Instead, We Will Speak The Truth In Love, Growing In Every Way More And More Like Christ, Who Is The Head Of The Body

EPHESIANS 4:11-16
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-16‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://www.bible.com/114/eph.4.11-16.nkj

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Christ Jesus is the truth (JOHN 14:6), and the Holy Spirit, who guides the church, is the Spirit of truth (JOHN 16:13).
By contrast, Satan is the father of lies (JOHN 8:44).
As Christians, we must be committed to the truth.
Our words should be honest and our actions should reflect Christ's integrity.
Speaking the truth in love isn't always easy, convenient, or pleasant, but is absolutely necessary if the church is going to do Christ work in the world.
In describing the mature Christian, Paul says that one of the marks is the ability to "speak the truth in love."
This may sound simple, but in reality, is quite difficult because at times the truth hurts.
Some are fairly good at speaking the truth, but forget to be loving, some are good at loving, but smooth over the truth because they don't have it in them to level with others when the truth is painful.
Paul's instructions here, do both, they speak the truth, but do it in a loving manner; even when discipline is needed.
But most importantly, we must come to understand that a sugar coated Gospel will not achieve anything good.
Christ ministry is the five fold ministry of God, made up of offices of apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelist, and Christ is the head of the whole body.
The apostles place is to oversee and plant, and maintain unity within the different ministries.
The prophets are Gods messengers; their place is to reveal Gods future plans and message the people. These messages can be disciplinary, confirmation, or instruction, or even warnings, and is vital for the smooth operation of Christ ministry.
On receiving a prophetic message one must respond according to the Spirit.
When it comes as instruction or confirmation, one must walk in it by faith and it shall come to pass.
But if it comes as a warning, the church should come together in unity with prayer and fasting to distroy the threat.
The teacher is to teach the congregation in all truth, and help to bring understanding of spiritual gifts, religious laws, and all spiritual truths within the ministry.
The pastor is the shepherd over his ministry, to safeguard his congregation and organise and host the events.
The Evangelist is to reach out to unbelievers and draw them to the Lordship of Christ.
This doesn’t stop at the sinners prayer, the evangelist is to draw them into the congregation, and lead them to the waters of baptism.
My beloved, non have authority over the whole church, for Christ is the head, but each has authority within his own station, subject to the Lord.
But all are ministers of God called to “go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
We are one body of people, with God given authority to stand against the enemy by the power of the Holy Spirit within (LUKE 10:17).
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Furthermore, God equipped us to help and encourage one another throughout ministry according to our individual calling.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, God works through His people individually, just like the head in our bodies.
It is the head that instructs every individual part,not the pastor or profit, nor the apostle or teacher, nor the evangelist.
It is the head that instructs all, that we all operate in perfect unity like a well oiled machine.
But each part is given authority within his own office.
If any individual part other than the head became controlling over other members, the body could not function correctly and the whole body would suffer.
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
This is not the old man made church, where the pastor or vicor, or priest, lord’s over all with man made projects designed entertain and fund the ministry with promises of prosperity.
It is Christ church, led entirely by the Holy Spirit, and has already counted the cost and is faithful to provide.
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
The old church, accosted by the devil, was put together by the likes of the Pharisees with all kinds of man made religious doctrines, run as businesses, designed to bring financial gain to its leaders, and was never really Christ church.
Jesus did use it for the past two thousand years, but is now systematically dismantling the old to make way and establish the new.
Not that God didn’t use the old religious church, He did in a mighty way, but not in the power that it will operate with Christ at the helm.
Ministry is not a career choice, it is a calling, and church is not a building, it is a body of people, the bride of Christ.
It was put together by God , not for financial gain, but to undo the works of the devil and secure the eternal future of His people.
In His day, “Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭12‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
This was a prophetic message of today, and Christ is turning the table on the devil and his evil schemes.
Like in the first miracle, Christ has prepared both the the new wine skins and the wine for such a time as this (JOHN 2:1-11).
Sadly, some ministers are trying to hold on to the old, for they believe that the old is better (LUKE 5:39).
But the truth is, God saved the best until last (JOHN 2:10).
Jesus said, ““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, with new wine, comes new powers and freedoms to get the work done in preparation for Christ return.
No longer shall the church be a trade centre run by a “den of thieves.” The dem of thieves by the way, is referring to the unclean spirits and demons working within their victims in high places of the church.
The old has gone and the new is here, and with it shall come revival!
“”And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.”
‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭28‬-‭32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, that time is here, but I tell you again, unless it’s Christ five fold ministry, it shall profit you nothing.
All glory to God forever and ever. Amen.