And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?Later in the same letter:
And God has appointed these in the church:
1. First apostles
2. Second prophets
3. Third teachers
4. After that miracles
5. Then gifts of healings
6. Helps
7. Administrations
Paul provided God’s specific order of appointments in the church in language that a neophyte should be able to grasp. Yet, today’s church has not grasped this order, but has inverted the order—thus subverting God’s purpose.
1. Most church fellowships are primarily administrative.
2. The premier ministry need for their continuing function is helps.
3. There are many types of healings needed.
4. Many are chasing after miracles.
5. Teaching is the primary word ministry gift.
6. There is much deception and error in the prophetic realm.
7. The role of apostles is still being questioned and defined.
I find it quite interesting and challenging that pastors are not even mentioned in Paul’s listing of God’s order. Prophets come into the fullness of their functional role alongside apostles, the master builders appointed by God.
Perhaps we should go into every room in our homes and turn all of the pictures and wall ornaments upside down to remind us to pray for God’s order in the church. The kingdom is, in a large measure, on hold until God’s order is honored.
“Church and Kingdom – Here and Now,” an apostolic critique of the 21st century church, will be available now.
3 Responses to INVERT GOD’S ORDER; SUBVERT GOD’S PURPOSE
Big Higg | January 4, 2012 at 11:53 am |
Don: Ditto! I wholeheartedly love and agree with this post. This is what I call the order of first things. For me, it has never been about whose on top or whose on bottom. It has always been about the blessing and favor of Yahweh that is attached to His order and government. The blessings and favor of Yahweh flows down from the Head. Yahshua the Chief Apostle and High Priest is the Head of the Ekklesia. He is the pattern Son by which we measure and establish all things. He is the foundation, the capstone and the cornerstone. He said, I AM He who was, and is and is to come. When we fully come back into Him, we will live, move and have our being in Messiah alone.
David E Fredrickson | January 9, 2012 at 2:49 pm
The accuracy of your description of man-appointed, man-ordered structure in today’s non-church “church” is painfully eloquent, Don. In some cases, “senior pastors” who are actually called to be apostles are frustrated by the slot in which they’re trying to function, but lack the understanding and tools to do otherwise. Attempting to apply kingdom truth to locally focused institutional church while operating in a role that belies kingdom reality is like expecting a clown to succeed as a funeral director. Children are not concerned with order unless it has to do with positioning their toy soldiers or lining up their candy in order of most to least favorite. The present religious order facilitates this infantile tendency by creating a system in which watered-down milk flows freely along the lines of least resistance.
I have much hope that their are many in the system who long for kingdom reality and will ultimately turn from dead works to embrace God’s order, but it will take a plowing of hardened ground. What if each us who are relating apostles would make it a priority to pray daily for and do our best to nurture relationships with those we discern to be apostles and prophets within the system, if we are not doing so already. We would give each of them “Church and Kingdom, Here and Now” and continue to believe God for His strategy.
I suppose it will involve our commitment to stand in the Jordan until others have passed over. Ouch.
Don Atkin | January 9, 2012 at 3:59 pm |
Excellent suggestion, David!
1. Prayerfully seek to find those among our relationships who are called to be apostles or prophets.
2. Pray daily for them.
3. Do what we can to nurture relationships with them.
If we aren’t already doing so, we should begin today!
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