BUILD ME AN ARK
OCTOBER 26TH, 2007
PROPHETIC WORD FOR 2008 AND BEYOND
This is one of the most important prophetic messages I have received in my ministry. The urgency that accompanied it was almost overwhelming. Not only does it have local but also global significance. I urge all who read it especially pastors, leaders, ministers and intercessors to join with me in prayer so that the body of Christ will be prepared for what is to come.
- Richard Pace
"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
So the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.
And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.
And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.
And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.
But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark-you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.
Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.
And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them." Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did."
"Then the Lord said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.
You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female;
Also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth.
For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made."
And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him.
Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth.
So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood.
Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth,
two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.
And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth.
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.
On the very same day Noah and Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark-
they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort.
And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life.
So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.
Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.
The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters.
And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered.
The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered.
And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man.
All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died.
So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.
And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days"
(Gen 6:5-22 and 7:1-24 NKJV).
On the morning of October the 26th 2007, as I prayed in my prayer closet, The Lord spoke to my heart and said;
"Build Me an ark!"
"What do you mean?" I replied.
He continued;
"You are like Noah and the ark is the Church. I want you to build the Church for a time is coming when the darkness will cover the earth like a flood and the only place of true protection and safety will be the Church."
Then I saw a vision of the earth from space. It looked peaceful, tranquil. Suddenly I saw a thick black mist cover the earth. It looked like a big black ball. Then I saw lights that looked like beacons slowly appearing through the mist, one on one side of the planet, another on the other side of the planet until the face of the earth was covered with them. There were only a few of these beacons, possibly seven in all. Their light shined through the mist creating markers on the earth. The people were drawn to them and I saw millions flocking to their light. Then the vision ended.
The black mist in this vision represents a flood of darkness that is coming upon the earth. This darkness represents evil and the deterioration or decay of the world's moral substance (Mt 24:12). It represents an increase of sin and lawlessness as well as increased natural disasters worldwide, economic trouble, instability and failure. The beacons of light represent the Church and specifically, certain Churches that will rise up to be a light in the darkness at this time.
"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. "Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. The multitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall ascend with acceptance on My altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory. "Who are these who fly like a cloud, and like doves to their roosts? Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me; and the ships of Tarshish will come first, To bring your sons from afar, their silver and their gold with them, to the name of the Lord your God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He has glorified you. "The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in My wrath I struck you, but in My favor I have had mercy on you. Therefore your gates shall be open continually; They shall not be shut day or night, That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, And their kings in procession. For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish, and those nations shall be utterly ruined. "The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious. Also the sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you, and all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you The City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. "Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, a joy of many generations. You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles, and milk the breast of kings; you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. "Instead of bronze I will bring gold, Instead of iron I will bring silver, Instead of wood, bronze, And instead of stones, iron. I will also make your officers peace, and your magistrates righteousness. Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. Also your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time" (Isa 60:1-22 NKJV).
When the Lord revealed this to me, I was stunned. The force of His word beat at my heart like a mallet striking a rock.
As I reflected on what I heard and saw, I remembered the Lord saying; "for a time is coming when the darkness will cover the earth like a flood". I wondered; "but aren't we already in the midst of a flood of darkness?" It was at this moment I realized that although the darkness - the evil and moral decay - in the world was getting worse, the flood had not yet come. This means that what we have already seen is nothing in comparison to what is coming.
Just as the flood destroyed the earth in Noah's day, so too a flood of darkness and evil is about to cover the earth like we have never seen before. However, this time the flood is not a natural flood coming from God, but a spiritual flood coming from the enemy (Satan and demons). And just as the ark of Noah was the only safe place from the flood, the Church will be the only safe place from the flood of darkness and evil that is coming.
"But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Mt 24:37-39 NKJV).
Despite this, we need not fear for the word of God reveals that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him (Isa 59:19) and what is that standard? It is the Glory and protection of God revealed through His people (the Church).
As the darkness in the earth grows darker, the light in the Church will grow brighter and many will be attracted to it (Isa 60:1-4).
The ark of Noah represents the Church. Noah and his family represent Church leaders and Church members. The clean animals represent those who have been saved and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb - God commanded Noah to take seven of every clean animal into the ark. Seven represents spiritual perfection in Christ and the clean animals represent those who have been cleansed by His blood. The unclean animals represent the lost who will come into the Church at this time. God commanded Noah to take two of every unclean animal into the ark. The number two in the word of God represents Jesus Christ, The second person of the Holy Trinity and salvation through Him.
God commanded Noah to build the ark and as he did, to prophesy the flood as a warning to all of the coming judgment. Jesus is returning soon to judge the living and the dead but before He does, the earth will see a gradual decay of its very substance as well as a constant onslaught from the enemy (Mt 24:12). This in itself is the most obvious sign that we are in the last days and that Jesus Christ is returning soon (Mt 24). Just as God commanded Noah to build the ark and to prophesy the coming judgment, so too God is commanding us to build the Church and to preach the good news of the Gospel to all creation, prophesying the coming darkness and judgment as a warning to all. As a result, we will see an unprecedented harvest of souls come into the Church.
"And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Mt 24:14 NKJV).
It is at this time that the Lord will exalt the Church. The word of God reveals in Gen 7:17;
"Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth."
The flood waters represent the flood of darkness to come. The ark represents the Church. The flood was God's doing. This reveals that the Lord is going to lift up or exalt the Church at this time so that its light will be evident to the people of the world for the purpose of bringing men and women to salvation. "The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising" (Isa 60:3 NKJV).
A major, key promise that the Lord is giving us for this season is the salvation of our lost loved ones.
The word of God states in Gen 6:18;
"But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark-you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you" (NKJV).
And in Gen 7:1;
"Then the Lord said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation" (NKJV).
The word of God says; "and you shall go into the ark-you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you." And "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation."
God called Noah and all of his family into the ark. Why were they allowed to enter the ark? "Because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation."
God said to Noah;
"But I will establish My covenant with you..." (Gen 6:18).
God chose Noah for a covenant relationship then made His covenant with him. Noah willingly entered that covenant by faith therefore was seen as righteous in the Lord's eyes. As a result, because Noah was the head of his family, they too were seen as righteous in God's eyes and through Noah, were positioned to receive the favor of God.
Notice, God did not say that Noah's family were righteous but that Noah was righteous. Noah's family were allowed to enter the ark because of the righteousness of Noah, their head. Noah repesents Christ, the head of all creation and the head of the Church. When a person is born again, that person becomes "one with" and is now "in" Christ through a covenant relationship and becomes part of the Church, the family of God. The ark represents the Church, the body of Christ.
God made a covenant with Noah and as a result, his whole family was saved. A covenant involves a promise or promises exchanged between the two parties involved in that covenant. If you are in covenant with God in Christ then the salvation of your lost loved ones is His promise to you which you can be sure He will fulfill.
The Bible tells us;
"For He (God) made Him (Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor 5:21 NKJV. Parenthesis added).
We are saved from eternal condemnation and become part of the family of God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His righteousness, not our own. A person is made righteous the moment that person accepts Jesus Christ, His sacrifice, repents of their sins and is born again. We are saved because of who He is and what He has done.
This is confirmed in Exo 12:3 and 4;
"Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb" (NKJV).
The word of God here says; "a lamb for a household." And "let him and his neighbour next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb"
One lamb represents or is worth a household. When the lamb was sacrificed and it's blood applied to the doorposts and lintels of the homes of the Hebrew people, those in them were protected from the plague and judgment. The Passover lamb represents Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29, 1 Cor 5:7). The application of the blood of the lamb to the doorposts and lintels of the homes of the Hebrew people represents the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Hebrew people eating the lamb represents them partaking of or being "in" Christ. The homes of the Hebrew people also represent Christ, the place of protection and the Church, the body of Christ (the ark). Anyone who is born again is "in" Christ, a member of the body of Christ (the Church), saved from judgment and protected from the attacks of the enemy. Your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3).
This is also confirmed in Acts 16:30-34;
"And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household" (NKJV).
The word of God here tells us that when the jailer asked; "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul and Silas replied; "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." It also says; "Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house." "And immediately he and his family were baptized." And "he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household." Because the jailer gave his life to Jesus Christ and was saved, his entire family were then saved. If you are "in" Christ not only are you saved but your entire family is positioned to receive salvation. You can stand on these promises, interceede for your lost loved ones and see them saved. It is God's promise to you.
The Lord continued; "You are like Moses, building the tabernacle."
"Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it. "And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you. "You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel." (Ex 25:1 - Ex 25:22 NKJV).
Moses represents Kingdom authority and the Tabernacle, the Church. Just as God commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle, He is commanding us to build the Church.
Notice in each instance, God gave Noah and Moses instructions on how to build the ark and the tabernacle down to the specific measurements and materials required. If you are asking yourself; "how am I going to fulfill my ministry? I don't have the talent, instructions, finances, materials, resources, revelation, knowledge or people to do this", do not fear. Just as God gave Noah and Moses what they needed, to do what He commanded them, so too the Lord will give us everything we need; instructions, finances, materials, resources, divine revelation, knowledge and laborers to build the Church.
A time is coming when the wealth of the wicked will be given over to the righteous. The purpose; to build God's ark.
"And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day" (Deut 8:18 NKJV).
"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous" (Prvbs 13:22 NKJV).
"Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you" (Isa 60:5 NKJV).
The word of God declares; "And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day" (Deut 8:18 NKJV).
It is the Lord who gives us the power or ability to get wealth. Why does the Lord give us the power to get wealth? "...that He may establish His covenant." So that we may build His Kingdom.
The Lord said that in 2008 and in the years to come the world will see great economic trouble, turmoil and instability such that has not been seen since the great depression. Economic structures will crumble and fall. A shift will take place in the world's economic climate but as the world falls deeper into darkness the church will grow and prosper. This will occur so that all will know that they cannot rely on the feeble structures of the world's systems but only on God and His word. As a result, the wealth of the sinner will be given over to the righteous (the church) for the preaching of the gospel and building of the body of Christ.
God is commanding us to build the Church. Another prophetic word that the Lord has given me recently is "BUILD!" It is time to build and expand.
Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach." And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?" So I answered them, and said to them, "The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem" (Neh 2:17-20 NKJV).
Here, Nehemiah gave a prophetic call to rebulid the wall of Jerusalem and was persecuted by Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab for it. As Noah built the ark and proclaimed the flood, he was persecuted for it. As we build the Church, declare the good news of the Gospel and the coming of the Lord, we will face persecution, opposition and attack for it. Jesus warned;"And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved" (Mt 10:22 NKJV), "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Mt 24:10 and 13 NKJV), "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you" (Jn 15:18 NKJV). But Jesus promises protection "But not a hair of your head shall be lost" (Lk 21:18 NKJV) and victory "But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Mt 10:22, Mt 24:13 NKJV), "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33 NKJV).
Also, Nehemiah declared that as they obeyed the Lord in rebuilding the wall that He would prosper them. "The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build..." He also said of those who opposed the rebuilding of the wall;"but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem."
As we obey the Lord to build the Church in the face of persecution, opposition and attack, the Lord will cause us to prosper and the enemy "will have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem" meaning that he and any opposition he may bring against us will be defeated in our situations.
How do we build the Church? The Church is not the building (physical structure) but the people. Paul wrote that we are the temples of the Holy Spirit Who is in us (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19). We build the Church by building or edifying the people. By pouring or investing into its people.
We have a revelation of this in both Gen 6:16 and Exo 25 and 26.
"You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks" (Gen 6:16 NKJV).
The word of God here tells us that the ark was composed of three decks; a lower, second and third deck (Gen 6:16). The tent of meeting and temple of the Old Testament were composed of three areas; the outer court, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place (Exo 26:33, 27:9). God is a trinity and we are created in His image, after His likeness (Gen 1:26, 27). We too are a trinity, composed of three areas. We are a spirit that has a soul that lives in a body.
The door of the ark represents Christ. Jesus said in Jn 10:9; "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture" (NKJV). The ark represents the Church, the body of Christ. Whoever entered the ark through the door was saved from judgment and destruction. Whoever enters the Church (the ark) through Jesus Christ (the door) will be saved from eternal judgment and the flood of darkness to come. The entrance to the tent of meeting was called "the way" or "the door" Jesus called Himself "the door" in Jn 10:9. He also called Himself "the way" in Jn 14:6. The five pillars at the entrance to the tabernacle represent the five pillars of the Church; the Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Evangelist and Teacher - the five fold ministries of the Church (Eph 4:12). Paul wrote that we are the temples of the Holy Spirit. The ark and temple are not only types of the body of Christ but types of the believer.
Each gift, ministry and office of the Holy Spirit is given to "build" or "edify" the Church. 1 Cor 12: 4-31 states;
"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way (NKJV).
The word of God here says;"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…" (vs. 4). Why are the gifts, ministries and offices of the Spirit given? For the profit of all, not to fulfill our own agendas, desires or to build our own kingdoms but to edify the members of the body of Christ so that it may function properly.
Eph 4:7-16 declares;"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). 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.
Vs. 11 says; "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…" By whom are these ministries given? By Christ through His Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:4-11). Why are these ministries given?"For the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…" (vs.12). 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. (vs. 16).
The word "edify(ing)" in the Greek is oikodomeo which means; a house builder, to build a house, to strengthen something or someone. God, through Christ Jesus by His Holy Spirit is the house builder. We, the Church, His house, composed of each of its individual members. The Holy Spirit moving and working through each ministry and those anointed to serve in each ministry, to build the body of Christ. To build the Church is to build its individual members and when we build (edify) its members, the Church prospers.
They are also given to help bring those in the Church to the unity of the faith, to the knowledge of the Son of God and spiritual maturity in Christ, bringing us to ever higher levels in and deeper realms of relationship and intimacy with Him."...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..." (vs. 13-15). It is by this and this alone that we will be able to stand against the enemy and anything he may be planning against us. "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me," says the Lord" (Isa 54:17 NKJV).
The time is coming when the darkness in the world will grow darker but the light - the Glory of God - in the Church will grow brighter. The darkness serving only to propel many into the Church. The Scripture says;
"So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood."
Why did they go into the ark? "...because of the waters of the flood."
The flood only served to push or propel Noah, his family and the animals into the safety and security of the ark. Satan is bringing this flood of darkness to destroy men but God will take it, turn it around and use it to bring many to a realization of their sinfulness and their need for Him which in turn will bring them to repentance and salvation, propelling them towards the Lord and into the Church (ark).
I prophetically exhort all in the body of Christ, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, to discover what your position is in the body of Christ, unite and take your positions so that together, we may build God's ark.
- Richard Pace