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Sunday Sessions #9

Five-Fold Ministry

August 09, 2020

Welcome! This is session nine of a series on some of the basics of congregational living. We live in an age in which I believe we are seeing the Kingdom of God overtaking the church age. The Body of Christ needs to come out of Laodicea and into living the life of love as taught in the Book of Ephesians.

Previous Sessions

Session One – The Timeline of Anoka Awakening
Session Two – Christ Jesus, The Cornerstone
Session Three – Apostles and Prophets, The Foundation
Session Four – Believers, The Living Stones
Session Five – Stones Becoming Walls
Session Six – Molding Stones, Part 1, Disciples
Session Seven – Molding Stones, Part 2, Making Disciples
Session Eight – The Seven Spirits of God

Sunday Sessions #9, Five-Fold Ministry, August 09, 2020

The Initial Scripture

And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Ephesians 4:11

He: Christ
- Sunday Sessions #2, The Cornerstone
The “Who”: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers
Shepherds = Pastors
He Gave

to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,

Ephesians 4:12

The “Why”
To Equip

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Ephesians 4:13

The “When”
From this saying, through now, until the fulfillment of this saying
Until

He Gave, To Equip, Until

The Where
- Sunday Sessions #4, Believers, The Living Stones
- In the body of believers
- Ekklessia
  - Called out ones
  - To do what?

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:18

The How
- Sunday Sessions #8, Seven Spirits of God
- Serving others after the leading of Holy Spirit
- Holy Spirit: teaching and recollection

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 14:26

The What
- Being a servant of others in the body of Christ
- Servant leadership included
- Also, “equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”

Questions to Consider

Am I called by God to fill one of these five ministries?
In which of these ministries do I currently operate, or have traits of in my life?
Which of these ministries do I see operating in my circle of believers?

Other Key Verses

Here are other verses to look at.

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 4:1

Example of servant leadership
- Servants of Christ
- Serving the body of Christ
Us = Apostles
Stewards of the mysteries of God: truth handlers
Mysteries: truths not yet made known; revelation of truth
Steward: supervise arrangements or keep order; manage or look after (another) (property); a person whose job is to manage the land and property of another person; a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others
In this case, caretaker of the mysteries of God who serves God and the body of Christ, administering the affairs of the Ekklesia and setting forth the vision and truths of God for the body. (Apostles)

“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28

Also, Mark 10:45; John 13:1-17
Jesus, our Creator, came to serve

And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.”

Luke 22:25

As it is in the world

“But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.”

Luke 22:26

The “What”
- Serving the body
- Servant leadership
- “leader as one who serves.”
You = Apostles

“For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”

Luke 22:27

Example of Jesus for the body of Christ

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

As it should be in the body of Christ

My Take:
Freedom in the spirit, and freedom of Holy Spirit, are essential
- The seminary taught institutional church ways are not the only way of regular ministry to the body

Ministry to the body, as led by Holy Spirit, administering the seven spirits of God to us, to carry out the anointing, assignment, or mandate, that has been appointed for us by Almighty God
- See Sunday Sessions #8, Seven Spirits of God

Do not quench the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:19

Important!

Five-Fold Ministry

Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher

Plus, looking forward?
- King, Priest, Son

Five offices established for the sake of the body of Christ
- Given as gifts to the body
- Necessary for the health of the body
- Administered by Holy Spirit
- Anointed by God Almighty
  - Mantle of authority for the calling
- Callings of God, not pursuits of men
  - Function of ministry, not a job or career
- Heavy responsibility and accountability accompany these offices
  - Much given, much required

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Luke 12:48b

Example of stricter judgment

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

James 3:1

It is likely that we each function in some aspect of each of these offices, at some point, as we are led by Holy Spirit
- This does not mean that we hold that office
It is possible that our spirits have a bent toward one or more of these offices
- This does not mean that we hold that office
These offices are appointed and anointed by God
- “to equip the Saints”
  - Within the body
- “for the work of the ministry”
  - First in the body
  - Then to others

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:10

Looking Forward

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Ephesians 4:13

Does this refer to sonship?
Unity with the Son? And the Father?
- A vertical unity?
Mature manhood – Christ replicas?
This is the “until”?
Then sons, priests, kings?
Does this add to or replace the five-fold?

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

Romans 8:19

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5

and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:6 ESV

And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:6 NKJV

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:6

Brian Orme Interview of May, 2019

(My notes taken from the video interview)

Five-fold, what it looks like going forward
- Ephesians 4:11-12

Apostle and Prophet: The Foundation
- Sunday Sessions #3, Apostles and Prophets, The Foundation
- Not the top, but the lowest of the low
- A place to serve; for things to be built
- (My note: supporting others)

Apostles are as Spiritual Entrepreneurs
- All about the development of the Ekklesia in a region
- Encouraging risk taking; giving people the permission to fail
  - Always pushing the envelope of risk
  - Encouraging others beyond their comfort zone
- Setting up a culture of contribution rather than consumption; people that contribute
- They are innovators; innovating wine skins for an Ekklesia in a region
- Pioneering: paving new pathways; going ahead where there are no roads yet
- Framers: framing up God’s vision, His meta ideas
- Guarding the purity of the great commission
  - To go to the world
  - To demonstrate the Kingdom
- They are detonators
  - Miracles, signs, and wonders mar an apostle’s life
    - Crazy stuff everywhere they go; marked by the supernatural
  - They are diversifiers
    - They have an ability to bring people or people groups together that would normally not play together well
    - Collaborate for the purpose of a region to see the Kingdom advance
  - They are interested in seeing walls coming down and labels being removed; coming together to unify to see the Kingdom advanced to take over the region

Prophets are Hope Dealers
- Their true frame is hope
- They prophesy through the lens of optimism that the kingdom is advancing; it’s getting brighter and brighter
- They are latitudinal; helping the body to see and hear God in the heavenly realms
- They are longitudinal; helping the body to see people correctly
  - Seeing them the way the Father is seeing them
- Exposers; revealing the enemy’s strategy in a region
- Teaching the body to do victorious spiritual warfare; keyword = victorious
  - Forcing the victory of Christ and reveling in His triumph; not shadow boxing; from a place of victory

(My Note: I think the latitudinal and longitudinal are the reverse of how they should be)

Evangelists are Conversants
- Helping the body have a proper communication of the gospel
- Language is a frame; the proper language allows people to see correctly
  - Tweak the language to the community so they can understand
- They are marketers; all about heaven’s brand; they want to keep the branding very pure
  - It’s the culture of heaven being advanced, not some other culture (not their own)
  - It’s the Kingdom of God that’s advancing
- They are demonstrators; they want to see the Kingdom demonstrated in the marketplace
- They are praisers; finding value in all people
  - Evangelizing from the place that people are people, not objects to be used

Teachers are Oceanographers
- Equipping the body to access the eighth ocean of understanding and knowledge
  - God’s ocean; and infinite supply
  - A true teacher pulls them into this infinite ocean
- Helping the body be grounded in the Logos, Jesus
  - To understand the written scripture and how it wraps around Him, the Logos
- They’re developers; helping to develop a world view for people; whose world view is Kingdom
  - Also helping to develop a theological depth in people
  - That theology is not scary; not anti-Spirit
  - Theological depth is truly powerful and important for the body
- They’re thinkers; helping to train the body how to think for themselves
  - To not turn their brains off, but to turn them on and think for themselves

Pastors are Connectivists
- They’re connecting the body to have heart connection with each other
- They have a high justice for relationship for protecting and guarding that body
- Healers; seeing that people are getting whole
  - Emotionally; working through wounds and unforgiveness, etc.
  - Things that the apostle or prophet might not have the patience for
- They’re disciplers; equipping the body to make disciples
  - And to love their neighbor

Brian is thinking of writing a book, “Decentralized Church”
IBORME.com

(end of notes from the video)

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

God has appointed
- God puts a calling on the heart and spirit of a person
- The offices are not career choices; they are acts of obedience to the call of God
Evangelists?
- Miracles and Healing
- Demonstrators (Brian Orme, above)
- Demonstration in the Spirit and power
  - Sunday Sessions #7, Making Disciples
- Pastors?
  - Healing and helping
  - Healers and Disciplers (Brian Orme, above)
- A still more excellent way
  - Obedience in Love
    - Sunday Sessions #6, Disciples
  - Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians: The Way of Love

If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Sunday Session #9 touches on all the previous sessions other than #1 which was the Introductions
This session deals with the building up of the body of Christ

So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:12

Sunday Sessions #5, Stones Becoming Walls

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