We Are The Church / T. Stacy Hayes

The Prodigal Son

We Are The Church / T. Stacy Hayes

”And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:“

Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV

”Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.“

Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT

”And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. 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),“

Ephesians 4:11-12 AMPC

”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. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.“

Luke 10:1-3 KJV

”The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.“

Luke 10:1-3 NLT

”NOW AFTER this the Lord chose and appointed seventy others and sent them out ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to come (visit). And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.“

Luke 10:1-3 AMPC

”And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.“

Mark 16:15 KJV

Psalm 8

His Body

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (1 Cor. 12:27). We've sometimes prayed about the Lord's work upon the earth like this: "Lord, You do this. Lord, You do that." But think about what Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 and 19, "All power, authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore." The Lord Jesus Christ conferred the authority on the earth upon us. He commissioned us to go. Actually, the authority that Christ can exercise on the earth has to be exercised through the Church. The Church is His Body. And the Church is here. Christ is not here. He's at the right hand of the Father. Christ is the Head of the Church, but all of His orders have to be carried out through His Body. Everything Christ does on the earth has to be done through His Body. You're a member in particular of Christ's Body. He has conferred upon you authority over all the power of the enemy! Confession: I am a member in particular of the Body of Christ. I am a worker together with God in the completing of His work upon the earth. I am well-equipped. I am endued with power and authority in Jesus' Name. And I will faithfully fulfill my part in God's plan.