“Five-Fold Ministry”

What is often called “the five-fold ministry of the church” has been grossly misnomered as five positions in the Church.

The apostle/bishop – is the only listed ministry that is also a position. But that position is totally misrepresented if the person with the title does not provide the relationship defined by the title.

The other four relationship-ministries may be provided by deacons, sons and daughters, mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc.

• The prophet is the person who provides the WORD OF GOD to all who will hear
• The evangelist is not limited to, or bound by, a local jurisdiction but hungers for the conversion of sinners to the Kingdom
• The pastor is a care-giver, providing care and guidance to all who will receive it.
• The teacher – educates with patience until doctrine is learned.

These ministries are divine relationships – not positions. They are provided by people who themselves are “gifts of the Spirit” to the Church. (Ephesians 4:8) I asked a group of men one day, “How many people do you pastor?” They all responded, “We’re not pastors.” I did not ask them if they were pastors, but they were quick to disavow any pastoral responsibility. I have never met anyone who did not pastor someone. If you pastor someone, then you are a pastor. The question was/is not “Are you are a pastor” but the question is “What are you pouring into the spirit of those you pastor? Where do you wish to lead them and how do you wish for them to act?” A 10-year-old boy overheard my question to these men and responded, “I think I pastor at least 10.” If we will “know the Truth,” it will make a difference.

The contemporary church confuses “manifestations of the Spirit” and “gifts of the Spirit”. Concerning the manifestation gifts, the manifestation IS the “gift”. The fact that any man can witness the works and Word of God is a “gift” from the Spirit to that man. This does not negate the fact that “the word of wisdom,” etc is a gift, but the word of wisdom, etc is a gift to the person it is addressed to while the manifestation is a gift to those who witness it. (1Corinthians 12:7) The mailman is also a gift because he has become a willing vessel for the delivery service offered by the Holy Ghost.

In Ephesians 4:8, the Scripture declares that the people who provide ministries are “gifts” to the church. The deacon is a person who provides ministry to the church and therefore is a “gift of the Spirit” to the church. They provide administration (among other things). Remember, administration is a gift from the individual who gives to the church; The PERSON is the gift that God (through the Spirit) has given to the church.

THESE WILLING VESSELS ARE PRECIOUS PEOPLE WHO BECOME “THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD” IN THE LIFE OF OTHERS. (1Peter 5:6)

Ray’s preface: Tim provided this article in the form of a comment to the article that I published about a year ago titled, “The Office of Apostle.” I felt that  it deserved a more prominent display so I have published it here as an article under Tim’s name. I believe that you will find great value in Tim’s thoughts….

Scripturally there are only two offices in the New Testament Church… The Deacon and the Bishop/Apostle.

A mans work defines him… not a title, education or self-proclamation.

Deacons provided care and oversight of the local congregations as well as facilitating meeting, baptisms, evangelism and other essential ministry.

In keeping with strict Scriptural standard, the Apostle gives himself to the study of the Word and establishing the work, recruiting and empowering deacons, training and appointing those deacons, establishing bishops to the local churches as well as several other clearly identified responsibilities.

In contrast to contemporary teaching on “Five-Fold Ministry,” the work would better be defined as “Five-Fold Relationships.”

Jesus never embraced “positional relationship” outside of “teacher” and “disciple” and even emphasized that responsibility at his parting in Matthew 28.

Paul directed our attention to five essential relationships that God uses “within the Church” to grow and equip believers for successful service in the Kingdom of God. These relationships should never be misconstrued as positions held in organized religion. They are easily identified within the parameters of “two” New Testament offices established in the church.

The “True Follower” of Christ can identify by name the “person” who fills these relationship needs in their life.

• Apostle – establishes the work/has “appointed you to your service” (No man may be self-appointed and be in harmony with the kingdom of God”.) He is the person to whom you are accountable. (There should be only one)
• Prophet – provides guidance for service. He/She is that person through whom you seek or hear God’s direct word and divine purpose. (Most people have several)
• Evangelist – That person whom God uses to reach out to you when you stray from the path or direction for your life. (God may use anyone at any time, even without their knowing, to influence your path)
• Pastor – That person who cares for you and watches over you regardless of your actions or preferences. (Godly Mothers are Perfect Pastors to their children and provide an excellent model of what a pastor really is) (Most people have more than one)
• Teacher – That person whom you have empowered to teach you and train you in the area of your specific service to the Kingdom. (To use this relationship in some generic or general way demeans the measure of importance that Paul gave it by establishing it as ESSENTIAL to the maturity of the disciple.) (You may have MANY)

If you cannot put a name to the man who provides Apostolic relationship for you as well as the others God has placed in your life, I encourage you to seek the Lord until you can.

There is much more here than can be told in a few small paragraphs… I hope that I have stirred the thought of those who read this.

Recently, a person with whom I correspond asked this question. Here is a part of the question:

Am I saved because I say “I love you Jesus, come into my heart”? Or am I saved when the Spirit enters my soul and sends a message to me that we are now one. …

My point is this. I believe that Jesus makes the decision, not us. He has the power to give Salvation. Man does not have the power to take it when he wants it.

Here is my reply…

I understand where you are coming from. The problem (IMHO) is in the definition of the word “saved.” It all depends upon your theological perspective. The varied definitions of what & when have caused a multitude of other conflicting theological issues as well (“once saved, always saved” is a good example.)

Recently, I saw a non-trinitarian church sign which said, “Acts 2:38 – The plan of salvation.” I assume that they believe (as many “oneness” churches do) that you are not SAVED until you repent, are baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ” and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (as a simplistic reading of Acts 2:38 may suggest).

Not meaning to “throw gasoline on the fire” but the NIV uses the term “being saved” in Acts 2:47; 1Co 1:18 & 2Co 2:15. This suggests that it has not yet happened! Another phrase that speaks of our relationship to God is “redemption.” But that also is used for events that have not yet come to pass: cf. Ep. 4:30; 1:14 & Lu 21:28.

Read the rest of this entry »

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Make Disciples

The word discipleship has HUGE baggage with it. For some it brings memories of a boring class, or workbook. For others it brings memories of a set of legalistic rules you had to follow for 8 weeks and at the end of that time you were handed a piece of paper that said you were officially a disciple. I remember when I was a teenager and I was signed up for the Tuesday night discipleship program in my youth group. At the end of the night after finishing 1/8 of our discipleship process my girlfriend and I would sneak out behind the church and do things that were not very “disciple like”  These programs and people were not wrong in their motive, and at some time or another all of us have tried to use a systematic program to make disciples, but at the end of that road we have dealt with the frustration of our people being smarter but not transformed.

Discipleship is not information download or attendance!

So what is it? How do we make disciples? Well….for me to give a systematic answer would not do you any good since those don’t work. All I can do is speak from my experiences and reading of the gospels. Read the rest of this entry »