Recently I received some personal ministry from an anointed believer in a formal international ministry who, notwithstanding my mentioning that I had a prophetic ministry, had published over 10,000 pages of prophetic analysis, etc and had a mailing list that had been running for a decade thought it important to encourage me to become part of a local church because on some basis that was not clear I needed to be there.

This notwithstanding experience which teaches i would be in conflict with false doctrine almost from day one and that Yah clearly told me to "come out of her" about ten years ago and has kept me isolated from the formal church ever since.

If you will have it, the church today is "Babylon" and the "great harlot" -- NOT the Catholic church as some would have but the ENTIRE formal church whatever label they apply to themselves -- they are using idolatrous names, worshipping Yahooshua and the book, observing the false Sabbath, have defiled the set apartness {holiness / sanctity} of virginity through monogamous marriage laws, etc, etc

So, when I received the email below it rang a chord.

While I do not agree with everything that is said and the way certain things are languaged (refer article on "Seek truth not error") this message has some important points.

In particular, if you have been a believer for more than a couple of years and you are not actively engaged in some form of ministry you need to be aware that you will receive a stern rebuke on the Day of Judgment and that accordingly YOU personally need to seek Yah to tell you what He expects of you.

Note also that in these days it is UNLIKELY that Yah has a salaried job for you -- He almost certainly expects you to have a job to support yourself and NOT rely on handouts from Him or anyone else -- very few have the level of faith, level of anointing and type of ministry where supernatural financial provision is likely -- plan to support yourself.

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Clergy versus laity

by

Russ Clarke -- rcmworldwide@gmail.com

One of the greatest lies widespread throughout the Church today is the line that separates clergy from the laity. There is no such line because there is no such divide. Do you not see segregation within your Church? Let us first start with titles. Go with me to Ephesians 4:11:

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, travelling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.

Notice the scripture says to be not to be called. The word pastor within this verse is not capitalised because it is not a title, it is a gifting that comes from God.  Why is it then that we have men and women walking around Churches bearing the title of pastor? Why are these people allowing themselves to be raised up on a pedestal by encouraging people to address them as such? Come with me to Matthew 23:8-12:

But you are not to be called rabbi (teacher), for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven. And you must not be called masters (leaders), for you have one Master (Leader), the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself [with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honour.

Jesus clearly warns us here NOT to use titles and is also very clear that anyone who exalts themselves to some lofty position shall be bought low and humbled, yet whoever humbles themselves shall be raised to honour. If all five avenues mentioned in Eph 4:11 are giftings then why is pastor used as a title? If someone is introduced as Pastor Smith why not Apostle Smith or Prophet Smith or Evangelist Smith or Teacher Smith? It is plain ludicrous. To take a title is to put a dividing line between you and other people, we are all one in Christ Jesus and He shows no partiality to anyone.

Galatians 3:28

There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 2:6

Moreover, [no new requirements were made] by those who were reputed to be something--though what was their individual position and whether they really were of importance or not makes no difference to me; God is not impressed with the positions that men hold and He is not partial and recognizes no external distinctions--those [I say] who were of repute imposed no new requirements upon me [had nothing to add to my Gospel, and from them I received no new suggestions].

I would like to refer to Galatians 3:28 above again as I believe it is a vital verse of scripture. We need to make one thing clear from the outset, WE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS! Yes we have different gifts and roles within the body of Christ but each is as important as the other and none is worth more or less than the other.

1 Corinthians 12:14-21 (Read the whole chapter for more understanding)

For the body does not consist of one limb or organ but of many. If the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not [a part] of the body? If the ear should say, Because I am not the eye, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not [a part] of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where [would be the sense of] hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where [would be the sense of] smell? But as it is, God has placed and arranged the limbs and organs in the body, each [particular one] of them, just as He wished and saw fit and with the best adaptation. But if [the whole] were all a single organ, where would the body be? And now there are [certainly] many limbs and organs, but a single body. And the eye is not able to say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

So why is this not at work in the Church? What happens mainly is, the front row of the seating area is reserved for the Pastors and leadership team (Clergy), and maybe the Worship Pastor too. All the other seats are filled with the congregation or The Laity who come most likely just to listen, not having spend any time themselves  in preparation before the Lord before coming to Church because in their eyes as they have also most certainly been led to believe, those at the front do all the ministering. The congregation sit, listen, put money in the pot, smile, shake hands with a few people, have coffee and a chat whilst The Pastor does his rounds, then go home for Sunday roast. This about sums up life in Church.  Today I want to tell all those who have been duped into believing that they are mere spectators in a congregation , that it is a lie and all those who have been made to believe that attending the car park, making the tea/coffee, cleaning the toilets, welcoming people on the door, attending lifts etc etc are actual ministries!! Do you seriously believe that Christ suffered torture and agony, dying on the cross in utter humiliation so you could spend your life believing that your call in life from Him was to make coffee?? We must understand that serving in these areas is a good thing, we should all partake in these tasks within our fellowships including the Pastors,  yet to believe they are what God has given us to do as a ministry is error.

So who are we? Lets look at the first chapter of 1 Corinthians. In verse 2, Paul addresses his letter to The Church assembly which is in Corinth, which includes everyone. Look at vv 4-6:

I thank my God at all times for you because of the grace (the favour and spiritual blessing) of God which was bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, [So] that in Him in every respect you were enriched, in full power and readiness of speech [to speak of your faith] and complete knowledge and illumination [to give you full insight into its meaning]. In this way [our] witnessing concerning Christ (the Messiah) was so confirmed and established and made sure in you

Remember Paul is addressing the whole Church assembly, NOT only those leading. God has enabled us all in the power of the Holy Spirit to speak of our faith. Notice Paul says In this way. In the very same enablement of power through the Holy Spirit, the Church in Corinth was born. Through the seeking of God and through His leading and power, what is stopping you birthing a Church? Come with me now to verse 9:

God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Everyone born again of the Spirit of Jesus Christ is called into companionship and participation. We are not called to fill seats or make up the numbers. If we are a companion we walk with that person closely, not from afar off and if we are close we will be involved in what that person is involved in...Participation! What should we participate in? Through the shedding of His blood, His death and resurrection, Jesus paid the debt we owed yet couldnt pay and appeased the righteous wrath of God and through true repentance and submission to the Son, we are justified, forgiven, cleared of guilt and stand before Him as righteous heirs to the throne. If we have truly accepted Gods free grace, how can we not but tell of it? Again, what should we participate in? We must preach the Gospel! Yes all of us. You may say I am not a preacher but God answers Will what is formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus? (Romans 9:20). Go back again to Eph 4:11. The 5 avenues of gifting are Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Evangelist and Teacher. Where is the preacher? Every born again believer fits in to at least one of these avenues. Can we be an apostle and not preach? Does a Prophet not preach? Does a Pastor not preach? Does an Evangelist not preach? Does a Teacher teach but not preach? Preaching the Gospel is a command to All who believe (Mark 16:15-20). Take a look at verse21 of 1 Corinthians 1:

For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him).

It is through the preaching of the Gospel that God saves. Verse 18 tells us the message of the cross is absurd to those who are perishing but to those who are being saved it is the manifestation of the power of God. And again in verse 24, to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (gentile), Christ is the power of God and the Wisdom of God.

My dear friends, this message could go on and on but I want to encourage you to go to the Word of God to check over these things and to find out for yourselves more about who you are and what He has destined you to be. Dont any longer be a statistic only, dont be a seat warmer, let the Word of God dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16) enabling you to teach and train one another in spiritual things. You werent born to merely serve in the Church coffee shop, or to smile broadly whilst attending lifts, or clear up after the service whilst the Pastors sip coffee. You were born to be a preacher of righteousness, to serve the living God, to be a King and Priest, part of the royal priesthood and Holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), to build and stir one another up (Hebrews 10:24-25), to go out and preach everywhere the Gospel of Jesus Christ, heal the sick, raise the dead (Mark 16:15-20), to know Him for yourselves (Philippians 3:7-14).

Read 1 Timothy 4; Ephesians 1:3-ch 2:10

Ephesians 4:11-12 (Amplified Bible)

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, travelling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. 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),

2 Timothy 1:6-9 (Amplified Bible)

That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God. [For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favour) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

Love in Christ
--

Russ Clarke -- rcmworldwide@gmail.com

The Word of the Lord (divine instruction, the Gospel) endures forever. And this Word is the good news which was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:25 Amplified Version)

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