The 5-fold Ministry
Learn the importance of the offices of apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist and teacher.
There is also the restoration of the 5-fold ministry,Guest Posting on the basis of the 5-fold grace of the Lord Jesus, spoken of in Ephesians 4:11
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers”
The Lord began to restore the office of the evangelist in the 1950s, the office of the pastor in the 1960s, the office of the teacher in the 1970s, the office of the prophet in the 1980s, and the office of the apostle in the 1990s. These offices are graces of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. They are not titles, as doctor, reverend, deacon, elder, bishop, etc are titles. The 5-fold offices are functions. They are giftings, abilities, graces and anointings that the Lord Jesus operated in, and now He is distributing them among His servants. The reason why I mention the fact that these are not titles but functions, is because for such people, the title is not the important thing, but the heart, the calling, the function, the mandate. That’s their life.
You can always tell when a person is a prayer intercessor and warrior for example. Every believer is operating in a certain level of prayer, and every believer is praying at least a little every day. Yet, you can always recognize when a certain believer is not just praying for the record, but that’s his passion, his calling, and his destiny. That’s his/her life. He/She is an intercessor. It’s as simple as that. No need of convincing us that this person is such. It can be seen from 1000 miles.
Every believer is praising and worshipping the Lord to a certain extend as well. But we can always recognize the ones that are just called to be worshippers. Sometimes it does not have anything to do with their natural talents and abilities. It’s just that the heart of the worshipper that is in them in a much greater measure than in the usual believer.
It’s the same with the 5-fold ministry gifts. They are functions. A part of Jesus’ life and ministry has been invested in them. Jesus the Apostle has been invested in the ones functioning as apostles; Jesus the Prophet in the ones functioning as prophets, Jesus the Evangelist in the ones functioning as evangelists; Jesus the Pastor in the ones functioning as pastors, and Jesus the Teacher in the ones functioning as teachers. It’s the life of Jesus, the anointing of Jesus, the abilities of Jesus, the grace of Jesus, the functions of Jesus. That’s why; they become extensions of His ministry in the Church.
Now the challenge again – each 5 fold office to accept the other, because they are all an extension of Jesus Christ on Earth. The second challenge is the Church to respond to and accept all the 5-fold offices, especially those of the prophet and the apostle. For the most part, the Church worldwide is accepting and responding to the offices of the evangelist, pastor and teacher, and that is very good, but it is only three fifths of the whole Image of Christ for His Church. Every office should be obvious for recognition, if we have an open heart and mind, and if we know the Biblical requirements and standards for each one of them.
Because if the Church doesn’t accept the 5-fold ministry in its fullness, it will not be able to progressively move forward to the next image of God’s Glory – the mighty movement of God’s Saints, that have acquired God’s image to the fullest. That’s actually the purpose of the restoration of the 5-fold ministry:
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (bold added by the author) (Ephesians 4:11-16)
The purpose of the Lord restoring the five fold ministries is to equip His saints for the work of the ministry, so we can all reach what? – The measure of the Image (stature) of the fullness of Christ. God does not want us to remain forever babies and children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine. You see, you can do nothing intelligent with a baby, except to amuse him/her. So, we must all grow up. That’s what the 5-fold ministers are here for.
A time is coming where every saint will move mightily in God’s image – revealing God’s Glory, God’s Grace and a course in miracles anointing – expanding the Kingdom of God everywhere and bringing back the King, so He can rightfully rule and reign with His saints.
“Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours” (Deuteronomy 11:24)
“But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.” (Daniel 7:18)
“Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” (Daniel 7:22)
Do you believe that? If you do, it’s time to accept the challenge of each progressive image. Because it will not happen if we accept 1, 2, 3, or even 9 of let’s say 10 restoration revelation truths and it wouldn’t happen if we accept only 3 of the 5 offices of the Lord Jesus Christ. Obviously, the equipping will not be complete this way, and will not reach the full measure of the stature of Christ – only 3/5 of it.
The challenge is that the progressive image of God is coming through people (human vessels), and not directly to us from the Lord. But even if you receive the image of God directly, have you considered the fact, that all the others will still have the challenge of receiving that image from you, because you yourself are also a human being?
The Lord is raising fathers, pioneers, reformers and leaders that are bringing God’s order back to the Church. If you are such a person, or you are called to be one – please continue to seek the Lord and improve yourself in God’s Image, so you can say to the ones after you as Apostle Paul said: “imitate me, as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
If you are called to be a son or a daughter, or be a part of the great company of saints following – be faithful to the ones the Lord is placing above you. Be a “Timothy to Paul”, an “Elisha to Elijah”, a “David to Samuel”, and a “Joshua to Moses”. Don’t reject, limit or stop the flow of God’s image, grace and anointing as Gehazi did for lack of character, lack of right motives, desire for money and power, etc. Be faithful! Your time will come. Help God’s man or woman above you. Help your apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher or evangelist.