APOSTOLIC ORDER

The Old Testament was preserved for us so that we might know and understand the ways of God the Father. A schoolmaster is a teacher of the intended mind and heart of the author of the materials being taught. If we are to understand the mind and heart of God toward ministry in the Body of Christ then we must consult our schoolmaster. He is the same in principles and statues today as He was thousands of years ago.

Exodus 18:13-22

13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:

16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to Godward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

JETHRO ’S COUNSEL TO MOSES:

1. Be thou for the people to Godward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: In other words, always point the people of God to their God. Allow the Lord to judge their causes or cases.

2. And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws: Teach the people the Word of God. Keep it forever before them.

3. Shew them the way wherein they must walk: Teach them how to walk in the righteousness of God.

4. and the work that they must do: Show them the work they must do for the Lord. These must be the attributes of the chief overseers of the people of God.

They must have a mind to operate within the boundaries of the Word of God, never pointing the people to them. They must be willing to walk in the righteousness of God so that they will be living examples of that righteousness. Jethro went on to instruct Moses as to how to choose those who would help in ministering to the people.

5. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them. Notice the character of those who are to assist Moses.

Able: Spiritually fit for service.

Fear God: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Men of Truth: They must love and respect the Word of God.

Not covetous: Must want nothing, having no private agenda. This must also be the character of those who purpose to serve in the Kingdom of God today.

II. INSTALLING THE GOVERNMENT

The Body of Christ is very similar to the nation of Israel as they came out of Egypt. We are the people of God, a holy nation unto God. Just as the Lord installed overseers over His people to teach them His laws and ways the same is true today.

THE BODY OF CHRIST IS NOT WITHOUT GOVERNMENT.

This government is a group of men and women chosen by God to teach the Body the mind and heart of the Father. They are instructed to contend for the faith of the common salvation that was ordained from the beginning of the world.

Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV

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

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

Ephesians 4:13-15

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

The above passages identify the ministries placed in the Body to oversee its development. It is the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers who are the governing body of the Church. These gifts represent the spiritual government installed by the Father to develop and govern His people.

They are charged with bringing the Body to perfection or in other words, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Sitting under these tutors should not leave us as children who are easily impressed by any doctrines or the cunning craftiness of men that are contrary to the truth.

III. SETTING THE ORDER

Ephesians 4:5-11 identifies the government of God as the five-fold ministry gifts. However, the Lord takes this governmental body a little further in the book of I Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 12:28

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly (and fourth), teachers (pastors & teachers) after that, (fifth) miracles, then gifts of healings (evangelists), helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

In this passage the Lord reveals the order in which the gifts are placed in the church. First the apostle, which means that the apostle’s anointing is the foundational gift and head of the body government.

Ephesians 3:1-2

1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:

Ephesians 3:3-5

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Here Paul confirms the order in which the revelation of the mystery of God was given to the church. God revealed it first to His apostles and then, secondarily, to His prophets. It is the apostle who wears the mantle for the ministry. It is the apostle who installs, establishes and maintains the order in the church.

This can be seen in all the writings of the New Testament epistles.

The Apostle: Establishes and maintains the order and ordains the other gifts.

The Prophet: Confirms the word given to the church.

The Pastor: Feeds the Word to the church congregation.

The Teacher: Further piece-meals the Word to the Body.

The Evangelist: Compels men to come to Christ.

There is more to these gifts, but these are the most essential distinctions.

It is important that the principle of apostolic order be understood. I want you to visualize the human body. God has created the government in the Body of Christ in similar fashion to that of the human body.

CHRIST - The head

APOSTLE - The backbone

PROPHET - One arm

PASTOR - The other arm

TEACHER - One leg

EVANGELIST - The other leg

The head is attached to the backbone alone. Then the rest of the limbs are attached to the backbone. This illustration symbolizes the fact that the revelation of Christ is given to the apostle first, confirmed by the prophet and fed to the rest of the Body by the pastors, teachers and evangelists.

This is the order of God. It is His government. He will not exclude, overlook or disregard His government. The manna from heaven is going to come through the apostle first. This is the method by which God chose to structure His government.