5 FOLD MINISTRY

Concerning the Five-Fold Ministry

EPHESIANS 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Vs.12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Vs.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 fullness of Christ.

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.

God Gave and God Sets

* These ministry offices and gifts are given and set in the church by the Lord.

Question: Are they still for today?

Answer: Do people still need a miracle? a healing? helps? etc.

Question: Are there still Apostles. Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers today?

Answer: In the above scripture, why were they given?

1. For the perfecting of the saints.
2. For the work of the ministry.
3. For the edifying of the body of Christ. ( church )

Question: For how long were they given?

Answer: 1. Until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the
Son of God.
2. Unto a perfect man, unto the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Has the church come into unity yet?

Is the church perfected yet?

Is the church presenting the fullness of Christ?

Does the church still need edifying?

* Anyone that is familiar with the church must realize that these gifts and callings are
still needed today.

Each office of the five fold ministry; Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher, carries its own distinct anointing and has its own individual work. For these offices to work together, and accomplish the building up of the body of Christ; they must recognize their differences and be yielded and submitted to one another. Each of these offices are directly responsible to the Lord Jesus Christ and are directed by the Holy Spirit, to the work of service.

Directed by the Holy Ghost

ACTS 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

ACTS 8:26-40 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Vs.29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

ACTS 10:19-20 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
Vs.20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

ACTS 16:6-10 Vs.6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.

Each Must Recognize its Limitations

ACTS 8:14-17 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Vs.15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Vs.16 ( For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Vs.17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Question: Why didn’t Philip pray and lay his hands on them, that they might get the Holy Ghost?

1 CORINTHIANS 12:29-30 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Vs.30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

* No one person has it all, gifts, callings, etc. We must recognize our individual gifts and
that of others. We need each other and should be willing to yield.

APOSTLES

1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first Apostles…

EPHESIANS 4:11 and He Gave some, Apostles…

The word Apostle means one sent forth, a sent one. Missionaries are sent.

ACTS 13:2-3 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.
Vs.3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

An Apostle is one who establishes churches, a true Apostle will have the other ministry offices residing in his call, such as Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, And Teacher. These different ministry gifts are needed in establishing churches.

Signs of an Apostle

2 CORINTHIANS 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

A. Sufferings

2 Corinthians 11:23-29 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in
labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths
oft.
Vs.24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Vs.25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a
night and a day I have been in the deep;
Vs.26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine
own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the
wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
Vs.27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in
fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Vs.28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care
of all the churches.
Vs 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

B. Last of All

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it
were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and
to men.
10. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are
strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.
11. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are
buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12. And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being
persecuted, we suffer it:
13. Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the
offscouring of all things unto this day.

Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Luke 12:48…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..

C. Holy Ghost Power

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of
man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power:
Vs.5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Acts 19:11-12 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Vs.12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and
the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Romans15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God;
so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the
gospel of Christ.

D. Preach in far away Places

Roman 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named,
lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:

* No one can be an Apostle, in the sense of the original twelve, but God does call others
to this ministry office.

Acts14:14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their
clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

* Recognized or not, Apostles are out there, giving their lives in service to their Lord.

PROPHET

1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets..

EPHESIANS 4:11 And He gave some Apostles and some Prophets..

* A Prophet is one who utters a communication, in speaking the mind of God. the Old
Testament Prophet was also called a seer and a watchman.

Old Testament Prophets

A Seer

2 Kings 6:8-17 Vs.12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but
Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest
in thy bedchamber.

A Watchman

Ezekiel 3:16-21 Vs.17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of
Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

* God revealed things to prophets by dreams, visions and speaks to them audibly.

New Testament Prophets

1 Corinthians 12:28 ..And God hath set some in the church….prophets

Ephesians 4:11 ..And he gave some…prophets

* The scriptures makes it very plain that God has set in the church; Prophets, to believe
otherwise is to ignore the word of God.

Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and
teachers;

Acts 11:27-28 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
Vs.28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that
there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of
Claudius Caesar.

Acts 21:4,10-11 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a
certain prophet, named Agabus…

Prophets are Persecuted

Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem. Jerusalem, which killest the prophets and stonest them that
are sent to thee..

2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and misused his
prophets, until there was no remedy.

1 Chronicles 16:22 Warning! Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Prophets are not Honored

Matthew 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is
not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own
country.

* Certain gifts of the Holy Spirit seem to manifest more frequently in a prophets
ministry, then others, such as:

Word of Knowledge
Word of Wisdom
Prophecy

* Prophets are sometimes sent to leaders, such as in the case of Apostle Paul
( Acts 21:4, 10-11 )

* Notice that Agabus only spoke, what the Holy Spirit gave him to speak.

EVANGELISTS

Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some…Evangelist

Evangelist are soul winners, that is the mark of their calling. Their main message is the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The office of an Evangelist, has an anointing that draws people.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

* The only example we have of an Evangelist at work, is Philip.

Acts 8:5,12 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Vs.12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

* The people believed and then were baptized. Water baptism, is after a person accepts
Christ, and never before.

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel…

Acts 8:35-38 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and
preached unto him Jesus.
Vs.36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Vs.37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Vs.38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

PASTORS

EPHESIANS 4:11 And He gave some…Pastors

1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 And God hath set in the church…Governments

The word Pastor isn’t Mention here, but Pastors are part of the government of any church. A Pastor would be an elder, with other elders assisting him in watching over God’s flock.

Elders are set in the church by the Holy Spirit and may occupy various offices. The Pastor with the elders, form the spiritual government of a church. The word government in the Greek means; to steer, directorship. This type of government provides checks and balances, for the leaders of the church.

Pastors are to-

A. Feed God’s People

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof,
not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

John 21:15-17….Feed my lambs, Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which
the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood.

B. Feed Them What?

1 Peter 5:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
thereby:

* Young Christians need the milk of God’s word ( foundational, basic teachings and
principals of Christianity ).

Hebrews 5:11-6:2 …But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age…

* Older Christians, those that have spiritually matured, need more than milk, ( basics )

* Christians must be rooted and grounded in solid Christian doctrine, or they will be
unsettled in their Christian walk.

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Pastors are not to:

A. Lord Over

1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the
flock.

* Pastors are not the head of the five fold ministry offices and are called to serve, not
be served.

B. Serve Because of Greed

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof,
not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Qualifications of Pastors

1 Timothy 3:2-7 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant,
sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Vs.3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a
brawler, not covetous;
Vs.4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all
gravity;
Vs.5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the
church of God?)
Vs.6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the
devil.
Vs.7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into
reproach and the snare of the devil. ( Titus 1:7-11 )

Marks of Good Pastors:

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

TEACHERS

Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some…Teachers…

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.

The person who stands in the office of a teacher, will be able to explain spiritual truth in such a way that it is easily understood. It is not learned by human effort, but is by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

* The teaching office, is an office. There is no such thing as a preachers office.

Ephesians 4:11 and He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Vs.12 for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

* The office of the teacher is needed in the church, to root and ground people, in the
word of God.

Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and
teachers…

* A person can have natural ability or inclination to teach, but that does not qualify
them to stand in the office of a teacher. The Holy Spirit gave and sets in the church,
and anoints the one that He chooses. The anointing is the ability of God, working
through mortal man.

Mark 4:2 And He ( Jesus ) taught them many things by parables….

* Throughout the gospels, we find the Lord standing in the teaching office; conveying
spiritual truth, by using simple, ordinary, every day things.

* Jesus is our example of the teaching office in operation.

HELPS

This section will be composed of the following:

1. Deacons
2. Music ministry
3. Body ministry

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.

The word helps, according to Strongs Concordance means to succor, participate, to help. An illustration would be; someone assisting in lifting a heavy object. People called to the area of helps are greatly needed, to fulfill the vision of the church.

Exodus 17:11-12 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Vs.12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

1. Deacons

* The first deacons were ordained by the Apostles, to take care of the widows, in
distributing food to them.

Acts 6:1-6 Vs.6 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

* In appointing Deacons, the Apostles were free to study and take care of the spiritual
needs of the church. The word deacon means servant and they were to take care of
the temporal affairs of the church.

Qualifications of Deacons

1 Timothy 3:8-12 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Vs.9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
Vs.10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Vs.11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Vs.12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Memory Verse:

1 Timothy 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man…..

* People should not be appointed to any thing to quickly, let them be proven first.

2. Music Ministry

2 Kings 3:15-16 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
Vs.16 And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.

1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

* Anointed music plays a vital role in ministry. In the first scripture the Prophet needed
to hear from God, when the minstrel played, the Holy Spirit moved upon the prophet
and he spoke the word of the Lord.

* In the second scripture, the evil spirit departed, when David played unto the Lord.

* The scriptures say that God inhabits the praises of his people. Where God is, the devil
has to leave!

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.
Vs.22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

* Anointed music in church services, brings people into praise and worship, and that is
an open door for God to move. Praising ad worshipping God, prepares peoples hearts
to receive from God and his word.

* Music that doesn’t bring people into praise and worship, is simply entertainment. A
person can have a beautiful singing voice but without the anointing, they are not
qualified to lead the worship service. God definitely calls people to this area of
ministry.

* Churches many times have to make do with the people that they have, until God
brings in the people with specific calls. If a person helping doesn’t have an anointing,
they must be willing to yield to someone that does.

3. Body Ministry

Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Vs.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Vs.14 For the body is not one member, but many.
Vs.15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
Vs.16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
Vs.17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
Vs.18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Vs.19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
Vs.20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
Vs.21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Vs.22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
Vs.23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
Vs.24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:
Vs.25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
Vs.26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Vs.27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

* Every person in a church is important and is needed. Paul compares it to a human
body ( above scripture ) each is just as important as the other, and each, needs the
other.

* Every person has something to offer and the needs are numerous. A few examples:
youth, elderly, singles, married, the hungry, those that need clothing, people
incarcerated etc.

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

If you’re going through something Christ is there! Even though He may seem distant!

1 Corinthians 9:23-25 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Galatians 2:1-3 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

Galatians 5:7-8 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Ephesians 4:4-6 Church Unity
In the opening verses of Ephesians chapter four the apostle Paul is stressing the unity of the church. He will then tell us the purpose of the church and our responsibility as members.

The seven-fold foundation for church unity is described in Ephesians 4:4-6.

The church is one because it is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

In the first three verses he has stressed keeping or preserving the unity. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Characteristics of church unity are Christian humility, gentleness, patience and putting up with one another.

Obviously, Paul did not want us to miss this oneness or unity in the body of Christ.

One Body
There is one body, not many bodies.

Paul has already discussed the work of our Lord Jesus removing barriers, and the hostilities between the Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ. He has made both groups into one. “He did this to create in himself one new man out of two thus making peace, and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed” (Ephesians 2:15-16). This Jesus accomplished through his atoning sacrifice at Calvary.

There is only one mystical spiritual body of Christ. It is a growing organism sometimes referred to as a body, at other times in Scriptures as a temple, or building, and the dwelling place of God in the Spirit (2:19-22).

All true believers are “in Christ” and united in the spiritual body of Christ.

“Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (1:23). The church is his body and he fills his church entirely with his presence and power. Paul writes in Colossians 1:18 that Christ “is the head of the body, the church.”

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This is the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer just before he went to the cross the next morning. He prayed for believers everywhere, including you and me. Hr prayed, “That they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one—I in them and you in me—that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me” (John 17:21-23).

In Romans 12:4-5 Paul is reflecting on the many members of the one body and how their gifts are to be used within the body. “For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another” . The Holy Spirit brought about this unity when he placed us in the body. He knows the gifts he has chosen for us and how he wants us to function within the body of Christ. “We who are many are one body” (1 Cor. 10:17). In the context Paul is referring to the body of Christ.

A little further Paul continues his discussion about many members serving in one body. “For just as the body is one and yet has many members, all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ” (1 Cor. 12:12). How did this come about? “Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it” (v. 27).

The emphasis in all of these passages is on the unity of the body of Christ. We are many members and we have many gifts, not all the same, but we are one in the body.

There was a lot of commotion going on in the church at Corinth and Paul urges that there should be no division in the body, but that they should all care for one another (v. 25). Don’t let these gifts become a distraction in the body (vv. 28-31).

Only the Holy Spirit can produce this body and its unity. It is not an organization of many churches or denominations. It is a unity of the Spirit enjoyed by true believers bound together in a common bond of God’s saving grace in Christ Jesus.

We have unity in the church because there is one body which is sustained by one Spirit.

One Church

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). This is the baptism by the Holy Spirit. “We were all made to drink of the one Spirit” (v. 13). He has placed all believers into a vital union with Christ. We are made a member of the body of which Christ is the living head.
At the same time the Holy Spirit regenerated us, adopted us, became the down payment and took up residence in us. These were all different actions, but nevertheless took place at the same moment in time when we believed on Christ as our savior.

The Holy Spirit dwells in all believers in Christ. People will sometimes ask, “Do you have the Holy Spirit?” That is like asking, “Have you been born again?” or “Do you know Christ as your personal savior?” It is impossible for anyone to be a child and not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within him or her. “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him” (Romans 8:9). The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ all refer to the same person, the third person of the Holy Trinity. This is the one who lives in you. “Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you” (v. 11).

Paul is referring to the church in 1 Corinthians 3:16 when he says, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you”. Moreover, in 6:19 he uses the same imagery to refer to the individual believer. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”. Christ purchased you with his own blood. We have access through Christ Jesus “in one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:18).

No wonder the apostle Paul admonishes the church to be very careful how we treat the Holy Spirit. We must watch our attitude and behavior so we do not grieve him (Eph. 4:30). “You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil slanderous talk” (v. 31). Since those actions grieve the Spirit, we can promote unity by being “kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ Jesus also forgave us” (v. 32). This is how we “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16-18, 25). How tragic when Christians act in such a way that the work of the Holy Spirit is quenched when he is dealing with the souls of unbelievers (1 Thess. 5:19).

Therefore, let us be careful how we live our lives and make sure we are “filled by the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). We are to be filled by means of the Spirit, i.e. under his control.

God does his work in, by and through his Spirit (Zech. 4:6).

The church is one because of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ. There is one body of Christ, one Spirit of God who created it and sustains it, and one hope of your calling.

One Hope
There is unity in the church because you “were called to the one hope of your calling” (Eph. 4:4).

Because of the inward effectual call of God by the Spirit, we believed on Christ and received the free gift of eternal life. This was an act of God’s grace. The Holy Spirit illuminated our spiritual eyes so we could perceive and understand “what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18).

The effectual working of the Holy Spirit caused us to repent and believe on Christ. It was the “exercise of his immense strength” that changed our hearts and placed us in the body of Christ. The effectual call is always an action which issues in the desired goal or eternal purpose of God in the individual. This divine activity was seen in the resurrection of Christ (Eph. 1:20) and in our lives when we heard the gospel truth and believed on Christ. In that moment the Holy Spirit took up residence within us as the “down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:14).

That was the beginning of something grand. We live in expectation of the blessed hope and soon appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Because of that blessed hope, our glorification with Christ will take place. We will be like Christ when he returns.

“We wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This blessed hope is the appearing of the glory of our Savior when he returns again. The Lord Jesus is our great God and Savior. “God and Savior” are referring to the same person, Jesus Christ. He is coming again.

We do not know when Christ is coming back to this earth, but we can have confidence that “whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is” (1 John 3:2).

What a joy to know that we are now the children of God, and when Christ Jesus appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him just as he is. When Christ comes we will at last attain God’s eternal purpose for us.

The church has a confident expectation that the best is yet to come. This unites us in the hope set before us as an anchor for the soul.

We are one in the body of Christ, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord . . . .

One Lord
Christians believe in one God, not three. The apostle Paul was clear about this when he wrote, “There is no God, but one.” “For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6).

No one can say, “Jesus Christ is Lord” except by illumination of the Holy Spirit. When we declare, “Jesus Christ is my Lord” we are saying he is the rightful owner, absolute Lord of my life for time and eternity.

The word “Lord” (Kurios) signifies having power and authority. It is the idea of Lord, Master, owner, and can refer to the absolute title of deity as in the representation word for the Hebrew Yahweh. The full significance rests upon the resurrection of Christ Jesus (Acts 2:36; 1 Cor. 12:3; Rom. 12:9; 14:9; Acts 4:12; Phil. 2:11). The readers of the New Testament understood the name “Lord” to be the great august title of the God of Israel. The apostle used it equivalent to Yahweh. “Jesus is Lord,” means “Jesus is Yahweh.” Christ Jesus is Master, Owner, and Lord in the most absolute sense of the word (Phil. 2:11). He is God. He is the second person of the Godhead.

As Lord, Jesus Christ has sovereign rights as the absolute owner of my life. He obtained those rights when he died and paid in full our payment for sin. He redeemed us and is now our owner. He purchased us (1 Cor. 6:20). The apostle Peter wrote: “You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Now I belong to Jesus Christ. He is my Master. I am his bondslave.

Only God can make such demands on a person’s life. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the Son of God the second person of the Godhead. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Jesus made it equally clear when he said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

The great climax to the gospel of John comes when the disciple Thomas sees the risen Christ and declares, “My Lord and my God” (20:28).

All true believers in Christ Jesus confess him as Lord and God. In fact, you cannot be a Christian without believing in your heart and confessing him to be so. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

“I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3).

There is only one Lord and he is the basis of unity in the church. He alone has sovereign rights over his church.

We have unity in the church because there is “one body, and one Spirit, just as you too were called to one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith . . .”

One Faith
There is only one historical Jesus, and he is the one in whom we have put our faith and trust.

“God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

All true Christians have made that confession and are resting in him alone for eternal life (Acts 16:31).

There are certain truths that must be held in order to be a Christian. Jesus Christ is Lord.

We are justified by personal faith in Christ Jesus. We accept the revealed fact that we are sinners and the penalty for sin is death. We also accept the truth that Jesus died as our substitute and paid our debt in full (Romans 5:6, 8). We accept God’s word when it says the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is for all who believe. We are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice that covers all our sins. He is the “mercy seat” or place where the propitiation was accomplished. His atoning death turns away the wrath of God that we truly deserve. On Jesus Christ was laid all of our sins and the wrath of God toward sin was fully satisfied.

How precious is God’s promise to all who come to him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but the wrath remains on him” (John 3:36).

Is your faith resting on him alone? He is the only one who can save you. All other names will take you to a place called Hell.

We have church unity because we have one faith in one Savior and one baptism.

One Baptism
Which baptism is Paul referring to here? Is it a wet or a dry baptism? Is it immersion in water or the baptism by the Holy Spirit?

Immersion in water saves no one. Water baptism is an outward sign of the inward work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s heart. It is our personal testimony that we have been identified with Jesus Christ. The ordinance of water baptism symbolizes what the Holy Spirit has already done in our hearts.

The Bible does not teach baptismal regeneration. We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:16). “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26).

The “one baptism” that is part of this seven-fold basis for church unity is the work of the Holy Spirit. There is only one baptism by the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer, and that takes place at the moment of conversion. The baptism takes place at the moment of salvation. The water baptism symbolizes Spirit baptism.

The baptism by the Holy Spirit is when the Holy Spirit places the believer in the body of Christ. You do not experience it, or feel it. However, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

This once for all placing in the body occurred potentially at Pentecost. It is not a baptism with the Spirit, but by the Spirit. He is the sole agent. The Spirit is not the element into which we are baptized. This action does not bring the Holy Spirit into us. It is not for power because nothing is applied to us. The baptism by the Holy Spirit is the action whereby the believer is placed into Christ. We become a member of the body of Christ. This same “baptism” is referred to in Colossians 3:27. “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ”. It took place at regeneration and was by the Holy Spirit, not water. Only the Holy Spirit can bring about this identification with Christ.

Romans 6:3 teaches we were “baptized into his death.” We were made one with Christ. We were united with him in a vital union in all the value of his death, resurrection and ascension.

“Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:3-5).

The baptism by the Spirit does the work and water symbolizes or pictures what is done.

We are to preserve the church unity because we have been made members of the body by the work of the Holy Spirit, and we can call God our Father.

One God and Father of All Believers
We have unity in the church because there is “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all in all” (Ephesians 4:6).

God is Father of all true believers. He is our Father by spiritual regeneration. I am a child of God because of spiritual birth, not because I have been baptized or because my parents were Christians. I have been born spiritually into his family. We are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). That is the only way you can become a legitimate child of God and a member of his family. There is simply no other way.

The Bible is very clear about how we become a member of God’s family. It is not because we were created by God or born physically. “But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children—children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God” (John 1:12-13). We become members of God’s family by personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Here are seven statements that form the solid foundation for church unity. The true church is God’s dwelling place; He lives in every believer. Let’s be constantly on our guard to not allow any attitude, disposition, behavior, life-style, etc. to disrupt that unity.

Remember:
1. When we realize we are members of “one body” in Christ we can treat one another with the same love Christ has for his body.

2. When we worship the Triune God we give honor and glory to one Lord, one Spirit, and one God and Father of all true believers. The doctrine of the Trinity is woven throughout this letter of the apostle Paul.

3. When we understand the biblical teaching on the baptism by the Holy Spirit we want him to have full control over our lives so we can preserve the unity of his church.

8-9-98, August 9th, 1998 was the day I made a dedication in my heart to follow Christ. This is why I use Greg8998 a lot online and no one else usually uses that big number, though it is an easy number to remember. So, today is my 9th anniversary of being born-again, welcome to the kingdom.

Most of you don’t know my story, I’d love to tell you more indepth sometime.

However, I was born May 9, 1980 in Phoenix, Arizona, when it was a better town it was much smaller, it grew a lot in my lifetime! From like 10th largest city in the country to like 5th! It passed Philadephia and Dallas in the last few years. It has something like 1.7 million, and if you count all suburbs like 7-8 million easily!

Cincinnati where I’m at now is like 380,000 alone and about 1.2-1.3 million if you count the entire metropolitan area. The entire metropolitan area being so darn close to Kentucky and Indiana, cities in those states they include, partly because a loop freeway called the 275 circles through all three states, anything in or near that loop they count.

Anyways growing up in Phoenix was rough. My dad was never close, my mom was. I had it rough in school, I was one of the kids students picked on a lot, kind of the loner type. Not by choice, but kids are real mean these days. I even had a few teachers sadly who egged on the students to do it in the classroom! My 7th grade math teacher was one of the worse! He got the class all roudy doing it then called detention the next day saying I was disturbing the class. I was in detention for three weeks. Who are they going to believe? A teacher or a student?

Alot of my childhood has escaped my memory, because I put it in the back of my head. It was a lot rougher then anyone can imagine! And I’m telling a brief testimony for now.

Also when I was real young my parents went to a church in Phoenix one of only two in the metropolitan area of Phoenix to this day. Not a real large religion called Ba’hai. Most of my readers are believers, so you can imagine the lies in this occult. You can do a google search for more info if you’d like.

Briefly their founder was Bah’allah (I don’t know if that’s correct spelling). They were founded in Persia modern day Iran. Alot of their original writings are in Farsi (Persian). They are similar to Shiite Muslims in some regards I’ve heard but don’t tell that to them! However, they believe in many prophets, Jesus was a prophet, Mohammed was a prophet, Buddha was a prophet, Bah’allah was a prophet, Krishna was a prophet. To them they were all correct prophets. and there are still many prophets of God yet to come. They do not believe in hell or Satan. Everyone goes to heaven, different levels according to their works! They worship one Saturday a month I forget which one I think third. They teach out of a King James bible and other writings also. I don’t remember it real because my parents stopped going when I was really young like 8. We stopped going to chruch as a whole. I believed in God always did I would even pray to Him on my own, I know He heard my prayers which is why I’m saved today at least partly. God was of course distant at this point. I could of used the intimacy and comfort of the holy spirit at this point!

At a young age, like 13 I was diagnosed mentally ill, bipolar/manic depressant. My whole teen years with what I went through in school, how my dad treated us and my mom, and having that it was hard. I went to see counselors a lot and was on different varying anti-depressants. Some of which hurt me and effected me bad, especially prozac! I knew they were wrong. I sensed it. Looking back I had discernment and understanding of spiritual darkness at a very early age. I never liked celkebrating Halloween and going Trick or Treating, I saw Shriners (which people think are cute, which are actually part of a dark secret organization called free masons) in parades I knew they were bad. Things such as this. I’m sorry if you disagree with some of that but that’s my conviction and I’m sticking to it! Don’t get me wrong I love people doesn’t mean I have to agree with them and their views. My blog readers don’t have to agree with everything I say either. For instance one of my best friends in elementary one of my few friends foir a short time lived up the street from me he was a Mormon. I don’t agree with them but their good people. My next door neighbors in junior high and high school also Mormons, great family!

Briefly their founder was Bah’allah (I don’t know if that’s correct spelling). They were founded in Persia modern day Iran. Alot of their original writings are in Farsi (Persian). They are similar to Shiite Muslims in some regards I’ve heard but don’t tell that to them! However, they believe in many prophets, Jesus was a prophet, Mohammed was a prophet, Buddha was a prophet, Bah’allah was a prophet, Krishna was a prophet. To them they were all correct prophets. and there are still many prophets of God yet to come. They do not believe in hell or Satan. Everyone goes to heaven, different levels according to their works! They worship one Saturday a month I forget which one I think third. They teach out of a King James bible and other writings also. I don’t remember it real because my parents stopped going when I was really young like 8. We stopped going to chruch as a whole. I believed in God always did I would even pray to Him on my own, I know He heard my prayers which is why I’m saved today. God was of course distant at this point. I could of used the intimacy and comfort of the holy spirit at this point!

At a young age, like 13 I was diagnosed mentally ill, bipolar/manic depressant. My whole teen years with what I went through in school, how my dad treated us and my mom, and having that it was hard. I went to see counselors a lot and was on different varying anti-depressants. Some of which hurt me and effected me bad, especially prozac! I knew they were wrong. I sensed it. Looking back I had discernment and understanding of spiritual darkness at a very early age. I never liked celkebrating Halloween and going Trick or Treating, I saw Shriners (which people think are cute, which are actually part of a dark secret organization called free masons) in parades I knew they were bad. Things such as this. I’m sorry if you disagree with some of that but that’s my conviction and I’m sticking to it!

Don’t get me wrong I love people doesn’t mean I have to agree with them and their views. My blog readers don’t have to agree with everything I say either. For instance one of my best friends in elementary one of my few friends foir a short time lived up the street from me he was a Mormon. I don’t agree with them but their good people. My next door neighbors in junior high and high school also Mormons, great family!

At the age of 16 after the way my dad treated us and my mom and the hard things I went through in school. I began skipping school a lot. And became very withdrawn. I at one point locked myself in my room for 6 months only came out briefly at night when everyone was a sleep. If you ever saw the movie the Aviator that was me kind of like Howard Hughes. I was kind of embarassed too. I was always a straight A student and very smart, and wanted to achieve a lot of excellence in school. with the abuse I maintained, I got a lot of 0s and Fs from no shows. Wat I went through in school and home was real bad. More then I care to share at this time. And not having a real supportive family at least not Christian and few friends it felt kind of hopeless.

My mother worked at the elementary school me and my two older brothers went to, she worked there before I was able to attend school until after I left. She worked her way up volunteering in the library, to working in the cafeteria (I was in school I hated seeing her at lunch! LOL), to the attendance/assistant secretary, to the main secretary. She became friends with my second grade teacher, she was Mrs. Miller but she got remarried now she was Mrs. Militano. Sarah Militano. Her husband Marshall and her attended a Calvary Chapel in Phoenix.

My dad became more paranoid at home. Something was detrementally wrong. I heard my parents argue and fight a lot. I heard him slap her too it greatly bothered me. Looking back I can say my dad was being influenced by the devil. One tme I remember her running into the kitchen and I consoled her and hugged her.

My dad was also getting sick of me. He thought I was rebelling. He didn’t see the spiritual aspect of things. And how I needed God like he did also. My parents ended up breaking up getting a divorce.

I ended up living with my mom and one of my two older brothers, one had already moved out on his own. I was around 17. I also stayed in a psychiatric hospital for a couple weeks after locking myself in my room my dad just wanted to kick me out and get rid of me pretty much. Only my mom visited me in the psychiatric hospital.

When my parents split up even before the divorce was finalized. I lived with my mom and my brother david in an apartment later a house. My mom wanted to find a church to attend. We visited several, and several denominations.

We were invited by my second grade teacher Sarah Militano, to her church the Calvary Chapel. My mom loved it mostly because they wanted all guests to pass the offering plate on by. That’s what she said. And I was pretty close to my mom at the time so I went with her regularly most services.

We attended that church for a good two years and that church grew by leaps and bounds. It’s stil there the church took over an old shopping complex on the main I17 in Phoenix, it’s called Calvary Community church. also around the same time I was searching for answers and truth big time. I needed Him, I was very, very deporessed and withdrawn. In my room in my mom’s apartment in Glendale (a suburb of Phoenix) I asked if God was real if He could turn off my lamp in my room and turn it back on. Not trying to scare anyone but it happened and a few times. Now I know it wasn’t Him, I destroyed that lamp later on. Bashed it with a hammer! (More about the heavy occult involvement in my family that gave me the genwerational curse and kept me bound up with mental illness later. this I was blind to at the time.

My mom and brother David ended up moving into a house in Peoria Arizona another suburb of Phoenix.We heard the Gospel message for the first time at Clavary community church while we lived in this house.How christ died for our sins and rose on the third day. And we must confess with our lips and believe in our heart Jesus is Lord. One week were both shopping at the grocery store together we were talking about christ and what He did for us and that love of god to sacrifice His only begotten Son. And we both decided to accept Him as our Lord and Savior the next time they had an altar call which was the next week, they practically had one every week! We were both saved on August 9th, 1998 and baptized on August 30th 1998. Water baptized. That sums it up for now, there’s more to this story soon in the next couple of days! (Some of what I maintained in school and at home was rough I cared not share and this was a brief summary, testimony part 1 just so you get a better idea who I am. I cared sharing what God told me to share.) Part 2 to come tomorrow.

Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—

Lets break this down. Men know this part…

Matthew 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

They’ll tell women they are supposed to submit to them. They’ll neglect other parts or what it really means.

The first definition in Merriam-Webster’s for “to submit” means to yield to governance or authority.

Yes men have the authority or leadership over women. One obvious reason is men were created before women. This is not sexist, and if you read further I’m not being sexist nor is Paul in this scripture, nor is the word of God being sexist.

I honestly don’t think it’s fair for women when women are forced to lead, like single mothers, etc. I don’t think it’s fair on women to be in a role they were not designed for. God bless these women put in this role. But, it’s still not fair for them. Men should be the men, God designed them to be the leader and head and a man of God a man after God’s own heart. Often they’re not. I know more Godly women then I know Godly men.

Some women can be very controlling and manipulative, this can sometimes be witchcraft. But, also men are not supposed to control and manipulate women either this too is also witchcraft. The withces in the bible were about control and manipulation and divination. Control and manipulation are rooted in witchcraft and so is rebellion.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…

So when men or women are rebelling against their roles made by God when He created them what do you think is the root? I’m going to say it like it is, I didn’t say all would like it. Often, not always the very controlling manipulative women are jezebels, and they treat weak minded men harsh much like Ahab. Men too can have jezebel spirits, I wrote a blog about those spirts once before. Jezebels are rooted in witchcraft.

Ephesians 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

And no two people can’t lead. Who’s a leader if two are leading? How does that work? I believe in compromise and marriages are a team, but who is to lead, both men and women? That won’t work well. I believe God has final say, a man is subject to God, if the roles God put into place are there, God will speak from the obeying not the rebellion. Jesus did say if you love me you’ll obey me. And my sheep listen to my voice.

Lets continue in Ephesians…

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Here’s the big kicker that does not make this sexist. And how often men overlook this in thought and deed.

We need to know truthfully how Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (notice “her” is the pronoun for church, coincidence? And are we not the bride of Christ, feminine pronoun as well?)

So how did and does Christ love “her” the church.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So in other words however or whatever “she” did/does, we still over look it and love her unconditionally. Lets continue…

Ephesians 5:28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Truthfully I don’t think a lot of men love themselves if they did they’d treat women a lot more respectfully!

Romans 5:29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church

So in other words men are to take care of their wives. Feed them, look out for them, cherish them and again love them the way Jesus loves the church.

Romans 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

When Christ lived on earth He always put His priorities last, He cared about others and what they needed and wanted first. This was true love! As defined in 1 Corinthians 13. I don’t believe a man truly understands and knows what love really is until he finds Christ and truly knows Him. “Truly knows Him”, not playing church. A close intimate mature walk with Him. If a lady’s man fails, he can take her with him. Christ has never failed us. He will never leave nor forsake us.

A real man cares about others before himself, very unselfish, and worries and cares about others first before his own needs wants and desires. And this includes with their women. This is what seperates men from boys if you will. It is derfinitely better to give then to receive!

Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

In a nutshell:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

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