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Kingsway Mission!'s avatar

This, in my opinion, is the root cause of the decline of the Western church of all flavors. Replacing the priesthood of all believers with a paid staff, supplanting the Word & Spirit as teacher & guide with credentialed influencers, thwarting the Gifts given to The Body for caring, serving, equipping & maturing with one another with ‘ministries’.

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Scott Cooper's avatar

Love this so so much. I posture a question please. Yesterday I had someone reach out to me saying that they could not only diagnose the root cause of my wife's illness but could use me as a proxy for healing?

The only instances of a mediator I could find for healing came from Christ himself.

The point of my post was that some are not meant to be healed but may be serving a purpose of God.

I'd be overwhelmed if God would heal my wife but we've also found a degree of contentment just like the Apostle Paul did with the thorn in his side!

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Sergio DeSoto's avatar

Brother, here’s the straight answer: no one gets to stand in as a “proxy” between you and God. Scripture never gives that role to any man — not for healing, not for revelation, not for spiritual leverage. Yeshua alone carries the title Mediator because He alone bridges heaven and earth. Anyone inserting themselves into that space is already off the map.

And your instinct about your wife is right. Some are healed, some aren’t, and the mystery belongs to God. Paul didn’t glorify his thorn, but he also didn’t pretend he could command it away. He learned to live in the tension — faith without presumption, surrender without despair. Stay there. Keep praying, keep trusting, and keep your eyes on the One who decides outcomes, not the ones who claim they can manipulate them. And honestly, brother — gather people who truly know you to pray for her with sincerity. ( I will for sure)

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Scott Cooper's avatar

Thanks for the confirmation! Your post was perfect timing even though I've never believed in proxies nor does scripture bear that out unless it's through Christ himself! Love You Brother!

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Sergio DeSoto's avatar

love you brother!

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Mark Taylor's avatar

I’m between churches right now and have become very frustrated in my search for a new one. Thank you for pointing out that having a church is not necessary when you belong to Him.

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gracella's avatar

I have to agree with you Mark. I am not in any church and have not been. When you go into a church is only takes a few minutes to know what it offers and what they are offering is not Jesus Christ, not the true one. I agree that if you can find one and it is all about Christ without all the lies and hype; it is wonderful to be going there. My church now is this site with all the new brothers and sisters I have found. I love you all. I have went for over twenty years without any as God was teaching me without any interference. I dont regret that at all. But, I have prayed for brothers and sisters so I can share fellowship and He has blessed me now beyond measure. I wont go into a church now. It is not a good time to go in, when the Lord is calling people out. Bless you and if you do find one, I am very happy for you. If not, we are here.

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Sergio DeSoto's avatar

Much love brother! I will pray that you find community soon!

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Mark Norton's avatar

We had quite an uproar at Harvest Baptist Church in Goodyear, Arizona. It had always been "tradition" for the previous Pastor to serve "The Lord's Supper" (a piece of bread and a small cup of grape juice) on the Sunday before Easter Sunday. The new pastor decided that "things weren't right in the church, and we would not be observing this tradition." This sent a ripple through the congregation. The pastor then decided to make his Wednesday sermon about how the pastor, and the pastor only, decides what is right for the church and if the "church's heart" isn't right, then it is the pastor's job to deny the entire congregation of The Lord's Supper (https://vimeo.com/1080538218). One of the Deacons questioned the pastor and was asked to step down as Deacon for causing dissent in the congregation. Several other members also left the church at the same time. I wonder, was the church's heart not right, or was the pastor's heart not right?

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Sergio DeSoto's avatar

Sad….

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Wendell Hutchins II's avatar

Excellent article, Bro. Have you ever explored and consequently written on the subject of the Alef? The letter in the Hebrew alphabet is an extraordinary revelation of God in Christ, the reconciler of man. It demolishes the insinuation of “another” and is bedrock in the revelation that “it is all in Him, the fulness of the Godhead, bodily!”

Once we realize the extraordinary identity and work of Jesus, the Ephesian 4 ministry model and mandate bloom with revelatory majesty!

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Sergio DeSoto's avatar

Brother, thank you! I appreciate the encouragement. And yes, the Alef is a very deep well. Its shape, its silence, its place at the head of the language, everything about it points to the unity of God and the mystery of the Word made flesh. I haven’t written on it yet, but you may have just given me the nudge. The Ephesian model only grows clearer when the foundation is that oneness.

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Wendell Hutchins II's avatar

Yes! Yes! Yes!

God’s “Head of language” is the foundation on which Moses wrote, “Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu,Adonai Echad.”

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Denise's avatar

I LOVE this!

Thank you, brother.

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James Tollison's avatar

I've seen churches fall apart when the founder is no longer there. No leader can or should stand in such a position.

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gracella's avatar

Excellent! Excellent excellent! Thank you for sharing and I am going to share this

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W T's avatar

True.

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Sergio DeSoto's avatar

👊

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MA11's avatar

first-hand faith

Three little words that perfectly describe the Melchizedek covenant with Abraham. It all started with, was rooted in the first-hand faith of Abraham. Abraham by the way is the one thing that Christianity, Judaism and Islam have in common, how interesting is that.

first-hand faith

The personal faith leading to the Kingdom of Heaven.

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Sergio DeSoto's avatar

Amen 👊

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