Enrich your spiritual life as you study inspirational messages gleaned from the Word of God! The Holy Bible is filled with wisdom that will strengthen your character and deepen your walk with the Lord. As you reflect on key Scripture passages, you will discover encouraging lessons and practical applications woven throughout the Word. Leon Gooden presents an in-depth study of key Bible passages to sharpen your faith and help you grow in your understanding of God. Each chapter explores a different Scripture passage to encourage you in your daily walk with Jesus Christ. In this book, you’ll learn: -How God calls you to be actively involved in His purposes and plans for the world -You are God’s child, accepted and highly favored—made holy and righteous by the blood of Jesus -How the Holy Spirit will empower you to bring life to others who desperately need it -How God wants to sanctify you and move you toward the future He has planned for you -How worship can overcome temptations to sin -When nothing makes sense, God has a perfect handle on things -Why the result of knowing God is an intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe This book is ideal to enhance your personal daily devotions, or as a Bible study tool in a small group setting. Short chapters with edifying messages are perfect for livening up your devotions! Start reading your copy of Walking in the Word today—and spark a flame in your heart for real growth as a child of God!
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Do you have a vision to follow, we do here at KBCMI.
EDIFYING, EQUIPPING, EMPOWERING FOR KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT!
EPH. 4:12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of CHRIST.
EDIFYING - The word ‘edification' comes from a Latin word, ‘aedificare' which means, “build”. The idea therefore is, ‘to improve the mind or character of some one by teaching'.
Kingdom is the sovereign, power, dominion, and rule to infiltrate, influence, and incorporate all who would receive its provisions, promises, promotion, and protection for the the Kingdom of God and for Experiencing and Enjoying The Kingdom lifestyle.
To Advance is to proceed progressively by divine impartation, inspiration, imagination and instruction to move forward the Kingdom of God and for Experiencing and Enjoying the Kingdom lifestyle. ADVANCING THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITH FORCE.
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,” (Ezekiel 37: 1)
The valley of dry bones speaks of a group of people, an army, who were murdered in the valley, and whose bodies degenerated until they all became dry bones. In that same valley where they were murdered, God sent Ezekiel to prophesy, and the entire dry bones came back to life. In the same place where their blood was spilled and they were reduced to bones, the miracle of mass resurrection took place.
Church, hear me as I hear the Lord: in the same places where you went down, God will empower you to rise higher. In the same place where you encountered losses, you are about to witness a restoration of all that you lost, with compensation. The same things that made you cry are about to make you laugh; the same people that mocked you are about to celebrate you; the same people that rejected you are about to accept you.
In the same places where doors were shut at you, the doors are about to be opened to you. In the same places where your abilities and skills were disregarded, you will be called into the mountain of relevance and influence. The same things that hurt you badly will soon be reasons for you to be congratulated. The same opportunities that were beyond your reach will soon be within your reach. Your valley will witness a new celebration.
Go and announce to those who have seen your tears, shame, failures, setbacks, delays, denials, etc.: a new story is about to emerge, your status is about to change, the pains of the past will soon be replaced with joy and laughter, the negative labels will soon be replaced with positive testimonies; and in the same places where you had negative outcomes, get prepared for the positive results that God is about to shower you with.
You may be in the valley, but your story will change for good in that valley. You may be in the valley, but in that same place of reduction, your increase is imminent.
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” (Joshua 5: 13)
Our Focal Scripture speaks of the moments preceding the possession of Jericho by Joshua and the Israelites. Jericho was a wealthy city in bible times; it was a fenced city. It was a city filled with gold, silver and other precious metals. God Himself was at the forefront of giving a city to His people, and He didn’t give them a normal city; He gave them a wealthy city. He brought them to a place of wealth. He gave them a wealthy place.
My brethren, hear me as I hear the Lord: the gates of your wealthy place are open in 2023. You are moving from little, to many; you are moving from lack to abundance; you are moving from obscurity to undeniable visibility; you are moving from the place of having only what you need to the place of having more than you need; you are moving from not enough to more than enough; you have arrived at your large place; you are moving to your wealthy place.
Hear me as I hear the Lord: the gates of abundance are open to you; God is about to embarrass you with more than you could ever ask or think; God is about to grant you successes that is beyond your natural capacity; God is about to make you the envy of your contemporaries; God is about to grant you high favours that will cause you to be preferred and chosen; God is about to make you the best of the best.
The days of small things are over forever in your life; the days of being empty handed are over; the days of struggle and lack, are over. Henceforth, it shall be a tale of wealth and abundance. All things are working to take you into your high places. Heaven will orchestrate new processes that will work in your favour. The promises of God concerning you are coming to pass in this season. You are rising higher; you are rebranded with glory.
Get ready: your wealthy place is waiting for your entrance; your wealthy place is loaded with weighty blessings; your wealthy place is ready for your possession.
And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” (Ezekiel 37: 14)
Our Focal Scripture speaks of that moment when God said to Ezekiel: “…know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it”. God was not just going to speak on a matter. He spoke, and He did. He spoke, and He backed what He spoke with action. He spoke, and He caused what He said to become a reality. He spoke, and there was a commitment on His part to fulfill what He had spoken. It was a case of a spoken word that would be performed.
My brethren, hear me as I hear the Lord: every word that God has spoken concerning your life, He will perform it. God will fulfill every word He has spoken concerning you that's right. God will fulfill every promise He made to you. God will cause your prophecies to become reality. God is moving you from the place of promises to the place of fulfillment. God is causing His words concerning you to be fulfilled. God will arise to perform His word for your life.
God did not even say that His word will be fulfilled; He declared that He would perform it by Himself. God was going to take responsibility to make His promise become a reality. Hear me as I hear the Lord: God Himself will take responsibility to make His word become flesh in your life. God will arise and cause your crooked places to be made straight. God will arise and cause your impossibilities to become possible.
Men may speak but not perform; but when Jehovah is involved, whatever He has said will come to pass. When God is on your side, even the words He spoke that you have forgotten, will be remembered and fulfilled. If God be for you, the gates of hell will not prevail. If God be for you, every word and promise that you have held on to, will soon become your reality. Even if you think you don’t deserve it, mercy will speak on your behalf.
Get set: the season of your divine performance is here. As He has said it, He will do it.
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” (Joshua 5: 13)
The Joshua generation was that generation that knew the promise of God, and were ready to fight until it became a reality. They were not afraid to fight for what God promised them. They were not scared to enforce the provision that heaven made for them. They understood that although God had made a promise, they needed to fight the battle to possess their possession. They were ready to wage war until they took their place.
My fellow brethren, arise and fight for your ‘Jericho’. Enforce the mandate of heaven upon your ‘Jericho’. If there be a word that God has spoken to you, keep declaring it until it becomes your reality. Keep warring with your prophecies until they are fulfilled. Keep confessing the word of the Lord concerning you until that word is made flesh and appears to all men. Don’t be too tired to arise and enforce the mandate of heaven against your roadblocks/opposers.
Don’t leave your prophecy to lie fallow; feed and nurture it by proclaiming the word of the Lord concerning you. Don’t just sit back and wait for everything to fall into place; use your words, proclamations and prayers to cause everything to fall into place. Wage war against the forces opposing your new season. Tear down the altars of hell that have been erected to stop your advancement. Prayerfully dislodge the roadblocks against your rising.
Jericho was not vacant when Joshua and his generation went to possess it. There were inhabitants already in Jericho. Some people were occupying the land that God promised to give them. There just might be people who are already occupying the ‘land’ that God has promised you; some people may be contesting for the same next level that God has promised you, and you need to wage war in prayers to gain your ‘place’.
Joshua fought for the land of Jericho, and he possessed Jericho. God says, as you fight the battles for your new season through prayers and prophetic confessions of God’s word, you will possess your portion.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.” (Acts 12: 18)
It is instructive to observe that the soldiers whom Peter was chained to, were still in the prison when the angel of the Lord took Peter out of the prison. The men who were positioned to keep Peter at a spot were still there and Peter broke out and pass through the gate and into the city. They were positioned to stop him, and they didn’t even need to leave before Peter could escape. They were still at the duty post, and God broke Peter out of prison.
My fellow brethren, hear me as I hear the Lord: the people who were positioned to keep you at the same spot will still be there and you will break out of their confinement. The haters who insist you must not rise will still be there and you will rise higher than they ever imagined. Your adversaries will still be there and you will hit your target. Those that said you will not amount to nothing will still be watching as you become greatness personified.
The keepers of the prison and the soldiers therein would have imagined that no one could walk away from the prison without their consent, but they woke up to see that Peter was gone, without needing their help. They imagined it would be at their instance, but it happened without their help. Go and announce to those who imagine that you cannot move without them, that God will move you upwards and forward without them.
Are there demonic gatekeepers that say you will not rise until they are prepared? God is about to embarrass them with your rising. They will still be holding the chains down and you will rise out of their chains. They will still be boasting of how they kept you down and you will rise and break out of their midst. They will still be insisting that your destiny is in their hands and you will never move forward. They will still be at the gate and you will pass them.
Stop losing sleep on account of the demonic gatekeepers that say you will not rise except they are ready to let you rise. If God be for you, you will rise above them and rise above their influence. They will still be at the gate and you will pass through the gate in 2023.
And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.” (Luke 7: 15)
When the young man that was dead came back to life, he began to speak. The moment he came back to life, he made use of his mouth to speak. That young man did not keep silent when life came back to him. In fact, it seemed that the evidence of the life in him were the words he spoke immediately he came back to life. He came back to life and he spoke. He came back to life and he used his (PEY) mouth to make proclamations.
My fellow brethren, to be alive is to speak life. We belong to a speaking kingdom. Speak life to everything around you. speak life to your tomorrow. Speak life to your today. Speak life to everything around you that is dead. Speak life to that marriage that wants to collapse. Speak life to that health that has deteriorated. Speak life to that business that is not yet yielding. Speak life to that helper that has forgotten you. Keep speaking life into being.
You were made in the image of a God who used His words to form the world. Use your words to create your own world. Use your words to create the future you desire. Use your words to call forth the help you need. Use your words to open the doors and gates that are shut at you. Use your words to frame the outcomes you desire. Use your words to activate the prophecies that have gone ahead of you. Use your words positively.
If you fail to speak life, you will become a victim of those who speak death. If you fail to speak life, other men will make satanic proclamations that will rule over your destiny against your wishes. If you fail to speak life, you will come under the control of those who are intentional to control their world with their words. The mere fact that you are saying nothing does not mean that others are also saying nothing.
It is an error to be in a speaking kingdom and be silent. No matter what happens, don’t lose your voice. Use your words to change your situations.
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.” (Genesis 37: 5)
It is instructive to observe that when Joseph declared his dream to his brothers, they hated him; and when he had yet another dream, they hated him even more. His dream provoked hatred from his brothers. His dream made people who should love him to start hating him. His dream was an indication of who he was going to become in the future. So some people saw a picture of his future and their response was hatred.
Brethren, as God unfolds your greatness and causes you to have a mandate that is greater than what you have previously had, don’t be surprised that men that once loved you will begin to hate you. Don’t be surprised when friends become enemies as a result of your greatness. Don’t be surprised when the greatness that has not even fully manifested begins to unsettle the people around you. Don’t be shocked at hatred provoked by your results.
Notice that the people who hated Joseph for his dream, were brothers. They were not strangers. They were not people coming from a huge distance. They were people with whom he shared some commonality. They were people who should have been his supporters. Don’t let it break you when the people you imagined should be your supporters, turn out to be haters. Don’t be surprised when brothers turn haters because of your greatness.
Notice also that Joseph did not start hating his brothers simply because they hated him. He didn’t join them to go low in hatred. He didn’t become bitter like them. Don’t let the hatred of your haters turn you into a hater. Don’t let the misbehavior of those who feel threatened by your dream, make you feel threatened by other people’s dream. Don’t allow yourself to be influenced negatively by the hatred of your haters.
If you will be great, and remain great, then get used to the fact that not everyone will like you. If the brothers of Joseph would hate him, then who are you not to be hated for being great?
But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.” (Judges 16:21)
It is instructive to observe that in Judges 13 vs. 25, the spirit of the Lord had begun to ‘move’ Samson between Zorah and Eshtaol. Samson was already on the move; but when the Philistines took hold of him, the first thing they did was to stop him from moving. They took hold of Samson and they turned back the hands of the clock in his life. They took hold of Samson and they stopped him from moving freely.
Brethren, I pray for you that every chain that is holding you back from moving and advancing freely break by fire. I command every hindrance to your advancement be removed. I command every ordinance that wants to reverse your destiny be cut off. I command every conspiracy that wants to halt your movement, to scatter by fire. I command every prison gate you are locked up in, be opened by fire.
The moment Samson was put in prison, he could no longer move as God destined him to. He could no longer find expression for his destiny. Hear me as I hear the Lord: every work of darkness that wants to hinder the expression of your destiny, I command it to scatter by fire. Every arrangement of hell that wants your destiny to stop moving, I command it to end now. Every arrangement of hell that wants to stop you, I stop it in Jesus Name.
Today, I decree, your advancement will not be cut short. Your rising will not end earlier than expected. You will not move upwards and forward and suddenly stop moving. Men will not confine your destiny as they wish. You will not be counted amongst them that were locked up after a great season of movement and advancement. You will not move from the mountain to the valley. You will not be confined. You will not be stopped.
Any power of hell that wants to stop you is dead on arrival. You are being carried on the wings of eagles. There is no stopping you.
And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.” (2 Kings 9: 5)
When the trainee prophet that was sent by Elisha to anoint Jehu in Ramothgilead arrived, he found Jehu sitting in the midst of his fellow captains. Jehu kept a company of captains. He was not hanging out with people who were not warriors like himself. He was not interested in living the ordinary and convenient life. He surrounded himself with men who could fight battles. He surrounded himself with the right company.
Brethren as you prepare for this new season that God is set to bring your way, be mindful of your company. Be mindful of the spiritual atmosphere of those around you. Be mindful of the sort of people with whom you spend most of your time. Be mindful of the people you are vulnerable to. Be mindful of the quality of people you allow into your private space. Be mindful of the people you allow to become a part of your inner circle.
Jehu was a captain, and he surrounded himself with captains. He surrounded himself with people who shared the same goals and capacity with him. In this season, connect to men who share the same goals with you. Connect to men who share the same values you share. Connect to men who share the same consecration you have. Connect to men whose priorities are similar to yours. Connect to men who are like you in destiny.
Greatness is not incubated in the environment of mediocrity. Any man that must be great must be deliberate to move in the company of greatness. Any man that must be great must know that there are people who nurture greatness and those who extinguish greatness. Any man who seeks to be great must realize that certain companies are not for captains. Any man who must be great must realize that kings don’t hang out with everybody.
Be intentional about those you connect to in this season. Don’t keep a company that will swallow your greatness.
Sudden Intervention ”In the moment you think there is no solution, look to the One who knows no boundaries or limits. For I will show My power with sudden intervention as you lift your voice this day, says the Spirit of the Lord!”
Prophetic Scripture:
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed (Acts 16:26).
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were in prison with their feet and hands in stocks, while their backs were bleeding from a beating they had received earlier for preaching Christ. Without a doubt, they were uncomfortable and in a lot of pain. While their situation may have appeared hopeless, they didn’t complain and question God as to why He allowed them to go through this trying time. Instead, they chose to worship the Lord in the middle of their pain, in the middle of their darkest moment. When all hope seemed lost, they praised the Lord with joy! Instead of looking at the chains and prison walls, they saw a God who is not bound by prison doors! Because of that, God stepped in with sudden and immediate intervention. Stop seeing your prison walls today. Stop seeing your impossibilities and look to a God who can deliver you from your most trying situations as you praise Him. Praise Him today and every day, then see the power of God’s sudden intervention!
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I worship You today. I praise You and rejoice that You are a God of sudden intervention. Forgive me for the times when I complained instead of praising You. Move in my life, just as You did for Paul and Silas. I believe Your power will come into my situation with sudden intervention even when I least expect it! Thank You, Lord! In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers:but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door:by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd:the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
See I used to be a good fisherman of fish and one thing I learned is that when you go fishing you have to
1. GO AT THE RIGHT TIME
2. GO TO THE RIGHT PLACE
3. HAVE THE RIGHT TYPE OF BAIT
4. HAVE PATIENCE DONT RUSH
5. STAY ALERT WATCH POLE
6. AFTER FISH TAKES HOOK LET HIM TIE OUT
7. REEL HIM IN, DONT LET HIM GET OFF YOUR LINE
NOW THAT YOURE QUALIFIED FISHERMEN, COME TO THE HOUSE OF GOD, YOUR PLACE OF DUTY TO BE DEPUTIZED TO GO OUT AND CATCH SOME FISH (SOULS).
SEE SOME OF YOU ARE SITTING IN HERE TODAY THAT HAVE BEEN RUNNING FROM YOUR OCCUPATION, THATS WHY THINGS NEVER WORK OUT FOR YOUR GOOD, COME BACK TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT FROM GOD, ITS IN YOUR DNA TO BE FISHERMEN, NOT DRUG DEALERS, PIMPS, ROBBERS, CRACK HEADS, FELONIES, ADULTERERS, FORNICATORS, LIERS.
COME BACK TO JESUS, COME BACK TO YOUR FIRST LOVE, ROM 5:17 IF ANY MAN BE IN ...........
JESUS SAID IAM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE., NO MAN CAN SEE THE FATHER WITHOUT GOING THROUGH HIM.
NOW LET'S GO FISHING IN JESUS NAME!
CA L.R.Gooden Jr.
Kingdom Builders Christian Ministries A Spiritually Militant Church
In the process of apostolic maturing of the Church there is an emerging, spiritually militant boldness on all fronts of Church life. Not with guns and bombs like deluded terrorists, but spiritual weapons like strategic prayer, intercession, preaching, teaching and praise & worship. Music (SHOFAR & PRAISE/WORSHIP) has been, and is increasingly setting this tone of spiritual militancy. Now it is time for the prophetic to take its true mature place alongside the apostolic gifts and anointing. To bring structure both spiritual and natural to facilitate what the Lord is doing in the Church - to clear the rubble from the spiritual gaps in the wall of the House of the Lord (Nehemiah 4:10), and to build apostolic churches. To plant churches powerfully, in spiritually governing strength, with five-fold ministry teams. Apostolic church bases that will actually affect and change whole cities, nations, and even governments.
We have seen this in part happening in KBCM but there are more wonderful days ahead of all of us as we press on to the high calling of Christ JESUS in our lives. Singers, musicians, Preachers, Teachers, THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY in the realm of the creative arts will also need to carry apostolic wisdom in the nurturing and releasing of these gifts in the MARKETPLACE. It is important we prepare - because we will not handle the onslaught of spiritual wickedness that will inevitably come against the rising army of the Church. It is a global army because there is a global fight! A fight against the ultimate global terrorist - the devil!
Apostolic Alignment for Kingdom Advancement
Apostolic Alignment for Kingdom Advancement: Is the worldwide activation of the Holy Spirit being released in the Body of Christ resulting in the restoration (re-ordering) of all things according to Acts 3:19-21
Restoration of:
Relationships - Malachi 4:6; Luke 15:11-32; 1 Corinthians 4:15
Biblical Doctrine/Teaching – Hebrews 6:1
Five-Fold Ministry- Ephesians 4:11-12
Ministry of the Holy Spirit – Luke 3:16; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4
Miracles – 1 Corinthians 12:10-11
The Ministry of the Apostle: Apostle- (Greek-apostolos) “One who is sent forth.” One called and sent by the Anointing to have and operate in spiritual authority. Character, gifts, and abilities enable Apostles to gather and establish people in Kingdom truth and order, especially through founding and overseeing churches and ministries.
1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”
Functions of Apostles and Apostolic Ministries:
Establish a Spiritual climate/atmosphere in regions that is conducive for a release of God’s Glory
1 Corinthians 12:28 “First (Greek-proton) apostles.” Blasting, Trailblazers, Penetrating, Forerunner, Pioneer Anointing. Territorial Spirits – Governing spirits/strongholds over regions, cities, nations. Daniel 10:13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days:” 1 Corinthians 15:32 ‘If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus,”
Strongholds – Mindsets, Doctrines, Ideologies contrary to the Word of God. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “… mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,”
To establish the Apostolic in GOD's people
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” NKJV This is an Apostolic Commission!! Evangelists make believers/converts – Apostles make disciples.
Establish Churches Apostolic People require Apostolic Churches where they will be equipped and released for the work of the ministry through:
Doctrine- Acts 2:42 “…they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,”
Preaching- Inspiration through exhortation, proclamation and demonstration. Mark 16:15 “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,”
Teaching- Inspiration through edification (building up). Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,”
Treaching - (combination of teaching & preaching) Matthew 4:23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and
healing (demonstration) all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people,”
Establish Biblical Order/Government Restore five-fold (government) ministry to oversee and maintain the order of God, which is represented through theocracy and not democracy.
Theocracy -God controlled, God centered, God ruled.
Democracy- People controlled, People centered, People ruled. 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-16; Titus 1:5
Establish “Fathering Ministries/Relationship” 1 Corinthians 4:15 “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” Fathers and overseers are committed to establishing and developing growing relationship.
Some Fatherly Responsibilities:
1. Training and Discipline - Exodus 18:13-26; Hebrews 12:5-10; Colossians 1:28
2. Reproduce - John 15:16
3.. Releasing - Acts11: 21-22; Acts13:3-4
4.. Impartation - 2 Timothy 1:6
5. Provision
Everyone needs to submit under GOD's government, no one is exempt, Kingdom Builders Christian Ministries definitely is a place for anyone who is without a Church home and wants to grow in the LORD.
Everyone – Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers and laypersons, are required to submit to a Pastor. This is God’s order of government. The Pastor is the head of the local Church and everyone is to be a part of a local Church somewhere. (Ephesians 4:11-14)
What I am saying is that everyone, even the other Ministry offices, should have a Pastor. There are no exceptions to this. The most effective Five-fold Ministers in the Earth have Pastors whom they can call upon.
Everyone will ultimately give account for how they treated their Pastors. 2Corinthians 5:10)
Sincerely from Apostle L.R. Gooden Jr.
A quick teaching on the theme for 2015 for KBCM by Apostle L.R.Gooden Jr.
SCRIPTURE AND THEME FOR 2015
EDIFYING, EQUIPPING, EMPOWERING FOR KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT
EPH. 4:12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
These ministry gifts (EPH 4:11) are to equip the saints, and then the saints are to do the work of the ministry. The Amplified Bible translates this verse as "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)."
It is a mistake to place the burden of ministry on what we call "the clergy." Full-time ministers are to minister the Word to the saints, but the saints are to go out and reach the lost and carry the bulk of the ministry within the church. Shepherds don't have sheep; they tend the sheep, and the sheep should reproduce.
It has been a big mistake to "hire" ministers to do what the individual members of the church are supposed to do. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are simply leaders who equip the saints so that they can be successful in the ministries God has given them.
In EPH 4:12 the word "for" can mean because of, as a result of, since, or it can mean so as to obtain. It is the latter definition that is meant here. The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers of EPH 4:11 minister "so as to obtain" the saints being equipped so that they can do the work of the ministry, which in turn obtains the edifying of the body of Christ. The clergy doesn't do all these things. They start the process through leadership, and the body edifies itself in love (EPH 4:16).
The Greek word that was translated "perfecting" here is "KATARTISMOS," and it means "a fitting or preparing fully" (Vine's Expository Dictionary). It does not denote the absence of all flaws. The Lord gave the gifted ministers listed in EPH 4:11 to help fully prepare the saints so that they could do the work of the ministry.
Remember it takes a Disciple (a disciplined learner) not a complainer, not a critic, not a murmurer, not a know it all, but a DISCIPLE. It's time for the Church to line-up, straighten-up and fall in place with true GOD ordained leadership. Amen.
