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WHERE IS THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH?

Last post 07-12-2008, 10:37 PM by Anonymous. 6 replies.
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  •  06-29-2008, 10:01 PM 3560

    WHERE IS THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH?

     

    God has only one church but He certainly does not have only 'one leader'. Leadership in the local church was always meant to be plural. Sadly, it seems that we have become more interested in the concept of 'one pastor' than the truth of 'one church'!


    As we study the Scriptures, we repeatedly find that there was a 'body of elders' who were appointed in every local church to direct its affairs. It was not an autocratic one-man show, a democratic congregation-driven set-up or even a committee-led hire and fire style of governance; it was a theocratic rule where godly leaders (known as elders, bishops or overseers) were identified, appointed and together ruled the household of God.


    A local church where one man (the pastor) runs the whole show and does all the work of the ministry is not a biblical model. This tragically being the case in many places today, the immediate endeavour of a pastor should be to raise up leaders and equip believers to function in their calling and use the gifts which the Lord has placed within them.


    It must also be highlighted here that the office of the pastor has been wrongly elevated above the other ministry gifts. While he is only one among the apostles, prophets, evangelists and teachers, today the pastor is considered as some kind of elite individual. He gets all the attention and all the money!


    The Scriptures make it clear that the church is to be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, not on the foundation of pastors (Ephesians 2:19-20). One is therefore forced to ask, “Where are those with the apostolic grace and prophetic cutting-edge today? Why do we find only pastors everywhere?” The sad reality is that because we have emphasised only the pastoral ministry, most Bible colleges have ended up as 'pastor-producing factories'!

     

    SAM


  •  07-07-2008, 9:11 PM 3597 in reply to 3560

    Re: WHERE IS THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH?

    Absolutely Correct, But the problem is believers like me and you should know as we get saved and joined to a congregation God has a wonderful plan for us and the basic rules to be followed are 1) We should have the same vision  2) be faithful in all  3) Contribute fully in all. These are the basic things to be followed and then our God will use us mightily, actually not the pastors to be blamed instead we should take the blame because we may be not obeying the basic rules. People starts finding faults only when they look favour, place, name, etc from the pastors, I suggest you to contribute voluntarily then you will stop finding faults in pastors or elders in the body of Christ.

    AJ

  •  07-08-2008, 10:39 PM 3611 in reply to 3560

    Re: WHERE IS THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH?

    you have the resposibilty to answer also.
  •  07-09-2008, 3:51 AM 3615 in reply to 3611

    Re: WHERE IS THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH?

     

    When we talk about the church, we mean 'people'. The church is not a building, but a body; it is not an organization, but an organism. People are the true wealth and treasure of the church. Every single individual is important to God and has a role to fulfil. Every single believer is to be built up and presented perfect in Christ.


    God has only 'one' church. While there may be several expressions of the Church all over the world and several congregations of believers spread across, there is in essence only one Body and Bride of Christ and every believer is a member of the same. Both leaders and congregations need to, therefore, lift up their eyes and look beyond the confines of their own local church.


    For long, people have been concerned only about their own congregations. But in these days, the Lord is stirring up His people everywhere to see the big picture- the picture of God's church in that locality or city. He is reminding us all that our concern must be for the larger body of Christ.


    Every effort must be made to foster and build up greater love, unity, and cooperation between local churches. Pastors in an area should walk and work together even as they serve God's specific purpose for their own lives and ministries.


    SAM

  •  07-09-2008, 10:53 PM 3638 in reply to 3615

    Re: WHERE IS THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH?

    sure, 

    and the church is building by christ,,,,right ?

    how much you are built by him....is there a change needed.??

    what you are doing for the unity among churches than praying,

     sitting back with ideas and explanations cannot do the job....come up

     

    law

  •  07-11-2008, 2:59 AM 3659 in reply to 3638

    Re: WHERE IS THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH?

    We are doing our best Brother on our part! May the Lord enable to do your part too.  God bless you.

     SAM.

  •  07-12-2008, 10:37 PM 3675 in reply to 3659

    Re: WHERE IS THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH?

     

    thanks, that is the Apostolic ministry

    may GOD see your thirst on other ministries in five fold and make you capable and  some others also.... soon.

     we need a great revival and harvest !!!

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