Five-Fold Ministry
The Five-Fold Ministry doctrine is derived from Ephesians 4:11 "And He
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;"
Just as the "little cloud...like a man's hand" (I Kings 18:44) preceeded the flooding rain, the five ministry giftings will preceed the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Holiness and power that the Church of Jesus Christ has ever known.
For almost two thousand years the Church has hobbled about in self-imposed weakness because of Her failure to recognize God's provision for power.
The same preachers who warn us: "Never pray for patience" for "tribulation worketh patience" (Romans 5:3) admonish us to pray and fast for maturity and unity, when our Father's provision is already revealed in Ephesians 4:11-15.
Perhaps their blindness to the truth is motivated by an improper understanding of the ministry gifts. Perhaps they feel that the recognition of these gifts would impose some sort of clerical heirarchy upon the Church. Quite the opposite is true. The function of the ministry gifts and their benefits are like salvation: our Heavenly Father doesn't force salvation on us, our acceptance of Christ as our Savior and all the ensuing benefits is voluntary. The same with the ministry gifts.
Several years ago, I flew to Florida to help my sister-in-law move back to Michigan. Before departing, I gave instructions to a friend to make sure the car was ready for the journey. When I arrived, I discovered that the car which was supposed to haul my sister-in-law and her family as well as a trailer had only four of it's six cylinders functioning. Additionally, the transmission had only second and third gear... no first or reverse! We survived the 1300 mile trip. However, our journey would have much easier had the car been functioning the way it's designers had intended.
As a young Christian, I was told to "read the red" (in other words: study the Gospels, especially the words of Christ). Well, I did. And one thing I learned by studying Jesus' teachings was that He expected the Church to walk in power, unity and maturity. Thirty years later, I can only deduce that today's Church is weak and divided because we are running on only one or two cylinders instead of the five originally intended.
| Responsibility | Natural Manifestation | |
| Apostle | Doctrine and Discipline | Enjoys building things: projects, businesses, etc. |
| Prophet | Discern and Proclaim God's Word. | Has a keen (sometimes problematic) sense of Justice. |
| Evangelist | Present the Gospel of Christ to the lost. | Enjoys direct contact with people. Most are successful salesmen. |
| Pastor | To care for the everyday needs of the church family | Enjoys serving. Loves to have people come to their home. |
| Teacher | Instruct the Church in the practicalapplication of God's Word. | Is able to explain complex issues in a way that even a child can understand. |
Replies
Pastor Danielle L Burton said:
I love the way this is broken down. Everyday there is new revelation to Gods people. We have to train ourselves in the ways of God, we have to see through Gods eyes! It is so important to study to show thy approved.
The 5 fold Ministry is so important to the body of Christ. Without the whole of the 5 Fold Ministry how can we fully operate and be effective.
The five fold ministry comes from Ephesian 4:11, he gave some apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastor, teachers. The gift of the apostle is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to assume and to exercise divinely imparted authority in order to establish the foundational government of an assigned sphere of ministry within the church. An apostle hears from the holy spirit and sets things in order accordingly for the church's healthy growth, maturity, and outreach. (Luke 6:12-13, I Cor. 12:28, Eph. 2:20, 4:11-13).
The gift of prophets is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to his people through a divinely anointed utterance. (Luke 7:26, Acts 15:32, 21:9-11, Romans 12:26, I Cor. 12:10, 28, Eph. 4:11-13).
The gift of the evangelist is the special ability that gives to certain members of the body of Christ to share the gospel with unbelievers in such a way that men and women become Jesus disciples and responsible members of the body of Christ. (Acts 8:5-6 26-40, 14:21, 21:8, Eph. 4:11-13, II Tim. 4:5).
The gift of the pastor is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to assume a long term personal responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers. Pastor is used to describe the leader of a local congregation, they have other gifts like a leader or teacher as well. (John 10:1-18, Eph. 4:11-13, I Tim. 3:1-7, I Pet. 5:1-3).
Amen!!! There is so much confirmation in this and so much wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Being a young christian I can relate because of the many things I have seen visiting many and being a member of a couple churches. But within my first year of ministry as a Young Evangelist I want to make my mark in this world!!!
I'm excited about working in the Five Fold Ministry with the gifts God the Father has given me alone side other great men and women of God.
I thank GOD for Jesus giving the 5-fold ministry, so there will not be no BIG I an LITTLE U. in the body of Christ. I know there are different position but all when all the gifts are working we are all one in the same in Christ.
I didn't realize how much I didn't know about the word of God. This is the most powerful description I've ever heard. Growing up Baptist, this is not taught in Sunday school, nor in Bible study. Evangelism 101-106, I don't recall this being applied in any course. I love the synopsis, Pastor Tyeshana, of the church is running on only two cylinders instead of five.
It was He (Jesus) who gave some to be apostles, prophets,evangelist, pastors and teachers to prepare Gods people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:11-13)-Many leaders have taken the role of all five offices in the local churches, often serving their own interests, need for power and recognition, denying others--- the"laity" any kind of involvement in church government. God appointed them, and is therefore of utmost importance to get a biblical understanding of the Five-Fold Ministry, so that our churches will be healthy and functioning according to the will and plan of God. I personally don't feel that one function has more value than another, On the contrary, those who speak the Word of God, who preach and teach, which is all part of the five-fold ministry, are held to a higher accountability, and their goal is not to serve themselves, but the flock of God, so that they would obtain all the fullness of Christ. ( Eph. 4:12-13 ) With the visibility comes the responsibility, and with the responsibility the higher accountability. God has set His leaders in place for His church to function, and those truly called into these places will have been tested, and proven, having gone through the fire of preparation, and they display true humility and Christ-likeness, not desiring a position, but wanting to serve their KING any way He wants them.
The office of the pastor is one of the most recognized today of all five. Because of a lack of understanding of the other four, those called by God to these other offices have often had to fill the shoes that were not theirs, and creating tension in their churches because they could not meet their sheep's needs. It is time for the church to allow the evangelist, teachers, apostles, and prophets to be what they are called to be and take their rightful place in church. Then they will find themselves in a place of growth and equipping that nobody had ever dreamed possible. Only when the church becomes what the Head meant her to be, with all offices in place, will we truly come into full maturity and have the ability to fulfill the commission our Master gave us, to make disciples of all nations, doing the same works He did, and even greater.
I love how you associated the five-fold-ministry with that of a car. Coming from a Baptist background. I did not see the different position being field. They don't really believe in women preacher and prophets. It left me wondering where did I belong. I have been lost for so long and it feels good to be free. I am no knocking anybody's belief but I knew it was more to it then what I was being taught. If a prophet did not exist then why did I know things that I should not know. It is sad that only a portion of Gods word is being taught. Only certain position are being for field. It is maindated by God that all position are field in his house. One really can't work without the other.
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