Consider the fact that we see five ministry offices in Ephesians 4:11. It is important to note that each of the five offices is capable of doing all of the normal
ministerial functions usually associated with the ministry. When I speak of function the idea is simply the task itself; however, I want to introduce the concept of the
anointing into the ministry equation. The anointing is something that is spiritually comprehended, that is why we will rely upon the Scriptures to understand it.
The anointing has to do with what God did to the minister, which is first of all to call him/her
out and select him/her for Kingdom service. He then bestowed upon that person a supernatural
ability to do what he/she is called to do. In the divine scheme God has ordained five distinct
ministry offices and He has equipped each one differently so that each can handle certain
functions with the highest level of excellence.
Any of the five offices can preach an evangelistic sermon, as we know. But the question is can any of the others operate at the level of evangelist with the same
results. The answer is “No, they cannot.” Why? Because of what God has done in the evangelist that He did not do in the other four offices. The voice of the
evangelist carries a certain power that the ears of the lost receive, and his words elevate believers into harvesters as he teaches them how to win the lost. He is
functioning in his office under the anointing of the Spirit of God, and he is doing it with a unique level of excellence.
Let’s look at another scenario which focuses on the direct shepherding of God’s sheep. This ministry function can be performed by all five offices as well. But, is
there one particular office that is better equipped (anointed) to handle this function? Indeed there is. The office of pastor is uniquely gifted and empowered for this
task. There is something about his voice and mannerisms and even his touch that endears the sheep to him and bids them to follow him. It is not his personality
or talents or educational prowess, it is God’s anointing that rests upon him. It is a powerful thing and it is designed to do what he otherwise could not do in the
natural. It gives him eyesight into the sheep that are assigned to him that no one else possesses. He has a knowing about them that the other ministry offices do
not have privy to; and it is not because he is more gifted than they but rather because God has designed His Church leadership that way.
I could go on and emphasize the anointings of the other offices, but I believe you understand the concept here of how there is a certain divinely-bestowed ability
that each ministry office possesses. The challenge for the Church is to understand this concept, accept it, and start operating its leadership according to it.
It is my belief that at least one reason Jesus designed the leadership for His Church to encompass five ministry offices was to counter pride and a sense of self-
importance in His leaders. When each of us knows that success in the Church depends upon all five offices operating in a coordinated fashion, we tend to
respect the others and work in harmony with them. The reason for the five offices goes beyond avoiding pride; it goes to the core of humanity. Jesus has chosen
fallible men to lead His Church rather than angels. Even though it is safe to say that Jesus operated fully in all five ministry offices during His earthly ministry, we
can say with certainty that no one man can do the same. None is capable of wrapping around that level of anointing on such a broad scope. Thus, He has called
for five distinct offices to join together to function as He functioned singularly. When we do this, we will see the same results as the pages of Holy Scripture reveal
about the ministry of our Lord. I say “Amen!” to that.
This concept of the fivefold ministry sounds good and since it is biblical we embrace it; however, there are some changes that must take place if we are to see this
manifest in the Church. First of all, those in power must relinquish some of that power. For example, a senior pastor of the local church will need to see that he is
not the "only show in town anymore." He must step aside as God orchestrates his church. There may be some Sunday morning service when the Lord wants His
prophet to speak into the lives of His saints gathered there. Or, it may be that He knows there will be three sinners in the pews ready to be harvested and has
called for His evangelist to put in the sickle. In either case, the traditional “the pastor preaches every Sunday morning” routine must be displaced. I do believe that
it is the pastor of a local church that is the primary voice for the sheep in that fold and therefore he will occupy the pulpit most of the time; however, on any given
Sunday the Eldership must be ready to follow the leading of the Spirit of God and alter the order of worship accordingly. The church that operates like this will rise
to heights in the Spirit unknown to us prior to this! This is my heart's desire.
Governmentally, I feel the pastoral office is the set man at the local church level except when an apostle has been set in place by Jesus; such was the case in the
Jerusalem church under the authority of James. James was an apostle but functioned as a pastor. My sense is that pastors and apostles and teachers are likely
to be found functioning as a shepherd of a local church. But in saying that I am quick to declare that God is God and He can do anything He desires, which
includes setting a prophet or evangelist in that role as He chooses. My thought on this is simply that these last two offices usually have a profile better suited to
other styles of ministry besides the routine of pastoring the people of God.
It is not necessary to have all five ministry offices resident in every local church; most of the time that will not be the case. However, what is important is that every
local church is fully flavored by each ministry office and that means frequent and constant doses of the anointing that each office possesses. When the local
church pastor is under the direct spiritual authority of an apostle (as I believe he should be) he is within the measure of the sphere of that apostle (II Corinthians
10:13-16) and is thus privileged to receive ministry by the prophets, evangelists, and teachers who operate within that sphere. This is the ideal structure for the
Church since it is how God has established it to be.
Local churches that are a part of a denomination probably cannot alter their structure to accommodate the apostolic sphere concept. But what they can do is to
benefit from each of the five anointings by inviting those gifts from God to pollinate them spiritually. An apostle can release Kingdom-building power into a
congregation and those called by God to occupy a ministry office will emerge. The prophet can speak into the people by the Holy Spirit and invigorate them through
the spiritual gifts. The teacher can open the Scriptures to reveal powerful truths that can change every soul present in that worship service. And the evangelist
equips the saints with truth and releases them to assault the city with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The denominational pastor who understands this dynamic
concept will go far!
This biblical principle of the fivefold ministry is one that is being developed as we speak. Even though it has been in place for over 2000 years, it is foreign to most
of us. The history of the Church shows that man has deviated from the plan of God in building the Church and what we now see varies greatly from the original
design. But things are changing. A new generation is being raised up by the Spirit of God to set in place His design for the Church, which most definitely includes
the fivefold ministry in leadership.
There will be a tension between the traditional sector of the Church and this "new" fivefold sector - there usually is a tension when change is involved. But let love
prevail. Let each one love God and serve Him as they see fit, and let each respect the other's differing viewpoint. This must not become a source of division. To my
traditionalist brother in Christ I say, "Be blessed and follow the Lord in truth." To those who embrace this fivefold ministry truth, I say, "Be fully convinced in your own
mind, yet do not hold your belief in arrogance or allow judgment to enter." After all, unity in the Body of Christ stills remains her highest goal.
THE FIVE MINISTRY OFFICES
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Ephesians 4:11
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors
and teachers.
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