There is a problem that has been common to both covenants. The elders who oversee and feed the flock attempt to govern also the priestly-prophetic ministry. Many of the elders have a problem with the "Saul" part of their personality. They are "head and shoulders" above the people. As God begins to work they may seek to infringe on the priestly office.

The elders see the glory of the priesthood and many desire the power and prestige of it. If this happens, the elders destroy the work of God. The chief priests and elders, moved by envy, delivered Israel's Messiah to Pilate.

The Sanhedrin, the Council of elders, slew Stephen—an Israelite filled with the Spirit of God.

Throughout the centuries of the Christian Era it has been the elders who have predominated. The efforts of the Christian leaders often have been directed toward building churches rather than making disciples of the nations and toward establishing and strengthening large organizations.

It is difficult, if not impossible, for a Christian organization to function in terms of the ministries and gifts of the Holy Spirit. It must organize and function with elders—with those who work in a material-political setting.

By using seminaries and Bible colleges the leadership of an organization can control the theology and work of the organization. The positions of leadership and ministry are filled by graduates of the seminary.

We may have spiritual confusion when a young "minister" is assigned authority over a local assembly of maturing saints.

The Bible-school graduate, if he is young, is not an elder. He may by Divine anointing be a pastor-teacher or an apostle or prophet. The organization does not determine what he is, but they may give him charge over an assembly of saints, many of whom may need direction as they enter their ministry.

There may be in the assembly potential prophets and apostles who have been trained by the Lord over a number of years. Yet these are under the jurisdiction of the Bible-school graduate, an ambitious novice.

The young minister probably would not understand or be comfortable with the thought that his responsibility included the development and operation in the congregation of ministries and gifts of the Spirit. Yet he has been appointed by the organization as a presiding elder over the assembly of saints.

The imposition of leadership and ministry by organizational decree is one of the causes of the perpetual babyhood of the saints.

It is the Holy Spirit who assigns the ministries and gifts given by the ascended Lord Jesus. This is the Spirit's special charge from God. In order to perform His task, the Holy Spirit must have elders who perceive their role to be the teaching and encouraging of the saints until the various ministries and gifts begin to operate.

To be continued.