FIVE FOLD MINISTRY OFFICES
The first thing to consider on the subject of the fivefold ministry offices is that they are offices to which one is called by God himself. Every person in this world has a purpose in God. Some people God has separated to serve in these ministry offices. God set these offices in the Church and it is He who calls those who are to serve. There is not a man in this entire creation that is authorized to call anyone into one of these offices. Historically, when that happens, the result is almost always tragic. You do not enter into any phase of fivefold ministry just because you like the idea of it. You enter it when God takes hold of you and anoints you and places that call on your life. If it happens, you'll know it. You don't "stumble into it"; you enter in God's will.
The Characteristics of an Apostle
1. An apostle is first and foremost a preacher and/or teacher of the Word.
2. An apostle has a relationship with the Lord that is extraordinarily strong; a uniquely deep and personal encounter with Him.
3. An apostle's ministry encompasses all other ministry gifts, resulting in an ability to establish spiritual authority in the Church. The apostle's ministry has workings of all the other ministry gifts, including the office of prophet and pastor (apostles can stand in the office of pastor). The apostle has a special gift for building a church.
4. An apostle has outstanding abilities to provide spiritual leadership in the church.
5. An apostle is powerful in spiritual gifts. Since an apostle's ministry is so broad, the gifts that are strong in the other ministry gifts (Revelation gifts in a prophet, healing and miracles in an evangelist, etc.) are strong in the ministry of an apostle.
A final Word: The ministry of apostle is indeed alive and well in the Body of Christ today. It is important in the complete operation of the church.
The Characteristics of A PROPHET
1. On the subject of what the NT Greek says about the prophet, a Greek scholar commented : "He speaks from the impulse of a sudden inspiration, from the light of a sudden revelation at the moment. The idea of speaking from sudden revelation seems here to be fundamental, as relating to future events or to the mind of the Spirit in general."
2. A prophet is a preacher or teacher of the Word foremost. (a minister separated and called to full time ministry.)
3. A prophet's ministry runs strong in the revelation gifts (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits) working in conjunction with the gift of prophecy.
{Note: Any spirit filled believer may prophecy, as well as operate in any of the revelation gifts. There is something about how these gifts combine and work in cooperation with one another regularly that is the distinguishing indication of the ministry of the prophet.}
The Characteristics of A PASTOR
1. A pastor is primarily a teacher. In fact, some claim that the office of pastor and the office of teacher are actually the same. There are similarities, but also diversities between the two. Primarily, this difference is illustrated within the scope of a pastors burden of responsibility toward the local body. There are, however, anointed and strong preachers of the Word who stand as pastors.
2. The pastor is one of the most important offices. Without this vital ministry, all other offices are in vain. The pastor must be there to shepherd those who are won to the Lord. It is the most needed office.
3. The office of pastor is set and established by the Holy Spirit, and there are supernatural gifts that come into operation regularly within this office.
4. A pastor is a supernatural office, and a pastor must be able to operate in the spiritual realm. A pastor moves strongly in the gifts of a word of knowledge, a word of wisdom, and even tongues and interpretation. A pastor needs the supernatural equipment from the Holy Spirit in order to feed the congregation a fresh word every week. Also, the word of wisdom is important in counseling. A pastor must learn to counsel by the Spirit.
6. A pastor has a shepherd's heart. It is his most outstanding characteristic. It is a burden placed on the heart of a pastor to see his congregation grow in the Lord, and to protect them from harm. A pastor must be a warrior going to battle on behalf of his church.
7. An intense love for the people of God, coupled with an intense hatred for the enemy that attacks them, is the heart of a pastor.
The Characteristics of an EVANGELIST
Most notably, an evangelist preaches the salvation of Christ no matter where they begin. That is the message. The supernatural gifts of miracles and healing operate regularly within the ministry of an evangelist. Healing and miracles were a major part of the work of Christ. Christ cannot be preached fully without miracles and healing. An evangelist must be a preacher of the Word. An evangelist is a preacher more than anything else. Sinners must be moved to salvation by strong and uncompromising preaching of the Word of God.
An evangelist depends on the other ministry gifts. Once an evangelist leads sinners to the Lord, who will establish them? Who will shepherd them and teach them? An evangelist needs the apostle, prophet, pastor and teacher to take over once his mission is accomplished.
An evangelist's ministry is a traveling ministry by nature. He travels about seeking the lost to bring them to the Lord.
The Characteristics of A TEACHER
Teaching is a gift and a teacher is an office. There are those in other 5-fold offices as well as helps ministry that are anointed to teach, yet they do not stand in the ministry office of teacher. The office of teacher is applied to one who is separated and called to full time ministry. This ministry may be stationary (such as pastoral) or traveling ministry. But one thing is constant. This office carries with it the distinct anointing to take the mysteries of God's Word and make it clear to the understanding of those who hear.
A common response to the ministry of a teacher would be, "Ah, now I get it!" A teacher makes the prospect of living a powerful, authoritative life within reach through the expounding of God's Word; taking the unfathomable truths of God and making them reasonable. A good example of this teaching anointing is evident within the Word of Faith Movement.
The offices of pastor and teacher are quite similar. A pastor will be required to be a teacher to his flock much of the time. Many times a teacher who has a stationary ministry will stand in a pastoral position.
The main distinction between the office of pastor and the office of teacher is that a pastor has a shepherd's heart for his local church. A strong love and compassion for his flock as well as a marked hatred for the devil that attacks the church is a characteristic of a pastor. A teacher has a desire to see people live up to their potential in Christ. A teacher's perspective is different from a pastor. Keep in mind, however, that one can occupy more than one ministry office.
The first thing to consider on the subject of the fivefold ministry offices is that they are offices to which one is called by God himself. Every person in this world has a purpose in God. Some people God has separated to serve in these ministry offices. God set these offices in the Church and it is He who calls those who are to serve. There is not a man in this entire creation that is authorized to call anyone into one of these offices. Historically, when that happens, the result is almost always tragic. You do not enter into any phase of fivefold ministry just because you like the idea of it. You enter it when God takes hold of you and anoints you and places that call on your life. If it happens, you'll know it. You don't "stumble into it"; you enter in God's will.
The Characteristics of an Apostle
1. An apostle is first and foremost a preacher and/or teacher of the Word.
2. An apostle has a relationship with the Lord that is extraordinarily strong; a uniquely deep and personal encounter with Him.
3. An apostle's ministry encompasses all other ministry gifts, resulting in an ability to establish spiritual authority in the Church. The apostle's ministry has workings of all the other ministry gifts, including the office of prophet and pastor (apostles can stand in the office of pastor). The apostle has a special gift for building a church.
4. An apostle has outstanding abilities to provide spiritual leadership in the church.
5. An apostle is powerful in spiritual gifts. Since an apostle's ministry is so broad, the gifts that are strong in the other ministry gifts (Revelation gifts in a prophet, healing and miracles in an evangelist, etc.) are strong in the ministry of an apostle.
A final Word: The ministry of apostle is indeed alive and well in the Body of Christ today. It is important in the complete operation of the church.
The Characteristics of A PROPHET
1. On the subject of what the NT Greek says about the prophet, a Greek scholar commented : "He speaks from the impulse of a sudden inspiration, from the light of a sudden revelation at the moment. The idea of speaking from sudden revelation seems here to be fundamental, as relating to future events or to the mind of the Spirit in general."
2. A prophet is a preacher or teacher of the Word foremost. (a minister separated and called to full time ministry.)
3. A prophet's ministry runs strong in the revelation gifts (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits) working in conjunction with the gift of prophecy.
{Note: Any spirit filled believer may prophecy, as well as operate in any of the revelation gifts. There is something about how these gifts combine and work in cooperation with one another regularly that is the distinguishing indication of the ministry of the prophet.}
The Characteristics of A PASTOR
1. A pastor is primarily a teacher. In fact, some claim that the office of pastor and the office of teacher are actually the same. There are similarities, but also diversities between the two. Primarily, this difference is illustrated within the scope of a pastors burden of responsibility toward the local body. There are, however, anointed and strong preachers of the Word who stand as pastors.
2. The pastor is one of the most important offices. Without this vital ministry, all other offices are in vain. The pastor must be there to shepherd those who are won to the Lord. It is the most needed office.
3. The office of pastor is set and established by the Holy Spirit, and there are supernatural gifts that come into operation regularly within this office.
4. A pastor is a supernatural office, and a pastor must be able to operate in the spiritual realm. A pastor moves strongly in the gifts of a word of knowledge, a word of wisdom, and even tongues and interpretation. A pastor needs the supernatural equipment from the Holy Spirit in order to feed the congregation a fresh word every week. Also, the word of wisdom is important in counseling. A pastor must learn to counsel by the Spirit.
6. A pastor has a shepherd's heart. It is his most outstanding characteristic. It is a burden placed on the heart of a pastor to see his congregation grow in the Lord, and to protect them from harm. A pastor must be a warrior going to battle on behalf of his church.
7. An intense love for the people of God, coupled with an intense hatred for the enemy that attacks them, is the heart of a pastor.
The Characteristics of an EVANGELIST
Most notably, an evangelist preaches the salvation of Christ no matter where they begin. That is the message. The supernatural gifts of miracles and healing operate regularly within the ministry of an evangelist. Healing and miracles were a major part of the work of Christ. Christ cannot be preached fully without miracles and healing. An evangelist must be a preacher of the Word. An evangelist is a preacher more than anything else. Sinners must be moved to salvation by strong and uncompromising preaching of the Word of God.
An evangelist depends on the other ministry gifts. Once an evangelist leads sinners to the Lord, who will establish them? Who will shepherd them and teach them? An evangelist needs the apostle, prophet, pastor and teacher to take over once his mission is accomplished.
An evangelist's ministry is a traveling ministry by nature. He travels about seeking the lost to bring them to the Lord.
The Characteristics of A TEACHER
Teaching is a gift and a teacher is an office. There are those in other 5-fold offices as well as helps ministry that are anointed to teach, yet they do not stand in the ministry office of teacher. The office of teacher is applied to one who is separated and called to full time ministry. This ministry may be stationary (such as pastoral) or traveling ministry. But one thing is constant. This office carries with it the distinct anointing to take the mysteries of God's Word and make it clear to the understanding of those who hear.
A common response to the ministry of a teacher would be, "Ah, now I get it!" A teacher makes the prospect of living a powerful, authoritative life within reach through the expounding of God's Word; taking the unfathomable truths of God and making them reasonable. A good example of this teaching anointing is evident within the Word of Faith Movement.
The offices of pastor and teacher are quite similar. A pastor will be required to be a teacher to his flock much of the time. Many times a teacher who has a stationary ministry will stand in a pastoral position.
The main distinction between the office of pastor and the office of teacher is that a pastor has a shepherd's heart for his local church. A strong love and compassion for his flock as well as a marked hatred for the devil that attacks the church is a characteristic of a pastor. A teacher has a desire to see people live up to their potential in Christ. A teacher's perspective is different from a pastor. Keep in mind, however, that one can occupy more than one ministry office.