The Foundation of the Church- Part Two (Ephesians 4:7-16) 6-17-25

It is necessary for the church to understand the reason Christ gave to the church and it is also necessary for the church to accept what Christ did. It takes more than just knowing that Christ died for us; there is more to it. The church can only grow spiritually through the gifts (men and women) that were given too the church.

The Five Ministry offices are gifts to the church to help the people to grow spiritually, and they also have been graced to help God’s people know what their gifts are. This adds up to the church being edified.

 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. “Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?  He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. (Ephesians 4:9-10)

Explanation- After Jesus died He went to hell, took the keys, and came up with all power, Jesus spoiled and disarmed principalities (Colossians 2:15). Old Testament symbolism: When a king went out to war, he defeated the enemy and came back with the spoils.

AI- In the Hebrew Bible, "spoils" (Hebrew: shalal) generally refers to the goods, wealth, or property taken by force from an enemy during war or conflict. These spoils were often seen as a form of divine provision or blessing for the victors.

 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,  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; 

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, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 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.

This is a prophetic scripture from the Old Testament that confirms Ephesians 4:8.You have ascended on high; You have led captivity captive (Psalm 68:18a).

Question? How can anyone leave out the gifts that Jesus Christ Himself gave to the church for the church to be edified and grow spiritually?

FACT- the entire Word of God (Bible) is about Jesus from Genesis to Revelation. You may ask, how is that? In a few days, you will see Jesus through types and shadows, (foreshadow – something futuristic), and Christophany in the Old Testament, and He is revealed as God in the flesh at the end of the Old Testament. You will also see Him fulfill the entire plan of God in the New Testament.

PS. I did not learn this is a school of theology or seminary, the Lord gave me a phenomenon teacher who taught me this many years ago. Now, I am sharing what was given to me. One of the last lessons I was taught before Albert (my teacher) departed this earth was “It’s all in God’s Timing”

The devil does not want the church to know this. JESUS said He is the ONLY way the TRUTH and the LIGHT, no one comes to the FATHER but by Him! (John 14:6). Open their eyes, LORD that hey may SEE who Jesus Christ really is. They have eyes, but they don’t see, ears but they don’t hear… (Psalm 115:5-8, Psalm 135:16-17, Jeremiah 5:21). I pray that the eyes of your understanding will be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18).

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org