Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV) says 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, – There are various roles of ministry found in the body of Christ.
We must first know that Church must not be viewed as an organization; it must instead be viewed as an organism. Each part of the organism works together to make the organism work.
All the roles and gifts in the church are to equip the saints for the work of ministry and to edify the body of Christ.
Paul writes to the church that is having problems with unity. He was trying to teach them to work together. Ephesians 4:4 (NKJV) says 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; – Regardless of your denominational upbringing, it is important to know that God doesn’t care about your denomination. He is one God in all. To achieve unity in the body, you got to work together. In order to reach your full potential, we have to know how spiritual gifts work and know how offices in the church work.
Apostles
The word apostle comes from the Hebrew word, apostolos (?p?st????) meaning: one sent forth, a messenger, ambassador, a missionary, or sent by God on a special mission. Hebrews 3:1 (NKJV) says Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, – Christ demonstrated his apostleship by fulfilling his mission.
When Jesus chose the twelve to follow him, they became disciples. He would train them, expose them, and then commission them upon his preparing to depart from the earth. They would then be responsible for establishing the churches in the New Testament. They were disciples when following him, but then released to be Apostles.
There were twelve disciples:
Simon Peter- Brother of Andrew. He was active in bringing people to Jesus.
James the son of Zebedee – He was the older brother of John also called James the Greater.
John – Was the son of Zebedee and brother of James
Andrew – The brother of Simon Peter. He was active in bringing people to Jesus.
Phillip of Bethsaida
Thomas (Didymus) – He was the doubter.
Bartholomew (Nathaniel) – He was the disciple that Jesus appeared to at the sea of Tiberius.
Matthew (Levi of Capernaum.
Another James (son of Alphaeus) also called James the lesser.
Simon the Zealot the Canaanites.
Thaddaeus (Labbaeus) – the brother of James the Lesser.
Judas – The one that betrayed Jesus. Acts 1:22 (NKJV) says 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”- The replacement of Judas was Matthias. Whoever replaced Judas had to be someone who actually saw Christ in person (discussed later in this study).
The operation of the apostolic ministry
The apostle has the burden of caring for the warfare of the whole church.
An apostle does not have a covetous spirit and is not in it for financial gain.
An apostle does not seek the glory of men
An apostle possesses a supernatural ministry. In John 14, Jesus said, “Greater works than me, will you do”. As an example of this, signs and wonders were done by the Apostles. Remember Peter and John, when the encountered the lame man and healed him?
An apostle Is a messenger sent on a mission.
An Apostle teaches sound doctrine.
A question that comes us often is , “Are there modern day apostles?”
Main requirements of being an Apostle
Had to be an eyewitness of risen Jesus. Acts 1:1-3 (NKJV) says 1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God..+
Being an eyewitness of Christ was a requirement of being an Apostle that would replace Judas.
Acts 1:21-22 (NKJV) 21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Acts 4:33 (NKJV) 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. – They gave witness to the resurrection. They actually saw it.
Paul was not a witness or one original chosen to be an Apostle, so many have the question, “How then can he be an apostle?
Acts 9:1-6 (NKJV) says 9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.[a] It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
1 Corinthians 9:1 (NKJV) says 9 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? ,
1 Corinthians 15:7-9 (NKJV) says 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. – Paul describes that he saw Christ and Christ turned him around and gave him a mission. Don’t confuse the ministry of an apostolic anointing with the office of an Apostle. Apostolic anointing is one that establishes churches, but they have not seen Christ.
Had to be commissioned directly from Jesus. Galatians 1:1 (NKJV) says 1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),- No man can make you an apostle. Only Jesus can.
Prophet
First given to us as Samuel the prophet. Samuel was the first prophet.
He prophesied at an early age. 1 Samuel 3:1 (NKJV) says 3 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. – When you got a prophecy back then, it was rare.
Isaiah gave us prophecy as a form of foretelling. Messianic prophesy is what it has become known as. He was the one who said, “unto us is given a child…” He spoke what God said and what he was going to do and it came to past.
The truest test of prophecy is it has to come to past at a reasonable amount of time.
1 Corinthians 14:37 (NKJV) says 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. – One who is operating under gift of prophecy will be subject to the church and following of the commands of God.
1 Corinthians 14:32 (NKJV) says 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. – When your Pastor speaks, he forth tells not foretells. For example, Ezekiel spoke to the dry bones. Know that a prophet would never tell you something inconsistent with the word you are sitting under. In other words, if a prophet was to come and tell you something that contradicts what your Pastor is teaching you, then something isn’t right.
2 Corinthians 13:1 (NKJV) says 13 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”[a] – The word of God must be established by two of 3 witnesses. Know that the spirit is subject to the prophet.
2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (NKJV) 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. – Be careful what you put on social media. When you put your emotion-ability out there, you are releasing it into the atmosphere for spirits to exploit. For example, a false prophet might use information that you put out there to falsely validate a prophesy towards you.
Also remember, Prophesy shouldn’t cost you anything. There is no need to pay for holy water and prayer clothes.
In Acts 16 and Paul and Silas ran across a girl who was being exploited by master for her gift to predict the future. She had been using her gift for evil, instead of good. All gifts can be turned evil if you let them.
When you see people walk up to you and say the Lord told them to tell you something, remember there is a thin line between voice of God and schizophrenia!
