I was talking to someone on another forum about this and he replied with this I thought it was very insightful and he gave permission to share it just some food for thought
I have condensed it for this post. Remember…this is concerning the “gifts and graces” bestowed upon the Body of Christ…a spiritual man…at the time of the Lord Yahshua’s ascension.
These are listed as…“apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers” operating within the Kingdom of God…specifically the Body of Christ on the earth. They were first empowered by the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost following the Lord’s ascension.
Let’s commence to identifying “them Prophets" listed among the other four gifts and graces…based upon the scriptural description of a New Testament prophet and the subsequent identifiable manifestation of these graces and gifts…in the Body of Christ.
The first part of their “job description” if you will verse 12...
(12) “Is for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”
What they do?…”the equipping of the saints for the work of service”…their purpose in doing it?…“the building up of the body of Christ”
This would indicate that “today’s prophets” are called forth and raised up by the Holy Spirit to lead and guide the “saints” who are “created in Christ Yahshua for good works…which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” Ephesians 2.
So think “big brother or father type figure” here…in and to the Kingdom of God…the body of Christ. I have more detail but that's not for this post.
(13) “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
Here we are seeing a “timeframe” that these 5 graces of the Lord are in operation…”until [ denoting a finishing point or completion] we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” Here then is listed the “targeted completion date”…when the Body reaches complete unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…”attained” among “ALL”…in the Kingdom of our God.
One look at these forums and the “church” tells us that the “unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God” has not been achieved or completed…however it will happen…for the Body of Christ. Until then…the 5 graces and gifts that the Lord Himself gave to us…will remain and in operation wherever the Kingdom of God is present…until this objective is achieved.
When is it then…that will be achieved? Well…verse 13 also gives us that answer…it is when the Body is considered by the Lord Yahshua – the standard Himself – to be a “mature man – a Spirit Man” again referencing the spiritual growth and maturity of the spiritual Body of Christ itself.
The level of maturity that will be reached is…“to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” The “Body of Christ…under its Head” is one in Spirit and at the maturity level that belongs to the “fullness” of Lord Yahshua Himself. That’s what Paul wrote…fully able to support the glory of God on the earth.
Sure I understand the controversy that causes…we are however working directly from the scripture…verse by verse here. We are addressing the identification and litmus test of “today’s prophets.” They are existent in the Body of Christ typically as “spiritual fathers…leaders” engaged in the raising up of the “sons of God” to the full measure of the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ.
(14) “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming”
This “we are no longer to be children” is pointing to a process of “spiritual maturation” which takes us from “spiritual infant…at the new birth being born again infant child”…to a “spiritually mature adult” so that we are not deceived “by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” as “spiritual children” are.
Back in verse 12 we saw that these… “apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher”…are called and gifted by the Holy Spirit…who is assembling the Body of Christ…to do just that… the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.
This is the process for loving, raising, training and equipping, the saints as they grow up and mature spiritually into Christ…fulfilling their calls in the Kingdom of God…which is…to accomplish the “good works that God prepared beforehand…that we should walk in."
(15) “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ”
“Today’s prophets” are a vital part of the Lord’s plan to teach the saints to “speak the Truth in love”…so that…the saints can “grow up into all aspects”…this would be their unique parts, callings, roles, anointing's, etc…in Christ. The Body of Christ is to become unified in faith and the knowledge of Christ to the level of spiritual maturity that is present in the “Head” of the Body…none other than the Lord Yahshua Christ.
(16) “from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”
The entire “Body of Christ” is being “fitted and held together” or assembled [Hebrews 10:25] by the Holy Spirit…according to “the proper working of each individual part" – call, role, gifting, grace.” The Holy Spirit knows exactly where each part of Christ belongs and what they do…as the part that they have been “predestined” to be by the Father…this was before creation. Ephesians 1:4
Conclusion…
Though it is the same God who reveals the same “Theopneustos Word” to the prophets of the two covenants…there is a difference in the prophets. One is natural man on the earth in the once visible kingdom of Israel…the other is spiritual man in the heavens in the invisible eternal Kingdom of God…on earth.
Today’s prophets of God are gifted, graced and Holy Spirit empowered to assist in the raising of the “children of God up into Christ as the “mature Spirit sons of God” as was always the plan.
So if one would like to “test and authenticate” the “words and works of today’s prophets” that should be easy…if…you’re in the invisible spiritual Body of Christ directly under your Head.
If you do not see them...or better yet have access to them...that would be something you would want to take up with the Lord Himself. He will show them to you they dwell in the temple of God here on the earth.
They are the ones who have “sacrificed their lives” on the altar of worship to the Lord Yahshua Christ…to assist in loving you and teaching you…affirming and admonishing you in the ways of maturing…“to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
I am fully aware of the controversy that surrounds what I have presented here…few there be today who have actually heard it…of those…few are likely to lay hold of it. For those who can discern Spirit and Truth my hope is that you might find some in this?
There is more to discuss…this is where I will leave it.
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