Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
1 Corinthians 12: And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Romans 12:5-8 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
1 Peter 4: 10-11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.
It has been said that whom God calls, he equips. There is a difference in God anointing a human to do the work of an apostle and an organization giving a human a license. Organizations, humans or administrations don’t call humans to ministry. Only Jesus Christ does that.
God created humans with gifts and talents. There is a difference in natural ability and an anointing. A human who is gifted as an apostle is a builder. They have an anointing to get and distribute resources. Today the modern day equivalent of an apostle would be a missionary. Missionaries are called to a variety of services within the scope of mission work. Whether the individual is called to their immediate neighborhood or around the world, there will be abilities and anointings that equip that human to that ministry work. There are different types or levels of apostles in the New Testament and there are different types of prophets as well. If an individual prophesies, that does not make them a prophet. In 2 Kings 2:7–10 the sons of prophets prophesied. It did not say they were prophets but sons of prophets.
Seeing a need and having a heart that wants to help is not a calling of God to that ministry. Every Christian is called to share the good news in every aspect of their life and in everything they do. That does not mean they will start a church or go to the mission field. It is important that we put our hand to that which God has ordained for us to do and not presume if there is a need we should be filling it.
“I’ve learned. God may lay something on our heart that he wants us to do. That doesn’t mean he wants us to do the whole thing by ourself. We can miss God by getting ahead of him. It is important to listen to the Spirit of God and only do that to which we are called. By overstepping we can cause others to miss their blessing. If God calls us to buy an entire bus, buy the bus. If he calls us to donate toward one seat on the bus, do that. More is not always better.”
A human may have the ability to play an instrument and sing. That human may have been trained professionally to perform using their skills. It would be helpful if a human who was gifted to be an evangelist knew how to sing and play an instrument. With or without learned skills, the human who is called to be an evangelist will display the characteristics of his anointing. Evangelists may experience all the gifts of the Spirit in operation from time to time. That does not mean an evangelist has a particular gift or gifts. Gifts of the Spirit are in operation as Holy Spirit chooses. Unlike the Apostle or missionary who settles for a while to establish a work, evangelists travel from location to location, preaching the good news with signs following. There is a hunger to preach. That individual will gravitate toward preaching everywhere they go in daily aspects of their life.
Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
While missionaries or apostles go, they also establish and build physical and spiritual works. Evangelists are not building churches as they go. They are igniting a spirit of urgency in the people they reach which effects a change in their community and adds to the church. They invoke a call to action compelling humans to accept God’s will for their lives. Paul was an apostle who started churches, traveled, taught, and set up works. Philip was referred to as an evangelist in Acts 21:8. He should not be confused with the Apostle Philip which was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles.
1 Timothy 3: 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach. These are just a few of the characteristics of a pastor. Pastors nurture the body of Christ and teach them while overseeing the administration of the ministry of the church.
Teachers aren’t fiery orators. A teacher will submit line upon line, the truth in love. Teachers don’t travel setting up churches but they may visit a location to share a truth. Teachers, unlike evangelist who keep coming back to the central message of Jesus and him crucified will take a subject and research the aspects so they can deliver the who, what, when, where and how. They are gifted at dissecting the word, rightly dividing it as the Spirit reveals truth to them.
There are helps ministers who are vital to the body of Christ. Stephen in Acts 6 was described as full of faith and power, who did great wonders and miracles among the people. He was among those who were set forth to see to it the widows and orphans were fed and cared for. Those who are called to helps ministry should understand that they are as valuable to the body of Christ as any of the pulpit ministries. Ministry of helps includes but is not limited to service roles in the church. From greeters to the media teams the body of Christ is blessed to have good helps ministers. A church only needs one lead pastor. We need many helps ministers. While we have prophets today: humans who walk in the operation of a prophet, they are few and far between.
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