Today, I have the grace and pleasure to speak to you about God’s agents of believer’s perfection. Many people are self-called into the church work or ministry as servants of God because they see it as a means to an end – money motivation vocation – church business. Some are called by men and are ordained over the organisation because they think such men are suitable, fit, and influential with powerful and effective language to lift moral and inspire people positively to draw crowds. Some men are called and appointed by Satan as well to shepherd churches. 2 Corinthians 11:13. Any of the above is a false and unrecognised vocation and servants before God. Galatians 1:1.
Those that are called by divine purpose and God’s intrust (confer a trust upon) into the sheepfold are called the ministers of the gospel (men shall call you the ministers of our God Isaiah 61:6.) They are responsible and accountable for the souls under them (Hebrews 13:17) and are expected to be sound in knowledge and be well informed, both from the Old and New Testaments of the scriptures (then said he unto them, therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old. Matthew 13:52) lest they become ministers of vain jangling, understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 1 Timothy 1:7. The true minister of God is filled with all true knowledge of the scriptures and has the tongue of the learned in an unapologetic spirit like Christ before the sons of men to speak sound doctrines, not by pleasing men, but God who has entrusted them with the word to teach and preach. 1 Thessalonians 2:4. This is the foundation and the steadiness of the perfection set before them in Christ and of which they must bring or draw the sheep under their cares along with them in that perfection in Christ, that they may present themselves and those under them perfect before Christ at his coming. ‘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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works’. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. As the under shepherds (1 Peter 5:1-4) are growing into Christ perfection through their abiding in the vine, the souls under them are also made to grow progressively as well into the same perfection in Christ. Wherefore he says, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:8-15.
It is certain that you may not have all these wonderful five-fold ministries in your local church; but in this case, you have to apply the scriptures that warrant (and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10: 24-25) you to fellowship with other brethren or living churches to profit from the ministry you do not have operating in your church and by comparing spiritual things with spiritual -precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. Isaiah 28:10. Many of the fake pastors or ministers of the gospel detests the idea of leaving their local church for a visit to another ministry to fellowship and they called such act as rebellious spirit or spiritual adultery. This is a great lie to deprive you of certain truth and keep you under their deception and to contain you in their evil cage and net; and you can end up becoming their worst enemy if they have knowledge of this about you. It is very important to see to it that you are attending a church and visiting ministries that is building and adding to your spiritual life and growth and not a declining church of itching ears- broad way Christians. 2 Timothy 4:1-4. Pray and be led to a church and ministry that will be shaping your spiritual life progressively with sound doctrines of Christ life and teachings, reproofs of life, biblical correction to reshape your life and ways before God, and biblical instruction in righteousness which cannot be condemned by the critics until Christ come and is formed in you. The Ministerial or vocational works of the Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are different in processes and manners of functioning, but it the same God that works in all of them for one purpose – for the perfecting of the saints, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of man, unto a perfect man. Why are there so many Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers contradicting the word of God and are not preaching or saying the same thing and doing the same thing according to the scriptures? The answer is not farfetched – either they are out of the right way (they went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 1 John 2:19-20) or they are altogether not of God. To live or to die, those who are called of God are faithfully abiding in their calling in pursuant of one goal in their respective vocations – the perfecting of the saints before God. They have received the heavenly calling that has been confirmed by God directly to them and indirectly to others to establish their vocational and ministerial honor and authority. They always point and direct the worshippers to the scriptures and seek to feed them increasingly with deeper knowledge of the scriptures. 1 Samuel 3:20. Acts 9:26-27.
Because they are agents of perfection, they themselves must be in a certain state of blamelessness and should be well trained under a good and faithful mentor, a sound Theology school if led, or by God himself (Galatians 1:12) lest being a novice, should be lifted up with pride to fall into the condemnation of the devil. 1Timothy 3:1-6. They are not disposed to take risks but are expected to meet up with the required moral and spiritual standards of their different callings before entering into the ministry lest they mess things up (for this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Titus 1:5-9) and become a stumbling stone instead of becoming the ladder they are meant for others to climb up. These men serve as the bride’s friend, and they are the good stewards of the manifold grace of God, faithful to their calling to prepare the bridegroom (Church) for the coming of her bride (Christ) so that he might found her as he desired her to be as a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. It is their responsibility to do this by the washing of water by the word – preaching the undiluted and none flattering nor fair speeches word of God. Ministerial work with God, if it is done faithfully, is the most honorable; but if otherwise, is the most dangerous vocation that a man can ever think of. Many of these fake and unfaithful men of God shall not make heaven (wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Acts 20:26-27) if their lifestyles and their teachings make anyone to go astray. If any of these five-fold ministries and ministers are shortage in performances to challenging you to make a firm and decisive decision to live or not to live by new revelation of truth to grow and frame your walk and to progress in your spiritual life at the end of each encounter and assembly, and to increase in righteousness and godliness, and in perfecting holiness in the fear of God, such ministry is a congregation and minister of the dead. Such are the unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, (ministers) whose mouth must be stopped, who subvert whole houses and churches today, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake – and to them shall the great Shepherd of the sheep repulsively respond on the last day, get away from me, I don’t know you, you workers of iniquities.