Restoration of Original Intent: Part 2
Part 2 of a 2-part series.
God’s Blueprint
God’s design for His Church is summed up beautifully in the following Scriptural passage:
Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
In the Body of Christ, every part(or member) must do its share (vs 16). We all have a vital part to play in God accomplishing His purposes in the Earth through His Church.
There are, however, many in the Body of Christ that don’t feel adequately prepared, or equipped, to do this.
Jesus already solved this problem by establishing the gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (often referred to as the 5-fold ministry). Their function is to “equip the saints for the work of ministry”. The saints (people) are the ones who are commissioned to do the work of ministry — not just the paid staff.
Could this be the reason the Church has lost its impact in the world around us? We have done exactly what Israel did at Mount Sinai, and asked for a priestly mediator to be the one who hears from God and relays that information to us. But, again, that was not God’s plan for Israel, and it is not His will for His Church. He wants us ALL to be part of a Royal (kingly) Priesthood (see 1 Peter 2:9).
This entire process hinges upon the necessity of absolute intimacy with God. If we’re not intimately close to Him, we can’t see or hear Him, and therefore cannot properly represent Him in the Earth.
How is your relationship with the Lord? Are you being fed what God is saying only through others? Or are you also seeking the Lord for yourself?
Do our churches today encourage the saints to do the work of ministry? Or do we just sit as spectators and watch the paid professionals do ministry?
God’s original intent for humanity and for His Church is being restored in this hour.
The Covid pandemic has radically changed the world and the Church. Many Christians have awoken to the realization that the way we have been doing church is no longer working. There is a deep stirring of the Spirit of God within the people of God for a restoration of God’s Original Intent.
It’s time to rule and reign with Him. We do not have to wait until we die and go to Heaven to experience this. It’s available right now. Jesus has already restored and saved that which was previously lost. We are said to be Kings and Priests unto our God and are called to REIGN on the Earth (see Revelation 5:9-10).
In the Midst of Great Darkness, the Light Has Come
If the world seems to be spinning off its axis, and you’re unsure about how we could ever make a difference in the world around us, consider these powerful words from the Prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine; For your light has come. And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
It is, and always has been, in the context of deep darkness that God’s people are called to allow the Light of God’s glory to shine upon and through us. This is how darkness is defeated — not by screaming at it, or by rebuking it, but by letting God’s light shine through us.
God has had a plan from the very beginning — a very beautiful plan. And we are a vital part of it.
It’s time to do our part to see God’s Original Intent be Restored so His Kingdom can more fully come, and His will can be more fully done on the earth as it already is in Heaven.
P.S.
If you need help getting equipped to do your part, The Rising is getting ready to launch a brand new group online mentorship program, where we’ll be actively working to prepare people to walk fully into all God has called them to. For more information on this amazing opportunity, click HERE.
Blessings,
Steve Ragon