Five Main Ministries

The Five Main Ministries

Below are random notes from myself and others. They will be edited and this section will be rewritten.

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers," Ephesians 4:11

The Scriptures teach us a sad truth. That most of the time most of God’s people didn’t listen to or obey what God said. They did what seemed right in their own eyes. Jesus said that Isaiah was right when he prophesied that they would rather keep the traditions of men than honor the commandments of God. So judgement would come.

The same is true for America today. The same is true for most of the church in America. The judgement is already on our economy. There is no hope of America being spared the pain of its fiscal disorder without repentance on the part of our politicians. Without Divine intervention it will not happen.

Today the shepherds of the flock should be equipping the saints for not only the work of the ministry but also for what’s coming. Instead too many are saying peace, peace when there is no peace. Yeshua (Jesus) as high priest after the order of Melchizedek, who was both priest and king is reestablishing His Divine Order. If those shepherds that need to repent don’t, they will be replaced. Jesus will have His sheep fed the truth.

Yeshua (Jesus) is raising up His true shepherds in these last days. There is a restoration of the five main ministries and a restoration of true church government. The question for each of us is, will we honor the commandments of God or the traditions of men. This study is about the restoration of Yeshua's (Jesus’) five main ministries.

Key Scriptures:
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

1 Corinthians 12:27-30
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Key Concepts:
    •    It is important to understand that without all five main ministries working together in Divine Order in each and every generation, then Yeshua (Jesus) purposes for giving these ministries to the church cannot be fulfilled.
    •    The five main ministries were and are given “for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry and for edifying the body of Christ”.
    •    This is to continue “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, a perfect (mature) man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”.
    •    “God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers”. This is true for each and every generation. This order was true in the beginning and is true for restoration.
    •    Yeshua (Jesus) is both a priest and a king in the order of Melchizedek. His earthly priestly duties are divided amongst the five main ministries and His kingly or governmental duties are given to the Elders and Apostles.

Key Controversies & Misunderstandings:
    •    The obvious controversy: Are apostles and prophets for today or did their ministries end when the New Testament period was completed?
    •    Some Christians believe that the prophets are back but not the apostles.
    •    There is a current movement of apostles and prophets in parts of the Charismatic movement. There are many who believe this is a false movement.
    •    Even amongst those that believe that the five main ministries are for today, many don’t understand the relevance of knowing who they are in Christ.
    •    There is a basic misunderstanding of the role of the pastor in relationship to eldership or leadership in the body of Christ. The church has created a pastor form of church government that is un-Scriptural.
    •    It’s easy telling people you’re an evangelist, pastor or teacher.
Key Conclusions:
    •    If the five main ministries are not functioning properly, then “we are children, tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine” not mature, not in unity. This is an apt description of the body of Christ today, but also for the past 2000 years.
    •    We cannot possibly grow up into the head - Christ, without a fully functioning five main ministry. Unless we grow up into the head we cannot be the bride of Christ without spot or wrinkle.
    •    Until the apostles and prophets come together in unity, there cannot be unity in the five main ministries. Until there is unity in the five main ministries, there cannot be unity in the body of Christ. This is the progression. It must be followed.
    •    Many years ago our Heavenly Father told me, “that in the last days most of the church would miss the apostles for the same reason the Jews missed His Son because they expect them to come and do something different than what they were sent to do”.
    •    Judgement is coming to America if America does not repent. Judgement always begins with the house of God. It begins with the shepherds, the leaders over the church. Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Then feed my sheep. A fully functioning five main ministry and eldership is vitally essential for the days ahead.

The Five Main Ministries:
Tonight I want to address the role of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (shepherds) and teachers as the Apostle Paul list them in Ephesians 4:11. I want to distinguish these ministry gifts that Christ gave the Church from what Jesus has established as HIS church government. Not understanding this difference has caused confusion in church leaders for the past 2,000 plus years and consequently has done great damage to the body of Christ.

The distinction is this: the local body politic of the Church is spelled out by Paul in Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops (overseers) and deacons.” Notice that bishops (overseers), deacons and all the saints are all plural and some translations use overseers instead of bishops.

It is not my purpose in this teaching to deal with the different greek words for bishops, overseers, elders and presbyters or to get into the complete governmental structure of Jesus church. My purpose is to distinguish between a local church government with Jesus as the head and led by elders, administered by deacons and deaconesses for the benefit of all the saints from the ministry offices of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (shepherds) and teachers.

I do however think a brief history of how we got into what I call a “powerless church” is important to understanding how the present church can get back into a right relationship with its head, King Jesus.
The earliest organization of the Church in Jerusalem (and for that matter all places in the New Testament) was similar to that of the Jewish synagogues, which were governed by a council of elders (Greek: πρεσβύτεροι presbyteroi). In Acts 11:30 and 15:22, we see this collegiate system of government in Jerusalem, and, in Acts 14:23, the Apostle Paul ordains elders in the churches he founded.

Presbyters were identical to overseers (ἐπίσκοποι episkopoi, i.e., bishops), as in Acts 20:17, Titus 1:5,7 and 1 Peter 5:1. The earliest writings of the so-called “Apostolic Fathers”, the Didache and the First Epistle of Clement for example, show the church recognized two local church offices—elders (interchangeable term with overseer) and deacon.

Some church scholars trace the beginnings of a single ruling bishop to the offices occupied by Timothy and Titus in the New Testament. We are told that Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete to oversee the local church (1 Tim. 1:3 and Titus 1:5). Paul commands them to ordain presbyters/bishops and to exercise general oversight, telling Titus to "rebuke with all authority" (Titus 2:15). But this does a disservice to Paul, Timothy and Titus as they clearly understood the blueprint that Paul had received concerning the building of the Church. To understand what Paul is saying to Timothy and Titus one must understand how the apostles are to relate to the local elders (bishops) or local church government. Paul, Timothy and Titus were functioning as apostles in selecting who the Holy Spirit had chosen and then laying hands on those men to establish their authority over that local body.

Various communities of born again believers would have had a group of presbyter-bishops functioning as leaders of the local church. Eventually this evolved into a monarchical episcopacy (one ruling bishop) in certain cities. The monarchical episcopacy probably developed in other churches in Christianity before it took shape in Rome. For example, it has been conjectured that Antioch (where believers were first called Christians) may have been one of the first communities to have adopted such a structure. The emergence of a single bishop in Rome probably did not arise until the middle of the 2nd century. Linus, Cletus and Clement were probably prominent presbyter-bishops but not necessarily monarchical bishops. Eventually, Rome followed the example of other Christian communities and structured itself after the model of the empire with one presbyter bishop in charge. The organizational structure subsequently evolved into the present form of one bishop supported by a college of presbyters.

The office of bishop was already quite distinct from that of priest or presbyter in the writings of Ignatius of Antioch who died c. A.D. 107, and by the middle of the 2nd century all the chief centers of Christianity were headed by bishops, a form of organization that remained universal until the Protestant Reformation.
The bishop was understood mainly as the president of the council of presbyters, and so the bishop came to be distinguished both in honor and in prerogative from the presbyters (elders), who were seen as deriving their authority by means of delegation from the bishop. Each Episcopal see (the official seat of the bishop) had its own bishop and his presence was necessary to consecrate any gathering of the church.

Eventually, as Christendom grew, individual congregations were no longer directly served by a bishop. The bishop in a large city (the Metropolitan bishop) would appoint a presbyter to pastor the flock in each congregation, acting as his delegate. These bishops now believed that they had taken on the role of the apostle and believed that that role was to oversee the church. The Protestant Reformation which started in 1517 when Martin Luther published his 95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences brought more change but not the change needed by going back to the original blueprint or model of the New Testament, but to the perversion of the Senior Pastor form of government.

This perversion of how the government of the Church was to function so that the five-fold or five main ministries could operate entered the church by the start of the 2nd century. The results of this change in governmental structure resulted in the spiritual gifts and also the role of the apostles and prophets being seen as a “Book of Acts” experience.

Origen, a “Christian” theologian who lived and taught in Alexandria, Egypt, from A.D. 185 to 254 wrote in 250 that the gifts of the Holy Spirit as still continuing in the life of the Church. "Traces of the Holy Spirit who appeared in the form of a dove are still preserved among Christians. They charm demons away and perform many cures and perceived certain things about the future according to the will of the Logos.” 

Origen noted that these charismatic gifts were gradually diminishing, although some "traces of His presence" were still evident. "Moreover, the Holy Spirit gave signs of His Presence at the beginning of Christ’s ministry, and after His ascension He gave still more; but since that time these signs have diminished, although there are still traces of His presence in a few who have had their souls purified by the Gospel and their actions regulated by its influence.

With the demise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the apostles and prophets, Satan was able to strip the power from the church; the power needed to preach the gospel, heal the sick and cast out demons. Curiously, even today and without biblical support, the fivefold or five main ministries in Ephesians 4:11 has been split by even the church into two lists: those that are for today and those that were for the 1st century.

Today there is nearly universal acceptance of the evangelist, pastor, and teacher as being valid ministries for the church today. But the ministries of the apostles and prophets are relegated by many to the first-century church only. But in recent years, many Christians have been reexamining the Scriptures to answer the increasingly heard questions: Are there apostles today? Are there prophets today? Were the ancient bible prophets and bible apostles the only valid ones? Or are there modern day prophets (that is, Christian prophets) and contemporary apostles? Does apostolic and prophetic ministry continue in our day?
The intent of this study is to show that all of what have been called the office of the “fivefold” ministry or “ascension gift” ministries are valid and needed in the Church today.

Ephesians 4:7-16
(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;
 (12)For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
 (13)Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
 (14)That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
 (15)But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
 (16)From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Who gives these ministries to the Church? Jesus. 

Jesus is the premier expression of each of these offices.
• “Jesus, the apostle...whom we confess” (Hebrews 3:1)
• “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth” (Matthew 21:11).
• Jesus was certainly the Great Soul winner, the consummate evangelist.
• Jesus is “the Shepherd “pastor” and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).
• “Rabbi, we know you [Jesus] are a teacher who has come from God” (John 3:2).

It seems that Jesus — the chief apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher — is giving an expression of Himself to the Church in the form of these ministry gifts. For example, in Paul, Peter, and the other apostles we see a partial reflection of the perfect apostleship of Christ. In Agabus (Acts 11:27f; 21:10f) and other Christian prophets we see a partial expression of the perfect prophetic ministry of Jesus. The same could be said for God-given evangelists, shepherds and teachers.

Interesting facts concerning the fivefold ministry!
The answers to the following questions reveal our knowledge!
• Question #1 — Which three of the Ephesians 4:11 ministries are mentioned most in the New Testament?
• Question #2 — Which two of those fivefold ministries are mentioned least in the New Testament?
The answers may shock you. They indicate how far out of balance the contemporary church has grown compared to the original church that Christ established on the earth.

• Answer to question #1:
• The word “apostle(s)” occurs 85 times in the New Testament. There are 14 men listed as apostles before Pentecost, and 14 after Pentecost. Story of Mathias and the casting of lots.
• The word “prophet(s)” occurs over 150 times in the New Testament, about 20 of those occurrences referring distinctly to prophets in the Church Age.
• The word “teacher(s)” occurs 125 times in the New Testament.

• Answer to question #2:
• The word “evangelist(s)” occurs only 3 times in the New Testament.
• The word “pastor(s)” which should actually be translated shepherd occurs precisely one (1) time in the entire New Testament! One time! (Ephesians 4:11). The word pastor is an incorrect translation of the Greek word poimen which occurs 17 times in the New Testament of which 14 times are in the Gospels.

Consider those numbers. The Bible speaks of New Testament apostles, prophets, or teachers a combined total of at least 200 times. Pastors and evangelists are mentioned a combined total of four times!

And yet the modern day church calls most ministers by the term “Pastor” and shies away from “apostles” and “prophets” like a horse avoiding a rattlesnake! Man’s prejudices, fears, or misinterpretations have deprived the Lord’s Church of the two foundational ministries — apostles and prophets — that He Himself placed on earth. The Church today, wherever it denies these two ministries, is improperly structured. Pastors, evangelists, and teachers alone cannot bring the church to maturity. They were never intended to. Jesus gave all five ministries for that purpose.

In the two sections that follow, we will examine the characteristics and work of apostles and prophets in the Church Age. Nowhere in Scripture is there a concise, precisely worded “job description” of these two offices.
Apostles and prophets are the two foundational ministries in the body of Christ. 

The bible singles out apostles and prophets as the two ministries which are the foundation that the church is built upon. The apostles and prophets anchored to Jesus, who is both the Chief Cornerstone and the bed rock the foundation is laid upon, undergird the Lord’s Church. All Christians are entitled to be built on this apostolic and prophetic foundation.

Ephesians 2:19-20 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

1 Corinthians 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

Apostles and prophets are in the Church for the entire church age. 

A number of Scriptures make it very clear that apostles and prophets were intended for the full church age, and not just for the first century church.
Ephesians 3:4-5 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

Paul declares that the mystery has “now been revealed...to God’s holy apostles and prophets.” These were “now” — that is, contemporary — apostles and prophets in the Church several decades after Christ’s resurrection and ascension to heaven.

Some have erroneously identified the “prophets” in this verse as Old Testament prophets. But this very Scripture says quite the opposite. It states that the prophets receiving this “now” revelation were “NOT...men in other generations.” No, these were Christian prophets, contemporary to the time in which Paul was writing. There were prophets (and apostles, too) existing in the New Testament church long after Jesus had ascended back to heaven.

Ephesians 4:8, 11-13 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men” ... [11] It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Here the apostle Paul gives us additional proofs that apostles and prophets were to continue during the Church Age.
• “When He ascended on high...He gave...some to be apostles, some to be prophets...” These were not the original Twelve apostles. This refers to apostles and prophets that Jesus continued to give after His ascension to heaven! For that reason some have called the “fivefold” ministries of Ephesians 4:11 the “ascension gift ministries.” Having ascended to heaven, Jesus continues to give all five, not just evangelists, pastors and teachers.
• And this giving of five ministries by Christ was not just to get the early church started. Rather, the giving of all five is needed “until we all...become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” That is an ongoing process occupying the entire time between Jesus’ First Coming and His Second Coming.

What are apostles and what do they do?
Apostles are master builders 1 Corinthians 3:10 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” Today, apostles have more of the ministry of Nehemiah who came to inspect and repair.

Bring Divine Order - 1 Corinthians 11:34
Keepers of the doctrine Acts 2:42
Should be a man
• Acts 2:4 They were filled with the Spirit..
• Acts 2:14-36 They preached the Word of God.
• Acts 3:1-8 They healed the sick.
• Acts 4:1-12 They were persecuted.
• Acts 5:1-11 They pronounced God’s judgment.
• Acts 5:12 They worked signs and wonders.
• Acts 5:42 They taught and preached Jesus Christ.
• Acts 6:1-6 They ordained deacons.
• Acts 8:14-17 They laid their hands on others to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 8 and later chapters. They founded and/or strengthened new churches.
• Acts 9:36-43 They raised the dead.
Acts 10 They preached to the Gentiles.
Acts 12:1-11 They were martyred, persecuted, and sometimes delivered.
• Acts 13:4 They were sent by the Holy Spirit (the root of the word “apostle” means “sent”).
• Acts 13:11 They pronounce a curse.
• Acts 14:21-22 They confirmed disciples in their faith.
• Acts 14:23 They ordained elders.
• Acts 15:1-21 They settled doctrinal disputations.
• Acts 16:18 They cast out demons.
• Acts 19:22 They sent forth other ministering men.
• Acts 20-28 list further ministries that apostles performed.
• 1 Corinthians 3:10 They were master builders, with the Apostle Paul being the wise master builder. They laid spiritual foundations.
• 1 Corinthians 4:14-15 The apostle Paul warned his “sons” in the faith.
• 1 Corinthians 7:1 They counseled and answered the saints’ questions.
• 1 Corinthians 11:34 They set churches in order.
• 2 Corinthians 11:28 Paul exercised “care of all the churches.”
• 2 Corinthians 13:10 They used their authority for edification.
• Ephesians 2:20 Apostles are part of the foundation of the church.
• Ephesians 3:3-5 They received revelation from God.
• Ephesians 4:11-12 They perfected the saints.

New Testament prophets
Can be either a man or woman.
One who speaks forth
One who has a specific message for a specific time and place.
One who stands in the council of the God head. Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
Brings fresh oil (word) to the church. In Zechariah and Revelation we will see a picture with the candlestick in the center and two olive branches on either side. The seven branch candle stick represents the Church. Fresh olive oil is revelation flowing from the Throne Room to the Church. Olive oil represents the Holy Spirit. The two olive branches represent the prophets bringing the fresh oil, the word from the Throne Room to the Church so that the light of the Church burns brightly. 

1 Samuel 3:1 “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” The people had the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, the priesthood, the sacrifices and the law of Moses; but they were dead, cold and backsliden. Religion doesn’t keep people alive. The fresh words from the Prophets does.

Zech 4:1-6 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Zech 4:11-14 “Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.”

Revelation 11:3-4 “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.”

Prophets minister in teams and should be covered by apostles.
• Acts 11:27-28 They (1) did trans-local ministry and (2) they foretold future events.
• Acts 13:1 They can be among the leaders of a local church.
• Acts 15:32 they exhorted and confirmed the brethren, sometimes with “many words.”
• Acts 21:10-11 They may give personal, predictive prophecies.
• 1 Corinthians 14:29 They prophesied in church services.
• Ephesians 2:20 Prophets are part of the foundation of the church.
• Ephesians 3:3-5 Prophets may receive revelation from God.
• Ephesians 4:11-12 Prophets perfected the saints.

Should we identify and recognize apostles and prophets today? Certainly!
Luke 6:13 When morning came, [Jesus] called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles. If Jesus named them and designated and recognized them as apostles, how can we do otherwise?
Acts 14:4 ...the apostles Barnabas and Paul...” The New Testament, here and in many other verses, consistently recognized men by name in the office of apostle.
1 Corinthians 14:29, 32, 37 "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.... [32] The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.... [37] If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command."

The early church — here, the church at Corinth — found it quite normal to have a prophet or prophets in the church.
Acts 13:1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers.
Again, it was not unusual, but accepted, that there might be prophets (even plural prophets) in a local church. And the New Testament church recognized other Christian prophets by name:
• Agabus (Acts 11:28; 21:10)
• Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32)

Matthew 10:41a, KJV He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward.
Why beat around the bush? Jesus tells us to receive someone who is a prophet “in the name of a prophet.”
 
There is no biblical encouragement for identifying certain ones as “evangelists, pastors and teachers” and then identifying true prophets and apostles with correct but controversy - avoiding phrases like: “He has an apostolic [or prophetic] ministry.” As if the Lord has given three nouns (evangelist, pastor, teacher) and two adjectives (apostolic, prophetic)! No! Jesus said to receive a prophet “in the name of a prophet.” It’s time for the Church to shake off the fear of man and return to biblical patterns.

My prayer is that once more in the 21st century, as in the first century, the Church will return to the clear pattern of Scripture. May the body of Christ once again grow and thrive as we open our hearts to the God-given ministries of modern day prophets and apostles, as well as evangelists, pastors and teachers.

And may the Church recognize also the biblical, local-church ministries of God-called elders and deacons, as well as the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Revival can again break out in churches determined to search the Scriptures, to rediscover the proven, historical “ancient landmarks”" of God's word, to open their hearts to the ministries of God-given, modern day apostles and Christian prophets, and to “build ... everything according to the pattern” (Hebrews 8:5) laid out by God in Scripture.

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