First, we want to stress that the term Five Fold Ministry is not a Scriptural term, but rather an idiom that has come into popular use, and is used by many to refer to the Biblical statement by Paul, in Ephesians 4:11.
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The purpose for these Five Ministries being set in the Church by Almighty God is clearly stated by Paul in the above verses. 1. FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS. 2. FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY. 3. FOR THE EDIFYING (BUILDING UP) OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. These stated purposes are still valid today, and must be the criteria used to judge the "biblicalness" of any one of these ministries. 1. Of primary concern to God, is the PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS! This not only means He wants the Saints to be what they should be, but that their number should be completed! All Five Ministries exist to see that this is done! 2. The work of the ministry is a stupendous and collossal job...The Ministry is not a "vocation" that one chooses, but rather a calling of and by, Almighty God! He has a job of the ministry to do, which begins with Go Ye Into All The World And Preach The Gospel To Every Creature and ends with These Signs Shall Follow Them That Believe 3. The Edifying of The Body of Christ is of enormous importance in the Plan of God. As the Tabernacle was built according to The Plan shown unto Moses in the Mount even so the edifying (building) of The Body of Christ, MUST BE according to the Plan of God Revealed in the Scripture and not according to some plan of man!
"PROPHETS MINISTRY"
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; some prophets;
The ministry of the prophet is one of the most misunderstood ministries in the church today, due in large part to the teachings and practices present in charismatic circles. Most think that anyone who prophesies is a prophet. THIS IS AN UNTRUTH, brought about by ignorance of the Word of God! All can prophesy, according to Paul, but NOT ALL ARE PROPHETS!
Prophets today may dress somewhat differently than "Biblical prophets" did, but, by and large, THE MINISTRY OF THE PROPHET REMAINS THE SAME! Read the books written at the hand of the Old Testament Prophets...study their lives...thus, you will come to know something of the ministry of the prophet.
The "Elijah's" of today won't wander around dressed in camel hair robes, with eyes blazing, but they carry the same spiritual authority, even though they may be dressed in a suit, or blue jeans, and speak softly! God will confirm THEIR word, even as He did Elijah's! He will judge kings, rulers and potentates, both secular as well as spiritual. He will "shut up heaven" literally, as well as spiritually, at the word of His prophet.
The Prophet will spend time with God, hearing ""what the Spirit says to the churches". He will "have the ear of God", that is, God will listen to him, as well as he listening to God. When God speaks to the Church, the Prophet will faithfully deliver the message "thus says The Lord", with no "spin", no modifying of it to suit the will of the people, in ordeer that the people may know what God desires. The Prophet will often see the needs, faults, shortcomings and sin of the prople, therefore, he will go to God, full od compasssion, interceeding to God for the people. He will "seek an answer" to give to the people, asking God to "turn their hearts back toward Him. " He ( or she) will be "visionary", seeing into the realm of the Spirit. Because of this, the Prophet must neccessarily possess "the Word of Wisdom" in his life, in orderr to have understanding of how to present "the Word" to the people. The Prophet, like the Apostle, Is Not A Politician"!
"TEACHERS MINISTRY"
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors, and teachers;
"APOSTLES MINISTRY"
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles;...
The FIRST (order of ranking importance) ministry God set in His Church, was and is, that of The Apostle! Yet, incredibly, the church largely refuses to recognize this ministry, or religates it to the distant past, by saying it vanished with the original twelve! Nowhere in the Scriptures does it say there were only twelve! It does, in fact say, God set in the Church, Apostles, so, as long as The Church exists, Apostles will exist!
I WRITE THIS AS A GOD CALLED AND COMMISSIONED, APOSTLE, TO WHOM CHRIST APPEARED NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE, PHYSICALLY! CHRIST TOLD ME PERSONALLY, I AM CALLING YOU TO BE AN APOSTLE AND PROPHET TO THE NATIONS!
The ministry and the work of an apostle is not easy, and actually, few understand it. Many who want to "wear the title" don't possess a genuine call to the office. Others presume to the office, because "someone prophesied to them, that they were "apostolic". NO ONE CAN "PROPHESY" YOU INTO THE OFFICE OR CALLING! Only Jesus Christ can call you to the office, and only He can place you there, by His Spirit dealing DIRECTLY with YOU! Let me say now, you do not need someone to "certify you" as an Apostle! God Himself will do that, BY CONFIRMING HIS WORD IN YOUR LIFE! The "works of an apostle will follow you"! Lives will be changed; the miraculous will occur in your ministry and life; churches will eventually be established, and the Kingdom of God built up!
The Apostle "has the mind of Christ", that is to say, he has been instructed in the right ways of God, (by thte Spirit, through time spent alone with Christ), he understands the precepts of God, and is able to provide real leadership to "the leaders of the church." The Apostle is not "a political appointee", not a politiciian; is not motivated nor moved by "what people want", but by the heart ofr God. The Apostle see as God sees, hear what God hears, and speak "as the Oracle of God". He will not "tell people whay they want to hear", but rather "What They Need To Hear"! He will provide "Mosaic" leadership to the Church; will give instruction in rightousness; and will be the "Executive Shepherd" under Christ, to the churches God has appointed him over. His ffirst responsibility will be to walk with God, and the second, "to present the church to Christ, as a chaste virgin, prepared to be Hiis Bride"!
"EVANGELISTS MINISTRY"
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets, and some evangelists;
"TEACHERS MINISTRY"
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors, and teachers;
