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condemn us because we see something different. We do not condemn them however, but
readily admit that there are other circles of ministry still open to-day than that of the One
Body. The failure is most manifest when one, who professedly belongs to the One Body
and seeks to minister in that sphere, for reasons of "usefulness" and through the claims of
others descends to an unwholesome blend of body, bride, and kingdom, which cannot but
produce a hybrid following. What is true of the particular case of ministry is true in a
wider sense, as the parallel of Col. 1: 10 shows:--
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful unto every
good work."
Instead of looking upon dispensational truth as a phase of things that can be taken up
as a kind of hobby or left as the case may be, we should look upon it as laying at the base
and root of all our actions, doctrine and ministry.
The goal of this readjustment and ministry is the building up of the body of Christ.
Do we appreciate the emphatic place that Scripture gives to that ministry which "builds
up"? In Eph. 4: 16 we find it as the great goal of joint service:--
"Unto the building up of itself in love."
And again in verse 29:--
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to
the use of edifying (or building up)."
Look at I Cor. 8: 1:--
"Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth."
This truth is expanded after the chapter of love (13:), and in its two forms comes
seven times in chapter 14: (verses 3-5, 12, 17 and 26):--
"He that prophesieth speaketh unto man to edification . . . . . He that speaketh in an
unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church."
"Forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying
of the church . . . . . Let all things be done unto edifying."
By comparing Eph. 4: with Eph. 2: we may learn something of the sacred
fellowship such ministry has with the Spirit of God:--
"In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the
Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God in Spirit" (2: 21, 22).
In the doctrinal section the temple "grows", and the sphere of that growth is "in Him"
and "in Spirit". In the practical section the body is "built up" by the human instrument
given and equipped by the ascended Lord. All ministry is therefore but fellowship in the
great work of God Himself. It is His pleasure that upon the defection of His people Israel