Many of us are being carried away with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting and being tossed to and fro because of spiritual malnutrition. It is evident in our society as we see the rise of prosperity gospel and the infiltration of new age practices in our churches. Believers are being led astray because those who are called to lead are not executing the plan of God for the church or ministry in which they are called to serve. Leaders are more concerned about their agendas and programs rather than the purpose of God.
The word of God has set forth the ministry of the church and the purpose of its leaders. In Ephesians chapter 4:7-16, the Apostle Paul gives us a clear picture of the governing body (earthly) of the body Christ and its function; yet there are churches today who are operating without the order of government as established in Scriptures. This governing body: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers are commonly known as "ministry gifts" or the "five-fold ministry." These are given by God for a purpose. The purpose of this governing body is for; equipping of the saints, the work of the ministry and edifying of the body of Christ. That we may all come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. That we may be perfected in Christ, and know His fullness; according to Ephesians 4:7-11. Because the governmental order of the church is not in alignment, we see the establishment of denominations, charismatics, and non-denominational ministries. Every man teaching according to his own understanding and preferences and not by the revelation of the truth of God's word given by the Holy Spirit.
As a result, believers are still operating as children being tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine because of the trickery of men, who refuse to speak the truth in love, that we may all grow up in all things in Christ. We are like children, always learning but never able to come to maturity to minister to lost souls. We are no longer being taught to use the spiritual gifts God has given us (1Corinthians 12), only how or what to do in order to receive God's blessings. If we understand that as believers we already have all spiritual blessings and all things pertaining to this life; we will not be tricked into thinking that we need to do anything outside of being obedient to the word of God to see the manifestation. I wonder what today's church would look like if we desired the things of the Spirit and not the promises of men?
Every believer has the capacity to operate as the believers of the early church, but many of us don't know the power we have been given through Jesus Christ. We are not to be ignorant and carried away. We are not to be ignorant of the gifts that God has made available to us all for the profit of all. First Corinthians 12:1-11 states, Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 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. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 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. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
We are given these spiritual gifts to sever each other. It is God's desire to give His children gifts but if we are not seeking Him for them we will not see them manifest in our lives. We live in a world where the emphasis of Christian faith is not the work of the ministry but rather the business of the ministry. Therefore, we are being carried away and tossed to and fro because we do not know of the tools (gifts) God has given us; neither how to use them effectively to help build the Kingdom of God and edify the body of Christ. When we learn to labor for each other and stop being self-seeking then we will understand what the will of the Lord is for the church. Let us not seek God for selfish gain but seek to do His will that the body of Christ might grow up in all things in Him.
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