Fivefold: The Chicken or the Egg?
An exerpt from“ The Five Fingers of God: Discovering Your Destiny through Your Fivefold Gifting” by MARK TUBBS
In my experience as a church pastor and elder, the Holy Spirit has put a passion in me to help others grow into their purpose and destiny. I have seen people come into the church only to find that there is no room for their gifts, while others seem completely satisfied watching others“ do” the ministry. This was especially true in the traditional church where I felt more like a commodity than a person. As long as I performed the duties well, I was accepted. If not, I was treated harshly and critically. I also witnessed this with church volunteers who started with a fire but were thwarted within months.
As our church grew in the ways of the Spirit, I began to have a clearer vision of our church’ s vision. Each church must have a vision from the Lord for their purpose. If they don’ t, the leaders can find themselves chasing models that other churches are using, hoping they will work in their setting. In the course of this, I understood that we were not only called to be a refuge, but a place where the people are equipped and released as well.
WHAT IS THE FIVEFOLD MINISTRY?
Perhaps before we ask,“ Why the Fivefold?” it is important to ask,“ What is the Fivefold ministry?” The anointed offices of the Fivefold are found throughout the Scriptures, but it is Ephesians 4:11-13 which outlines the Fivefold ministry and its purpose. Immediately following a powerful description of the oneness of the body of Christ, the Apostle Paul goes into how the Lord has arranged the church. In Ephesians 4:7 it says,“ But to each one of us Grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” The actual
Greek word for apportioned is the word metron, which literally means, a measure. Christ has given to each one a specific measure of a gift of Grace.
After quoting Psalm 68 to show the fulfillment of prophecy, Paul lists the five Graces that Christ has given to each one in the church. These are found in verse 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.”
If we read this in context, it is Jesus who has given to each one a measure of one of these five Graces. This is not a list of the gifts of the Spirit as seen in I Corinthians 12, but instead is a list of the five Graces that we see in the life and ministry of Christ. Each and every person has a specific measure of at least one of these. This implies that people will be at different levels and expressions of these five Graces. These Graces are generally called the“ Fivefold Ministry Gifts.” These five are written explicitly in verse 11 as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
THE INCREDIBLE BENEFITS OF THE FIVEFOLD
With the above clearly stated, we can now ask,“ Why emphasize the Fivefold Ministry Gifts?” In verse 12-16, we find an incredible list of reasons why the Fivefold gifts have been given. The first and primary reason is to prepare God’ s people for works of service. This has to do with the equipping and empowering of the people of God. As a person grows in maturity in one or more of the Fivefold ministry gifts, the main objective of that person will be to equip and encourage others into their own Graces
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