Walking In All 5

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.