Growing in God’s Power Appendix 2: Called to Ministries in ...cffm.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/gigp10-appendix-b.pdf · Colossians concurs, stating that we were

Growing in God’s Power Appendix 2: Called to Ministries in the Body

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Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. I Corinthians 14:12

What is your Christian calling? You already know inside what it is... It’s been tugging at your heart, quietly but incessantly all your life, not in words expressible but in moments of discernment when certain acts that you do seem to fit. God has been calling. He has known from eternity where you will be and what you will do and how you can fit. We all want to do something that matters. Yet amongst all the billions of the residents of this orb called Earth, how can our small presence even make a slight difference? But it can! We make differences every day in the lives of those around us, and the effects can last an eternity... How you can best fit actually has been imprinted upon your heart. The telltale marks of the Master Craftsman and the Caring Artist have been left behind for us to discover.61 It’s up to us to find that calling, which is His design for and master stroke on our lives, rise up to it, embrace it and fulfill it.

I Corinthians 1:9: God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

We were called by God, not just to salvation but to fully share all that we’ve been given. That’s true fellowship. He is faithfully waiting to be there for us when we rise up to His call. Colossians concurs, stating that we were called all the way into one body.

Colossians 3:15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

We were chosen in Him from the beginning. So God has had a long time to prepare for what He has called us to do and how we will fit with the rest of the body of Christ.

II Thessalonians 2:13,14: But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

61 See Ephesians 2:10. When we become born again, the holy spirit that God creates within us is His workmanship. The Greek word translated workmanship is poi!ma, from which we get the English word, poem. In Greek, it means an invention, a poem or a literary or musical composition. It implies a Godly design and symmetry, and as with all things God does, there is an enduring intrinsic profit.


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Our callings even go beyond our places in the body. We have been called to the final goal: glory! Glory is the result that occurs when we all do our individual parts in the body. Glory is something added by God, which is beyond the mere sum of our parts. To get to glory we must first understand what our parts are and then we must learn how to interact with each other within the Body of Christ. The body of Christ that we were all called to is made up of many members. Each of us has functions that differ from those around us. God’s Word encourages us to find out what our particular functions are and to operate them. As we do so, we will be fulfilled and the body of Christ will interact in an interdependent way and grow and glorify God. The body of Christ also needs to be understood as being on the local level, not global. The first century church didn’t have telephones, television or the Internet. They had little of the global sense that 21st century man has. So since the New Testament was written at that time and culture, we must strive to understand it the way that it was originally known and then apply that under-standing to our modern conditions, not the other way around. In that light, the parts that everyone plays on the local level really are more vital and those who don’t function will surely be more missed. The realization of this truth will then beacon to all of us in a very meaningful way; we are all needed and we are welcomed, and we all can perform vital, rewarding and fulfilling parts in that which really constitutes genuine Christian fellow-ship. Our fellowship is not everyone receiving from the same person all the time. It truly is a full sharing of everyone’s spiritual riches as Ephesians eloquently illustrates.

Ephesians 4:16: 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.

A key phrase in this verse is the “effectual working in the measure of every part.” It is not just a one man or a one woman show where the pivotal person supplies all. No, we all are needed. The word effectual also is a key. To be “effective” merely means that an effect is produced, but to be “effectual” means that the desired effect is produced. This echoes back to God’s original design for our personal existence and His individual calling to each of us.62 But how can every part effectually work if we do not know what our parts are? God has designed the body so that we will come to know our parts in the body as we actively participate in fellowship with other believers.63 The purpose of this study is to outline the different horizontal ministries mentioned in the New Testament and give some keys to their operation. It also will show the things that need to be avoid-ed so genuine ministers will not become false ministers. Then as we begin to understand our parts, we can reference this information to help us better focus in on the scope of our functions and stay away from behavior which could disqualify us from functioning. There is more information on each ministry that can be uncovered. That can be your joy to investigate and discover once you find out what your long-suits are. 62 That is, His original invention, the custom design that He created within us (in Ephesians 2:10) is now producing its unique profit. 63 See Ephesians 3:7. Paul found his way to his part in the body by being active, finding what worked for him and ultimately becoming effectual at it as he focused in on what he was adept at doing. This is the pattern for all to follow to find their setting.


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Romans 12:4-6a: For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office [function]: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us…

The word, office, in Romans 12:4 is the Greek word praxis, which means a mode of action, business, office or function. It is related to the Greek verb, prass!, which means to practice, to exercise, to perform, to transact business or to manage affairs.64 Being members of a body, we all cannot have the same function, else it would not be a “body.” Romans 12:6 lists a number of horizontal functions. I say horizontal, because these are to be carried out man to man, not vertically, man to God. This is further supported by the use of the word, gifts, charismata in verse 6. These kinds of gifts are from God to men, the Church or particular individuals. The use of this word here is in the God’s gifts to the Church category. God energizes these gifts in every believer to be directed horizontally toward the Church. Each Christian believer will gravitate to their functions in the Church as they interact with one another, under the guidance of genuine leadership. When considering our parts in the body of Christ, we must recognize two principles, which combine to produce several effects. First, we must realize that we each have Christ in us. This means we all have the ability to do all things. But next, we all will tend to excel at some functions more than others because of our believing preference and our unique mixture of physical and mental traits. Because of the first principle, we must recognize that everyone in the body truly has the potential to function with any of the horizontal ministries, so we should treat each other that way. We need to encourage every believer to function so the body can be its best, because at any time, anyone could rise up to supply any missing, needed function. Since we all have the full potential of Christ in us, we may find that we may interact with one another in unexpected ways. There truly are a galaxy of possibilities. Because of need, God may energize new things within us. Or, because of the interplay between us and other local believers, we may bring out special things in each other. Or as we mature, we may see our functions broad-en or specialize, change or focus, depending upon a number of factors both seen and unseen. We can even expect that we won’t have just one horizontal ministry that we prefer or believe for or desire, but several adeptnesses that we see grow within us. Then in light of the second principle, we all will do some things better than others simply because of our free-will preference, believing and desire to participate, plus our training and back-ground. So knowing all this, God has pre-arranged and skillfully designed places for us to fit within the body. These specialties and functions make our lives meaningful as we see the effects that we believe to produce profiting others as well as benefiting ourselves. This understanding must then characterize all our actions toward one another, in accord or even discord, because we truly need one another. So we must love, support and

64 Thayer, Joseph, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament., Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1977, pp. 534,535.


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encourage one another even if we are different, for our diversity actually is a strength. And if someone goes astray or is in disagreement, we need to patiently reach out to and recover that one and lovingly restore them because without them we all are diminished. And then when each one of us has our times to shine in the body, it will be knowing that we couldn’t have done as well without everyone else’s believing and support and because of that realization everyone else will rejoice along with us. When a missing part is needed, I Corinthians 12:31ff recommends that we respond to the situation in a balanced way. We can be ambitious for and earnestly desire the needed function (the “best gifts”) or we can walk in love. Both motivations can achieve the goal of fulfilling the missing function, but love is to be the greater motivating factor because earnest desire on its own can get out of bounds. It is paramount that all who function or desire to function do so genuinely and in love, without ulterior motive, hypocrisy, envy, strife or vainglory. These things can stifle and impede our full sharing and growth. On the other hand, we do need to motivate ourselves to believe to be the ones to perform when a missing function is needed, so desire is important. But earnest desire or ambition on its own could morph into one of these undesirable impulses if not tempered with genuine love. The word, strife, in Greek is derived from the word, weaving. Its equivalent in Latin is ambitus65, from which we get the word ambition. It means weaving intrigue, political manipulations or self-ambitiously climbing over anyone or anything at any cost to achieve some position. Anyone who operates according to that ethic truly is totally unfit for occupying the position they so crave and absolutely must be disqualified. We must diligently guard against this error by being function minded, not position oriented. Vainglory is puffing ourselves up to be something, which we are not. We don’t need to give in to either ill because we all really have the potential for wonderful, genuine and fulfilling callings within us that will be needed by the local fellowship. So we never should feel that we need to commend ourselves, but instead we should let our actions and our fruits speak for us. Ulterior motives of gain, hypocrisy, envy, strife or vainglory can cut the heart out of a local fellowship and must be guarded against and confronted and cured. We all can have our times to shine so we do not have to be position motivated, but function oriented, knowing that the coming rewards will be the great equalizer. I Corinthians 13 explains that the best climate for working the manifestations and the best environment for working together as a body is with unfailing love. When we walk in genuine love we won’t envy others success or position, etc. We all can selflessly serve one another knowing that we all will ultimately receive the credit due us for our genuine acts. Ephesians 4 puts it another way.

Ephesians 4:1,2: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness [humbleness of mind] and meekness , with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

65 Ibid, Thayer, p.249. See also A Greek English Lexicon, Lidell & Scott, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1869, p 600.


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We are not to get puffed up and high minded about our callings. That attitude would surely render them ineffective. We are to walk worthy of our callings and respond with lowliness just like Romans 12:3 states, “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly.” We are to be cognizant that we have been placed in a body. We also need to be meek, which means to be teachable, gentle and not passionate and out of bounds. We are not spiritually self sufficient, but part of an interdependent body, needing each other. Because of that we should be longsuffering toward each other and forbear one another. Longsuffering means that we are to be lovingly patient with each other. Forbearing means to help hold each other upright. Why should we do these things? Because we are people who need to work together despite our differences. People are not perfect and there will be times that those needed will be ill-disposed to function. Yet if we can patiently and lovingly cooperate despite our human frailty at times, our functions can compliment one another and produce something far beyond the mere sum of its parts. Glory will result and everyone will realize that God is responsible. That’s why it says we are to walk worthy, which means to walk in a balanced fashion. What needs to be balanced? Our individuality with our interdependency. Even after understanding all the greatness that was presented earlier in Ephesians, the great power and the great calling that we have individually, we cannot walk without regard to anyone else as if we’re so important that everything depends upon us alone. We are not the only ones God has blessed. That would be high minded, not lowly minded and not recog-nizing we’re in a body. That would be self sufficient in the least and arrogant at its worst, not meek, gentle or teachable. Ephesians 4 opens with this fact that we must walk with reference to and in concert with others in the body. Therefore, we must endeavor to help everyone in our fellowship to grow along with us. That requires longsuffering and forbearance. Those who are truly successful will be able to maintain this balance.

Our Functions in the Body of Christ Now with that introduction, we are ready to discuss the major categories of ministries listed in the Bible. These are broad categories that will be displayed in part or in whole within us. Many believers will see their callings as combinations thereof. When you see your ministries here, I trust that the keys that I bring out will enable you to focus your efforts so as to manifest them in purity and in strength. There are several places in the New Testament which list functions in the body. The first list is in Romans 12.

Romans 12:6,7: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

The Greek that stands behind this passage is very deftly and beautifully constructed. The “whether… or… or… or…” repetition sets the passage up and then the “on… on… on… with… with… with…” repetition (which is the preposition en in Greek) carries it through


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to the end. Once the pattern is set, all the parts need no longer literally repeat, but the repeated sense is expected and understood. The “whether” or “or” parts are each like conditional “if” clauses which infer an apodosis, or a “then” part. As explained above, to avoid wordiness, the appropriate “then” actions are not literally stated but they are clearly inferred. The “then” actions differ depending upon the adeptness referred to; so with prophecy then prophesy, for ministry then minister and teaching then teach, etc. Another facet which echoes through this section is the prepositional phrase, “according to the proportion of believing.” This entire phrase functions as an adverb which expects to modify a verb. But there are no verbs. They all are implied. So since there is an implied verb in each of the “then” parts, this adverbial phrase applies all the way through. This last point is very important. There truly is no limit to our ministries for they really are according to the proportion of our believing. Putting this all together in an effort to convey all that is implied, but using synonyms to avoid redundancy, I have freely translated it as follows:

Having the ability then for horizontal-ministry gifts of grace which differ according to the divine grace that is given to us, whether we’re endowed with excellence in manifesting prophecy, then let us pursue the opportunity to prophesy according to the proportion of our believing; Or if we have an adeptness in divine service, then let us actively involve ourselves in our ministering; or he who is proficient in teaching, let him apply himself earnestly in that aptitude for teaching; Or he who excels in encouragement, let him busy himself zealously in his calling to encourage; or he who has a wonderful heart for giving, let him actively pursue each opportunity to share his riches without ulterior motive; or he who stands out in leadership, let him faithfully apply himself therein with diligence; or he who excels in mercifully aiding the afflicted, let him believe to immerse himself in it with cheerfulness.

Whatever function you are called to in the body, do it with vigor, believing, and faith-fulness for it is according to the proportion of your believing. Even if we have stopped functioning for a period of time for some reason, our calling and functions are still there for us to pick back up for Romans 11:29 says, “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” God doesn’t recall them, nor can any man take them away.66 Because they are according to the proportion of our believing, we can pick them back up any time and begin functioning again just like getting back on a bicycle. Another factor to consider with this list in Romans is that it is enumerating “entry level” ministries. Because these ministries are according to the proportion of our believing every one of these may further develop and ultimately could result in a recognized or ordained ministry in the Church. Many believers have thought that the mature ministries listed in Ephesians 4 were the only “gift ministries.” Actually all of these are gift mini-stries, that is, gifts from God to the Church. But each one of these ministries in Romans

66 Note that Psalms 51:10-12 is before Christ brought salvation to man. Being born again is by incorruptible seed as expressed by I Peter 1:23. If God’s word says that our new-birth seed is incorruptible, then it is indeed incorruptible!


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has the potential to develop into one of the ministries listed in Ephesians, if other factors warrant. Some of these other factors are need, God’s supply and confirmation and the believers’ recognition of them. But that having been said, we must emphasize that one’s aspirations for growth should never be for positions or titles, but for loving and impacting service to the body. Whatever the ultimate outcome, we and the body will be blessed for we shall have walked worthy of our calling. What long suits do you have? Get busy applying yourself and see what they are and how you fit. Getting busy and participating is how you’ll find out what combination you’ve got and how you’ll fulfill God’s call. Excellers in manifesting prophecy There are a few ministries that are similar to one another. This function in the body on the surface may seem to be like the ministry of a prophet. However, a prophet’s ministry is by revelation and it is God’s prerogative when that gets energized. The manifestation of prophecy is an “entry level” function while the ministry of a prophet is for the mature. Because this function is in this foundational list in Romans, I am inclined to say that this must refer to the manifestation of prophecy. There are opportunities to operate this manifestation at almost every meeting of believers. Those who excel at the manifestation of prophecy are those who genuinely love their fellow believers and have no hidden motives. The manifestation of the interpretation of tongues is functionally equivalent to the manifestation prophecy, so what I am about to say applies to it as well, except that prophecy is preferred when more mature believers are present at a fellowship. When someone who has this long-suit manifests in a believers meeting, it has a definite impact. But the believers who excel are not motivated by their desire to speak something profound. They don’t desire to show off, but just want to bless. They have mastered the delicate balance required when one operates this manifestation. This balance is necessary because the content of the message is in their own language, which makes it possible for their minds to intrude and add to, subtract from or alter it. They must speak the inspired message faithfully without allowing their minds to change it. On one hand, those who are proficient are confident about their prowess at operating these manifestations knowing that they often do speak moving things. But on the other hand they must discipline their minds to not intrude so they can faithfully speak what they are inspired to speak. The inspiration is not comprised of the words alone, but also the voice expression and presentation of the message. Those who prophesy are speaking for God, so they need to act like it and stand tall and deliver the message with dignity. Many believers can master this balance and become virtuosos with this function in the body. In fact, this skilful balance is later required for the proper operation of the more mature manifestations of revelation and impartation. Because if one tends to insert their own content into the inspiration or not stop speaking when the message has rounded itself out, they will tend to do the same with revelation and experience failure. If they do not boldly speak all that they are inspired to speak with prophecy, they will tend to cut short when they are receiving guidance or not carry out the entire task with the impartation manifestations. Therefore, it builds the mental discipline necessary for operating the other manifestations even though they come by revelation, not by inspiration.


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When we read the entire chapter of I Corinthians 14, we cannot help but see that prophesy is encouraged over the other inspiration manifestations, even knowing that when tongues are interpreted it is equivalent. Verse 1 says, “but rather that ye may prophesy.” Verse 5 contains, “but rather that ye prophesied.” Verse 39 states, “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy.” But tongues with interpretation has its place as verse 22 explains.

I Corinthians 14:22: Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe (are fully instructed), but to them that believe not (are not fully instructed): but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not (are not fully instructed), but for them which believe (are fully instructed).

The implication that the terms, “believe” and “believe not” have to do with differing degrees of instruction is indicated by the use of the word “unlearned” in verses 23 and 24.

I Corinthians 14:24,25: But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced [elench!] of all, he is judged [anakrin!] of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

This is a snapshot of when the manifestation of prophecy is carried out adeptly. How-ever, there is something which needs clarification in verse 24. The words convinced and judged seem to single a person out as the recipient of the message. But prophecy is not for specific guidance, but more general edification by means of encouragement and comfort. The key to clearing this discrepancy up is in verse 25 where it says that the secrets of their hearts will be made manifest. The key question is: To whom are they made manifest? To that person himself, no one else. That fits with our experience with the worship manifestations. Often the deep things of the heart cannot be easily articulated in words. But many times the inspired words given forth in the worship manifestations fit what we need to hear in remarkable ways. That is exactly what this is. Now with this in mind we can further define the words convinced and judged. The word convinced is elench!, which normally means reprove. But in this circumstance it can mean to have problems exposed or brought to light. The word judged is anakrin!, which means to be examined or judged, but in this circumstance we understand that this exam-ination is within the hearer.67 In other words, the messages cause the hearers to reflect upon themselves and thus are things in their hearts brought to light. This interpretation is supported by the words “of all” in verse 24. The word “of” is the Greek preposition hupo, which means by the agency of all, it is not the preposition pro, before all. So this is not an exposure of their personal affairs before all like what may occur in an examination or reproof situation. Instead, those who manifest aid in the process without knowing the import of what they are saying. That itself, constitutes the amazing spiritual witness which makes these manifestations have such impact. The result is that the hearers will

67 The hearer is not examining themselves, for then the verb would be in the middle voice. But the examination is occurring within as they reflect upon what is being said.


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express their amazement or that they are thoroughly blessed and will worship God and report that God certainly is at work within those who manifested. We also must deal with the concept of falling down upon one’s face that occurs in this verse. This is an Eastern person’s way of expressing respect, humility or worship. It does not mean that they are slain in the spirit. I Corinthians 14 says that the things of God are decent and in order. They do not embarrass the participants or cause them to lose control of themselves. God honors our free will. This is merely an Eastern custom of the expression of respect or worship. This is the goal for anyone who is adept at this manifestation. We want to impact believers’ lives so that they worship God. Those adept at serving Every local area should be blessed with many believers who function with this strong suit. They are referred to as “helps” in another list of functions in I Corinthians 12. The Greek words for this function are diakone!, diakonia, and diakonos which mean to serve, service and servant, referring to the activity of the work, not the position of the servant with respect to the one served.68 And antilamban!, sunantilambanomai, and antil"psis which mean to help, help together and to be a support person. These believers are wonderful, essential aides to the movement of the Word who do support work in many ways. This category could be one of those referred to in the analogies in I Corinthians 12 as being deemed less honorable, but without them, little could be done well. These people often work in the background, faithfully serving with a view that the Word of God can be featured. They organize and set up for events, serve believers in many ways and assist at all levels. They may not all get publicly recognized for their hard work, but God has set the heavenly rewards as the great equalizer, for the ones who sweep the floors or set up the chairs will get the same rewards as those who teach on the main stage.

Hebrews 6:10: For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered [diakone!] to the saints, and do minister [diakone!]. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

So if we serve with the attitude of love and believing we shall be rewarded, regardless of whether we receive credit in this life or not. That makes life simple. It also follows that the rendering of any service is a form of giving, so the rules regarding giving and receiv-ing come into play. We shall get rewarded thrice, first with the personal satisfaction of a job well done, next in this life as the law of giving produces effects and finally through-out eternity. Note that even a small reward measured throughout eternity shall be huge. To qualify for these blessings the giving must be done willingly and not out of compul-

68 Thayer, Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, pp. 137,138. The other words for servant, doulos and therap!n, imply the position of the servant.


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sion. So if the right attitude is maintained, the service will be rewarding to both the server and the served. This is reflected in the first usage of the word diakonia.

Luke 10:38-42: Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving [diakonia], and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve [diakone!] alone? bid her therefore that she help [sunantilambanomai] me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

We can see that the attitude with which the service is rendered is as important as the service itself. We cannot lose our perspective. Those who serve at a Christian event should not be so consumed with their labors that they forget why they are working… All should be given an opportunity to hear some of the teachings so they can see some of the fruit of their labor and maintain the right perspective in their service, for it is not service for service’s sake. It is service to God so that people can be brought to Christ and be saved and made whole and that God’s Word can be made known. There are many levels of service in the body (actually all the functions are forms of service), but some will excel in serving others and rise to positions in the body where their ministries can have the greatest effect. The Bible calls these believers deacons and stewards. The English word, deacon, is directly derived from the Greek word diakonos. As believers faithfully serve, their abilities become recognized in the body and they are given greater responsibilities so they can shine and bless others even better. Deacons in the first century Church were given responsibilities or special projects to carry out within the fellowship, they just didn’t occupy positions. They weren’t the leaders of the fellow-ship, but served at an intermediate level. I Timothy outlines deacons in detail.

I Timothy 3:8-13: Likewise must the deacons [diakonos] be grave [of venerable character], not doubletongued [saying one thing to one person but something different to another], not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre [greedy for dishonorable gain]; Holding [holding fast, keeping] the mystery of the faith in a pure [uncorrupted] conscience. And let these also first be proved [proven to be genuine]; then let them use the office of a deacon [diakone!], being found blameless [unimpeachable]. Even so must their wives be grave [of venerable character], not slanderers [false accusers], sober [sound minded], faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling [presiding over] their children and their own houses well [properly].


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For they that have used the office of a deacon [diakone!] well [with excellence] purchase to [gain for] themselves a good [admirable] degree [standing], and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

This passage is full of great understanding about this function. Those who by virtue of their wonderful service rise to the position of a deacon should be exemplary of all its facets. Those who continue to rise to more influential positions in the body all once functioned as deacons, so it also shows the way for true advancement in the body. That advancement does not happen because of who someone is or who they know. Advance-ment occurs because of how well believers perform. In other words, there should not be any good ‘ole boy network where believers gain positions because of their contacts. No, that is destructive because it breeds envy and strife. God will commend the true-hearted ones and confirm their ministries so they will be undeniable to all. This then will beacon to all, motivating them to participate genuinely and whole heartedly because favoritism is excluded. Anyone may arise to excel without regard to their sex, background, education, family or race according to their own believing, genuine action and God’s confirmation. It says that deacons must be grave. That means of venerated character. Who does the veneration? The other believers in the fellowship. In other words, those who become deacons in the Church don’t commend themselves, they have the commendation of other believers because they have sterling character and have performed well. The phrase not greedy of filthy lucre also is significant. It means to not be greedy for dishonorable gain. True deacons must have no ulterior motive.69 They serve out of genuine love. The phrase, “holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” in verse 9 is beautiful. Anyone who arises in the body must honor it. One does not hold fast or keep the mystery by just knowing it. They must carry it out. What is the practical application of the great mystery? It is to walk one-body-minded, cognizant of what one is in Christ and what one is in the body of Christ. These believers are models of what it is to walk and serve in the body with a pure, uncorrupted conscience. Their true colors show in the light of day, they have no ulterior motive, they do not walk in strife being position minded or in vainglory commending themselves. They are champions of service. Their love is obviously genuine! They exercise their ministries having been proven unimpeachable. There also are requirements for their wives, for at this level of service, both the husband and wife must be functioning as a team. If the husband has lovingly and skillfully been the head of his family, they both will be become one flesh and will be complimenting each other’s functions by this point in their lives. Those who succeed at this in their family and excel in their service to the saints gain an admirable standing in the fellowship of believers. An even more mature level of service is the steward. In Biblical times the steward of the house was the manager. They were trusted with all of the landowner’s affairs including their pocketbook. There are stewards in the body who have been appointed to manage-ment positions in the Church. The Word of God contains insight into the keys for them to effectually function. These are in addition to the deacon’s guidelines.

69 See I Timothy 6:5,6. Godliness is not indicated by how much someone has gained.


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I Corinthians 4:1,2: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers [diakonos] of Christ, and stewards [oikonomos] of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

They need to above all things, be faithful. They also need to be wise. In the body, this translates to having a long suit in the manifestation of the word of wisdom. The Greek word for steward is oikonomos, which comes from the word, oikos which means house. There are several places in the Bible where this word is used. The first usage is in Luke.

Luke 12:42-44: And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

Their duty is to rule or oversee the household and to provide what is due at the appro-priate time. They have this position not to lord over everyone but to give to everyone. This first usage emphasizes that service not position, is the polar star of a steward. This should never be forgotten! In order to give what is needed when it is due, a good steward must know everyone in their household well and know how to bring out the best in them. These wonderful believers advance in service by virtue of their due diligence. Another important passage concerning stewards is found in Luke 16. This passage has been misunderstood and needs clarification. The culture of the times and the context will aid us in finding out what it originally meant.

Luke 16:1-8: And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.


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This steward was accused of wasting his lord’s goods, it does not say that he was convicted. It said he may not still be steward. That was conditional, not absolute. Indeed in verse 8 the steward was called “unjust,” but in the same breath he also was commended. So I believe that it should be understood as “allegedly unjust.” The point of this passage is that this steward was resourceful. When it appeared that he might be fired, he negotiated with his lord’s debtors in an effort that he might be received into their houses. So whatever he was doing when he reduced their bills would have had to have been honorable, else how could he be have been trusted to be welcomed into their households? What he actually was doing was cutting out his own commission. His lord was not losing any money. Because of this, his lord commended him. Then verse 8 says that “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” What does that mean? The children of light are indeed wise, for they have chosen the path of life. The qualifying term “in their generation” explains it. Sometimes those who are born again are not as savvy when it comes to the things of this world. They think and move in different circles for this world is not their home, as the song says, they are just passing through. But there is much to be learned from people who are adept at manage-ment, even worldly management. That is why Jesus makes the next statements.

Luke 16:9-12: And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

Principles do transfer from how we treat that which can be seen to how we will treat that which cannot. But there is a balance, because in verse 9 it says to make friends of the mammon, not be devoted to it… Otherwise, one could get out of bounds and end up treating people the way things should be treated and things the way people should be treated. Those who become stewards in the Church and manage Church property or Church money need to be detailed, disciplined professionals who are savvy in the things of the world as well as spiritual men and women. But there is an important point expressed by the next verse:

Luke 16:13: No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.


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So it is true that stewards need to be faithful and detailed when it comes to physical things. But there is a balance with this, and there is a point of diminishing returns. One cannot become so excruciatingly detailed that they lose that perspective. That would be serving mammon. Whatever we manage or whatever position in which we serve, we must do so in a balanced fashion in light of the fact that we are serving the lord.

I Peter 4:10, 11: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister diakone! the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister diakone!, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

As I have mentioned earlier, believers who serve do so at all “levels” in the body, that is on the local level and within larger organizations, at higher levels. It is necessary to recognize that these believers do not advance themselves by worldly means, but by virtue of their fruit. For example, we saw that deacons who served successfully gained an admirable standing in the body. We can clearly see this in Acts 6 when the 12 apostles needed help because the work had grown large.

Acts 6:1-7: And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

The people chose the seven. The criteria were that they were of honest report and that they had a long suit in the manifestation of word of wisdom. So when it comes to the rising stars of service in the body, they need to develop an adeptness at practical application, detail mindedness, operating the revelation manifestations especially believing to excel in the word of wisdom, and most of all be cognizant of the practical application of the great mystery, being one-body-minded. Then their true colors will


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show, the people will recognize their character and God will give them places to walk in the body where their adeptness in service can bless the believers in the greatest way. The proficient teachers Teachers are needed at every level in the body. In fact, one of the criteria for leadership in the body is an aptitude to teach.70 So teachers are elders who have fellowships in their homes, presbyters who oversee a local area or those who excel to the extent that they may have impact upon an entire organization. Just as with all the ministries covered so far, there are “entry level” and mature functions. The mature may have the gift-ministry of a teacher. These have both mastered the teacher’s art and received public affirmation that they’ve truly become pivotal points of God’s supply to the believers. However, teaching is not merely the ability to regurgitate information or to be entertaining or profound. It is the ability to transfer both knowledge and practical application. It is very important that we understand that it is not for knowledge only. Whatever a teacher teaches must be useful and reach and benefit the hearers, not just to tickle their ears. Otherwise, it is worthless. If it is genuine and truly from God, it will profit both immediately and ultimately. We also must realize that having a meeting with a teaching is not the height of Christianity. It is what the people do with what was taught after they leave the building that matters! The potential for ultimate profit is measured by God’s involvement, it’s relevancy, how easily it can be assimilated and in its practical application. Knowledge for knowledge’s sake is dangerous. So teachers must drive themselves to make everything practical and break it down logically and systematically so that everyone can understand.

Isaiah 28:9,10: Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

The goal of all instruction should be action. The anticipated action should relevant, being based upon the needs of the hearers. So a good teacher will be perceptive to those taught and convey the knowledge needed coupled with the practical steps and encouragement regarding how to apply it. So what if we have lots of knowledge. Does it make any difference as we walk down the street? Is there some big aura around us simply because of what we know? No, not at all. The impact of our presence is not in what we know, it is because of what we do with that knowledge! So the thirst for knowledge must be kept in balance. What keeps the glories of knowledge in balance? It is its application. For if what is taught cannot be proven out by application and positive results, it is worthless. Therefore, right teaching is maintained by effective practice, never the other way around. This is emphasized throughout the Old Testament with the words keep and do. The pinnacle of the keep and do concept is presented in the book of Deuteronomy.

70 See I Timothy 3:2


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Deuteronomy 29:1-9: These are the words of the covenant, which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the Lord your God. And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them: And we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh. Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.

This was a solemn occasion. The ministry of Moses was just about over. He was preparing them to move on into the promised land without him. They had seen many wonderful things and had knowledge of many deep things. But they didn’t fully understand them until this point in time after they had fully carried them all out.

Deuteronomy 29:10-15: Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water: That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day: That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; But with him that standeth here with us this day before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:

This was a serious and far reaching covenant that they were entering into. It was to involve everyone, even including those who were not present at that meeting. What were they agreeing to? Verse 9 says, “Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them.” That is what they were promising to do. Now what follows is what the consequences are if the believers do not keep and do God’s Word.


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Deuteronomy 29:18,19: Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall [intoxicating opium] and wormwood [debilitating poison]; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst [and sweep away as with a whirlwind both those who espouse the error as well as those close by who do not]:

Wrong teaching or impractical teaching (that which has no practical application) or wrongly applied teaching has the potential to infect the congregation so they turn away from the true God to worship false gods. They turn from the truth because they’ve become intoxicated and puffed up with frivolous, impractical knowledge or because they’ve been driven into bitter inactivity, having their hearts poisoned by pompous knowledge with arrogant, hurtful or unprofitable applications. So teachers are charged to teach the truth and whatever they teach must be applicable. Practical application will prove whether what is taught is fact or fantasy, for if it is true the results will show. This picture of what happens when believers don’t keep and do is framed by the signpost words, gall [opium], wormwood, backsliding, the phrase: imaginations of the heart, and the concept of false peace. When tracking these terms through the Bible and seeing where they cluster, a very clear image emerges of a people so filled with impractical head knowledge that they arrogantly think that they’re serving God, when their heart is far from Him. They think they have peace and security when actually they are blindly teetering on the edge of destruction. When it finally occurs they voice disbelief wondering why this is happening to them. The signpost concept can be clearly seen by following this subject through the Word. Most of the scriptures in the chart below have “hits” in 3 or more of the 6 categories that interweave to express and mark out this topic. Any teacher must understand how pivotal their function is and how it can directly and ultimately produce either good or evil. So that is why they must not try to astound their audience with deep insights and intricacies that cannot be applied, or venture into conjecture which cannot be proven out by application. This is not “entertainment Bible.” The Word is life.


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Read each context listed below and this will be strikingly clear.

Signpost Words - Opium and Wormwood

opium wormwood imagination of the heart false peace false gods backslide

Deut 29:18,19 x x x x x Deut 32:15-33 2x x Psalms 81:12 x x Jer 3:12-17 x x x Jer 7:1-28 x x x Jer 8:4-17 x x x Jer 9:1-16 x x x x x Jer 11:1-10 x x x Jer 13:8-14 (drunk) x x Jer 16:10-13 x x Jer 18:11-15 x x Jer 23:9-17 x x x x x Lam 3:5-19 2x 2x Hos 10:1-4 x x Amos 6:1-12 x x x x Back in Deuteronomy the context climaxes with Deuteronomy 29:29.

Deuteronomy 29:29: The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

We have no right to intrude into the secret things that are God’s. Those concepts are out of bounds. Teaching that content is like pushing opium or force feeding wormwood. That teaching is based upon fantasy, not fact. It cannot be proven out by practical application. But that which God has actually revealed to us is practical because it says, “that we may do all the words of this law.” This is what we must concentrate upon. Colossians has a similar verse.

Colossians 2:18: Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

We do not want to beguile our students. We want to teach them the truth. So we as teachers must push ourselves to the practical, not the spectacular. If we teach something new, we must look for how it can be applied and wait to teach it until after its fruit can be


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fully proved and understood. Then we teach both the concept and its application so what we have found can be useful. Our primary focus should be on the milk of the word, never tiring in its exposition, ever encouraging people to partake. Meat once in awhile is great, but too much will make the believers fat and we know what the Word says about those whose heart is as fat as grease. No teacher would want that as their legacy, would they? Instead, we want to see the profit of our instruction to go on and on, as both viable seed to future sowers and good bread to the eaters, producing good fruit in the lives of our precious believers.

Excellers in encouragement We all are to encourage one another, but there are some who excel at it. The Greek verb and noun translated to encourage or encouragement, are parakale! and parakal"sis, respectively. Those who excel in performing the manifestation of prophesy also encourage when they speak their messages by inspiration from God in a believers meeting. So this long-suit in the body must be separate from that form of proficiency. This is a very important function in the fellowship for it involves every kind of speaking to motivate people to a worthy action; to exhort, to invite, to encourage, to motivate with words, to admonish, to help, to comfort.71 But it does not include commanding people. So that implies that it does not involve any form of force. The word, parakale! literally means, to call to one’s side. So it appeals to people to perform the actions desired by their own free will. As Romans 12:2 indicates, it does not force compliance from the outside as the world would conform, but it appeals for the hearer to arise from within as the Word would transform.

Romans 12:1: I beseech [parakale!] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable [logical] service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Now, since this word is used in the Bible in this way, we must understand that this is genuine motivation toward a godly endeavor. Ungodly methods of enticement or coercive speech like fear or guilt motivation, bait, manipulation, condemnation or any other form of Satanic persuasion is excluded. The following passage contains 10 occurrences of the Greek noun and verb. I have found that wherever a word in the Bible has a cluster of occurrences in one spot, that passage is very significant. It is on par with the first occurrences of a word in highlighting the in-depth meaning and application of that concept.72 71 Critical Greek Lexicon and Concordance of the New Testament., E. W. Bullinger, Zondervan, Grand rapids, MI, 1971. Derived from looking up all the English translations of parakale! in the concordance. 72 Compare Matthew 2:18 and 5:4. The precedent for this word is that in the attempt to encourage, free will cannot be overstepped.


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II Corinthians 1:3-7: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort [parakal!sis]; Who comforteth [parakale"] us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort [parakale"] them which are in any trouble, by the comfort [parakal!sis] wherewith we ourselves are comforted [parakale"] of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation [parakal!sis] also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation [parakal!sis] and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted [parakale"], it is for your consolation [parakal!sis] and salvation [wholeness]. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation [parakal!sis].

The words comfort and exhortation are the same words in Greek. It is wonderful to note the presence of the hallmark that characterizes all the things from God. This outstanding trait is that all things from God profit both immediately and ultimately. We receive the encouragement we need now, but it also builds us up so we can encourage others in the future. It is both bread for the eater and seed for the sower that goes on and on and on!73 The words tribulation and suffering in this passage must also be understood. Because the natural man, that is, those who are not born again, do not receive the things of the spirit of God, they do not understand the motivations or mindset of a Christian who is walking upon God’s Word. Carnal, inactive, distracted, immature or uneducated Christians who are still heavily influenced by the things of this world won’t understand either. The world has its own agendas, trends and lifestyles, ultimately influenced by the god of this world. So to say the least, the world is not set up to be a favorable environment for func-tioning Christians. Therefore, born again believers who walk against the course of this world will experience resistance in the forms of tribulation (mental pressure) and suffer-ing (physical pressure). The Greek word translated suffering needs clarification. It does not always mean to experience pain or hardship. The word actually is neutral and means to undergo the pressures and experiences of life whether good or evil. Those Christians who endeavor to walk upon the Word of God will experience the pressures inherent in going against the course of this world. Some may even suffer pain or hardship on account of their faith. All will need encouragement. God is a wellspring of it! Then, because they have the practical application experience both of doing God’s Word and receiving encouragement from God, they can effectually encourage others. This concept is a great key for the application of this long-suit. These people must be doers of the Word. They specialize in practical application knowing how to apply Biblical principles under all circumstances. The do as I say, not as I do paradigm absolutely does not fit them. These people are out in front, applying the Word, experiencing the pressures, yes, but also experiencing the joys of successes when they persevere and overcome! They truly can encourage others, not just doctrinally but practically for they themselves have applied it and they keep doing so.

73 See Isaiah 55:8-13, Isaiah 48:17 and II Corinthians 9:10


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Another key is the phrase the “God of all comfort.” That expresses that He is the origin of it. He has an inexhaustible supply and He is able to get it to us when we need it! Those who are on the front lines, functioning as they should, experience His timely and effective encouragement. This phrase leads us to another passage in Romans where other aspects of encouragement are featured.

Romans 15:1-6: We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort [parakal!sis] of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation [parakal!sis] grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who can encourage and comfort are those who are more mature by virtue of their knowledge and faithful application of the things of God. It is an obligation that comes with the knowledge they have received. Otherwise, what is the knowledge for? Where is the enduring profit? If we do not respond and encourage the weak or less mature in our midst, we truly are only arrogantly, selfishly pleasing ourselves. These are strong words. But those who have much knowledge may get puffed up and if so need to have their balloons of overrated self-importance busted. It also says that He is the God of patience in this same passage. That is essential when encouraging others. We can never falter, blow up and succumb to ungodly words or motivations when dealing with the intran-sigence of others. Fear or guilt motivation may seem to produce desired effects when people refuse to do what God’s Word says, but there is no enduring profit. As soon as the stimulus to obey is gone many revert back to their old error because they have no self motivation to do what’s right. Condemning people when they won’t do as they ought does not profit either. Only genuine love and encouragement can build the desire within to walk on the Word. One misstep on our part, one use of the wrong forms of stimulus can undo months of building. God is constant and so also can we be. So never falter, never fail but to follow the example of Jesus Christ who took the gaff and the reproach of the immature because he so loved. The Apostle Paul expressed this concisely. Those who have this ministry need to have the same mindset to contend for the prize legally.

Colossians 2:1-7: For I would that ye knew what great conflict [agon, to contest within the rules for a great prize] I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted [parakale"], being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;


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In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile [delude, cause to stray by means of false reasoning] you with enticing [persuasive] words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Paul’s mindset for them was that they were in order and steadfast in the faith. He contended for that goal legally, using genuine parakale! methods of encouragement. Other forms of persuasion were off limits.74 One of the best examples of encouragement in the Bible is in Philemon. In this book Paul gives Philemon no other option but to do the right thing.

Philemon 1:8-21: Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin [command] thee that which is convenient [the appropriate response], Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech [parakale!] thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech [parakale!] thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels [innermost self]: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: But without thy mind [consent] would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels [innermost self] in the Lord. Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

74 See I Corinthians 2:4. The same word is peithos, is used as the compound word in Colossians 2:4 pithano-logia, persuasive words. This persuasion is by ungodly means not utilizing genuine techniques of motivation.


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Verses 8 and 9 say that Paul could command Philemon to comply, but rather he beseeches. That’s just like Romans 12 and Ephesians 4. Then Philemon could comply of his own volition. Verse 21 says that he could go beyond the request. But this cannot be legislated, else it wouldn’t be genuine and the believers possibly robbed of their reward. When compared with other long-suits who encourage, namely the 5 ministries in Ephesians 4, those who excel at the manifestation of prophecy, those who function as leaders, or those who function magnificently showing mercy, I see this adeptness focusing at the intermediate level of growth. Evangelists and merciful ones will specifically encourage new people in the fellowship and under-shepherd them until they begin to stand on their own. Then the people who function as great encouragers and practical application masters take over. Then the 5 ministries listed in Ephesians will later help them further develop into maturity. Those who excel at encouragement may also have a combination of other adeptnesses such as teaching or leading. Mature encouragers may develop into any of the more mature ministries in Ephesians 4. The wonderful givers Every fellowship has wonderful believers who are so giving. They give of their time, life, energy, heart and substance. We all are encouraged to give of our abundance. We all have riches from God designed to be shared with one another.

II Corinthians 8:7: Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

But there are some who have been blessed with so much and also have the right attitude about it that it is their ministry to believe for abundance and to give of it to supply the needs of the believers and of the Church. Romans 12 says that the key for them is to do so without ulterior motive. They should give willingly, with simplicity, no strings attached, never giving to get. God’s word encourages us all to be givers. These believers are champion givers who exemplify the principles of giving taught in the Bible.

II Corinthians 8:12-15: For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want [need], that their abundance also may be a supply for your want [need]: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Note that they don’t “give till it hurts.” Genuine giving is by free will. It is not guilt-driven nor driven by any other form of negative motivation. The Bible promises that God will give back. But in order to claim that benefit the gifts must be given with the right attitude and for the right reasons, otherwise what is the profit?


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II Corinthians 9:7-11: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

The phrase “his righteousness remaineth forever” refers to the legacy of the giver when the gifts are given with the right motivation. They keep multiplying like seeds sown. Finally, we note that the one who gets the glory is God, not the giver. All these things are encompassed in the key mentioned in Romans 12, let him do it with simplicity. Giving not only of our material abundance, but also our spiritual riches must be mastered by all those who function in the body. We are to give forth of our ministries with the same grace that God graced us with. Those who take the lead What is a leader? How does one become a leader? These actually are simple questions, for all of us lead at one time or another. It simply means someone who does something first, that others see and follow. God needs leaders to guide His people and be positive examples to the rest. However, there are false leaders who take the lead for wrong reasons and devastate God’s people. How do we make sure we are genuine? The Bible contains two good checklists for the criteria for good leaders.

Titus 1:5-9: For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless [not catchable by an antagonist – that is having no cause for blame], the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot [incorrigible] or unruly [insubordinate]. For a bishop [overseer] must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled [arrogant], not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker [retaliatory], not given to filthy lucre [dishonorable gain]; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men [men should be omitted], sober [sound minded], just , holy, temperate [self disciplined]; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort [motivate to comply] and to convince [refute] the gainsayers [opposition].


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I Timothy 3:1-7: This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop [overseer], he desireth a good [admirable] work. A bishop then must be blameless [not catchable by an antagonist – that is having no cause for blame], the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober [sound minded], of good behaviour [not indecorous], given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker [retaliatory, apt to strike back], not greedy of filthy lucre [dishonorable gain]; but patient, not a brawler [quarrelsome, argumentative], not covetous [a lover of money]; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity [dignity, veneration]; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Obviously, those who are selected for leadership must have many admirable traits. It is therefore, quite possible that they may exercise several of the long-suits described in this article. Leaders can make it or break it when it comes to a healthy fellowship. There are some kinds of growth which cannot be accomplished without good leadership. So it is paramount that Christian leaders have the right qualities and the right motivations. This is the only ministry that seems to be a position, yet we should not be position minded, but function oriented. The word used in Romans is a combination of pro and histemi and literally means to stand before. In this we clearly see that this ministry is not a position but a function. These believers are adept at taking a stand in an exemplary way such that others follow their example. This adeptness is also in the list in I Corinthians where it is referred to as “governments.” That word means the act of piloting or being a steersman. It emphasizes the aspect of guidance rather than rule. The leader leads and the followers follow. The motivations of a genuine leader must be godly. For anyone to become a leader, they must have some prior experience, lest as it says they be a novice and fall. Since all the ministries serve, anyone who becomes an overseer in the church must first have succeed-ed at functioning as a deacon. One of the qualifications of a deacon expresses the true motivation that any leader should have: “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure con-science.” They must uphold the mystery of the faith, which is the mystery of the church, the body of Christ. That involves an in-depth understanding and respect for how all the parts of the body should work together without envy, strife or vainglory. Those who lead are adept at many things, but the secret of the most effectual leaders is to not do everything all the time but to allow others to grow and to function and share in the work. The leader is still responsible even though they may delegate tasks. But since we


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are in a body where everyone has different functions, leaders must no longer think of themselves as the soloists, but the conductors… Another motivation which should be shunned is the desire for gain. In the Old Testament, when Ezekiel confronted the false prophets and the false shepherds, he accused them of extorting God’s people, getting dishonest gain from them and feeding upon them. As I Timothy 6:5 says, gain is not an indication of godliness. If anyone is truly called to be a leader, God will provide for them. They do not need to think they have to use any form of manipulation to motivate people to give to support them. God has cemented the body with love. If a leader is loving and effective, the believers will support them. To counteract this temptation, genuine leaders are to serve.

Mark 10:42-45: But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

This picture should characterize a genuine leader: II Samuel 23:3,4: The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

The merciful rescuers This next ministry is fascinating, for it can have such a wonderful, lasting impact. For centuries in Western Culture, society has been undergirded by the mission of mercy of the Church. Those who cannot find help elsewhere have found it within its doors. This is an enduring legacy of the impact of the merciful ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ and the first century Church. There are special ministers in the body who have an adeptness at reaching out to effectually help those who are in need. Jesus said that we will always have the poor with us, but that is not an excuse to do nothing about it. In fact, the character of any society is measured by how it deals with its poor. The Church has spirit-filled believers who excel at rendering aid. So if you want to find a place where you can consistently see the hand of God at work, there are few other places where one can see it so readily as with aiding the poor! The Church needs to beat a path down from its mountaintop into the valley of human need, for that keeps its doctrines practical. There where it is darkest, the true light shines most unmistakably. There is where we all can do things which will have lasting effects upon people. To not venture there is arrogant, for it makes our riches worthless. There we can walk as Jesus walked and render aid when no


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one else can or will. Those who do so are acting in the person of Jesus Christ and administering the hand of God’s deliverance. Jesus Christ did not take his ministry to the rich. He took it to the poor. Those who seem to have no need have less hunger for salvation. But those who have had need and then had it supplied by one of these functioning ministers may rise up to be the most faithful and wonderful believers. I am not talking about mere assembly line, soup kitchen handouts. I am talking about specific, personalized, perceptively penetrating, keenly accurate, inspired help. It surely is better to teach how to fish than just giving one, but even then people may need a fish or two in the beginning… All too often we have been encouraged to give to the Church while in its midst are needs to which the Church only gives lip service. We teach, saying if only you poor ones or you weak ones or you injured ones could believe, then you’d be delivered. But at the same time we withhold the aid which is ours at hand to give! What is this?75 Is this not a form of hypocrisy? In the time of Christ, society was built with the family at its center. Families were honor bound to care for their elderly and their widows. Hebrew society also had guidelines for indentured service for those in debt and sabbatical and jubilee years set up in order to give the indebted opportunities for fresh starts in their lives. However, when people decided to become Christians, they were ostracized by society and no longer afforded its “safety net” should they fall into bad times. The Church entered into that gap to provide that missing function and has shined there ever since. The Church at that time was already highly communal because of the necessity to share all things amongst those who had been shunned by society once they became Christian, so this was a natural, added step. Acts 6 and I Timothy 5 address the issues of how the Church was to deal with its destitute. Romans 14 and 15 clearly show that the more mature should aid the weak and not just please themselves. Romans 12:13 literally translated is, “In the needs of the saints, always sharing fully, ever earnest in the pursuit of hospitality.” So what should we do if there is a believer in our midst who has great need? Coordinate help for them! Those who have this ministry of showing mercy should be the ones who deal directly with them in a spirit-filled, effectual way. As with all these ministries, their primary focus should be within the Church. However, there is also Biblical precedent for this ministry to reach out to those without just as an evangelist would. We need look no further than the example of Jesus Christ who often encouraged to give to the poor.76

James 2:1-9: My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

75 See James 2:14-16; Proverbs 3:27. 76 See Matthew 11:5; 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 4:18; 7:22; 14:13,21; 18:22; The Greek word does not mean humble, but destitute.


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Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

So should we have respect of persons and cater our ministries only to the rich? I think that the Word’s position is pretty clear, don’t you? Corinthians says more:

I Corinthians 1:26-29: For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Where will we find the poor of this world and the foolish and the weak and the base and yea even the despised? I suggest that we go look there… I suggest that we have facets of our fellowships directed there. This is where those who have this ministry in the body can shine. Romans 12:8 gives the key for the heart of their endeavors, saying they should exercise their ministries with cheerfulness. This word is related to the one used in II Corinthians 9:7, “For God loves a cheerful giver.” It means joyful, gracious or cheerful. When compared to the words joy and grace, which are outward, I think that this word focuses upon the inward emotion. Those who willingly wade in and get their hands dirty helping people sometimes are exposed to heartrending situations and unimaginable needs. As they are actively pursuing hospitality when it comes to the needs of the saints, they themselves can get drug down. So they need to stay cheerful. In my mind, the picture is, “Boy oh boy, I can’t wait to see how God’s going to bless this person…” Another key is to understand the concept of mercy. Mercy is kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them.77 It is not the mere pity at someone’s plight. Instead, it is actively compassionate and results in the rendering of aid. It has its beginnings in compassion as an emotional response, which fits with the inward connotation of cheerfulness. Bullinger makes the same distinction between pity and mercy and adds that mercy implies a sense of guilt on the part of the

77 Thayer, pg 203.


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one needing help,78 hence to have clemency as some of the lexicons note. When following mercy through the gospels a fascinating pattern emerges which helps us describe it better.

Signpost Words – Mercy

compassion miracle humility persistence believing longstanding Matt 9:27-31 X X X (blindness) Matt 15:21-28 (Oh) vs17 X X (besought) vs23 X Matt 17:14-21 X (kneeling) vs14 X (oft) vs 15 Matt 18:23-35 X vs27 (worship) vs26 large debt vs24 Matt 20:29-34 X vs29 X vs31 (will) vs32 Mark 5:1-20 X vs19 X (worship) vs6 X vs3-5 Mark 10:46-52 X (begging) vs46 vs48 X X (blindness) Luke 17:11-19 X (fell at feet) vs16 X X (leprosy) Luke 18:35-43 X (begging) vs35 vs39 X X (blindness)

Considering the examples of mercy in action, we see the recipients had longstanding conditions requiring help, they expressed humility, but they did not give up. They were persistent in trying to obtain help. Jesus showed compassion and usually worked a miracle to relieve them. Compassion is a key. It is sort of like the trigger for mercy. The opposite of having compassion is to despise. Those who espouse the opposite of mercy, which is judgment, despise the goodness of God.79 Those who excel in showing mercy are compassionate, not impersonal, they get involved with the ones needing help and give them specific counsel and if necessary believe to work miracles to relieve them. There are also pitfalls to watch out for when exercising this ministry. Often victims will play victims and rescuers play rescuers which only results in each enabling the other to stay as they are. Both the victim mentality and the rescuer mentality can develop into a flawed personality. Those who excel at this ministry perceptively receive the keys to break this cycle. How many were healed at the pool of Bethesda in John 5:1-9? I do not know how many ultimately were, but it started with only one who Jesus had perceived was ready to break out of his cycle. Many more could have been inspired to do likewise afterwards. Gullibility, naiveté and being easily taken advantage of are not traits of these ministers. They have to know when someone truly needs help and how much to give, for if they miss it they can easily cross the line from effectuality into wasted effort or resources. But that potential for failure is no excuse to not even try to help. Yes, the odds may be high that some people won’t properly respond to receiving advice or aid and act to extricate themselves from their situations. But where the stakes are high, the returns can also be high and many can be brought to Christ and delivered. This is where Jesus Christ excelled. He was tough when he needed to be tough and tender when he needed to be tender. It is the same God that worked in him that works in us and we now have Christ in us. So with God’s guidance, into the valley of need we should go! 78 Bullinger, E.W. Critical Greek Lexicon and Concordance, Bagster & Sons Ltd, London, 1971, pg. 495. 79 See Matthew 18:10; Acts 13:41; Romans 2:4; I Corinthians 11:22; I Timothy 6:2; James 2:6.


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This now gives us a better picture of this important ministry. Since it is manifested on the personal level, the decisions are best made on the local level as to how the local Church can help. It is not effective to always defer the decisions to other leaders in an organization as to how to help local people. Those who have this ministry get their instructions straight from God, common sense or their conscience. Since every fellowship is supposed to be self-governing, they can decide how to coordinate help. If they do not have the resources to help, of course they can ask others in their organization to get involved. So this ministry is not a soup-kitchen ministry. These ministers deal with individuals, each in a specific, spirit-filled way. Their primary focus is toward the Church to help believers in need, but also there is an evangelistic facet to walk with wisdom and help some from without. Entire fellowships and even entire organizations have been talked out of this whole ministry. Sometimes because of past abuses, fellowships have set up safeguards and guidelines that have become too confining and inflexible. People also have gotten hard. Often people will offer to simply pray for a situation, but less will offer to actually help do something about it. Many may find it easy to tell someone what to do about something but fewer lend a hand if aid is appropriate. Even making intercession by speaking in tongues for someone can become impersonal if people just go through the motions, but if they do that are they really making intercession? The use of the word perseverance in Ephesians 6:18 suggests that an impersonal approach is inadequate. Fellowships or organizations which concentrate upon legalism are less effective in the application of the acts of grace which characterize this function in the body. Some even arrogantly legislate which types of people should be witnessed to and which should be shunned. If so, should these really be called a “ministry?” Those who shun, ridicule, suppress or only give lip service to this vital function of the Church miss out on witnessing some of the greatest manifestations of God’s love and grace. They fail to fathom one of the major facets of the ministry of Jesus Christ and without comprehending it cannot walk as he walked. Those who do shine in this function in the body help cement the fellowship together in love. They help others to get involved in true Christian service and encourage them to share of their abundance. This abundance is not solely comprised of physical things. It is their riches which they have received from God and their long-suits which they can exercise. As with the other ministries in this entry-level list, these believers may mature into ministers at the Ephesians 4 ministry level, namely Pastors or Evangelists.

I Corinthians 12 I Corinthians 12 has another section that lists functions in the body. The parts of the body used in that double analogy have significance as ministries in the body.

I Corinthians 12:14-21: For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?


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And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

This passage suggests the following categories of adeptness: Foot – Believers adept at carrying things out, practical application experts Hand – Believers adept at the impartation manifestations Ear – Believers adept at the revelation manifestations Eye – Believers adept at the revelation manifestations Nose – Believers adept at the manifestation of discerning of spirits80 Head – Believers adept at intellectual thought for instance, researchers There is another list of more familiar functions a few verses later.

I Corinthians 12:28: And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

On the surface, this list seems to contain both manifestations and ministries. But because of the phrase “God has set some in the church,” I believe that the manifestations mentioned here are in light of those who are especially adept at them in the Church, so it is referring to a healer, a miracle worker, etc. This list contains three ministries that were mentioned in Romans: teachers, helps and governments. Apostles Apostles are the thinkers and the innovators and they are often found in the upper leadership circle, but they also can be represented at the intermediate and local levels in the body. The word, apostle, is the Greek word apostolos and comes from the verb apostell!. The verb means to send forth as a messenger. Thus an apostle is a messenger sent forth with a specific message. A third related word is apostol", which means the office or position of an apostle, which is an apostleship. Matthew 10 contains the first usage of apostolos in verse 2 and three occurrences of apostell! in verses 5, 16 and 40. By reading this passage you’ll see that the 12 Apostles were given specifics to communicate and carry out, namely the light concerning the

80 Devil spirits are associated with foul smells, spiritually.


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kingdom of heaven. This is the messenger function of that long suit. There are some very significant points in this passage.

Matthew 10:5,6: These twelve Jesus sent forth [apostell!], and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Apostles are culture specific. That is, they are not sent to the world in general but to a specific group of people in the world. There is no minister on earth who is the “apostle to the world.”81 The only man of God who is sent to the entire world is Christ Jesus and that is in his current ministry after he ascended and sat down on the right hand of God. Jesus Christ when he was here upon earth was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.82 Surely no man could have a greater ministry than Jesus Christ! The groups to which apostles are sent are divided along cultural and generational lines. This further supported by an occurrence of apostol" in Galatians.

Galatians 2:7-9: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship [apostol"] of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Peter, James and John were the apostles to the Judean culture. Paul and Barnabas and later Timothy were the apostles to the gentile culture.83 Back in Matthew 10:7-15, it can be readily seen that the instructions given to the 12 apostles were specific to Palestinian culture. One needs to be able to communicate on the heart-level to effectually motivate someone. That can only be done by someone who intimately knows the language and culture. This is why it is imperative to raise up people from other cultures to take the Word to their own culture rather than to try to utilize foreigners to do mission work there. The latter can be somewhat successful, but it is far more effective to believe to find,

81 II Corinthians 11:5 and 12:11, where Paul says he is “not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles” clearly shows that the top apostles in each culture are equal in stature with one another, that is there is no apostle on earth that is chief of all. 82 See Matthew 15:4 and Romans 15:8, but also note Romans 15:9-12 which shows his ministry after he ascended. Christ sent Paul to minister to the Gentiles in Acts 26:17,18 and sends others, Romans 10:11-13, etc. 83 So it is conceivable that in a city with different ethnic populations, there could be believers functioning as apostles to each culture or if there are significant generational differences, even each subculture. We can easily see the validity of someone being sent to a subculture in the effectiveness of youth ministers.


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instruct and send people who are already part of that culture.84 This is why Paul found Timothy, who had a background in both the Aramaic and Greek cultures. How do you find those key people today? Exercise believing that God will reveal them to you just as he did for Jesus when he found his apostles during the opening days of his ministry.85

Matthew 10:40,41: He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent [apostell!] me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

Back in Matthew 10, these verses express that the messenger is to represent the author of the message. Jesus Christ certainly spoke for God and represented Him. Jesus was faithful in delivering the message exactly as God gave it. The same is true for the apostles that are sent. They are to speak for Christ and deliver his message verbatim. This concept is repeated throughout this chapter:

Matthew 10:19,20: But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. Matthew 10:24, 25a: The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord… Matthew 10:27: What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

Apostles are sent to different cultures to make known a specific message. The original 12 apostles were to preach about the kingdom of heaven, Paul’s task as a messenger was to make known the Great Mystery.86 The apostle’s message does not concern a trivial or minor topic, but is one or more foundational truths that the culture to which he or she is sent needs to know.87 Paul’s charge to make known the Great Mystery is a prime example that the message is something unknown to that culture at that point in time. The

84 After Jerusalem fell in 70 AD, the 12 apostles were found in many cultures across the world. II Peter documents Peter in Babylon and Revelation documents John ministering to the believers in Asia Minor , and there is strong evidence for Thomas in India and Bartholomew in China. Church tradition accounts for other apostles ending up in other cultures. 85 See John 1:35-51 86 See Ephesians 3:1-9 87 See Ephesians 2:20. The 12 apostles also were given a foundational message. See Acts 2:42.


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12 apostles also were given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.88 This understanding opens up a fascinating aspect to the ministry of apostles which actually is their major focus. This focus of an apostle’s ministry can be seen by inspecting some of the other places where apostolos, apostol!, and apostell" occur, but first we must bring in a very important associated concept.

Matthew 16:13-19: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (Jesus was referring to himself, not Peter) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Peter was called to be an apostle. At this point in the gospel record, he was beginning to exercise his ministry. God was beginning to reveal pivotal things to him. Jesus commended him and reinforced his insight. Then Jesus, as his manner was, gave insight on the topic at hand which often portrayed it in its greatest extent or application. He revealed an amazing facet of the ministry of an apostle in verse 19. Apostles are the ones to whom the great keys are revealed. Luke has more information about these keys.

Luke 11:49,52: Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles [apostelos], and some of them they shall slay and persecute: …Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

False ministers teach locks, not keys. They lock away, cover up and hide truths to enslave, control, and bind people, generations and cultures. But true apostles stand against these false ones to reverse their work. They teach the keys to knowledge. What do keys do? They unlock, they open up that which was closed, they disclose that which was a mystery, they set free. Every culture has its strengths and weaknesses and is constantly being pulled by the forces of good and evil. The good from God tends to liberate but the evil from Satan tends to imprison. God wants us to see what His Truth is,

88 See Matthew 13:11


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but Satan wants to cover it up.89 The forces of evil work to hide, cover up, lock and imprison a culture. The apostle is God’s messenger to a specific culture or generation who is given the keys they need to fully understand previously hidden doctrine, its application, its reproof when malpracticed and its correction when it has been covered by error. The apostle is the fearless one who is at the point of God’s phalanx arrayed against the forces of evil, who reveals, explains, unlocks and liberates.90 This is clearly seen in the apostleship of Jesus Christ.91

Luke 4:18: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent [apostell!] me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

This verse is the opening of the phase of Jesus Christ’s ministry where he was the apostle to the Judean culture. It clearly lists the functions of an apostle: to preach, heal, deliver from captivity, recover sight and liberate. All these flow from proclaiming the keys to that culture or subculture which then will heal the people, deliver them from captivity, enable them to see God’s light and liberate them from bondage! These traits are the confirming hallmarks of all apostles. They promote healing, true knowledge, deliverance and freedom. Consider John the Baptist. The world lay in darkness, encrusted for hundreds of years after Israel had rejected the prophets of God. His people were enslaved, being bound by the legalism of Phariseeism. God had to send in a spiritual jackhammer to crack it open. John’s functions as an apostle are clearly seen in his father’s prophecy concerning him.

Luke 1:68-79: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (refers to Jesus Christ); As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

89 See II Corinthians 4:1-6 90 This why an apostle must be fearless. See Matthew 10:16-33 91 Jesus Christ definitely was the apostle of apostles. See Hebrews 3:1.


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And thou, child, (refers to John) shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

We can clearly see that the apostle does not just make known the previously unknown doctrine as in verse 77, “To give knowledge of salvation unto his people,” but also carries it all the way into fruition as shown in verse 79, “to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Peace will reign after the obstructions have been fully overcome. More can be seen regarding John the Baptist’s apostleship in the Gospel of John.

John 1:6-8: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

So apostles make known light to their generation and culture. They uncover things which were previously locked up. Each local Church had an apostle in the first century as is seen in II Corinthians. They were sent forth as representatives by each local Church to represent them as they accompanied Paul. They functioned as faithful messengers bringing the knowledge and application that Paul was teaching back to their local areas.

II Corinthians 8:19-23: And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers [apostolos] of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

So an apostle is to carry a message to his culture, which reveals the keys that are needed so they can be freed from what captivates them. They receive and master all the aspects of that message, both doctrinal and practical and they are responsible to see that it gets carried out. Since apostles are not sent to the world, this is the major clue that the body


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of Christ is congregational.92 No ministry needs to feel that they must cover the entire world and glom all over as many believers or fellowships as possible to tell them what to do. They cannot succeed and be a blessing because they were not designed or called to do that. No genuine leader or ministry of God will be called to a ministry equal with the head of the Church, Christ Jesus. Instead, they would inadvertently stifle growth. Their mission must be to their own culture. If they spawn works in other countries and cultures, these must be self-governing, separate entities, so God’s ministers there can work effectually to meet the specific needs of that culture. Therefore, ministries need to recognize and cooperate with other ministries, ally and share resources toward a common goal of God’s Word over the world. Prophets Because of the many who have functioned as false prophets, the genuine ministry of a prophet must be clarified. Most people think that prophets are those who foretell the future. This actually is a minor facet of a few prophet’s ministries. Many genuine prophets may never foretell a thing. The prophet’s main functions are to protect God’s people, encourage them, call them back when they are out of fellowship and to speak for God. Prophets must above all things be faithful. They must speak what God wants spoken. Because of this they sometimes are unpopular when a majority of the believers are out of fellowship or of an opposing viewpoint. God responds to the opposition to His prophets by protecting and providing for them. He therefore instructs them to be fearless for He is with them. This is seen in the first occur-rence of the word prophet in Genesis 20:7. Abraham was a prophet and God stood up for him when the king took Sarah, who was both Abraham’s half sister and his wife. This provision and protection also seen in Genesis 12:3 in the phrase, “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee,” when Abraham was first called by God.93 Modern society is flooded by false prophets who claim to have glimpses of the future, while that is not even supposed to be the main function of a prophet. They try to get our attention and allegiance by telling us things about ourselves that they aren’t supposed to know to prove how “spiritual” they are. What is the profit in that? Don’t we already know those things that they tell us? Since there is no profit, they are not speaking for the true God. Because prophets can exercise such great influence over God’s people, the Word of the Lord describes strict criteria for those who claim to be seers of the future.

Deuteronomy 13:1-5: If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

92 See also II Corinthians 10:13-16 and Romans 15:18-20. Paul was not to intrude upon another functioning minister’s ministry. 93 See Genesis 12:1-3, 15:4,5 and 17:1-8. (Abraham did receive information about the future.)


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Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God command-ed thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

That would put them out of business, wouldn’t it? It surely would end all this craziness which is said to be done in the name of the lord…

Deuteronomy 18:15-22: The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

So if anyone claiming to be a prophet foretells something and it does not come to pass, they disqualify themselves, no excuses. We no longer should hold them and their words in respect. Prophets have function as spokesmen for God since the beginning, so that function is widely known. Exodus states this literally, but with a slight twist: Aaron was to speak for Moses and be his prophet.

Exodus 4:14-16: And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold,


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he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

Exodus 7:1,2: And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

Numbers contains more information concerning those who speak for God. They are to help bear the burden of leading God’s people.

Numbers 11:16,17,24-29: And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

So prophets are supposed to help bear the burden of leadership. Therefore they should master counseling principles so they can advise the believers well. God


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may give them revelation in matters requiring judgment. The book of Ezekiel contains a very clear description of the roles of prophets.

Ezekiel 13:1-5: And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.

Prophets are supposed to encourage God’s people to do what the Word says. They are to protect them. When the believers’ protection is breached, the prophet is supposed to go stand in the gap to protect. They are supposed to define the borders of that which is proper behavior. That is what it means to make up the hedge. This hedge is what is referred to as the hedge of protection.

Ezekiel 13:6: They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken? Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.

Woe to the prophet who does not speak for God! Ezekiel portrays another analogy to providing protection with the parable of the poorly built wall. City walls were built to protect the inhabitants. They were supposed to be of the best workmanship so that they would provide the most protection. The false prophets acted like they were building the walls, that is, defining and reinforcing proper behavior, but they actually were doing a poor job. They prophesied that there would be peace when there was none. This concept ties in with the study on opium and wormwood given in the section on teachers. If God’s people are caused to stray from proper doctrine and practice by intoxicating impractical teaching, they will not have peace. But those who teach the imaginations of their heart instead of the Word will try to convince the people that they still have peace when they don’t.


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Ezekiel 13:10-16: Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it; To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord God.

The prophet is charged with warning and protecting God’s people. Therefore they must be vigilant and faithful.

Ezekiel 3:17-21: Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

There is one aspect of a prophet which does need clarification. Many spirit-filled Christian believers fall into the error of believing that they are receiving guidance


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for other people. First of all, that isn’t an entry-level function. Second, and more important, God will tell you first if you have a problem. Only when you disobey or you ignore Him will he send someone else to warn you. So if someone ever comes up to you and says , “God told me to tell you to do (something).” If you haven’t heard it from God already, you can tell them, “No, He didn’t tell you to tell me to do it, He probably told you to do it!” This one thing if known could cut off a great influence that false or misguided “spiritual” people have over believers. The prophet’s job has not changed in the New Testament. They are to speak for God and teach sound doctrine. When the first century church began on the day of Pentecost, they were not aware of all the things that did change, especially con-cerning the Great Mystery of the church of the one body. The apostles and prophets received and confirmed the revelation concerning the new doctrine and practice which formed the foundational teachings for the Church.

Ephesians 2:19-22: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Just as in the Old Testament, those who build must take heed how they build, for they are held accountable.

I Corinthians 3:10-17: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?


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If any man defile the temple of God, him [houtos, this work] shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

I Corinthians contains a snapshot of prophets interacting with each other at a local meeting. It must be noted that first century meetings were different from most meetings we are familiar with. The apostle Paul had set the precedent by utilizing the dialogue method of teaching rather than the lecture method.94 So here we see a discussion amongst prophets, and how it is supposed to be organized.

I Corinthians 4:29-33: Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

The office of a prophet is a respected position in the Church, but with it comes a grave responsibility, for prophets can greatly affect the believers. They must remain faithful to the true God. The Bible warns of false prophets. In the Gospels, we are told that they will be known by their fruit. I John also mentions what to do.

I John 4:1: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [prove, test for purity] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

We are to try the spirits. That doesn’t mean try them on for size! The word, try, is the Greek work dokimaz! which means to test for purity. To do this we must measure what they say against the standard of God’s Word. If they do not fit, their advice is to be rejected. There are many Christian churches or other spirit-based organizations claiming to have new light. Many times their messages are based upon experiences that people have had. Practical experience is good if it fits with God’s Word. But the problem is that there is another god at work in the world who also is vying for worship from men. This other power is capable of producing signs and wonders like the true God can. II Peter has some poignant words when it comes to experiences. Peter himself witnessed the trans-figuration of Christ which was an extremely vivid and mystical experience. In II Peter, he puts that experience into the proper perspective. 94 See Acts 17:2,3. The word reasoned is the Greek word dialegomai, from which we get the English word, dialog. Paul used the Socratic method of teaching instead of the lecture method. This elicits responses from the students which are then guided to the correct answers. Often, this method promotes better assimilation, understanding and practical application of the material.


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II Peter 1:16-19: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

There is a more sure word of prophecy. It is more sure than any vision, any revelation or any experience. It has stood the tests of time and has consistently produced good fruit. Any personal experience pales in comparison.

II Peter 1:20,21: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation [letting lose upon like dogs ripping apart their quarry]. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Bible is to be the final word. Any experience should measured against it. Because of the chapter break, many have stopped reading at this point, but the context goes on. It now says why we should not exalt any personal experience or vision or revelation above God’s Word. Misinterpreted experiences can lead to false prophecies.

II Peter 2:1,2: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in [who shall introduce] damnable [ruinous] heresies [factious opinions], even denying [repudiat-ing] the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruc-tion [ruin]. And many shall follow their pernicious [violent, rude or brutal] ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

The word for “privily bring in” was used to describe the introduction of new thoughts. In order to silence those who would object because the new teachings do not fit what the believers have learned from the beginning, these false prophets and teachers resort to repudiation and intimidation to silence their critics. They will denigrate their prede-cessors, slander those they kick out and pompously declare their superiority.

II Peter 2:3: And through covetousness [arrogance or overbearing temper] shall they with feigned [counterfeit] words make merchandise [profit off] of you:


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whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

In addition to arrogance, another trait of the ministry of a false prophet is that they make merchandise of their followers, enriching themselves and sucking everyone dry, demand-ing and coercing everyone to give more and more and more. This is exactly what happens with the 1-900-Yo-Stupid, psychic hotline phone “spiritual ministries” of today. With fortune telling, it usually begins as a novelty or curiosity, but somewhere along in the process people get hooked, both for the thrills of dabbling in the spiritual realm and because the prophecies “come true.” They trust more and more in what they’re told and because of this, the false prophet is able to effect greater and greater control over them. As is seen with many who get hooked by the 900 lines, they end up paying huge sums of money as the soothsayers suck them dry. The victims are threatened with prophecies of doom or experience other forms of coercion if they don’t pay up. Acts 16 contains an account of such a “ministry” showing that a soothsayer could com-fortably function under Christian robes. When the Apostle Paul came to Phillipi, this soothsayer adapted her methods and followed Paul for many days and said things that apparently supported him. She told everyone that Paul and his entourage were “servants of the most high God” and that they “show unto us the way of salvation.” This was true. What was wrong with that? The problem was that she was maintaining the same kind of control over people as before. Only the context of her false prophecies had changed to where the content was Christian. Here is how false prophecy effects control over people’s lives. The more that people follow the satanic advice, the more spiritual decrease they suffer and the deeper they fall under its spell. As seen in other scriptures, this false prophet function acts as a lever to open people up for other more malicious spiritual involvement as what happened with Saul and the witch of Endor. Her prophecy opened him up for waging a losing battle with the Philistines and suicide. So it is very apt that the Greek word that stands behind the word divination in Acts 16 is the word python. They squeeze the life out of people who are enthralled by their false prophecies. Those who have the genuine ministry of a prophet should read and reread the Old Testament books of the prophets. Spiritual heroes like Jeremiah stood faithfully in the face of extreme pressure, yet God delivered them. We owe the Bible and our spiritual freedom to such brave men and women who stood faithfully through the years. So to those today who truly stand in the gap and declare God’s will, I say, stand strong, watch, be vigilant and protective and most of all be faithful! Miracle workers and healers These next long-suits involve those who have mastered specific manifestations. Remember, we all can do all of the manifestations, but because of our background, preference and believing we may favor some manifestations over others. Some in the body of Christ become renowned for their ability to work miracles or minister healing. These should be genuine ministers, not self-promoters and braggarts who commend themselves or glorify themselves. They should be humble believers who have disciplined


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their minds to believe God and desire to impact evil with good. They must be faithful, mature Christians who have endeavored to renew their minds to what God’s Word says and to remain in fellowship with God. Sometimes miracle-working ministers are like sports stars who have just the right com-bination of traits and abilities that they excel. But they cannot readily explain how or why they can do such things. Far more people become sports stars by having ability plus faithfully applying principles and techniques. The same is the case for those who excel in this function. They have faithfully manifested the inspiration manifestations of the inter-pretation of tongues and prophecy and have not added to or subtracted from the mes-sages. Because of this, when God has given them revelation, it has been easier for them to differentiate between what is from God and what is from their own minds and recog-nize that God is really talking to them. And furthermore, because they are sure that it is God, they have more boldly acted upon what He has told them to do. That is why their ministering is more effective. They aggressively claim the deliverance for people when they have an opportunity to minister to them. Miracles and healings are not always automatic. There are a lot of factors including community-believing which must be present for them to occur. But some keys to work-ing them when God has made them available are that we need to just simply believe God and give Him the glory. Many can believe that Jesus Christ took our sins upon himself. It actually is just as easy to believe for healing for Jesus Christ in the same act took all of our sickness and weakness upon himself. As with all the manifestations, as we exercise them God energizes them. God does not do them. We believe to perform them by the power of God that He has placed within us. But that does not make us someone to be worshipped. Those who excel in miracles and healings must be humble and never allow others to glorify them. They should always credit God for energizing the manifestations. There are many false workers who claim to perform signs and wonders but they are actually lying signs and wonders. How is the average Christian supposed to tell between the genuine and the counterfeit, between that which the true God has energized and that which He has not? God has set out very simple guidelines that anyone can follow which work for checking all the horizontal ministries: 1.) Look at the fruit. 2.) Is there both immediate and ultimate profit? 3.) Who is glorified? 4.) Do they do what the Bible says? False ministers can talk all they want, but their fruit will speak louder than all. Fruit cannot be counterfeited. If the fruit is flawed, the root is bad and nothing can cure it. The Word says that it must be cut off. So we should not waste our time trying to cure it.

Matthew 7:15-20: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.


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A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The book of James has another checklist for the quality of fruit.

James 3:11-19: Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

The Word says we should be fruit inspectors. We all can perform some simple checks on ministers and ministries. Is there envy? Is there strife? Is what they practice peaceable or stressful? Is it gentle or harsh? Is what they teach easy to accept or is it shoved down your throat? Is their manner full of mercy or judg-ment? Is good fruit present or not? Do they practice partiality or not? Do you see hypocrisy practiced or not? Is there an atmosphere of peace or not? Anyone can sample fruit and tell if it is good or bad. We don’t need anyone to do that for us. We can and should do that ourselves! Then if the fruit is bad we should have the courage to take the appropriate action. Does what these ministers do profit believers? This concept was covered earlier with those who encourage, so we need not discuss it at length here. Satanic mira-cles may have the appearance of immediate profit, but they cannot fake the long-term profit. Next, do the ministers commend themselves or do they glorify God?

John 7:16-18: Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.


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Finally, does what they teach fit with what the Bible actually says. Ministers may wave the Bible around in their pulpits and actually read from it from time to time while they preach, but do they encourage people to read it and do they do what it says. Those who excel in speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues I Corinthians 12:28 speaks of those having diversities of tongues. The word diversities is the Greek word genos from which we get the English word genus. For these people tongues are their outstanding characteristic. Some who manifest tongues may only speak in what sounds like one tongue. However, these believers speak in more than one tongue. Speaking in tongues has many functions. Only one function is where it is done in public and then it must be interpreted. So many of these believers will excel at interpretation. The same keys apply to the interpretation of tongues as for those who excel at the manifestation of prophecy. Those who excel are not motivated by their desire to speak something profound or showy. They have mastered the balance required when one operates this manifestation. This balance is necessary because the content of the message in the interpretation is in their own language, which makes it possible for their minds to intrude and alter it. They do not attempt to speak to specific people in attendance, thinking that they know what the others need to hear. They must discipline themselves to speak the inspired message faithfully, regardless of whether or not it seems to be moving or profound. Since it is by inspiration, these believers have good study and application habits immersing themselves in God’s Word and walking upon what they are learning. Therefore their interpretations do not fall into ruts, using similar phases or topics, but are varied, deep and inspiring. The inspiration is not comprised of the words alone, but also the voice expression and presentation of the message. They are speaking for God, so they need to act like it and stand erect delivering the message with dignity. Another way to excel in the manifestation of speaking in tongues is to be adept at intercession. Ephesians 6:18 says that to intercede, one must watch thereunto whatever one is praying for with all perseverance. These believers discipline their minds to unwaveringly concentrate on what they are praying for. As with all manifestations, speaking in tongues is by one’s free will, so if we do not will to make intercession by focusing on what we desire to lift in prayer, the speaking in tongues reverts back to general prayer and praise. Intercession is vital to the movement of God’s word and the growth of the local fellowship. For those who are graced with old age, who may not have the physical stamina required for some of the other manifestations such as service, they can surely make intercession. So even as we grow older, we still can have a vital and fulfilling role in the body of Christ! The book of Ephesians adds two more ministries that have not been mentioned so far. These are pastors and evangelists.

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


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Evangelists Most people think evangelists just help get people born again. That is incorrect. They actually should be involved until people have learned enough to stand on their own. Peter, Paul and Philip were great evangelists in the first Century Church. Peter primarily ministered to the Judeans and Paul ministered to the gentiles. The book of Acts is full of examples of how Paul came into a town and preached the gospel of salvation. But he didn’t leave right away unless he was forced to. He stayed and taught them as much as he could. It is also key that the Apostle Paul appealed to people’s reason, not their emo-tions.95 Too often so called evangelists blow into town and whip everyone up at a revival and soon after they have gone and emotions have cooled, what’s left? Those who exper-ienced Paul’s approach retained much more. In fact, he could only stay in Thessalonica for the span of three sabbath days, yet left behind what soon was called a model church. In Acts 10 Cornelius was visited by an angel and told to summon Peter who he said would tell him what he ought to do. Why didn’t the angel preach Christ to Cornelius and his household? Because we have the ministry of reconciliation. Angels have separate functions. Peter arrived and carried out the job. We all can help people to believe to become born again. But some believers are extremely effective at bringing people to Christ. God confirms their ministries with signs, miracles and wonders. The only minister actually called an evangelist was Philip. He was quite a champion, for he was the first one to bring the gospel of deliverance to those outside the Judean faith. You see, the Samaritans were not of the tribes of Israel. They actually were gentiles which had been transported into the area centuries earlier when the Assyrians deported the residents of the northern kingdom when they conquered the area. The Samaritans adopted many of the principles of Judaism, revering the law of Moses and respecting the prophets, but the Judeans forbade them from fully practicing the Judean faith in Jeru-salem. So the Samaritans set up their own temple on a separate mountain in Samaria. Later Philip witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch, another one cast off by the Judeans. This speaks volumes about the character of a true evangelist. They are willing to reach out to anyone to bring them the gospel of deliverance. When Philip went to Samaria, he came face to face with a false minister, Simon the sorcerer. We can really see the contrast between them.

Acts 8:5-12: Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.

95 See Acts 17:2,3. Reasoned is the word, dialegomai. He had a dialog with them. This was he customary manner.


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But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Simon bewitched them, that is, he manipulated them or misled them by pretence of magic, motivating them by fear. Philip preached the Gospel to them and let them believe it by their free will. Simon accepted glorification. Philip did not, for he was humble and willing to preach the Gospel to anyone, even Samaritans. The word for preaching the gospel is euangelliz! which means to announce glad tidings or good news. The other word for preaching is keruss! which means to announce an official message. The methods used to gain people’s attention and convey the message are the same for both words. It is the content of the message that differs. The former is associated with bringing the message of salvation and of foundational Christianity, then the latter builds upon it.96 Pastors Those who have had the ministry of a Pastor or have functioned as pastors have been the bedrock of Christianity for hundreds and hundreds of years. No other group of people has so deeply influenced so many. Genuine Pastors are essential to the growth and health of the Church. They teach, guide, nurture, counsel, heal and protect believers. The word, pastor, only occurs 9 times in the King James Version of the Bible. But, there actually are many references to this ministry in both the Old and New Testaments. It is derived from the Hebrew word, to feed, and it also means to be a shepherd. The shepherd was a common sight in Biblical times. Almost everyone knew details of their vocation; how they had to care for the sheep and the idiosyncrasies of sheep. Therefore, there are many comparisons throughout the Bible of believers as sheep and their leaders as shepherds. Sheep are like people, in that they need protection and they need to be fed and cared for. They wander off like people can and become afraid like people do and they are vulnerable like people are. One of the most popular Psalms refers to blessed believers as sheep who have experienced the benefits of having a skilled and faithful shepherd.

Psalms 23:1-6: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

96 See Luke 4:18, which uses both words in the same verse. The Gospel is preached to the poor and deliverance is preached to the captives. Those enslaved need more details to extricate themselves from captvity.


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He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The good shepherd would care for the sheep entrusted to him like they were his children. He would guide them to the best pastureland and to the still parts of the streams, for the sheep feared running water and would not drink there. He would care for their wounds and lead them through the safest paths. And even if they did have to venture into dark valleys, they were protected for the shepherd would fend off the wild beasts with his club and guide the sheep with his hooked staff. If a sheep got injured, he would apply ointment and when they were thirsty he would draw water for them and fill the drinking bowls to the brim. Our believers will be like that when they enjoy the protection of faithful shepherds. Some of the greatest leaders of people in the Bible were shepherds, for instance Moses and David to name a couple.97

Psalms 78:70-72: He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

True pastors have great integrity of heart and great skill in caring for their people. I Thessalonians 2 rings with many traits of good pastoring.

I Thessalonians 2:3-12: For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

97 See Exodus 3:1, II Samuel 5:2, 7:4-7; I Chronicles 17:6; Amos 7:15


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For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

A genuine pastor must have integrity. Notice all the wonderful traits of these pivotal people. They work so closely with people and can have such an influence in their lives and family that it is mandatory that they be pure of heart and unfailing in their commit-ment to maintain holy, just and unblameable lifestyles. Pastors have so much influence because the believers entrusted to them love them and trust them. So if a pastor ever falls from maintaining integrity and purity, it can cause great damage. Nothing angers God more than someone who hurts His children. This is clearly seen in Ezekiel 34 which contains over 30 occurrences of the Hebrew word to feed, shepherd or pastor.

Ezekiel 34:1-4: And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

We can clearly see the duties of a genuine pastor that were neglected by these false ministers. A good shepherd feeds his sheep, and strengthens the diseased, and heals the sick, and binds up the broken, and brings those back that were driven away and seeks that which is lost.

Ezekiel 34:5-10: And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no


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shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

True pastors are to be courageous protectors of their flock, unlike the false pastors in Ezekiel. They should defend their people from the beasts of the field, namely the agents of Satan, who could prey upon them should they stray from protection.98 So the modern meek stereotype of the local preacher doesn’t fit. Pastors are men’s men, father figures or exemplary women who have the fortitude to rise up and rescue God’s people from any foe.

Ezekiel 34:11-16: For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong (shepherds); I will feed them with judgment.

Look at the positive example of the pastoring and providence of the Lord! How wonder-ful would it be to thrive under the care of a genuine pastor. Many have ministered mightily through the centuries and nurtured families, communities, generations and indeed nations. What an honorable profession with such rewards as seeing children and families and communities affected by your skillful touch and inspired counsel! There-fore any who have this ministry or function as this ministry should seek to excel at the traits that we have seen so they can be successful and effectual.

98 See also John 10:1-16 which echoes this same theme of protection and provision.


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I Peter 5:1-4: The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Joints and bands Colossians mentions two more general functions, joints and bands. Joints are pivotal people in an area or fellowship who supply information and guidance to God’s people. Bands are connecting, unifying people who effectively communicate so the body can move in unison. These functions by their nature are often found at the intermediate level of the body and connect the parts.

Colossians 2:19: And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

But I do not think that this is the end of the list. There are many other specialized functions that are mentioned in the Bible, for example, the preacher. Preachers These ministers excel at heralding forth God’s Word. Just like all the ministries, all serve, yet there are some who excel in service, all teach, yet there are some who excel at teaching, all preach, yet there are some who excel at preaching.

I Timothy 2:7: Thereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. II Timothy 1:11: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

There are other roles in the Church mentioned, such as the aged men and aged women of Titus 2 which are functions especially for the mature. So as we grow older, it is encour-aging to know that our functions may change, but we will always be welcomed and needed. There are more functions I have seen in the body for example, there are researchers who are adept at studying the Word, and wise believers who have adeptness at practically applying the Word. As the body of believers grows in a culture, believers may specialize even more and other functions may surface. These spiritual functions are coupled with secular vocations to produce special ministries that are usually kinds of


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service. We saw this in the Old Testament with the wise hearted artists who fashioned the tabernacle and in the times of the temple with the inspired builders in wood and stone, the artists in stone and metal, and the musicians99 and psalmists in the Temple service. The tabernacle and temple were precursors to the body and the Church is referred to as the temple, so I believe that these functions can appear in the body as well. We all have been given riches in abundance which we can share with one another with the same horizontal grace that God graces us with. Therefore, true fellowship is the full sharing of these things with one another. When we do so, motivated by genuine love and guided by God our efforts will harmonize. This is what I see in Colossians 3, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:10-17: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Alone at night, we may have at one time been laying upon the earth, staring up at the stars and reached up as if we could touch one and be a part of a great galaxy. But now we are already part of one much closer. We are part of the body of Christ and all of us are gems reflecting God’s light, each in our own special way. So shine, I say, shine! See how you fit. See how your orbit is in harmony with the rest. Understand the great symmetry of it all. For we are not alone, just individuals before God. We are a community, a Church, a body, which together can do great and wonderful things that are way beyond the scope of each individual. Yet there is a balance, for we are not just one body and the individuals obscured by the common goal. We are both. Understand the great balance of it all, and be fruitful! By Rev. Jon O. Nessle ©2002 Christian Family Fellowship Ministry

99 See I Chronicles 25:1-7, “prophesy with harps,” “prophesied with a harp to give thanks and praise the Lord”

Growing in God’s Power Appendix 2: Called to Ministries in ...cffm.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/gigp10-appendix-b.pdf · Colossians concurs, stating that we were

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