In this series of five posts I plan on revisiting a topic that I have taught on in the past.
I have seen a great misunderstanding of the duties, the roles and the relationships of the several ministries of the church in regards to each other and to the flock.
I am writing this to give a clearer understanding of the functioning ministries of the church and the importance of having each ministry functioning properly.
I will talk about the five ministries in order of appearance in verse 11 of the text.
TEXT: Ephesians 4: 7-13
4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
4:11 And he gave some, APOSTLES; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Let us start with the original Greek definition of what the word apostle means.
Apostle (Greek - apostolos): a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - messenger, he that is sent.
Just as we the church should seek out and apply the Gifts of the Spirit in our lives for the edification of the body of believers, so too should we seek out and apply the five fold ministry in our churches today.
According to verses 12 and 13 of our text, the body is not complete without all five ministries properly functioning within the body.
This passage alone turns the doctrine of cessation on its own head due to the fact that the doctrine of cessation abounds only in the logic that the Holy Ghost stopped working when the last of the apostles died. I dare say that their are Apostles all around the globe today!! If this were not so then it would be reasonable to say that God left us with an incomplete body and that He so intentionally.
The word Apostle refers in a general since to all those that are saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. How is this true? Because Christ has called each and every one of us as believers to share the Gospel with a lost and dying world and to be delegates sent with His authority in His name!!
Even thought the role of the Apostle is the second least talked about and referred to of the five ministries (the Evangelist being the absolute least referred to) we have the lives of the original 12 and Paul to base what the sign and calling of an Apostle looks like. (Bear in mind that someone with a calling might operate in more than one of the ministries. Example: Most Pastors must operate in the office of the Teacher as well. Paul even commanded Timothy to be apt to teach and to do the work of an Evangelist).
In a very specific since, the term Apostle refers to missionaries and many people get the calling of Evangelist and Apostle confused.
Right now I could name off the top of my head several Apostles that I have had the great pleasure of coming in contact with and maybe you as a reader could as well.
If you were living in the days of the early church and had a calling upon your life for the mission fields, you would have had the title of Apostle. This terminology is in no way to be misconstrued as being all inclusive of the original twelve disciples of Christ. The word Apostle (singular form) is used 19 times in the New Testament and not once in the four gospels. The word Apostles (plural form) is used 59 times in the New Testament and only 8 of those was in the four gospels.
The calling of the Apostle is every wit as important today as the calling of Pastor or Evangelist or any of the others.
Here are a few passages of scripture that may help distinguish who an Apostle is or can be, how many there are or were and what they are/were called to do.
The calling:
Mark 16: 14-20
16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. I have underlined a couple key phrases in this passage that you should take special note of.
Only 12 Apostles?
Luke 10: 1-3 & 17-20
10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Hebrews 3: 1 & 14
3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
I hope that all who read this may grow in the knowledge and wisdom of The Word.
Love and Blessings,
Jonathan D. Saunders.
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