Daily Friendship with God #23 Fivefold ministry
And He Himself gave some to be 1) apostles, some 2) prophets, some 3) evangelists, and some 4) pastors and 5) teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… (Ephesians 4:11,12)
In going through this passage it is important to understand what is meant when the word “saints” is used and who is a saint. The Greek word is hä'-gē-os and it means Holy which means "separated". In Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated, dedicated formally to divine purpose, to be sacred. So, who is a Saint? It is those that have been made holy and separated by calling on the name Jesus as Lord according to 1 Corinthians 1:2. In addition Romans 10:9 states if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Being saved from sin makes you holy and separate from sin from Gods point of view. Here is a bonus, it is always better to live from God’s point of view then your own. I have added limited Strong’s Greek definitions in parentheses to bring further understanding of what God is saying in the passage.
For the equipping (preparing fully) of the saints (separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God) for the work (business, employment, that which any one is occupied [busy and active]) of ministry (service "the ministry," not in the sense of an ecclesiastical function [Ecclesiastical, that which is relating to ministry inside the Christian Church or its clergy]). (Ephesians 4:12)
The job of the five ministers 1) Apostles 2) Prophets 3) Evangelists 4) Pastors 5) teachers listed in Ephesians 4:11 is to fully prepare the individual members of the Church (the body of Christ) known as the Saints. They are to teach the saints how to be occupied in being busy and active in service to the world, in each of their ministries. Each of the five positions is considered to be an “office” which is occupied by the minister in order to equip the saints. What distinguishes those that are called to be equippers from those who are being equipped is the word “some”.
…“some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers”. The word “some” means “truly or certainly”. All the members of the Church are saints but “some” of the saints are “truly/certainly” called to equip the rest of the saints. The saints/followers of God who do not hold any of the five offices are to be going out into the world as individual’s that have been prepared for service to the world as the Greek words mean in there simplest form.
Some call the five ministries the “fivefold ministry”. The first thing to take into consideration is modern Christianity has changed the definition of the word church. In America if you say the word church you are talking about a physical building. To simplify things let’s call that the church “with walls”. On the other hand God calls the Church His Body, which is comprised as individuals united together as followers of God. To simplify things let’s call that the Church “without walls”.
The “fivefold minister” inside the church “with walls” is someone selected by God as a gift to the Church “without walls”. The “fivefold minister” is to equip and prepare the Church “without walls” for the works of the ministry outside of the church “with walls”. The work of the ministry that the Church “without walls” is to be equipped in is all five of the fivefold ministries which are: 1) apostle (messenger, one sent forth as in Matthew 28 GO….), 2) prophet (speaking on God’s behalf), 3) evangelist (proclaiming the Gospel of Salvation and the Kingdom) 4) pastor (a person that cares for a group of people) 5) teachers (one who teaches concerning the things of God in relationship to God and humanity).
Let’s look at how this would apply in the role of a teacher. The teacher who holds the office of teacher is to teach and prepare everyone with in the church how to teach which means (teach concerning the things of God in relationship to God and humanity). Then when a saint who have been taught how to teach is equipped they can to and teach people who are not saints about how to have relationship with God.
This way of understanding the “fivefold ministry” accomplishes several things. It empowers each believer to be a minister wherever they are. It gives each believer no limitations as to what ministry they can do in the world…. All things are possible. If God needs someone to pastor people at a particular place of employment. God does not need to send the “fivefold pastor/minister” who holds the office of pastor to the workplace to pastor there. Why? Because God already has a saint the Church “without walls”, who works there who has been prepared to pastor in that place of employment. If God needs to send someone into a hardware store to minister as an evangelist, then any saint who has been equipped/prepared by the “fivefold evangelist minister” can go into the hardware store and minister as an evangelist.
When we grow in relationship by spending time with and yielding to God, then His desired results will is fulfilled. His desired results is that the saints become like Jesus who changed the world everywhere He was. How does God tell us that He accomplishes this? The way He does this is a combination of things. One way is by being trained/equipped by those that hold the five offices so they can do all five activities everywhere they go. This is to be in conjunction with the followers of Jesus spending time alone with God in order to become transformed into His image.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
The result is then the saints will be busy doing the will of the Father on earth as it is in heaven just as Jesus said and did… I do only what I see My Father doing. (John 5:19)
No one, not even Christ Himself could do any form of God’s ministry apart from the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. Jesus lived actively in all of the “fivefold ministries”. Not only did He do so, but Jesus said…
John 14:12
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
The enemy of the gospel is the one that gives a saint(the Church or follower of God) a reason why they can’t do what Jesus said in John 14:12. The enemy desires to stop you from ministering in the anointing of the Holy Spirit in all five aspects of ministry that are noted in Ephesians 4:11. The same enemy is also terrified of the idea of the saints believing what Jesus said in John 14 because he knows if they believe it, then they would be busy preaching the Gospel and making disciples which would destroy his kingdom. Praise be to God that once we know the truth we are set free from the lies. Once we believe what God says then we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us by and through relying solely on the Holy Spirits anointing and power (including any of the “fivefold ministry” where ever God has us in the world).
Acts 1:8
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
So just listen to Jesus by starting with the people of your city. I have seen God use all of the “fivefold ministry” in direct and indirect forms to make disciples.
1) Apostle is “a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.” When you go out into the world, go as a person sent or authorized to represent Christ with His orders to give the message of salvation, preach the Gospel, make disciples. This is a mindset that means you are to live in close relationship with the Lord as your primary source and purpose of Life. 2) Prophet "one who speaks forth openly", "a proclaimer of a divine message." This anointing manifests in many ways, but there are a few that seem to be vital in making disciples and presenting the message of good news. They are edification, exhortation and comfort. Edification, in building up people by sharing what God thinks of them. How valuable they are to Him, how He made them in His image and likeness, how He has given them His powerful attributes. Exhortation, in encouraging and urging them into the life He has for them through the Gospel. Comfort, in knowing that God is with them every moment of their life ready to welcome them into His family through the Gospel and be there in their deepest struggles. There are many other aspects of this such as when people are edified or comforted when God speaks to them through a word of knowledge or through healing. This is just mentioning a few of the ways the gift of prophecy works. 3) Evangelists… it is interesting that this is in the center of the “fivefold ministry”. I believe because it is the center point of God’s primary service/ministry to humanity in order that all would come to know Him and His Love.
Evangelism is at the core of God’s desire for God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, He is patient with all, not wanting anyone to perish, but desiring everyone to come to repentance. Evangelism is the means by which Churches are full of Christians today. To become a Christian, you must first get saved. If evangelism stopped for just one generation Christianity would be gone from the face of the earth. This is why God says in His word..
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14)
Evangelism that makes disciples has a pathway in Romans 10:14
1) Sent: The Greek is apostellō and comes from the same two root words in Greek as apostolos which is the word for apostle which Christ has sent all believers in Matthew 28 to make disciples by the message of the Gospel.
2) Preach: Then once a saint has been sent (which is all saints) then they must preach. Preach means: An official messenger bringing news, to be a sign that (something) is about to happen. The public proclamation of the Gospel and matters pertaining to it with gravity and authority.
3) Hear: To perceive by the hearing of the ear what is announced in one's presence to learn, comprehend, to understand a teaching or a teacher.
4) Believe: To think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in, to trust Jesus: saving faith.
5) To call upon: to call upon by way of adoration (deep love and respect, worship; veneration). As the result of thankfulness for Jesus Christ sacrificial death that released the soul from bondage and imprisonment threw forgiveness and pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), with the full remission of the penalty.
After evangelist is number four of the “fivefold ministry” Pastor which means a shepherd. A shepherd is a person that cares for sheep or in this case others. A shepherd feeds, nurtures, provides, protects and guides others. When a person acts in the role of a shepherd those that are being shepherded experience love. Here is one example of how this practically leads to evangelism. In the company that I work with for years there was an employee who lived life apart from relationship with God. He did not see his need for a savior. He was a great employee. His personal life was consumed with drinking and partying. He even turned his garage into a sports bar for him and his friends. The owner of the company is a godly man who has a personal relationship with God through faith in the good news of Jesus dying for his sins being buried and rising from the dead. The owner loved and applied all the characteristics of being a pastored to the employee. For many years he would speak to him about the opportunity to know God while displaying all the aspects of a pastor to him. As time went on the employee made some choices in his personal life that lead him down a rode which was going to bring an end to his marriage and would have separated him from his wife and child. The owner who was pastoring him took time to love him and once again tell him the only way to have the power to live free of the things that were about to destroy his relationship with his wife and child is to have a personal relationship with Jesus. At that point after many years of being pastored by the owner he gave his life to Jesus. In this example we see that the owner considered himself one who was sent to speak the truths of God’s salvation as he pastored and taught his employee. As result evangelism took place and the employee gave his life to God through the simple gospel.
The final of the “fivefold ministry” is Teaching. I have had the privilege of leading many souls into a personal relationship with God through teaching people the Gospel of Salvation. It is the truth that set a person free. Many times before a person is willing to receive eternal life by entering into a relationship with Jesus through the Gospel, they have to hear the truth in order to get rid of lies. Teaching truth about God destroys the works of the devil who holds people captive in and through lies. Speaking to religious leaders who taught lies about God, God’s word states the following.
You(religious teachers) are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44) He who sins (continually) is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
Jesus said the following: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19) I used the King James version because most all others use the word disciple in place of teach. In the original Greek language the word teach and disciple have very similar meanings. The point is that a disciple is a person that is learning from a teacher. Teaching goes hand in hand with the preaching of the Gospel with the results of individuals believing in Jesus as their lord and savior.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.(Acts 5:42) also see (Acts 15:35, 28:31)
Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:12)
Most people have been taught lies about God and therefore they do not desire Him based on the lies they have heard about Him. This is where teaching fits directly into evangelism. When people are taught the truth about God’s true character and His plan for them both now and for all eternity, then they can be set free from the lie’s which keeps them from receiving God’s love through the Gospel. Here is an example many have been taught that God is cruel and hates them and wants to send them to Hell for their sins. When you teach them the truth that God loves them and values them so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for them so they do not have to go to Hell, then they hear the truth and no longer think about God in the same way. When they change their thinking about God and what His goodness has done for them they think differently and are led to desire a relationship with Him. It is through the teaching of the goodness of God that people are led to repentance (a change of mind) which results in salvation and relationship with God.
To understand the fullness that God desires to accomplish concerning the fivefold ministry take time alone with God and read the rest of the context of the passage. Then ask Him to reveal to you His plan of how He desires for you to operate in the fivefold ministry.
…for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.(Ephesians 4:12b-16)