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TO THE GLORY OF GOD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Study No 14 THE NATURE OF MAN - Part 4
MINISTRY GIFTS - Ephesians 4:1-16.
There are fundamental differences between ministry gifts and
spiritual gifts, the former being Man, whilst the latter are
Manifestations ( 1 Corinthians 12:7 ); the former being five-fold
offices, the latter nine-fold operations, the former are "given" by
Christ, whilst the latter are "given" by the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:8.
The Ministry Gifts are men, called and equipped to fulfill a
MINISTRY in the Body of Christ. They are not men who bear a title but
have the necessary qualifications to fulfill their ministry. Jesus
said, that in the same manner that His Father had sent forth the
Apostles. John 20:21. (Amp. Bible).
The Godhead
When we examine the Godhead's personalities and ministries we find
the origin of the Ascension Gift Ministries. Consider GENESIS 1:1-3.
In the beginning God...the Spirit of God moved...God said. This
pattern is continuous throughout Scripture. Jesus ministered in the
Authority of His Father's name and the Power of the Holy Spirit.
John 5:43, Acts 10:38. In the Godhead there is complete unity,
utmost respect, mutual recognition. This was the pattern for ministry
in the early church and must be for today also. Read Acts 8.
Jesus sends forth Gifted Men to His Church, in the Authority of
His Name, that name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9-11) and
the Power of the Holy Spirit, who Jesus sent forth from the presence
of the Father. Acts 2:33, Matthew 28:18.
Compare the answer Jesus gave to John as to whether He was the
Anointed One (Messiah). Luke 7:22, and the Believer's commission in
Mark 16:17-18.
A. The APOSTLE
Comes from the Greek word "apostolos" - "a sent one". this heads
the list of ministries in Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Corinthians 12:28,
because this, together with the Prophet, is the foundational
ministry of the Church. Ephesians 2:19,20. This ministry carries
more authority that any other. Its scope is not confined to one
local assembly, but to the whole Body universally. Let us
remember in considering these different ministries, not to pattern
our conceptions after any other person, than Jesus the Son of God,
who was the perfect fulfillment of every ministry. He is the
Great Apostle, Hebrews 3:1,2. The Chief foundation stone
Ephesians 2:20. The Head of the Church. Ephesians 1:22.
Are Apostles for today? Very definitely, yes! Firstly, there is
no scripture anywhere, stating that they finished their job in the
first century after the Cross, nor at any other time since then.
Just because we do not hear so much about this office today, and
the majority of Christians not believing it is for today, does not
prove that we should not expect to see them operating in the
Church. This ministry, together with the other four listed in
Ephesians 4:11, is for the perfecting of the saints, for the work
of the ministry, and 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 fullness of Christ. We have not yet come to the unity of the
faith, nor to the perfecting of the saints, or to the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ. How then can we do without
a primary ministry that is given for this purpose? We accept
generally the ministry of the Pastor, Teacher, and Evangelist, so
let us be consistent with scripture and not cut out the first half
of the verse, saying that it is not for today! Satan's job has
been to make this ministry go unrecognized, so that there would be
no foundations in the Church. Maybe this is why so many groups of
Christians are tottering and swaying in the winds of doctrine! No
foundations - no buildings.
We have seen the Apostle's ministry right throughout the centuries
though perhaps they have not been recognized by this name. Their
job has been to bring a new truth, or moral reform to the existing
group of Christians at that time.
Many folk say that there were only twelve Apostles, and no more
since then. This is not true scripturally, and only keeps us from
unity, and foundations, for today. Study the list of men that
were named as Apostles after Jesus had chosen the twelve:
Matthias - Acts 14:14;
Paul and Barnabas - Acts 16:7;
Adronicus and Junia - Romans 16:7.
Then with the word "apostolos" translated as "messenger" instead
of "Apostle" we get two more:
Titus - 2 Corinthians 8:23;
Epaphroditus - Philippians 2:25.
By comparing several verses with
previous verses in the chapter, we
find several others also -
Silvanus (Silas) and Timotheus (Timothy):
- 1 Thessalonians 1:1, and
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6;
Apollos
- 1 Corinthians 4:6,9.
This gives us ten more than the original twelve, given at
different times after the cross. Why should they not continue
until we all come to the unity of the faith. Consider some "modern
Apostles" - Luther, Wesley, Booth, Knox, etc...
a) Appointment
Always by God alone!
i) Jesus the great Apostle was appointed by a "heavenly calling"
(Hebrews 3:1-2) to which He was faithful. Not being faithful
to the Scribes or Pharisees etc...but to the heavenly calling.
ii) The Son of God appointed the first twelve. Luke 6:13.
iii) Paul. Galatians 1:1.
b) The Prime Ministry in the Local Church
All of the Ministry Gifts are based in the local Church and
though they may travel to other localities to minister, their
usual function is the equipping of the saints in one location.
God has "set" all these Ministry Gifts in the local Church - 1
Corinthians 12:28, and the Apostle is the first in authority in
one location - the local church.
The Apostle, when based or recognized in the local Church in
our modern situation, will produce:
i) Things set in order (proper foundation - Ephesians 2:21), based
on a God-given authority and not democracy.
ii) Growth and strength of the Assembly.
iii) The release of other ministries in the Assembly.
iv) "Candlestick status" of the Assembly, ie. its influence will
reach out beyond its locality.
v) Successful government, direction, discipline and covering in
the Assembly.
c) Signs of Apostleship
Perhaps the greatest sign is humility of ministry! 2 Cor. 10:18.
A man's gift or office makes room for him. Never should a man
make room for his office or gift. "Whoever boasteth himself
of a false gift, is like clouds and wind without rain!"
Proverbs 25:14. A man is an Apostle not so much because of a
title, or prophecy that may have gone over him. We need to
know how to recognise how God sent Apostles, because of the
false Apostles that will come in our day. Revelation 2:2.
Scriptural signs that follow a Bible Apostle:
i) Signs and wonders (healings, miracles, laying on of hands and
judgements).
ii) Establishing local Assemblies.
iii) Humility.
iv) Recognized by other Apostles.
v) Sacrifice.
vi) Suffering.
vii) Visible ministry of angels to him.
viii) Personal revelation of Christ.
ix) Authority.
Paul fulfilled all of these signs:
i) Signs and wonders - 2 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Corinthians 4:19-20.
ii) "Seal of My Apostleship..." - 1 Corinthians 9:2.
iii) Humility - 2 Corinthians 11:22-33; 1 Corinthians 4:9.
iv) Recognition - Galatians 2:9.
v) Sacrifice - Philippians 2:17, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27.
vi) Suffering - 2 Corinthians 4:8-11; 2 Corinthians 11:23-27.
vii) Angels - Acts 27:23.
viii) Visitation of Christ - Acts 9:3-6, 1 Corinthians 9:1.
ix) Authority - 2 Corinthians 10:8; 1 Corinthians 4:19-21.
d) The Apostles' Doctrine. Acts 2:42
We have yet to come to this, in our ecclesiastical pattern
today, but when it does come, we shall see the unity of the
faith, as we have seen it working before. Each local Assembly
believing and teaching the same things, all speaking the same
language, then will we be established with the Lord adding
daily to the Church, as happened in Acts 16:4.
Paul taught the Apostles' doctrine, after he had checked with
the brethren that were of reputation, in Jerusalem (Galatians
2:2) to see that he had not jumped to any private conclusions
of his own, in his revelations from God. Paul was not a
"dictator", but recognized that God spoke to others, as well as
to himself.
e) Apostolic Authority
i) The local sovereign Assemblies were under the authority of
their elders (Bishops or Ministers). The apostles were
included in the eldership of their home Assembly (2 Peter 5:1),
but were accepted on the basis of their ministry by other
Assemblies they visited. It appears that churches begun by an
Apostle continued to relate to him for at least a time -
probably until they were mature enough to handle their own
affairs. Paul says he had the care of all the Churches (1
Corinthians 11:28). He also said he had not built on another
man's foundation (Romans 15:20), so obviously he was referring
only to the Churches begun as a result of his ministry. He
also admitted that churches he had begun refused to co-operate
with him at times or to support his requests, showing the
sovereign nature of the Assemblies.
However, the Assemblies were not "independent". The Apostles'
counsel was recognized as being the Word of the Lord and was
generally complied with. Note all of the Epistles written to
local Churches by the Apostles with details of guidance, church
foundation, revelation and correction.
1 Cor. 4:16-17 - "I teach..every Church"
1 Cor. 7:17 - "Ordain I in every Church"
1 Cor. 11:32 - "set in order when I come"
2 Thess. 3:14 - "If any obey not our word"
2 Cor. 11:28 - "Care of all the Churches"
1 Cor. 5:3 - "I have judged already"
2 Cor. 2:9 - "Whether ye be obedient in all things"
Philemon v 21 - Commanded Philemon to restore Onesimus.
ii) At the Jerusalem Conference (Acts 15) all four speakers were
Apostles bringing the unity of the faith.
Apostles, like all other ministries, are not infallible.
Galatians 2:11-13 tells of Paul withstanding Peter to his face!
Both were Apostles. Acts 15:36-41 tells of the sharp
contention between Paul and Barnabas, and their separation over
it. Again, both were Apostles.
iii) Placing of Ministries:
Paul sent Tychicus to Ephesus - Ephesians 6:21.
Paul sent Epaphroditus to Philippi - Phil. 2:25.
Paul sent Artemas to Titus - Titus 3:12.
Apostles sent Peter and John to Samaria - Acts 8:14.
iv) Ordination - The Apostles have the right to bring other
ministries before the people and to set them apart for service
of God. This applied to both other Ministry Gifts (1 Timothy
1:6, 4:14; Acts 14:23) or to deacons (Acts 6:6).
Paul warns Timothy, himself an Apostle, to take care in
ordaining anyone too soon. 1 Timothy 5:22.
v) Impartation of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Spiritual
Gifts is also generally an apostolic prerogative. Acts 8:14-18;
Romans 1:11; Gal. 3:5.
vi) Judgement - Acts 5:3-11; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; 1 Timothy 1:20;
2 Corinthians 13:2; Acts 13:11.
f) Finally,
It is interesting to see how an Apostle, while being an
Apostle, can "specialize" in another of the ministries. If
needed, this ministry is flexible enough to function in any of
the other ministries.
Paul was a Teacher-Apostle - 2 Timothy 1:11.
Peter was a Pastor-Apostle - John 21:15-17.
Timothy was an Evangelist-Apostle - 2 Timothy 4:5.
Barnabas was a Prophet-Apostle - Acts 13:1.
A person does not "graduate" into an Apostle, from some other
ministry, or become "promoted" after long service at some other
calling. The gifts and callings of God are without dependence.
God sets in the Body, according as He wills and not according
as we will! In an ordinary building, a "window" or "door"
never becomes a foundation stone over a period of years, and
likewise, in the building of God, once God has set He doesn't
change His mind. Compare Ex. 4:15-16 and Ex. 7:1.
However, in many cases Apostolic or Prophetic ministries may
function as other ministries due to a misunderstanding, or lack
of perception of their true ministry in the face of criticism
from their brethren.
g) False Apostles. Greek "psuedo apostolos"
Paul declares that there are those who have made themselves
Apostles and have taken the God-given honour to themselves. 2
Cor. 11:13; Rev. 2:2.
END of Part 4
