On the five fold ministry

[Boanerges]

On the five fold ministry

The Lord Himself saw fit to give the church five offices. These were to help it grow and mature and were given to us until the church reaches the fullness of maturity of Christ Himself. Each of these offices have a specific function and are not mentioned in vain and yet they have one common purpose; to lead the flock into maturity in Christ.


Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
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:

The first of these offices or calling I would like to discuss is the office of Pastor. The word Pastor means Shepherd.

Pastor = Shepard

From the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:

G4166
ποιμή?
poimē?n
poy-mane'
Of uncertain affinity; a shepherd (literally or figuratively): - shepherd, pastor.


The specific word Pastor is used once in the New Testament and eight times the Old Testament (specifically referring to those given charge over God’s people) . This again is referring to a shepherd and that term is used seventy-five time throughout the New and Old Testaments.
The chief Shepperd
From the Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of New Testament Word:
Shepherd

poimen (G4166) is used (a) in its natural significance, Mat_9:36; Mat_25:32; Mar_6:34; Luk_2:8, Luk_2:15, Luk_2:18, Luk_2:20; Joh_10:2, Joh_10:12; (b) metaphorically of Christ, Mat_26:31; Mar_14:27; Joh_10:11, Joh_10:14, Joh_10:16; Heb_13:20; 1Pe_2:25; (c) metaphorically of those who act as pastors in the churches, Eph_4:11. See PASTOR.

1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

So then what is the job of a Pastor (shepherd)?
A pastor leads the flock to good food (the Word of God)
A pastor leads the sheep to fresh water (the Word of God and the Spirit of God)
A pastor protects the sheep. He will fight for them and lead them to safe pasture. His goal is to see them grow healthy and strong.
A pastor is a companion to the flock.
A pastor is known by his sheep and they find comfort in his voice.


This is but one of the five fold . No hand is complete without all five and as time permits I will discuss the rest of this God given governmental structure.

 

[jiggyfly]

Looks good Boanerges, I hope you continue. I am interested in these ministry gifts and how they should work together. Looking forward to the rest of this study.

 

[Boanerges]

Sorry, I have had other irons in the fire so to speak but hope to continue this as the Lord leads.

 

[B-A-C]

Sometimes I think we under-value and under appreciate our church leader, what a task they have!
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
Eph 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Also I wonder how these offices relate to those below?
1 Tim 3:1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
1 Tim 3:8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,

Perhaps some have more than one position?
2 Tim 1:11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.

Is an"overseer" the same as a Church elder?
Tit 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,
Tit 1:6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
Tit 1:7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

 

[spirit1st]

Jesus christ was and is our example !He was taught by the HOLY GHOST as we should be !The holy Ghost waits 24/7 for us to but ask ! nothing He will not tell us or help us with of heaven or earth !
We hear and follow only our LORD JESUS !

Joh_10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:


1Jn_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.

2Co_13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

2Pe_1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

1Co_2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

listen we are All ministers of the new testament and all have the Spirit of prophecy and are God kings and priests forever more !
He alone is head of His church ! No one is higher or less !


2Co_3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.


Rev_19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

I am a teacher ! but i am no more than the least in His Body and Church ! i done lots of miracles , of course HE really does them !They Do not make us More or LESS! We are all here to serve ! we get anointed for the job He called us to do ! But He can use any of us at anytime for whatever He wants ! Man , woman or even child !

Gal_3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Spiritually we are all equal !and it higher than the flesh ! But in the flesh we are different ?

We do not put people above people as if they are more important to GOd ! We do honor those in power !
1Ti_5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

We do not count one brother greater than another ! we see all in the family of god Equal !

Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

 

[amadeus2]

"...As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." I Kings 17:1

"But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land" Luke 4:25

"And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth." I Kings 18:1

"And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not." I Kings 18:44

So the five fingered hand of a man was what Elijah accepted as the sign the rain was coming. This is the rain being brought forth by whom... but by the ministers called and chosen and failthful in and toward God in the work that He has for them:

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

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

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:" Eph 4:11-13

"And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go." John 11:44

Jesus called the man, Lazarus, forth from death, but he did not remove the bindings of death from him. He gave task to others. Are not the others the five ministers, the fingers of man, directed by the Holy Ghost?

Notice that David chose 5 well-polished, properly "experienced" stones before going out to meet Goliath:

"And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine." I Sam 17:40

I wonder which of the five ministers it was that David used to kill the giant that stood before him in opposition to God? Which minister, or ministers will help to polish us so the we may come "unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ"?