PART 2

For the perfection of The Bride

4. THE TEACHER:

TEACHING MAKES YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE & PLACES YOU POSITIONALLY IN THE BODY.
6. Bible teaching is usually a little treacherous, a little, you know, kind of walking out on the thin ice; we call it. But we just feel that maybe at this point and at this time, it might be good to kind of bring the church to what I think to a complete understanding, positionally, of what we are in Christ Jesus. And sometimes I think that preaching is a wonderful thing, but I believe sometimes, Brother Beeler, that teaching goes beyond that, it kindly...Especially to the church.
Now, preaching usually catches the sinner brings him under condemnation by the Word. But teaching places a man positionally what he is. And we can never rightly be able to have faith until positionally we know what we are.

EPHESIANS PARALLELS JOSHUA. 60-05-15E

TEACHING IS LIKE WALKING ON SLIPPERY GROUND. IT IS ALSO CUTTING.
38. Now, these may seem teaching. I'm a long ways from being a teacher. But teaching is cutting;

425-492... that's a special gift in the body of Christ. First there's apostles, and then prophets, then teachers, and evangelists, pastors; five ministerial gifts in the body. And teaching is one of the gifts of the Spirit. Now, I just have to plug along with what I see that's right and try to bring it to the people and study and bring the Scriptures together. But only in Christ, the body of Christ is to be recognized.

TEN VIRGINS (REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST). 60-12-11M

THE INSIDE TEACHER, HOLY GHOST, USES THE HUMAN TEACHING VESSEL TO TEACH.

The teacher is a special man. He sets back under the anointing of the Spirit and is able to take the Words and put them together by the Holy Spirit, that the pastor or evangelist either one could not compare with him.
And then we find out the apostle is a special man. He is a setter-in-order. He's a man that's sent from God to set the things in order.

WARNING THEN JUDGMENT. 63-07-24

ALL TEACHING MUST COMPARE WITH THE ENTIRE BIBLE TO BE ACCEPTED AS TRUTH.

173-51 ... Oh, I know there's many rise up, and go out, and say, "Oh, I don't need to go to church anymore. Praise God, the Holy Ghost has come; He's the teacher."
When you get that idea, you're just wrong. For why did the Holy Ghost set teachers in the church if He was going to be the teacher? See? There are first apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors. The Holy Spirit set teachers in the church, so He could teach through that teacher. And if it isn't according to the Word, God doesn't confirm it, and then it isn't the right kind of teaching. It must compare with the entire Bible, and be just as alive today as It was then. There's the real thing made manifest.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 5 AND 6_ 57-09-08M

Therefore:
A teacher is a special person in the 5-Fold Ministry.
He has the ability, under the anointing, to take the Word and put it together in a manner which the Pastor or the Evangelist could not compare with.
Teaching is walking on a slippery ground, yet it establishes the believer and gets him grounded and rooted in Christ.

The Bible discourages us not to be "many masters" [Teachers] - [James 3: 1].

Masters [Teachers] will receive the greater condemnation [If they mislead people through erroneous teachings] [ACTS 13:1]

"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."

The Book of Acts identifies these men as teachers at the church at Antioch:

They were part of the 5-Fold Ministry. These teachers went from church to church teaching and confirming, establishing, and strengthening the believers in the word.

They did this while PAUL the Major Prophet and Apostle to the Age was also, ministering.

Is it difficult to identify The Teachers?
God has also ordained, equipped and sent Teachers to minister universally to His Bride in this age?
Barnabas and his likes did not manifest what accompanied Philip's ministry, and Philip could not accomplish what Barnabas achieved either.
So they are complementary, one to the other. This is what the messenger to Laodicea is drawing our attention to.

[Acts 14:19-23]

19. "And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

20. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

21. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and [to] Iconium, and Antioch,

22. Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

23. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."

[Acts 15:36]

"And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, [and see] how they do."

Those teachers taught, confirmed, stabilized and encouraged many to continue in the faith.

They ordained elders in every church and showed by example, praying and fasting
They cared enough to revisit those they had visited before.

HOW ARE THE APOSTLES AND THE TEACHERS OF THIS AGE DOING?

When we measure ourselves with them of old, how close do we fit into that ordained pattern? Yet unto us more has been given. How much is expected of us?
Remember also that David wanting to do service to God, did it the wrong way. It is not enough to desire to serve the Lord. We must have the understanding to do it the Bible-prescribed way.
Let us be careful also how we go about trying to do service unto the Lord in this age. God has never changed.
Don't go about it your own way. Read, understand, know, pray and then do as it is written.
God is not author of confusion. Our God is the God of order and decency too.

5. PASTOR: (Elder or Bishop)
THE PASTOR, WHO IS THE BURDEN BEARER IS THE OX OF THE TEAM.

104 But, you see, in the church there is the pastor, and that pastor is a special person. He's built to where he can put up with the fusses of the people. He's a burden-bearer; he's the ox of the team. He's a man that can set down when somebody's got something against somebody else, and set down with them two families, and take neither side, and reason it out, and bring it right back into sweetness. See? He's a pastor; he knows how to take care of things.

WARNING THEN JUDGMENT. 63-07-24

PASTORS NEED TO BE UPHELD IN PRAYERS DAILY.
62-21... Bless our dear beloved brother, Brother Neville, here, Father. Who's labor along, the shepherd here in the pastor field, that's trying to lead the sheep to the green grassland the deep clovers, or out into the water and then back to the shade tree, and caring for the sick and the needy and the little crippled ones and those who are weary and try to doctor them up and bring them, so they'll be real sheep. O Father, I pray that you'll bless him. Give him wisdom and knowledge and understanding.
And help us all together now, Father, and we'll give Thee the praise in Jesus' Name. Amen.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 54-01-03M

Do you pray for your pastor as the prophet did for his? Do you know the issues to pray about?

Do you see the burden True Pastors bear? Then you should begin to pray for them if you have not been doing so.

THE PASTOR ENDEAVORS TO, LEAD AND GUIDE THE SHEEP RIGHT.
10. And I am sure that, as pastors, shepherds... The word "pastor" means "a shepherd, one who shepherds the sheep." I'm sure that we are grateful to you, each and every one of you, because it was your kindness and thoughts, and money that made this gift possible to us this morning. And through God's grace, we are pledging ourselves to be your pastor, to do everything that we can to lead you in the right way. Maybe sometimes, the way we speak and things, it may be hard to understand. But we're only doing it as guides, trying to guide you to that place, that in the resurrection you'll appreciate us greatly then. For we have considered not our own selves, in making up when we speak to you, not of our own thoughts, but trying to do just as the Holy Spirit would lead us to do. And that's been our endeavor, and we are still endeavoring to do the same thing; that is right, for the pastor and myself.

SUPER SIGN JEFF.IN. 59-12-27M

PASTOR MUST STAY WITH THE WORD AS HE OVERSEES THE FLOCK.
57. If a boy was at the door, and knocked at the door latch, tell the ushers, "I have a telegram here for Mrs. So and so and Mr. So and so." He would be a messenger, an earthly angel.
Your pastor, when he stands here on the platform, ministering the Word of God, he is God's angel to the church, messenger to the church. Therefore, a pastor should never leave that Word, but stay straight with the Word, because He's feeding the shepherd's place, 'cause the word "pastor" means "shepherd." Look it up and find out if that ain't right. A pastor is a shepherd, and the Holy Ghost has made him overseer over a certain flock to feed them. What with? The Word of God. Amen. Oh, my, what a...

REVELATION BOOK OF SYMBOLS. 56-06-17

[EZEKIEL 33:1-6]
1. "Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2. Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

3. If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

4. Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

5. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

6. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take [any] person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand."

A TRUE PASTOR WILL DEAL WITH ISSUES AND WILL DO SO WITHOUT RESPECT OF PERSONS.
208. All right, went and got one of the deacons and went down to his house. Said, "Wesley, I want to talk to you." "Are you going to straighten this thing up with the church?" And he give him a short two-answer like that. Said, "Remember, Wesley, I'm the pastor of that church. I'm your daddy, but I'm going to do what God says do. I'm giving you thirty days to make that right with that church, or we'll excommunicate you from the Presence of God. You're my own son; That's my Saviour." Said, "I love you. You know I love you, Wesley; I'd die right now for you, but you got to come straight with God's Word."See? He said, "I'm the pastor; I'm the shepherd of that flock. And if you're my child or whoever you are, you've got to line up with God's Word. If you don't do it, then I'm not fit to be His shepherd."

Boy, that's a pastor. That's a man. Don't you think so? That's a man. He told his boy that. It hurt him, he said. But said Who you going to hurt, the man or hurt your Saviour?"

WHY ARE WE NOT A DENOMINATION? 58-0927

A GOOD PASTOR SHOULD BE A REFLECTION OF THE CHIEF SHEPHERD, JESUS CHRIST.
E-33. A shepherd has to stray to find the straying. And a good pastor is a shepherd. Frankly, the word "pastor" means "shepherd." And sometimes in the church a little cult or a little click will rise up in the church. One side'll get one way, and one side the other way. A real good shepherd will go with that click, what to do? To bring them back. A real true shepherd, what's he doing? He will stray himself. What to do? to bring back the lost. What's he doing? He's reflecting the image of the good Shepherd, trying to win that soul back. If they got off in some place, brother, like they was going to tear the world up overnight, that pastor will go right along in order to get them right, win them right back this way again. That's a good shepherd. He's reflecting the image of Jesus.

Brother, I know its called heresy; it's called fanaticism. But if I had a choice to make tonight, my choice would be to be like Him. I want, if anything in my life, to reflect the image of the Lord Jesus.

IMAGES OF CHRIST. 59-05-25

A PASTOR WHO WATCHES OVER AND TEACHES THE FLOCK THE WORD OF GOD IS GOD'S GIFT.
E-15. First is apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, pastors, and those five God-given gifts in the church. So, you people, who have a godly pastor, have a gift from God in your church, a shepherd."Pastor" means "a shepherd," to watch over the flock, to teach them the Word of God.

WHAT IT TAKES TO OVERCOME ALL UNBELIEF. 60-07-29

TO AVOID CONFUSION OVER THE SUBJECT OF MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE IN CHURCHES, LET EACH LOCAL PASTOR HANDLE QUESTIONS ARISING FROM THEIR OWN FLOCK.
19 ... So many people writes me questions about marriage and divorce and so forth, which is a tangle in the church; I always refer them back, and say, "Ask your pastor.
People's wrote me letters here and said, "What about this? And what about that?" I refer the letter back; you'll get it. See your pastor on little things, because, after all, he's your shepherd. See, he's the one that God sent to watch over you. And we might disagree upon it, and then that causes confusion in your church. We don't want that. No, no. We just want you quit doing things that's sinful, things out of the Bible, just keep moving on towards God. See? And if you cause little frictions and things like that, that upsets the church. So I'd rather your pastor tell you about marriage and divorce, and these things and them things; let him do it. He's God's servant too, and he's equipped to do that.

JEZEBEL RELIGION. 61-03-19

INVITED MINISTERS SHOULD AVOID PREACHING DOCTRINES WHICH RAISE QUESTIONS AND SUSPICION IN THE MIND OF HOSTING PASTOR AND HIS FLOCK. RESPECT ONE ANOTHER.
4-3 ... And I think that pastors sometime are suspicious of things that they hear, and I think they have a right to be; because if I understand the translation of the word "pastor," it means "a shepherd." And therefore, he is a feeder or herder of a group of men and women of which the Holy Spirit has made him the overseer of. And he has the right to know what kind of a food his sheep is getting, and where it's coming from. I think he has a right to that, and if a pastor, or sometimes people would seem to be just a little bit suspicious, that should not bother anyone. It should only bring respects to a man's heart, for a man of that standing that would question it.

GODHEAD EXPLAINED. 61-04-25B

NEVER BELITTLE A LOCAL MINISTER OR YOUR HOST PASTOR BEFORE HIS OWN FLOCK.
E-11 I want all the brothers that's sponsored in the meeting to stand up, if they will, just a moment. The brothers who were sponsors of the meeting, just stand up, all you minister brothers. [Brother says, "We just have them all stand up."--Ed.] All the ministers stand up, no matter where you are. Just remain standing just a moment, if you will, brethren. That's fine.
To me, the elected, selected for an office, maybe those ministers...You never--I never want to belittle a pastor before his people, because after all, he's set as shepherd. Your pastors here might not be able to discern spirit and foretell a thing that's coming to pass. They might not be able to do that, but they have a position. Neither am I a teacher. I'm not a apostle. See? These five offices...And each one of them men has an office , and he's holding his office. And that office is just as great in the sight of God as any other office.

BEHOLD A GREATER THAN ALL IS HERE. 62-07-15

NEVER BELITTLE A LOCAL MINISTER OR YOUR HOST PASTOR BEFORE HIS OWN FLOCK.
E-81 ... God only needs one man that He can get complete in His control. That's all He needs. Brother, Christ is here tonight. Don't be a scared of it. It's Christ. When you come through this line, just remember this: that it's Christ. I'm going to stand the congregation up and pray for them. I'm going to have my minister brother here that believes in divine healing, to come down.
Many times a minister will come into the city, and maybe got a right smart of faith, and will do all the talking, and all the praying for the sick, and even to baptize the people. Then what happens? Then when the evangelist's gone, the poor pastor looks like he's set on the back row and with nothing. After all, that's your shepherd. That's the man who brought you this far. Trust him on.

IT IS I, BE NOT AFRAID. 62-07-26

BE A REAL GOOD, GENUINE, SWEET, HUMBLE SHEPHERD BUT NOT A KNOW IT ALL.
84. And they come to me and said, "Brother Branham," setting right there in the office, the church office, the other day. And he said, one of the leaders, Brother Carlson and them, said, "What must we do?"
I said, "Find a man to be the shepherd that has no reputation in all denomination, that's just a real good, genuine, sweet, humble brother that lives the life. God will take care of the rest of it. See?" I said, "A good pastor that'll just feed the sheep, and be humble and things, God will do the rest. If you'll ... Not some big know it all's coming in, going to put this in order and this has to be this way, and cutting things around." I said, "It'll never work. You've just got to..."

That's it, every piece in the church must work together, and you must keep up your part of it. So we see what time we're living in. We may be closer than we think we are.

HUMBLE THYSELF. 63-07-14E

BECAUSE SHEPHERDS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY SO MUCH WITH THEIR SHEEP, THEY WILL "LAUGH," "BLEAT," "TALK AND SMELL" LIKE THE SHEEP!!!
47. What inspiration to those herdsmen, the Angels coming down to speak to herdsmen, Angels of God coming to speak to a bunch of shepherds.
I wonder if you ever had the privilege of talking with a shepherd or being with one awhile? If you would, I don't like to say it because of my remark I'm fixing to say after awhile, but the shepherd stays with the sheep so much until he even laughs like the sheep bleating, he talks like the sheep, and he smells like the sheep. That's right. Because he's with the sheep. That's all he knows is his sheep.

WHY IT HAD TO BE SHEPHERDS. 64-12-21

SOME SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE OR INFORMATION ON PASTOR-SHIP:

[Jer3:15]
"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

[Jer10:20:21]
"My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they [are] not: [there is] none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered."

[Jeremiah 23:1-3]
1. "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

2. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

3. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase."

As God does to the Shepherd of National Israel, so will he do to the Shepherds of His Spiritual Body, The Church. [1Pet.5:1- 4]

1. "The elders [Pastors], which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

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;

3. Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

[John 21:14-17]
14. "This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

15. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."

[Acts 20: 28-31].
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.

29. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."

THE OVERALL SUMMARY OF WHAT THE PROPHET EXPRESSED ABOUT PASTOR.

A Pastor is likened unto a shepherd of sheep.

He is a special person equipped with abilities to handle fusses of his flock without taking sides.

He is the ox or burden bearer of the team. Hence must be patient, forbearing and temperate.

Must have the ability and wisdom to bring reconciliation, harmony and sweetness between individuals in disputes.

Must be caring enough to pray for the sick and counsel the troubled.

A person who has good scriptural knowledge, understanding to be able to feed, lead and guide the Flock of Jesus Christ right in the word.

A good pastor will go after the straying member to bring him/her back to that which is right.

A good pastor must be apt to teach, to correct to rebuke error/sin, without partiality.

A good pastor is he who knows his flock well because he is a homesteader and not a frequent absentee.

The prophet likens him to sheep herder who is always with his sheep until he smells like sheep, laughs like sheep, and talks like sheep and bleats like sheep.

A good pastor is not overbearing, brutal, cruel in handling the flock.

He must be vigilant to protect the flock from spiritual wolves which infiltrate the church to do harm.

He himself must be on guard against temptations connected with popularity, money and women.

A true pastor must meet the required qualifications. [1Tim.3:1-7], [Titus 1: 5-9].

These summaries go a long way to prove what the prophet said. You cannot mix two or more ministries if you have to be effective

The areas of overlapping are very few if any office is expected to be effective in one's calling and be doing something else at the same time.

I hope this study will make us to take some time to examine ourselves in a sober and mature way to see if we are operating according to the Word.

THESE 5 OFFICES were given for the perfection of the Bride. They have been there in all the Church Ages from Ephesus through Laodicea.

God will perfect His Bride regardless of the disobedient ministers. He is able to raise up obedient Ministers from these stones.

God left the "10" unbelieving Pastors who at Kadesh Barnea, returned with a negative report which caused spiritual shipwreck to an entire generation during The First Exodus. He made it without them, but with the 2 obedient ministers, Joshua and Caleb.

Jesus left 70, who could not cope with every word of God, but moved on with 12 men whom he used to lay the good foundation upon which the church stands today. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

We are now in the Third Exodus. Let us beware lest it be fulfilled upon us, in this third Exodus, that which was fulfilled upon them in both The First and The Second Exodus.

We cannot expect perfection if one office is trying to do the job of the other offices. The time of ignorance God has winked.

Where much has been given, much is expected. If Moses, for his error in the wilderness, did not make it to the natural land, no minister is indispensable today also. Listen to this quote

YOUR INHERITANCE, IS CONDITIONAL TO YOUR OBEDIENCE.

E-30. And then if that child (that son) did not obey and was not obedient child, it never was no more than a son; it remained a son, but yet it had no inheritance....

... E-31. Now, when this boy, if he come up that way and did not become obedient, did not have the action of his father, did not try to carry his father's business on , the way his father did, then that child missed all its inheritance. Another brother had to take its place.

HEAR YE HIM. 60- 03-13.

So, fellow minister, do not always think you are indispensable. Your gift will not be taken away, but you will have lost your inheritance.

Recall the 2 tribes who waded into idolatry in the old testament [The sin of Jeroboam]

That should sober up any minister who is misleading others into their own  misinterpretations.

[I Cor.3: 8-15]
8. "Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.

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.

11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14. If any man's work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

Some will be told, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" [Matt.7:23]

JUDGE YOURSELF, WHAT YOU ARE BY THE NATURE YOU MANIFEST IN THE MINISTRY.

32. Now, Wednesday night, many of you weren't here Wednesday night, but we got into the, I believe, the 3rd verse, or the 5th verse, unto the adoption, or placing of the people, how that God trying to place His people.

And when God places one, then, oh, all the whole church wants to be like that one, having the same kind of things, do the same thing.

We are cut out different; we're made different; we are natured different; and we are positionally placed different, each one for a different work; maybe one for just a little kind of a work, another for a large work.

POSITION IN CHRIST. 60-05-22M

Let us not wait to hear this declared o us, "depart from me, ye that work iniquity"

But, rather, "Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city". And accompanied with these words:[Mathew 25:21]:

"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

God bless you as you share these thoughts on this subject.

Brother Martin Tombe.
Pastor: Restored Bible Truth Assembly.