Well before we go on, can you tell me why local congregations are excluded if that is what you are saying? Seems to me that the Apostle and Pastor Paul liked the idea.
thanks for the response. I'm zeroing in on what the truth is. the Pastor is the Gift, not individual men or women as some local congregations believe. the only Pastor in the Church of the Lord Jesus is Christ himself. if any man or woman think they are the pastor of a local congregations they are in ERROR. it is the Holy Spirit in them who is the Pastor, the promise Gift.
Let's prove this out by scriptures.
on the day of Pentecost was it Peter and the rest of the apostles speaking in tongue. but was it them who had the ability to speak in tongue?, let's see, Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance”. it was the Spirit who enable them. this is one the GIFT of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
Here's the Revelation to this. the apostle Peter said, Acts 2:16 "But
this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel”. and this prophecy is found in Joel 2:28 & 29 the out pouring of the Spirit which was fulfilled on Pentecost. now, I ask, do you see speaking in tongue in Joel 2:28 & 29? I do, but do you.
here's the revelation. speaking in tongues is in the Spirit, which was poured out. it's one of the GIFTS that the Spirit gives to enable the user. the apostle Peter said, "
the Spirit gave them utterance". if one was looking for the words "speaking in tongues" in Joel 2 you will not see it physically. for it's one of the Spiritual Gifts that was poured out, it is Spiritually discern. The apostle Paul reveals it to us. scripture, 1 Corinthians 12:10 "To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another
divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues”. all these gifts are listed here in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.
this is why the apostle Paul said, 2 Timothy 1:9 "Who hath
saved us,
and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to
his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began". see, we in this time of GRACE was call to be the vessel of the Lord Jesus who is Spirit, (his return on Pentecost), so that he may WORK through us, his WORKMANSHIP. as one post who didn't understand the verse he posted. listen, Ephesians 2:10 "For we are
his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them". the key word here is "CREATED", we're NEW CREATURES in Christ Jesus, he redeemed us, he cleaned us up and now he have set us apart for his WORK. this is our CALLING in this GRACE PERIOD. scripture, John 14:10 "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:
but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 "Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me,
the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father". why did he go to his father? answer to be GLORIFIED in the Spirit (John 17:5). hence his return in the Spirit. now he can be in EVERY believer doing his WORK, redeeming , saving, teaching, preaching, caring, Loving for his people. in flesh he could only work one thing at a time. but in Spirit, filling believers he can do greater works by each believer, no matter where they may be. Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power,
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth". see, we have no power, but the power that dwelleth in us. and it is not us who preach, teach, or pastor, it's him the promise Power.
see how the bible come full circle. it is the out pouring of the Spirit in believers. which answer the apostle question of succession. it is the Spirit in us who calls us for a certain work of him to do through us. for we're his hands and feet. for the Lord Jesus is the apostle who calls, and ordain, and make or set in his CHURCH. Hebrews 3:1 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider
the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus".
as said by another poster, we all are
holy priest, set aside for different FUNCTION for the Lord.
knowing that the Pastor is the Lord Jesus who feed his sheep through his WORKMANSHIP of man and women in the ministry. this promise Gift is for all of his priest, scripture, Acts 2:39 "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call". is the lord Jesus still calling people unto himself today? yes, so these Gifts are you today.
now that we know that the Pastor is the Gift the Spirit. do one see the see the Pastor in Joel 2:28 & 29, and if so, do one see the Pastoral GIFT in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 in verses 7-11. once one find the Pastoral GIFT in the listing, then we'll move on to the Bishop.
PCY.