Join this HeartCry - Every Friday 11:30am - 3:30pm (UK time)
Eph 4:11-12 (AMP)
11 And
His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles
(special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists
(preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of
His flock) and teachers. 12 His intention was the perfecting and the full
equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the
work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church).
Why did GOD Himself appoint and give us these men?
What are His mighty reasons/purposes?
Eph 4:12-13 (TLB)
12 Why is it that he gives us these
special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him, building
up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity; 13 until
finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our Savior, God’s
Son, and all become full-grown in the
Lord—yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ.
What does GOD says
about the Church? What has Jesus done for the church? Who is Christ to the
church?
Acts 20:28 (TLB)
28 “And now beware! Be sure that you
feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church,
purchased with his blood—for the Holy Spirit is holding you responsible as
overseers.
Col 1:16-18 (TLB)
16 Christ himself is the Creator who
made everything in heaven and earth, the things we can see and the things we
can’t; the spirit world with its kings and kingdoms, its rulers and
authorities; all were made by Christ for his own use and glory. 17 He
was before all else began and it is his power that holds everything together. 18 He is the Head of the body made up of his
people—that is, his Church—which he began; and he is the Leader of all
those who arise from the dead, so that he is first in everything.
Eph 5:24-27 (KJV)
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own
husbands in everything.25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave
himself for it; 26 That
he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word 27 That
he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that
it should be holy and without blemish.
What then are the
biblical roles of these men with special abilities that He has given to His
flock (His people) – His Church?
PASTORS – Jer 3:15 (KJV); 2Tim 4:2 (KJV): (a) shepherds after
Christ heart who are to lead/guide/feed/water/tend the people of GOD with
knowledge and understanding; (b) to patiently preach the Word of GOD, to
correct and to rebuke when needed, to encourage them to do right.
EVANGELISTS – Acts 8:25 (KJV); Acts 14:5-7 (KJV); 1Cor 1:17(KJV): they are to carry the gospel on and about Jesus to places where it was
previously unknown.
DEACONS – 1Tim 3:13 (KJV): they are to encourage the people of
GOD to develop their confidence and bold trust in the LORD.
OVERSEERS – 1Tim 3:1-2 (NAS); Tit 1:7-9 (NAS); Acts 20:28-31 (NAS): (a) to be on guard for themselves and for all the flock which the Holy Spirit
has made them overseers, in order to shepherd the flock which Jesus purchased
with His own blood; (b) to hold fast the faithful Word which is in accordance
with the teaching; (c) able to exhort in sound doctrine and to rebuke those who
contradicts the Word of GOD.
PRAYERS:
O LORD our GOD, we cry unto You for mercy. O for Your
abundant mercies upon these various leaders whom You appointed Yourself over Your
flock (Eph 4:11). We plead for Your mercy because Your divine purpose for which
You chose these Priests/Pastors/Teachers/Evangelists/Deacons/General Overseers,
and the mandate You gave, has been truncated upon – has been bastardised – has
been trampled. LORD JESUS, Your church has been defiled; Your purpose has been
amputated by the flesh and the works of darkness. We have forgotten the purpose
for which You created the church, which was for Your flock to become full grown
in the LORD to the point of being fully filled with Christ (Eph 4:13). But Our
GOD, it has not been so with these ones You have appointed. We have forgotten
why You came and was crucified on the Cross. Your people are being fed with
abominable spiritual meat and being poisoned with false and incomplete gospel.
Arise in Your compassion for Your purchased church and come to the rescue.
Please LORD JESUS, have mercy and forgive these guilty
Priest/Pastors/Teachers/Evangelists/Deacons/General Overseers, as they have forgotten
the covenant You had with them, and the fear of the LORD is long gone (Ps 25:14
KJV). Please visit them once again (as You did with Peter and the other six in (John 21:1-2), as You do not delight in the death of sinners but for them to
come to repentance. Draw them closer to the Cross, bring them again to Calvary
once again if You have to. Mercy! Mercy!! Mercy!!!
- 1 Cor 11:1 (AMP) – Pray that all these appointed messengers of GOD will imitate and follow Christ Jesus. That their focus will be on Jesus; their message will be Jesus, their whole being will be of Jesus, the vision will be Jesus, no more – no less. So that in their preaching Him, the flock will be brought into maturity, only in Christ.
- That they will see themselves as servants/slaves unto the LORD and not become self-absorbed with their own doctrine, but follow the doctrine of Jesus – the true complete gospel.
- Holy Spirit, give unto them the heart of Christ who is the Great Shepherd who has the heart of love/compassion for the flock.
- They are meant to feed the sheep. Pray that henceforth the reverse shall not be the case.
- According to Eph 4:12 (AMP) {paraphrased}, GOD’s intention for the church was to be fortified to be of use for Him, to strengthen and help her to grow to the stage where He desire the body of Christ to be. Let’s pray that His divine will be done concerning the church. By the washing of the Water and the Word, cleanse Your church of every wrinkle, every spot and every blemish. Make her holy as You GOD are holy.
- Isaiah said “In the year that King Uzzah died, I saw the LORD …..” – Isa 6:1. So LORD Jesus, let every King Uzzah in every form or fashion of the world system, who has enthroned himself over Your church, be dethroned, so that Your church can fulfill the manifestation of Your glory once again.
- Please LORD JESUS, bring all these Priests/Pastors/Evangelists/Deacon/General Overseers into the work of discipleship, so that Your command of ‘Go and make disciples in all the nations… and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given…’ will be established as You purpose it to be in Jesus name.
Join this HeartCry Prayer - Every Friday 11:30am - 3:30pm (UK time)
