The Ministry: A Gift of the Person, for People.
The text of Ephesians 4:11-13 reveals the five-fold ministry gifts that Christ gave to the church:
- Apostles
- Foundation layers
- Church planters
- Spiritual fathers
- Prophets
- Speak God's truth
- Provide direction
- Call to repentance
- Evangelists
- Passionate about the lost
- Effective communicators
- Soul winners
- Pastors
- Shepherd hearts
- Care for the flock
- Provide nurture and protection
- Teachers
- Explain God's Word
- Build understanding
- Equip believers. EXAMPLES If a church is becoming very successful but losing its focus on the poor, the Pastor might be happy with the growth, and the Teacher might be happy with the attendance. But the Prophet will feel a deep, personal "heaviness." Their character won't allow them to celebrate because they "feel" God’s sadness over the forgotten poor.
Courage to speak the "uncomfortable" because their loyalty to God’s heart outweighs their need for human approval. . Emotional Hyper-Sensitivity (The "Burden") The prophet doesn't just "know" a truth; they weigh it. In the Old Testament, prophetic messages were often called a "burden" The Character Trait: This requires a personality that is comfortable with intensity. They are often seen as "too serious" or "intense" because they find it hard to engage in superficiality when they sense something is wrong beneath the surface.
The "Present Moment" Awareness While the Apostle looks at the future (the mission) and the Teacher looks at the past (the doctrine), the Prophet is obsessed with the Right Now.
The "Tuning": Imagine a radio dial. The Prophet is constantly scanning the spiritual frequency of the current environment.
The Character Trait: They possess a high degree of discernment. Personally, they can often "read the room" spiritually. They notice the pride in a meeting, the hidden suffering of a member, or the hypocrisy in a leader’s speech before it becomes obvious to everyone else. So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." - Ephesians 4:11-12
Each gift is essential for the healthy growth of the church. May GOD blesse you.
