Let My People Go: The Fivefold Ministry and the Rise of the Apostolic Church

By E. Edgar MBA

Let My People Go by E. E. Edgar, MBA

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645590477

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Let My People Go

The Fivefold Ministry and the Rise of the Apostolic Church

E. E. Edgar, MBA

ISBN 978-1-64559-046-0 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64559-047-7 (Digital)

Copyright © 2019 E. E. Edgar, MBA

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Purpose of God

Context

The Barabbas Factor

The Text

The Fivefold Ministry

The Crucible of Society

The Purpose of the Church

In the Beginning

Tradition

Divided We Fall

The Value of a Man

Leadership

End Game

Chaos Theory

Growth Is Required

Self-discipline

Boundaries

Love

Unity

Mentors

The Garden Principle of Nutrition

Worthy Walking

Human Nature

The Apostolic Church Resurrected

Conclusion

References

About the Author

Introduction

I had a dream a few months ago that I would like to share with you.

I was going to a church for a special service. I had been asked to preach but was not the main speaker that night. The main speaker was a man I knew who was very politically powerful within the organization. He was also a pastor of a large church in the area. The church where I was going had a female pastor. As the service progressed, I felt compelled by the Holy Ghost to speak. The problem was the guest minister was speaking. I felt I should wait until he was finished before I said what God was compelling me to say. The Holy Ghost began to press harder on me until I finally stepped out, took a microphone, and began to speak over the guest speaker. I began with saying, He is trying to sell you something. In the dream, I continued to speak for some time.

The next morning, I was still washing off the dirt and blood that was on me from the beating I received at the hands of the church. While I was washing, the female pastor came by. She stopped and said that I would never preach or teach in the church again. She went on to ask why I had said what I had said. My reply was that I must do what God has told me to do.

She laughed and said, God did not tell you to say that. She then turned and walked away. This was the end of the dream.

The interpretation is as follows. The female pastor is the church. The politically connected pastor is the organization. The message I gave is this book. I am of the opinion that this book is going to bring some controversy to the church and, in so doing, will have repercussions upon me. Perhaps even physical but, more than likely, verbal abuse and a rejection from the organization. I hope this will not be the case, but I am more than willing to suffer for his name’s sake, and I must do what God has called me to do. Please feel free to take this journey with me and see what God has in store for the church of the last days and for you personally. Be prepared to see the church in a whole new light and to see yourself as an important, integral part of God’s great kingdom and a critical part of the plan God has for all of us.

You can do great things. I know this because you have already done great things.

The human male releases between three hundred and four hundred million sperm cells. These cells have only one goal, and there is only one prize. In the short forty-eight to seventy-two hours that these cells live, they are involved in a race to that goal and prize. The fact that you are alive means that you won the race. You beat out three hundred to four hundred million other contestants in a race to the death in which only one can win. You are that winner. God deals only with the best of the best, and that is you. You are called by God for a special purpose that only you can fulfill. You are able to do this great thing because you have already done something great. The fact that you are alive proves you can do what God has called you to do. Never see yourself as someone whose only purpose is to sit on a pew. He has much bigger things than this prepared and custom fitted to you, and only you can do what he has called you to do. You are important and an integral part of the church. Valuable beyond you dreams and unreplaceable. What a treasure God sees in you. As it is written, he has put this treasure in earthen vessels.

Chapter 1

The Purpose of God

There have been many books written and messages preached about the purpose of God. I do not want to detract from these great messages; however, I do want to apply them to this book.

God’s purpose is not shallow nor do I think it is simple. I do think that God has a purpose for each and every one of us. I think that purpose is multi-layered and perhaps multi-dimensional. The church also has a purpose. All of these purposes should be working together to bring about God’s plan in the world today. The problem is that God can only be stopped by us. That is correct; you can stop God and stop his purpose in your life. Make no mistake, should you stop God, he has a secondary plan that does not include you. Not only is it important to find the purpose of God in your life, it is also important that the church fulfill its purpose in society as well. I am of the opinion that the church has failed in one of its most important purposes. That purpose is the perfecting of the saints.

I will refer to the following scriptures several times throughout this book, so I will copy it here for your convenience.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. (Ephesians 4:1)

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2)

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. (Ephesians 4:4)

One Lord, one faith, one baptism. (Ephesians 4:5)

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:6)

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:7)

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:8)

Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? (Ephesians 4:9)

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. (Ephesians 4:10)

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11)

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12)

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. (Ephesians 4:14)

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:16, KJV endnote 1)

Chapter 2

Context

Verses 1 to 7 is the context of the main passage that I will address in this book. I have been studying this chapter for some time and felt the context would enhance our understanding of the verses. The context is not everything, but the context is important background information that sets the stage for the main subject of the chapter. Too many times, we skip over the context, taking what we want from scripture. It makes us feel good, so we go with it. Scripture is of no private interpretation; therefore, we need to always at least consider the context to help us understand what God is saying to us. Obedience is really the prime directive for all Christians.

Verse 1 says he is a prisoner. It is important to understand we cannot do anything without the right attitude. We used to be prisoners of the world, and now, we should be prisoners of Jesus Christ. This would mean an intentional adherence to his word that goes beyond just a rudimentary understanding of it. Too many Christians have only a surface knowledge of the scriptures that causes all kinds of spiritual illnesses. Many do not even realize the consequences of their actions. Attitude is everything with God; that attitude must include an understanding of who and what we are. A prisoner has no choice of where he goes or what he does. His entire life is tied up in the prison keeper’s hands. As Christians, we have exchanged one prison, the world, for another prison, the love of Christ. The main difference is, with Christ, all things are voluntary. We volunteered to be his prisoner. We should be adjusting our attitude to match what he has ordained for us as individuals and as the church.

The verse goes on to speak of vocation and calling. The first word, vocation, means, in the Greek, a calling or an invitation. God has invited us not only to become his prisoner but to take on a job that he has assigned to us. The vocation or job that he has assigned to us is uniquely designed to fit just us. No one else can do this job; it is unique to each individual. The calling is a public announcement that includes your surname. God has made a public announcement, calling you by your legal name, giving you an invitation to walk a certain path. Not a path that anyone else will walk but a path uniquely designed just for you. God does this for each individual person that comes into his kingdom. Pastors are not the only ones called to a vocation or job. God does not discriminate against anyone; he makes this calling to all. Each and every one of you is called to a vocation within the kingdom of God. This calling or public invitation is made to you for his purpose. He is calling you to be his prisoner and walk the path he set before you, even before you were born. God does nothing without a purpose, and he has a purpose for you. Our attitude is everything when it comes to this calling. Our obedience is required in order to fulfill the tasks that lie before us. Just like Joseph obeyed his jail keeper and prospered, we must also obey our jail keeper who is Jesus Christ.

The verse says to walk worthy of the vocation. The vocation is on-the-job training. He does not train us for a job and then ask us to do it. Instead, he gives us a job to do and we learn how while we are doing the job. The idea is to keep ourselves worthy of this honorable job while we are being trained for the job. Too many times we go astray, walking off the path in pursuit of some other vocation. The idea is to keep focused on the goal and keep yourself clean in the process of perfection. That is correct. We are to become perfect in his eyes and according to his direction. Some preach that we do not have to do anything or that we can sin and it is no big deal. Sinning is no big deal only if you repent. No one is going to hell because of sin. God paid the price for sin, so the sin problem is taken care of. The problem is a love for the truth. Hell is prepared for those who love not the truth. The truth is that we are sinners and need to find perfection. God has provided this as well through the church that perfects the saints. So we must walk worthy by keeping our eyes on the goal of perfection and striving to be sin free while pursuing God’s purpose in our lives. This is the main purpose for the church as well, the perfecting of the saints.

Verse 2 is also the attitude. It is not enough to simply accept the invitation, but we must accept this invitation with a specific attitude. Love must be the prevailing mindset of our heart. A love for Christ and a love for people. Love will give lowliness (humility) and meekness (gentleness). These are of course part of the fruit of the spirit.

You will find the prevailing message of this chapter that I am addressing will require the baptism of the Holy Ghost to accomplish. I do not think we can expect to reach the high standard of God without the fullness of his spirit living within you.

Love that expresses itself in humility and gentleness will bring the church together like never before. We are a fragmented people. We are fragmented because we have failed to act together as a church and instead find fault with everything and everyone that is around us. How can we truly be the church until we understand the love requirement that must be the overwhelming context of the church body in Christ?

The verse continues with longsuffering. This word from the Greek means patience. This is another fruit of the spirit. Patience is a lost virtue in our culture. We are a microwave society. We want it all and we want it now. We cannot seem to wait on God for anything. We expect new Christians to immediately become what took us many years to develop. We want God to answer our prayers today, not next year. We want that