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THEW HOLY SPIRIT Study No.20.
THE ADMINISTRATIONS OR MINISTRIES OF THE SPIRIT.
A. INTRODUCTION; THE FIVE MINISTRIES.
Today's generation is resisting all kinds of authority -
governmental, parental , spiritual.
Rebellion in all walks of life is bringing a breakdown in the
structure of society. God's answer to this trend is to
restore the structure of authority in the Church, for
"rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as
iniquity and idolatry" ( 1 Samuel 15:23).
Why is God so concerned with authority?
Submission to authority breaks the power of rebellion in our
lives and brings us under His protection.
Authority in the worldwide Church is based on the ministry of
the five ministries of Ephesians 4:11 and operates in practice
in the local church through elders. Ephesians 4:8; Psalms
68:18; Hebrews 13:17. Let us study Ephesians 4:8-16.
B. WHAT ARE THEY FOR?
l. "For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the
ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ"
Ephesians 4:12. Perfecting here means mending, making
completely fit and ready for use.
God has given these ministries to prepare Christians in
the Church that they in turn might minister so that the
whole Body of Christ be built up. Every member of the
Body of Christ has a part to play in building up the
Church until whole Church come to experience the fulness
of Christ.
Under His direction whole body is fitted together
perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the
other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and
growing and full of love" (verse 15 LB).
God's gift || Apostle Pastor || to equip the saints || to build up
to the || Prophet Teacher || so that they in || the whole
Church || Evangelist || turn can minister || Body of Christ
.... "that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and
fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine..."
Ephesians 4:14. The five ministries will enable Christians in
the Body of Christ to become established by understanding
sound doctrine, so that as we speak the truth in love (vs.15),
we will grow in maturity to be like Christ.
Note the importance of love in bringing the body of Christ
together.
C. THE APOSTLE.
Apostles are gifted men but their apostleship is not based on
their gifts. but on God's call. They are sent out by God from
their local churches to establish new churches through
preaching of the Word of God, to bring revelation of God to
the Body of Christ, to bring guidance in matters of doctrine
and church government and to build up the faith of the
believers. The apostle has both spiritual authority and
miraculous power (2 Corinthians 12:11,12) and he has to bear
a responsibility for the churches that he has established.
The ministry of an apostle did not end in the first century.
There were more than twelve apostles in the early Church (Acts
14: 14; Romans 16:7; 2 Corinthians 8:23) and God is still
separating men for this responsible ministry.
1. Together with the prophet, the apostle is the
foundational ministry in the Church. Ephesians 2:20; 1
Corinthians 12:28.
2. Established local churches and brings foundation teaching
to them.Acts 16:4,5; 2:42; 1 Corinthians 4:16-17;
Ephesians 3:2-5.
3. He is to be humble. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; 10:18;
Proverbs 25:14; 1 Corinthians 4:9-15.
4. Has a ministry of signs and wonders. Acts 5:12: 2
Corinthians 12:12.
5. Recognised by other ministries. Acts 15:2-4.
6. Has a ministry of correction and judgment. Galatians
2:11-14; 2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 5:1-11.
7. Has a ministry of oversight. 2 Corinthians 11:28.
8. He ordains, places and encourages new ministries. Acts
14:23; Titus 1;5.
9. He is usually involved in other ministries as well.
e.g. Paul was a teacher-apostle. 2 Timothy 1:11.
Timothy was an evangelist--apostle. 2 Timothy 4:5.
10. Involved in ministry of laying on of hands.
for ordaining ministries. Act 6:6.
for imparting gifts of the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 1:6.
in prayer that believers might receive the baptism in the
Holy Spirit. Acts 8:17.
D. THE PROPHET.
The prophet is a man appointed by God to speak forth the mind
of God, saying things that cannot be known by natural means.
With the anointing to speak from God comes a responsibility to
be faithful in speaking only what God instructs. What the
prophet speaks should agree with the Word of God.
1. He brings direction to the Church in fulfilling God's
purpose. Ezra.5:1,2: Proverbs 29:18.
2. With the apostle, he is a foundational ministry in
establishing local churches. Ephesians 2:20; 1
Corinthians 12:28.
3. He reveals the secrets of God. Amos 3:7; Ephesians
3:2-5.
4. He brings life and unity. Ezekiel 37:1-10; 1 Corinthians
14:3; Acts 15:32.
5. He exposes sin and brings judgment. Jeremiah 28:16,17.
6. He operates strongly in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
7. He submits himself to the judgment of other prophets. 1
Cor. 14:29.
8. Not all who prophesy are prophets. 1 Corinthians 12:29.
Note the severe judgment of Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 18:30 on false
prophets: there will be false prophets rising in the church in
the days before Christ returns. We must learn to discern and
avoid them. Matt. 24 :3,11,24; Mark 13;22; Matt 7:15-20; 1
John 4:1-3.
The apostle and prophet are foundational ministries given by
God to the whole Body of Christ. There are three further
ministries, amongst those mentioned in Ephesians 4:11, which
have a significant part to play in bringing the whole
worldwide Church to the fulness of maturity in Christ.
E. THE EVANGELIST.
The ministry of the evangelist is both to the Body of Christ
and to unbelievers in the world. He is to build and edify the
Church, as well as preaching the gospel to those outside the
Kingdom of God. The basis of this ministry is not the
ability, by personality and speech, to persuade men to change
their minds, but is a demonstration of the Spirit and power of
God, bringing understanding to the unsaved of their separation
from God.
The apostle Paul said, "Christ sent me ... to preach the
gospel: and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of
Christ's be emptied of its power..."but rather that the gospel
be "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. that hour
faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of
God." 1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:4,5, (RSV). God holds the
ministry of the evangelist in high regard:
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that
bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth
good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation ... "Isaiah
52:7.
1. He preaches the gospel to the unsaved. Acts 8:5.26,27.
2. He prepares the way for other ministries to establish
local churches. Acts 8:14.
3. A powerful ministry with supernatural signs and wonders.
Acts 8:6,7,13.
4. He will acknowledge the need for other ministries. Acts
8:14.
Philip proved himself a deacon and God sent him out as an
evangelist. Acts 6:3-7; 8:5-40.
Every ministry must prove himself faithful before being sent
out.
F. THE PASTOR.
Of the five ministries of Ephesians 4:11, the pastor is the
one ministry who, while concerned and with a vision for the
whole Body of Christ, remains in the church in one
geographical area. The pastor's ministry is often pictured in
the Bible in terms of the shepherd who cares for, lives with,
feeds and loves his flock of sheep. The shepherd was the
guardian of the sheep and they and they followed him
faithfully.
Elders appointed in the local church have a ministry similar
to the pastor, the pastor being as a chief elder, bringing
direction to the eldership but sharing the ministry with them.
After a period of time, God may call the pastor to minister in
another locality, the elders carrying on the ministry in the
local church. At times the pastor may minister in other parts
of the Body of Christ sharing his experience and understanding
of the shepherd and sheep relationship.
Using the picture of a shepherd and his sheep, we see a
pastor:
1. Provides a secure fellowship, home for his people so
that they don't need to wander from one local church to
another seeking deeper relationship with God. John
10:2,3,9,16: Luke 14:27.
2. Leads his people to understand the ways in which God is
moving. He has a personal care for each one; by love,
discipline and correction he encourages them to find
their place in the Body of Christ. John 10:4; Acts
20:28; Jeremiah 3:15; Ephesians 4:12-16.
3. As a watchman, he is guarding his people for the attacks
of Satan and influences in the world. John 10:11,12;
Jer.23:1-4
4. Watches out for people tending to go astray - he draws
them back into fellowship and an understanding truth.
Luke 15:4,7
5. Ministers to those of his people who have spiritual and
material needs. Ezekiel 34:4,5.
God promises severe judgment on false pastors. Read. Ezek.
34: 2-10; Jeremiah 23:1-4; 25:34-38; 50:6-8; Nehemiah 13:4-14.
G. THE TEACHER.
The ministry of the teacher is to know and experience the
truth which he can impart to the lives of believers, building
upon the foundational ministry of the apostles and prophets (1
Cor. 12:28).
It is the responsibility of the teacher to faithfully proclaim
God's Word "not of the letter but of the Spirit: for the
letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" 2 Cor.3,6- As with
the.other ministries, the teacher needs to be sensitive to
what God is saying today as He restores truth to the Church.
Acts 3:20,21, He sees the real purpose in his ministry for
"Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it; that He
might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the
word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church...
"Eph.5:25-27; 2 Tim.3:16,17
1. He believes that the scriptures are inspired by God. 2
Tim. 3: 16,17; 2 Peter 1:21.
2. He is instructed by the Holy Spirit. Gal.1:12; John
14:26: 1 John 2:20; 1 Cor.2:12,13; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
3. He is faithful to teach just what God reveals to him, not
aiming to please men but to please God. 2 Timothy 2:2; 4:
2,3; 1 Thess.2:4,5. He seeks to minister to the needs of
Christians'. his teaching bringing release and maturity,
not just understanding in the mind. 1 Cor. 4:15.
4. He teachers with authority knowing it is the Holy Spirit
who has anointed him to be an able minister of the Word.
Matt 7:28,29; Titus 2:15; 2 Cor. 3:6. He is confident in
the power of God to change lives. Eph.3:6,7; 2 Tim
3:16,17; Hosea 4:6.
5. He has balance in teaching truth that has been taught
before and new truth that god is revealing and restoring
today. So he makes sure foundations in the lives of
believes and brings them to maturity in Christ. Matthew
13:52; Eph.4:13-15
Note the warnings of scripture to those who are teachers.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: Proverbs
18:21. Read James 3:1-12 (RSV).