Apostles & Prophets: Change Agents of the Kingdom

Ephesians 4:11-16 describes five essential gifts that Jesus gave to His Church. These gifts, often referred to as "5-Fold Ministers", are people who serve distinct and unique functions within the household of faith. In order to have a balanced, thriving, and mature body of believers, the 5-fold ministry must be allowed to function in their assigned roles for the purpose of training, equipping, and maturing believers. Without the input and influence of all five ministers, it is not possible to have a healthy or spiritually mature Body of Believers.

The concept of the 5-Fold Ministry is a simple and foundational principle of Scripture which outlines God's design for the structure, purpose, and function of the Christian church. However, problems arise when professing Christians acknowledge, value, or prefer one or two of these ministries above the others. Each of the 5-fold ministers carries a different personality - a different voice - and different methods of accomplishing their assigned task.

Jesus was clear, many have been called, but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). That's because character always trumps gifting. Man looks on the outside, but God looks on the inside (1 Samuel 16:7). Not everyone who as an ability to lead, teach, preach, or demonstrate supernatural gifts is a person of Godly character and integrity. That's because the giftings and the call of God on our lives are never taken away from us (Romans 11:29). What will determine whether you can be trusted with more responsibility is the motive of your heart. You may be highly gifted and knowledgeable, but if you lack Godly character - if you motive is to seek fame, recognition, money, or a name for yourself - you will probably not be chosen to lead God's people - at least, with His blessing and favor

It's important to note that, while there exists a multitude of self-proclaimed 5-fold ministers, there are also authentic 5-fold ministers who have been called, anointed, and placed strategically in communities, regions, and nations by God Himself. These "sent ones" aren't waiting for some religious group or "network" to give them a title - they are busy fulfilling the assignment of God within their spheres of influence. Regrettably, their power and influence are often restricted because they are not invited to operate as part of a unified 5-fold team - where the impact of their individual contributions could be exponentially increased. So why aren't they functioning as part of a team with other 5-fold ministers?

The primary contributor for the disjointed and nominal impact of 5-fold ministry in the 20th and 21st centuries is the fact that the Christian church tends to welcome and embrace the functions of the teacher and the shepherd - with an occasional visit from an evangelist (for special conferences and "revival" meetings), while ostracizing God's true prophets and apostles.

While it has become "trendy" in the last 150 years for churches to host an occasional tent meeting, prophetic conference, or apostolic visit, these meetings are often focused on emotionally charged musical performances, shallow feel-good teaching, testimonies of what God is doing somewhere else, requests for funding of new buildings and coffee shops, and doling out prosperity-based Christian psychic readings under the guise of "prophetic ministry." (Yes, I really said that. Because I have really seen it. Over and over.)

Rarely will you find a true prophet or apostle operating within the four walls of religious Christianity. Why? Because they are deemed too intense. Too blunt. Too intimidating. They confront sin. They redirect behaviors. They point to the fullness of Scripture (not just the warm and fuzzy parts). They call for repentance. They promote holiness and righteousness. They speak of the full nature of God. They see what others don't and speak what others won't. They are often loners who have experienced much rejection and who don't seem to "fit in". They don't play games. Above all, they have an ability to speak the truth in love to God's people. This profile holds true of God's apostolic and prophetic people throughout the Old and New Testaments of Scripture. As a result, they are rarely welcomed into polite Christian circles.

There’s a natural friction that exists between true apostolic/prophetic folks and true shepherds/teachers.  For this reason, you will most often find God’s true apostles and prophets outside the four walls of institutionalized religion. They provoke God's people to good works (Hebrews 10:24). They are “change agents” for the Kingdom of God. They pioneer fresh moves of God and plow ground to create paths for others to walk in.  They hear God's voice and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. They follow the cloud of God and know when it is moving in a new direction (Exodus 13:21, Numbers 9:17). They have a deep understanding of the Scriptures, an intimate relationship with Jesus and an authentic love for God 's people. 

They call to the church saying, “Come higher! Come further! Go deeper! Turn left! Turn right! Get ready! Grow up! Look what the Lord is doing and saying!” But they are often met with stubborn resistance from those who claim to know the Lord. 

Authentic apostles and prophets call God’s people back to the ancient paths of Scripture (Jeremiah 6:16-19) and prepare believers for the coming of the Lord (Luke 1:17). They value truth, justice, intimacy with the Lord, and revelation from the Holy Spirit. They desire to be found faithful and obedient to the call of God on their lives.  

They long for community, but Christian churches and home groups often struggle to incorporate these perceived “rabble rousers” into their midst. Their temperaments are often too intense for "proper" Christian communities.  

Despite their kind and compassionate hearts, these truth tellers are often viewed by other believers as being too direct, too blunt, or too harsh. They can be impetuous, moody, and strong willed. They suffer from rejection and public ridicule more frequently than the other 5-fold ministers.  

Conversely, God’s true shepherds and teachers are focused on bringing a sense of stability and community to God’s people. They are committed to spiritual growth, discipleship, nurturing, and protection of the flock.  

Shepherds and teachers value peace, contentment, and security. They seek understanding and knowledge of God’s Word. They desire to be found faithful and obedient. They love God’s people and are committed to caring for the widows and orphans. They are risk averse and prefer to cling to tradition and routine. Change can be difficult for them. They can be stubborn and inflexible. 

Evangelists stand in the doorway of the church – sometimes in – sometimes out – gathering people to hear the good news of the gospel. They aren’t concerned where they gather – whether in the church house, the coffee house, or the businessman’s house. They go where the people are. 

Evangelists are the optimists and salespeople of the kingdom. They are charming and kind-hearted. They love God’s people and want to introduce everyone to their friend Jesus. If they can do that while enjoying  a nice potluck dinner – that’s even better.  

Evangelists sometimes promise more than they can deliver. They tend to avoid conflict and don’t want anyone upset with them. They may struggle with people-pleasing and lack of follow-through. They can introduce you to the good news of Jesus Christ, but they usually aren't interested in sticking around for the ongoing process of discipleship.

Shepherds and teachers often wish the apostles and prophets would learn to “submit”. They want these "outspoken watchmen" and “unruly renegades” to come back into the four walls of the church house, to sit down, be quiet, and learn how to be part of the community. But whenever apostolic and prophetic people try to do this, things tend to get “stirred up” and exposed within the faith community.

On the other hand, prophets and apostles wish the shepherds and teachers wouldn’t be so fearful and resistant to new moves of God. They grow weary of repeatedly warning God’s people and sounding the alarm – only to be met with ridicule and scorn. They wish that other believers would take time to look past the intensity of their personalities in order to see their hearts. They wish the church would learn to value and understand their call in the same way they have learned to value and respect evangelists, shepherds and teachers. 

Evangelists just wish everyone would get along and play nice together because "people are going to hell and we need to introduce them to the Gospel!" All the while they remain largely avoidant of difficult conversations and non-committal in the face of conflict between believers.

Each 5-fold minister has a unique purpose and function within the Body of Christ. Yet we rarely see effective 5-fold ministry operating as mature teams because our flesh tends to get in the way. As we work together, our individual fears, insecurities, and sin issues are exposed and laid bare for all to see. Each has their own areas of strength and weakness. How we choose to respond in these moments of exposure will reveal the true condition of our hearts and our ability to love others. Our response will determine whether our relationships and faith communities grow stronger, or whether they splinter, fracture, and implode.

As the Bride of Christ continues to be purified and refined, remain mindful and alert to what the Lord wants to reveal to you about own heart and life. In your moment of exposure it won’t matter how anyone else responds. Each of us will eventually stand alone before the Lord and give an account for our words, actions, and choices. 

The solution is simple. Get rid of your jealousy, your greed, your selfish motives, your bitterness, your insecurities, and your desire for power, prestige, and control. Stop stepping over people and trying to claw and climb your way to a platform or pedestal of your own making. Authentic 5 fold ministers know that the way up is down in the Kingdom of God. Obedience matters. The attitude of our heart matters. 

It's time to deal with unresolved sin issues - once and for all. Where necessary, confess, repent, make restitution, and ask for forgiveness – from God and from those who have been impacted by your words or actions. And then, commit to doing better from here on out. It’s really that simple. Embarrassment lasts for a moment, but on the other side lies freedom, peace, and a clear conscience before God and man. You can do this!

Choose wisdom.

Choose truth.

Choose life.