REVELATION BIBLE COLLEGE

DIPLOMA

MINISTRY GIFTS

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Ministry gifts
Introduction - Fivefold ministry

In Ephesians 4, Paul told us that when Jesus left this earth, He gave gifts to men. These
are called the ministry gifts.
Ephesians 4; 8-11 therefore he says when he ascended on high; he led captivity
captive and gave gifts to men. And he himself gave some to be apostles some
prophets some evangelists and some pastors and teachers.

These fivefold ministries also called the Ascension gifts of Christ because they were
given when He ascended on high.

The ministry gifts are;

Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers

It was never God’s plan that these ministry gifts be lost. Now they are being restored by
God to their rightful place. These five ministry gifts of Jesus to His church are often
referred to as the fivefold ministry.
Jesus said I will build my church. He will build the church to a united body of believers.
He went on to describe the church He would build as being a victorious overcoming one
which the gates of hades meaning hell, wouldn’t be able to overcome it.

Matthew 16; 18 and I also say to you that you are Peter and on this rock I will
build my church and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it.

The full restoration of the fivefold ministry is an important part of what Jesus is doing to
build his church today. God's word reveals that this victorious church is made up every
believer in Jesus Christ, His body joined and working together each one doing his or her
part of the functioning of the kingdom of God on this earth. Each believer will be doing
the same works that Jesus did when He walked on the earth 2000 years ago. Each
believer has an important part in the works of his ministry or the works of service in the
church that Jesus is building.

John 14;12 most assuredly I say to you he who believes in me the works that I
do he will do also and greater works than these he will do , because I go to my
Father.
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When Jesus was here on this earth, He trained twelve men and sent them out to do His
works.

Matthew 10: 1 and when he had called his twelve disciples to him. He gave
them power over unclean spirits to cast and to heal all kinds of sickness and all
kinds of diseases.

God's plan
For many years we have thought that the works of Jesus were performed by a limited
number of men who were called ministers. We thought that all of the works of the
ministry were to happen through their hands. However Jesus had a better plan, when
He ascended back to His father he gave apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and
teachers to His body.

Every ministry was to have the same goal. They were to;
Prepare God's people for the works of service
Build up the body of Christ
Bring the body to unity in the faith
Teach the knowledge of the Son of God
Bring believers to a place of maturity
Bring them to the fullness of Christ

Ephesians 4;12-13 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry for the
edifying of the body of Christ till we all come to unity of faith and the knowledge
of the Son of God to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness
of Christ.

Every believer

Their functions were not to do the work of the ministry themselves but to prepare God's
people to do them. God's Word also reveals that every believer is a soldier in God's
army. Those who are called by God into the fivefold ministry are not the front-line
soldiers who will win the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ; instead they are like, drill
sergeants who are to train believers to be mighty soldiers in God's army.
Believers that are taught by fivefold ministries will become mature believers; they will
become strong steadfast operating in love supporting one another just as the ligaments
support the human body.

Ephesians 4;14-16 that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and
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carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men , in the cunning
craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love may
grow up in all things into Him who is the head. Christ from whom the whole body
joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective
working by which every part does its share causes growth of the body for the
edifying of itself in love.

In this study we will give our attention to the ministry of each of the fivefold ministry
giftings and God's pattern for those to function in the local church. These gifts are men
and women chosen by God as his good gifts to the church.

Not titles, but functions

Apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are not titles of rank or position in
the church. Instead they are functions; each ministry function has its own important part
in edifying the body of Christ.
For example; as Paul wrote his epistle he often began by saying, Paul an apostle
denoting his being an apostle to be a ministry gifting or function in the body of Christ.
He did not say, the apostle Paul which would have indicated his apostleship to be a title.

Appointed by God

The ministry gifts are appointed by God and not by the choices of men. Many times
when we know in the spirit that God is doing something we try to help Him out. This is
happening now as some men are going from place to place appointing apostles over
certain geographic areas. God appoints each of the ministry gifts; and men flowing in
His spirit, recognise these gifts.

1 Corinthians 12;27-28 now you are the body of Christ and members
individually and God has appointed these in the church first apostle, second
prophets, third teachers, after that miracles then gifts of healing helps
administrations, varieties of tongues.

Romans 12;3-8 for I say through the grace given to me to everyone who is
among you , not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think , but to
think soberly as god has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have
many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function
so we being many are one body in Christ , and individually members of one
another. Having then gifts of differing according to the grace that is given to us,
let us use them, if prophecy let us prophesy in proportion to our faith or ministry
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let us use our ministering, he who teaches in teaching he who exhorts in
exhortation, he who gives with liberality he who leads with diligence he who
shows mercy with cheerfulness.

Called as servants
The ministry calling is a call to be a servant to the body of Christ. It’s never to be
thought of as a matter of pride or position of self-importance; as always Jesus is our
example.

John 13;3-9,12-17 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his
hands and that he had come from God and was going to God , rose from supper
and laid aside His garments , took a towel and girded Himself. After that He
poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them
with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And
Peter said to Him, Lord are you washing my feet? Jesus answered and said to
him, what I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this,
Peter said to Him, you shall never wash my feet? Jesus answered him if I do not
wash you; you have no part with me. Simon Peter answered him, Lord not my
feet only, but also my hands and my head.

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments and sat down again he
said to them, do you know what I have done to you? You call me teacher and
Lord and you say well for so I am. If then your Lord and teacher have washed
your feet you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an
example that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly I say to you a
servant is not greater than his master nor is he who is sent greater than he who
sent him. If you know these things happy are you if you do them.

Jesus fulfilled each ministry gift;

Apostle
Jesus was the sent one, an apostle; He is called the apostle and high priest of our
confession.
Hebrews 3: 1 therefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider
the apostle and high priest of our confession Christ Jesus.

Prophet
Jesus was a prophet under the Old Covenant.
Luke 4; 24 then He said assuredly I say to you no prophet is accepted in his own
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country.
John 4; 19 the women said to Him, sir I perceive that you are a prophet.

Shepherd / Pastor

Jesus was the Good Shepherd; the same word in Greek that is translated pastor.
John 10: 14, I am the good shepherd and I know my sheep and am known by
my own.
1 Peter 5: 4 and when the chief shepherd appears you will receive a crown of
glory that does not fade away.
1 Peter 2:25 for you were like sheep going astray but have now returned to the
shepherd and overseer of your souls.

Evangelist
Jesus was a preacher, an evangelist; he preached the Gospel of the kingdom.
Luke 4;18 the spirit of the lord is upon me because he has anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor , he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted to
preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind , to set at
liberty those who are oppressed.

Teacher
Jesus was the greatest teacher.
Matthew 9; 35 and Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their
synagogues preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness
and every disease among the people.

Ministry gifts are for today

Jesus gave gifts;
Jesus gave the ministry gifts to believers when he ascended on high.
Ephesians 4: 8 therefore he says when he ascended on high he led captivity
captive and gave gifts to men.

Not taken back;

The ministry gifts were given by Jesus until we all, i.e. every believer reaches the level
of maturity that is the fullness of Christ himself.

Ephesians 4: 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of
the Son of God to a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ.
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These ministry giftings will continue in the church until Jesus comes back for His perfect
and completed bride. Therefore we can conclude that all of these ministry giftings
including the apostle and prophet are to be in operation in the body of Christ.
As we look at the body of Christ we see how far short we fall in fulfilling the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ. We see how much the full operation of each of
these ministry giftings in each local church is needed.
For many years the believers in most churches have been receiving the ministry of one
two or three of these ministry giftings, its little wonder why there is so much immaturity
in our churches.

In the Old Testament

During the period of the Old Testament Aaronic priesthood, there was a division of
ministry between Aaron and his four sons giving a fivefold ministry during that period of
time.
It’s also interesting to note that the human body has five senses for its protection and
care and that god has provided five ministry gifts for the protection and care of the body
of Christ.

Ministry gifts defined

Apostle
The Greek word Apostol’s translated apostle means the sent forth, a sent one from
God.

Prophet
The Greek word Propheteuo translated prophet means to foretell events divine to
speak under inspiration.

Evangelist
The Greek word Evangeliste translated evangelist means a messenger of good tidings.

Pastor
The Greek word Poimen translated pastor means a shepherd one who tends the herd
or flocks guides as well as feeds the flock, overseer.

Teacher
The Greek word Didaskalo means an instructor.

Recognising the call to fivefold ministry;

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Men shouldn’t decide to appoint themselves or others of their own choice in the fivefold
ministry. God appoints them. We will see however that God will often do the appointing
as He speaks and ministers through His apostle and prophets.

1 Corinthians 12:28 and God has appointed these in the church first apostles,
second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
administrations, varieties of tongues.

Inner witness
That person will have an inner witness of the Spirit.
Romans 8: 14, 16 for as many as are led by the Spirit of God these are sons of
God
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

An anointing
The anointing of God is evidence of a Divine call. There will be a stronger anointing and
free flow of certain gifts of the Holy Spirit in that believer’s life.

God makes the way

If you are chosen by God for the ministry, let God confirm it to you and to others, don’t
try to prove yourself.
Proverbs 18:16 a man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great
men.
Psalms 37:6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice
as the noonday.

Fivefold ministry functions together

The fivefold ministry is often likened to the human hand. The apostle is the thumb
working with all other fingers. The prophet is the pointer finger saying, thus says the
Lord and works closely with the apostle. The centre finger has the longest outreach and
is the evangelist. The wedding ring finger is the pastor symbolising the special love
relationship between himself and the people. The little finger is the teacher who works
closely with the pastor and is much needed for balance.
Just as all fingers are needed for a complete well working hand all ministries are
needed for the complete building up of the saints.

Elders and the fivefold ministry

There are two positions that were established by God in the local church.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy servants of Jesus Christ to all the saints in Christ
Jesus who are in Philippi with the bishops and deacons.
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Elders
The position of an elder, also called bishops, is for ruling they were chosen by God and
appointed by the apostles.
Acts 14:23 so when they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with
fasting they commanded them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
1 Timothy 3:1 this is a faithful saying if a man desires the position of a bishop he
desires a good work.

Deacons
The position of a deacon is for serving; they were chosen by the believers and
confirmed by the apostles.
1 Timothy 3:10 but let these also first be proved; then let them serve as
deacons, being found blameless.
Acts 6: 2-4, 6 then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said
it is not desirable that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables.
Therefore brethren seek out from among you seven men of good reputation full
of the Holy Spirit and wisdom whom we may appoint over this business; but we
will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.
Whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands
on them.

Understanding the Greek words:

Elder
Presbuteros means elder, older person or a senior. It’s an older man or woman who is
advanced in years, a senior.

Titus 2:2-3 that the older men be sober, the older women likewise.
It is also used to mean one who is the oldest.

Luke 15:25 now his older son was in the field.

It is used to refer to the Old Testament saints.

Hebrews 11:2 for by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

It is used to refer to the official leaders of the Sanhedrin at the temple in
Jerusalem or the leaders of the local synagogues.

Acts 6:12 and they stirred up the people the elders and the scribes.
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Mark 5:22 and behold one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name.
It was used to refer to the appointed leaders of the local churches.

Acts 14:23 so when they had appointed elders in every church.

1Timothy 5:17 let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Titus 1:5 for this reason I left you in Crete that you should set in order the things
that are lacking and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.

James 5:14 is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church.

Presbuterion:

Presbuterion means an assembly of elders gathered together in session.

1 Timothy 4:14 do not neglect the gift that is in you which was given to you by
prophecy with the laying on of hands of the presbytery.

The body of elders was translated presbytery in the New King James Version.

Sumpresbuteros:

Sumpresbuteros means a co-elder or a fellow elder.

1 Peter 5:1 the elders who are among you I exhort . I who am a fellow elder and
a witness of the suffering of Christ....

Episkopos : Overseer

Means an overseer, a superintendent or a guardian. It is used five times in the New

Testament, in the New King James Version it is translated bishop in all, but in Acts
20:28- therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers.

Philippians 1:1 I Paul, and Timothy servants of Jesus Christ to all saints in
Christ Jesus who are in Philippi with the bishops and deacons.

1 Timothy 3:2 a bishop then must be blameless..

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Titus 1:7 for a bishop must be blameless.

1 Peter 2:25 for you were like sheep going astray but have now returned to the
shepherd and overseer of your souls...

Episkope
Is the noun form of episcopes, which refers to the position of an elder, an overseer or a
bishop in the new King James Version.

Acts 1: 20 for it is written in the book of Psalms let his habitation be desolate
and let no one live in it and let another take his office.
1 Timothy 3:1 this is a faith saying if a man desires the position of a bishop he
desires a good work.

Episkopeo:
Is the verb from of episkope and means to oversee.

1 Peter 5: 2 shepherd the flock of god which is among you serving as overseers..

Elder and overseer compared

In each of these translated elder, overseer or bishop we see a close connection. Elder
was most often used when writing to the Hebrew believers as they related this position
to the elders or leaders of the synagogues. Overseers translated bishop in the New
King James Version was most often used when speaking to Greek believers as that
was the word for leadership to which they would most readily relate.

There is no scriptural distinction between these two root words. They refer to the same
position in the church, some Greek authorities say that elder refers to the man and
overseer or bishop refers to the position. There was no ecclesiastical hierarchy in God's
pattern for the local church; each local church was to have their own elders as the
government of that church. Each church was separate and autonomous from each other
as far as organization was concerned.

The example of Paul

Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church but when they came he called them
overseers.
Acts 20:17 from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the
church.
Acts 20:28 therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which
the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to the shepherd the church of God
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which He purchased with His own blood.

We note that all of the elders or overseers were to be shepherds even though there
were certain of them that would function in the particular ministry gifting of a shepherd
or a pastor.

Qualification is the same

The qualifications for those whom Paul called elders in verse five were said to be the
qualifications of overseers in verse seven indicating that they are the same position.

Titus 1:5, 7 for this reason I left in Crete that you should set in order the things
that are lacking and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you..
For a bishop must be blameless as a steward of god not self-willed not quick
tempered not given to wine not violent not greedy for money....

The example of Peter

Peter wrote to those whom he called elders and told them to be shepherds over God's
flock and to serve as overseers over them.

1 Peter 5:1-2 the elders who are among you I exhort , I who am a fellow elder
and a witness of the suffering of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that will
be revealed; shepherd the flock of god which is among you serving as overseers,
not by constraint but willingly , not for dishonest gain but eagerly....

Elders in the local Church

Were appointed by apostles

There are apostles and ordained elders in every church in every city.

Acts 14:23 so when they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with
fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Titus 1:4-5 to Titus my true son in our common faith. For this reason I left you in
Crete that you should set in order the things that are lacking and appoint elders
in every city as I commanded you....

Helped make decisions

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The apostles gathered together with the elders for counsel.

Acts 15:2 therefore when Paul and Barnaba’s had no small dissension and
dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnaba’s and certain others of
them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostle and elders about this question.

Acts 15:4 and when they had come to Jerusalem they were received by the
church and the apostles and the elders and they reported all things that god had
done with them.

Acts 16:4 and as they went through the cities they delivered to them the decrees
to keep which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
Obviously the elders were involved in an important part in the decisions of
leadership policy and doctrine in the local church.

Directed Church affairs

The elders directed the affairs of the local church.

Acts 11:29, 30 then the disciples each according to his ability determined to
send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did and sent it to the
elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

1 Timothy 5:17 let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

While one of the qualifications of the elders is that they are able to teach not all
functioned in a preaching or teaching ministry.

Fivefold Ministers are Elders

All fivefold ministers were elders; we see examples of this in Peter and John.
1 Peter 5:1 the elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and
a witness of the suffering of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that will be
revealed.
3 John 1:1 for I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth
that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.

Those who Jesus has given to his church as apostles , prophets, evangelists, pastors
and teachers are to function together to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.
These ministry functions are never referred to in the scriptures as an office, however
each one of them stood in the position of an elder in the church.
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Ministry of Elders
Elders are to function in each local assembly to shepherd and feed the flock to whom
they were given oversight.

1 Peter 5:1-3 the elders who are among you I exhort I who am a fellow elders
and a witness of the suffering of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that will
be revealed, shepherd the flock of God which is among you serving as overseers
not by constraint but willingly not for dishonest gain but eagerly, nor as being
lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock..

Elders are Fivefold Ministries

Those God placed in the fivefold ministry giftings listed in Ephesians 4 were given a
certain grace and anointing to equip the saints, it seems evident that those chosen to
shepherd, feed and oversee the flock would need the grace and anointing of the fivefold
ministry.
The elders of the local church were those God had called into the fivefold ministry, each
of them met all of the biblical qualifications for eldership, they were charged with the
responsibility of ruling well.

1Timothy 5:17 let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Functions
After the foundations had been laid by the apostles and prophets and they had
appointed elders in the local church, those whom God chose to function as pastors and
teachers were appointed, recognised and released into ministry by the laying on of
hands by the apostles,’ prophets and other elders.
As the believers were built up in the Word and discipled by the ministry of those who
functioned as pastors and teachers, those whom God had chosen to function as
evangelist were also appointed recognised and released into ministry by the laying on of
hands by the elders, the evangelists trained and mobilized the believers in the local
church into reaching out in miracle evangelism.
The body could only mature and be equipped for the work of service by being
ministered to by each of the fivefold ministry gifts.

Headship in Church
Jesus is the Head of the church, however under the headship of Jesus there was also a
God-ordained headship over the local church, this headship was found in the leading
elder who together with all the elders functioned to rule well and to equip the saints for
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the work of the ministry.
New Testament pattern; if our traditional pattern of church government does not comply
with the New Testament pattern we must be willing to take steps to change our pattern.
God is restoring ministry to his church in our time.
Change without conflict; when we receive this revelation we must allow time for this
revelation to be received by the local assembly before attempting to make the
necessary changes, by doing thus we can avoid the possibility of strife and conflict.
Decisions regarding church government are to be a function of the one recognized as
the apostle foundation layer, together with the leading elders and elders of the church,
it’s not to become an issue that could lead to division among the assembly of believers.

Qualifications of Elders
The elders were never elected by the congregation as a whole; they were chosen by
God and appointed by the apostles. The list of qualifications given in the scripture were
for the use of the apostles or the elders themselves in considering God's call upon a
particular person to be appointed as an elder.
Any person that God has selected as an elder or one of the fivefold ministry will meet
the qualification God has established, this list of qualifications was given in the following
passages.

Timothy and Titus

1 Timothy 3:1-7 this is a faithful saying if a man desires the position of a bishop
he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless the husband of one
wife, temperate, sober minded ,of good behavior hospitable able to teach, not
given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money but gentle, not quarrelsome, not
covetous, one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission
with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house , how
will he take care of the church of God) not a novice lest being puffed up with
pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a
good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the
snare of the devil.

Titus 1:6-9 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife having faithful
children not accused of dissipation or insubordination, for a bishop must be
blameless as a steward of God not self-willed, not quick tempered, not given to
wine, not violent, not greedy for money but hospitable, a lover of what is good,
sober minded, just, holy, self-controlled ,holding fast the faithful word as he has
been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convict
those who contradict.
These qualifications can be summarized in three categories.
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In personal life
According to Paul to be an elder a person must be;
* Blameless
* Temperate
* Sober minded
* Of good behavior
* Gentle
* Just

This person cannot be:

* Given to much wine
* Greedy for money
* Quarrelsome
* Covetous
* Self-willed
* Overbearing
* Violent
* Quick tempered
* Pursuing dishonest gain

In family life
In family life an elder must be;
* Husband of one wife
* Hospitable
* Rules his own house well
* His children who obey him with proper respect
* Has children who believe and are not wild and disobedient

In spiritual life
In spiritual life and elder must be;
* Able to teach
* Not a recent convert
* Have good reputation with outsiders
* Holy
* Disciplined
* Hold fast to the faithful word

The Ministry of the Elders

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Ruling
Hebrews 13:17 obey those who rule over you, and be submissive for they watch
out for your souls as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and
not with grief for that would be unprofitable for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 and we urge you brethren to recognize those who
labor among you and are over you in the lord and admonish you and to esteem
them very highly in love for their works sake.

Teaching
2 Timothy 2:2 and the things that you have heard from me among many
witness, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Shepherding , Overseeing
Acts 20:28 therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which
the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which he
purchased with His own blood.

1 Peter 5:2 shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as
overseers...

Receiving the fivefold ministry

Recognise and receive

Since the terms apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are not titles how
then are they to be revealed and recognised?
One who is in the fivefold ministry will be recognised and received because of his
function and ministry gifting.
As we receive them we will also receive the benefit of their ministry, if we fail to
recognise and receive a ministry gifting that God has sent to us, we will fail to grow and
mature and be equipped for the work of the ministry as God intended.

Matthew 10:41 he who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive
a prophet rewards and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a
righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

Finances and accusations

We are to give honor to those who are functioning in the fivefold ministry as elders
either in the local church or those who have traveling ministries sent out that church,
this honor is to include seeing that their physical needs are met and that they are
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blessed financially, this honor also includes not listening to accusations brought against
them unless its brought by two or three witnesses.

1 Timothy 5:17 let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
The elders are to serve willingly and not with money as their motive.
1 Peter 5:2 shepherd the flock of God who is among you serving as overseers
not by constraint but willingly not for dishonest gain but eagerly...

Receive as brothers
We are not to receive one another by flattering titles as did the religious leaders of
Jesus day.
Flattering titles;
Matthew 23:6-12 they love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the
synagogues greetings in the market places and to be called by men Rabbi but
you, do not be called Rabbi for one is your teacher the Christ and you are all
brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father for one is your Father, He who
is in heaven, and do not be called teachers for one is your teacher the Christ .
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant, and whoever exalts
himself will be abased and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

All brothers; Jesus said you are all brethren instead of reverend, doctor, teache,r father
or pastor ,how much better it is to call one another brother , even Jesus went by his first
name and we are all servants to one another.

Jesus called men brothers

After His resurrection Jesus told the women to go to his brethren.
John 20:17 Jesus said to her, do not cling to me for I have not yet ascended to
my Father, but go to my brethren and say to them I am ascending to my Father
and your Father and to my God and your God.

Hebrews 2:11-12 for both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified
are all of one for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren , saying I
will declare your name to my brethren in the midst of the congregation I will sing
praise to you.

Paul
Paul began his letters by his first name Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ never the
apostle Paul.
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Peter
Peter referred to Paul as a brother.
2 Peter 3:15 and account that the longsuffering of our lord is salvation as also
our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given to him has written to
you..

Ananias
Ananias addressed Saul as a brother.
Acts 9:17 and Ananias went his way and entered the house and laying his
hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the
road as you came has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with
the Holy Spirit.

Respect the position

While we are clearly not to address one another by flattering titles we must still respect
those whom God has called into the position of an elder. We must honor and receive
with respect those whom God has given to function in each of the fivefold ministry
giftings in his church.

Matthew 10:40 he who receives you receives Me and he who receives Me

receives Him who sent me.

While Jesus said “ye are all brethren” we must at the same time recognise and receive
with respect each of those who are called to function in the fivefold ministry. If we
therefore choose to refer to our pastor as Brother James we should at the same time
recognise and respect him as our pastor, obviously the same should apply to each of
the other ministry giftings. To those in the world who are looking for a title we can be
known as simply ministers of the gospel.

THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLE

1 Corinthians 12:28 and God has appointed these in the church first apostles,
second prophets, third teachers; after that miracles then gifts of healing helps
administration varieties of tongues.
Ephesians 4:11 and he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelist and some pastors and teachers...

Definition
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An apostle is one who is sent out with the authority to establish churches on a solid
foundation of God's word. He will strengthen churches in foundational doctrines and
practical teachings from the Word. He will function with boldness and authority and with
revelation-knowledge by the Holy Spirit. He will minister from a deep personal
relationship with God and will have a father relationship to those whom he ministers to.
Signs and wonders and healing miracles will be continually manifested in his ministry.

His ministry gifting will be recognised and received as a relationship of the Spirit to
certain churches and other ministries. It will not be a relationship of human organisation
or denomination from this spiritual relationship, the apostle will govern and bring any
necessary discipline, accountability, stability and protection from deception into the lives
of believers, ministries and churches.

The apostle will function closely with the ministry of the prophet in appointing and
ordaining elders confirming God's call on certain believers’ lives and establishing them
in to functioning in the ministry gifting into which God has called them. He will impart
and release believers into operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of
hands. The apostle will minister and speak with authority but he will be a man under
authority because he is accountable to the other apostles and elders from whom he was
sent.

Origin of the word Apostle

The Greek word apostolos means one who is sent forth. The word apostolos was used
in the classical Greek world to refer to an emissary or ambassador. It was used t refer to
a fleet of ships that was sent out with the purpose of establishing a new colony; it was
also used to denote the admiral who led or commissioned the fleet and it was used to
refer to the new colony that had been established.

The word apostle therefore in its usage implied a faithful relationship to the ones by
whom they were sent and a faithfulness to the commission and purpose for which they
were sent.

Hebrews 3: 1-2 therefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling

consider the apostle and high priest of our confession Christ Jesus who was
faithful to him who appointed him as Moses also was faithful in all His house.

The apostle was to be an extension and an actual visible manifestation of the one who
sent him. Jesus was a great apostle sent form the Father to establish the church and to
faithfully represent the will of the Father.
Hebrews 10:7 then I said, behold I have come in the volume of the book; it is
 P a g e | 20
written of me to do your will of God.

Levels of Apostolic Ministries

Jesus Christ the Great Apostle

As the great apostle Jesus did not come on His own; He was sent by His Father, He
only did what was sent to do. Those that received Him received the Father. As the
great apostle He became the pattern of ministry for all other apostles.
Hebrews 3:1 therefore holy brethren, partakers of heavenly calling consider the
apostle and high priest of our confession Christ Jesus.
John 5:30 I can of myself do nothing, as I hear I judge and my judgement is
righteous because I do not seek my own will but the will of the father who sent
me.
John 6:38 for I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will
of Him who sent me.

Twelve apostles
The first twelve apostles were called and appointed by Jesus during His earthly ministry
in the book of Revelation they are referred to as the twelve apostles of the lamb.
Revelation 21:14 now the will of the city had twelve foundations and on them
were the names of the twelve apostle of the Lamb.

Paul referred to these twelve as the most eminent apostles.

2 Corinthians 11:5, for I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent
apostles.

Other Apostles in the New Testament

We know according to Ephesians 4 that Jesus continued to give the ministry gifting of
the apostle to the church after His ascension to His Father, there are more than original
twelve apostles.

Andronicus and Junia;

Romans 16:7 greet Andronicus and Junia my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners
who are of note among the apostle who also were in Christ before me.

Apollos:
1 Corinthians 4:6,9 now these things brethren I have figuratively transferred to
myself and Apollos for your sakes that you may learn in us not to think beyond
what is written that note of your may be puffed up on behalf of one against the
other.
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For I think that God has displayed us the apostles last as men condemned to
death for we have been made a spectacle to the world both to angels and to
men.

Barnabas and Paul:

Acts 14:4, 14 but the multitude of the city was divided part sided with the Jews
and part with the apostles.
But when the apostle Barnabas and Paul heard this they tore their clothes and
ran in among the multitude.

Titus:
2 Corinthians 8:23 if any one inquiries about Titus he is my partner and fellow
worker concerning you, or if our brethren are inquired about they are
messengers of the churches the glory of Christ.

Apostles today

The ascension ministry which included apostles and prophets as well as evangelists,
pastors and teachers were given by Jesus to His church when He ascended on high.
They were to function within the church to prepare God's people for the work of the
ministry; this way the body of Christ could be built up until all reach unity in the faith and
in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature attaining to the whole measure
of the fullness of Christ.

Authority
As apostles we must be willing to speak and write with authority when necessary to
correct and bring discipline in the church.

2 Corinthians 10:8 -11 for even if I should boast somewhat more about our
authority which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction I
shall not be ashamed lest I seem to terrify you by letters, for his letters they say
are weighty and powerful but his boldly presence is weak and his speech
contemptible, let such a person consider this that what we are in word by letters
when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.

Servants’ heart
An apostle must have a servant’s heart and be willing to suffer hardship and
persecution just as Jesus did.
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
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and to give His life a ransom for man.

Romans 1:1 Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle separated to

the gospel of god.

Ministry of an apostle

Establishing new churches

An apostle is sent out from a local church in obedience to the Holy Spirit as a
missionary to preach the gospel and to establish new churches and ministries.

Acts 13:2-3 as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said now,
separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them ,
then they fasted and prayed and laid hands on them they sent them away.

Laying foundations
The apostle ministering together with the prophet will as a wise master builder lay a
solid foundation on the revelation of Jesus Christ and His word which a local church will
be built. The ministry of the apostle is primarily to lay the foundation of sound doctrine
and to appoint an established solid leadership in the churches.

Romans 15:20 and so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel not where
Christ was named lest I should build on another man’s foundation...

1 Corinthians 9:1-2 am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus
Christ our Lord? are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others
yet doubtless I am to you for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostle and prophets
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone...

Establishing Bible schools

An apostle will establish Bible schools to train believers for miracles, evangelism and
victorious Christian living. He will recognize the call upon certain believers into the
fivefold ministry and train these believers for the ministry that God has called them to.

Acts 19:9-11 he departed from them and withdrew the disciples reasoning daily
in the school of Tyrannus and this continued for two years so that all who dwelt
in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks; now God
worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul...
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The result of Paul’s teaching daily in the schools of Tyrannus was that all who lived in
the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord. Obviously Paul was multiplying himself
into the lives of others who in the midst of miracle evangelism were preaching the
gospel to all who lived in that part of the world.

Strengthening existing churches

As we study the New Testament, we see that while not all apostles were establishing
new churches, they were all helping to establish them in the faith which was once for all
delivered to the saints.

Jude 1:3 I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly
for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Appoint and ordain elders

The apostle will appoint and ordain elders in every church that they have established.

Acts 14:23 so when they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with
fasting they commanded them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Approve and ordain deacons

They will approve and ordain those who have been chosen by the believers in a local
church to the position of deacon.

Acts 6;1-6 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was
multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,
[a]
because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve
summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we
should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out
from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and
wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves
continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full
of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and
when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

Confirm God’s call

They will minister with the prophets to confirm God's call on certain believers’ lives.
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1 Timothy 1:18 this charge I commit to you son, Timothy according to the
prophecies previously made concerning you that by them you may wage the
good warfare.

Impart spiritual gifts

They will function together with an assembly of elders to impart and release believers
into operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit by the ministry of the laying on of hands.

2 Timothy 1: 6 therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you
through the laying on of my hands.

Romans 1: 11 for I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift so
that you may be established...

Recognising an apostle

An apostle is appointed by Jesus not by a man or groups of men. His ministry gifting will
be recognised and received by those to whom he will minister. It will not be recognition
or an acceptance because of a title or a position that he has received from any
organisation, association or denomination; it’s not a relationship of coercion or political
structure.
His acceptance will be based on a deep personal relationship in the Spirit of those who
are the spiritual leaders of certain local churches.

By new churches
The relationship will exist with those churches that the apostle himself has established,
the fruit of the apostles’ ministry will reveal and confirm his ministry gifting.

By existing churches
It may also be present with existing churches who were not started on an apostolic
ministry or who have lost their relationship with an apostle because of death, incapacity
or other reasons as they are led by the Spirit.

Unity
A local church that is already in relationship with an apostle and functioning under his
authority may also recognise and receive the ministry of another apostle if that apostle’s
ministry can help to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. However, as these
apostles minister at that particular local church they will not have the same governing
authority as will the primary apostle who is recognised by that body of believers. These
apostles will be careful not to say or do anything that would not be in perfect harmony
 P a g e | 25
with the primary apostle who is recognised and accepted by that local church.

Ministry confirmed by a prophet;

Apostles may not be recognised by every church. Their appointment to the ministry
gifting of an apostle was made by God and not by man , however where an apostle is to
be received as an apostle in order that he may function as such, to that local body of
believers his ministry gifting will be revealed and recognised. Often God will speak and
confirm this through the exercise of the spiritual gift of prophecy operating through a
prophet or another one of the elders in that local church.
Paul wasn’t received and recognized as an apostle by all.

1 Corinthians 9:1-3 am I not an apostle, am I not free, have I not seen Jesus
Christ our Lord, are you not my work in the Lord , if I am not an apostle to others
yet doubtless, I am to you for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

The apostles ministry gifting will be recognised by the believers of the sending church
because God had confirmed this to that local church through the ministry of the
prophets and the elders. By himself; the apostle will himself, recognise his ministry
gifting.

Warning against false apostles

The Word of God warns about those who claim to be apostles but are teaching false
doctrine and are leading people astray.

2 Corinthians 11: 13 for such are false apostles’ deceitful workers transforming
themselves into apostle of Christ...

Revelation 2:2 I know your works your labor your patience and that cannot bear
those who are evil , and you have tested those who say they are apostles and
are not and have found them liars...

Questions for review

Give a brief definition of an apostle?

Qualifications of an apostle

Same as elders
Since all apostles were elders in the church they obviously must meet the general
qualifications of the elders as given in 1Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
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Heart and love of a father
An apostle must also have the heart and love of a true father.

1 Corinthians 4;15-16 for though you might have ten thousand instructors in
Christ yet you do not have many fathers for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel therefore I urge you imitate me...

1 Corinthians 13:1 4-7 though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels
but have not love I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal...
Love suffers long and is kind love does not envy love does not parade itself is
not puffed up does not behave rudely does not seek its own its not provoked
thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth bears all things
believes all things hopes all things endures all things...

Signs, wonders, miracles

An apostle must consistently have signs wonders and miracles occur in his ministry.

2 Corinthians 12: 12 truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among

you with all perseverance in signs and wonders and mighty deeds...

Acts 2:43 then fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were
done through the apostles.

Walk in humility

An apostle must walk in humility

1 Thessalonians 2:6-8 nor did we seek glory from men either from you or
others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ, but we were
gentle among you just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
So affectionately longing for you we were well pleased to impart to you not only
the gospel of god but also our own lives because you had become dear to us.

While one of the qualifications of the elders is that they are able to teach, not all
functioned in a preaching or teaching ministry.

Functions
After the foundations had been laid by the apostles and prophets and they had
appointed elders in the local church; those whom God chose to function as pastors and
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teachers were appointed and recognised.

How an apostle operates

With boldness and authority

Even in the face of persecution and threats on his life an apostle will minister with great
boldness and authority.
Acts 4:29-31 now Lord look on their threats and grant to your servants that with
all boldness they may speak your Word by stretching out your hand to heal and
that signs and wonders may be done through the Name of your Holy servant
Jesus, and when they had prayed the place where they were assembled
together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke
the Word of God with boldness.

In the Old Testament the scriptures were written primarily by the prophets, the New
Testament was written primarily by the apostles in the age of the church. It is the
apostles instead of the prophets who will speak and minister with the greatest authority.

With revelation knowledge

An apostle will minister with revelation knowledge and understanding of the truth of
God's word.
Galatians 1:11 but I will make known to you brethren, that the Gospel which was
preached by me is not according to man.
Ephesians 3:5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men as
it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets...

In all ministry giftings

An apostle is called into his ministry gifting as are all the others in the fivefold ministry.
He will however need to grow and mature until the time when his ministry gifting as an
apostle will be recognized and will begin to function as he is sent out to do the work of
an apostle by his local church. During this time he will function in any or all of the other
ministry giftings as an evangelist pastor, teacher or prophet.
Once his apostolic ministry begins, he will also continue to do the work of an evangelist,
teacher, and prophet in addition to those functions that are specific to the function of an
apostle.

In signs and wonders

Great signs and wonders and healing miracles will be continually manifested during the
ministry of the apostle.
Romans 15:17-19 therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things
 P a g e | 28
which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which
Christ has not accomplished through me in the word and deed to make Gentiles
obedient in mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God so that
from Jerusalem and round about to Iconium I have fully preached the Gospel of
Christ.

Acts 2:42-43 and they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and
fellowship in the breaking of bread and in prayers , then fear came upon every
soul and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Acts 5:12 and through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were
done among the people.

Spirit of humility
An apostle will be characterized by a spirit of humility, his ministry will not be as one
who operates as a dictator.

2 Corinthians 1: 24 not that we have dominion over your faith but are fellow
workers for your joy for by faith you stand...

He will not be one who is a lord over the sheep but will instead as a father, minister from
a relationship that he has patiently and carefully established in the spirit with those
people.
1 Peter 5;2 shepherd the flock of god which is among you serving as overseers
not by constraint but willingly not for dishonest gain but eagerly...

Instead we see the ministry of the apostle as one who is at the bottom. He is one who
with the prophet, is laying foundations , he will minister and speak with great revelation
and spiritual authority , but always this authority will be from the heart of one who has
humbled himself and has become a servant.
The ministry of the apostle isn’t from the top down instead it is from the bottom up. His
authority and function in the government of the church is recognized not because of his
title but because of his function within the body of Christ.

The authority of an apostle

The apostle will speak with the authority of a father but he will also be a man under
authority, the only person who can truly speak with God's authority is a person who is
under authority and in a proper relationship with others; he is accountable to the other
apostles and elders from whom he is sent.
Matthew 8:9-10 for I also am a man under authority having soldiers under me
 P a g e | 29
and I say to this one go and he goes and to the other come and he comes and to
my servant do this and he does it...

When Jesus heard it he marveled and said to those who followed assuredly I say to you
I have not found such great faith not even in Israel
We see examples of the correct use of an apostle authority in the ministry of Peter and
Paul, they never exercised dictatorial authority instead they used their authority for
edification.
2 Corinthians 1:24 not that we have dominion over your faith but are fellow
workers for your joy for by faith you stand...

2 Corinthians 10:8 for even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority
which the Lord gave us for edification, and not for your destruction I shall not be
ashamed.

Luke 22: 24-27 but there was also rivalry among them, as to which of them
should be considered greatest and he said to them, the kings of the Gentiles
exercise lordship over them and those who exercise authority over them are
called benefactors, but not so among you; on the contrary he who is greatest
among you let him be as the younger and he who governs as he who serves, for
who is greater he who sits at the table or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at
the table, yet I am among you as the one who serves...

Purpose of apostolic authority

To govern
As the apostle and the elders governed the local churches they were building them up
bringing the necessary discipline, accountability, stability and protection for each one.

To discipline
An apostle will use his authority to bring the necessary discipline to a local church, its
leaders and if necessary to individual believers who have not been disciplined by the
pastor or other elders in that church.

1 Corinthians 4;14,15,21 I do not write these things to shame you but as my

beloved children I warn you for though you might have ten thousand instructors
in Christ yet you do not have many fathers for in Christ Jesus I have begotten
you through the gospel.
What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod or in love and a spirit of
gentleness?
 P a g e | 30

1 Corinthians 5:1-5 it is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among

you and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles that a
man has his father’s wife and you are puffed up and have not rather mourned
that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you , for I
indeed as absent in body but present in spirit have already judged as though I
were present concerning him who has so done this deed, in the Name of our
Lord Jesus Christ when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with
power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of
the flesh that his spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus.

Bringing repentance
The ministry of the apostle will bring repentance deliverance, revival and commitment
among the people.

Acts 19: 17-20 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in
Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was
magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and
burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it
totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and
prevailed.

To bring accountability
The apostle will bring financial accountability into each local church.
1 Corinthians 16: 1- 4 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have
given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of
the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper,
that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you
approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting
that I go also, they will go with me.

To give stability
The apostle will bring stability to the church and establish its roots deep in God's Word
thereby protecting it from false teaching.

Ephesians 4:14 that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and
carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in cunning
craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive...
Colossians 2:6,7 as you have therefore received Christ Jesus the lord so walk
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in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as you have been
taught abounding in it with thanksgiving...

To provide protection
An apostle will keep watch over the churches that he has established and where his
ministry is received.

Hebrews 13:17 obey those who rule over you and be submissive for they watch
out for your souls as those who must give account , let them do so with joy and
not with grief for that would be unprofitable for you...

Key areas of ministry

The apostle will function as an elder within the local church where he is based , he will
be part of the ministry team of that local church when he is at home, however the
ministry team in the local church will usually be headed by an elder who operates in the
ministry gifting of a pastor.

Ministry teams
An apostle will frequently head an apostolic team. The believers who form this team
may include others who are functioning in the fivefold ministry giftings, the team may
include some who are called into fivefold ministry but are in period of preparation for the
time that they will be ordained and sent out; the team may also include those who are
functioning in the ministry of helps.

Each of the team members will be in close relationship with a local church to each and
will accept and follow the spiritual leadership of the apostle; they will labor together in
doing front-line evangelism in establishing new churches and Bible schools, and in
overseeing the rebuilding and ongoing development of existing churches. They are
believers who have been chosen by God; recognized by the elders who have the
calling, initiative and vision and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to help advance the
Kingdom of God around the world.

Develop strategy
The apostle will work together with the local elders in certain areas of ministry; he will
see the overall picture of the local church, its long time and immediate needs. The
apostle will usually see the type of ministry that particular local church needs to receive
next in order that it might continue to grow spiritually, also the apostle will recommend
certain ministries that would be the best to invite to come and minister at the church.

Appoint leaders
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An apostle will work with elders in the local church and appoint leadership and confirm
the existing leadership in the local church.

Acts 14:23 so when they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with
fasting they commend them to the lord in whom they had believed...

Establish schools
An apostle will establish and teach in Bible schools.
Acts 19:10 and this continued for two years so that all who dwelt in Asia heard
the word of the lord Jesus both Jews and Greeks...

Correct doctrine
An apostle will be concerned with correct doctrine and will see that the church is flowing
in what God is saying and doing in the church today.

Resolve conflicts
He will resolve conflicts and bring necessary discipline to the church.
Acts 5: 3 but Peter said, Ananias why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the
Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself...

Establishes and releases

The apostles’ function is foundational; he is not to be thought of as a traditional
superintendent or manager. His involvement in pastoral detail will decrease as he turns
over more and more leadership to the elders that he appoints in every church. Once he
has developed the leadership in a local church he will normally leave and establish
another church as he is led by the Holy Spirit, he will however keep a relationship of the
spirit with the first church.

Instead of growing by addition his ministry will grow by multiplication; he will recognize
the call of God on the lives of others and then train and establish them in that ministry.
He will not own or control the churches he has established, he will not be building
another denomination or association. His relationship will be one of the Holy Spirit.
Each church will be separate and dependent only upon the Holy Spirit and Jesus
himself.

The Apostles’ relationship to the local church

The church that sends the apostle provides a covering for the apostle but isn’t to be
considered a mother church for any churches that are established. Churches are
covered by the ministry of an apostle and not by other local churches.
This covering is to be voluntary one from the heart that is a result of a deep personal
 P a g e | 33
relationship between the apostle and the local church. There should be an
understanding between the apostle and the elders of a local church that the relationship
not only brings the gift of apostolic ministry but it also brings the government of that
apostolic ministry.

The apostle and the local church must be committed to one another and have a clear
understanding of what that relationship means and what is to be expected. The local
church must be willing to recognise and receive the ministry of the apostle including his
God appointed role in its government.

The biblical pattern of giving to missions in the New Testament was one of financial
support of the apostle or apostolic team. Young churches were helped financially by
other churches though the ministry of an apostle. As they both become established they
will in turn help establish other churches through the ministry of the apostle. Others who
are ministering on the apostolic team or who are ministering outside of the local church
as prophets, evangelist or teachers should also be supported by the local church from
which they are sent. When financial needs arise in local churches and financial
assistance is needed, the apostle should make that need known to other local churches
where he minister.

Question for review

Give two examples of how an apostle operates in ministry that are exclusive to the
functioning of an apostle?

MINISTRY OF THE PROPHET

For many years the ministry of the prophet has been ignored or misunderstood. Many
have thought the ministry of the prophet was limited to the Old Testament period. In
Ephesians 4 Paul states that this second of the ministry giftings is necessary to prepare
god's people for work of the ministry and to bring us to ministry.
Jesus said that anyone who received a prophet as a prophet would receive a prophets
reward.
Matthew 10:41 he who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive
a prophets reward and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a
righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

Definition
A prophet is one who speaks for God, he has been given the distinctive ministry of
representing God before men. This revelation while in total harmony with scripture will
give;
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1. Direction
2. Confirm guidance and vision
3. Give insight into the word of god
4. Tell facts about people’s lives
5. Rebuke
6. Judge
7. Correct
8. Warn
9. Reveal future events

A prophet will minister under a greater level of the prophetic anointing and with greater
detail and accuracy than will one who is simply operating in the spiritual gift of prophecy.
The prophetic word from one who is a prophet will often contain revelation that goes
beyond edification, exhortation and comfort than can come as any believer prophesies.

A spokesman for God

The prophet is a spokesman for God, even as a spokesman for Moses.
Exodus 4:15, 16 now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth and
I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and I will teach you what you shall
do, so he shall be your spokesman to the people and he himself shall be as a
mouth for you and you shall be to him as God.

Even as Aaron was to communicate Moses instructions to the people, so are the
prophets to be as God's spokesman to his people.

Origin of prophetic word

A prophet is never to speak his own thoughts or from his own wisdom, he is only to
speak as a prophet when God speaks directly through him.
2 Peter 1:20,21 knowing this first that no prophecy of scripture is of any private
interpretation; for prophecy never came by the will of man but holy men of God
spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Root words
There are number of Hebrew words associated with prophecy, two of these words give
us insight into the prophetic ministry and to the spiritual gift of prophecy.
1. Raba occurs over four hundred times and means to bubble up, to gush or pour
forth, this reveals the ecstatic or spontaneous manner in which prophecy often
comes.
2. Nataf means to drop to fall as drops of rain; this word reveals the divine origin of
prophecy.
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The Greek word propheteo used in the new testament means to say or to speak forth;
this word reveals two main aspects of prophecy.

Forthtelling is declaring something that will take place in the future.

Jeremiah 28:9 As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of
the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the Lord
has truly sent.

Ezekiel 33:33 and when this comes to pass surely it will come then they will
know that a prophet has been among them.

Types of prophecy

Spirit of prophecy

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me,
“See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who
have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the
spirit of prophecy.

The spirit of prophecy is a mantle of prophetic anointing given as willed by the Holy
Spirit which enables a believer to prophesy the words of the Lord. When this spirit of
prophecy comes believers may begin to prophesy even if they don’t normally do so,
they will prophesy with greater detail and accuracy than is their normal experience.
The spirit of prophecy may come upon other believers when ministering in a meeting
with a prophet who is ministering under a strong prophetic anointing.

Gift of prophecy
1 Corinthians 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy; to
another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues.
The gift of prophecy can function in the life of any believer , however when the gift of
prophecy is operating through a believer other than a prophet or one of the ministry
giftings; it will normally not contain revelation beyond that for which the spiritual gift of
prophecy is specifically given ; that is for strengthening encouragement and comfort.
1 Corinthians 14: 3 but he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation
and comfort to men.

A ministry gift
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When Jesus ascended to His Father, He gave certain ministry giftings to His church to
prepare His people for works of service and to bring them to ministry and one of the
ministry giftings is that of a prophet.

Biblical history of the prophets

All through history, God has spoken to His people through the prophets.

Jeremiah 7:25 since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until
this day I have even sent to you all my servants the prophets daily rising up early
and sending them...

Old Testament prophets

Most of the Old Testament is written by prophets going by the size of the book they
wrote. We sometimes refer to them as the major or minor prophets , there are many
other prophets listed in the Old Testament Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
Joseph and Aaron are all referred to directly as prophets, and there were also
prophetesses.

Moses, a pattern
Moses was given the guideline for a prophetic ministry from which all future Old
Testament prophets were judged we are told he was like no other prophet.

Deuteronomy 34: 10 but since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like
Moses whom the lord knew face to face...

Visions and dreams;

Numbers 12:6 then he said hear now my servant , if there is prophet among
you I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision and I speak to him in a
dream..

God's word in mouth

Deuteronomy 18:15-22 the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me
from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear according to all you
desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me
not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire
anymore lest I die and the Lord said to me what they have spoken is good. I will
raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren and I will put my
words in his mouth and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
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Must listen to prophet:
v19- And it shall be that whoever will not hear my words, which he speaks in My
name I will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in
My name, which I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name
of other gods, that prophet shall die..

Test of prophecy:
v21-And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord
has not spoken?, when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing
does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not
spoken , the prophet has spoken it presumptuously you shall not be afraid of
him.

Samuel and school of prophets

Under Samuel’s leadership, the ministry of the prophet came into maturity.
Acts 13:20 after that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years
until Samuel the prophet.

Acts 3:23-26 and it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear that
Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people , Yes, and all the
prophets from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have
also foretold these days . You are sons of the prophets and of the covenant
which God made with our fathers saying to Abraham, And in your seed all the
families of the earth shall be blessed, to you first, God, having raised up His
Servant Jesus sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your
iniquities.

He established schools of prophets:

Samuel established the schools of the prophets and in so doing established a new
prophetic order of men who were educated in the Word, sensitive to the voice of God
and who had a deep spiritual relationship with God.
Isaiah 19: 20 and it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the
land of Egypt, for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors and He will
send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them.

At Ramah:
1 Samuel 19;18-21,23 so David fled and escaped and went to Samuel at Ramah
,and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed
in Naioth in Ramah. Then Saul sent messengers to take David and when they
saw the group of prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as leader over
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them the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also
prophesied. And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers and they
prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they
prophesied also. So he went there to Naioth in Ramah, then the Spirit of God
was upon him also and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in
Ramah.

At Bethel:
2 Kings 2:3 and the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha
and said to him , Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from you
today?

At Jericho:
2 Kings 2:5 and the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha
and said to him , Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over
you today?

At Gilgal:
2 Kings 4:38 and Elisha returned to Gilgal and there was a famine in the land,
now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him and he said to his servant
put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of prophets.

After Samuel had established his schools for the sons of the prophets, God assigned a
personal prophet to most of the kings of Israel and Judah to help them know God's will.
Prior to the ministry of Samuel the people inquired of God through the priest, beginning
with Samuel, the people always heard from God through the ministry of the prophet.

Designations of the prophets

Man of God
The prophets were men who were close to God and represented God in their daily life
and ministry.
1 Samuel 9:6 and he said to him look now there is in this city a man of God, and
he is an honorable man, all that he says surely comes to pass, so let us go there
perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.

Seers
The prophets were called seers because of their visions insight and foresight of God's
revelation to his people.

1 Samuel 9:9 formerly in Israel when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke
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thus; come let us go to the seer ; for he who is now called a prophet was
formerly called a seer.

2 Samuel 24:11 now when David arose in the morning the Word of the Lord
came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer saying...

Mediators
The prophets as mediators were the teachers or interpreters of the law, they gave
themselves more to understanding the spirit of the law than the letter of the law; they
interpreted the history of the nation in the light of the Word of the Lord.

Isaiah 43:27 your first father sinned and your mediators have transgressed
against me.

Messengers
When God had a message to give his people he sent it through his prophets.
Malachi 3:1 behold I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before
Me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His Temple, even the
Messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold He is coming says the
Lord of host...

Prophets
This was the most common designation.
Matthew 10:41 he who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive
a prophets reward.

JESUS’ MINISTRY AS THE PROPHET

Moses called Him a Prophet

Moses prophesied the coming of Jesus as the prophet.
Acts 3:22 for Moses truly said to the fathers, the Lord your God will raise up for
you a prophet like me from your brethren , Him you shall hear in all things
whatever He says to you...

Jesus called Himself a Prophet

Jesus referred to Himself as a Prophet.
Luke 4:24 then He said assuredly I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own
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country.
Mark 6:4 but Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honor except in his
own country, among his own relatives and in his own house.

He was recognised as a prophet

Jesus was recognized by many as a prophet.
John 6.14 then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did said, this
is truly the Prophet who is to come in the world.
John 9.17 they said to the blind man again, what do you say about Him because
He opened your eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

He spoke as a prophet
As a prophet Jesus spoke for His Father on this earth.
Hebrews 1:1, 2 God who at various times and in different ways spoke in time
past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His
Son.

John 12: 49 for I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent
Me gave a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

John 17:8 for I have given to them the words which you have given Me and they
have received them and have known surely that I came forth from You and they
have believed that You sent me.

He fore told things to come

As the prophet, Jesus not only declared God's message on earth he also foretold many
things to come.

Jesus was revealed as a prophet in the New Testament. His ministry as a prophet
provides a pattern for the ministry of prophets today.

NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETS

John the Baptist

John was the last prophet of the Old Covenant. His ministry was to prepare the people
to receive their Messiah.
Matthew 3:3 for this he was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah saying, The voice of
one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord , make His paths
straight....
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Agabus
The believers in Judea were spared the devastation of the famine by the ministry of the
prophet Agabus as he ministered in Antioch.
Acts 11: 27-30 and in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Then one of them named Agabus stood up and showed by the Spirit that there
was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in
the days of Claudius Caesar. Them the disciples each according to his ability,
determined to send relief to the brethren, dwelling in Jude. This they also did
and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Agabus also ministered personally to the apostle Paul.
Acts 21:10-11 and as we stayed many days, a certain prophet by the name
Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt
bound on his hands and feet, and said, thus says the Holy Spirit that ‘so shall the
Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the
hands of Gentiles.

Other prophets were sent from Jerusalem to Antioch with Agabus but we are not given
their names.
Acts 11: 27 and in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch...

Five prophets at Antioch

Acts 13:1 now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and
teachers; Barnabas Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius or Cyrene, Manaen
who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch and Saul...
Saul and Barnabas were faithfully ministering as prophets before they were sent out as
apostles to the Gentiles.

Judas and Silas

As prophets, Judas and Silas had a ministry that brought strength and encouragement
to the believers.
Acts 15: 32 now Judas and silas themselves being prophets also exhorted the
brethren with many words and strengthened them...

Ministry of Prophetess
There are many examples of women who prophesied or who were recognised as a
prophetess of God.
In the Old Testament we could study Miriam, Deborah, Huldah or Isaiah’s wife.
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Anna:
Anna was the last of the prophetess under the old covenant. She knew that the baby
Jesus would soon bring redemption to His people.
Luke 2:36-38 now there was one Anna, a prophetess the daughter of Phanuel of
the tribe of Asher and coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and
spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem..

Joel’s prophecy:
Joel prophesied of the prophetic ministry of women and Peter confirmed the fulfillment
of Joel’s prophecy.
Acts 2: 16-18 but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel and it shall come
to pass, in the last days says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions,
your old men shall dream dreams and on my menservants and on my
maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days and they shall prophesy.

Philips daughters:
Acts 21:8-9 on the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and
came to Caesarea and entered the house of Philip the evangelist who was one
of the seven and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who
prophesied.

Questions for review

1. Write the definition of prophet?
2. What is meant by the spirit of prophecy and how does it function in all believers’ life?

MINISTRY OF A PROPHET TODAY

God has restored the ministry of the prophet. We should look to the New Testament
pattern of the prophet and his ministry to give us a full understanding of this calling.

Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry for the
edifying of the body of Christ...

The prophet must be recognised accepted and allowed to function as a prophet if the
body of Christ is to be built up to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

He brings revelation
The ministry of the prophet brings revelation; a prophet will take time to hear from God
in a special way. He will spend time meditating on and studying God’s Word. As a
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prophet he will receive revelation and insight into the Word of God especially as it
relates to those he is ministering to and with what God is doing in restoring His body.

Ephesians 3:5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as
it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets...

1 Corinthians 14:25 and thus the secrets of his heart are revealed and so falling
down on his face he will worship God and report that God is truly among you...

He brings vision
The ministry of the prophet brings vision, purpose and a sense of direction to God's
people.
Proverbs 29:18 where there is no revelation the people cast of restraint.

He gives warning
The prophet will give warnings which can provide protection for God's people. These
warnings can prepare them for what lies ahead.
Acts 21: 10-11 and as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus
came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt ,bound his
own hands and feet and said, thus says the Holy Spirit, so shall the Jews at
Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the
Gentiles..

Acts 11:27,28 and in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Then one of them named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there
was going to be a great famine throughout all the world which also happened in
the days of Claudius Caesar.

He strengthens, encourages and comforts

The ministry of the prophet brings strengthening, encouragement and comfort.

1 Corinthians 14: 3 but he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation

and comfort to men...
Even as the prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people to rebuild the ruins,
the prophet today will be continually encouraging, motivating and exciting the people to
finish the work of God.

Ezra 5:1 then the prophet Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets,
prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the
God of Israel who was over them.
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Ezra 6:14 so the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the
prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built
and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel and
according to the command of Cyrus, Darrius and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

He grounds and establishes

The ministry of the prophet involves the grounding and establishing of churches. The
prophet will work together with the apostle in laying spiritual foundations for new
churches and ministries.

Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.

Ephesians 3:5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men as
it has now been revealed by the Spirit of His holy apostles and prophets.

He confirms calling
The prophets will be involved together with a team of ministering elders in confirming
ministry giftings, and in imparting and releasing the operation of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit in believers’ lives. Through the laying on of hands they will bring the prophetic
word during this special time of ministry.

Acts 13:1-3 now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets
and teachers Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch and Saul , as they
ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said ,now separate to me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, having fasted
and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

He works with others

Since a prophets’ ministry is somewhat subjective by nature, important checks and
balances are provided as the prophet works together with other mature elders. This is
for the protection of the body and provides safeguards against deception. It is important
that the spiritual gift of distinguishing between spirits be in operating.

1 Corinthians 14:29 let two or three prophets speak and let the others judge.

Prophets operate in gifts of the Holy Spirit

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Revelation gifts
The prophet will operate fluently and accurately in the revelation gifts of the Holy Spirit.
While the revelation gifts can operate through every Spirit filled believer, they will
operate more frequently with a higher level of accuracy and anointing through the
ministry of the prophet. The prophet will frequently receive and minister a prophetic
word about things to come.

Inner voice visions dreams:

The knowledge can come as an inner voice, a vision , a dream , a message from an
angel or as a sudden impression.

Daniel 2:19 then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision so Daniel
blessed the God of heaven.

Acts 27:23,24 for there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I
belong and whom I serve saying, Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought
before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.

These revelations often come when we have been worshipping God and are totally
immersed in His Spirit.
Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lords day.
Revelation 4:2 immediately I was in the Spirit.
Revelation 17:3 so he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness.
Revelation 21:10 and he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain.

Often as the prophecy is given, the prophet is so inspired by the Holy Spirit that he will
hear himself say things he doesn’t know in the natural. Other times the believer or
prophet will suddenly hear new fresh creative words or phrases in his spirit. These
words will most often interrupt the natural thought processes as if they are injected into
the mind spontaneously.

Isaiah 30:21 your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, this is the way, walk
in it, whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left...

Vocal gifts:
The prophet will operate fluently and accurately in the gifts of vocal inspiration.

Strengthen, edify:
The prophet will strengthen and edify the church to strengthen or edify means to erect
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or build up.
1 Corinthians 14:4, 5 he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself but he who
prophesies edifies the church, I wish you all spoke with tongues but even more
that you prophesied, for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with
tongues , unless indeed he interprets that the church may receive edification.

Encourage:
The prophet will encourage the church.
1 Corinthians 14:3 but he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and
comfort to men.

The prophet will comfort God's people.

The prophet must be saturated in the Word of God.
Proverbs 2:1-6 my son if you receive my words, and treasure my commands
within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to
understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for
understanding , if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden
treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord ,and find the knowledge of
God, for the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and
understanding...

Prophets preparing way for Christ second coming

Even as the prophet John the Baptist prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus at His
first coming to this earth, the prophets today are preparing the way for His second
coming.
Revelation 10:7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is
about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His
servants the prophets.

Revelation 11:15 then the seventh angel sounded and there were loud voices in
Heaven saying, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our
Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever!

Prophets told first

As with every major event, God will reveal the events of His second coming so that His
bride will be prepared. God always reveals His plans to His people through His
prophets.
Amos 3:7 surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secrets to His
servants the prophets.
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Lay new foundations

As the ministry of the prophets is restored to the church, new foundations will be laid
and existing ones will be strengthened. The pastors, evangelist and teachers will be
ministering together with the apostles and the prophets on solid spiritual foundations
and the whole body of Christ will come into a new level of maturity.
As in the book of Acts, a mighty army of believers will once again be doing the work of
Jesus and the world will be reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ before His return.

John 14:12 most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I
do he will do also, and greater than these he will do because I go to my Father.

Warnings regarding prophets

There are numerous warnings in the Bible regarding prophets and prophecy; since God
is restoring prophecy to His body, we must heed the warnings as we receive prophetic
words.

Receive prophets
First God’s people are told to receive His prophets and their ministry as prophets.

Matthew 13:57 so they were offended at Him, but Jesus said to them, a prophet
is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.
We are warned against refusing to listen to a prophet.
Deuteronomy 18:19 and it shall be that whoever will not hear My words which
he speaks in My Name, I will require it of him.

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

A second warning has been given by God to be on guard against false prophets; such
warnings were given in the Old Testament.
Jeremiah 5:30-31 an astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the
land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and
my people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?

Warnings were also given in the New Testament

Matthew 7:15 beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but
inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 24:11 then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
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Wrong motives:
Many have dared to pretend to be speaking for God in order to get their own way or to
control others. Others have prophesied from wrong motivations instead of from a deep
personal relationship with God.

Familiar spirits:
Some have prophesied what they have received from familiar spirits when this happens
it’s important that the gift of the distinguishing of spirits be in operation then these so
called revelations or prophesies can be exposed for what they are, witchcraft!

Ask the Holy Spirit:

We must not accept a ministry even if signs and wonders are being manifested without
first asking the Holy Spirit for His inner witness to us. We must always be careful to
discern a person’s ministry for ourselves. We must never ignore the inner witness of our
own spirit even if that persons ministry has been received by respected leaders.

Mark 13:22 for false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and
wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Subject to control
God warns the prophets themselves to exercise discerning of spirits and self-control.
1 Corinthians 14:32 and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

Even though the prophecy may come spontaneously the spirit of the prophets and the
operation of the gifts are subject to the control of the prophets themselves. The prophet
has full responsibility to God so that he will always be a clean, clear and pure channel of
God's communication with His people.

Judging prophecy
All prophets should expect, allow and give opportunity for all of their prophecies to be
judged.
1 Corinthians 14:29 let two or three prophets speak and let others judge.

1 John 4:1 beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they
are of God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Questions to ask
Always ask the following questions when judging a prophecy.
1. Is the prophecy in harmony with the Word of God?
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God will never give a message that is in conflict with His written Word, the Holy
Spirit cannot be in conflict with Himself.

2. Is the prophecy given in a good, non-condemning spirit?

God does not condemn, Satan does. When God points out sin, it will usually be
in private and will bring relief to the person involved, it is God's desire to bring us
to repentance not to put us under condemnation.
Romans 8:34 who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died and furthermore is
also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

3. Do his or her prophecies come to pass?

Deuteronomy 18:22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing
does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken
the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him...

4. Does he or she live a godly, Christ centered life?

Jeremiah 23:15-16 therefore thus says the Lord of host concerning the prophets,
behold I will feed them with wormwood and make them drink the water of gall, for
from the prophets of Jerusalem profaneness has gone out into all the land, Thus
says the Lord of hosts, do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to
you; they make you worthless, they speak a vision of their own heart not from the
mouth of the Lord.
5. Does the Holy Spirit bear witness with your spirit regarding the prophesy?
1 John 2:20-21 but you have an anointing from the Holy One and your know all
things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you
know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

6. Has this been confirmed in the mouth of two or three witnesses?

2 Corinthians 13:1 this will be the third time I am coming to you, by the mouth of
two or three witnesses every word shall be established.

Questions for review

1. Name at least three things that the ministry of a prophet will do for believers?
2. Describe how a prophetic word or message will come to a prophet or to a believer
who is prophesying?

Designations of the prophets

Man of God - the prophets were men who were close to God and represented God in
their daily life and ministry.
1 Samuel 9:6 and he said to him, Look now, there is in this city a man of God,
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and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go
there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.

Seers - the prophets were called seers because of their vision insight and foresight of
‘God’s revelation to His people.
1 Samuel 9:9 (formerly Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke
thus: come, let us go to the seer; for he who is now called a prophet was
formerly called a seer.)
2 Samuel 24:11 now when David arose in the morning, the Word of the Lord
came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying...

Mediators - the prophets as mediators were the teachers or interpreters of the law.
They gave themselves more to understanding the spirit of the law than the letter of the
law. They interpreted the history of the nation in the light of the Word of the Lord.
Isaiah 43:27 your first father sinned, and your mediators have transgressed
against me.

Messengers - when God had a message to give to His people, He send it through
prophets.
Malachi 3:1 behold, I send my Messenger, and he will prepare the way before
me. And the Lord, whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple, even the
Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight behold, He is coming, says the
Lord of hosts.

Prophets - this was the most common designation.

Mathew 10.41a he who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall
receive a prophet’s reward.

MINISTRY OF THE EVANGELIST

Jesus the evangelist

Throughout the book of Luke, we see Jesus fulfilling his ministry as the evangelist as
prophesied by the prophet Isaiah.
Luke 4.43 but he said to them, I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other
cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.

Luke7:22 then Jesus answered and said to them, go and tell John the things you
have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
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Luke 8:1 now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and
village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God, and the
twelve were with him..............

Luke 20:1 now it happened on one of those days, as he taught the people in the
temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together
with the elders, confronted Him.

Jesus pattern of evangelism

All through the gospels we see Jesus’ ministry as a pattern for the ministry of the
evangelist today.
Mathew 9:35 and Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness
and every disease among the people.

Mathew 11:5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk: the lepers are
cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the
gospel preached to them.

The ministry of the evangelist is very important to God’s plan and purpose for his church
today.

Calling of the evangelist

Specific call
An evangelist, just like the other fivefold ministries, must have a definite call from God.
This calling will be confirmed by the prophetic ministry of the prophets, apostles and
other elders and will be imparted through the laying on the hands of the assembly of
elders. This ministry gifting will be recognised by the body of Christ.

The evangelist should be recognised as such by the believers in the local church. He
should be financially and prayerfully supported by that local church. As God leads, he
should also be sent out to other areas by that church.

Call for believers

Even though there is a special ministry gifting as an evangelist, all believers are to do
the work of an evangelist even as Paul instructed Timothy.
2 Timothy 4:5 but you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of
an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

Every believer is to be his witness

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Acts 1:8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you:
and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and
to the ends of the earth.
Even thou all believers are to evangelise, the evangelist has a special anointing for
evangelism and will therefore be more skilled in this area of ministry.

Example of Philip

Philip is the New Testament example of an evangelist.

Acts 21:8 on the next day we are who were Paul’s companions departed and
came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one
of the seven, and stayed with him.

There was a time of preparation in Philip’s life before he stepped into the full operation
of the ministry gifting of an evangelist

First as a deacon:
Acts 6:1- 6 now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying
there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their
widows were neglected in the daily distribution, then the twelve summoned the
multitude of the disciples and said, it is not desirable that we should leave the
Word of God and serve tables. Therefore, Brethren, seek out from among you
seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may
appoint over the business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to
the ministry of the Word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and Philip, Prochorus,
Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas , a proselyte from Antioch, whom they
set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

From this passage we see several things about Phillip’s life and preparation before he
began to function in the area of his ministry gifting.

He was committed
Philip was committed to the local church in Jerusalem. Later the church in Caesarea
became his home church.
He was of good reputation
Philip had proven himself to the leadership of his home church as a man of character
and integrity
He was full of the Spirit
He was a man who was continually full of the Holy Spirit.
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Proven wisdom - he was a man of proven wisdom
He had a servant’s heart - he had a servant’ heart. He had a heart of compassion that
responded to the needs of those in need. He was a humble man, willing to serve others.
Proven service - he was a man of proven wisdom
He submitted to authority
Before Philip began to minister as an evangelist, he first proved himself as a deacon in
his own local church. Phillip learned how to handle authority by first submitting to the
authority of the elders.

He was recommended by elders - Philip had the spiritual support of the elders at his
local church.
Acts 8:14 now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria
had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them…

He began with persecution

Phillip was forced into the ministry to which he had been called by the persecution that
came in his life.
Acts 8:1 now Saul consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution
arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered
throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 8:4-5 therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the
Word. Then Phillip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to
them.

The message of the Evangelist

The evangelist preaches one main message. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:5 then Phillip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to
them
Acts 8:12 but when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning
the Kingdom of God, and the Name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were
baptised.
Acts 8.35 then Phillip opened his mouth, and beginning at this scripture,
preached Jesus to him.
Acts 8 :40 but Phillip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in
all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Water baptism
The message of an evangelist will include baptising those who receive Jesus in water,
as a seal and testimony of their faith in Jesus Christ.
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Acts 8:12 but when they believed Phillip as he preached the things concerning
the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were
baptised.
Acts 8.36 now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the
eunuch said, see, here is water. What hinders me from being baptised?

Baptism of the Holy Spirit:

Through Phillip’s experience in Samaria, we learn that new believers not only need to
be baptised immediately in water, but they also need to receive the baptism of the Holy
Spirit.
Acts 8:14-17 now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria
had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who when they
had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as
yet he had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptised in the Name
of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy
Spirit.

As these new believers received baptism in the Holy Spirit they too received the power
to be effective witnesses to keep taking the gospel to others who had yet not heard it.

Acts 1:8, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.

Questions:

1. What is the ministry of the evangelist?

2. How is the ministry of the evangelist different from the call on every believer’s life
to evangelise?
3. Describe the preparation, and character development that one would see in a
believer’s life before he would function as an evangelist.

Ephesians 4.11 and he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers....
Acts 21.8 on the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came
to Caesarea, and entered the house of Phillip the evangelist who was one of the seven,
and stayed with him
2 Timothy 4. 5 but you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of
an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
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Patten for mass evangelism

Phillip s ministry in Samaria is a pattern of mass evangelism.
The following is an example of the fulfilment of the great commission of Jesus Christ.
Acts 8: 5-8 then Phillip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to
them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Phillip,
hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a
loud voice, came out of many who were possessed: and many who were
paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. When
Phillip went to Samaria, he was led by the Holy Spirit.

An evangelist is a reaper. Philip reaped in a harvest field where Jesus had sown.

Fulfils great commission

Mark 16:15-18 and He said to them, go into all the world and preach the Gospel
to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who
does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who
believe; in My Name they will cast demons; they will speak with new tongues,
they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means
hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Philip obeyed the direct Word of Jesus. When he went to Samaria, a place that under
normal circumstances, a Jewish person would prefer not to go.
Acts 1:8 6,7 and the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by
Phillip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying
with loud voice out of many who were possessed and many who were paralyzed
and lame were healed.

Mark described the beginning of the fulfilment of the great commission immediately after
Jesus had been taken up into heaven.

Mark 16:20 and they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with
them and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

The people of Samaria received the Gospel that Phillip had preached because the Word
had been confirmed by signs.

Miracle evangelism
The only truly effective evangelism is miracle evangelism. For years the church has
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been trying to reach the world with the gospel by traditional methods and techniques
without expecting god to confirm His Word with signs and wonders. We have used
tracts and forms. Too often we have had a form of godliness but have denied its power.

2 Timothy 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such
people turn away!

The evangelist is to have an anointing to minister with great signs, wonders and healing
miracles. Every time God confirms His Word with healing miracles, many will come to
Jesus.

The Church of Acts.

The church described in the book of Acts grew by the thousands because of miracle
evangelism.
Acts 2:43 then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were
done through the apostles.
Acts 2:47b and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 5:12a. And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders
were done among the people.
Acts 5.14-16 and believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of
both men and women, so that they bought the sick out into the streets and laid
them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by, might
fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to
Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean
spirits, and they were all healed.

Examples: Peter and John

As Peter and John were walking down the streets, they saw a man who was crippled
from birth begging beside the temple gate.
Acts 3:6-10 then Peter said, silver and gold I do not have; but what I do have I
give you! In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he
took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle
bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the
temple with them walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him
walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms
at the beautiful gate for the temple; and they were filled with wonder and
amazement at what had happened to him.as a result of this one miracle, five
thousand people were saved.

Acts 4.4 however, many of those who heard the Word believed and the number
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of the men came to be about five thousand.

Phillip
When Phillip went to Samaria, because of the miracles, many accepted Jesus as their
Savoir and were baptized.
Acts 8.5 then Phillip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to
them.
Acts 8.12 but when they believed Phillip as he preached the things concerning
the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, both men and women went
baptised

Paul
When Paul went to Ephesus, God confirmed His word through miracle evangelism.
Acts 19:11 now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul.
As a result of miracle evangelism and as a result of Paul’s teaching and training others
for miracle evangelism in the school or lecture hall in that city, all who lived in the
province of Asia heard the gospel.
Acts 19:10 and this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard
the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Church of today
God is restoring miracle evangelism to the church today. As the evangelists do their
work and train every believer for miracle evangelism, a mighty wave of miracle
evangelism will sweep around the world before the soon return of Jesus Christ.

Mathew 24.4 and this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as
a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come

Geometric results
First Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, and then He sent out the seventy. On the day
of Pentecost, one hundred and twenty people received the power of Jesus had told
them about. Thousands came to know Jesus when they saw the miracle of the coming
of the Holy Spirit. Thousands were saved when Peter and John healed the lame man.
The crowds of Samaria heard and believed the Gospel of Jesus when they saw the
miracle of Phillip. The beginning church did not grow by addition; it grew by
multiplication as believers everywhere did the work of Jesus. Evangelists today are still
to mobilise the believers to do the work of Jesus.

Founding of the new local church

Evidently Peter and John founded a new local church in Samaria from those whom had
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been won to Jesus through the ministry of evangelist Phillip.
Acts 9:31 then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria had
peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of
the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied

Works with others

The evangelist is to work closely with the elders of his local church and other fivefold
ministry giftings. The evangelist isn’t to be out doing his own thing independent of other
ministries.

The Samaritan church is God’s pattern for the growth of the church.
• There was peace
• The church was strengthened .
• It was comforted by the Holy Spirit
• It grew in numbers
• It had a close personal relationship and reverence for God

This was a church that according to God’s plan and purpose was built upon the
foundation of the apostles and the prophets.

Characteristics of the evangelist

We observe several things from this passage about Phillip that should characterise the
ministry of the evangelist.

Recognises limitations
Phillip recognised the limitations of his own ministry. He did not feel that he had to do
everything himself.

Works with others:

He demonstrated a willingness to work with other ministries

Close to leadership:
He had a close relationship with the leadership of his home church and he relied on
them when he needed help.

Welcomes other ministries he did not leave this new group of believers unattended. He
knew that they needed the ministry apostles, prophets, teachers and pastors if they
were to grow and established in the faith.

Receive God’s direction

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He did not leave until he had received definite directions from God.
Acts 8.26 now an angel of the Lord spoke to Phillip saying arise and go toward
the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert.

Evangelist and personal evangelism

Expert soul winners - an evangelist who is balanced in his ministry will be just as
diligent and skilled in personal evangelism as he is in mass evangelism. The evangelist
should be an expert soul winner. He will always be looking for opportunities to witness
for Jesus Christ

Obeys God’s direction:

Phillip was led to leave the glory and excitement that was going on in Samaria to go and
witness to one man in the desert. This was certainly a test of obedience. Philip obeyed
God and he had the opportunity to lead a very important man, the treasurer of the
nation of Ethiopia, to Jesus.
Acts 8.26-40 now an angel of the Lord spoke to Phillip, saying, arise and go
toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, this
is a desert. So he arose and went. Behold, a man of Ethiopian, a eunuch of
great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians who had charge over
all her treasury and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting
in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Phillip,
go near and overtake this chariot.

Quick to teach
So Phillip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, do you
understand what you are reading? And he said, how can I, unless someone guides me?
And he asked Phillip to come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:32-33 The place in the scripture which he read was this. He was led as a
sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he opened
not his mouth. In his humiliation his justice was taken away. And who will declare
his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.
So the eunuch answered Phillip and said, I ask you, of who does the prophet say
this, of himself or of some other man?

Baptise the new believer

Phillip said, if you believe with all your heart, you may. Ad he answered and said, I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

.An example: often believers feel inadequate when they read the great commission to
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preach the Good News.
Acts 8:36- 40 then Phillip opened his mouth, and beginning at this scripture,
preached Jesus to Him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some
water and the Eunuch said, see, here is water. What hinders me from being
baptised? Then Phillip said, if you believe with all your heart, you may. And he
answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he
commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Phillip and the eunuch went down
into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came out of water, the Spirit
of the Lord caught Phillip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he
went on his way rejoicing. But Phillip found at Azotus. And passing through, he
preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

An evangelist should always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

Philip was led to Samaria and the city was ripe for harvest. Then Phillip was led to the
Ethiopian eunuch. This man had already been seeking after God, as an evangelist is
sensitive to the leading and timing of the Holy Spirit, he will be much more effective in
his ministry.

Many feel that they are unable to preach as Phillip did in Samaria. However, we notice
that when Phillip climbed into the chariot, he sat down next to the eunuch and preached
to him.

Acts 8.35 the Phillip opened his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached Jesus
to him.

To preach means to simply proclaim, to tell, or to share. When Phillip sat down next to
this man, he simply witnessed to him. By so doing, he fulfilled the great commission of
Jesus and was having part in preaching the Good News to all creation.

An evangelist should have a thorough knowledge of the Word of God.

Philip had such knowledge of God’s Word that he could start where the man was
reading and preach the Gospel to him

Balanced ministry
Certainly, Phillip was a man who was balanced in every area of his ministry. He was a
man of the Word and he was a man full of the Spirit of God. Philip, as an evangelist,
preached Jesus everywhere that he went.
Acts 8:40 but Phillip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached
aim all cities till he came to Caesarea.
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Ministry to Body of Christ.

To equip
We often think the evangelist is one who goes out and holds large crusades. The
emphasis has been on his travelling ministry. However, the primary ministry of the
evangelist according to Ephesians 4 is for the equipping of the saints for the work of the
ministry.

Ephesians 4:11 and He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets

some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.....
The evangelist, just as the apostle, prophet, pastor and teacher is primarily given to
train people to do the works of Jesus.

We have seen the works of Jesus as an evangelist. Jesus spoke of all believers when
he said:
John 14:12 most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I
do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My
Father.

The works of the ministry are

• To preach the gospel
• Cast out devils
• Heal the sick
All believers need to be trained to do the works of Jesus. This includes preaching the
gospel, casting out devils and healing the sick . The primary work of the evangelist isn’t
to do the work of the ministry but to prepare God’s people to do the work of the ministry.

Questions for review

1. Describe three characteristics that we saw in Phillip, the evangelist, as he related
to the rest of the body of believers
2. Describe the purpose of the evangelist as he relates to the body of Christ.
3. What is miracle evangelism? Give some examples from the Word.

MINISTRY OF A PASTOR OR SHEPHERD

Ephesians 4.11 and He himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.

Introduction
The Pastor is the most visible of the ministry gifts in the church today. However, during
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the time of the early New Testament church this wasn’t so. The word Pastor is used
only once in this new King James version of the bible (Ephesians 4.11, above)

Traditional view
An impossible burden has been placed on the Pastor due to our lack of understanding
of this ministry gifting. In many local congregations, the Pastor is responsible for
everything including winning the lost, taking care of the flock, being responsible for the
finances, being the teacher, and the evangelist.

When a man stands alone in this position, they becomes very vulnerable, and
thousands of pastors have fallen into complete breakdown, either morally, spiritually,
physically, emotionally, or mentally. Many have fallen prey to the pride of life through
adulation. Some have given in to the deceitfulness of the riches and financial
mismanagement because there have been no God-given checks and balance.

Biblical view
All of the fivefold ministry gifts are to minister and function together as a team in the
local church, each one operating in their own ministry function. In the New Testament
church, we see each one of the fivefold ministry gifting in operation, instead of leaving
all, the ministry to the pastor, as has been our tradition.
The function of fivefold ministry in the local church is given by Jesus:
● to prepare god’s people for the work of the ministry
● to build up the body of Christ
● to bring a unity of the faith and knowledge of the son of god
● to bring the saints to a place of maturity and fullness of Christ

The ministry gifting of the pastor or shepherd normally functions in only one local
church. The other ministry gifting will function within a local church but will also be sent,
from time to time, to build up other believers in the faith or to establish other churches

Pastor defined - shepherd

The Greek word translated Pastor in Ephesians 4.11 is poi men meaning shepherd.
One who tends herds or flocks, guides as well as feeds the flock, an overseer.
Poimen is used eighteen times in the New Testament. Only one time is it translated
Pastor. The other seventeen times its translated shepherd.
We frequently use the term Pastor because it is the word used in Ephesians four where
the complete list of the fivefold ministry giftings are given. However, because of the
more common scriptural usage and the actual meaning of the word Poimen, it would be
more biblical to use the word shepherd.
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Some have felt uneasy about using the term shepherd because of lack of balance that
was experienced some years ago. Some within the Charismatic movement, used the
term shepherd and it became known as shepherding movement. This movement
became out of the balance and caused a lot of hurt in the Body of Christ.

We need to act and not react .We need to act on the revelation of God’s Word as He is
restoring New Testament truth to His body today. In our study we have chosen to use
the terms, Pastor and shepherd, interchangeably because they are both scriptural.

Pastor – teacher
Some feel that the Pastor and teacher are inseparable and that there are only four
ministry giftings. The reason for this is that Ephesians 4 says, He Himself gave some to
be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists. Then both Pastor and teacher are
mentioned together as the verse continues, and some pastors and teachers.
There is much to substantiate this interpretation as the ministry of the Pastor is certainly
to a large degree a teaching ministry.

There are people who function effectively as Pastors and have a great Pastor’s heart,
but they are very poor teachers. There are also very capable and gifted teachers of the
Word who don’t have a Pastor’s heart and appear to have very little pastoral
relationship with the people they teach. Regardless of the differences in thought on this
verse, we have chosen to study them, for the sake of understanding, as five distinct
ministry gifting.

Fivefold ministry
These who are called are functioning in the fivefold ministry. Each have their strengths
and their limitations. This is one reason that the five ministry gifts should be functioning
in each local church. Each of the ministry gifting need to flow and minister together to
prepare build up and mature all of the believers in that church so that they may all attain
the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

When Jesus set different ministries in the church, He did it with purpose and with great
care. He realized the variety of need that exists among his people and He was
concerned that each of those needs be met by the balanced operation of these ministry
giftings in operation within each local church.
If each of the ministry gifting are not in operation on a regular basis in a local church, it
is impossible for that body of believers to come to the full and balanced maturity in their
Christian life and service.
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Pastors are overseers

Acts 20.28 therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which
the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which
He purchased with His own blood.

Pastors feed the sheep

The Greek word for overseer is episcopes. It is also translated Bishop. The word
means one who feeds the sheep. It is simply a reference to a pastor or a shepherd. A
Bishop in the scriptural meaning, is a function in the local church, not one who has
authority over a group of local churches as does an apostle.

Traditional view
Bishops, as part of an ecclesiastical hierarchy, came into existence not by New
Testament revelation or pattern, by the attempts of men to improve on God’s plan and
purpose for the independent local church. A Bishop is not to take the place of those
who God has established as apostles and prophets.
Shepherds are overseers of the flock.
The visual picture is of a shepherd sitting on the side of a mountain and watching over
the sheep that have been entrusted to his care.

Ephesians 4:11 and He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets;

some evangelists and some teachers….
1 Corinthians 12: 28-29 And God has appointed these in the Church: first
apostles, second prophets third teachers after that miracles then gifts of
healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Or are all apostles? are all
prophets? are all miracle workers?
Romans 12: 4-7 For as we have many members in one body, but all the
members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so
we being many are one Body in Christ. And individually members of one
another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us let
us use them. If prophecy let us prophesy in proportion to our faith or ministry, let
us use it in our ministering he who teaches in teaching.

TEACHER:
The Great commission - When Jesus gave the great commission he not only told his
disciples to preach the Gospel, He also said to make disciples of all nations. This was to
be done through teaching.
Matthew 28: 19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing
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them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching
them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you
always even to the end of the age. Amen.

DEFINITION: A teacher is one who instructs, and by his teaching causes others to
learn. His or her teaching involves exposition and explanation of scripture and
instruction of doctrine to others.
The teaching ministry holds an important place in the New Testament. The teacher is
the only one mentioned by name in all three lists of the ministry giftings given in
scripture.
PURPOSE: Teaching is necessary for unity, growth, maturity and to equip believers for
service.
Ephesians 4:11 -13 And He himself gave some to be apostles, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for
the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the
unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, to the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
The ministry of the teacher is absolutely necessary if believers are going to become
mature in the Word.
Ephesians 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into him who is
the head Christ
Hebrew words: Two words were used for teacher in the Old Testament Hebrew which
reveals the nature of the teacher’s ministry.
Inform: YARAH: Means to flow as water (as rain) to point out as with the finger; it has
been translated as direct inform, instruct, lay, shoot, show, teach through and train.
Exodus 4: 12, 15 now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach
you what you shall say.
Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth and I will be with
your mouth and teach you what you shall do.
Exodus 18: 20 and you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show
them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.
Exodus 35:34 and he has put in his heart the ability to teach in him and Aholiab
the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

Diligently instruct: LAMAD: Means to goad, or by implication to teach by the incentive

of the rod, it has been translated as: diligently instruct, learn skilfully.
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Deuteronomy 5:1 and Moses called all Israel and said to them: h
Hear O Israel the statutes and the judgements which I speak in your hearing
today that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.
Deuteronomy 11:19 You shall teach them to your children speaking of them
when you sit in your house when you walk by the way when you lie down and
when you rise up.
Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to
do it and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Psalms 25:4-5 show me your ways, O Lord teach me your paths, lead me
in your own truth and teach me for you are the God of my salvation on you I wait
all the day.
From the Hebrew words we find that a teacher is one who points the way with his or
her finger. He directs, informs instructs, and shows the ways of the Lord.
The teaching will flow like rain coming down when the teacher is skilled in instruction.
This helps the students to learn. Teaching is thus a goad or a rod that causes the
people to walk in God’s ways.
Greek words: There are six words relating to the teacher in the New Testament
however each of these words come from the same root word
Didasko: means to learn or teach. It is translated teach.
Didaktikos means instructive it is translated apt to teach.
Didaktods means instructed of convicted by teaching and is taught
Dikaskalia means instructions the function or information it is translated doctrine,
learning, teaching.
Dikaskolos means an instructor and is translated:
Doctor 14 times
Master 47 times
Scribe 67 times
Instruction (verb) Didache means instruction the art of instruction it is translated
doctrine, has been taught.
A teacher is therefore one who instructs and by teaching causes others to learn. It
involves exposition and instruction of the fivefold ministry and has been chosen by
God to instruct others.
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JESUS THE TEACHER
Jesus is our prime example of the teacher. Anyone who is called to be a teacher
should go through the Gospels studying his life as a teacher.
He was recognised by Disciples: The disciples knew Jesus as a Teacher.
Mark 4: 38 But he was in the storm asleep on a pillow and they awoke him
and said to him, Teacher do you not care that we are perishing?
John 13:13 you call me teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
Pharisees: The Pharisees and teachers of the law knew Jesus as a teacher. They
even tried to use his gift of teaching as a snare to involve him in political and religious
disputes.
Matthew 22: 16-17 And they sent him their disciples with the Herodian’s
saying, teacher we know that you are true and teach the way of God in truth nor
do you care about anyone for you do not regard the person of men tell us,
therefore what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?

Rich young ruler: The rich young ruler called Jesus, Good Teacher.
Mark 10:17 Now as he was going out on the road, one came running, knelt
before him and asked him Good teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal
life?
Nicodemus : Nicodemus was a teacher himself and he came to Jesus as a teacher.
John 3:2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi we know
that you are a teacher come from God for no man can do these signs that you do
unless God is with him.
Everywhere Jesus went: Jesus was a teacher wherever he went. He spent much of
his time teaching multitudes of people.
Matthew 9:35 and Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their
synagogues preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and healing every sickness
and every disease among the people.
Matthew 11:1 Now it came to pass when Jesus finished commanding his
twelve disciples that he departed from there to teach and to preach in their
cities.
Matthew 13:54 And when he had come to his own country he taught them in
their synagogue so that they were astonished and said, where did this Man get
this wisdom and mighty works?
Matthew 21:23 now when he came into the temple, the chief priests and the
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elders of the people confronted him as he was teaching and said, by what
authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?
Mark 10:1 Then he arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the
other side of the Jordan. And the people gathered to him again, and as he was
accustomed he taught them again.
Jesus taught in the synagogues the temple, in the streets and on the
mountainsides everywhere he went.
Mark 14:49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not take
me. But the scriptures must be fulfilled.
Luke 21:37 And in the daytime he was teaching in the temple, but at night he
went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet
Jesus taught differently
With authority: There were many teachers in Jesus’ day but there was something
about his teachings that caused people to take notice. Crowds were attracted because
there was a power and an anointing upon his teaching unlike any other they had ever
heard. They were all astonished because he taught with such authority.
Matthew 7: 28,29 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings that the
people were astonished. At his teachings for he taught them as one having
authority and not as the scribes.
Jesus has given this same anointing and authority to teachers in His Church.
The success of Jesus’ teaching wasn’t in his techniques or presentation. It wasn’t in His
appearance or manner of dress. It was in His authority.
He received from God the anointing of the Holy Spirit
What made Jesus successful as a teacher was that He taught only what He received
from His Father and that He taught in the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit.
John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, when you lift up the son of man, then you
will know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself but as my Father taught
me, I speak these things.
John 7:16 Jesus answered them and said, my doctrine is not mine, but his who
sent me.
He used Illustrations: As Jesus walked through the countryside he used visual or
verbal illustrations.
Matthew 9:16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For
the patch pulls away from the garment and the tear is made worse.
He told parables : Jesus would tell a story, or parable and then explain it relating truth
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to the lives of people.
He started where people were: Jesus would start teaching where the people were
and then take them to where he wanted them to be. The Samaritan woman at the well
is an excellent example of this.
John 4;10 15, 25, 26 Jesus answered and said to her, if you knew the gift of
God and who it is who says to you Give me a drink, you would have asked him.
And he would have given you living water.
This woman said to him, sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come
here to draw.
The woman said to him, I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ)
when he comes he will tell us all things.
Jesus said to her I who speak to you am he.

Miracles proved His message: signs and wonder drew people to Jesus. They
confirmed that his message was from God
Luke 5:17 Now it happened on a certain day, as he was teaching that there
were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every
town of Galilee Judea, and Jerusalem and the power of the Lord was present to
heal them.
When Nicodemus came to Jesus, he was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish
ruling council. Nicodemus said he knew who Jesus was because of the miraculous
signs he did.
John 3:12 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus a ruler of the
Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi we know that
you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do
unless God is with him.

Paul - Paul was an Apostle an Evangelist and also a teacher.

1 Timothy 2:7 For which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle I am
speaking the truth in Christ and not laying a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and
truth.
2 Timothy 1:11 to which I was appointed a preacher an apostle and a
teacher of the gentiles.

Barnabas and Paul: In Antioch some of the believers that had fled from persecution
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witnessed to the Greeks and a church started.
Acts 11: 21-26 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number
believed and turned to the Lord.
Then news of these things came to the ears of the Church in Jerusalem and
they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, where he came and had seen
the grace of God. He was glad and encouraged them all; that with purpose of
heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the
Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him,
he brought him to Antioch so it was that for a whole year they assembled with
the Church and taught many people. And the disciples were first called
Christians in Antioch.

Taught new believers: Paul the very man who had persecuted believers causing
them to flee to Antioch was later found by Barnabas and brought to Antioch to teach the
new believers.
Prophet - Teacher both Paul and Barnabas functioned as prophets and teachers
before they were sent out as apostles.
Acts 13:1 now in the Church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets
and teachers Barnabas, Simeon, who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Apostle – Teacher : Paul continued to minister as an Apostle and Teacher

1 Timothy 2:7 For which I was appointed a preacher and an Apostle I am
speaking the truth in Christ and not lying a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and
truth.
2 Timothy 1: 11 To which I was appointed a preacher an apostle and a teacher
of the Gentiles.
Apollos as a teacher
Acts 18: 24-26 Now a certain Jew named Apollos had been instructed in the
way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit he spoke and taught accurately the
things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to
speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took
him aside and explained to him the way of God and more accurately.

Teaching brings unity

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Teaching should not divide the body of Christ, it should bring unity.
1 Corinthians 3: 5-11 who then is Paul and who is Apollos but ministers through
whom you believed as the Lord gave to each one?
I planted, Apollos watered but God gave the increase. So then neither he who
plants is anything neither he who waters but God who gives the increase. Now
he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own
reward according to his own labour.
For we are God’s fellow workers you are God’s field you are God’s building
according to the grace from of God which was given to me, as a wise master
builder I have laid the foundation and another builds on it. For no one take heed
how he builds on it.
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid which is Christ
Jesus.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. According to Matthew 28: 19-20, how do we make disciples of all nations?
2. Give a definition or translation of one of the original Greek or Hebrew words that
were used for teacher.
3. Give 3 things about Jesus’ ministry that distinguished his ministry as a teacher
from the other teachers of his day.

Marks of a Good Teacher

Special Anointing
Any believer can teach what they know about the Bible but the calling of a teacher is a
divine gift. The fivefold ministry of the teacher isn’t a calling based on natural ability or
inclination to teach.
1 John 2:20,27 but you have an anointing from the Holy one, and you know all
things.
But the anointing which you have received from him abides in you, and you do not
need that anyone teach you, but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all
things and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in
him.

Gentle Spirit:
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Teachers must be humble and have a teaching spirit. They cannot have an
argumentative attitude.
2 Timothy 2:24-25 “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to
all, able to teach Patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition if
God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth.

Dependent on the Holy Spirit

Anointed teachers will depend on the Holy Spirit when they are preparing and
teaching. They understand that it is the Holy Spirit who brings illumination and life to
God’s Word.
John 14:26 But the helper the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name,
he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to
you.
Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give
to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.
1 Corinthians 2:13 these things we also speak not in words which man’s wisdom
teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual

A Teacher speaks with Authority:

Just as our example the Great teacher taught with authority, the teacher can also teach
with authority.
Matthew 7:28-29 And so it was when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the
people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having
authority and not as the scribes.

Multiplication:
Good, successful teachers will multiply themselves into the lives of those they teach.
2 Timothy 2: 2 And the things that you have heard from me, among many
witnesses commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
They will give themselves to the study of the Word of God, their teachings will instil in
God’s people a love and respect for the Word, and bring them to a place of maturity in
the faith.

Receptive to others:
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Teachers have an openness to be taught.
Romans 2;21 You therefore who teach one another do you not teach yourself?

Student of the Word:

We know that Timothy was an anointed teacher as well as an Apostle and yet Paul
encouraged him to study.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does
not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.
A teacher must have full knowledge of the word of God. Students by their own nature
will ask difficult questions.
A Teacher always teaches others:
Acts 20:20 and how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you,
and taught you publicly and from house to house.
Acts 20:27 for I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
A teacher is precise:
A teacher will be careful to use the right words needed for accuracy
Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle him
in his talk.
The teacher must be able to apply the Word in every situation in life. The teacher will
continually be establishing and grounding believers in the Word.
Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers you need someone
to teach you again the first principles of the oracles 0f God and you have come to
need milk and not solid food.
Exemplary life:
The disciples learnt from what Jesus did before they learnt what he taught.
Acts 1:1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to
do and teach.
A teacher must have an exemplary life and practice what he or she teaches.
Matthew 23: 1-3 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes to his disciples saying:
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell
you to observe; that observe and do, but do not do according to their works for
they say and do not do.
Teachers change lives:
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Teachers are fulfilled when they know that they have taught their students the heart and
mind of God, and then see their students walking in obedience to the things they have
learnt.
Deuteronomy 4:5 Surely, I have taught you statutes and judgements just as
the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the
land which you go to possess.
Great results can be expected when a teacher is teaching practical life-related truths
from the Word of God; as Paul taught the believers in Ephesus he multiplied himself into
the lives of the students. As a result everyone in Asia minor heard the Gospel.
Acts 19:9-10 he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily
in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years so that all who dwelt
in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus both Jews and Greeks.

Financial Support
A teacher should be supported financially by those he is teaching
Galatians 6:6 Let him who is taught the Word share in all good things with him
who he teaches.
There should be just as much a pattern for the financial support for the apostle, the
prophet, the evangelists and teachers as well as the Pastors.
Once a Church has grown to sufficient size, it too, should be expecting to send out
apostles and prophets with financial support.

By example:
A teacher teaches by what he is and does. The life of the teacher should be an open
book a good example to others.
2 Timothy 3:10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life,
purpose faith longsuffering love perseverance.
John 13: 12-15 so when he had washed their feet taken his garments, and
sat down again, he said to them, do you know what I have done to you? You call
me teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so am I. if then your Lord and teacher
have washed your feet ,you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have
given you an example that you should do as I have done to you.
By Declaration
A teacher not only teaches by example, he teaches by declaring the truth of the word of
God. As he teaches he should try to keep a good balance in God’s word. It is important
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that his teachings be based on the knowledge of the word, an understanding of that
truth, and with the wisdom of how that truth is applied.

How to judge the teachers:

James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we
shall receive a stricter judgement.
The ministry of the teacher should not be taken lightly. The teacher has a great
responsibility and has as very influential ministry in the direction of the Church.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 And we urge you brethren to recognize those who
labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you
What to watch for:
Timothy gave us a list of things by which to judge a teacher:
1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine
which is according to godliness, he is proud knowing nothing, but is obsessed
with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, evil suspicions,
useless wrangling’s of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth who
suppose that godliness is a means of gain from such withdraw.
False doctrine:
If a man teaches anything that is contrary to the written Word of God, it is false doctrine,
and must be carefully avoided.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people even as there
will be false teachers among you who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,
even denying the Lord who brought them and bring on themselves swift
destruction.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,
but according to their own desires, because they have itching years, they will
heap up for themselves teachers who will tell them what they want to hear.