THE POLLINATORS

The pollination of crops is critical to our food supply, and, therefore, our survival.  Among the most essential pollinators are the honeybees, which have undeniably decreased in numbers.  One estimate is that we have dropped from 6 million managed hives at the close of WWII to less than 2.5 million today while our area of crops needing bee pollination has increased over 300% in that same period.  

Many feel there is a present decline of authentic biblical Christianity in America.  If this is true,

it may be that Christ’s own pollinators are in decline and we are malnourished as a result.

Apostles and Prophets, as well as being the foundation ministries upon which the House of God is built (Eph 2:19-22; 1Cor 3:9-11), are also the most essential cross-pollinators of the Church (Acts 14:19-23; Acts 15:40-41; Rom 1:9-13; Rom 15:24-25; 1 Cor 4:17-20).  Now, while many believe that Apostolic and Prophetic ministries no longer exist nor are they any longer needed, some of us contend that just the opposite is true.  But what does the Bible say???

Eph 4:11-16

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:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

These five distinct divisions of the person and ministry of Jesus Christ, these five gifts of Christ Himself to the Church, are, according to Scripture, to remain active and effectual “till we all” bear the fruit of Christian maturity as clearly defined in the above passage.  While some may assume that this maturity will “just happen” to us at the end, I strongly suggest that aside from the pollinating ministry of the five ascension gifts, especially that of the Apostle and Prophet, none of us will taste any fruit of it.  Without their cross-pollinating work of  “speaking the truth in love” we will at best be dwarf fruit on a withering vine with no hope of adequate harvest or of any healthy seed to plant a following season.

Thank you Father for giving us Pastors that feed us with knowledge and understanding.  Thank you for giving us Teachers and Evangelists that make your Word relevant to our lives and inspire us follow our Lord.  And Father, we pray You send us Apostles and Prophets who come with the heart of your servant Paul as revealed in Rom 1:9-13:

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.  Amen.

Bobby Norton

August 16, 2017