The Five Fold Ministries

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

An Apostle; a messenger of the Gospel sent forth by the Lord, usually to a new area of ministry. The apostle Peter spoke of appointing an apostle to fill the vacancy of Judas. He gave the LORD two choices and cast lots.

Acts 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Acts 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Acts 1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen,
Acts 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
Acts 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

To be of the twelve, they had to have followed Jesus from the Baptism of John and have seen the resurrected Jesus. Does this mean there are to be no more than the twelve, as apostles? Jesus chooses the apostles and he chose the apostle Paul, not of the twelve.

Acts 22:10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

Rom 15:15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
Rom 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

1 Cor 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1 Cor 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1 Cor 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1 Cor 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1 Cor 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1 Cor 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1 Cor 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

Paul is an example of an apostle chosen by Jesus by divine appointment, not having been with the twelve. If Paul was selected, then Jesus may select others to be apostles, not of the twelve, but as those sent to special ministries. Perhaps there is an apostle sent to the Internet? An apostle sent to Africa? If Jesus sends, who can deny? We are not to add to the Bible. A modern day apostle is sent to minister, not to add to the Holy Scriptures.

Some prophets: A prophet; one who is moved to speak by the Holy Spirit a message from God. This is not a made up message from a person's thoughts, but a message from God.

Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

1 Cor 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

A prophet does not exalt himself, but speaks the word of God with boldness. There are no prophets adding to the Bible; the Bible is complete.

An evangelist; one who brings the good news of salvation to others. The first evangelists were not apostles, they were from the seven deacons, full of the Holy Spirit. These were Philip and Stephan, the martyr.

Acts 21:8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

We have seen evangelists like Billy Graham and many others who speak to thousands the gospel message. My friend Barbara who has orphanages in Zambia Africa, said that their will be an evangelist coming to her area for the first time, to hold meetings. Pastors and teachers must follow up after the evangelist leaves and teach the new converts the Bible truths.

A Pastor; a shepherd who should also be a teacher. He cares for the well being of the church flock and feeds them. They shepherd the flock. Jesus us is our example of a good shepherd.

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:12 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.
John 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

A teacher; one who teaches concerning the things of God. A teacher is to explain the Bible so it can be understood. He is to teach from the Bible with illustrations, by the Holy Spirit. It should be easy to understand, not to impress others with his own knowledge. He is to teach on the level of those being taught. Wisdom is needed from God. It is to edify or convict the hearer to do God's will.

1 Tim 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1 Tim 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

The five ministries are to edify the church; those of faith.

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Perfecting: furnishing or equipping of the saints, the holy ones of God, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ. The holy body of Christ on earth are the holy ones of God; born of the Spirit , the new creations in Christ Jesus.

The church is not an organization to be a member of, it is the living Body of believers who belong to Jesus Christ.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Eph 4:13 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:

We are to be as the body of Jesus to do his work on earth, united as one in his Spirit. This is the atmosphere of the early Church during and following Pentecost and is to be for the Church now.
What has happened? A recent study has shown that there are as many divorces among Christians then for non-Christians. A selfish worldly church must receive from the five ministries and do the will of Jesus Christ. He is coming for his bride the Church, pure and undefiled by the world.

Rev 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.