Will the Real Five-Fold Minister Please Stand-up!
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· 8 viewsA Message that looks at the gifts God has given to the church and how they apply to us individually.
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Transcript
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
When I was a kid there was one fellow that kept coming up on my TV. His name was Raymond Burr. You might remember him as Perry Mason. I also remember him as Detective Robert Ironside. Did you know that Raymond burr had a brother who was a lumberjack? His name was Tim....Tim Burr!
Introduction
Introduction
On May 26 1961 the Twilight Zone featured an episode entitled “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up? In the Episode the police receive a report about a crashed UFO. When they arrive at the scene they find the crashed spacecraft and find tracks that lead to a small diner. In the diner they try to determine which of the occupants is the martian.
I thought of that episode as I prepared this message. We often come to a passage of Scripture with certain pre-conceived ideas and these ideas color our interpretation of a passage.
One school of thought regarding this passage deals with the idea that these 5 “Offices” of the church represent particular leaders in the church Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher. This school of thought usually goes on to indicate that the offices of Apostle and Prophet were temporary and that with the completion of Scripture were no longer needed and of ceased to exist in the church.
The second-school of thought, promoted a great deal today in what is often termed the New Apostolic Movement, is the idea that these represent 5 offices that are currently in operation in the church today. Many churches name different individuals as Apostles and Prophets and they even hold these titles in ministry.
I am not leading you into this Frey today because I feel that we have missed the boat entirely based on either of these pre-conceived ideas. To best understand verses 11 and 12 you must take the passage in context.
Look at Ephesians 4:7
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Every one of you has been given gifts. Everyone of you is called to use those gifts to serve God.
This morning I don’t want you to read this passage and think Apostle is talking about the 12 Apostles (Matthew, Peter, James, Paul, etc) I don’t want you to think Prophet is talking about Isaiah and Ezekiel. I don’t want you to think that Evangelist is talking about Billy Sunday, Billy Graham or even our friend Gary Hawkins, I don’t want you to think that Pastor is talking about John Morris, or Adam Kravitz or Bob Smith. I don’t want you to think that Teacher is talking about Les Feldick or Kay Arther or Abby Dively.
No when you read this passage I want you to think of yourself. Every one of us has been given grace. Everyone of us has been called by God. Each of you possesses qualities and characteristics that will enable you to serve God. Not in an office, but in a function of ministry. You may not have the title Apostle or Prophet or Evangelist or Pastor or Teacher. But you are one. What kind of Christian will you be? Let’s look at 5-Fold Minstry today and let’s apply it to us.
Body
Body
I. Apostles Gather
I. Apostles Gather
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Greek word for Apostle is Apostolos it means “Delegate” or Messenger or “Sent-One”
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Too often we have relegated ministry to the Professionals. We have made the Pastor a “Super Hired Holy Man” And we sit in the pew and watch. We become spectators. Here for the show. The Bible teaches that every member is a minister. You are not relegated to the bench you are a player on the team.
Apostles govern, they are sent, they establish new things, set them up, get them running, organize them. some of you have this gift. God is calling you to start something new. A new class, a new outreach, a new ministry.
II. Prophets Guide
II. Prophets Guide
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
The Greek word for Prophet is Prophetes. When we think of Prophets today we often think of someone telling the future. We often go to Scriptures like Deuteronomy 18:20-22
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
But along with foretelling, Prophetic ministry in the church today is not about telling the future, but about proclaiming the truth.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Let’s take Sunday School as an example. Think of all the Sunday School classes you have attended in your life. Think for a moment about people in your class. As you remember can you think of someone who was Apostolic. They started a new class and they set things in motion. Then maybe there was someone, a fellow student who had a prophetic gift, not telling what would happen to Joe next Tuesday, but of proclaiming truth, of being a guide.
This is a ministry that is close to God’s heart.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
We find an example of this in Acts 8:26-40
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
May you are a prophet?
III. Evangelist Gather
III. Evangelist Gather
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
The Greek word for Evangelist is Euaggelistes. It means the bringer of Good Tidings.
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
This may be your ministry. Matthew 22:10
So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
IV. Pastors Guard
IV. Pastors Guard
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
The Greek word for Pastor is Poimen it literally means “Shepherd”
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Think back to those Sunday School classes again. Can you think of someone who guarded the sheep. I am not talking about the Pastor or teacher in the class, but another student who always seemed to have input that guarded the class from going the wrong way or making the wrong choice.
Maybe this is you?
V. Teachers Ground
V. Teachers Ground
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
The Greek word for Teacher is Didaskalos. An instructor, a master teacher. One who is fitted to teach.
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
In order to be a teacher you must first be a student.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Are you a student of God’s Word?
Maybe he is calling you to teach.
Conclusion
Conclusion
At the end of the episode “Will the real martian please stand up,” we learn that the man named Ross isn’t what he seems, he is in reality the martian. He is surprised to learn that the man behind the counter is not just a cook, but rather an alien from Venus. Thinks are not always what they seem. Our text today was about Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. But they are not just first Century Offices that have either disappeared or remained. They are you. And God has gifted you for a purpose.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
God has equipped you to help in the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body.
Some of you may have noticed that I have been spending some time rediscovering a passion for entertaining kids with balloons. God often uses his word to inspire me. This passage from Exodus 31:3
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
God has not just filled me, He has filled you too. What will you do with the gifts God has given you?