BY Argie Simonis
~ Apostles ~
"And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." 1Cor. 12:28
A modern day apostle would typically function as a church planter —someone sent by the body of Christ to spread the gospel and establish new communities of believers.
An apostle is a person whose main activity is church planting and their supervision. He is usually the spiritual father of believers who will later be appointed in charge of one of the ministries for the building of a church or a Christian community.
Being pioneers, the Lord equips the apostles with various spiritual gifts so that they can carry out their mission.
Without trying to put any limitations on how the Lord distributes the spiritual gifts, characteristic of the apostles are the gifts of healing and the working of miracles that follow them:
"Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." 2Cor. 12:12
Jesus also used healings and miracles as a bell to attract people to Him.
Until the new church is organized with evangelists, pastors and teachers, the apostle will assume this responsibility: The recruitment of new believers into the Body of Christ and their training:
"If I be not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of my apostleship are you in the Lord." 1Cor. 9:2
Some believe that an apostle has all the ministry gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11. This is something that may be true, but it cannot be supported Biblically.
There will be seasons when the apostle will settle in an area, until the local Christian community can function autonomously, leaving people in his place later.
Because apostles are at the top of the hierarchy in church government, they tend to speak with authority and boldness:
"But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." 1Cor. 4:19-20
Among his responsibilities are included the supervision, reprimand and correction of wrong doings.
He will have a strong manifestation of the gifts of knowledge and wisdom, discernment, prophecy, teaching and evangelism. Also a gift of governance/administration for the supervision of Christian communities.
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~ Prophets ~
The ministry of the prophet has always been very important to God's people. In the New Testament, the prophet is the second highest position in the hierarchy of the Church, comes after the apostle and holds an important role in the building of the church:
"And are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" Ephes. 2:20
A prophet is God's mouthpiece (2 Kings 17:13, 23, 21:10, 24:2; Hosea 12:10; and Amos 3:7) where he gives specific instructions, warnings, or rebukes. Although not limited to this alone, much of the prophetic ministry deals with the future. Attention: The Spirit of prophecy is one thing (John 16:13, Rev. 19:10) and the spirit of divination is another (Acts 16:16-18).
Prophets have also been used
- to give God's perspective on past and current events (1 Kings 20:13-14 and 2 Chronicles 12:5), to anoint people for service (1 Samuel 10:1, 16:1, 13,1 Kings 19:15-16 and 2 Kings 9:1-6),
- to preach God's justice to those who have practiced injustice (Nehemiah 6:7, Acts 15:32 and 1 Corinthians 14:3), as spiritual advisers to kings (2 Samuel 7) and
- to be used for people to inquire of God (1 Samuel 28:6; 1 Kings 14:1-18, 22:7; 2 Kings 3:11; 2 Chronicles 18:6; and Ezekiel 14: 7).
Abraham was called a prophet (Gen. 20:7), although he never foretold any future events or spoke of judgment messages. The test of a true prophet who predicts future events is whether the prophecy comes true or not:
"When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of him." Deut. 18:22
There are six women in the Bible who were called prophetesses:
- Miriam (Exodus 15:20),
- Deborah (Judges 4:4),
- Ulda (2 Kings 22:14 and 2 Chronicles 34:22),
- Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14),
- wife of Isaiah (Isaiah 8:3) and
- Anna (Luke 2:36).
Philip also had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9). We also have references to other prophetesses:
— Rachel (Genesis 30:24),
- Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10),
- Elizabeth (Luke 1:41-45) and
- Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:46-55).
The ministry of the prophet is different from the gift of prophecy. According to 1 Corinthians 14:3, this gift of prophecy is for edification, exhortation, and comfort:
"but he that prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and comfort."
The prophet will of course speak edification, exhortation and comfort to the Body of Christ as we are all called to do, but in addition the ministry of the prophet includes direction, rebuke and warning as we have seen in the previous examples.
In the next article we will close the teaching on the five-fold ministry with the evangelists, pastors and teachers.
To be continued...
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