While watching a cable program on eastern culture, I saw a sheep farmer and his sons managing a flock of sheep as they moved from one pasture to another.  I noticed how the father walked in front of the sheep leading them to a predetermined location, while his sons walked behind and on each side of the flock keeping those sheep that tend to stray with the rest.  This is the perfect picture of the Apostle (father) leading a NT church while the Pastors (sons) managed the flock, constantly tending to the weak, exhorting the young and sometimes applying discipline to a rebellious sheep.

Pastors are people persons and care givers.  While Apostles are not very good at binding up a broken heart, this comes quite natural to a Pastor.  A Prophet may see into ones soul and reveal the secrets of their heart; it then takes the ministry of a Pastor to guide that one into healing and strength.  An Evangelist may retrieve a soul from Satan’s grip and the world’s system; it takes a Pastor to assist a new convert into the life of the church (ecclesia).  When the faithful become the seniors of the church, it is the Pastor who visits those who are shut in and limited in strength.

Every church should have a team of Pastors to meet the needs of each person and family.  The Pastor is a spiritual utility man, skilled in the wisdom of care giving with a passion to see others succeed in this life.

The Pastor works closely with the Apostle to assist each believer to realize their spiritual gifting and callings to fulfill the apostolic vision of the local church.

Do you have the love and patience to help others succeed?

Our model for Teacher in modern American Christianity is more like that of a college professor teaching Bible classes of OT Survey, Theology I,II,II, Homiletics, Greek or Hebrew.   This model is not just foreign to the New Testament but caters to the intellect not the Spirit.    It was this appeal to the intellect that Christ railed against when speaking to the Scribes.

Personally, I have attended Bible Institutes, Bible College, and Seminary.  I have taught in both Bible Schools and Seminary.  After Pastoring for 30 years I found little use for my formal education.  I now refer to myself as a “recovering Seminary student”.  A good 12 step program for the educated elite wouldn’t hurt.

The Apostle Paul was of the educated elite, and he considered his advantaged life and education as “dung” (Greek for “crap”).  As an Apostle, he also identified himself as a Teacher (2 Timothy 4:3), but what did he teach?  Christ himself was a teacher, what did he teach?  Both our Savior and the Apostle Paul taught prophetic truth, Divine revelation and apostolic doctrine.  Both taught what they heard in their Spirit, and Paul was considered a mad man because of his teaching (Acts 26:24).

Information is important, and right information can make one wealthy.  My issue here is not with educators, my concern is when we dilute the Holy Spirit anointing of Teacher with the teaching of facts and information.  Hebrews 6: 1-2 talks about the elementary teachings, but also exhorts us to move on to “maturity”.

Generally speaking, the office of the NT teacher is joined to the Apostle, the Prophet, the Evangelist, or the Pastor; the grammar of the NT Greek lends itself to this.  There are exceptions, but it is rare to find the office of the teacher standing alone.

Note well, there is no stricter judgment associated with any 5 fold ministry gift than with the ministry of the Teacher.

Is there a man of the Spirit to hear and speak to the church?

Genesis 49:22 gives us a prophetic picture of the NT Evangelist – he is a “fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall”.

Unlike many modern day traveling ministries, an Evangelist first of all must be planted in a local church (ecclesia) as a “fruitful bough”.  He stays by the “well” of fresh revelation and prayer; yet he longs to extend himself over the “wall” into a dark place and reveal the life of Christ and the mysteries of the kingdom in the Earth.

He is a herald of both good and bad news alike.  Those who live in a dry desolate place are attracted to him and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will find God’s (Yahweh’s) Kingdom through him.

The NT Evangelist is both a laborer in the harvest fields and a purchasing agent for the souls of man.  He carries many giftings and a strong prophetic word.  Many Evangelists operate in gifts of healings and miracles to soften hearts of many so they may hear the message of salvation and receive the Holy Spirits indwelling.

The Evangelist provides for the Apostle and Prophet the materials (living stones), that will make up Christ’s NT Temple; not a building in Jerusalem made by men, but a people full of the Holy Spirit and joined together as His Body, the Church of the first born (Hebrews 12:22-23).

Is there a burning for the lost souls of men within you?

In the Old Testament, the Prophet or Seer was God’s (Yahweh’s) Oracle in the Earth.  When Israel had Godly kings, the Prophets worked in conjunction under the king’s authority.  He, however, was not party to the kings every whim, but often brought correction to the king as the Spirit would so lead. (ex. King David and Nathan the Prophet).

The OT gives us a tremendous amount of insight into how diversified Prophets can be.   God used these Prophets to both fore-tell distant events, and forth-tell present urgent needs.

While we see Prophets and Kings working together in the OT, in the NT we see Prophets and Apostles linked together to form the foundation of the Church (ecclesia), Christ being it’s corner stone (Ephesians 2:20). Today, it is a rare thing to find a Prophet submitted to the authority of an Apostle; this will eventually be corrected by Holy Spirit.

Concerning the words of a Prophet; they are to be honored and received by the church; however, these words are to be judged by the governing authority of the church, other Prophets and the Apostle (1 Corinthians 14:29, 32).  One sign of a true Prophet is his willingness to submit his words and accept correction and rejection (even if he’s right, God will vindicate in time).

In these perilous times when anti-Christ spirits seek to deceive even the elect of God; it is the Prophet who see through this clutter of confusion and will again speak as God’s (Yahweh’s) oracle in the Earth.

Kingdom order can only come as the Prophet takes his proper place and speaks what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Is there a voice in you – “as one crying in the wilderness?”

The first ministry Jesus (Yashua) ordained was that of the Apostle, and when he ascended he released this gifting into the Earth.

In this person is the manifestation of kingdom government.  The Kingdom of God is not only future, but eminent when an Apostle is present.  Through him the order of things on Earth becomes more than a reflection of the order of things in heaven, this order becomes realized “on Earth as it is in heaven”.

Before the final end of the age, Apostles will lead the local church into becoming a Spirit filled manifestation of Christ in a people called to be His Body in the Earth.

Revelation 21:14 refers to the 12 Apostles as “…the Apostles of the Lamb…”  Many believe this gives the original 12 Apostles a special place, rank, authority and power; while all others that follow are minor and limited in their scope and function.  This teaching is common among those who believe: 1) Apostles have either disappeared after the first century or 2) the canon of Scriptures ended any need for supernatural authority or power on earth.

Given the symbolic nature of Revelation and the absence of any Biblical distinction between the Apostles of the Lamb and all other Apostles, this reasoning is highly speculative.

Note, the Apostle Paul had no such limitations placed upon him by Holy Spirit.  Nor should we expect any such limitations upon Apostles today.

Do you long for Kingdom Government and Apostolic order in both the Church and in the Earth today?