Galaxy Of Stars!
You have heard of "galaxy of stars", "gang of robbers" and other examples of collective nouns.
We all know that a robber cannot be as effective as a gang of robbers and we sure know that the sky at night cannot bring out its full beauty and diversity if it were only a star that shines in it. But we thank God for diversity and numerousity. It is a gift and a blessing!
Ecclesiastes 4:12, KJV
"And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
This verse immediately tells you that one man can only do little but when the number increases, so is the effectiveness.
That's why if a man prevails over one who's alone, two can withstand such a man! Just look at that better result. Where one person could have beaten you to pulp, if you were two, you possibly could stop him.
Are you getting something from that message?
In like manner, let's look at our mouth. Teeth are set there in their types. We have the incisors, canines, premolars and molars.
Undeniably, each of them has a specific function but they still all work towards the general good and purpose for which God has set them in the mouth. "To cut/chew into smaller bits for the sake of swallowing to ease digestion."
Despite the types of teeth and their varied functions yet they all work together for the 'edifying of the mouth'.
God intentionally chose them to give their differences but despite offering different ministrations, it's still for one round and grand purpose (we saw that earlier).
May I tell you that a local church is intended to function in that same manner. A local church is therefore the real galaxy of stars. It has various parts with different functions but for the same overall goal. Let's see.
Acts 13:1, KJV
"Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul".
I Corinthians 12:28, KJV
"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, KJV
"11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
IF you look at all these offices, functions and gifts, you'll see they are variegated but Eph. 4:11 has helped to show THEIR END or PURPOSE.
"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ".
In the very first verse I posted, prophets and teachers are said to be in the church at Antioch!
Just Imagine that. That's a galaxy of stars. It's not a one man show but shows of many gifted people with different offices and functions. Imagine what impact they'll make.
Imagine a local church where there are prophets and teachers. That local church at least is blessed for the diverse ministries they'll bring or give.
A teacher has a special revelation or insight into God's Word. He can preach and teach. He'll feed the congregation with God's Word until they're robust and established in the truth and doctrines. This way, these members cannot be tossed to and fro. They'll know the truth on what the Bible says and what it did not say.
A prophet can both teach under inspiration (exhort) which is forth speaking and then foretell (predict future events).
It means if you're in this church, you cannot be down because there's a prophet with forth speaking who can bring seasoned seasonal words that'll fit your needs and bring you out of depression, challenges or confusion.
Under that exhorting spirit, you're forever encouraged, motivated, stirred, energized. You never finish! You're rather aroused and elevated. You'll always receive light on what to do. The joy of the Lord is then your strength.
But beyond that, through the prophetic lamp those prophets carry, they affirm things for you and you know which way to go indeed. They help shed light on your path.
Under the prophetic, you're seriously comforted.
This is what it means not to be limited to one office, function or gift in a local church. You become a beneficiary of all the 'course meals' available. You're therefore made more effective - moved towards being perfected as a saint.
A local church and the body of Christ is intended by God to have different vessels manifesting differing gifts and functions.
That's because the congregation will have various problems that the graces and gifts of just a man may not be able to meet. So, as God sees fit, He'll ensure each local church is appropriated for and allocated certain offices, functions and gifts for its benefit and proper working.
Even if you started out as a pastor with unbelievers who have just been converted and are now your members, God can take from those ones to apportion into different offices, equip with choice gifts and abilities in order to meet the needs of the brethren.
As God intended, they're to minister with you. As in, alongside you. If you don't carry the healing gifts but a brother in your congregation does, you're to make time out for him so he could minister to the sick and diseased. You might have done the preaching but then call him to do the healing.
I even have a real life experience for this.
How many of you know that Reinhard Bonkke didn't start out first with healing and miracles though an evangelist? Just Imagine that! I've heard this same testimony from his mouth before in one of his videos I watched.
He would preach and then invite one brother to come around to pray for the sick and diseased. Though this brother later blew it open by becoming proud - therefore falling away and not amounting to anything in ministry after that, yet that's how Reinhard Bonkke started. And God would use that other brother for signs and wonders!
[Reinhard Bonkke & Richard Ngidi - The Evangelist with Signs & Wonders]
This is even common with many preachers before they're endowed with some other gifts and abilities. They had to trust God to move through another preacher (either they invited one as a guest minister) or one in their congregation with that ability to complement what they have and fill for what they don't have.
If everyone knows his place and limitations, we'll see we are called not to compete or out-compete each other but complement ourselves so it won't ever show that we lack one thing in our midst or are inadequate somewhere but rather made ready to meet all needs.
So far, you must have seen that it's a disadvantage and a great inadequacy not to be a good beneficiary of all the ministry offices and gifts.
It's for this reason that a local church invites ministers with certain callings, offices, gifts and functions so that their members can also contact what those ones carry and be established, knowing that it's not only a side that makes a cube. It's for this reason God gave some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers...for the perfecting of the saints etc.
Even in the university, we had different lecturers who took us for different courses. We had to pass through them all to be well rounded for that ONE FIELD OF STUDY we came to study.
A pastor can go on evangelism and catch some fishes but we know if an evangelist does the same (in his calling), it'll be like casting a drag net into the sea. When it is pulled up, you'll be amazed at the number of souls who'll believe not only because of his message but for the signs and wonders.
I Corinthians 14:26, KJV
"How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."
All these cannot come from one man at a present time or at a go. Each of us can exercise each of them at differing times but may not be loaded with all for a specific function at a time.
The Bible rather acknowledges that whenever we come around, it'll be good for each of us to have something to give.
I saw this while we were on campus. A sister could give prophecy there. This one could speak in an unknown tongue there while that brother interprets, yet another could bring exhortation or a revelation. I experienced the same while I was in the Nigerian Christian Corpers' Fellowship in Kastina. As in, people will be blessed and tend to go home beyond what they bargained for. They will carry more than they requested for as shootings come from different quarters to them.
Their wells will be full of water. In such an instance, it's not only the president or pastor that ministers.
Even as one is asked to take the announcement, he could give a word of knowledge or prophecy. Every part of the programme then becomes a critical part. So, people will learn to be present throughout the events. They won't discriminate and say, "sermon" is the only event to pay attention to or be available for.
This is how the church in Jerusalem and in many homes in the Bible operated.
At times, some home churches even hosted itinerants or visiting ministers. And when you host gifted people, you're in for something. You should begin to anticipate 'cause blessings are in the air. They won't leave unless they bless you with what they carry.
Acts 21:8-9, KJV
"8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. 10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus".
Read these verses very well. 'Amma' tell you something now!
Now, certain men of Paul's company visit Philip (the evangelist and I hope you know what Philip has to offer in his calling). But it doesn't end there.
Philip also has gifted daughters. Four virgin daughters who prophesy. They are not ordinary or mere sisters. They are special 'cause of the gift. That is, they also have something to give in the congregation of the brethren who visited (who have many things to give) if things were called for.
But while we thought it had ended, Agabus also visited. That wowed me because of what I'll show you!
When Agabus visited, he immediately went to work in his office. He gave the brethren a dramatic prediction on what would happen to Paul even as he held unto his sandals. Though Paul refused to be discouraged by that prediction yet he affirmed by it what he had known that'll shortly come to pass that he must not flinch over.
Now, imagine the set of men in Philip's house. Philip (the evangelist), Paul (the apostle), Agabus (the prophet), brethren who accompanied Paul (with their differing gifts) and Philip's daughters who all prophesy or possess the revelatory gifts - word of knowledge, word of wisdom & prophecy!
Imagine having these loads of offices and gifts in a local church. Imagine seeing them take turns to minister. Why won't that congregation be blessed?
Will there still be any sick, depressed, diseased etc in that local or house church?
I don't think so. Why? There are differing callings on ground for the differing problems the congregation may have.
As I suspect, Agabus is a friend to Philip's family and he must have provided further trainings for Philip's daughters in the prophetic. I have a daughter and I desire she prophesies. I've really prayed for this for her.
Brethren, what I've been saying is what I just re-explained using another set of people.
All that'll be needed after having such gifted men in our midst will then be UNITY! For that, listen to what God brought to me through this verse.
Psalms 133:1-3, KJV
"1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments". 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."
If they have unity, the body of Christians in that church will know rapid growth under the pastor God might have chosen for them as a leader, organizer and administrator.
The local church is therefore supposed to be full of manifestations of a galaxy of stars - series of gifted, anointed and called people giving ministrations like God has ordained for them.
If one is an olive tree, he'll give his fatness. If one is a fig, he'll give his sweetness. If one is a vine, then he surely has wine to give.
This is how each person in each office gives what God has ordained he gives. That you're called into a certain office means there are certain gifts and functions you can perform or give for occupying that office.
If those called and gifted men won't leave that local church when God's mouth hasn't told them so or be suppressed by a threatened or intimidated leadership, they'll all work for the benefits of their local church by using their gifts and callings for the perfecting and edification of the saints, that they may be complete in Christ.
From such a gifted local church as they remain faithful, they'll one day hear a voice that'll say.
Acts 13:2, KJV
"2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away".
Did you read that?
One day, when the Holy Ghost has judged them faithful in-house, He called for the separation of two individuals away from their local church (let's say) into the universal body of Christ.
That's the purpose the local church ought to serve. It ought to be the launch pad for the national or international callings of faithful men who'll however not be detached from their local church or cover (local church pastor). They can go to the ends of the earth to preach but they shall always return to their local church to hear their pastor preach again.
Whatsoever gift or grace anyone has or carries, where to prove it first is the local church before the Holy Ghost will make the higher demand of calling for their separation and release to the BODY OF CHRIST.
Now, it doesn't mean those ministering at the body of Christ level are greater than those still ministering at the local church level. It's however as the Holy Ghost makes demands on/of men. So, don't be proud if you seem to be ministering on a national level while your pastor, father or mentor who trained you is even still in obscurity in one local church or town.
As far as God is concerned, your local church pastor is a faithful man who didn't withhold from you all that'll make you a perfect vessel that God can use.
Rather, you should take heed so that God can find you also faithful in your new level.
This thing is not a competition, envy or jealousy thing. Just be faithful wherever you are! God bless you!
Olusola ADEJUMO,
M'Wings.
Morning Wings Ministry,
Nigeria.
23/06/25
