MINISTRY GIFTS 101…Part 2

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Now that we’ve established the truth that all the Five Ministry Gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11 are in the Church today, let us go one step further and look at each one of them, albeit briefly as we certainly won’t be able to exhaust what each gift entails.

Let’s start with what I perceive to be the most misunderstood gift of all today, the Apostle. This gift is still in the church today, it didn’t end with the 12. There were others who were apostles in the early church, Barnabas and Paul come to mind.

        ¹⁴ …the apostles Barnabas and Paul… - Acts 14:14 NIV

Now, the Apostle is not some egomaniac of a boss throwing his or her weight around in the church demanding loyalty and submission, that’s a no Apostle of Christ,  that’s more like a control freak driven by their own insecurities and pride, always seeking to manipulate and control others through a variety of ways including but not limited to, peddling fear, guilt and condemnation, making the finished work of Christ seem insufficient without following their other list of steps and/or “deep revelations”.   

What exactly do Apostles do? The short and clear answer to that question is simply this, Apostles lay foundations with Christ being the Chief cornerstone, they are forerunners when it comes to spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom. Apostles will typically seek to open up new areas of ministry as well as establish new ministries. They are graced with the fortitude, the wisdom and the authority to not just start new works but to also establish them in the Lord. Peter went to the Jews and Paul to the gentiles (Galatians 2:9)

Apostles establish believers in the Word of God and nurture them into maturity so that these saints are able to go and reproduce, so in a sense Apostles are spiritual parents. True mature Apostles are careful not to make the saints dependent on them, they aren't fans of what I would call “pastor dependent Christianity” and that’s one reason they work tirelessly to get them grounded in the Lord and in His Word, so they can stand on their own feet, spiritually speaking. Paul exemplified this trait throughout his ministry, he preached, he taught, he warned and in some cases with tears, he interceded for the saints, his sole desire was to see Christ formed in them (Galatians 4:19)

They are the only Ministry Gift that has within it the grace to operate in all of the other Ministry Gifts should the need arise. The Apostles in the early church taught, preached the Gospel, pastored and operated prophetically. The Apostolic ministry has within it the gift of government, Apostles have the grace and authority to install leadership in ministries they have pioneered and established. Absent of any other mitigating factors, no true Apostle would be comfortable installing elders over a ministry they haven’t pioneered.    

As soon as a ministry they started is fully functional, Apostles would be ready to move on to open up other areas of ministry. That’s just how they are, they are pioneers at heart, it’s in their DNA as it were, and that’s probably one reason they aren't understood or well received in some circles. They won’t be satisfied settling down to pastoring in one location for the entire duration of their ministry, however successful the church or ministry they started may be. 

Apostles will typically up and go when the Lord tells them to, they know He’ll take care of them, things like “job security” are not in their vocabulary.

Apostles know that persecution and mistreatment, even martyrdom is their lot, they are not looking for the praise of men (Galatians 1:10); they seek to please Him who has called and sent them, they model examples for all of us to follow. The Apostle Paul gives us a glimpse into what the life of an Apostle of Christ is like:

⁹ For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! ¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. ¹² We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment. – 1 Corinthians 4:9-13  NIV

I wonder how many of those who consider themselves Apostles can truthfully echo or even identify with these sobering words.

⁷ Yet grace (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift. – Ephesians 4:7 AMP

  

While it is true that every believer can move in signs and wonders as stated in Mark 16:17-18, and that miracles are listed fourth in 1 Corinthians 12:28,  the Apostolic Ministry is marked with unusual signs and wonders, it was so in the early church and it is so today. It is so because of the grace that goes with the gift of the Apostle. We each have been given a measure of grace according to the gift of Christ. Here are but a couple of Scriptures about signs and wonders accompanying true Apostolic ministry.

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people.- Acts 5:12a NIV

¹² Indeed, the signs that indicate a [genuine] apostle were performed among you fully and most patiently in miracles and wonders and mighty works. – 2 Corinthians 12:12 AMP

¹² Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. – Acts 15:12 NKJV

¹¹ Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul – Acts 19:11 NKJV

Wow! Paul boldly states that these signs, wonders and miracles were a mark of true apostolic ministry among the people. One thing to keep in mind is that these signs and wonders that God does through this Ministry Gift will always point people to Who the Apostle is representing, and that is none other than the Lord Jesus Himself! Any sign,wonder or miracle that doesn't pass this test, however grand it may appear, must be swiftly cast aside as its ultimate goal is to lead souls away from Christ. Anything that doesn't line up with sound doctrine according to the Word of God is to be promptly and decisively denounced, regardless of the reputation or title of the minister through which it comes.    

The enemy attempting to frustrate the work of the Kingdom of God, tries to counterfeit the Ministry Gift of the Apostle but as the Word says, we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). The Church in Ephesus (Revelations 2:2) tried those who called themselves Apostles and found them to be impostors and the Lord, the Head of the Church commended them for it. The Apostle Paul did not cease to warn the church to be vigilant against false Apostles who will try to come in with their own selfish agendas.

¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. – 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 NKJV

With the Holy Spirit within us as our guide, let us confidently embrace the true NT Ministry Gift of the Apostle, the genuine article and as individual members and different joints of the Body of Christ, be equipped for the work of the ministry through this foundational gift from the Head of the Body, Jesus Christ our Lord. Blessings!