PROPHETIC CHAMBER
Note:
The following message is the first part of a teaching that consists of four parts and we recommend to read the message chronologically.
 
The Transformation

The people of God find themselves in a new form of transformation at this time. Therefore, it might be helpful and necessary to understand this transformation within the body of Christ, because it is related to an inner renewal process and the quality of His new creation in divine order (see 2 Corinthians 5:17).
 
2 Corinthians 5:17:
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

This is also connected with the correct understanding of the respective ministers within the five-fold ministry (see Ephesians 4:11-14).
 
Ephesians 4:11-14:
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

When it comes to the five-fold ministry, it is wise to ask oneself the following questions first:
  1. How did God want His church to look like over time?
and
  1. How should it be structured to serve its goals (note: independent of current mind-sets and socio-cultural changes)?
Disorder Because Of A Lack Of Knowledge

In essence, this message is basically not about emphasizing and upholding what already works well within churches around the world. Rather, it should point out what is currently in need of substantial change in this phase of transformation.

It should also be underlined that this message is clearly not addressed to any position (note: group of people) but to the larger image of a functional and effectively working church acting as one body (note: organism) worldwide. This also means that this change includes all saints (note: followers of Christ).

Because of a lack of knowledge referring to the true purpose of the ministers of the five-fold ministry within the church of Christ, which has been going on for a long time, there is currently disorder. There are overburdened leaders who perform too many tasks that could be better assigned. There is still an insufficient understanding of the body of Christ as the “one new man” (see Ephesians 2:13-16) including a kingdom mindset and excluding worldly influences.
 
Ephesians 2:13-16:
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups (note: Jews and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

It is also evident in many communities that believers do not face up to their responsibilities to the extent the Word of God teaches and therefore many do not reflect the full potential of wielding authority in society. The fact that there are movements around the world that are striving for unity at all costs, which clearly ignores biblical standards, is regrettable. Due to the justified expressions of reservations about current developments of this kind within the body of Christ, which increasingly corrupt the purity of the word and deliberately alter God's standards – with a humanistic approach – true unity is hardly recognizable by people outside.

In the past, there have also been repeated situations and developments in which saints with lack of understanding of the spiritual gifts have practiced themselves and numerous expulsions have resulted in numerous damages to persons. In some cases of helplessness or lack of knowledge, church leaders have “excluded” the spiritual gifts (note: also anointings/mantles) by not tolerating them or finally trying to direct them to “controllable” levels in meetings. Movements of spiritual revival were strongly criticized and some men and women of God were denounced, unnecessarily causing much confusion among people who were to be reached by revivals.

In short, as the worldwide body of Christ, we are still in a change related to the new wine and the new wine skin that is needed (see Mark 2:22). The continual aversion of many people concerning traditional and ecclesiastical religion as such, especially in Europe, is a phenomenon of our time. Millions of believers consider this time in history the last days and ask for the “archetypal form” of church described in the Bible, which according to the New Testament moves in power.

It is astonishing to see that the structure of traditional procedures prevails to this day, which is largely based on councils and ecclesiastical organization, not on the Holy Scriptures. Finally, we are invited to “conquer” wrong foundations and to bring a stop to religiosity (note: self-righteousness).

The body of Christ may turn with great steps to its root, Israel as the precious olive tree, and thus regain the purity that some have lost in lacking knowledge and spiritual arrogance (see Romans 11:17-24).
 
Romans 11:17-24:
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”
20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
 
This turning would result in giving back the perfect guidance of His body to the head (note: Jesus Christ as the only Redeemer and Lamb of God). Accordingly, there may not be perfect churches as such, but most of the people can agree that the head of the church, Jesus Christ, wants to lead in perfection and exert authority. So, this present disorder can be counteracted by understanding of the five-fold ministry according to Ephesians 4:11-14, so that there is a proper order according to the will of God within the body of Christ.

It can be clearly seen that up to now the body of Christ had an established understanding of the ministry of the evangelist, shepherd (note: pastor) and teacher. At present, there is still a growing hunger for a deeper understanding of the offices of the apostle and the prophet. This understanding will lead to the body of Christ experiencing an increase in being sent with a prophetic perspective.

The Face Of The Lion And The Eagle

This perspective to be expected is connected with the face of God in the form of the lion and the flying eagle (see Revelation 4:6-7). It also includes that the Spirit of God intensifies the Fear of the Lord within His people and leads to an increasing of wisdom and knowledge of the depths of God.
 
Revelation 4:6-7:
6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.
7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

The character traits of the lion and the eagle are related to the royalty of God in the spirit realm as well as to the one in the earthly realm, because the lion corresponds to the “king of the land animals” and the eagle to the “king of the air”.

The Rediscovery Of The Office Of The Apostle And Prophet

It is therefore important at this time that we, as the body of Christ, rediscover the ministry of the apostle and the prophet in the way that Jesus Christ as head has the greatest understanding of how His church is supposed to function as a body.

According to the Word of God, the ministry of the shepherd (note: pastor) is placed in fourth place in God's order of the church. The church was built for several centuries on the error that apostles and prophets no longer existed. Due to this misconception, shepherds (note: pastors) were put in their position and bishops were continued to be appointed to the leadership of churches instead of apostles. One consequence of this is that the church has lost supernatural power over the centuries.

The Order Of God In Relation To The Office Of The Apostle And Prophet

The apostle Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians 12:28-29 what God's order should look like in relation to the position of the ministry of the apostle and prophet in the church.
 
1 Corinthians 12:28-29:
28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

God induced Paul through His Spirit to mention the apostle and prophet several times as the first minister of God in His letters. This naming is significant and a sure sign for it, that Paul expressly meant what he wrote and could be convinced that the order came from the Lord Himself (see 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11).

One of the reasons why Paul had chosen this order is simply because the apostle and the prophet are to be comprehended as founding ministers (see Ephesians 2:19-21).
 
Ephesians 2:19-21:
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

Their ministry begins with a message that is received directly from the mouth of the Lord and would succeed in drawing the followers of Christ to establish them as church (note: a community of saints in the region) in the respective region. (note: This message is based on a teaching by Paula A. Price, Ph. D. from the book “Divine Order for Spiritual Dominance”; pages 5-12)
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm
 
For part II of the message please click here.

PROPHETIC CHAMBER
Note:
The following message is the second part of a teaching that consists of four parts and we recommend to read the message chronologically.
 
The Difference Between The Officers Of The Five-fold Ministry

The first two ministers of Ephesians 4:11 differ from the pastor and teacher in that because their work usually begins outside and without great companionship. These two ministers bring the risen Christ into the world and are dedicated to positioning the converts within the church.

However, the work of the shepherd (note: pastor) begins quite differently. Accordingly, pastoral ministry does not begin until apostles and evangelists have been successful. As soon as souls have entered the church, the pastor's mantle is activated. The pastor's ministry is based on this succession of events. The pastor's main task is to take care for those who are brought into the kingdom of the Lord in local assemblies, also known as (note: local) churches.

If a pastor wants to lead the church back to the divine order of God, it is connected with facing some risks (note: e.g. challenges with those who do not accept or acknowledge that divine order).
Despite the fact that believers of a community can be upset by the pastor's openness to the order of God in the congregation, there can be many other concerns at the pastor's collaboration with apostles and prophets of the Lord.

Pastors are understandably concerned about their place and stability in a ministry where most of them have dedicated their lives to secure and equipping churches. In this context, pastors wonder whether this divine-biblical order means for them that they could lose their responsibility over the assigned believers and finally lose their livelihood. This is of course not the case! Pastors may have authority to decide according to their congregations, but this does not mean that they are therefore the highest authority in God's eyes. In most cases, pastors are entrusted with a fellowship of believers to lead them responsibly without having them brought into the kingdom themselves.

The teacher also relies on followers for his ministry, but this following is not called flock or sheep (note: believers), but rather a class of pupils. In order to be able to train his or her followers, for the teacher the students must come to him/her or have to be gathered in a kind of “classroom” like meetings or congregations (note: literally or virtually, e.g. via internet connection).

As with the pastor, the teacher's mantle is activated at the time when a student joins him or disciples appear as learners in a particular context and time frame.
 
Until then (note: activation of the ministry mantle in the respective field) teachers as well as pastors in their ministry have no direct responsibility or authorization for people. However, things are quite different for the apostles and prophets. Their ministry begins when the Lord has spoken to them.

The apostolic and prophetic anointing are activated by divine initiative and not by results such as mentioned with the teacher's or pastor's anointing. This means that apostles and prophets are not depending on initiation of earthly things, but rather on heavenly initiatives. In such a context, the heavenly assignment triggers the ministry and not just the calling.

Apostles, prophets and evangelists are the primary traveling ministers of the church. They receive their messages from God, proclaim them to the world in their respective contexts and collect or hand over the members of the body of Christ to local workers, pastors and teachers (note: teachers can be permanently active locally, such as a Bible school as well as in traveling ministry). Based on this, the revelation of Paul of the order of the five-fold ministry and the ministers in the body of Christ makes sense and is intended to make God's wisdom known by the equipping of saints.
 
The Office Of The Apostle
 
=> An apostle is a specially called servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is sent by God to men with an assignment. Apostles are granted a general power of authorization by God extending over powers and spherical principalities over which they rule. Apostles serve as stratospheric (note: spiritual) fighters and governor-servants of Christ on earth. They carry a higher impartation of anointing and move in the highest order of the church according to 2 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11. <= (based on the definition of an “apostle” from the “Prophet's Dictionary” by Paula A. Price, Ph. D.; page 59)
 
=> Apostles have an immediate, recognizable relationship with Jesus Christ (see Acts 4:13) and act in the supernatural realm by performing signs and wonders (see Acts 2:43). Apostles have the ability to interpret things that God does (see Acts 2; Acts 15). They are also trustworthy in dealing with finances (see Acts 4:35; Acts 20:33-35; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4).
 
Apostles have authority to discipline and proclaim judgment (see Acts 5; 1 Timothy 1:19-20 ;1 Corinthians 5:4-5; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Galatians 1:8-9). They lay down their lives for the church (see 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; Galatians 6:17; Philippians 2:17-18) and are at the same time “fathers and mothers” in Christ (see 1 Corinthians 4:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 2:5-8; 1 Timothy 1:18; 2.Timothy 2:1 => Paul as the spiritual father of Timothy; Romans 16:3.7; Acts 18:18.26 => Priska-Priscilla/Junia, women as spiritual mothers in the apostolic office along with their husbands Aquila and Andronikus; see Genesis 1:27).
 
Apostles have revelation about the position of the people of Israel and of “the one new man” in Christ (see Romans 11 i.c.w. Ephesians 2:11-22ff.). Furthermore, through their intercession they stand in the gap for the body of Christ (see Colossians 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 11:28-29; Galatians 4:19) and are anointed to bring the church into order. <= (based on a teaching concerning the office of an “apostle” from the book “The Apostolic Church Arising” by Chuck D. Pierce & Robert Heidler, page 84-92)
 
Apostolic Leadership
 
Forming the foundation of the church, apostolic leadership is the cornerstone of the viability of the New Testament (see Ephesians 2:20).
 
Ephesians 2:20:
… 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
 
Revelation, mediation and education are the keys to apostolic development with the emphasis on spiritual development. Teaching units and the church's internal organization are foremost initiatives of apostolic leaders. Priority is given to protecting the organizational structure within churches by preparing and appointing the right people in their places (note: functions).
 
Origins and history are continually bound to the temporal teachings of the apostles. Apostles are the people of calling high and who constantly challenge the people (note: saints in their regions) to grow, to mature, to expand qualitatively as to rise above the earthly to serve God. They are driven forward to build, to be creative and ingenious. The apostle promotes divine order in God's people, worship of God and priestly service towards their king. They are eternity-oriented and want to practice as well as continue Christ's eternity duty every day in the now. As great leaders, they take leadership beyond the routine organization of the church and bring it forth to the government of the kingdom. Apostolic leaders are intelligent, structured and informative in their approach.
 
Learning and teaching are essential for them to see the people in Christ transformed, from the place of the cross where they find salvation to what God had created them to be forever (see Hebrews 6:1-3).
 
Hebrews 6:1-3:
1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3 And God permitting, we will do so.
 
Their intimate relationship with Christ makes them convinced leaders, fiery workers and devoted deliverers of God's truth, who effectively demonstrate the forces of the ages (note: the present and coming ones).
 
The Office Of The Prophet
 
The prophet is a person who has a direct experience of God. He has received the revelation of God's will for holiness, so that he can judge in the light of God what it looks like in the present and in the future. Furthermore, he is a divine messenger who is secure to speak in the name of God and to remind people of His demands as well as to guide them on the way of obedience and love for God.
 
A true prophet is sent by God to proclaim the will of God and to also be a “sign” with all of his person. Not only the words of the prophet, but also his acting and life becomes prophecy.
 
Prophets are completely convinced that they are serving instruments in God's commission and set to bring the divine message in connection with their personal vocabulary to the people addressed.
 
A prophet can receive the message of God e.g. through a vision, a dream, an audition or an inner intuition, which can be spontaneously carried out by an everyday experience, or rather a daily experience can be triggered, as it was for example with Jeremiah, as he saw the almond branch (see Jeremiah 1:11), the two fig baskets (see Jeremiah 24) or the potter at work (see Jeremiah 18:1-4).
 
In addition, prophets can transmit God's message visually to people in the form of signs (see 1 Kings 11:29ff.; Isaiah 20:2-4; Jeremiah 13:1ff.; Jeremiah 19:1ff.; Jeremiah 27:2ff.; Ezekiel 4:1- Ezekiel 5:4; Ezekiel 12:1-7.18; Ezekiel 21:23ff.; Ezekiel 37:15ff.; Acts 21:10-11). In connection with this form of transmission, or also independently of it, it can happen that prophets move in a strange pattern of behavior, passing through abnormal psychic and physical states, which can be among other things also part of the “burden of God” or part of what God carries on His heart (see Genesis 32:25-26.32; Ezekiel 3:15; Daniel 8:27; Daniel 10:8).
 
Every true prophet is deeply convinced that he is an instrument of God and that his prophecy is at the same time made up of words coming from his mouth but have their origin in the mouth of God.
 
The prophetic message has a double meaning in that because it can be either pointing to judgments or the promises of God. Prophetic actions that are carried out with physical objects in accordance to the order and instruction by God, become messages that were given. The reason for it is that since the revelation of the Torah on Mount Sinai, physical objects which were designed or made for God's order have also represented an image of God's presence. This means that every prophetic action taking place in Christ and in His order reflects a kind of God's holiness which connects the spiritual dimension with the physical dimension (see Genesis 2:25.8-9.40 i.c.w. Exodus 35:30-35; Exodus 36:1-3; Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:5).
 
The Office Of The Evangelist
 
The Evangelist sees the world as a great missionary field wherein people must be saved from doom and destruction. Evangelists are driven to save or see as many souls saved from death and eternal condemnation as possible.
 
Their ministry mantle concentrates on wooing and winning souls for God in this world. Evangelists are preachers of good news based on God's love, grace and forgiveness. In this context, a balanced and appropriate approach to the Word of God is of great importance.
 
Statements related to judgment that could scare or even drive people away would only appear in the message of the evangelist if souls rejected God or reacted ignorantly towards repentance and God's righteousness. This kind of adjustment is necessary because evangelists tend to measure the results of their ministry by assessing the number of converts. Evangelists usually do also not tend to remain in the life of a freshly converted believer for long and therefore would not lead him to full maturity.
 
In order to see souls being led to Jesus Christ, evangelists often use the so-called “traditional altar call”, which equates to joining Jesus' cross on Golgotha. The people who say the prayer of salvation and acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Redeemer in their lives are taken by the word and declared to be redeemed. As soon as this primary goal of evangelists are achieved, they turn to their next listeners to repeat the cycle of salvation (note: unless an evangelist is responsible for a church). Rarely does the evangelist spend enough time to guide new converts or integrate them into the body of Christ. This task usually belongs to those of shepherds (note: pastors) or teachers.
 
The nature of the evangelistic office implies that the evangelist's ministry is primarily focused on winning souls for Christ. For guiding new converts to enter maturity in Jesus Christ, it is therefore advisable to bring them under competent apostolic leadership. Such an apostolic leadership can decide on the distribution of giving support and managing of discipleship as well as to appoint experienced/proven servants in the kingdom of God. Even prophets can take parts of this function if their anointing mantle enables them to serve in revelatory teaching. The mission of the evangelist to go to the places where the Lord sends him to does not make it possible for him to care for the new converts more intensively in time.
 
At regular intervals, evangelists, while pursuing other activities at the same time, must return to their mission of evangelism to continue filling the body of Christ with new believers. This is made clear in the Word of God by the commission of the evangelist Philip, who traveled from region to region to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ (see Acts 8:4-13.26-40 i.c.w. Acts 21:8a). (note: This message is based on a teaching by Paula A. Price, Ph. D. from the book “Divine Order for Spiritual Dominance”; pages 5-12)
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm
 
For part III of the message please click here.

PROPHETIC CHAMBER
Note:
The following message is the third part of a teaching that consists of four parts and we recommend to read the message chronologically.
 
The Office Of The Shepherd (note: Pastor)
 
The ministry mantle of the shepherd is not very different from that of the evangelist as it also refers to the life of people. Shepherds see their main task in placing and caring for people in the church.
 
The ministry mantles of the shepherds find their validity in people's lives by focusing mainly on the local church. It is important to them that the local church is filled with believers and mature co-workers.
 
Furthermore, the functions in the ministry mantle of the shepherd are designed to house and support people in the church. Once people have become “members”, the focus of shepherds extends to focusing passionately on local churches and gatherings to keep believers in the house of God.
 
Sometimes, in their ministry mantle, they tend to establish the saints rather in the local congregation than in God's kingdom position. For example, if the evangelist is concerned for the mission field in the world and it can be difficult for him to reflect on the affairs of the administration of church and its resources, the shepherds' point of views may be narrow by being focused on their regional (note: local) church, so that they are not capable to establish the basic apostolic insight or understanding of the supernatural influence of eternity in the kingdom.
 
Shepherds provide a valuable service in the personal development of the assigned believers. There is this danger that within the heart of shepherds this can lead to an inappropriate desire to want to have more and more “members”, because they can be inclined to see their own purpose of ministering only in the amount of people.
 
A shepherd who does not run a church is without function and thus serves more in the position of a servant. Within the congregation, shepherds literally represent the “caretakers” with all their tasks and duties. Because of their focus on that inner work in the house of God, shepherds have a limited view of the world, which means that their ministry mantle as shepherds can be recognized and confirmed by it.
 
Shepherds seldom take risks to allow preaching that is challenging, such as apostles and prophets do, because it could cause their followers (note: flock) to turn away and therein to “lose” what true shepherds would be afraid of (note: sometimes with the wrong assumption that the number of members can decrease).
 
The Office Of The Teacher
 
For the teacher, the principle that no new convert (note: student) is supposed to have or lead a ministry is valid. Accordingly, the focus of a teacher's attention is not primarily on shepherding, as in the case of the shepherd (note: pastor), but rather on education and understanding of Scripture.
 
Teachers are recognized when they have disciples who are willing to study and learn the Word of God from them.
 
Just as a shepherd is responsible for spiritual care within a local church to ensure the growth of believers, the teacher helps and supports in assisting (note: in his ministry mantle) by following the focus of care in terms of academic education.
 
The sharp perception of teachers is always in search of information (note: also smattering of knowledge), which can deprive a young or uneducated new believer of the reward of the covenant in Jesus Christ.
Teachers are meant to provide protection against the enemy by using the Word and the knowledge of the truth of the Word of God. They do this by recognizing and rejecting conscious disinterest because they are aware that this indifference is the source of destruction, disfavor and impoverishment for believers. A true teacher despises such disinterest and can thus relentlessly appear in his mission to eliminate it.
 
Teachers are also watchful and eager to prevent or reduce mistakes and the associated consequences in the life of believers. They comprehend their mission as supporting to the growing of maturity in Christ by training saints in the unchangeable truth of the Word of God.
 
Occasionally, teachers who are inevitably analytical may take a very critical and one-sided approach to their views on new believers. An often disturbing attitude towards changes or new developments within the body of Christ is also an elementary component of the nature of the ministry of a teacher.
 
The Occurrence Of The Apostles and Prophets
 
Apostles and prophets receive revelations and insights from the Lord in order to hand over their fresh “manna” (note: revelatory Word of God) to the body of Christ. Their revelations correspond to those received by the prophets of God in the Tenakh (note: Hebrew Bible) and by all the apostles of the New Testament.
 
Apostles and prophets are the first ministers to be initiated and integrated into the Holy Word of the Creator and into the eternal world of the Lord. Both ministers recognize the mission of the church to reflect the eternal kingdom of the Lord. That is why they are experienced in the supernatural like the appearing of angels as well as the citizens of the kingdom of God and receive as highest ranking ministers directly and incisively the Lord's revelations.
 
They can see the new converts and the church as a whole, or with a primarily holistic approach. This is a completely different view and approach as of the other ministers of the five-fold ministry in the body of Christ. Their attitude concerning ministry is therefore oriented towards the representation of the eternal kingdom of God, just as the moon reflects the light of the sun to shine in the darkness.
 
The body of Christ on earth is destined to serve the Lord like a huge satellite of His eternal reign. It works with God's spiritual world and its institutions as inflows reflecting the activities of the invisible. Apostles and prophets reveal the hidden facets, powers and sovereignty of eternity. They reveal these principles and make them accessible to the saints, so that believers grow in their insight. This valuable work contributes to the recognition of God's heavenly design from eternity, which implies eternal life (note: immortality) for humans (note: mortals).
 
The main purpose of the church (note: saints all over the world), to which the apostles and prophets lead, is also to enlighten the darkened human mind with the wisdom of God. Furthermore, apostles and prophets minister to those who are unsaved, to see them connect themselves as far as possible with their eternal form as children of light and not as descendants of the supernatural darkness in which they live.
 
The calling of the apostles and prophets is being commissioned by God to sanctify the eternal body of men (note: the inner man => soul and spirit), which the Lord has prepared for an eternal existence and this process will be achieved by uniting the saints with His reign in Christ.
 
Apostles and prophets begin to fully grasp the reasons of the Lord in order to advance the people of God towards its eternal destiny. They emotionally understand this enormous value of destiny as a long-awaited companion of eternity.
 
The apostles have been given the ability by God's grace to stand on a higher level of knowledge than other ministers in the church. They act as revealing ministers of Christ, so that the secrets of the hidden realms of God can increasingly be revealed to those who are part of the Body of Christ.
 
It is the apostles to whom, according to the Word of God, the privilege and duty are ascribed as stewards of the mysteries of God (see 1 Corinthians 4:1-2), which presupposes fidelity and integrity.
 
1 Corinthians 4:1-2:
1 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
 
The apostles get initiated into the secret/silent ministry of the invisible world of the Lord to receive knowledge in order to share it with the body of Christ. Furthermore, apostles can bring the truth of the Lord into the hearts and souls of believers by clearly addressing every area of life, whether directly or indirectly, in order to help them progress in their daily life in Christ.
 
Apostles and prophets give the church the understanding of having authority to save souls and challenge saints to transform themselves into the image and likeness of Christ. This is based on God's unadulterated Word. Inaccurate and incoherent sermons or teachings are not usually typical of apostles and prophets. They know only too well how serious and glorious the Lord is in His nature.
 
The nature of the inauguration (note: ordination) of these two officers of the Lord makes them live as initiates in His kingdom. That is why it is such a privilege for them to serve men personally according to the Word of Truth which is put into their mouths by God. Their ministry can be found to be effective as the people they serve therein find comfort and conviction by God-given wisdom.
 
Apostles and prophets learn not only from their divine intimacy that heaven and hell are real, but also how God's holiness prevents the LORD from giving eternal life to those who reject or block his order (note: proud/arrogant heart attitude). Sometimes this is quite hard for those concerned, and experience shows that only mature saints can stand it. These mature saints are submitted to the reign of God without needing any traditional, gentle revelation or soft and superficial explanation. True apostles and prophets are therefore not always welcome, because of the fact that there are servants in the church who want to rely on a rather soft revelation. This can sometimes be related to the mindset of convincing people of God's love (note: in this context “cheap grace”).
 
Apostles and prophets understand what it means to say that God's will is done and know what God expects from His people, that is to say to surrender uncompromisingly to His will. They also understand the duty of the church to the sovereignty of the Lord. That means trusting and obeying. Aaron's loss of his two presumptuous sons in Leviticus 10:1-3 makes this clear.
 
Leviticus 10:1-3:
1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command.
2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: “ ‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’ ” Aaron remained silent.
 
Apostles and prophets are also prepared to recognize the limits of the freedom of salvation that the Lord allows, and proclaim to His people the danger of recklessness in the form of presumption and arrogance. Their messages are not often expressed in terms that comfort the flesh (note: flatter), but they seem to occasionally choose phrases and expressions that serve to create an inner shaking.
 
Dauntlessness and sometimes frank honesty permeate their messages. The penetrating insight of these ministers connects with the uncomfortable meaning of delivering bound “souls”. Their messages can cause the increasing of an inner aversion in order to reveal hidden rebellion in the hearts of the people of God (note: believers). Their ministry exposes believers with dispositions or patterns of inner resistance to holiness who prefer more convenient sermons by tendency.
 
God is truth, and His apostles and prophets are bound by a peculiar limitation within the assignment to express this truth, even if it is obvious that it will be ignored or attacked. It is mainly through these two ministers that the church can receive its fresh streams of wisdom and its portion in the unfolding of God's mysteries and revelations for its generations.
 
Apostles and prophets receive messages and revelatory teaching from God and bring it into the hands of the church so that it can be added to its present and former “theology” (note: emphasis) and move on to the next level of anointed development. This progress in the body of Christ can only come from new revelations (note: fresh manna). (note: This message is based on a teaching by Paula A. Price, Ph. D. from the book “Divine Order for Spiritual Dominance”; pages 5-12)
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm
 
For part IV of the message please click here.

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