<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">April 14, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p>
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>2012-04-14
- RESPONSE TO “FIVE-FOLD - or - FOUR-FOLD?”</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in">A professor friend
of mine read my article response - “Five-fold - or - Four-fold?”
He has sent me the following response, which I much appreciate. As he
inferred - there are many other 5-fold connections in the human body
that likewise confirm the Ephesians 4:11 five-fold. One is the 5
lumbar vertebrae. They are the power and lifting vertebrae. Just as
they are as it were the fulcrum for the body's 33 vertebrae to
protect the spinal cord - which sends messages from the brain to
every organ and cell of the human body - so the 5-fold ministries
give support, adjustment and equipping to every member of Christ's
spiritual body.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in">Here is my friend's
most interesting response:</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in"><br>
</p>
<blockquote style="margin-left:0in;margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;border-width:medium medium medium 1px;border-style:none none none solid;border-color:-moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(204,204,204);padding:0in 0in 0in 0.02in">
On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 3:33 PM,
wrote:</blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin:0.01in 0.79in 0in;border-width:medium medium medium 1px;border-style:none none none solid;border-color:-moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(204,204,204);padding:0in 0in 0in 0.02in">
<b>Dear Bro Jim:<br><br>I have followed you for years online and am
on your mailing list. I agree with your answer to the brother that I
just accessed today. Although it is not an essential concerning our
salvation, I do believe it is an essential to our perfection. Let me
give you several illustrations, some you may have already known, some
you may not. I just leave them here for your consideration.<br><br>For
years I taught in a Canadian Christian College writing and teaching
from the present truth revelation God was giving as I studied the
Word. Before I began there in 1991, my heart had been being exercised
concerning the term used by Paul, "the Body of Christ". The
Lord kept drawing my thinking to doing a study on this subject from
the perspective of the natural body being a type and
shadow.<br><br>Although I have a number of Doctoral letters behind my
name, medical doctor is not one of them. I did not want to venture
into that arena not having the medical authority to do so. Then Dr.
Paul Brand and Philip Yancy wrote their initial book "Fearfully
and Wonderfully Made". Dr Brand providing the medical expertise
and a basis of spiritual insight through his years and a leprosy
surgeon in India, and Philip Yancy his superb writing skills.
<br><br>Because of your walk with God and spiritual birth in the move
of 1948, you will understand when I speak of knowing things by
revelation that you were unable you are unable to prove, because of
lack of the availability of natural knowledge. Because of that level
of revelation, I was able to take Dr. Brand's applications into
further depth. I would particularly like to apply some of that the
understanding of what we have always called, "the five-fold
ministry". Please be patient with me in this. (I am going
to block and paste from different portions of my courses "Spiritual
Parallels to the Natural Body, & from Spiritual Parallels
to The Natural Body, The Head") Different quotes have a double
space between them.<br><br></b><i><b>"In every portion of the
body we have those cells, bones, body members, and organ functions
that speak of the five ministry gifts. As we come to them, we will
deal with each expression that shows a portion of the function. It is
these cells that are able to continue to multiply, that are a type of
the five ministry gifts. They do the repair needed to those portions
of the Body that need it. "</b></i><b> (Spiritual Parallels to
the Natural Body)<br><br></b><i><b>"The White Blood Cells: These
patrol the blood, these FIVE DISTINCT TYPES of cells form the initial
assault forces against infection and invaders."</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin:0.01in 1.18in 0in;border-width:medium medium medium 1px;border-style:none none none solid;border-color:-moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(204,204,204);padding:0in 0in 0in 0.02in">
<b>There are some arresting similarities between the operation of the
white cells and the functioning of the five ministry gifts. The
primary function of the white cells is to fight invaders and is a
defensive position. In the following paraphrase from Dr. Brand's
book, we set the stage for that understanding. </b>
</blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin:0.01in 0.79in 0in;border-width:medium medium medium 1px;border-style:none none none solid;border-color:-moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(204,204,204);padding:0in 0in 0in 0.02in">
<b>"Very appropriate to describing what happens within our
bodies is language and imagery used for war. Our bodies simply
declare war on invaders." (This next section is rather long but
foundational to understanding the parallels)<br><br>Often God's
ministries go on the attack when something threatens them from
outside the Body of Christ. i.e., legislation, community actions,
etc. The white blood cells do not become mobilized until there is an
invasion into the body. These white blood cells are to keep the blood
pure and free from foreign matter. The white blood cells form the
initial assault forces. They have very distinctive functions. This,
then, sets the context for our understanding of the function of
ministry within the Body of Christ. <br><br>In describing the action
of the white cells, we will first give an overview of their action
and then delineate why we feel each, in their function, is like
certain ministry. I am going to place a footnote with each one that
will describe the spiritual ministry parallel, as well as say what
the reference source was. <br><br>There is a group of white cells
that serve as the initial assault troops, who are armed with crude
chemicals; these try to overwhelm the invaders by force of numbers,
alone. There are others that come in with heavier chemicals as
ammunition equivalent to battle tanks. Another group of white cells
float freely in the bloodstream, taking out stray invaders. There is
also a group that try to herd the invaders into the lymph glands,
like taking captives back to a fortress for execution. Then there is
the sanitary corps, who stay around and clean up after all the
fighting is done." <br><br>Because some of the white cells are
programmed for only one disease, there needs to be a vast number of
them. ..... Most white cells live only 10 hours, but a few live for
sixty or seventy years and are the memory bank that preserve that
battle strategy against the invaders. These cells check into their
assigned lymph glands every few minutes. Dr. Brand calls them the
master cells.<br><br>Before we deal with "master cells", I
want to talk about the majority cells that last only 10 hours. This
refers to the majority of the ministries working within the Body at
large, not having a major effect on the whole. Their influence is
basically local or temporary, though.<br><br>There is an interesting
application when the spiritual equivalent is examined. There is a
scripture in the book of Eccl. that seems to fit the description. ECC
12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened
by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. In
our study it would seem that the lymph nodes represent local
assemblies. This being true, it would validate that all ministry,
whether Apostle or any of the others, should be based from a local
assembly. They may travel throughout the Body, but there must be a
"checking in" at their local bases from time to time. In
the words of our verse, these representatives of the Apostolic
ministry are the "masters of assemblies" They are given to
oversee the local assemblies. <br><br>1CO 3:10 According to the
grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have
laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man
take heed how he buildeth thereupon. <br><br>Concealed in this
passage is another responsibility of the Apostle. Again, using the
language of scripture and of Dr. Brand, we find the master builder,
in the body, builds an immune system, or army. In this master white
cell are hidden all the plans for war, and the formula used to raise
the armies of resistance to invasion. These "walking libraries"
hold within them the blueprint for battle and building.<br><br>The
Apostolic Ministry are ordained of God to found local assemblies. God
places within them the blueprint, or vision, for the expression of
the local assemblies they found. It is important in our understanding
of this that we do not expect all Apostles to act and react the same.
Each one is to be distinctive in his/her expression and work. <br><br>In
the natural, without these senior white cells, the body would loose
all ability to protect itself. You will note, as you read the
writings of the Apostles, that each one had a distinctive expression.
There were certain errors that each one fought and others that they
all rose up against. They are the ministry that keep the consistency
in the Body of Christ. It is their call to keep the Body free from
the invasion of error. It is important to notice the following
statement and apply it to the Body of Christ.<br><br>"In order
to win the bodies, antibodies must kill 100 percent of the invaders."
The purpose of God, in the midst of all of the type and shadow, is to
be able to express His desire for His Body through them. His desire
is that His Body be fully free from error of infection, virus, and
disease. Dr. Brand says that is as difficult a task as killing all
mosquitoes in a given city. <br><br>Without the ministry that God has
provided, it is impossible to be able to keep His Body error free.
There are those who will not acknowledge certain of the ministry.
This means that their portion of the Body has an immune deficiency.
The Body of Christ is weak and sickly because the Body of Christ
refuses to allow the ministry to function as God ordained. The
restrictions placed upon the ministry are like drugs used to suppress
immunity. It is the purpose of God that the ministry function as
directed by the Head. <br><br>Our Creator has placed within the white
cells certain capabilities. Some have the ability to pick up or build
a certain antibody. That white cell's whole life will be dedicated to
that one purpose. Some He has programmed to flow throughout the body,
dealing with stray microbes that may have escaped from the initial
fight. .....<br><br>"Although there are five white blood cells,
there are three that are more alike than others. There is a
relationship between the three and the others, the three could be
called virus or microbe eaters." These three could be said to be
the equivalent of the three governmental ministries. </b><i><b>1CO
12:28</b></i><b> 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."...<br><br> </b> <b>"In the foot God places
five toes that are indicative of His care for our walk, both
naturally and spiritually. There spiritual counterparts
are:<br><br> 1. Grace to keep our
walk in balance.<br> 2. Ministry
to help balance out our walk with Him and our walk with one
another.</b><br><br><b>"The Blasts, who produce the fibers, are
likened by Dr. Paul Brand to the ministry of prophets and teachers.
They interpret the unchangeable principles in the light of the
peculiar conditions of their day. They teach the word and the
Spirit of it, thereby helping the Bones of the Body adapt to the
stresses of the time. I would like to suggest another possibility to
Dr. Brand’s description, what he feels is the application of the
Blasts that lay the fibres. In what we have read in the text
describing the work of these spiritual Blasts, he uses the word
“interpret.” In the use of this, he suggests to me a
scripture in Job."<br></b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin:0.01in 1.18in 0in;border-width:medium medium medium 1px;border-style:none none none solid;border-color:-moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(204,204,204);padding:0in 0in 0in 0.02in">
<b>All expressions of the ministry are covered with skin.
Clearly God wants to bring the ministry to a place where they are
willing to be hidden from sight, yet fully functional.</b></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin:0.01in 0.79in 0in;border-width:medium medium medium 1px;border-style:none none none solid;border-color:-moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(204,204,204);padding:0in 0in 0in 0.02in">
<br><b>[from the section on the ear]<br><br>In the INNER EAR are
three canals , that although they are filled with the same fluid as
the other portions of the inner ear, their function is totally
different than the other. These three canals govern our balance. If
these are faulty it is impossible for us to maintain our balance.
These canals are collectively called the Corti. Two stand basically
upright and the other is horizontal. These aptly detect movement of
the head and send appropriate messages to the brain. If there is a
problem in these, we will not be able to tell which way is up. Again
these are coordinated in the brain, not in the ear. This means that
we must be sensitive to those commands that come from the brain that
interpret our circumstances or our posture according to the norms of
God. (Norms are the absolutes of God. Many today do not realize that
that there are absolutes. These are only known in the brain) ...<br><br>An
interesting factor in the understanding of balance is, that men and
women can balance without sight, but cannot balance if the inner ear
is dysfunctional. One of the reasons for this is that there are five
nerves that come into these three canals. These three five nerves of
these canals represent the positions of the five fold ministry in
checking out the balance in the word that we hear in the Spirit. God
has placed them there in type and shadow that we might learn to walk
in balance. It is interesting that they are not seen, in type, in the
outer ear or the middle ear. It is the inner ear that is governed by
these ministry. It is not the surface levels of hearing that God is
speaking of when these are looked at.(from The
Head)<br><br>.....................................................................................<br><br>There
are a number of other quotes I could use, but I just wanted to
communicate that in the natural body, the type and shadow that God
Himself made, the 5-fold ministry is typed both in multiple ways and
in varied expressions throughout the whole of the Body. <br><br>I
hope I have not wasted your time, but I really felt to send this to
you. <br><br>Your friend<br></b><a href="http://http//www.theinstituteforstrategicchristianleadership.com/" target="_blank"></a>
</blockquote>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font size="3"><b>TO
SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: <a href="mailto:mailing-subscribe@2rbetter.org" target="_blank">mailing-subscribe@2rbetter.org</a></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font size="3"><b>TO
UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: <a href="mailto:mailing-unsubscribe@2rbetter.org" target="_blank">mailing-unsubscribe@2rbetter.org</a></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font size="3"><b>FOR
ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:<a href="http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/" target="_blank">http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/</a></b></font></p>