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IN THE Part One, we learnt that the eternal dwelling for Christian believers was completed long before Christ even descended to the earth to die for their salvation. It is written in Matthew 25:32-34, “…Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU from the foundation of the world.”
Again, in Hebrews 11:16, we read, “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for HE HAS PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY”
Clearly, Christ Jesus was not going to the Father to prepare a place for His disciples in heaven for their dwelling. As already stated in the Part One, the “Father’s house” refers to the “Church”. And the rooms in the house refer to the various ministry offices in the Church. Remember how Elijah was instructed by God to anoint Elisha to be in his room, that is, his stead or ministry office (1Kings 19: 6).
And the “place” which Christ said He was going to prepare refers to the specific area of operation each minister will be assigned to perform. Now, there is enough evidence to show that Christ fulfilled the prophetic word in John 14:1-3 beginning from the days of the Apostles in the first century.
Christ began fulfilling His Word progressively from the beginning of the birth of the church in Acts Chapter two forward. The first place (ministry office) Christ prepared for His disciples was the place or office of the apostle before later the offices of prophets, teachers, shepherds, evangelists, along with the gifts of the Holy Spirit including healing, miracles, signs and wonders, word of knowledge, and word of wisdom were added.
Now, it is important to state that Christ Jesus’ going to be with the Father as indicated in John 14:1-3 refers to His dying and physical departure from the earth to heaven. His coming again to take the disciples to Himself clearly denotes the coming of His Spirit to dwell in and upon His chosen ministers (Christians) and they in Him, thus becoming one.
After this, Christ says the ministers will be where He is. That is, the disciples will be placed in the ministry offices in which Christ Himself stood and performed His ministry duties to the Father and humanity. Remember that Christ Jesus stood in all the ministry offices – Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher, Healing, Administration or government, giving among others.
After saying all these things, Jesus made the teaching clearer when He told the disciples in John 14:12 that “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” From verses 15-26, Jesus repeats His coming to be with the disciples by His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, so they could function in the ministry offices He has placed them in.
Now, you can clearly see that in John 14: 1-3, Christ was not talking about God’s house in heaven with rooms. How can God have a house in heaven and yet our Saviour had to go and prepare a place for His disciples? Does that mean the house and the rooms in it were uncompleted? And how many years would it take Jesus to finish the preparation of the place having already spent over 2000 years?
Indeed, after His death, Christ went and prepared the ministry offices and each minister’s areas of operation thereby creating harmony and teamwork in Christian ministries. But the Lord Jesus makes us understand that the strength and authority for true Christian ministry is the Holy Spirit. Without Him, authentic Christ-centred and gospel-focused ministry is impossible (Acts 1:8).
Thus, the coming of the Holy Spirit as indicated in Acts Chapter two makes the appointment of Peter and others to begin ministry from where Christ left off. The first room or ministry office in the Father’s house, the Church, which Christ gave was the apostolic office. Thus, Paul writes, “He who descended is the one who ascended…And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).
And then the gifts of the Holy Spirit including utterance of wisdom, utterance of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, discernment of spirits, various kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues were added (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Romans 12:3-8).
It is important to point out that all these have their origin from the ministry of Jesus Christ and therefore must be exercised at His will and for the glory of the Father without anyone boasting.
By James Quansah
Executive Director
(Christ-Conscious Leadership Centre)
