Enrich your spiritual life as you study inspirational messages gleaned from the Word of God! The Holy Bible is filled with wisdom that will strengthen your character and deepen your walk with the Lord. As you reflect on key Scripture passages, you will discover encouraging lessons and practical applications woven throughout the Word. Leon Gooden presents an in-depth study of key Bible passages to sharpen your faith and help you grow in your understanding of God. Each chapter explores a different Scripture passage to encourage you in your daily walk with Jesus Christ. In this book, you’ll learn: -How God calls you to be actively involved in His purposes and plans for the world -You are God’s child, accepted and highly favored—made holy and righteous by the blood of Jesus -How the Holy Spirit will empower you to bring life to others who desperately need it -How God wants to sanctify you and move you toward the future He has planned for you -How worship can overcome temptations to sin -When nothing makes sense, God has a perfect handle on things -Why the result of knowing God is an intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe This book is ideal to enhance your personal daily devotions, or as a Bible study tool in a small group setting. Short chapters with edifying messages are perfect for livening up your devotions! Start reading your copy of Walking in the Word today—and spark a flame in your heart for real growth as a child of God!
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Do you have a vision to follow, we do here at KBCMI.
EDIFYING, EQUIPPING, EMPOWERING FOR KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT!
EPH. 4:12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of CHRIST.
EDIFYING - The word ‘edification' comes from a Latin word, ‘aedificare' which means, “build”. The idea therefore is, ‘to improve the mind or character of some one by teaching'.
Kingdom is the sovereign, power, dominion, and rule to infiltrate, influence, and incorporate all who would receive its provisions, promises, promotion, and protection for the the Kingdom of God and for Experiencing and Enjoying The Kingdom lifestyle.
To Advance is to proceed progressively by divine impartation, inspiration, imagination and instruction to move forward the Kingdom of God and for Experiencing and Enjoying the Kingdom lifestyle. ADVANCING THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITH FORCE.
A pioneer is a catalyst. Pioneers cause things to happen. They do not sit back and wait for things to happen. They initiate new movements. They penetrate new territories. They preach new truths and birth new churches and ministries. Jesus was a pioneer. The early apostles were pioneers.
The pioneering spirit is apostolic. God always desires to do a new thing, and He will use apostolic people to do it. Apostolic people have the ability to persevere in the face of opposition. They have the strength and mentality of a pioneer. The apostolic anointing will set the tone for your life and ministry. You will become a pioneering believer. You will invade and possess new territory— naturally and spiritually.
Pioneers have a breakthrough anointing. The word "breakthrough" is defined as an act or instance of breaking through an obstruction; an offensive thrust that penetrates and carries beyond a defensive line in warfare.
Pioneers have the ability to break through ignorance, fear and other obstacles that keep people from advancing. Apostolic ministry has the ability to penetrate the defenses set up by the powers of darkness. This is why God has set it to be first. Someone must break through first before any significant progress can be made. Someone must have the courage, ability and power to break through the obstacles set up by the enemy.
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.1 Corinthians 12:28.
Each and every believer has been gifted by God to fulfill his or her calling and purpose. For some, their gifts will place them in a visible ministry; others are gifted for "behind-the-scenes" ministries. No gift makes anyone more important than anyone else. We are all equal in Christ—equally loved by God and equally necessary to the Body of Christ. And yet, as we have seen, certain offices within the Church are designated by God as being higher in rank than others. The reason for this is that someone has to be first; someone has to be a pioneer.
What 1 Corinthians 12:28 tells us is that the Church should be first and foremost apostolic. This is the divine order of ministry given to the Church. There is a wisdom behind this order. It is not to elevate men or exalt the flesh. God has a purpose in everything He does.
A Divine Order: Each of the gifts has a certain function that operates best in divine order. When the Church neglects this order, it will not be able to progress toward the goal of fulfilling its commission. When things are out of order, the result is disorder and confusion. The anointing and power of God flow through order. The anointing flowed from Aaron's head, to his beard, to the skirts of his garments (see Ps. 133:2).
The head represents authority. Order is always based on authority. Again, the authority of the Church should be first apostolic, second prophetic, third teaching. The amount of authority we operate in is based on this order. The flow of the anointing is based on this order. Our ability to fulfill the Great Commission is based on this order.
The apostolic prepares and opens the way for the prophetic. The prophetic in turn prepares and opens the way for the teaching. Each one precedes and paves the way for the other. Each gift and ministry is designed by God in this way to open the way for the other to follow. Each territory needs all three to operate in order to establish God's purposes in that region.
Evangelism and pastoring are utilized as ways of reaching and overseeing the people. These gifts are important and necessary to perfect the saints and help fulfill the Great Commission. If the Church is apostolic, it will also be evangelistic in order to reach the lost; it will also be pastoral to protect and cover those who are saved. The apostolic cannot function without these two gifts and the others as well.
To restore means to bring back into existence or use; to reestablish, to bring back to an original condition. It means to put back, replace, reinstate, reinstall, revive, recall to life, return, to rebuild in a form supposed to be the original. This implies that there has been a departure from the original design. Things fall apart and deteriorate through neglect; decline is inevitable without constant upgrade and renovation. Restoration is then necessary to correct and change the situation.
This is why some people enjoy buying an older home and then going through the arduous process of restoring the home to its original condition. Although run-down and deteriorated, it is obvious to the perceptive eye that the house once had an elegance and charm that can be restored once again. These perceptive people relish both the process and the results of that restoration. In a sense, they exercise mercy on the old house and enter into the work of lovingly restoring it.
Restoration within the Church—and that includes each of us personally—will happen as a result of God's mercy. He will not allow us to languish in the deterioration of the past. Because of His great love, He restores to us what we need to fulfill His plans and purposes for the earth.
The Church is now crying out for the restoration of authentic apostolic ministry. We are praying for restoration and declaring it prophetically. God's people are coming out of the holes and prison houses. A new liberty is coming to the Church. A new freedom in ministry is being released through the restoration of apostolic ministry.
Joel 2:24-26 (KJV)...24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
We see in our text that God promises the impossible with man: “I will restore the years that the locust (nations) has eaten” (Joel 2:25). The immediate meaning of this promise is clear. God’s people had suffered the complete destruction of their entire harvest through swarms of locusts (nations) that marched like an insect army through the fields, destroying the crops, and multiplying their number as they went.
For four (4) consecutive years, the harvest was completely wiped out.God’s people were brought to their knees in more ways than one. But “the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people (Joel 2:18-19).” God said, “Behold I am sending to you grain, wine and oil, and you will be satisfied (5th Yr.) In the coming years, God said, their fields would yield an abundance that would make up for what had been lost....GOD said I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations....(Hold on He’s not done He said “The threshing floor shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. . . . You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied”...talking about 2020 PROVISION. (Joel 2:24, 26).
Numbers are very significant in Hebrew because each Hebrew letter has a numerical value connected to it. The number 80 in the year 2020 is the numerical value for the Hebrew letter “Pey” which means “mouth”. It is the 18th letter that follows the letter “Ayin” which means “to see” and carries a value of 70. The significance of the Pey (mouth) following the letter Ayin, (to see) which has the numerical value of 80, is the same numerical value for the word “foundation and strength”.
What I’am saying is that God desires to restore 20/20 prophetic vision back to His church to prepare us for what is to come. The Hebrew year 5780, which will also fall on the Gregorian calendar 2020, will be a RESTORING year.
As our eyes are being healed and our prophetic vision is being restored, we will begin to see and declare new visions with new wine skins. Glory to God,
I HEAR THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SAYING...........I am going to bring you to a place of manifestation and demonstration of me opening doors that only I could open and no man could shut (Is. 22:22). These doors will be miraculous. How things will come together will not be by your might, or by power, but by My Spirit (Zech. 4:6). All you need to do is stay aligned, stay close to Me and step out of limiting beliefs through repentance. Your tent pegs are being extended further. Don't let fear and the familiar contain you. I will sustain you. All of heaven's resources are placed before you in Me. Access these resources with your faith, make a withdrawal in faith from these heavenly resources in the vision I have given you."
Only what you can see, can you enter into and possess. When you see prophetic, you will receive supernatural wings to ascend into higher realms and veils that have previously not been accessible. With prophetic (vision) sight spiritual restrictions that have previously kept you grounded will be pulled up in order to release you into your spiritual destiny.
2020 is the year that the mysteries of God will begin to be experienced in a new way as the sword is being pulled out of the sheath. (logos word=sheath) (rhema word=sword of the spirit). With His sword, God is going to judge every system that have kept Him out and He will deal with all idols and systems that has attempted to separate us from His Love.
In 2020 Spiritual Elijah’s are coming on the scene to expose and open the eyes of the church to her wickedness and call her back to accountability. Also spiritual Jehu’s are chasing down the spirit of Jezebel and striping it of its influence and power.
2020 is the Year to See the Zayin which is the Sword. Zayin is the 7th letter of the alphabet that means a sword. 2020 will be a year of the release of greater Dunamis power and Exousia authority for a kingly anointing to rule and reign upon the earth. I DECLARE TO YOU THE YEAR OF 20/20 PROPHETIC VISION AND PROVISION!
1. When God leads You, He Anoints You despite Your Enemies.
Psalms 23:5“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over”.
2. Overflowing anointing (Power) always accompanies the led (Sent)
Luke 10: 1- After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Luke 10:19- Behold, I give unto you powerto tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
3. The Anointing sets us Free
(Freedom is never given, it is fought for)
Isaiah 49:24 – 26.....24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
- A mighty force over thee – e.g. Sickness, depression, Confusionetc
- Lawful Captive – Justice has placed you there. The Devil has a reason
25 But thusSAITHthe LORD, Even the captives of the mightyshall be taken away, and the prey of the terribleshall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. 26And I will feed them that OPPRESSthee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob
Psalms 124: 6 – 7....6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a preyto their teeth.7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
4. The Anointing Establishes us Above our Enemies
Psalms 89: 20 – 25...20I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflicthim.23 And I will beat down his foesbefore his face, and plague them that hate him.
5. The Anointing gives us Access to Wealth and Peace
24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
Hurt comes to everyone’s life in one way or another. For some, it’s more severe than others. For me, this year has been the hardest of my life in terms of personal hurt. Of course, when we use a generic term like hurt it can mean physical, emotional, or spiritual hurt. It can even be a potent combination of the three. In fact, it usually is a blending of the three, because when we are hurting in one area it bleeds into the other two eventually.
Every hardship has a lesson (or multiple lessons) embedded within it. Certainly, this is the essence of Paul’s anointed thinking when he wrote of learning to be content in every situation (Philippians 4:11...Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.).
Below are nine things to remember when hurting humbly written from one hurt person to another.
1. You’re not the only one hurting.
2. Hurt doesn’t give anyone a license to be a jerk.
3. All hurts can be healed.
4. God is present even when you don’t feel Him.
5. Your response to hurt will determine whether you come out stronger or weaker.
6. There are valuable lessons to be learned while hurting.
7. Anointing is forged and perfected in fiery furnaces.
8. Hiding from helpers only makes hurting hurt worse.
The LORD was with Joseph and GAVE him FAVOUR in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Gen 39:21)
The word “FAVOUR” simply means: “friendly or kind regard; goodness; approval; loving-kindness.”
The FAVOUR of God simply means that, God will:
Regard you as his FRIEND – “No longer do I call you servant but my friend.” (Jn 15: 15)
Be KIND to you – “For he is Kind even to the unthankful.” (Lk 6:35)
Shine his GOODNESS on you – “Do you know that the Goodness of God leads you to repentance.” (Rom 2 : 4)
APPROVE you – “Salute Appelus approved in Christ.” (Rom 16:10)
Show LOVING-KINDNESS towards you – “I will show my loving kindness toward you says God.” (Jer 9:24)
When the FAVOR OF GODis upon us, people will see and knowthat God is with us, they will hearwhat we have to say, they will act favorablytowards us, hearts and mindswill be open to us, Ministrywill become our way of life, Power and Authoritywill be our sign of his presence, resourceswill come to us and we will not be in want, the Stature of Godwill encompass us, Government Leaderswill seek us and Churches will alignthemselves to what we preach and teach.
Genuine worship is vertical (Psalm 95:1). It is always directed upwards to God; never horizontally towards man. It’s important for a genuine worshipper to carefully make the distinction between being ushered into praise via talent and worshipping talent (musical or otherwise) rather than the Creator. Genuine worship is not about personal preferences, entertainment, emotionalism, or sensationalism alone (although there are times when one or more of those elements may be involved); rather it is about total surrender to God.
Genuine worship is joyful (Psalm 95:2). On numerous occasions, God commands us in this text that we must worship joyfully. In reality, worship erupts from a heart that is full of the joy of the Lord. Godly joy is not predicated upon our conditions, our surroundings, or even our circumstances. That’s why Paul and Silas could worship and sing praises to God while confined unjustly in prison (Acts 16:25).
Genuine worship is participatory (Psalm 95:2). God calls us to worship Him, not to watch someone else worship Him. It is not until we truly participate that we become woven into the tapestry of godly worship. When we participate we bless God and He blesses us in return.
Genuine worship is thankful (Psalm 95:2). It is not possible to really worship with a heart filled with ingratitude.
Genuine worship is humble (Psalm 95:3). Humility is the opposite of pride. Pride is a praise killer. Pride renders a heart incapable of sincerity. Pride breeds sins of all types. Pride squeezes worship out of the hearts of men and women. Pride kept Michal in the tower (2 Samuel 6:16) but humility caused King David to worship anyway (2 Samuel 6:14).
Genuine worship is reverent (Psalm 95:4-5). God is the sovereign Lord of all the earth, the King of glory; the Rock of our Salvation. We should not suppress our joy in our expressions of reverence. Neither should we compromise our reverence in our expressions of joy.
We must recognize that praise is one of the most neglected weapons of war, yet it is one of the most effective if not the most effective of all spiritual weapons at our disposal.
But How, one may ask?
·Provokes the flow of Revelation – 2Kgs. 3:15-18/ Is. 30:29-30/ Is. 60:1-22
· Provokes Divine Intervention – 2Chr. 20:22-24/ Ps. 47:5-7
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers:but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door:by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd:the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
See I used to be a good fisherman of fish and one thing I learned is that when you go fishing you have to
1. GO AT THE RIGHT TIME
2. GO TO THE RIGHT PLACE
3. HAVE THE RIGHT TYPE OF BAIT
4. HAVE PATIENCE DONT RUSH
5. STAY ALERT WATCH POLE
6. AFTER FISH TAKES HOOK LET HIM TIE OUT
7. REEL HIM IN, DONT LET HIM GET OFF YOUR LINE
NOW THAT YOURE QUALIFIED FISHERMEN, COME TO THE HOUSE OF GOD, YOUR PLACE OF DUTY TO BE DEPUTIZED TO GO OUT AND CATCH SOME FISH (SOULS).
SEE SOME OF YOU ARE SITTING IN HERE TODAY THAT HAVE BEEN RUNNING FROM YOUR OCCUPATION, THATS WHY THINGS NEVER WORK OUT FOR YOUR GOOD, COME BACK TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT FROM GOD, ITS IN YOUR DNA TO BE FISHERMEN, NOT DRUG DEALERS, PIMPS, ROBBERS, CRACK HEADS, FELONIES, ADULTERERS, FORNICATORS, LIERS.
COME BACK TO JESUS, COME BACK TO YOUR FIRST LOVE, ROM 5:17 IF ANY MAN BE IN ...........
JESUS SAID IAM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE., NO MAN CAN SEE THE FATHER WITHOUT GOING THROUGH HIM.
NOW LET'S GO FISHING IN JESUS NAME!
CA L.R.Gooden Jr.
Kingdom Builders Christian Ministries A Spiritually Militant Church
In the process of apostolic maturing of the Church there is an emerging, spiritually militant boldness on all fronts of Church life. Not with guns and bombs like deluded terrorists, but spiritual weapons like strategic prayer, intercession, preaching, teaching and praise & worship. Music (SHOFAR & PRAISE/WORSHIP) has been, and is increasingly setting this tone of spiritual militancy. Now it is time for the prophetic to take its true mature place alongside the apostolic gifts and anointing. To bring structure both spiritual and natural to facilitate what the Lord is doing in the Church - to clear the rubble from the spiritual gaps in the wall of the House of the Lord (Nehemiah 4:10), and to build apostolic churches. To plant churches powerfully, in spiritually governing strength, with five-fold ministry teams. Apostolic church bases that will actually affect and change whole cities, nations, and even governments.
We have seen this in part happening in KBCM but there are more wonderful days ahead of all of us as we press on to the high calling of Christ JESUS in our lives. Singers, musicians, Preachers, Teachers, THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY in the realm of the creative arts will also need to carry apostolic wisdom in the nurturing and releasing of these gifts in the MARKETPLACE. It is important we prepare - because we will not handle the onslaught of spiritual wickedness that will inevitably come against the rising army of the Church. It is a global army because there is a global fight! A fight against the ultimate global terrorist - the devil!
Apostolic Alignment for Kingdom Advancement
Apostolic Alignment for Kingdom Advancement: Is the worldwide activation of the Holy Spirit being released in the Body of Christ resulting in the restoration (re-ordering) of all things according to Acts 3:19-21
Restoration of:
Relationships - Malachi 4:6; Luke 15:11-32; 1 Corinthians 4:15
Biblical Doctrine/Teaching – Hebrews 6:1
Five-Fold Ministry- Ephesians 4:11-12
Ministry of the Holy Spirit – Luke 3:16; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4
Miracles – 1 Corinthians 12:10-11
The Ministry of the Apostle: Apostle- (Greek-apostolos) “One who is sent forth.” One called and sent by the Anointing to have and operate in spiritual authority. Character, gifts, and abilities enable Apostles to gather and establish people in Kingdom truth and order, especially through founding and overseeing churches and ministries.
1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”
Functions of Apostles and Apostolic Ministries:
Establish a Spiritual climate/atmosphere in regions that is conducive for a release of God’s Glory
1 Corinthians 12:28 “First (Greek-proton) apostles.” Blasting, Trailblazers, Penetrating, Forerunner, Pioneer Anointing. Territorial Spirits – Governing spirits/strongholds over regions, cities, nations. Daniel 10:13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days:” 1 Corinthians 15:32 ‘If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus,”
Strongholds – Mindsets, Doctrines, Ideologies contrary to the Word of God. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “… mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,”
To establish the Apostolic in GOD's people
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” NKJV This is an Apostolic Commission!! Evangelists make believers/converts – Apostles make disciples.
Establish Churches Apostolic People require Apostolic Churches where they will be equipped and released for the work of the ministry through:
Doctrine- Acts 2:42 “…they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,”
Preaching- Inspiration through exhortation, proclamation and demonstration. Mark 16:15 “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,”
Teaching- Inspiration through edification (building up). Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,”
Treaching - (combination of teaching & preaching) Matthew 4:23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and
healing (demonstration) all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people,”
Establish Biblical Order/Government Restore five-fold (government) ministry to oversee and maintain the order of God, which is represented through theocracy and not democracy.
Theocracy -God controlled, God centered, God ruled.
Democracy- People controlled, People centered, People ruled. 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-16; Titus 1:5
Establish “Fathering Ministries/Relationship” 1 Corinthians 4:15 “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” Fathers and overseers are committed to establishing and developing growing relationship.
Some Fatherly Responsibilities:
1. Training and Discipline - Exodus 18:13-26; Hebrews 12:5-10; Colossians 1:28
2. Reproduce - John 15:16
3.. Releasing - Acts11: 21-22; Acts13:3-4
4.. Impartation - 2 Timothy 1:6
5. Provision
Everyone needs to submit under GOD's government, no one is exempt, Kingdom Builders Christian Ministries definitely is a place for anyone who is without a Church home and wants to grow in the LORD.
Everyone – Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers and laypersons, are required to submit to a Pastor. This is God’s order of government. The Pastor is the head of the local Church and everyone is to be a part of a local Church somewhere. (Ephesians 4:11-14)
What I am saying is that everyone, even the other Ministry offices, should have a Pastor. There are no exceptions to this. The most effective Five-fold Ministers in the Earth have Pastors whom they can call upon.
Everyone will ultimately give account for how they treated their Pastors. 2Corinthians 5:10)
Sincerely from Apostle L.R. Gooden Jr.
A quick teaching on the theme for 2015 for KBCM by Apostle L.R.Gooden Jr.
SCRIPTURE AND THEME FOR 2015
EDIFYING, EQUIPPING, EMPOWERING FOR KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT
EPH. 4:12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
These ministry gifts (EPH 4:11) are to equip the saints, and then the saints are to do the work of the ministry. The Amplified Bible translates this verse as "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)."
It is a mistake to place the burden of ministry on what we call "the clergy." Full-time ministers are to minister the Word to the saints, but the saints are to go out and reach the lost and carry the bulk of the ministry within the church. Shepherds don't have sheep; they tend the sheep, and the sheep should reproduce.
It has been a big mistake to "hire" ministers to do what the individual members of the church are supposed to do. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are simply leaders who equip the saints so that they can be successful in the ministries God has given them.
In EPH 4:12 the word "for" can mean because of, as a result of, since, or it can mean so as to obtain. It is the latter definition that is meant here. The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers of EPH 4:11 minister "so as to obtain" the saints being equipped so that they can do the work of the ministry, which in turn obtains the edifying of the body of Christ. The clergy doesn't do all these things. They start the process through leadership, and the body edifies itself in love (EPH 4:16).
The Greek word that was translated "perfecting" here is "KATARTISMOS," and it means "a fitting or preparing fully" (Vine's Expository Dictionary). It does not denote the absence of all flaws. The Lord gave the gifted ministers listed in EPH 4:11 to help fully prepare the saints so that they could do the work of the ministry.
Remember it takes a Disciple (a disciplined learner) not a complainer, not a critic, not a murmurer, not a know it all, but a DISCIPLE. It's time for the Church to line-up, straighten-up and fall in place with true GOD ordained leadership. Amen.
