As I look around the body of Christ there seems to be a misunderstanding about the roles of the 5 fold ministry appointed my Jesus. We have teachers called pastors, people appointed pastors because of the academic qualifications. I am in know way saying studying the scriptures or going to bible college and increasing in knowledge of His word is not important, in fact I believe it’s essential. But this cannot negate what the scriptures say about the appointment of these roles or offices of the apostle, prophet,evangelist,pastor and teacher
Ephesians 4:11 (TPT)
11 And he has appointed some with grace to be apostles, and some with grace to be prophets, and some with grace to be evangelists, and some with grace to be pastors, and some with grace to be teachers.
1 Corinthians 12:5
The Lord Yahweh is one, and he is the one who apportions to believers different varieties of ministries.
I wonder if you can name the ones who are called and active in all these roles/offices in your church ?
These roles/offices are the foundation of Christ on earth. Without all five being active churches are missing foundational support. Which can lead to some very serious consequences. You only have to read through the bible to see what can happen. How vitally important all these roles are to achieving maturity in the body of Christ and protection.
Ephesians 4:12
And their calling is to nurture and prepare all the holy believers to do their own works of ministry, and as they do this they will enlarge and build up the body of Christ.
Two of the five fold ministry, that somewhat get misinterpreted or misunderstood and left out are the Apostle and the prophet. The Apostle Paul wrote that the Church of Jesus Christ is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). So without these roles filled with in the church, I wonder how solid the church can be ?
So today I want to share my testimony or story of being called into one of these roles. By doing so I pray others called and appointed by Him with stand up and take their roles/office in the body of Christ and within the church. Also that the local church may recognise these roles as vital important and create room for them. So we all can as it says in
Ephesians 4:13
……. we all attain oneness in the faith, until we all experience the fullness of what it means to know the Son of God, and finally we become one perfect man with the full dimensions of spiritual maturity and fully developed in the abundance of Christ.
This will be a 3 part message, I am praying and hoping to explain the stages that I walked through, that were vital to the weight and responsibility of the task in from of me from Him.
So let’s start !
My appointment and endorsement of the role or office of a Prophet, was as often described, by other prophets, throughout the scriptures when prophets were appointed eg, Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4-5) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-5).
Yes! That was the audible voice of the Lord Jesus appointed me as a prophet, and Paul describes this in Ephesians 4:11 “And He Himself gave some to be …prophets” NKJ or “He Himself appointed some as.. prophets“ amplified, 1 Corinthians 12:5.. he is the one who apportions to believers different varieties of ministries.
I did not want to be a prophet, although the gift of prophecy was prominent in my early years of ministry, for often this created jealousy among fellow Christians because of the accuracy and clarity of His word from this gift, which was a real shame for this gift is meant for the body of Christ, not just one person as we see in (1 Corinthians 12:10).
Those ones who came to me and asked me for forgiveness of their jealousy, often went away with the gift of prophecy after I forgave and prayed for them. This gift did not mean I was a prophet, yet it did begin my walk into the understanding of the prophetic.
Let’s leave it there for today !
Father I thank you for allowing me to share the journey I have been on with You, I give You all the glory because without You none of it would be possible. I pray from this series of messages. That many more will be raised up, identified and position, to equip your children for their ministries, chosen by You. I so look forward to see seeing us all finally becoming one perfect man with the full dimensions of spiritual maturity and fully developed in the abundance of Christ.Amen
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Craig Patten
Itinerate Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Ministries