But don’t miss the appropriate response from smvoice. What I said that we “each” get that “Power of attorney” and don’t need those who would propose to do it for us. Christ gave that authority to each believer knowing that if given to select individuals those individuals would tend to use it in inappropriate ways which has been born out by those charlatans who claim special powers.
NEVERTHELESS,
Paul still said to pray for the more excellent gifts of broader use to The Body of Christ in the local congregation.
. . . that all may prophecy . . .
yet there are those with a gift of prophecy . . .
And there are still others who have the Office of a Prophet.
Reading your assertions one way could indicate that Paul lied or was an idiot or simply wrong about the distinctions and giftings of different people because . . . according to one way of reading your assertions, God just lowered the Heavenly shotgun and blasted everyone equally.
Obviously HE did NOT do things that way.
And, like humans only more so . . .
GOD DOES NOTHING WITHOUT A REASON.
I happen to think HIS REASONS are quite trustworthy and reasonable whether I always understand them seemingly fully or at all and whether the bloke in the next pew thinks so, or not.