The Five Fold Ministry
The Five Fold Ministry
The Five Fold Ministry
The Five-fold
Miki Hardy
The Five-fold Ministry
Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version,
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ISBN 978-99949-0-182-1
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Table of Contents
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The Five-fold Ministry
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Chapter I
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The Five-fold Ministry
“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 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.”
Ephesians 4:11-13
If you have spent some time reading the Bible you will acknowledge
that the Apostle Paul, who wrote these words, experienced an
extraordinary conversion to Christianity while on the road to Damascus.
He writes in Galatians 1:11-12 that the gospel he preached was not
something man made up, or which he received from a man, or had
been taught. Rather, he received it by revelation directly from Jesus
Christ. However, Paul’s message was no different to that which the
other apostles preached: The message of Christ and Him crucified.
In his epistles Apostle Paul explains that the preaching of the Cross,
which is the power of God, can only be effective in presenting every
man perfect in Christ when it is exercised through the gifts of the
Five-fold Ministry.
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Chapter I - The Five-fold Ministry
Different anointings
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The Five-fold Ministry
Working together
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Chapter I - The Five-fold Ministry
In the same way, the ministries within the Five-fold Ministry are not
independent. One person alone cannot accomplish God’s work. All
the five ministries working together are essential for the Church. There
is an understanding in the Church today that if you are a teacher, you
have your own ministry; an evangelist, you have your own ministry;
and a prophet, you have your own ministry. Sadly, in most cases they
are not linked with a local church, or with one another. Most are totally
independent, accountable to no one. They preach what they choose
to, do as they want and go where they please. I do not see any
evidence of this in the New Testament. In fact, I see the very opposite.
I see the different ministries working in relationship with one another
and men who have been sent by the local church to other churches
to contribute to the equipping of the Christians and the edifying of
the Body of Christ. In all cases, I see that they were submitted to one
another. Working in unity like this is the fruit of the Gospel; the power
of the Cross at work in the lives of these men of God.
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The Five-fold Ministry
There are numerous examples in the Book of Acts and in the epistles
of the New Testament that confirm how the Five-fold Ministry worked
in unity to equip Christians for works of service and bring the Church
to maturity. We see the apostles working closely with all the ministries,
whether they were prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers. No one
acted independently and each one recognised the role and the value
of the other, and it brought unity in the faith and a firm foundation
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Chapter I - The Five-fold Ministry
for the Church. The Church needs all these ministries because each
anointing is different and necessary for the building of the Church.
Christians are then able to grow in the knowledge of the Son of God
and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
Christ. That is God’s will for His Church.
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The Five-fold Ministry
up my cross and allow the Lord to break and mould me – not an easy
thing to accept - I began to experience great victories in my life, my
marriage, my relationships with my fellow elders and in my ministry.
The people of God sensed the change in me and responded with the
same attitude of heart. What is important is that this work must start
with the servant of God.
The apostle lays the foundation; he reveals Christ and the heart of
Christ for the Church. In other words, every Christian who receives
the apostolic message knows from the moment he is converted that
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Chapter I - The Five-fold Ministry
he has surrendered his life and that it no longer belongs to him. The
apostle is a father to many churches, leaders and Christians, as he
provides oversight, direction and protection to the church, thanks
to the anointing on his life. It is, therefore, easy to understand that
his ministry and anointing brings unity amongst local churches. The
apostle is also a protector of the sound doctrine of Christ.
The prophet has the very specific role of acting as God’s mouthpiece,
inspired by the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist best describes this
ministry under the New Covenant. When talking about Jesus in
Matthew 3:12 he said: “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He
will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather His wheat
into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
It is a ministry of authority; preaching repentance, purification and
separation, accompanied by the fear of God.
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The Five-fold Ministry
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Chapter II
The Apostle
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The Five-fold Ministry
The apostle is not someone who works independently, but like the
pastor, the evangelist, the prophet, and the teacher, he forms part
of the body of elders in a local church. He is sent by the church on
a specific mission, and gives an account of it when he returns. The
apostle, therefore, forms part of the ministry team of the local church;
he is submitted to the body of elders and works closely with the
other five ministries. According to the administration of God’s grace,
each of the Five-fold Ministry anointings carry a different authority.
It is evident from the Bible that the apostle carries greater spiritual
authority than the other ministries, simply because it is part of the
anointing he has received.
God-appointed
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Chapter II - The Apostle
What did Paul preach? What revelation did he receive from the
Lord? In 1 Corinthians 2:2, he states: “For I determined not to know
anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified”. In
1 Corinthians 3:10, he writes that by the grace God gave him, he has
laid a foundation as an expert builder. The true foundation of Christian
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The Five-fold Ministry
life is not just our faith in Christ, but also our identification with Him
in His sufferings, His death and His resurrection. This is the heart of
Christianity... the apostolic Gospel, the message of the Cross, which
he described as “the power of God!” It is therefore not just what we
believe that is important, but also what we live. It was obvious to all
the churches that Paul lived what he preached. Nothing he said or
wrote contradicted the way that he conducted himself.
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Chapter II - The Apostle
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Protector of doctrine
The apostle is also the protector of doctrine. We see how often the
Apostle Paul defended the Gospel he received and lived. He also
warned the churches repeatedly about the false doctrines to which
they were exposed. The lack of true apostles is the reason why so
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Chapter II - The Apostle
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The Five-fold Ministry
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Chapter III
The Prophet
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The Five-fold Ministry
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Chapter III - The Prophet
Under the Old Covenant, one of the main aspects of the prophet’s
ministry was to turn the hearts of God’s people back to Him through
repentance. In 2 Samuel 12, we read how God specifically chose the
Prophet Nathan to confront King David over his sin. The prophetic
word from Nathan did not condemn David; but rather it produced
an attitude of godly sorrow and genuine repentance in him. This
facet of God’s authority is demonstrated most powerfully through the
prophetic anointing.
The Old Covenant prophet would warn God’s people in order that
they might escape God’s judgement. The prophetic word would come
in a very clear and direct way and exposed the state of their hearts.
God anointed the different prophets to bring an uncompromising
message, which came with great conviction and the fear of God.
When the prophet ‘sounded the trumpet’, the people knew that God
was serious about what He had to say. Sadly, even then, they often
hardened their hearts to His Word.
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The Five-fold Ministry
God into the Church, because it exposes sin and proclaims the way
of holiness and sanctification.
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Chapter III - The Prophet
declare it; but never out of an authority in the flesh. Thus the Church
will not fall under condemnation but will feel the heart of the Lord,
leading His people to repentance. The time is coming when prophets
will bring light where there is darkness and expose the hidden motives
of the heart, because the prophetic anointing brings purification and
separation in the hearts of Christians.
It is clear from the lives of Paul and Barnabas that the prophet works
closely with the apostle to lay the foundation of the Church. These
two ministries carry greater authority in the Spirit than the other three.
The apostle receives and imparts the revelation of Christ, and the
prophet ensures that the Church remains in truth and sound doctrine.
Men can draw much glory for themselves when God speaks and acts
through them. This is why submission and accountability to a team
of elders in a local church is a vital protection against the misuse
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The Five-fold Ministry
The Bible warns us clearly that there will be many false prophets in
the last days who will lead people astray by appealing to the desires
of their sinful nature. But God is also raising up true prophets who
will be examples for the Church; and their anointing will bring greater
protection to the lives of believers. They will not be full of pride and
arrogance, trusting in their own ability. Instead, they will be humble,
with broken spirits and contrite hearts, prepared to deny themselves,
take up their cross and follow Jesus. They will be known by their
identification with His sufferings and His death, and will carry the
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Chapter III - The Prophet
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Chapter IV
The Evangelist
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The Five-fold Ministry
Yet, three things are very clear from the Scriptures: firstly the evangelist
always forms part of the eldership of a local church; secondly, he
is always sent out from that local church to exercise his ministry to
non-Christians outside the Church; and finally, he has a role to play
in the perfecting of the saints in that local church. Thus we see why
the anointing of the evangelist is necessary for the edification of
Christians in the local church.
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Chapter IV - The Evangelist
Even though the evangelist is not mentioned very often in the Book
of Acts, the examples we do have, show that the type of independent
ministry around these days simply did not exist then. Philip was a
prominent evangelist, mentioned in Acts 21:8. We see his ministry
in action in Acts 8:5 as he preached the Good News of Christ. What
is evident from Acts 8:14 is how the evangelist works in partnership
with other ministries. Peter and John, hearing what had happened
after Philip had evangelised in Samaria, felt the freedom to go and
support him.
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The Five-fold Ministry
To bring repentance
The true evangelist also knows that in order to be saved and cleansed
from your sin, repentance is essential; not just a superficial invitation
to Jesus to come into your heart. In Acts 2, Peter preached the simple
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Chapter IV - The Evangelist
message of the Cross of Christ. When the Jews heard his words they
were cut to the heart and cried out: “What must we do?” Peter did
not reply, ‘Just invite Jesus into your heart.’ No! He said: “Repent...”
Through this anointing and the message proclaimed, the Holy Spirit
brings people to repentance.
To equip Christians
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The Five-fold Ministry
Accompanied by miracles
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Chapter V
The Teacher
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The Five-fold Ministry
There are many pastors with degrees and doctorates in theology, who
have been teaching theology for years, but with very little to show
for it. Unfortunately, many of these men have come to the end of
themselves today, because all their knowledge has had no power to
change their service for God, their lives, or the lives of the believers in
their congregations. Some are even looking for an escape route from
the ministry.
The teaching of the Word forms part of the commission Jesus gave to
His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples
of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age.” The aim of teaching is not only to build knowledge
of the Bible in the minds of Christians but, above all, to bring them to
maturity.
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Chapter V - The Teacher
The teacher must never forget Apostle James’s warning (James 3:1)
that he will be judged more strictly than others. There are countless
independent, self-appointed ‘teachers’, circulating in the Church at
large today – writing books, broadcasting television programmes,
publicising their teaching on DVD and CD, posting blogs, and using
every medium they can to reach the Christian public. There have
never been as many teachers as there are today. Yet, the model we
see in the Bible is of teachers forming part of the body of elders of
a local church (Acts 13:1). As with the other four ministries, it is not
absolutely essential that there be a teacher present in every local
church, but each church should form part of a network of churches
in which all the ministries in the Five-fold Ministry are represented.
When the teacher forms part of the eldership of a local church in the
network, he is sent to the other churches they work with, and so is
a blessing to each one of them. In this manner, he is not just a guest
speaker, relying on his credentials and imparting various facts to the
church, without any real relationship with the people. Thanks to the
apostolic Gospel, he is united with the other ministries, carries the
same heart for the people, and is aware of the importance of building
relationships.
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The Five-fold Ministry
Once the apostle has laid the foundation in the Church by preaching
the sound doctrine of Christ, the anointed teacher can build upon it
(1 Corinthians 3:10), because he communicates in a more in-depth
and profound way than the other ministries. As long as the teacher is
submitted to the team of elders in the local church, God’s people will
be protected from false doctrine.
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Chapter V - The Teacher
The teacher’s anointing causes him to delve into the depths of God’s
Word, to find the riches hidden within. He, himself, desires to be more
enlightened, so that he can impart sound doctrine to God’s people.
Both a teacher’s life and his doctrine must be founded on the message
of the Cross – the power of God to those who believe. Therefore,
he will be recognised by his ability to establish Christians firmly on
this foundation. Teaching, when it is in the right spirit, automatically
leads God’s people to deny themselves, take up their cross and
follow Jesus.
One of the biggest dangers in the teacher’s ministry is that his burning
desire to find hidden treasures in the Word of God can lead him off
course and into error. This is how false doctrines enter the Church.
The Bible often mentions false teachers, and clearly warns God’s
people against them. Titus 1:10-11 cautions against men who are
mere talkers and deceivers, who teach things they ought not to, for
dishonest gain. Such men deceive God’s people. Some of them, as a
result of certain experiences they have had, develop false doctrines,
which are nothing more than destructive heresies.
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The Five-fold Ministry
Others create a whole doctrine from a few verses taken out of context.
But we cannot draw from a personal experience with God, and teach
it to the Church as part of the doctrine of Christ, neither can we base
anything on one verse alone. However, we have seen this happen
increasingly in recent years. On the other hand, when the Cross is at
the centre of the teaching, God’s people can rest secure, and will not
be deceived!
When the five ministries operate together, the whole ministry of Jesus
is revealed to the Church. The spiritual relationships between these
ministries provide vital protection for God’s people, as they prevent
any wind of doctrine originating from the mind of man, from infiltrating
the Church. The Church needs all these ministries in order to come
to maturity, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ,
which should be its objective. It is in the interests of God’s people that
they understand what a wonderful grace the unity of these ministries
in the Church represents to them!
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Chapter VI
The Pastor
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The Five-fold Ministry
We have left until last the most well known of the perfecting ministries
in the Church – the pastor. The title ‘pastor’ comes from the Greek
words ‘episkopos’ and ‘episkopeo’, which speak of watching over,
keeping, taking care of, guiding, and feeding. In other words, the
pastor could also, and often is, called the ‘shepherd’.
A shepherd’s heart
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Chapter VI - The Pastor
very best for them, watching over them, loving them, nurturing them,
instructing them, and leading them with the heart of Jesus.
The pastor is one of the five ministries that always forms part of the
body of elders in a local church. He is respected there for the authority
his calling carries in the spirit; his is not an independent ministry. Even
though all pastors are elders before anything else, all elders are not
pastors, neither are they necessarily called to the Five-fold Ministry.
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Chapter VI - The Pastor
danger for Christians comes in. Many small churches, today, are
led by a man with a desire to lead God’s people and take care of
them, but who does not necessarily have the calling or anointing of a
pastor; in other cases, he has the calling but is answering it alone. He
is not working in submission to a body of elders, either because he
does not consider himself accountable to them, or because he is the
only elder and is leading his church on his own. At the same time, he
has no relationship with other ministries outside his church. And yet,
whenever we come across the word ‘elders’ in the New Testament,
we note that it is always in the plural (Acts 14:23 & 20:17, Titus 1:5).
Sadly, many churches today are led by a pastor who believes that he
can bring all the spiritual nourishment that God’s people need, on his
own. This is very dangerous!
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The Five-fold Ministry
Sadly, today, many Christians who acknowledge the existence of the Five-fold
Ministry fail to recognise its relevance or understand its application for the
Church. Others appear to be anxious about the potential impact it could have
on their personal ministries and prefer to ignore it. Whatever one’s belief, no
sincere Christian can conclude that the gifts Jesus gives to men to lead and equip
His Church were exclusively for the Early Church. Everything written in the New
Testament about these different ministries working together to build up the
Church will always apply as long as the Church is on earth. The same Spirit, who
moved when the Church began, is still at work today. Jesus has not changed.
He still gives the same ministries today as He did at the beginning, for the same
purpose: So that the Body of Christ may be edified and His people brought
to perfection in Him. During the Dark Ages of the Church, these ministries
disappeared for a time as a result of the worldliness and religiosity that took hold
of Christianity. But today, God is restoring them and bringing His people back to
the true foundation, so that they may become mature and reach unity in the faith.
That is why these ministries, which can only be united through the message of the
Cross, are paramount for the Church.
Miki Hardy
network, formed in 2001 by a team of leaders from various African ISBN 978-99949-0-182-1
countries who are united by the message of the cross and the work
of God in their lives.