Five-Fold Ministry

 

The Initial Scripture

 

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Ephesians 4:11 KJV

 

  • He: Christ
    • Sunday Sessions #2, The Cornerstone
  • The “Who”: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers
  • Shepherds = Pastors
  • He Gave

 

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Ephesians 4:12 KJV

 

  • The “Why”
  • To Equip

 

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:

Ephesians 4:13 KJV

 

  • The “When”
  • From this saying, through now, until the fulfillment of this saying
  • Until

 

  • He Gave, To Equip, Until

 

  • The Where
    • Sunday Sessions #4, Believers, The Living Stones
    • In the body of believers
    • Ekklesia
      • Called out ones
      • To do what?

 

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my [church Ekklesia]; and the gates of [hell hades] shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:18 KJV

 

  • The How
    • Sunday Sessions #8, Seven Spirits of God
    • Serving others following the leading of Holy Spirit
    • Holy Spirit: teaching and recollection

 

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 14:26 KJV

 

  • The What
    • Being a servant of others in the body of Christ
    • Servant leadership included
    • Also, “equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”

 

 

Questions to Consider

 

  • Am I called by God to fill one of these five ministries?
  • In which of these ministries do I currently operate, or have traits of in my life?
  • Which of these ministries do I see operating in my circle of believers?

 

 

Other Key Verses

 

Here are other verses to look at.

 

 

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 4:1 KJV

 

 

  • Example of servant leadership
    • Servants of Christ
    • Serving the body of Christ
  • Us = Apostles
  • Stewards of the mysteries of God: truth handlers
  • Mysteries: truths not yet made known; revelation of truth
  • Steward: supervise arrangements or keep order; manage or look after (another) (property); a person whose job is to manage the land and property of another person; a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others
  • In this case, caretaker of the mysteries of God who serves God and the body of Christ, administering the affairs of the Ekklesia and setting forth the vision and truths of God for the body. (Apostles)

 

 

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28 KJV

 

 

  • Also, Mark 10:45; John 13:1-17
  • Jesus, our Creator, came to serve

 

 

And he said unto them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.”

Luke 22:25 KJV

 

 

  • As it is in the world

 

 

“But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

Luke 22:26 KJV

 

 

  • The “What”
    • Serving the body
    • Servant leadership
    • “leader as one who serves.”
  • You = Apostles

 

 

“For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth.”

Luke 22:27 KJV

 

 

  • Example of Jesus for the body of Christ

 

 

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Philippians 2:3-4 KJV

 

 

  • As it should be in the body of Christ

 

  • My Take:
  • Freedom in the spirit, and freedom of Holy Spirit, are essential
    • The seminary taught institutional church ways are not the only way of regular ministry to the body

 

 

  • Ministry to the body, as led by Holy Spirit, administering the Seven Spirits of God to us, to carry out the anointing, assignment, or mandate, that has been appointed for us by Almighty God
    • See Sunday Sessions #8, Seven Spirits of God

 

 

Quench not the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 KJV

 

 

  • Important!

 

 

Five-Fold Ministry

 

Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher

  • Plus, looking forward?
    • King, Priest, Son

 

  • Five giftings established for the sake of the body of Christ
    • Given as gifts to the body
    • Necessary for the health of the body
    • Administered by Holy Spirit
    • Anointed by God Almighty
      • Mantle of authority for the calling
    • Callings of God, not pursuits of men
      • Function of ministry, not a job or career
    • Heavy responsibility and accountability accompany these giftings
      • Much given, much required

 

 

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Luke 12:48b KJV

 

 

  • Example of stricter judgment

 

 

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

James 3:1 KJV

 

or

 

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

James 3:1 ESV

 

 

  • It is likely that we each function in some aspect of each of these giftings, at some point, as we are led by Holy Spirit
    • This does not mean that we hold that gifting
  • It is possible that our spirits have a bent toward one or more of these giftings
    • This does not mean that we hold that gifting
  • These giftings are appointed and anointed by God
    • “to equip the Saints”
      • Within the body
    • “for the work of the ministry”
      • First in the body
      • Then to others

 

 

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:10 KJV

 

 

Looking Forward

 

 

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:

Ephesians 4:13 KJV

 

 

  • Does this refer to sonship?
  • Unity with the Son? And the Father?
    • A vertical unity?
  • Mature manhood – Christ replicas?
  • This is the “until”?
  • Then sons, priests, kings?
  • Does this add to or replace the five-fold?

 

 

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Romans 8:19 KJV

 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

1 Peter 2:9 KJV

 

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5 KJV

 

and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:6 KJV

 

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:6 KJV

 

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:6 KJV

 

 

Brian Orme Interview of May, 2019

 

(My notes taken from the video interview)

 

  • Five-fold, what it looks like going forward
    • Ephesians 4:11-12

 

  • Apostle and Prophet: The Foundation
    • (My note: Sunday Sessions #3, Apostles and Prophets, The Foundation)
    • Not the top, but the lowest of the low
    • A place to serve; for things to be built
    • (My note: supporting others)

 

  • Apostles are as Spiritual Entrepreneurs
    • All about the development of the Ekklesia in a region
    • Encouraging risk taking; giving people the permission to fail
      • Always pushing the envelope of risk
      • Encouraging others beyond their comfort zone
    • Setting up a culture of contribution rather than consumption; people that contribute
    • They are innovators; innovating wine skins for an Ekklesia in a region
    • Pioneering: paving new pathways; going ahead where there are no roads yet
    • Framers: framing up God’s vision, His meta ideas
    • Guarding the purity of the great commission
      • To go to the world
      • To demonstrate the Kingdom
    • They are detonators
      • Miracles, signs, and wonders mar an apostle’s life
        • Crazy stuff everywhere they go; marked by the supernatural
      • They are diversifiers
        • They have an ability to bring people or people groups together that would normally not play together well
        • Collaborate for the purpose of a region to see the Kingdom advance
      • They are interested in seeing walls coming down and labels being removed; coming together to unify to see the Kingdom advanced to take over the region

 

  • Prophets are Hope Dealers
    • Their true frame is hope
    • They prophesy through the lens of optimism that the kingdom is advancing; it’s getting brighter and brighter
    • They are latitudinal; helping the body to see and hear God in the heavenly realms
    • They are longitudinal; helping the body to see people correctly
      • Seeing them the way the Father is seeing them
    • Exposers; revealing the enemy’s strategy in a region
    • Teaching the body to do victorious spiritual warfare; keyword = victorious
      • Forcing the victory of Christ and reveling in His triumph; not shadow boxing; from a place of victory

(My Note: I think the latitudinal and longitudinal are the reverse of how they should be; latitude is horizontal and longitude is vertical.)

 

  • Evangelists are Conversants
    • Helping the body have a proper communication of the gospel
    • Language is a frame; the proper language allows people to see correctly
      • Tweak the language to the community so they can understand
    • They are marketers; all about heaven’s brand; they want to keep the branding very pure
      • It’s the culture of heaven being advanced, not some other culture (not their own)
      • It’s the Kingdom of God that’s advancing
    • They are demonstrators; they want to see the Kingdom demonstrated in the marketplace
    • They are praisers; finding value in all people
      • Evangelizing from the place that people are people, not objects to be used

 

  • Teachers are Oceanographers
    • Equipping the body to access the eighth ocean of understanding and knowledge
      • God’s ocean; and infinite supply
      • A true teacher pulls them into this infinite ocean
    • Helping the body be grounded in the Logos, Jesus
      • To understand the written scripture and how it wraps around Him, the Logos
    • They’re developers; helping to develop a world view for people; whose world view is Kingdom
      • Also helping to develop a theological depth in people
      • That theology is not scary; not anti-Spirit
      • Theological depth is truly powerful and important for the body
    • They’re thinkers; helping to train the body how to think for themselves
      • To not turn their brains off, but to turn them on and think for themselves

 

  • Pastors are Connectivists
    • They’re connecting the body to have heart connection with each other
    • They have a high justice for relationship for protecting and guarding that body
    • Healers; seeing that people are getting whole
      • Emotionally; working through wounds and unforgiveness, etc.
      • Things that the apostle or prophet might not have the patience for
    • They’re disciplers; equipping the body to make disciples
      • And to love their neighbor

 

  • Brian is thinking of writing a book, “Decentralized Church”

 

(end of notes from the video)

 

 

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the [church Ekklesia], first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 KJV

 

 

  • God has appointed
    • God puts a calling on the heart and spirit of a person
    • The giftings are not career choices; they are acts of obedience to the call of God
  • Evangelists?
    • Miracles and Healing
    • Demonstrators (Brian Orme, above)
    • Demonstration in the Spirit and power
      • Sunday Sessions #7, Making Disciples
    • Pastors?
      • Healing and helping
      • Healers and Disciplers (Brian Orme, above)
    • A still more excellent way
      • Obedience in Love
        • Sunday Sessions #6, Disciples
      • Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians: The Way of Love

 

 

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 KJV

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV

 

  • Charity = Love

 

  • This session deals with the building up of the body of Christ

 

 

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the [church Ekklesia].

1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV

 

 

 

Explore more about the Seven Spirits of God HERE .