The Five Fold Ministry

[altya]

Can we please accept this thread as a bible study and not as a topic to debate? I would love to have more knowledge about the Five-fold ministry, especially from members who stand in an office of one or more of the five. It will be good to have feedback about what they experience.
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The purpose of the Five-fold ministy


God gave the Christians the five-fold ministry to enable us to edify the body of Christ. We have to seek after our ministry and be worthy of whatever God called us to do. We have to walk in love and peace, not to argue scripture because if we start an argument to proof our viewpoint of scripture, its showing that we are still in the flesh, walking in pride because others have to see how well you know the scriptures. When you are busy, walking in the flesh there is no love, without love, no understanding, and without understanding, no peace. People who argue scripture are opening a door for Satan to attack and to destroy. The whole idea about scripture is not to know them but to walk them. No one is going to get a reward for knowing the bible. Satan also knows the word and he trembles. However, it is very important to know the scriptures if you don’t you won’t know how to walk. We are going to benefit to “walk” the scriptures, if we do, the reward is spiritual growth and allow us to become part of the bride of Christ.

Ephesians 4:1; I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.



The five-fold ministry is there to help and correct the Christians so that they may become matured in the word of God. We are not “re-born as Christian adults” we have to grown into it.



11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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 themeasure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:



The reason for the five-fold ministry is to help the body of Christ reach maturity; maturity means to become united (one) with each other. The reason is, until we all hold the same truths, and have the same confidence in the Son of God in faith about who God really is.



Joh 17:21that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.

Joh 17:22I have given them the glory that you gave me, so that they may be one, just as we are one.

Joh 17:23I am in them, and you are in me. May they be completely one, so that the world may know that you sent me and that you have loved them as you loved me.



The 'perfect man' refers to the man “grown up,” the man of mature life. He says that Christ had appointed pastors and teachers that the infant church might be conduct to “spiritual maturity” This maturity does not refer to the doctrine of “sinless perfection” - but rather to the state of maturity as compared - a state of strength, vigor, wisdom, when the full growth should be reach.

The measure to be reach was Christ; or we are to grow until we become like Him.

The five-fold ministry is like a hand with five fingers.



Thumb = Apostles; - Apostles lay the foundation for the church.

Index finger = Prophet; - Prophets Points to the direction for the church.

Middle finger = Evangelists; - Evangelists leads the unbeliever to Jesus for salvation. Ring finger = Pastors; - Pastors establish the relationship between God and the Christian.

Pinky = Teachers; - Teachers provide the spiritual food to feed the Christian



We need our hand with all the fingers to function properly. No one is bigger or better than the other one. We all have the same purpose and we are all called to serve the body of Christ.



Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

[IKTCA]

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[AlabamaMan]

I think teacher's teach the body of Christ. Sometimes you get the preaching which is great and is similar to teaching...but I think the teaching goes a bit more in depth...more of a study. I think preaching is what God wants to speak the the church and teaching is what the church studies. I think of it as being a teacher at school, you are teaching people things for their knowledge and that will help them in their walk.

I am a teacher and this is how I view it.

 

[Ecclesiastes]

The Gift of Teacher and Pastor are closely related. A Pastor needs to be a Teacher so that he can shpherd his flock effectively. But I also do of some Prophets who also are teachers and the same with Evangelists and Apostles. Some people fill multiple gifts and some fill one. I know what of the 5 I fill, and how God uses me in them. But it is all for the glroy of God and the advancing of the Kigndom.

Hallelujah!

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Is anyone teacher here in this forum? What is teacher's duty? Will a teacher explain to me?

Been teaching for 25 years.

This is what a teacher is for.
A teacher performs to the body of Christ what an evangelist does to the unsaved. He, via the anointing, will speak the word of Christ into the believer and thereby inculcate faith into the hearer. His main role in the body is that of performing Romans 10:17

so then the belief comes by a revelation into the spirit, and revelation into the spirit comes through a word directly spoken by Christ,
(PSNT)

The teaching gifts plants faith into those that hear. A teacher who operates under the full anointing of a teacher will teach using prophesying. The words are the words of the spirit of Christ. They go down into the spirits of the hearers and faith is generated within them.

Very often people who cannot be saved or healed or who cannot get their prayers answered require this sort of teaching. They need to have the words spoken into their spirits via this gift.
I realize that many consider this to be the lessor of the gifts, but I have found that it actually does many things that the higher profile gifts cannot do. You can grow in faith a great deal under the ministry of an anointed teacher. Sometimes it only takes a few sessions to just "get your engine tuned up." Once he gets you on the correct track, your faith and spiritual life will blast off.

The ultimate goal of all the minstry gifts is found in Eph 4.

Eph 4
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

You can always tell when a teaching is speaking under the anointing. Your spirit will burn as the apostles did when Jesus spoke to them after the resurrection.

Luke 24
32 And they said one to another, Our hearts kept burning within us as he was speaking to us in the way, and as he was opening up to us the Writings?
(PSNT)
I have some testimonies from students if you would like to hear them.

 

[Lee]

Then what is the gift of an apostle? Can you be more specific? Such like should there be signs and wonders accompanying him like the Apostles???

 

[Crosslight]

Great thread... keep talking..


His servant,

stacie

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Then what is the gift of an apostle? Can you be more specific? Such like should there be signs and wonders accompanying him like the Apostles???

An apostle has all the gifts (Jesus was an apostle).

A teacher will have any gifts the Spirit deems needful to accomplish the the ministry. Some giftings are resisdent in all ministries. But each of the 5 fold have "signs" of that ministry.
Consider Paul:

2 Corinthians 12:12 ISV
12 The signs of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience-signs, wonders, and works of power.

Each ministry has certain gifts of the spirit that accompany it.
An Apostle has all the gifts.
A Prophet will have the gift of prophecy, usually the word of wisdom / word of knowledge, sometimes the discerning of spirits.
An evangelist will usually have one or more of the power gifts such has gifts or healing, faith, working of miracles. He will have word of knowledge just to wow the crowd. Basically anthing to get their attention.
A Pastor will often have word of knowledge, gifts of healing, the gift of prophecy/tongues with interpretation.
A teacher will be the least gifted, and will only have prophecy/tongues with interpretation.

Very often these giftings with merge with each other.
You will have prophet-teachers.
You can have pastor-teachers.

I did a study on this in 1976.. took all summer.

Paul exhorts us to determine our place in the body by identifying which gifts (grace)we have, and not by our own estimation.

Romans 12:3-6 WEB
3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;

It is sometimes funny to hear some misguided soul declare himself an apostle or prophet because they had a touch of the anoiting. But they do not have the signs that follow that minsitry. Without the signs... you are not the ministry.
The signs are the ministry.... not you.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Background regarding the ministry of the church:

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (PSNT)
4 And there are distributions of mainfestations, but they are all from the same Spirit;
5 and there are distributions of ministries, but they all serve the same Lord;
6 and there are distributions of operations, and it is the same God who is activating the all.
7 And to each hath been given the manifestation of the Spirit to contribute.

Here we see the hierarcy of the ministry of the church:

• God directs operations or movements such as a work or revival or whatever.
• The Lord Jesus sets forth ministers in His body to accomplish the work that God has set forth.
• The Holy Spirit enables the ministers with spiritual gifts that will enable the ministers to accomplish the work that the Lord has set forth.

 

[IKTCA]

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[Lee]

An apostle has all the gifts (Jesus was an apostle).

Then what do you say about Benny Hinn? Is he an apostle?

 

[altya]

Then what do you say about Benny Hinn? Is he an apostle?

I don’t want this thread to go into a dispute, neither do I want members to discuses minister ministries.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I don’t want this thread to go into a dispute, neither do I want members to discuses minister ministries.

I agree altya.
Lee, If you want to discuss this, feel free to PM.
didy

 

[pmarquette]

Preacher - teacher : look at Romans 10.14 - 17 called by God (vocation ) , sent by God ( for a particular work ) , enabled to teach ( Holy Spirit ) , that the Word might be revealed , that by hearing and understanding ( meaning and simplicity of message ), people might be saved ( faith in word ). those who provide and sow seed

Apostle - like star trek , to go where no one has been with gospel before , those who plant , start , pioneer

evangalist - to awake those who are asleep , and get those on the fence to choose , those who water , or harvest

Prophet - attitude adjuster for bishops , elders, ministers .... like the 2nd and 3rd chapters of revelation ... those who convict , discipline , rebuke

Ephesians 4.11 I have called some
4.12 to teach the flock to go and do the work of the kingdom
Matthew 10.38-42 ; Matthew 25.32-42 alms , poor , weak , down cast
the ministry of all believers , in the order of Melchezidek .... Mark 16.16-20

 

[IKTCA]

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[P_G]

I think you will find there is much crossing over in the 5 fold ministry.

Paul to be sure was an apostle (1 Tim 1:1)but he was also a Pastor (all of 1Cor and 2cor) (Shepherd) and a (the rest of 1 Tim)teacher, an evangalist (Romans) But I don't really see him in the roll of Prophet at all. Mind you surely John was a Prophet and an Apostle but we don't see much of him in the roll of Teacher though surely he was a teacher.

I examine my own life as a pastor. My primary call is to shepherd the flock. And yet I am surely called to teach and in almost the same breath as an evangalist. Case in point on Sunday evenings I go to a prison to the AD SEG (Administrative Segregation or Solitary Confinement) I see the men from cell to cell.

At one cell I may be called upon to Shepherd the next to teach or Disciple a man and at still another as an evangalist to lead a lost sinner to the Lord And yet still another man I might look at and the spirit will begin to testify regarding his life that he might listen if for no other reason that he is startled


So I guess what I am saying is that you can't put God in a box nor the giftings. Listen to the Holy Ghost and be prepaired to be used as God chooses you to be used. And as you yeild to the spirit you will be used more and more and in ways you never thought that you would be.

Oh and for what it is worth never say never!

I still remember the day I said I could never get up infront of a congregation and preach and never would! That did not hold much water with God.


PG

 

[Georgius]

Ok, the overlapping thing kind of caught me by surprise. What you are saying makes sense but I have a question now.

We are to seek what our place in the 5-fold ministry is right? We are supposed to do this by examining the gifts we have been given right?

It seems really difficult to determine what one is and/or is supposed to be doing with all the overlapping... I know I am not supposed to be a pastor (I already went through that years ago) and I know there is a large calling on my life to raise funds for the preaching of the Word but I am not sure how that fits in either...

I will be praying and reading everything I can find in the Word on this if you could pray that my place in the 5-fold ministry will be revealed to me as well. I have an idea but sometimes it seems to fantastical to be True.

 

[Anthony]

An apostle has all the gifts (Jesus was an apostle).

Judas was an Apostle; he didn't have all the gifts. An apostle is a man chosen by Jesus.

Luke 6:13
When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.

Also Peter tells us more about picking an Apostle

ACTS 1:21-26
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."

So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Also Jesus warns us of those who will look and act like Apostles.

MATTHEW 1:22-23
Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you.

 

[P_G]

Blessings Georgius

I think sometimes we get very caught up in the 5 fold ministry and forget completely that though we are not "in office" that we STILL have a ministry. In fact all beleivers are called to ministry.

Lets take a look at the book of Romans in the 12th chapter:


RO 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

So we can see that each of us is ABSOLUTELy going to get a gift that is TO BE USED for the edification of the body. We call these Ministry Gifts. -Prophsying - Serving - Teaching - Encouraging - Giving - Giving - Leadership

Seven in all. And beleive me when I tell you unless the body joyfully and axiously walks in the gifts bestowed on them the Body will not function properly if at all.

How many times have we seen the case of the poor pastor who is cleaning tables at the end of a fellowship meal? Or seems to be the only one who can encourage the down trodden or teach or head up a commitee.

Let me exhort you in this you may not be called to be a pastor or an evangalist and thats ok you may be a handyman. God BLESS the handy man!!!!!! God Bless the Sunday School teacher!!!!!! God Bless the ladies who make the food for the suppers!!!!! PRAISE GOD for the staff that counts collections. Thank you Jesus for the prophets in our midst!!!! And most of all thank you dear Lord for those who encourage me to go on, for Lord you know I would soon stumble without them.

Please don't focus on what you are not but rather focus on what you are!

Bloom where you are planted!

 

[Blade]

It's a price that very very few want to pay.