2011

2 Timothy 4:5 says: “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY.”  We are told here to fulfill our ministry (Timothy is the specific one to whom this is written), yet many believers in Christ don’t even know what their ministry is.  This Bible study intends to adequately explain what all of the ministries are, and help believers in finding their ministry and going forth to fulfill it.

What are the ministries?

Eph. 4:11-13 says: “And He [Christ] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”.  This passage shows:

  1. Jesus gives ministry gifts to His followers.
  2. There are 5 ministry gifts named.
  3. They are given to equip saints and build up the Church.
  4. They are given until the Church matures to perfection.

Apostle

The word Apostle (Apostolos) in the Greek means “One who is sent”.  Other definitions are: “Called and Sent”, “Missionary”, “church Planter”, “Commissioned Delegate”, “Ambassador for the Gospel” (see 2 Cor. 5:20), “Set apart”, “To Send Out”

  • Matt. 28:19-20 records Jesus telling believers: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” This is a call for believers to start things up, so to speak, and this is precisely the job of an Apostle.
  • Luke 10:1 records Jesus “sending them two by two” into “every city and place where He Himself was about to go.”  This is what an apostle does: he is the first to go forth.
  • Who?  There are more than 20 people in the New Testament called apostles.  2 Tim. 1:11 shows Paul was appointed to be an apostle.
  • What?  Acts 2:42-43 shows the believers “continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” and shows the apostles doing “many wonders and signs”.  An apostle is the one who supplies mission for the Church, in Acts 2 we see that the apostles were missionaries starting a fellowship of believers.
  • Why?  Eph. 4; Philippians, and Colossians all show Paul’s intent for building the Church – which is the purpose for apostles.
  • Examples of some apostles include: Disciples, Paul, Barnabas, Timothy, John Calvin, Rick Warren.  These are all people who had a heart to start something up, and did this by leading.

Prophet

A Prophet is: “An Inspired preacher”, “speaking under inspiration”, “visionary”, “foretelling the future”, “Calls people to repentance”, “Shining Light of God’s Truth”, “Affirmation”, “Show Forth”

  • Deut. 13:1-3 and Deut. 18:21-22 show that the Old Testament prophets were known by the accuracy of their prophecies.  “If the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken” (Deut. 18:22).  Also, the Prophets words could not contradict the words of the Lord.
  • Qualities seen in Biblical Prophets include: generally moving around from place to place, not welcomed (Matt. 13:57), passion for prayer, called to those who are already saved (to the People of God who at least have that label and appearance), wanting to cause people to repent and to do God’s work.
  • Jesus is seen as an example of a prophet (Deut. 18:15-19) when He speaks to the woman at the well (John 4:1-26), when He overturned tables in the temple (Mark 11:15-17), predicts his death and resurrection (Mark 10:32-33); when He went off by Himself to pray and taught true prayer (Lord’s prayer, In the Garden – John).
  • Who?  The believers seen in the New Testament who tell the churches to repent of their ways are prophets (e.g. Paul’s writings to the church of Galatia and Corinth).  Judas and Silas are named as prophets (Acts 15:27, 30-36), along with a man named Agabus (Acts 21:9-11).
  • What?  The prophet supplies vision to the body.  He is the one who tries to shape the body into Christ’s Bride, telling the Church to change Her ways and repent to do God’s work.  This is why the prophets were hated and killed throughout the Bible.  
  • Why?  Along with showing Paul’s intent to build the Body, Eph. 4; Philippians, and Colossians show Paul casting vision for the people of God to change their ways.

Evangelist

Evangelist means: “Announcer of Good News”, “Herald”, “Preacher of the Gospel” 

  • The “Great Commission” (Matt. 28:19-20) tells us that we are all evangelists.  We are told to do the work of an evangelist.  The Bible uses as an example Paul’s admonition to Timothy who was timid and now known to be one himself (2 Tim. 4:5).
  • An evangelist has many of the same qualities as a prophet, but mainly to the lost.  Jonah going to Nineva would be called an evangelist today (see Jonah).  An evangelist generally has a passion for the lost, sometimes to the point on forgetting about ministering to the already saved.
  • Who?  Philip was an evangelist (Acts 8:4-8, 26-40).  Timothy was also an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5).  Billy Graham is a modern day evangelist.
  • What?  Acts 2:37-43, 47 shows that the apostles were here acting as evangelists, as they were announcers of the Good News (a definition of evangelist).  
  • Why?  Evangelism is a ministry so that the Body of Christ can outreach (as seen in Eph. 4).

Pastor

The word “Pastor” in Greek means: “Shepherd”, “Tender of a flock or fold”

  • In John 10 Jesus shows that a true shepherd: is not a stranger to his sheep, finds nourishment for his flock, would give his life for his sheep, watches over the flock and makes sure wolves don’t eat them!  As “pastor” means “shepherd” these are good indicators of whether someone has a pastoral ministry or not.
    • Note: The pastoral ministry is not necessarily the same as the pastoral office. There are pastors of churches who do not have a pastoral ministry, and conversely there are people who are not pastors who do have a pastoral ministry.
  • John 17:12 shows that Jesus’ example of a pastor is a guardian.
  • A pastor is comforting, visits the sick, has a caring concern for their well being, counseling, celebrates with them, cries with them, and they really care about YOU.
  • In 2 Cor. 2:4 Paul says: “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.”  Here, Paul is functioning as a pastor, where he cares so much for these believers that he cries over them.
  • Examples of Jesus as pastor: Jesus saw the needs of the 5,000 by feeding them physically (Luke 9:10-17), Jesus healed people, He did not come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45), He washed the feet of his disciples (John 13).
  • Who?  All those mentioned in Scripture who were empathetic and really had a heart to comfort and help those who were saved.  Also, a pastor doesn’t usually like to offend or rock the boat among Christians, but prefers that the Body is comforted and gathered together (this is why pastors tend to clash with prophets).
    • Warning:  Do not make someone a pastor who doesn’t have a pastoral ministry.
  • What?  Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another…”  This passage is very pastoral as it is encouraging believers to stir up love and good works in fellow believers, and also it emphasizes the saints gathering together.  Wanting the saints to gather together is a strong indicator of a pastor.   
  • Why?  The pastor wants saints to gather together for the purpose of fellowship (see Eph. 4).

Teacher

Jesus was called a Teacher/Rabbi or Master.  Teacher means: Instructor, Doctor, and Master.

  • A teacher has a love of the truth (see 2 Thes. 2)
  • Although teaching does overlap the other 4 ministries, many are stronger in this area and are therefore teachers.  We have many examples of some pastors who can’t “teach”, and some “teachers” who are not “pastors”!
  • A teacher has the ability to make things clear to the learner – Jesus taught in ways that the crowd could understand, mainly in stories and parables.
  • A teacher is literally fixated in the Bible – craves the Scriptures.
  • Who?  Apollos was a teacher (Acts 18:24-25), also, the book of Hebrews seems to be written with a strong teaching ministry.  C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, and Chuck Colson are more recent examples of teachers.
  • What?  Acts 2:42 shows that the believers “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (or teaching)”, and doctrine is precisely what teachers are concerned with.
  • Why?  Teachers teach so that they can give design to the Body (see Eph. 4).    

All these gifts together equip for service: 

  1. To give Mission (apostles)
  2. To Impart Vision (prophets)
  3. To sanctify (evangelists)
  4. To Care for (pastors)
  5. To Instruct (teachers)

Believers are a temple (Eph. 2):  A good analogy for the ministries functioning together is the building of a temple.  The apostle is the one who starts the mission and creates the blueprint for how the temple will look.  The evangelist is the one who goes out to find rocks for the temple.  The teacher shows where the rocks should go on the temple and how they fit.  The prophet carves and cuts the rock to make a better fit for the temple (even though it usually hurts the rocks).  And the pastor watches over the rock pile (makes sure no one steals or does something to the rocks) and also watches over how the rocks are placed.  All ministries are needed to successfully build the temple: “For in fact the body is not one member but many.” (1 Cor. 12:14).

How do these ministries from Jesus work with the gifts from the Father and Holy Spirit?

  • 1 Cor. 12:4-6 says: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”  This shows what we’ve already seen about the ministries – that they are given by Jesus (The Lord), but it also tells us that there are gifts given by the Spirit and activities, or talents, given by God (The Father).
  • The gifts given by God The Father are your natural abilities (see Dan. 1:17 and 1 Cor. 12:6).  God gives these to believers and non-believers alike.  For example, there are both Christians and non-Christians who are talented at singing, dancing, sports, etc.  
  • The gifts given by the Spirit are the nine gifts of power mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:7-11: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”  These gifts help to accent your ministry.
  • Rom. 12:5-8 shows how we use the gifts.  It seems that the gifts from the Father (natural abilities) and the gifts from the Spirit (power gifts) are used to help us in fulfilling our ministry gifts.  For example, many people have a God-given musical ability.  The evangelist would use this to sing songs for saving the lost, the teacher would use music to teach about Christ, the prophet would use music to convict Christians to repent and go towards God, the pastor would use music to comfort the Christians, and the apostle would use music to start things up.  Also, think about how much more effective an evangelist would be if he had the Holy Spirit gift of miracles, or a pastor if he had the gift of healing.  Both the evangelist and pastor can function without these Holy Spirit gifts, but with these gifts their ministries are that much more effective.

What is my ministry?

  • The point of this Bible study is to provide a proper teaching on the 5-fold ministry gifts, so that believers can assess what their ministry is and what that means for them.  When we recognize these ministries in others, it “releases” them for ministry.  We encourage, equip, empower, energize, and excite a believer to works of services so that the body of Christ may be built up.  In no ways are the ministries mutually exclusive, and, in fact, we are encouraged to function in all of these ministries from time to time, however, believers are designed with certain leanings toward particular ministries.  One of the best ways for people to determine where their ministerial leanings are is to talk to other believers about Christ and gather with other believers.  When this happens, certain passions are evident and when Christians have received a proper teaching on the ministries, they are able to recognize such ministries in the people they talk to.  Without fail, when I ask a follower of Jesus what they think about the Church, their answer tends to reveal their ministry.  The teacher answers that there needs to be more Bible and solid foundations.  The evangelist answers that there needs to be more outreach to the lost.  The prophet answers that there needs to be more repentance and seeking God through prayer.  The apostle answers that believers should be starting/organizing more things.  The pastor either answers that there should be more encouragement and unity, or he dismisses the question as something irrelevant, because we shouldn’t be focusing on the bad stuff but the good stuff.  Another question that is a good revealer of ministries is: if you are dog tired and lying in bed, what has the power to stir you out of your bed and pursue it?  For the teacher: Bible; the pastor: a Christian suffering; the evangelist: a non-believer interested in hearing the Gospel; prophet: a believer in sin or a prayer meeting; apostle: talk about what a fellowship of believers should pursue next.  Ultimately, the Christian who serves God with all of his body, mind, soul, and heart will naturally pursue the ministry they’ve been called to, but once this has been recognized, they become like a loaded pistol knowing their role in the body and passionately pursuing it.

I’m ready to fulfill my ministry…what do I do next?

  • Acts 13:1-4 says: “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’  Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.  So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.” 

Derek Prince comments about this passage, saying:

This passage provides a great deal of information about the way in which, according to the New Testament, a local church conducted its affairs.

First of all we notice that in this church at Antioch two definite spiritual ministries were present and were recognized by the church: those of prophet and teacher.  Within the congregation five men were recognized and mentioned by name as exercising these ministries.  

Second, we notice that these leaders in the congregation not only prayed, but they also fasted.  Furthermore, they did not merely fast privately as individuals, but they fasted together in a group…

The outcome of their waiting upon God with fasting was guidance from the Holy Spirit [see v.2]…

In the light of other New Testament teaching on the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is reasonable and scriptural to suppose that the Holy Spirit spoke on this occasion through a human instrument, either by the gift of prophecy or by the gifts of tongues and interpretation.

It is important to notice the exact words used by the Holy Spirit.

Separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them (Acts 13:2)

The verb phrase ‘I have called’ is in the perfect tense.  This indicates that God had already spoken privately and individually to Paul and Barnabas about the work that He wanted them to do before He spoke publicly concerning them and their work to all the leaders of the church…

Let us now consider briefly what was the outcome of this first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas into which they had entered by the direction of the Holy Spirit, with prayer and fasting, and with the ordinance of laying on of hands.

From there they sailed [back] to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.  And when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:26-27).

There are three points of interest to notice here.

  1. We are here given an authoritative, scriptural account of the purpose for which the church leaders had laid their hands upon Paul and Barnabas.  We are told that, by this ordinance, Paul and Barnabas had been commended to the grace of God for the work.  Thus, the laying on of hands constitutes a means by which God’s servants may be commended to the grace of God for a special work to which God has called them.
  2. We must observe the outcome of the labor of Paul and Barnabas.  The Scripture states that they completed their God-given work.  This means that they successfully accomplished their work, without omissions or failures.  Someone has said, ‘God’s callings are God’s enablings.’  In other words, when God calls a man to a special task, He also makes available to that man all the means and the spiritual grace required for the complete and successful accomplishment of that task.
  3. We should notice the impact of their ministry upon the Gentiles.  The Scriptures state: ‘God…had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles’ (Acts 14:27).  Paul and Barnabas did not beat against a closed door.  Wherever they went they found that God had gone before them to open the doors and prepare the hearts.  Such is the power of united prayer and fasting: to open doors that otherwise would remain closed.  The power thus generated by prayer and fasting was made available to Paul and Barnabas according to the needs that lay before them, through the ordinance of laying on of hands.

In this connection I would add my own conclusion, based on varied experiences in many different lands: New Testament results can be achieved only by New Testament methods.

(Derek Prince, Spirit-Filled Believer’s Handbook)

Acts 6:1-7 says: “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.  Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.  Therefore, brethren, seek out form among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’  And the saying pleased the whole multitude.  And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.  Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”  This shows:

  1. They were looking for deacons who were full of the Holy Spirit and had wisdom.
  2. The people who were chosen were set before the apostles, who prayed and laid hands on them.
  3. After this, “the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

As laying hands is one of the six foundations named in Hebrews 6:2, and we see that the New Testament believers had hands laid on them to start up their ministry, it appears very Scriptural that we lay hands on believers for fulfilling their ministries.   

Why do we need to know our ministry?

  • We are commanded to fulfill our ministry.  Knowing what our ministry seems like a good start in fulfilling it.
  • When believers recognize their ministries, it is almost as if they find a new purpose in their life.  They know their role within the Body.  They are liberated in their service towards God.  They are able to recognize ministries in other believers.  And probably most important, the Church is able to function how She was intended to.  Instead of putting people in areas of ministry that they were not intended to serve in, people can be placed where their passions lie, and Church can be exciting and a way of life rather than a religion (where people feel forced to do stuff).  It can truly become “the household of God…in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:19, 21).  Eph. 4:11-13 tells us plainly that the ministries are “for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”.