Callings of the Spirit

THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY

While these offices are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28, they are best seen in Ephesians 4:10-16:

Ephesians 4:10-16

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 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:

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:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We can see that the Lord Jesus Christ gave these gifts to the Church when He ascended to heaven. They were given to us “for the perfecting of the saints, [and] for the work of the ministry”. They will be here with us until we all come to maturity in Him. The anointing is the evidence that one is divinely called. There is controversy in the body of Christ today regarding whether Apostles and Prophets still exist. If we look at the scriptures, we cannot help but see that the church would be incomplete if all of the governing gifts were not functioning. If there are no Apostles and Prophets, then how can there be Pastors, Evangelists, or Teachers? Without all of these offices functioning in the body, the church will not be able to come into perfection and will never “come into the unity of the faith” nor “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

APOSTLE

According to Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, “apostle” means:

1. “Apostolos” (652) i.e., "one sent forth" (apo, "from," stello, "to send"). "The word is used of the Lord Jesus to describe His relation to God (see John 17:3).

The twelve disciples who were chosen by the Lord Jesus for special training, were called apostles (Luke 6:13; 9:10). Although the apostle Paul had seen Jesus face to face (1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8), he had not accompanied the twelve disciples during the time of Christ’s ministry on earth, and hence was not eligible for a place among them, according to Peter's description of the necessary qualifications (Acts 1:22).

After Jesus ascended to heaven, He directly commissioned Paul to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.

The word “apostle” also has a wider reference. In Acts 14:4, and 14, it is used to refer to Barnabas as well as Paul, Andronicus and Junias. In 2 Corinthians 8:23, two unnamed brethren are called “apostles of the churches”; in Philippians 2:25, Epaphroditus is referred to as “your apostle.” It is used in 1 Thessalonians 2:6 to refer to Paul, Silas and Timothy, to define their relation to Christ.

2. “Apostole” (651), "a sending, a mission," signifies an apostleship. (Acts 1:25; Rom. 1:5; 1 Cor. 9:2; Gal. 2:8).

God’s government is headed up by an Apostle, the sent one. An apostle must be appointed by God and is only chosen by foresight and foreknowledge. The test of the qualification for ministry is that the apostle knows God and has a genuine love for Him and His people. He/She must be an eyewitness to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. In other words, he/she must know from a personal experience that Jesus rose from the dead and is thoroughly convinced that He is working in the lives of His anointed vessels. Does this mean those who have not had a face-to-face encounter with Christ cannot be an apostle? We cannot emphatically say that this is true. We do not have scripture that indicates that all apostles in the Bible were witnesses to the resurrection of Christ.

Romans 16:7

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

This verse makes reference to the apostles Andronicus and Junia. We do not know definitively that they had an eyewitness account of Jesus Christ, but we know that they were indeed apostles. However, it is certain that they did have the gift and anointing of the apostle.

The apostle is given fresh revelation of the Word directly from God. This revelation is different from that which a pastor receives, in that it will establish boundaries for an entire reformation. It is the job of the apostle to set order in the church. They are to install the method by which ministry operates within the church. The apostle also reveals God’s will. They receive a revelation of the Word (which is the heart and mind of God) and are responsible for making certain it is handed down to the body of Christ. Wherever there is disorder or lack of revelation concerning the heart and mind of God, the apostle must challenge that disorder or ignorance, and be confrontational. The apostle would therefore have to make a conscious decision to be faithful to minister to others, dispensing all that God has given to them.

Ephesians 3:1-5

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 you-ward:

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 . . .

PROPHET

“Prophetes” (4396), "one who speaks forth or openly" . A prophet is "a proclaimer of a divine message," denoted among the Greeks as an interpreter of the oracles of the gods. In the Septuagint, it is the translation of the word “roeh”, meaning "a seer" (see 1 Samuel 9:9), indicating that the prophet was one who had immediate intercourse with God. It also translates to the word “nabhi”, meaning either “one in whom the message from God springs forth" or "one to whom anything is secretly communicated”. So in general, the prophet was one upon whom the Spirit of God rested, and one to whom, and through whom, God speaks (see Amos 3:7,8).

By definition, a prophet is one who speaks forth the mind and counsel of God and proclaims a divine message. In the case of the Old Testament Prophets, their messages were very largely the proclamation of the divine purposes of salvation and glory to be accomplished in the future; the “prophesying” of the New Testament "prophets" were both a preaching of the divine counsels of grace already accomplished, and the foretelling of the purposes of God in the future. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

While the prophet may reveal future events, this is not done to simply satisfy man’s curiosity. This revelation of future events may provide instruction, encouragement, hope, inspiration, or even a warning of impending evil. The prophet receives the Word from the Lord, but he or she does not always have the wisdom to identify how the scriptures bear witness to that word. The prophet receives a word that confirms the message given to the Apostle.

Acts 15:32

And Judas and Silas, being Prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

Acts 21:11-14

11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

PASTOR

“Poimen” (4166), "a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks" (not merely one who feeds them). The title is used metaphorically of Christian "pastors." "Pastors" guide as well as feed the flock (Acts 20:28), which indicates that this was the service committed to elders (overseers or bishops); so also in 1 Peter 5:1-2, "tend the flock... exercising the oversight." This involves tender care and vigilant superintendence. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

The Greek word for pastor is literally translated as “a shepherd.” He/She is responsible for the oversight of the flock. That leader must have the heart of a shepherd. This is of vital importance. A shepherd is one whom God has given the responsibility to feed and guide the flock. They must have compassion for people and be willing to go to whatever lengths to retrieve even one lost sheep. It is also the responsibility of the Pastor to take the Word that has been given by God to the Apostle (and confirmed by the Prophet) and give it to the flock in a manner in which it can be easily understood and applied. That Pastor takes care of them, and is ultimately responsible for the grass on which the sheep graze. It is further the responsibility of the Pastor, in addition to preaching the Word, to install the order of worship and administer the sacrament.

Jeremiah 3:15

15 And I will give you Pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Acts 20:28-31

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Acts 20:35

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

EVANGELIST

“Euangelistes” (2099), "a messenger of good" (eu, "well," angelos, "a messenger"), denotes a "preacher of the gospel." Acts 21:8 and Ephesians 4:11, makes clear the distinctiveness of the evangelist’s function in the churches. 2 Timothy 4:5 uses the word “euangelizo”, which means "to proclaim glad tidings," and “euangelion”, "good news, gospel." Missionaries are "evangelists," as being essentially preachers of the gospel. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

As the above definition indicates, an Evangelist is first a preacher/teacher of the gospel. They proclaim glad tidings to those who may not know Christ and also declare the heart and mind of God. Paul admonished Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5 to “do the work of an evangelist” which lets us know that there is a specific function for this office. The Evangelist is not a shepherd and does not provide the same type of instruction that one would receive under Pastoral care.

2 Timothy 4:2-5

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

All too often, people in the body of Christ who feel they have been called into ministry and do not want to submit to the authority of a Pastor call themselves Evangelists. These renegade “ministers” simply consider ministry as a means to acquire substance rather than see it as necessary to operate in the government of the Holy Spirit. The common school of thought about Evangelists is that he/she is always mobile. We must understand that it might be necessary for the Evangelist to remain in one place for an extended period of time until God’s purpose is performed at that particular location.

TEACHER

1. “Didaskalos” (1320) is rendered "teacher" or "teachers" in, by Christ, of Himself; in John 3:2 of Christ; of Nicodemus in Israel, John 3:10; of "teachers" of the truth in the churches, see Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28,29; Ephesians 4:11; Hebrews 5:12; James. 3:1; by Paul of his work among the churches, 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

2. “Kalodidaskalos” (2567) denotes "a teacher of what is good" (kalos), see Titus 2:3.

(Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

The Teacher is one who speaks by divine inspiration which is gathered by the complete revelation of the scripture. They are called by God and installed by the Spirit to stand in this office to teach. This does not just mean a Sunday School teacher, as it is so widely referred to today. This ministry requires a divine gift. A minister is not called to be a teacher just by natural ability or educational background. This calling and appointment come from the Holy Ghost. In the Bible, the apostle Paul describes the teaching ministry as “watering a seed that was planted”. He says that he planted, Apollos watered, but we must realize that God is the one who is responsible for growth.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Some saints feel that the calling to be a Teacher is not as important as callings to other offices of government. This is far from the truth. God gave all the gifts to the Body and all are of equal importance.

Matthew 22:16

16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.