CONCERNING APOSTLES & PROPHETS
In understanding the roles of any one of the fivefold ministry (Eph. 4:11), there must be an openness and a determination to break away from the traditional mind-set. As stated in Ephesians 4:11, there are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They all have very specific roles and they all should work together, because together they are the embodiment of the ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus walked in the fullness of each office and is the perfect example of the unity in operation. He fulfilled His apostolic office by establishing and planting His disciples to carry on the work of His ministry. There are many examples of His prophetic office, in which He flowed in the gifts of the spirit and gave direction to all He came in contact with. There is no mistaking His evangelistic work. Just grasping an understanding of the multitudes that He ministered to with a new concept at that time -- salvation. His pastoral office is realized in the special care he gave to His chosen. And of course, the whole Gospel is inundated with the fruits from His office of teacher.
It just never ceases to amaze me when I hear of His people and His churches publicly and privately proclaim that they either don't believe in apostles and prophets, or that they feel that they are not existent or needed anymore. The one thing that you have to comprehend when you choose to follow Jesus is that His word is true whether you believe it or not. I sure am glad that my existence is not dependent upon man's belief or unbelief. There needs to be an understanding that the word of God is consistent. If you believe one thing in the Bible, then you have to believe the whole thing. If you don't believe one thing in the Bible, then you have to not believe the whole Bible. There is no picking and choosing. We are talking about consistency. If you are a disciple of Christ {I intentionally didn't say believer, because "the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19)}, then you have chosen to believe the whole word of God. In remaining consistent with that premise, if you believe and accept the ministries of the pastor, evangelist and or teacher, then you are obligated to believe and accept the ministries of the apostle and prophet.
In
seeing the importance of the fullness of the ministry of
Jesus, all five offices must be in operation for the Body
to have the full effectiveness that we are called to
have. Just think for a moment about a basketball team.
Your team needs to be five players on the court for your
team to be effective. What would happen if your coach
decided to take two players out
of the game with no replacements? Needless to say that
your team will not be very effective with only three
players on the court. Because the opposing team still has
five players. Your team with three players will not be
able to effectively cover all areas on defense, and there
will be a strain on the three in trying to put together
an effective offensive attack. The same is going on in
the Church, except the coach (the Lord) has not taken the
two players out -- <strong>it was the team itself
that took the players out</strong>. Understand that
this is the work of the enemy to try to isolate, so that
the Church won't come into its full maturity.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
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:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in what to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Now there is also the argument that the apostles and prophets were for the early Church and we don't need them now because we have the written word. Really now. There was the written word before in the Old Testament and there was a need for prophets. Revelation 19:10 tells us that "quote the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Also there is no differentiation between the five offices as to when they were to be in or to cease operation.
We will not "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," until we realize and utilize all of the attributes of Jesus' ministry (fivefold). The are some things that are divinely appointed for only apostles to bring to the table. Likewise there are things that are reserved just for the prophets to bring. For too long we have had other members try to take on responsibilities that they are not equipped or have the proper anointing to handle.
There is
no coincidence that the ministries of the apostles and
prophets are the last to be restored in these end times.
Jesus told us that "the last shall be first, and the
first last." In the order that they are listed in
Eph 4:11, the apostles and prophets are one and two. In
the history of the early Church, you see that the
churches were headed by the apostles and prophets. They
were the first ministries at that time. Look at the times
that we are in. The offices of the teacher, the pastor
and the evangelist have all been brought forth and
recognized by the mainstream Church. Because of the times
that we are in, we can see the signs that Jesus will
return soon, it is His divine order to get His Church and
the world ready for His return. Because in Malachi 4:5 we
are told that the Lord will send Elijah the prophet
before His coming. And you see one fulfillment with John
the Baptist (with the spirit of Elijah)
because he was the one to prepare the way. Now you are in
the midst of seeing the ultimate fulfillment with the
company of apostles and prophets in the spirit of Elijah
preparing the way for "the great and dreadful day of
the Lord."
It's
time for us to grow up and be mature about the things of
the Lord. We need to understand that He has given us
tools to use and we are "cutting off our own nose to
spite our face" when we take it upon ourselves to
deny what the Lord has intended for our good. Apostles
and prophets are not superhuman beings; they are
disciples of Christ as well as all
who profess the name of Jesus should be. You should show
them the same respect that you would to any pastor,
evangelist or teacher.