The Gift Ministries

Or, as it is commonly known...the Five-Fold Ministry: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher.

Ephesians 4:11 (KJV)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

These gift ministries express in and to the Church the Life of Christ in His people:

Apostle:
Hebrews 3:1 (KJV)
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Prophet:
John 4:19 (KJV)
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

Evangelist:
Matthew 4:17 (KJV)
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Pastor:
John 10:14 (KJV)
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Teacher:
John 3:2 (KJV)
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

The Body of Christ.
Paul described the body of believers this way:

The person who is apostle is not the apostle, Christ in the person is Apostle.
The person who is prophet is not the prophet, but Christ in the person is the Prophet.
The person who is evangelist is not the evangelist, Christ in the person is the Evangelist.
The person who is pastor is not the pastor, but Christ in the person is the Pastor/Shepherd.
The person who is teacher is not the teacher, Christ in the person is the Teacher.

These five ministries are the expressed life of Christ in His people. To say there is no more apostles - especially the apostles (thumb) is denying the Life of Christ in His people. The thumb is important for one cannot grasp a stick and other needed functions the thumb can do that the others cannot do.

To deny any of these expressed manifestations of the Life of Christ in His people is to deny Christ:

1 John 2:22-24 (KJV)
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

To deny the Life of Christ in the Church in these ministries which are Christ is to be ….. well, you know.

 

HankD, did I say anything about the lake of fire?
And the "childlike" statement is out of line.

It is necessary. The Truth is always necessary to those who are born of the Truth.
Did I condemn anyone? This is the Scripture that is speaking to you. If you have issue take up with God. All I am doing is saying the same thing as God.

Wait till my thread on the "Great Commission."

That will also be Bible.

Would you rather I post something that will itch your ears?

I think your comment is uncalled for. As it has been since the Garden..

Receive or reject. There is no medium.

Or you can reply to this Word and tell me why you oppose it.

But the question before you - since your conscience has been piqued - is whether these things are true or they are false.
I do not regard the face of man or his opinions. It is the Word of God that tells me what to say and how to act.

Thanks.

 

Do you have a reply or rebuttal to my post?
Or is this the way you "get down" with Christians you don't agree with.
Thanks, HankD.
Take that elsewhere.
I'm here to fellowship with brethren and to share my gift with my brethren and receive of them their gift.
But what is coming out of you is not does not qualify as Biblical.
It is something else.
But then again there are only two ways: life or death.
You sure are not giving me life with comments like that.
You've gotten by for 17 years, but the Lord is genuinely great at pulling covers.
You are a trouble-maker.
You come on my thread attacking me and making threats about my presence here, to intimidate me to what?
Toe the party line?
Sorry, I'm not that guy.
Later.

 

If I may, Mr. HankD….I want to add something for your consideration.
When you first came at me sideways with your insults I had the prerogative to invoke Matthew 18:15 as is my instruction and command. I chose not to because in my knowledge and experience, those I bump heads with most if we are TRUE-born of God - both of us ( I know I am) then if we are allowed to take this flaming of yours to its conclusion as instructed in 1 Corinthians 11:18-19, then I knew that when the 'dust' settled we were going to be OK and an understanding between us would be established and we'd be more than just friends or friendly at a website geared for Christians - we'd be brethren like David and Johnathan.

In my past I have not only bumped heads with brethren we actually took it out back for a round or two (don't be surprised, Paul used to argue with his Judaic brethren when he'd enter the synagogue and tell them from Scripture that this Jesus was truly their long-awaited Christ till he was red in the face and spittin' spit.) And these brethren I had it out with? The depth of the animus was replaced with a deeper love and respect that I desire from brethren and which God and His Christ instructs and commands (Lev. 19:17-18.)

With regard to this post two things will happen. Those who read it and the Lord opens the mind they will nod their heads without saying anything and things to themselves, "Yup, this is right, this is true," and move on to the next thread. Those that disagree will be the ones to reply and reply in the fashion that you did because quiet frankly, whoever they are in your circle of friends they will not tell you such things and be as honest with you as I have been in this thread - which is not to the unbeliever, but to my true brethren. The degree of your animus was corresponding to the truth that confronted you. I know many well-known pastors and teachers that reject the apostle or say that tongues has ceased - John MacArthur is one of them.

Consider: Christians have the whole world arrayed against them. It is enough that such an enemy is hating God and His Christ and us, don't you think that our sanctuary should be our brethren and the Church without having to worry about brethren - or false brethren sticking us in the back as well? I know you're a better man than that. You been around. But I am not here to make enemies - except those enemies who think they are Christian but are not.

I was born in 1961. I was born-again July 1977. I'm going into my 42nd year walking with Christ. I've done my 40 years in the desert. So, no, I am not a 'young' man in Christ. This old sheep has been around and not only do I have of my call and gifts to give my brethren I am also in need of their gift(s) and call which the Lord uses to grow me - and them.
Still.

Well, it's a new day. I wanted to get this to you because I awoke this morning and these things came to mind. I think there is a reasonable man under that brush. I will see. We will all see, because there are those in the Body looking at us. We either respond from the world, the flesh, and the devil, or we respond through the Scripture of whom God has given us instruction and command to deal with situations like this. That is one reason why I don't rat on my brethren.
The Scripture tells me what to say and what to do. I don't use the 'snitch-button' every time I bump heads with someone claiming to be of Christ. After all, why claim to be of Christ if we choose or fail to implement His Word in everything of which we have to do (Heb. 4:12-13.)
That's all I wanted to say.

 

Hey! JonSchaff. Cut him some slack. LOL I tilt towards this one being brethren. Has the fire, just needs the doctrine and he will do good service to His King.
I smiled.
Still am.

 

HankD, moving on...
My statements weren't 'condemning,' they were declarative. But that's the nature of my call. I can't and won't change it because I have my Lord exactly where He wants me. So, let's be honest. You took it as condemning because your conscience was piqued. Just as you say, you're a traditionalist and you reject the apostle in the Church and if my declarations are correct then your understanding of the Life of Christ in His people needs to be adjusted. You need to give up tradition. But I am not the Holy Spirit. If my statements are true then the Spirit of Truth will apply them to those He chooses to have this in their belief-system. I plant and I water. God gives the increase. But it may not be for you. It may just be for someone else (plural). You weren't even named. You revealed yourself. Let's be frank. God blinds eyes and He opens eyes. God darkens the understanding and in others He opens the mind. That's just what He does.

No nomenclature. Just straight-up Biblical truth. I've demonstrated through Scripture that Christ holds office of all five of these ministries. They are HIS LIFE, not mine, not yours, not Paul's not Judas', not Peter's.
Christ.

Does the Scripture say at the death of John there are no more apostles? Does it even imply it? No, it doesn't. So where does that cessation teaching come from? And if it's not Bible then why believe it? Why even teach it?

Ephaphroditus was apostle. I consider him an apostle's apostle for he ministered to Paul in his great need.

Then there is Andronicus and Junias. Apostles. Maybe John wasn't the last to die given the number of apostles in the Church in the first century.

If no apostle, no hand. Simple as that. God has no handicaps. He has a fully functional hand. Those that are called apostle in this day know who they are in Christ regardless of traditional holdings. The Roman CC also depend on tradition. The Pharisees and Sadducees were holders of tradition, and what did Christ declare to them?

Mark 7:6-9 (KJV)
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.