Fivefold Ministries
In Ephesians four, Paul told us that when Jesus left this earth, He gave gifts to men. These are called the ministry gifts.
Ephesians 4:8,11 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men...
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers."
These five ministries are also called "The ascension gifts of Christ," because they were given "when He ascended on high."
The ministry gifts are:
- Apostles
- Prophets
- Evangelists
- Pastors
- Teachers
It was never God's plan that these ministry gifts be lost. Now they are being restored by God to their rightful place. These five ministry gifts of Jesus to His church are often referred to as the fivefold ministry.
Part of the Church
Jesus said, "I will build my church." He will build the church, a united body of believers. He went on to describe the church He would build as being a victorious overcoming one which the "gates of Hades" (representing all of Satan's kingdom), wouldn't be able to overcome.
Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
The full restoration of the fivefold ministry is an important part of what Jesus is doing to build His church today. God's Word reveals that this victorious church is made up of every believer in Jesus Christ, His body joined and working together, each one doing his or her part in forcibly advancing the kingdom of God on this earth.
Each believer will be doing the same works that Jesus did when He walked on this earth two thousand years ago.
