Chris Williams
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Joined: 09/11/2010 Location: United States
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Posted: 01/25/2016 at 9:16am
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“Christ’s Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers”
(Until We All Come Into The Unity Of The Faith And The Fullness Of
Christ)
(January 2016)
Many of us wait for a “(1)Spiritual Explosion” on earth, and wonder
why God delays in this manifestation. When I recently asked God
about this, He reminded me of His prior statement(s).
God repeated the following for me: “My physical church(es)
will suffer and decline until
My own Will and foundational
structure is embraced; but My Spiritual Church and Wife will now
thrive.” This is
not the first time that God has said this, or something very similar
to it; He has both said and shown me this in various ways,
throughout several years.
I believe that we all want to see God’s victory over satan: his
darkness, evil, and death.
For most of us, including myself: “The sooner the better.” I
also believe that we all agree that this must be done by God in His
own time; His Will and plan is perfect.
It is the only one that leads us into mankind’s true
salvation. His reality
and Will must now become ours.
I take all of God’s comments and Word seriously, but without a doubt
this is one of the most revealing statements He has made through me
in a long time with regards to His eternal Church and Wife.
Therefore, I am sharing His thoughts as they were given to me.
Will God’s physical church(es) suffer financially?
Perhaps, but this is not what God meant when He said, “My
physical church(es) will suffer and decline until My own Will
and foundational structure is embraced; but My Spiritual Church and
Wife will now thrive.” For me, the verse that best explains, though
there are several, what He means and why He said the above, follows:
He [Jesus Christ] who descended is also the One who ascended far
above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. And
HE HIMSELF GAVE [His
Church/Wife; see Eph. 5:23]
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 [one] body of Christ [see
Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12-20], until we all come to the unity
of the [one] 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
[and women], 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 [one] body, joined and knit together by
what every joint [you and me] supplies, according to the effective
working by which EVERY PART [all of God’s Children] DOES IT’S SHARE
[according to, and by God’s Will and gifts], CAUSES GROWTH OF THE
[Christ’s] BODY FOR THE EDIFYING OF ITSELF IN LOVE.
The New Man
This I [Apostle Paul] say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that
you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the
futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being
alienated from the life of God, BECAUSE OF THE IGNORANCE THAT
IS IN THEM, BECAUSE OF THE BLINDNESS OF THEIR HEART; who,
being past feeling [love, compassion…], have given themselves over
to lewdness, to work all uncleanness WITH GREEDINESS. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have HEARD HIM
[this includes within your hearts thru His Holy Spirit] and HAVE
BEEN TAUGHT BY HIM, as the TRUTH IS IN CHRIST: that you put off,
concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows
corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and BE RENEWED in the
SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND [Christ’s mind in your spirit-man/woman; see 1
Cor 2:16], and that you put on the new man WHICH WAS CREATED
ACCORDING TO GOD, IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS. (Ephesians
4:10-24; NKJV)
I am, as we all are, so blessed that God said this through Paul.
Please notice that Christ HIMSELF gave us, and continues to give us,
His one Congregation/Church/Wife,
“some
to be
apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping
of the saints [you and me] for the work of [Christ’s] ministry both
in and through us, for the edifying of the [one] Body of Christ [His
own Body: Church and Wife], till
we all come to the unity of
the [one] faith and
of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a perfect [one]
man, to the measure of the
stature of the FULLNESS OF CHRIST…”
Have we on earth come into the unity of the Christ’s one faith
[opinions, and teachings] as taught by Christ and His original
Apostles (as they knew it and wrote it in the Bible)?
Have all personally “heard Him and been taught by Him, or
have we taken the opinions and teachings (assumptions and religious
beliefs) of others as our own?
Do we personally hear Him and receive His Spiritual
confirmation of His truth within our hearts; and is this
confirmation based on His spoken and written words (beginning in His
Word/Bible)?
In Ephesians 4:10-24, above, we see that all things are completed in
Christ, and that He is our perfected love.
It is obvious to me, and I am sure to many, that Christ’s
Beloved Children are not yet perfected nor walking and functioning
in the fullness of Christ while on earth. We are not yet “the
perfect man”
In this scripture we are given very simple instructions from our
Savior, Christ Jesus (through the Apostle Paul).
These instructions, in some cases, call for self-sacrifice on
our parts; but they also bring our salvation, transformation, and
the glory of God upon, and within all of God’s Beloved Children:
which is to be the true goal of all within Christ, whether in heaven
or on earth.
In other words, it is God’s Will that all of Christ’s apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers be established; and
continue to work for God for the edification of ALL members within
Christ’s one Body (of members) UNTIL all Saints:
(1)
Are equipped for the work of Christ’s ministry in them and through
them. (All saints, including Christ’s apostles, prophets etc. are
given in all generations so that Christ’s one Body is edified).
(2)
Come into unity and Christ’s one faith.
(3)
Come into the knowledge [and REALITY] of the Son of God.
(4)
[Are gathered into] the one perfect man: Christ: within His nature
and love for Him and each other.
(5)
Come into the measure and stature of Christ Himself: within His
nature and love for Him and each other.
(6)
Come into the FULLNESS of Christ: within His nature and love for Him
and each other.
(7)
Are no longer children tossed to and fro because some are carried
about by every wind of doctrine (false teaching): through the
trickery and deceitful plotting of men [and women] for their own
gratification. (The fivefold ministry of Christ balances, nurtures,
and often protects all members of Christ’s one Body as God speaks
through them.
(8)
Speak God’s truth in and
through His love within us.
(9)
Grow up in all things into Him, Christ Himself: His image and nature
(because we speak God’s truth within His love from our heart).
(10) Are knit and joined together as Christ’s ONE Body; and we all,
every member within His one Body of members, does it’s share for all
other members: thus, through love, EACH of us causes growth in
Christ’s one Body (for the edification of this Body and all its
members).
(11) Are no longer like the unbelievers: ignorant and blind in our
hearts; we no longer lack compassion and love…; we are no longer
greedy and thus unclean.
(12) Have learned who Christ is: His reality is clear to us and
within us because we HEAR HIM and have been TAUGHT by Him.
(13) Have put off our old man, and put on our new man, Christ: in
that we have been renewed in our spirit/spirit(’s) mind, which is
and was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.
Until all of the above is established within all of God’s Children
and Christ’s one Body, it is clearly God’s Will that His
foundational structure (apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) is/are to be
embraced within Christ’s/God’s love that lives within each who knows
and loves Him. Again, Christ Himself, with the Wisdom and Knowledge
of God and our natures, has GIVEN these members,
along with ALL members,
as gifts to His one Body, His one Church and Wife (for our
perfection and edification). Christ Himself has determined that each
of these callings is necessary; therefore, we go against God’s will
if we determine in our hearts and minds that these are to be
eliminated from Christ’s own Body and His one Church/Wife.
Either all of these callings (apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors, and teachers) are still necessary today, or none of them is
necessary! According to
Christ, through His Apostle Paul, all are necessary.
OTHER SCRIPTURES:
(Ephesians 2:19-22) Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but
fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
having been built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself
being the chief cornerstone,
in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy
temple in the Lord, in whom
you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the
Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 12:27-31) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And
God has appointed
these in the church:
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties
of tongues [languages (both of men and angels)].
Are
all apostles?
Are
all prophets?
Are
all teachers?
Are
all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak
with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best
gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way [to love as Christ
loves].
(Revelation 18:19-20) [God said through the Apostle John]
"They threw dust on their
heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas,
that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich
by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.' "Rejoice over
her, O heaven, and you holy
apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her
[Babylon]!" Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw
it
into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon
shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The sound of
harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in
you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you
anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you
anymore. The light of a lamp
shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and
bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were
the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were
deceived. And in her was
found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on
the earth."
JESUS:
The New Testament Greek word that has been translated as “apostle”
in the English is defined as:
“Messenger; he/she who is sent (Strong’s Concordance)”
Below, I have added just a couple of the scriptures showing us a few
titles that God our Father assigned to Jesus Christ; Christ Himself
was the embodiment of these:
“Consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession”
(Hebrews 3:1).
"The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet [Jesus Christ]
like me [Moses] from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall
hear, according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in
the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of
the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I
die.' (Deuteronomy 18:15-16)
“So the multitudes said,
‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.’" (Matthew
21:11)
The First Twelve Apostles:
(Luke 6:12-16) Now
it came to pass in those days that He [Jesus] went out to the
mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
And when it was day, He called His disciples to
Himself;
and from them He chose
twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named
Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and
Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the
son
of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas
the son
of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.
Below, we will read that Jesus continued to “give apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers …” after His death and
resurrection.
We know that Judas, who was one of the original twelve Apostles,
was replaced by Matthias (God’s choice) upon Judas’ death.
Therefore, we know that Jesus continued to assign and
establish others as Apostles after His own resurrection (and the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit).
The following occurred just before the Day of Pentecost:
(Acts 1:12-26) Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which
is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. And when they had
entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying:
Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and
Matthew; James
the son
of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas
the son
of James.
These
all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,
with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
(Matthias Chosen)
And
in those days [Apostle] Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples
(altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and
said, "Men
and
brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which
the Holy Spirit spoke before
by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to
those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a
part in this [Christ’s] ministry." (Now
this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling
headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed
out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that
field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of
Blood.) "For it is written in the Book of Psalms: 'Let his dwelling place be
desolate, and let no one live in it'; and,
'Let
another take his office.'
Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that
the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism
of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must
become a witness with us of His resurrection."
And
they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus,
and Matthias. And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the
hearts of all, show which of these two
YOU [GOD] HAVE CHOSEN to
take part in this [Christ’s]
ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell,
that he might go to his own place." And they cast their lots, and
the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven
apostles.
As most of us probably know, the Apostle Paul, who both heard God
and wrote much of the New Testament, was not one of the original
twelve Apostles. Paul, of course, accepted that he had been chosen
by Christ to be His apostle and tells us so in many scriptures; a
few follow:
(Acts 9:5-16)
And he [Paul] said, "Who
are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
It is hard for you to kick against the goads." So he [Saul;
Paul], trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to
do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you
will be told what you must do."
And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a
voice but seeing no one. Then Saul [also called Paul] arose from the
ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led
him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days
without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Ananias Baptizes Saul
Now
there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him
the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he [Ananias] said, "Here I
am, Lord."
So the Lord said to him,
"Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the
house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is
praying. And in a
vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his
hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."
Then Ananias answered,
"Lord, I have heard from
many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in
Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind
all who call on Your name." But the Lord said to him,
"Go, for he is a chosen
vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the
children of Israel. For
I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake
[you, me, and all of God’s Saints/Children]."
(Titus 1:1-3) Paul, a bondservant of God and
an apostle of Jesus Christ,
according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the
truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which
God, who cannot lie,
promised before time began, but has
in due time manifested His
word through preaching, which was committed to me according to
the commandment of God our Savior.
(Galatians 1:1-2) Paul, an apostle (*)not
from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the
Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who
are with me,
[(*) “not from men nor
through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father”:
Just after God told me that I was called to be a prophet for
Him, I was also told by God our Father, as I am sure many have been,
that all prophets and apostles
MUST be told personally by
God that they are called to either or both of these positions:
prophet and or apostle. He also said, at that time, that both of
these appointments have to be confirmed at least one other time
either by God Himself or another prophet or apostle.]
(Colossians 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus
Christ by the will of God…
(1 Corinthians 1:1) Paul, called
to be
an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God…
(Romans 1:1-7) Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle,
separated to the gospel of
God which He
promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the
seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of
God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace
and apostleship for
obedience to the [one]
faith [spoken and
taught by Christ] among all nations for His name, among whom
you also are the called
of Jesus Christ; to all who are in Rome, beloved of God,
called to be saints…
Have you noticed that much of today’s Truth and Prophecy is actually
revealed Knowledge; it is Biblical Word that is now being revealed
in its fullness for our sake?
God often adds new light to Biblical scriptures and teachings
that were first taught and written through His original prophets and
apostles.
Revelation Knowledge has always been one of God’s intentions.
This is one of the ways in which we intimately know Him and
remain in His presence.
It helps establish and maintain our faith and trust in God through
both His spoken and written Word.
The above scripture, Romans 1:1-7, is an example of this
through Paul. Notice,
Paul shares with us that He was called to be an apostle and
separated [by God] to the gospel of God: which God promised before
through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.”
(Amos 3:7) “For the Lord
God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the
prophets.
(Ephesians 2:19-22) Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers
and foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, HAVING
BEEN BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole
building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the
Lord, in WHOM YOU also are
being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
(Romans 16:25-26) Now to
Him who is able to (*)establish
you according to my [Paul’s] gospel and the preaching of Jesus
Christ, according to the
revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began
but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures
made known to all nations…
(*) “establish”: (as
used within the scripture Romans 16:25-26, above) is defined in
Strong’s Concordance as:
“to
set fast, i.e.
(literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or
(figuratively) to confirm…”
(New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded
Greek-Hebrew Dictionary…)
(1 Corinthians 2:10) These things
God has revealed to us
through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even
the depths of God.
(Deuteronomy 29:29) "The secret things belong to the LORD our
God, but those things which
are revealed belong to us and to our children forever…
(Colossians 1:26) The mystery hidden for ages and generations but
now revealed to his
saints.
(Danial 2:28) But there
is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…
(Ephesians 3:3-8)
… how that by revelation
He made known to me [Paul]
the mystery (as I have
briefly written already, by which, when you read, [so]
you may understand my
knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it
has now been revealed by
the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the
Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body [Christ’s one
Body], and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of
which I became a minister
according to the gift of the grace of God given to me [Paul]
by the effective working of
His power.
(2 Peter 1:19-21) And so
we have the prophetic word
confirmed, which you
do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the
day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this
first, that no prophecy of
Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never
came by the will of man, but holy men [or women]
of God spoke as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit.
(2 Timothy 3:1 thru 4:4) But know this, that in the
LAST DAYS perilous times will come:
For men will be lovers of
themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving,
slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers
of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from
such people turn away!...
All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and
is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work. I [Paul] charge you [believers] therefore before God and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at
His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word! Be ready in
season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but
according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they
will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears
away from the truth [of God,
as God Himself speaks it], and be turned aside to fables
[a tale: fiction, myths (Strong’s Concordance)].
(1) “Spiritual Explosion”:
August 11, 1997 Egypt/China Pushes The World Into The DEEP http://www.christine-williams-ministry.org/visions/199 7_china-pushes-world-into-deep-archives.html
AND
-October
29, 2015;
Spiritual Explosion In The Bible Belt, USA; and Throughout The
Earth"
http://www.christine-williams-ministry.org/prophecy/prophecy -2015/october28-2015_spiritual-explosion-bible-belt-usa-eart h.html
Our Video "Go Along" can be
found under the same Title on our YouTube Channel
"GodsTruthSetsUsFree"
Edited by Chris Williams on 01/25/2016 at 9:49am
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