts to establish Jesus’ Church. These gifts were intended as a sign to the nations and their peoples to recognize the one true Body of Christ. During the early reign of the church, the original biblical information about the gifts and miracles was communicated so that it could be established in history. Then it passed from ear to ear and mouth to mouth until all the world had access to the work and Word of God.
With that knowledge, the church was able to come out of hiding and into this dispensation. Then the knowledge of the gifts was passed on to the saints of the latter reign church to be used when needed.
The gifts manifested according to the greatest needs of the saints when they were needed. "And he gave some" means he gave to the saints in need, not to the ministry. For the saints of the early reign, gifts were essential for establishing their group as Jesus' Body, as well as the Bride's perfection.
Gifts were not required for ministers to be miniministers. To teach the Word of God, the Holy Spirit was needed. The gifts identified the ministry as belonging to Jesus which immediately made Jesus a viable deity and a true God. But it was his words that proved to be the only everlasting manifestation and gift of God. Gifts pass away, but his word endures.
The outcome of the 11 disciples had not been determined nor accomplished before Jesus finished his work of salvation in Israel. The Holy Ghost (the Comforter) had not yet fallen and no positions of apostleship were given. The entire chapter of Matthew 17 speaks to this fact.
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
They were disciples without permanent gifts and were not unified until after the Holy Ghost had fallen among them. They were well taught and chosen disciples by Jesus because of their proven faithfulness, but lacked understanding that could only be gained by the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Paul put that understanding into better form by saying these words:
1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
The above scripture is about the disciples, their positions, power, and authority that will be granted by God for the sake of His kingdom...Jesus' church. This will also enable the perfecting of the saints. Paul said they were not to be counted as "anything".
Jesus left the disciples and returned to his seat of divine authority after his resurrection. Jesus then sent the Holy Ghost as a comforter and a source of power…spiritual power that could affect worldly things when needed by God for his purpose: the purpose of salvation.
The Need of the Kingdom
The crucial part of the sending of the Holy Ghost was the “NEED” of the kingdom of God. The present day ministry does not require gifts or titles for authority, nor do they need gifts now. The ministry has authority now. The ministry has always been regulated and delegated by the need of the people for leadership in Christ.
Currently and historically whenever there was a need for a pastor, the need was filled (hopefully) by God. The need for a pastor was and remains the same as the need for a teacher. This position is held by the ministry based on the needs of the saints. The biblical need is generated by the demand for the teaching of the word of God.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
As biblically proven, the positions that God has created for His church can be combined and used by anointed men of God. Gifts have always been determined according to what God requires for his own purposes and not according to what the saints need. Our example is Paul.
1 Timothy 2:7 For which I am ordained a preacher and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
2 Timothy 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Paul was a preacher first, then an apostle, and finally a teacher. Three gifts in one man. He travelled from one church to another using whatever gift the church needed.
Saints are required to undergo spiritual transformation, not to live a material or natural life. The needs of saints are determined by God's will, which distinguishes between what is necessary for self-gratification and what is necessary for the salvation of those who are in need.
We might feel empathy for our saintly companions, relatives, and friends. We may also feel a need for our companions to be healed as a sign of Jesus' love for them and for ourselves. But Jesus knows better and decides what is appropriate for any given case and/or situation. Miracles, healings and results from gifts are always influenced and determined by the will of God which is always influenced by God's plan which is his Grace.
As another aspect of the Fivefold Ministry doctrine, it is a kind of first fruit. That is before anyone else can move into perfection every saint must wait for the ministry to become the first fruit. This is before they can have a position in the Bride of Christ.
In sum, the ministry was never meant to be a benchmark for perfection. Instead, it was meant to assist the church in reaching perfection, and not to be an authoritative council to be measured against.
Ministerial gifts are given to teach and edify the church and the Body of Christ.
Paul tells the Corinthians to desire more gifts to be given to the church in order for it to be perfected.
1 Corinthians 12:31
But covet earnestly the best gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way.
If the gifts were already given, why would Paul ask the church to pray for more? The obvious answer is that the gifts were not given permanently but were distributed according to when and if the church had a need.
Then Paul tells the church of the position or lifestyle of a minister who has gifts. That they are in no way to be used as a bench mark of reputation “that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.” And “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive”
1 Corinthians 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
1 Corinthians 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
1 Corinthians 4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
1 Corinthians 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
Is Paul describing a Body of Christ condition such as being presented in our dispensation by the Doctrine of a Restored Church of the latter reign?
https://thesamebutonlydifferent.blogspot.com/2022/12/a-true-five-fold-ministry-part-3.html
