Opening illustration: There once was a carpenter who visited one of two brothers who had recently grown embittered with each other over a misunderstanding over the farm they had managed together for the past 40 years. The carpenter was in need of work; or so he said, and he asked the one brother if there was anything he might do to help him out. "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor. In fact, it’s my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence, an 8-foot fence - so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore." The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you." The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day - measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There wasn’t a fence there at all. The carpenter had fashioned a bridge... a bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, hand outstretched, meeting them in the middle, "You are quite a fellow, you know; to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done." Then hoisting his toolbox onto his shoulder, the carpenter departed. "I’d love to stay, but I have many more bridges to build.” That’s just like the carpenter, isn’t it – that is the carpenter from Nazareth, our Lord Jesus Christ, who would tear down the dividing walls of hostility, not just between us and God; but between us and others too? It’s just like our Lord who bridged the gap of sin with His cross, and gifted us with His love that we might love one another more like Him. It’s just like our Lord who has spoken elsewhere of how he dispensed His Spirit so as to make “some into prophets, some into evangelists, and some into pastors and teachers so as to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). It’s just like our Lord to remake us, to recall us to such service, to restore us to the spirit of respectfully using our God-given gifts for His agenda and not our own. It’s just like our Lord who continues to build His church today by this same Spirit’s reviving through His Word.
Introduction: While we have come to accept the ministry gifts of Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, it has not been quite so, with that of the Prophet and Apostle. To this end God is raising up prophets as well as end-time apostles to bring His people into the "fullness" of their inheritance in Christ. Many apostles and prophets have been called to begin "networks and schools" for the purpose of raising up many great prophetic and apostolic ministers. The primary goal of these networks and schools is to lead those who are called to the five-fold ministry into the "fullness" of their calling in Christ, so that they may, in turn, lead all those that God has called them to minister to, into the fullness of their inheritance in Christ - thus producing a mighty people who can establish the kingdom of God in the earth. In fact just before the second coming of Christ, the prophet Elijah and a known (name undisclosed) will be sent to earth (Malachi 4: 5).
How do ‘Ministry Gifts’ work in the church?
1. Apostles ~ apostolos which is translated "sent one" and carries the understanding that the one being sent has the full power and authority of the one sending him.
OT – absent
NT – emerged after the advent of Christ
Profile – had seen or been with Jesus Christ; new ground breakers; one chosen and sent with a special commission; witnesses of the resurrection. An apostle normally has a measure of all the other five fold gifts, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher and Evangelist so they have an understanding to train and equip and so they can step into these roles as God leads.
Ministry of Apostles:-
- pioneering new churches (1 Corinthians 9: 2; 1Corinthians 3: 6)
- grounds the Church in truth (Colossians 1: 25)
- preserves unity in the Body (1 Corinthians 3: 3-5)
- lays foundations in the Church (1 Corinthians 3:10)
- sets things in order (Titus 1: 5)
- imparts spiritual gifts (Romans 1: 11)
- fathers new ministries (2 Timothy 1: 6; 1 Corinthians 4: 15)
- a breakthrough-type ministry of miracles, signs and wonders (2 Corinthians 12: 12; Acts 2: 43; Acts 5: 12)
- a ministry of warfare (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5)
- prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6: 4)
2. Prophets ~ prophetes which means one who serves as an intermediary with humanity and one having a role in society that promotes change due to their messages and actions.
OT – present in the OT
NT – did not change in the NT but became more revelatory in character.
Profile – moved by the Holy Spirit; prophetic utterance, which can be: Predictive (Acts 21: 10-11; 11: 27-28), Directive (Acts 13: 1-3), or Corrective (Acts 15: 22-23,27,32); proclaim a divine message that should never contradict scripture, and should bring Holy Spirit confirmation of truth within the person receiving the word.
Ministry of Prophets:-
- Imparts supernatural power and gifts for ministry.
- Encourages, guides, corrects and rebukes the body of Christ through biblical teaching and receiving revelation from God.
- Leads in and teaches regarding prayer and intercession.
- Works alongside Apostles to bring balance between vision and direction.
- Is accountable to Jesus Christ and other Five-Fold Ministers in there sphere of influence.
- Prophets and apostles are called to work together; their combined giftings joined together make a formidable team.
3. Evangelists ~ evangelestos means a bringer of good tidings (good news); spread the evangelist belief that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all humanity.
OT – absent
NT – emerged after the ascension on Christ.
Profile – extend the frontiers of God’s Kingdom; co-workers with and extensions of apostolic ministry; equip the body of Christ with the Evangelistic spirit of outreach; strong passion to seek and save people from hell, this desire constantly burns within them propelling them to bring the freedom of the gospel wherever they go and present the Gospel of Christ to the lost.
Ministry of Evangelists:-
- Imparts passion to individuals, Churches and ministries to share the gospel.
- Supernaturally draws non -believers into a relationship with Jesus Christ bringing them into His church.
- Imparts power to bring conviction and break the bondages of sin, often followed by signs and wonders.
- Cleary teaches on the Biblical truths of salvation, Baptism and the Holy Spirit to the body of Christ.
- Is accountable to Jesus Christ and other Five-Fold Ministers in their sphere of influence.
4. Pastors ~ poimen which means "one who tends sheep or cares for flocks." Elsewhere in the New Testament, other words are used: "shepherd", "elder" and "overseer".
OT – present in the OT as shepherds of God’s flock.
NT – did not change in the NT but their tent was enlarged with non-Christians also coming into the fold.
Profile – protect and guard the body of Christ entrusted to them; give direction, protection and correction as they lead lives that are often sacrificial in many ways; run to the rescue when there is genuine need; encouraging, praying for and bringing comfort to the believers that are in their care.
Ministry of Pastors:-
- Imparts the heart to nurture and encourage the body of Christ to all believers’.
- Supernaturally draws people to themselves for counsel, support and love.
- Imparts supernatural healing to the emotionally and spiritually wounded.
- Trains and equips others to lead the body of Christ.
- Is accountable to Jesus Christ and other Five-Fold Ministers in their sphere of influence.
5. Teachers ~ didaskalos pertains to one who imparts Biblical truths, knowledge or doctrine.
OT – present in the OT as Rabbis
NT – did not change its nature or character in the NT. No one could be a pastor without being a teacher but one could be a teacher without being a pastor.
Profile – to ground the church body in biblical truth; enjoy the task of breaking down difficult chunks of scripture and doctrine and presenting them to the body through either spoken or written word; love the word of God and train others to read, understand and apply biblical truth; often study to obtain more knowledge and insight to pass onto the body of Christ and instruct the Church in the practical application of God’s Word.
Ministry of Biblical Teachers (Rabbis):-
- Encourages understanding and the ability to divide truth from error or deception to the body of Christ.
- Supernaturally brings God’s truth to Christians through speech, written word and lifestyle.
- Encourages grounding in regular Biblical discovery and study to the body of Christ.
- Trains and equips others to lead the body of Christ.
- Is accountable to Jesus Christ and other Five-Fold Ministers.
Purpose of the 5 – fold Ministry Gifts ~
Verse 12 - The Purpose "...to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." These five leadership gifts were not simply given to do the work of the ministry, but to enable God’s people to do the work of the ministry. This is extremely important as we draw closer to the return of Jesus for His Bride the Church! Every ministry (including that of the five-fold) is an extension of the ministry of Christ Himself, who is the chief cornerstone of the Foundations "...God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone" Ephesians 2: 19-20. The foundation of the Church is the apostle and the prophet (note Ephesians 3: 4 - 5). Ephesians 4: 12 - 13 indicates that these two ministries still continue in that foundational role, so it is vital for us to understand how each of these ministries work.
Conclusion: There are certain things we must remember about spiritual gifts and also the five fold ministers that are gifted to the church. Gifts or calling do not equate to maturity. We need to fully understand that when anybody who has been called to be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher, declares a "revelation truth", it is simply the outpouring of God’s Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Please understand, that the word or the action is not first and foremost a by-product of the vessel (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher) being used but, rather the vessel (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher) is simply the container or conduit for the teaching of the Holy Spirit and the necessary administration of God’s truth. For too long we, as the children of God, have (to varying degrees) kept our eyes on "flesh and blood" instead of Jesus. Because of this, at times we have elevated certain of the leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers) that God raised up, thereby allowing ourselves to be held captive by a "spirit of idolatry". This undoubtedly prevents one from receiving the fullness of God’s blessing regardless of the office of the vessel God has sent. However, in this season God is raising up men and women who are driven (at any personal cost) by this one burning desire: to lead all those who cross their path into the fullness of their inheritance in Christ and enable them to enter into the fullness of the ministry that God has called them to! Rather than being an entity unto itself, the Five-Fold ministry is simply "forerunners" or "pioneers" in the carrying out of God’s "Kingdom-Purpose" on the earth.
