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ON THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY OF EPHESIANS 4:11

jeremiah1five

 
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Ephesians 4:7-11 (KJV)
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

In Ephesians verse 11 are listed the Gift Ministries, also known as the Five-Fold Ministry. It is as Jesus said, that the Holy Spirit could not come until He departed, and when He departed it says above that He gave some (not all) apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.

John 16:7 (KJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

But let's talk about Jesus.

Jesus was Apostle:
Hebrews 3:1 (KJV)
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Jesus was Prophet:
John 4:19 (KJV)
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

Jesus was Evangelist:
Matthew 4:17 (KJV)
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus was Pastor:
John 10:11 (KJV)
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Jesus was Teacher:
John 3:2 (KJV)
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
We know that in the New Testament, Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 12 that believers made up and constituted what he likened to as a body. A body that had many parts and functions and that Christians were members of that body. We also know that in the Old Testament are many anthropomorphisms (a literary device that can be defined as a technique in which a writer ascribes human traits, ambitions, emotions, or entire behaviors to animals, non-human beings, natural phenomena, or objects) which and in this case, applied to God (who is Spirit).
One example is that God's Salvation is ascribed the anthropomorphism of an arm:

Isaiah 53:1 (KJV)
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
and...
Isaiah 52:10 (KJV)
10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

We know that the hand in Scripture represents service, or service rendered. The hand has five digits or fingers. And we know that these five Gift Ministries of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher are represented by each of the five fingers or digits of the hand of God.
The thumb represents the apostle. The index or pointing finger represents the prophet. The middle or long finger represents the evangelist, the ring finger represents the pastor. The little or pinky finger represents the teacher. As Christ is the One who holds title to all five of these ministries (and more), and that as He ascended the Holy Spirit descended as is the Promised Gift to those in the Body of Christ, and that these five Gift Ministries are the expression of Christ in His people, they are the Life of Christ in His people through His indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer, and that to deny the existence and expression of these five Gift Ministries in the people of God is to deny the Life of Christ in His Church. And we also know that to deny Christ is or the apostle and prophet......well, you know, is to deny Christ [in His people - the Church].

John 5:39 (KJV)
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
 
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