The Five-Fold Ministry • Part 2

Now that we have the spiritual authority line established, let's take an in-depth look at the Five-Fold Ministry and how it may be applied today.

Gifts can often overlap in callings, but there is a distinct difference between the gifts and the offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher.


Apostles...

Plant new churches or ministries

• Receives vision and blueprint direction from God and builds
  on that
• Builds up foundation by setting structure, leadership and beliefs
  in place
• Anoints and empowers Elders with spiritual authority

Bring accountability & stability to established churches

• Corrects, rebukes, encourages, inspires, and supports the Deacons and helps keep the Elders accountable
• Refocuses & maintains purity of which the foundation was built on
• Sees the big picture of the whole body and it’s many parts to fulfill it’s purpose, as well as makes sure that Five-Fold Ministry teams in each local church are in unity of faith and support

Defined:
The office of Apostle is the anointing and special ability "to assume and exercise helpful leadership over a number of churches in spiritual matters" or to lay down foundational work in new churches and then release it to other people according to their gifts, talents, and calling. But those with simply the spiritual gift of apostleship feel personally called to the expansion and healthy growth of the church. They love going first into the trenches of the new moves of God. They remain unattached to the people in general, but as they start new ministries, they personally hold love and accountability with those they pass the work torch of that ministry off to. The Bible calls many others, beyond the Twelve and Paul, apostles: James (Galatians 1:19), Barnabas (Acts 14:4, 14), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25), Silas and Timothy (I Thessalonians 1:1, 2:6), Andronicas and Junia (Romans 16:7), and others (I Corinthians 15:5, 7; II Corinthians 8:23; 11:13). This gift is a leadership gift and is in continuing need today for the strengthening of churches and the establishment of new churches. This anointed office of Apostle is found in regional pastors, church planters, and mission starters. (I Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 2:20; 4:11)

Prophets...

Speak forth God’s Heart

• Receives vision and direction from God for moving forward
• Warns, Corrects, Inspires, and Encourages the people
• Reveals hidden things or future events from God

Defined:
This gift gives the special ability "to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His people with authority and urgency perceived by the hearers." Those with the gift of prophecy will often feel as though they have a direct word from God that will comfort, encourage, guide, warn, or rebuke specific people within the Body of Christ. Prophets have a great sense of urgency to their message. Unless paired with the gifts of exhortation or teaching, prophets will often not feel the need to explain their message, but will expect immediate response. The message of a prophet must always be tested in line with Scripture. Prophets would be wise to test their message against Scripture prior to delivering the message, and using Scriptural precedent in delivery of their message. People with this gift generally focus purely on the message or truth to be communicated, not necessarily on practical application or adequate understanding, and are unhindered by the emotional responses in the people they are relaying the message to. The anointed office of Prophet has this gift as well as the added responsibility of receiving messages for the whole church body in terms of direction, corporate sin, or specific key messages regularly to the Senior Leadership within the church. Those with this anointing are given added leadership gifts: they are generally concerned about evangelism, they have a desire speak strongly against evil in society or in the church, and they are responsible for being active in training others with this gift to be accurate in hearing from God and faithful and confident to speak the message forth. (Luke 7:26; Acts 15:32; 21:9-11; Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28; 14:3, 24-25, 29, 36-38; Ephesians 4:11-14)

Evangelists...

Win the lost to Christ

• Preaches the Gospel of Christ
• Has a heart to reach out to the un-saved
• Uses human wisdom, history, personal testimony, or spiritual signs to share Christ with an unbeliever

Defined:
This gift gives the special ability "to readily share the gospel with unbelievers in such a way that men and women often become Jesus’ disciples and responsible members of the Body of Christ. While the task of evangelism is an important spiritual exercise that all Christians should be involved with, God gifts certain members with an ability to have unusual sensitivity to when someone is ready to accept Christ, and will generally have greater success in leading people to Christ than other Christians. The anointed office of Evangelist has this gift and the added responsibility of being active in training others to share their faith, as well as organizing group evangelism. (Acts 8:5-6, 26-40; Ephesians 4:11-14; II Timothy 4:5)

Pastors...

Shepherd the church body

• Loves and nurtures as well as disciplines the people in their church
• Protects from sin and false teachings
• Provides the church with all the things they need to grow healthy and strong, physically, spiritually, & emotionally

Defined:
This gift gives the special ability "to assume a long-term personal responsibility for the welfare of a group of believers." In actuality, when a church has only one leader and that leader has this gift, their ability to continue sustained growth in their churches is greatly diminished, as they tend to require a certain level of interaction with every member of their congregation. Those with the gift of shepherding (pastoring) have a great need for long-term relationships. Shepherds will sacrificially give themselves to other people in such a way that they are built-up in their faith. Shepherds take personal responsibility for the successes and failures of those in the group that they invest themselves in. Those with this gift are usually nurturing, patient, and forgiving in nature. The anointed office of Shepherd / Pastor has this gift as well as the added responsibility of using that gift to shepherd leaders specifically and to keep a general watch over the whole church body as a whole. (John 10:1-18; Ephesians 4:11-14; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

Teachers...

Educate and train the church body

• Teaches the founding blueprints and the beliefs set up by the Apostles – the Bible
• Instructs the church on specific topics of spiritual life – real life here and now by the Book – the Bible
• Makes sure people don’t just hear – but learn and remember God’s Word

Defined:
This gift gives the special ability "to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the Body and its members in such a way that others will learn." This gift is a communication gift. People with the gift of teaching enjoy studying the Bible and related materials in order to communicate what they have learned to other Christians. Those with this gift find it easy to organize vast amounts of information in such a way as to make it easy to communicate, understand, and remember. Those with this gift focus on bringing thorough or adequate understanding of the message or truth being communicated, not necessarily on how it impacts emotionally. The anointed office of Teacher has this gift, as well as the added responsibility to make sure the whole Body of Christ is getting accurate and complete information of God’s Truth. These are responsible for being active in training others with this gift to be diligent in study, detailed in organization, and faithful in teaching truth. (Matthew 7:28-29; 28:19-20; Acts 15:32; Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28; Ephesians 4:11-14)
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When the Five-Fold ministry is present and working together as a team in each local church, each doing their part in Christ's body, that church becomes a healthy growing life of Christ working on this earth. To have just one piece missing brings a handicap to Jesus' body in that area, and that church is left weak and vulnerable where it isn't covered. Christ's world wide church through each local church body has been hobbling along long enough. It's time to accept the gifts and callings the Holy Spirit rests on us, build up our character, behavior, and minds to the Word of God, deepen our intimacy with Christ, depend on His power and strength, and dive in head first into the work: Bringing in lost souls into the kingdom and giving out what God has poured into us to help them grow up to full maturity to where they can start leading others behind them! Then we can send the Five-Fold ministers out together to a new area to repeat the process, in each new place, until the world has not only heard the awesome news of God's love and salvation in Jesus, but also has a fighting chance to grow up strong and rooted firm in Christ - fulfilling their own purpose in the kingdom of God!

The Five-Fold Ministry • Part 1

According to my personal study led by the Holy Spirit's teaching, it's fairly clear to me that God's Word gives detailed instruction about the structure meant to be in place within the church, the function of that structure, and the purpose of that structure - which is, spiritual authority, according to maturity and calling, in order to produce fruit. Jesus is the Head, the Source, and High Priest of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; John 15:1-11; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-24; Hebrews 2-9).

Under Christ Jesus are Elders, (overseers or presbytery) which should be a team of mature believers who are called and anointed to serve in the position of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher, often termed the Five-Fold Ministry. Elders are set up in each local church body by apostles, for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission in that area. Each one does their part to raise up believers to maturity, and they act as an accountability group among themselves, sharing the "vice-president" ranking within the church body equally. Together they protect, guide, train, teach, lead... basically, they equip the church for growth and ministry under the authority and guidance of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. They are servant leaders. (Ephesians 4:11-13; I Timothy 3:1-7; 5:17-19; Titus 1:5-9; 2:1-8; Acts 14:21-23; I Peter 5:1-4; Romans 16:3-10; I Corinthians 3:5-15) .

Under Elders are Deacons, who serve as assistants or understudies to the Elders - ministers who do hands-on ministry with the people in Christ. These would also be pastors or teachers, prophets or evangelists, or servers, helpers, care-givers under the guidance, accountability, and leadership of the Elders. These are servant ministers. They may be life long deacons or are practicing Elders. (I Corinthians 12:28; I Timothy 3:8-13; 4:6-16; Romans 16:1-2, 11-12; I Thessalonians 3:2)

Under Deacons are new converts and those young in the faith. Every believer is given a gift of the Spirit to use to benefit the whole body, but in learning to use those gifts and being placed in purposeful ministry first takes time of growing deep and secure in Christ. Fruits of the Spirit must be given time to strengthen and manifest, and knowledge and understanding of God's Word must be taught to them before they can be entrusted with ministry duties.(Hebrews 6:12-14; Romans 12:4-8; I Corinthians 12:4-12; 14; I Peter 2:1-2; Galatians 5:22-25)

When each level of spiritual authority reaches down and pulls up to their own level the ones directly under them, we are all brought to full maturity in Christ. Jesus does this with the level directly below Him (exampled in His ministry with the 3 disciples, Peter, James, and John), and with those in training (exampled in His ministry with the 12 disciples), and with each disciple (exampled by His ministry with all His followers) - all by means of the Holy Spirit today. But we are His body that He works through together as a whole, meant to be unified and doing His work on the earth. We are given each other, and each with different calls and giftings so that no one can do all the work alone. Elders should be in the business of raising up new leaders to support the growth and additions in the church, as well as leading the church under Christ's direction. When more elders are produced, apostles can send out new teams of Five-Fold Ministers to start up new churches in another area. This is the Biblical example we have for fulfilling God's purpose on this earth.
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See next post to continue..."The Five-Fold Ministry • Part 2"

Inspired!

Upon recommendation of a friend, I got a hold of this DVD, The Vision of the Leader by Bruce Wilkinson - and wow! was I ever blown away! This guy put into words exactly what God's been doing in my life over the past 6 years and smacked me right in the face with plainly laying it out where there was no way for me to get around what God has been calling me to do!

Talk about being challenged to just swallow hard and do it! Based on Nehemiah, Wilkinson really brought out some stuff that I needed to hear - from learning how to recognize what is and isn't a call and vision from God - to discovering practical principles to apply to the vision once you know God has validated it. I think this was brought into my life at the perfect time. I can really see God's hand in this to get inspiration and confirmation to me now. I can also tell this is a real turning point for me in my life and spiritual journey and especially pertaining to what God has purposed for me to do! I've got a lot of praying to do.

I even went on and studied further in Nehemiah and continued to absorb leadership keys within a vision for once it gets moving - which was exciting! Not only do I see the hard work ahead, but I'm convinced the hard work is worth putting my best effort into and giving my last breath for! Only God knows what's ahead, but I'm determined to follow!

Church Shopping

Over the past few months, I've been doing some church shopping in my surrounding area. I'm usually bothered with the idea of believers hopping from one church to another rather than committing and staying committed through thick and thin - because of the flakiness usually involved behind it: like the concept of jumping ship whenever things get heated in a church to a place to cool down in comfort - or to avoid growth and feed a social club status. Although I believe that this happens in way too many believers - I've come to a place in my own spiritual walk where I'm doing the very same thing, but for entirely different reasons.

When there are legitimate reasons for searching for a new church body to link in spirit and life with (like moving to a new area, or your church leadership begins taking over the church from Christ and chases after their own desires and leaves God behind), we all tend to look for churches that 1. teach what we agree with (or want to hear); 2. cater to our own personal style; 3. provide the ministries that will minister to us and our families; and 4. are within a rational driving distance from our homes. People choose a church like they choose a new dentist - recommendations, phone books, look online, and then attend a few times and research it to see it they have everything we are looking for. If the church passes all the tests, we commit and if not, we keep looking. Isn't that pretty much how it is in American churchianity? There's so many churches to choose from here, in all different shapes and sizes, colors and styles and prices - all we have to do is try them on one by one and see which one we like the best that fits.

These past few months have been very different for me, though. I've been researching churches while on the hunt for a church within my realistic driving distance that actually doesn't hold to any denominational doctrines or even necessarily agrees with what I believe... but rather - holds to the entire Word of God led by the Holy Spirit alone. A church that sets up it's administration according to Biblical teaching, with 5-fold ministers in overseer and deacon positions, all under the Head of Christ Jesus Himself. I've been looking for a church that actually ministers out to the community as well as the body ministering inward to the body - whether or not it ministers to me personally. A church that operates in Spirit and in Truth - that is growing up each new convert to be powerful ministers, and is a church entrusted with God's power to back up His name. I've been looking for a church that caters to Jesus' personality, not mine or any human's; and a church that doesn't have it's roots in Catholicism (a one man show with additional scheduled performing artists lined up for the audience - whoops I mean congregation - to either watch as inspirational entertainment, or participate in to feel apart of). I'm looking for a church that only has it's roots in Christ. For a church that doesn't "pass the plate" but simply has an offering box at the door; a church that doesn't rush through the Lord's Supper without pause for refection and self-examination first. For a church that worships free, ministers to the Lord, and seeks His honor and glory above all else. This church is very well described in God's Word - but hard to locate in the world-wide body of believers in America - much less in my area.

I know I am not the only one who can plainly see the extreme difference between what God's Word instructs, explains, and expects from true believers and what Christians are actually doing almost universally instead. It's got to be frustrating to more people than just myself. It's enough to bewilder the purest soul who loves God with all they are, not to mention the world outside the church! Instead, we have broken church up into camps and made God and His Word into our image, serving us rather than serving Him and His will! If we took one person who has never attended a church or has never even seen one on TV or heard of them, and then gave them the Word of God to learn and study and they became a mature believer and an expert in the Word, and then we sent them out on their own to start a church - I'll bet what they set up would look radically different from the majority of churches in America now, and surprisingly close to the image Christ draws of His body in the Bible! Is it so hard to break from the traditions of mankind in order to simply obey God's Word? We who know better - should be doing better. How odd that we have all these freedoms and choices in America, but very few believers use their freedom to choose to do church strictly by the Book, in total obedience to God's will - doing the work Jesus did when He was physically on the earth Himself. Somehow it's too much to ask church leaders to relinquish total control to Jesus alone through God's Word and Spirit, and do what He did. I know that there are true believers, at least a few, in just about every local church, and I know that there are entire churches out there who are living as the true body of Christ, but my own search has gotten more and more broad as the weeks go on, and still I've found only pieces of the true church scattered and hidden within separate and vastly different churches instead. We're forced to attend 4 or 5 different churches from across the board of denominations and Messianic congregations, just to experience all of God's Word within a community of believers. We aren't even supposed to have denominations as true believers - we are all supposed to be striving towards a unity of faith and purpose (John 17:20-23; Ephesians 4:10-16).But look how far we've gotten from God's Word and will. A local expression of the true church is hard to find, and if there's one in your neighborhood or city, you are very blessed.

Friendship to Win Souls?

What is the line between befriending a lost person in order to win their soul for Christ and compromising our faith with the world?

Is the line where you find yourself being pulled into the world rather than pulling the one in the world out, or is that even too close?
Is it a matter of who is involved, their situation and calling, and their dedication level... or is it the same line for everyone? Are we even supposed to befriend those who reject Jesus, in the hopes that we can persuade them to one day change their mind?

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore, "Come out from their midst and be separate", says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," says the Lord Almighty.
II Corthinians 6-14-18

God's Word teaches us that friendship with the world is hatred toward God and that anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4-5). Does this refer simply to the "world system" or also to those who are worldly as well? Where does the line of tolerance end and purity begin? Where is the balance? Jesus taught us to love and pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Do our enemies only include those who are agressively evil against us, or are our enemies all who are trapped within the kingdom of darkness under Satan? God commanded that we make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). How are we to make disciples if we stay disassiociated from the lost?

Jesus associated with sinners, and gave His life up to save them, but He never compromised - He Himself never sinned, He showed them a better life and didn't participate with their sin, nor encouaged or supported their sin. He only taught what was right and wrong. He didn't chase down those who rejected Him to convince them, once they left Him, He moved on to minister to others. He only spoke to those who would hear and those who appoached and sought Him out. But He was approachable to sinners, and reached out to the lost and suffering people who were hungry (or at least open) to hear the truth. He walked among them, and didn't judge, but something about Him set Him apart from them - He came to them to proclaim truth and to minister to their needs... not excuse their behavior or tell them just what they wanted to hear, to stroke their consciouses so that they would listen to Him longer. Often, He offended some right away in order to weed out the ones who wanted to see signs and wonders from the ones who were serious about learning the truth.

Hate sin... love the sinner. Ok, but how far does that really go. A sinner isn't going to feel loved when all he or she does is based in sin and we are constantly criticizing or seemingly looking down on those sins. But to accept them as they are and their sinful behavior either downgrades our standards as believers, or confuses our own mindsets, slowly conforming our thinking to the image of the world in addition to the image of Christ. And to let them continue on a path that will lead them to destruction isn't exactly loving either. To what extent are we to go to convince others to believe in Christ? We can't control them or what they believe, and we certainly can't turn cold hearts warm, nor perform signs and wonders to prove God... only God can do that; and through us He does. Jesus gave His life in a series of planned events - life of ministry, death atonement for sin, resurrection for proof, instruction for His people, and then handed the torch over to His disciples. When we give our lives, do we plot out and give a lifetime of sacrificing to and debating with the same one over and over again for the purpose of talking them into turning their lives over to Christ? When do we stop wasting our time and move on? At what point is it that we stop sowing and walk away for maybe someone else to harvest? And for those who know the truth already and live in selfish illusion anyway, are these the ones we let go of completely and at what point? What if they are close family members? What a fine line to walk! Maybe this is where it is so important to be faithful in prayer and sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I have one family member in particular, who flat out rejects Christ in order to be his own god and do whatever he wants and thinks is best. Do I reach out in friendship to him and accept all that he does in order to create a trust and love between us, so that my words of testimony and good news of Christ might make a dent in his hardened heart eventually? Or do I leave him to his worldly friends and influences and hold tight to not associating with sin? Aren't we supposed to look different - have something better that attracts the lost to the light of Christ? Is it our ability to relate and our embracing nature, rather than our holier-than-thou persona... that attracts them, or the simple and honest truth of God's Word?

There was a popular book in circulation a few years back that instructed believers on witnessing by living the lifestyle of Christ in front of non-believers, and to expect it to take a lifetime of consistantcy before you may or may not see the fruit. I agree that believers should live the life of Christ both openly and boldly as well as in private, at all times, but I don't think that qualifies as witnessing - I think it only validates your witness. When Jesus sent His disciples out to witness, He gave them a point by point stategy, of preaching the Gospel, calling people to repent, with power: healing the sick and casting out demons - and for those that reject the message, the disciples were to leave them and shake the dust off thier shoes in protest against them (Mark 6:7-13; Luke 10:1-12). Do we lack power when we go out in Jesus' name, and so must resort to lesser strategies in the flesh, like compromise? And then we see Paul becoming like the lawless, in order to win the lawless to Christ in I Corinthians 9:19-23. Do we lack the self-control to go under cover in the kingdom of darkness to smuggle a few out into the light without falling into temptation?

Not all are called to be evangelists, so do the rest of us simply leave the witnessing up to those called specifically for the task and, instead prepare ourselves to give an answer of our faith when asked - and to focus primarily on the other gifts and callings that we do have? Are all called to win souls, or are we all just called to know Jesus and our own reason for believing? It would sound odd if we all thought we had to administrators, or healers, or teachers, even when we aren't called to be so - but rather we would leave those ministries in the hands of those who were gifted and called to be those things in the body of Christ, wouldn't we? Perhaps we should be active in praying for God to raise up more evangelists in the everyday streets of America - and pray that they would be supported and followed by teachers of the Word to help strengthen and grow new converts in Christ - to be followed by mentors and pastors who will train them for service, keep them accountable and fed, and release them into ministry. When everyone is doing their part, then everyone is freed to be only what Christ has purposed for each to be and do in His kingdom!

I have concluded that the line is obvious... for me, in my situation with my family member, anyway. I will love and welcome him and be approachable, non-judgmental, but non-approving of his lifestyle of sin. If opportunity arises, I will follow the Holy Spirit's lead to speak what God instructs - but I will not enter a lifestyle of compromise myself in order to gain his trust. My first priority is to please God and remain pleasing to God. If God so chooses to send me into the darkness under cover to reach him, then I will obey, other wise, I will pray that God will send someone called and annointed for that ministry to reach out to him. It is not my place to pick up a position of service that God has not put me in, but rather it is my commission to pray. I've got to remember who I am in Christ, and allow Him to lead - His wisdom is best and far beyond any human reasoning! I trust Him!