Next Wave March 2017

VOICE OF THE APOSTOLIC TRANSFORMATION | VOLUME 85 ISSUE 7 MAR 2017

IN THIS ISSUE: AMERICA GETS A NEW PRESIDENT Our Own Paula White Gives the Invocation Distinctions in Ministry Gifting, Role and Function

What You Should Know About Fivefold Ministry

others you will find yourself

THE NEXT WAVE www.icof.net PUBLISHER International Circle of Faith (ICOF)

Give Us A King Bernie L. Wade, PhD.

RELIGITICS International Faith Based Coalition Letter to the Editor Ron Allen

The Next Wave - Contributing Editors David Tait, Lea Bates, Cindye Coates, Barney Philips, John Rogers, David Tait, Bishop Ron Allen and others.

RAPTURE David Tait

Advertizing Inquiries For more information about advertising email bernie.wade1212@gmail.com or call 502.655.8554

FIVEFOLD MINISTRY ROLE Bernie L. Wade

What You Should Know About Fivefold Ministry Albert Kang

Editorial Submissions We welcome submissions and editorials. We assume no responsibility for the return of unsolicited submissions. Please send photos, articles, and documents to 7204 Hwy 329 Suite #1 Crestwood, KY 40014Electronic submissions to: Bernie.wade1212@gmail.com

THE NEXT WAVE MAGAZINE A Member of Life Network 7204 Hwy 329 Suite #1 Crestwood, KY 40014

Annual Subscription: $36 US.

Distinctions in Ministry Gifting,

5 Sins to Avoid in the Ministry Gilson Levi

Role and Function

Barney Phillips, PhD.

Bishop Derrick Day RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH 2

MISSIONS SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

David and Cathy Tait

GIVE US A KING

CHANGE

Our Continued Obsession

For false messiahs and false

with Replacing God

prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive,

By Bernie L. Wade

if possible, even the elect.” Mat. 24:24 Just over 8 years ago I was in Ghana

Excerpts from Dr. Bernie Wade’s

West Africa for an ICOF (International

upcoming book, “Give Us A King,

Circle of Faith) Conference with Bishop Joseph Freeson. At home, in

Our Continued Obsession with

America we were having Presidential

Replacing God.”

elections. That November (2008) America elected its next President, Barak Hussein Obama (formerly a Senator from Chicago, Illinois), to his first of two terms.

My dear friend Bishop Daniel Joseph Ubonabasi had joined me in Ghana for the ICOF Conference. He and I were together viewing the election coverage. He pointed out to me the exuberance over the election of Barak Hussein Obama by not only Americans, but also people around the world. We were enthralled by the media coverage.

In homes and on streets across the United States, Americans celebrated the election. Those racial motivated 3

were quick to claim Mr. Obama as the

to the “one-drop” rule. This refers to a

first African-American president. Yet,

series of racist laws passed across

“the question as to exactly what term

America in the early twentieth century,

to use to describe Barack Obama’s

which dictated that any person with as

ethnicity is still debated.”1 While

little as “one drop” of “black blood” were

most American’s, and certainly those

to be classified as legally “black”,

who have ancestry that is black

thereby restricting their rights and

would bristle at being regulated to

entitlements within society. As a result,

determinations made by racists. Yet,

all people of biracial ancestry had their

here in this label of being ‘black’ or

European ancestry discounted. The

African American, the racists control

fiction that Africans possessed a

the dialogue.

separate blood group to whites was used to explain differences in physical

OBAMA -

appearance, behavior and culture. The

BLACK BY THE

rule was first passed into law in

‘ONE-DROP’

Tennessee in 1910, and was then

RULE

rapidly adopted across other states.2

“So, given

Although the restrictions were finally

Barack Obama’s

abolished by the late 1960s, their

mixed

original classifications remain very much

genealogy, YOUNG OBAMA: Barack Obama's late mother, Ann Dunham, with two-year-old Barack, 1963

in use today, despite their roots in

should he be

racism. Unsuspecting and unknowing

referred to as

persons continue to promote this racist

“black” or

agenda by goose stepping to the terms

“mixed race”? The reason many still

given to them. While it has been

call him “black” can be traced back

relatively straightforward to reverse law, it has not been so easy to reverse

1

Is President Barack Obama Black? 24,000 Ask Google About His Ethnicity, Parents & Family Background WHAT ETHNICITY IS BARACK OBAMA? It may seem obvious, but thousands globally are unsure. So, what are the conventions that make someone “black” in the modern world? By Ben Arogundad. March 3, 2016.

culture — and so, people of mixed or biracial heritage are still considered 2

4

Ibid.

“black”. Rather than identify simply as

dancing in the streets. Similar

Americans or reverse the rhetoric by

celebration erupted in major cities

adopting a “one drop of white blood rule”

across America. Black Americans

those who claim to represent persons of

especially seemed elated that somehow

mixed race have kowtowed to the racial

one of their own (claiming that Obama

profiling. In some effort (perhaps well

was black even though he was bi-racial)

intentioned some have adopted the

would make a difference in their world

identity of African Americans.

unaccomplished by white Presidents.

Kenya declared it a National Holiday! “It

Regardless of the racial agenda,

was greeted with scenes of wild

perspective or view, the election of

celebration in his home village of

Barak Hussein Obama was a

Nyangoma Kogelo, in the green, gently

significant moment in U.S. history.

rolling hills of western Kenya, the

Democrat

provincial capital Kisumu, and Nairobi.

Barack

Thursday has been declared a national

Obama, the

holiday.

son of a

VOA reported, “Barack Obama's

white woman

election victory was greeted with

from Kansas

particular enthusiasm in Kenya, where

and a black

he is viewed by many as a native son.

man from

Crowds celebrated in the western village

Kenya, had won the presidency.3 We

where his grandmother and other

watched not just Americans but Mr.

relatives live, and the president even

Obama’s fellow Kenyans4 celebrate by

announced a national holiday to celebrate the event.

3

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/ 2008/11/20081105151637hmnietsua0.8336298. html#axzz4Xwh5YlVd. November 5, 2008.

4 On June 27th, 2004 a Kenyan newspaper published an innocent story of one of their native sons who was moving up the political ladder in America. That native son was Barack Obama.

The story was not a “birther” story and raised no objection to Obama’s eligibility. Foreign born citizens are allowed to be elected to the Senate and the House of Representatives, so in 2004

Barack Obama's election victory has there was no reason to hide this information.

This was a simple news story about a Kenyanborn man who was making a name for himself in America. Flashback 2004: Kenyan Newspaper Innocently Reported that Senator Obama Was Born in Kenya May 17, 2014 by Dean Garrison

5

been celebrated around the world,

dancing. People are in a festive

but perhaps nowhere as much as in

mood," he said. "And we are also

Kenya, where President Mwai Kibaki

slaughtering cows, goats, sheep, I

announced a national holiday.

mean people are going to feast

"Because of his roots here in Kenya,

literally to celebrate Barack's win."5

as a country we are full of pride for his success. I therefore wish to

In the nearby city of Kisumu that is

announce that tomorrow, Thursday

dominated by the Luo group, to

the sixth of November the year 2008

which Obama's family and Kenyan

be observed as a public holiday to

Prime Minister Raila Odinga belong,

enable all Kenyans to celebrate this

Obama mania is at its most intense.

historic achievement for President-

The celebrations spilled out into the

elect Obama," said President Kibaki.

streets.

Kgalema Motlanthe, the new South

In the village of Kogelo in western

African president, told Mr. Obama

Kenya, where Mr. Obama's

that his election "carries with it hope

grandmother and other relatives live,

for millions of your countrymen and

crowds danced in celebration as the

women as much as it is for millions

news of the Obama victory was

of people particularly of African

announced shortly after dawn. Mr.

descent both in the continent of

Obama's uncle, Sa'id Obama, spoke

Africa as well as those in the

to VOA from the village. "People are

Diaspora".6

so happy, so excited. People are

Desmond Tutu, the Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and a leader of the struggle against apartheid, said it was "almost as when Nelson 5

http://www.voanews.com/amp/a-13-2008-1105-voa45-66734637/561555.html 6 Kenya declares national holiday in celebration of Barack Obama's presidential victory. The Telegraph. By Sebastien Berger In Nyangoma Kogelo. 05 Nov 2008

6

Mandela became president of South

added, saying it told "people of color

Africa in 1994.

that for them, the sky is the limit".

"We have a new spring in our walk

Mr. Mandela himself told the president-elect: "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place."7 On January 20, 2009, when Barack Obama assumed the presidency, the overwhelming majority of AfricanAmericans cheered and prayed for him. His inauguration was a signal moment in history, reminiscent of the celebrations that accompanied the Emancipation Proclamation, Joe Louis’ victory over Max Schmeling and the March on Washington. Irma Brown-Williams traveled to the inauguration from Tuskegee, Alabama, wearing a coat on which she had pinned photos of her mother, father and siblings, all of whom were deceased. Asked to explain, she said, “I’m here for them. … They could not

7

Kenya declares national holiday in celebration of Barack Obama's presidential victory. The Telegraph. By Sebastien Berger In Nyangoma Kogelo. 05 Nov 2008

and our shoulders are straighter," he

7

be here, so I brought them with me.”8

promise of bright days ahead for America. It seemed that Obama not

Obama swept into office with a

only was President of America but

reputation as an intellectual politician

some thought he had become

with vision. Part of the reason had to

President of the World.

do with his memoir, Dreams from My Father, his campaign book, The Audacity of Hope, and a March 18, 2008, address, “A More Perfect Union,” in which he explained his relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the Chicago preacher who had denounced the status quo in memorably inflammatory fashion: “God Damn America!”9 Despite the expectations, “on critical matters of racial justice, he posited no agenda, unveiled no vision, set forth no overarching mission to be accomplished”10 and no real advancement would be accomplished.

However, there was already trouble in

Obama would begin his reign with a

Paradise. Karl Rove dubbed the

world tour touting what seemed to be

events “The President’s Apology

not only an historic election but a

Tour”11 and the Heritage Foundation would hold that Obama had

8

humiliated America12. Later,

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/ black-president-black-attorney-general-so-what108017

Columnist Cal Thomas would say

9

11

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/ black-president-black-attorney-general-so-what108017 10 Ibid.

Wall Street Journal. April. 2009. Karl Rove. http://www.heritage.org/europe/report/barackobamas-top-10-apologies-how-the-presidenthas-humiliated-superpower 12

8

that in Cuba the apology tour had

has measured on this question.”14

come full circle13, meaning that

Some called it Obamania!

America was even apologizing to

Obamania

Cuba and it horrible record on human rights. However, in 2008, the World

The national obsession with Senator

seemed eager to follow the new

Barack Obama

leader of the free world.

Taste the flavor of change... taste the

“Just after November 5, 2008, there

Obamania! The surge of blind

was, in this country, a brief spell of

hysteria sweeping the nation for the

racial euphoria. The streets on

2008 Democratic presidential

Election Eve were filled with jubilant

nomination. Think of it like Jell-O or

strangers hugging and kissing one

7-Up, they sound pleasant and make

another.

you feel real nice inside, but in reality have very little

The word post-

substance or

racial got tossed

value.15

around a lot (by whites, it must be

Later the

said, far more

definition of

than blacks). A

Obamania evolved into this:

Gallup poll released two days after Obama’s victory declared that two-

“Blind faith in Senator and

thirds of Americans said “a solution

presidential candidate Barack Obama

to relations between blacks and

and the unstoppable belief that he

whites will eventually be worked

and his government by taking control

out,” the highest percentage Gallup

of the private sector and civil rights and money and companies will 14

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/par adox-of-the-first-black-president.html

13

15

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/ma r/23/cal-thomas-obama-apology-tour-comes-fullcircle-in/

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term =obamania

9

automatically make America a better

not black enough. Biden said of

place.

Obama, he is the "first mainstream

Obamaniacs often think America is a

African-American who is articulate

terrible place with tons of problems

and bright and clean and a nice-

and the rest of the world is better,

looking guy," the implication was that

and has not heard Barack Obama

the black people who are regularly

speak without a teleprompter, and

seen by whites — or at least those

that America is losing the War in Iraq

who aspire to the highest office in the

even though in May 2008 there were

land — are none of these things. But

the lowest numbers of violence.

give Biden credit — at least he acknowledged Obama's identity.17

Obamania spreads like herpes and

Joe Biden was not alone.

MySpace. The only known cure is to elect Barack Obama to see that all he

Eight years later on January 20, 2017

is a Socialist George Bush.

America placed its hope on a new

Obamaniacs won't deal with criticism

‘king’, “After about two years' worth

of Barack Obama, calling critics

of campaigning, a wild election and a

racists who want to stand in the way

tumultuous transition period, Donald

16

of change.”

Trump became the 45th President of the United States.18

Just 4 years before Joe Biden had 17

Time Magazine Is Obama Black Enough?

By Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates Thursday, Feb. 01, 2007 18 http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/17/politics/donald -trump-inauguration-how-to-watch/

proclaimed that Barak Obama was 16

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?ter m=obamania

10

‘THE RAPTURE’ - SATAN’S

21 They

preached the gospel in that

city and won a large number of

PLAN OF DECEPTION

disciples. Then they returned to

WITHIN TODAY’S CHURCH

Lystra, Iconium and

SCRIPTURES NEGATING

Antioch, 22 strengthening the

RAPTURE THEORY

disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must

By David Tait

go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said. (Acts 24:21-2) This certainly has been my experience! Through two bankruptcies where we lost everything and, at times, through spiritual rejection by those we looked up to, Kathy and I have been ‘through the wars’ in our

The Bible is very clear that God’s

walk with Jesus. For me

people will have to go through

personally, I have come closer to

times of hardship and suffering, as

the Lord in the bad times more

Jesus did on the cross and as all

easily than the good, for He was

the disciples, except John (he was

the only one left to share my

only boiled in oil!), did for their

misery and pain. It actually is the

faith.

same for all of us.

It is the call of disciples to suffer

After not being understood for

hardship whether it is physical

many years in the revelation the

martyrdom as were the original 12

Lord had given me, I wondered if I

(The 11 left + Paul), emotional or

really wasn’t hearing from the

spiritual rejection, financial, or

Lord at all. Then, on a ministry

many other ways…..

trip to Africa, I went to Capetown

11

in South Africa, where I mat a

depicting a ‘Father Christmas’ God

group of apostolic gifted people

who will make life easy for us, then

from round the world to whom the

rapture us when the world’s

Lord had given similar

situation gets too hot to handle!

understanding. Was I relieved! In talking with them, the uniting factor was that all, without

This is tough, I know. But all those

exception had experienced very

I know who have a genuine

hard times in their lives, which the

kingdom understanding and

Lord used to refine and teach

desire to follow their Lord with

them. Suddenly I understood! The

100% submission, without

truly sold out

exception, reject

disciple will have

the rapture

to make the

theory as it is

sacrifice of their

taught today. This

life, spiritual,

is clearly

physical, or both,

explained in

in order to enter

Romans …..

the kingdom.

17 Now

if we are

children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if

Obviously this does not line up

indeed we share in his sufferings

with the ‘easy Christianity’ rapture

in order that we may also share in

theory which is designed by Satan

his glory. (Romans 8:17)

to mislead people into thinking that sacrifice is not required, because we will be zapped out of

We will now look at three verses

here when the going gets too

that are often used to justify

tough. Satan is the deceiver, the

rapture theory, but actually refute

seat of lies, the destroyer of the

it, as we misinterpret or

church, keeping it ineffective,

misunderstand the words…..

12

15 My

HOW DO I KNOW MY

prayer is not that you take

them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (John 17:15) 10 Since

you have kept my

command to endure patiently; I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

FIVEFOLD MINISTRY ROLE?

(Revelation 3:10)

By Bernie L. Wade

How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he

If you are like many others you may not know for certain your fivefold ministry role or gifting. You are certainly not alone. I find that many ministers have not been helped in this area. It may be that you are filling a role without really knowing if that is what God called you accomplish. I’ve noticed a lot of leaders fill, volunteer or be drafted for positions because there was a need, not because it was how God designed them or gifted them. As a result, many are feeling tired, unfulfilled and empty.

will be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7) The highlighted words, often used as justifications for the rapture, are translated from the same Greek words, tereo ek. These words mean to be kept from falling - not giving way under pressure and temptation, not physical rescue or protection.

Knowing for certain the role you are to fulfill in the fivefold ministry will remove doubt, confusion, and indecision. Let’s see if we can help. For a moment, set aside the particular role of ministry that God has called you to and let’s focus on purpose. We have found that the best way to start is to understand what God

So, in fact, the reverse is true! We are to be protected THROUGH, NOT FROM the promised tribulation at the end of the age.

Cheers 13

has called you to do. Most people know what it is that God has called them to contribute. This is much more important in the larger mission as Disciples of Christ.

Ephesians 4:8, 11-13 speaks of five ministry gifts given to the Body of Christ

by Christ after he ascended. “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men…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 ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” KJV

If you already know what you are called to do then you are on your way to understanding your fivefold role.

The thing that God has given you to accomplish will be your passion. It will be the thing that makes you want to get up in the morning. You will think about it in some form or fashion nearly all the time. In most cases it will be the primary thing in your life even in work and hobbies.

For example someone who is called to the fivefold role of teacher will most likely find that they are passionate about teaching in general; not just in the body of Christ.

The first thing to notice is that these roles are all presented in lower case.

These fivefold roles were not offices of the church; these are gifts from God and He is the only thing that really matters in the equation. These gifts are also known as ascension gifts because Christ gave them after he descended to earth and ascended back to heaven. (Ephesians 4:1-16, John 3:13,

This person will desire or fill a teaching role in their family, job and community. We oft times don’t see that the gifting God has placed in us transcends beyond that function in the Body of Christ. God gave you the gifting and it will function wherever you are located.

Psalm 68:18)

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The very first thing that all fivefold ministry needs to understand (and

In this example the purpose is to teach the Body of Christ. This helps us to understand the fivefold role which is teacher. Now let’s turn our attention to the fivefold roles.

14

unfortunately this is very lacking in the Body of Christ) is we are instructed to be worthy. Worthiness is not measured in works but in spirit. We are first instructed to have genuine humility and gentleness. This is to be followed by longsuffering and love. These are attributes of the fruit of the spirit and while we should all have them; they are not manifested in most of the lives of those claiming to represent God in some fivefold role. We cannot move forward without true humility. We are inundated with load of SELF. Most of those who are identify themselves with fivefold roles do so by making it an office, title and position. They are introduced as, The Very Reverend, Dr. Bishop, His Eminence, Lord So and So or some similar designation. Wow!

not manifestations of God or His ministry. These are rather manifestations of man and man-made religious systems. In case you are looking for the one guilty of these sins, let me make it easy for you. I am the man. I am guilty of these things.

I know that many of have fallen prey to these deceptions but the time to correct this error is now. Claiming to be a love slave to Jesus Christ and then signing your name, Prophet so and so, screams of false humility and pride whether we realize (or admit) the error or not. You are not alone. Many of us have been guilty of these errors. I am reminded of Jeremiah telling us to deal with our sins of OMISSION. Spurgeon reminded us of this regarding our sins of omission. “There must be worked in us as a work of Divine Grace—a deep abhorrence of sin, an earnest clinging to purity, a resolute pursuit of everything that is peaceful, and lovely, and of good repute—or else let us prate as we may, we shall

Do you read humble and gentle in that?

I expect not. Rather, this is a manifestation of pride. These sign their business card and other related items Pastor So and So. They have their name on their Church sign with similar designation. Unfortunately, these are

15

have no inheritance in the kingdom of God! I preach not salvation by works in any sense or degree, or shape, or form, but salvation by Grace alone!”19 To these profound errors we must make immediate correction. We are not the GIFT. Jesus Christ is the Gift; we are merely vessels He chooses to use. We need to understand that the fivefold ministry given by Christ are roles within the Body of Christ for specific purpose.

These were not purposed to in any way exalt men or make them seem or feel superior. In fact, if anything be the case these make the fivefold more a servant role than the rest of the Body of Christ.

Yet, we are all servants of Jesus Christ.

To make these errors even more pronounced we have created a plethora of ministerial groups most of which lift

sisters. This is SIN. This is a manmade system and is not in any way associated with the New Testament Church or the Body of Christ. Of this we need to repent.

The fivefold ministry is given to help the Body of Christ not to be superior to or lord over them. Apostle Peter20 gave us this instruction: 1The elders which are

among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away. (I Peter 5:1-4).

I have often said, “If there was no money connected to ministry most pulpits would be empty on Sunday morning.” I would add to that, “Take away the esteem, the pomp, the ceremony and the titles and there will be even fewer feeling the ‘call’ to ministry.”

up, separate or esteem the ministers above the rest of the Body of Christ.

We then use these man-made systems to create division from our brothers and

This is a clarion call to the people of God. We have to get back what we have lost. We have inherited a church

19

Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit. Volume 14 org 1 SINS OF OMISSION NO. 838.

DELIVERED ON LORD’S-DAY MORNING, OCTOBER 25, 1868, BY C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.

20

Note: the capital here is only to designate a proper noun.

16

that is more interested in man-made religion than on being the people of God; we have to repent. My friends, drop the titles! Your gift will make room for you! Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. There are some purposes for ministerial fellowships, but they are few. One good example is to provide documents that help ministers gain access to restricted places such as jails, hospitals, etc. who want to know that qualified individuals are coming there to minister.

was to all of us. Ask Him to help you to walk in humility. Ask Him to help us all to remember that not one of us is greater than the other, but we are all made worthy because He redeemed us from our sins. Nothing else really matters!

Remember that no man helped Jesus Christ redeem us from our sins. This He did alone and for us. Christ descended to earth to redeem man; and ascended to heaven to glorify us.22 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.

I Cor. 12:28

Since the writer said first apostles let’s begin our study with the apostle.

While I shall be trying to speak of your great omissions, perhaps conscience may be at work, and the Holy Spirit may work through conscience so that you may be led to repentance, and to faith, and through faith to salvation.21 Pause here and ask God to cleanse your heart. Ask Him to help you to learn to be humble as His perfect example 21

22

Robin Kegler. http://fivefoldministryanswers.wordpress.com/20 07/10/06/tip-what-is-the-five-fold-ministry/

Ibid. Spurgeon.

17

APOSTLE

his own but is merely the agent of heaven and his King, Jesus Christ.

apostolos = a delegate; ambassador, from the word delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ["apostle"] (with miraculous powers):-apostle, messenger, he that is sent. ambassador = A diplomat of the highest rank accredited as representative in residence by one government to another

In New Testament times, in the Roman army, an apostle was a military officer who enforced Roman cultural standards and practices in cities where the Romans had recently conquered. In applying this word, apostle, to the role of the ministry Jesus extends His authority to the disciples. This authority and power is unprecedented and manifested throughout the New Testament. The word "apostle", from the Greek apostello "to send forth", "to dispatch", has etymologically a very general sense.

Apostolos (Apostle) means one who is sent forth, dispatched -- in other words, who is entrusted with a mission, rather, a foreign mission. It has, however, a stronger sense than the word messenger, and means as much as a delegate.24 The body of Christ is the continuation of His earthly ministry and is eternal. The apostle is sent by God to establish the work of God. When God calls, He also equips. As we see in Gal 1:21-24, While Apostle Paul was generally ignored by the Jerusalem Church he was mentored in the things of Christ by his spiritual father Apostle Barnabas who guided him into spiritual maturity.

It is evident that as Christ manifested the true and birthed His vision for His Kingdom that He expected His apostles to fill the same role in molding the standards of His Church and instructing overseeing the general direction of His Church. "Heaven's blueprint for the Church."23 The apostle brings no will of

There is the misconception that you can only work for the Lord if you are in full time ministry, (i.e. you are being paid a salary). This is not the model of the New Testament Church as probably all

23

The Next Wave. Restoration of the Charismata. Apostle. Page 31. Dr. Bernie L. Wade. 2010. Truth, Liberty and Freedom Press (TLFP).

24

18

Wade. Apostle. Page 35.

of the Apostles had occupations like Apostle Paul who made tents. If you have an occupation you can also be in ministry.

area. Each of the fivefold ministry gifts has specific qualifications. Here are 5 for the apostle: QUICK LIST FOR ROLE OF APOSTLE

For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

1.

An apostle will have a servant spirit. Any position of fivefold ministry, especially this one, requires a servant heart.

2. An apostle will have spiritual authority. It is understood authority from Jesus Christ, not lording over others; or dictatorship. An apostle is also under someone else’s authority answering to the rest of the Fivefold ministry in particular and the Body of Christ in general.

3. An apostle will be a spiritual father (I Cor. 4:15-21) although he will not be called ‘father.’

4. An apostle will be a visionary. This vision will make manifest in direction and leadership others can follow. We can follow an apostle because first and foremost he will follow Christ.

5. An apostle will have humility. This characteristic is coupled with servant hood. Humility is a necessary attitude because of the calling of apostleship.

The apostle will have understanding of the other fivefold roles (prophet, pastor, teacher and evangelist). In our diagram of the hand (see below), the apostle is the thumb.

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Paul was not burdensome on the church of the Corinthians. We are sometimes taught by other Christians that we will one day go into the full time ministry if we obey God, serve them like Joshua served Abraham, and if we attend church regularly, pay tithes or some other scheme in which men attempt to persuade you to submit to them. This is the man-made religious system – not the plan of God. Our overall purpose in this article is to help determine roles in the Body of Christ. We have developed a quick list to help you see if your role is in this 19

CRITERIA FOR AN APOSTLE 1.

Called by God 2.

Appointed to their role by someone of equal or higher spiritual authority (i.e. someone in the Body of Christ).

3.

Anointed by other members of the fivefold as in the example of the Antioch Church and confirmed by the Body of Christ.

4.

That they should have independent plenary knowledge of the gospel.

5.

Should be willing to pay the price (make the necessary sacrifice) to be an apostle.

6.

Preach or be a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

7.

Do the work of an evangelist 8.

Organize and/or strengthen the body 9.

Identify, appoint and train qualified ministers to teach others thus continuing the mission and the ministry of the fivefold and the relationship of spiritual fathers to sons.

10.

Signs and wonders.

Like the thumb, the apostle can touch each of the other fingers. However, all five fingers are needed for the hand to function properly. This does not make him all five as some incorrectly understand but gives definition to his role as the apostle brings Gods government to the body of Christ.

Being an apostle means being part of the five-fold ministry. Their purpose is to bring the body of Christ to maturity so that the body can do the work God has purposed for them.

Being an apostle means that signs and wonders will be part of their ministry.

Their job is to represent the kingdom of God within the other kingdoms. The authority of the apostles was modeled by the chief Apostle, the Lord Jesus Christ, who taught them that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,” (Mark 10:45).

Demonstrating the type of authority he would place in His church through his apostles Jesus, on occasion, acted sharply and decisively against certain sins, such as the desecration of His Father’s house (Mark 11:15–17; John 2:13–16) and the exploitative hypocrisy of the teachers of the Law and Pharisees (Matthew 23). He carefully avoided the trappings of political and institutional power and modeled extraordinary humility and patience for His apostles.

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Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

and also during the issue about to whom should the people pay their taxes (Matthew 22:15-22). In having the gift of discernment, prophets are able to discern whether certain people are speaking on behalf of God's Spirit, human spirits or evil spirits.”

PROPHET "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and he never did me any injury; how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?" ~Polycarp No exposition of the office of Prophet would be complete without a thorough examination of the actual name "Prophet" in the original language of the Bible. The Hebrew word for Prophet is the word nabi from a root meaning "to bubble forth, as from a fountain," hence "to utter".

This Hebrew word is the first and the most generally used for a prophet. 25

While the apostle brings the fivefold gift of casting vision or direction for the body, the prophet confirms that the apostle is hearing from God and moving the body in the proper direction or order.

“The prophets speak on behalf of God and reveal His will. They are important in today's church because all Christians need to know the heart of God and learn how to work together for His glory.”i

The purpose of the prophetic ministry is to guide the church. The prophets usually exercise revelation gifts such as words of knowledge, words of wisdom and discerning of the spirit in their prophecies. With the words of knowledge, they may foretell the future in specific terms. With the words of wisdom, they provide wisdom in difficult situations. Jesus displayed such gift of wisdom when He was faced with the condemned adulteress (John 8:1-12)

Like the apostle we find the prophet in the New Testament as part of the gifts that God gave to his bride. It is here in the true that we find the imprimatur for the prophet which was the dominate role or office in the Old Testament. God continually revealed Himself and His plan for the redemption of mankind to His prophets and through His prophets to His people.

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The Role of the Prophet in the New Testament Church by Rev. Mark J. Dibois, Ph.D.

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as the lamb slain before the foundation of the world) the prophets were reporting on what God had revealed to them concerning the events leading up to His coming.

After the Advent of Christ we see numerous accounts of the prophets continuing their role of being the ‘watchmen on the wall’ such as the prophet Agabus prophesying to Apostle Paul. Like the rest of the fivefold the prophet finds his true in the New Testament and is in the pattern of God in the Old Testament and still today.

We have developed a quick list to help you see if your role is in this area. Each of the fivefold ministry gifts has specific qualifications. Here are 5 for the prophet:

QUICK LIST FOR ROLE OF PROPHET 1. Prophets guide. Prophets confirm.

Hand in hand with the apostle 2. Prophets must speak not of their own accord or in their own name or any other, but in the Name of the Lord only.

3. Prophecies must be consistent with prior revelation. Prophets do not recreate God’s plan they confirm His plan.

4. Prophets speak what the Lord tells them to speak. Prophets must not encourage idolatry or any other sin.

Deut 13:5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt

The role of the prophet confirming the apostle is apparent in many places in the bible. This shows the importance of the fivefold ministry working in harmony providing protection and direction to the Body of Christ. It is evident in the life of Abraham, Moses and others. The prophet does not make stuff up to say or imagine the will or plan of God. The whole purpose of the bible is to redeem mankind from his sin. The whole of Scripture is consumed with this theme which would have its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Prophets of old did not predict in the sense of some extra sensory perception. Rather (as God has spoken the end from the beginning 22

thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

5. All prophecies must come true (the test of Moses for the true prophet). Deut 18:21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the

in that office will almost certainly operate in the gift of prophecy as well as other revelation gifts (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and discernment of spirits) but should not be limited to this. Elijah for example operated in the gift of miracles.26 1. Not everyone is a prophet. For example, a boy may wear a Cubs baseball cap, but that does not mean he plays professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs.

You may prophesy, but operating in the simple gift of prophecy does not qualify you to stand in the office of a prophet, much like wearing a Cubs hat does not qualify you to play baseball for the Chicago Cubs - you must be gifted. To stand in the office of a prophet, one must have a consistent manifestation of at least two of the revelation gifts ( word of wisdom, word of knowledge, or discerning of spirits) plus prophecy.27 2. The gift of prophecy edifies, exhorts, and comforts (I Corinthians 14:3); helps us build up or strengthen; and should lead us to the Word of God. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come (John 16:8-11).

LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

A very common misunderstanding about prophets is the difference between: 1. The role of the prophet and 2. The operation of the gift of prophecy. The two are distinctly diverse. There must be distinction made between one who speaks out under the unction of the gift of prophecy and one who is a prophet.

The prophet is a role. The individual

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The Role of the Prophet in the New Testament Church by Rev. Mark J. Dibois, Ph.D. 27 http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/gi fts/prophecy.htm

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It is interesting to note that little is depicted about the role of the role of the “New testament prophet�. This can also be said of the other offices in the body of Christ. It is therefore no stretch to assume that the role of the Prophet is essentially unchanged from its function and duty in the Old Testament.28

Examples of Prophets

It seems almost impossible to eliminate from the popular mind the idea that "prophecy" means "prediction." Yet this is a purely modern modification of its meaning.

It rests upon a false etymology: the pro in this word is not the pro which means beforehand (as in prospectus), but the other pro which means in place of (as in pronoun): a prophet is one who speaks in place of another. When Moses had been shrinking from the mission to Israel on the ground of his inefficiency as a speaker, and Aaron was granted him as an assistant in this respect, the words were: `See, I have made thee [Moses] a god unto Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet’ (Exod. 7:1)."

As Aaron is thus the mouthpiece of Moses, so regularly in Scripture the prophet is the mouthpiece of God.29

Aaron Ex. 7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Abraham Gen 20:7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

It is significant that as Moses emerges in an apostolic role (like his predecessor Joseph) that God brings the role of the prophet into full form through Aaron.

Where the apostolic role brings government and direction the prophet provides guidance.

Miriam Ex. 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tumbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tumbrels and with dances.

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The Role of the Prophet in the New Testament Church by Rev. Mark J. Dibois, Ph.D. 29 The Role of the Prophet Reprinted from THE HERALD of November, 1949

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Sometimes "prophets" try to hide the fact that they are not really prophets.

They do this by saying that something did not happen because you and I did not have sufficient faith for it to happen.

Once God says that something will happen, you no longer need faith - He said it will happen and therefore it is as good as done and there is nothing you or I could do (or not do) to prevent it from happening. This is called FAITH God will honor His Word because He cannot lie, make a mistake or be late because of unforeseen circumstances.

A faithful servant is better off than a prophet

speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

It is crucial that we know when a prophet is really talking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and not the inspiration of their flesh or other things.

Judging Prophets 1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The Lord has always been very strict on prophets (and other five-fold ministers). His instructions are that we need to evaluate the information supplied by these prophets and that we should not just accept anything they say. But we have to compare what they are telling us to God's Word and if this is in line, we have to obey. But if these are not in line, these prophets were put to death in the Old Testament:

In conclusion it may be revealed that the office of Prophet is very much a part of the New Testament Church.

His or Her role is one of aiding the various members in hearing from God and placing them in the correct path of God’s will. There are some New Testament Prophets that use their gifts to predict the course of various members of Christ’s body as well as predicting the course of some individuals. Prophets operate

DEU 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to

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primarily in the revelation gifts. They are maintainers of order in themselves and Body at large. The Prophet office is as essential today as it was in the days of Elijah or Jeremiah. 30

wisdom, gave pastors to the Body of Christ. However, He did not make them the head of the Church. He did not appoint pastors to rule over the local congregation. Those who operate in such a manner have man-made religious systems – not the plan of God. The Scripture tells us that a pastor must be above reproach (Titus 1:6, 7; 1 Tim 3:2). This is the overarching, summarizing characteristic that is applicable to all of the fivefold. God never intended for the pastor to be somehow spiritually superior to the rest of the fivefold ministry or the Body of Christ.

AM I A PASTOR? STRONGS NT 1317: HEBREW: ra`ah = to tend a flock; to rule; to associate as a friend

You will find similar (but not identical) lists in 1st Timothy and Titus. Living a life above reproach is the first requirement in both lists and Titus repeats it. The other items on the list explain what “above reproach” means. If we peruse the two lists, as well as First Peter, we find 17 qualifications of an elder who is above reproach. This is a qualification for all in ministry. Apostle Paul, in his apostolic role, was setting order in the church. He was not creating positions, titles or hierarchy.

GREEK: poimen = a shepherd The meaning of the word Pastor is linked to that of a person who is responsible to tend to the flock as a friend or caretaker. διδακτικός, διδακτικη, (equivalent to διδασκαλικός in Greek writings), apt and skillful in teaching: 1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:24. (διδακτικη ἀρετή, the virtue which renders one teachable, docility, Philo).

The most generally acknowledged of the fivefold roles is that of pastor. There are literally hundreds of thousands of pastors in the world. First of all, we need to remember that God, in His

In the modern application the pastor has in some man-made systems become the supreme leader of the local body (in various degrees) and in others he is merely an errand boy or a hireling to officiate over the religious services.

None of these are the God given role of

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copyright 2000 Rev. Mark J. Dibois Used by permission.

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pastors.

translated as pastor is simply the word for a shepherd. A shepherd is a person (man or woman) who cares for a flock of sheep. He or She leads them to a place where they can find food and water. He keeps the flock together, so it is safe from attack. At the same time each sheep receives individual attention.

Those that stray are brought back to the flock, and any sick sheep is healed.

Each one is known by name.

4.

A nurturer, a friend. As a nurturer the pastor will generally minister to a manageable number of persons that are in their charge. In the modern church many of those who wear the title of pastor oversee a vast network of other subservient pastors. Note: this is not the biblical model but the model of men.

5.

Teach knowledge and understanding. (Jer. 3:5).

We have developed a quick list to help you see if your role is in this area. Each of the fivefold ministry gifts has specific qualifications. Here are 5 for the pastor:

QUICK LIST FOR THE ROLE OF PASTOR 1.

Ability requirement. A Pastor must be able to teach (Titus 1:9; 1 Tim 3:2). All of the other qualifications are character qualities. This is the only ability-based requirement. A pastor must to be able to teach sound doctrine both by their own example and in communicating to others. If you are not capable of teaching then you are not a pastor as outlined by Scriptural standards.

2.

A shepherd who watches out for the people of God. 3.

Pastor-Teacher. The Greek word

NOT A TEACHER EQUALS NOT A PASTOR It is interesting that many who wear the title ‘pastor’ see themselves as somehow disconnected from the people rather than the biblical model which has 27

them very ‘hands on’ working daily with the people. The pastor is not an ascetic (living a life out of the reach of others) person but one of the Body of Christ (a servant).

wanted to contend that anybody has to submit to anybody else, the pastors would have to submit to Apostles.

Remember the earmark of the entire fivefold ministry is humility.

I am surprised that those who call themselves ‘pastor’ often admit that they are not teachers. This does not mean that they are not a value to the Body of Christ; but it does reflect that they are not pastors. Most have been assigned as a pastor as part of a man-made religious order. Titus 2:15, Paul sums the pastoral role up in three words: teach, encourage, rebuke. This is the work of the pastor and teacher.

If the Lord anoints a pastor, He anoints somebody who is according to His heart. That will mean that they will be full of love. God calls them because they are people after God's heart. They do not qualify just because they attended Bible School or have some degrees behind their names. (Jer 3:15).

Pastors are sensitive and reasonable (Jer 10:21) honest and truthful (Jer 23:14). It often happens that people leave their secular job to start a church.

Starting churches is not the biblical role of a pastor.

JER 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Ezek 34:4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

JER 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

The pastor is part of the five-fold ministry, fulfilling a vital role in the caring for the children of God. They are not the head of the church; neither do the other ministries have to submit to them. If you 28

JER 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture saith the LORD. 2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.

JER 12:10-11 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, and they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.

One minister reflected this, “Many who wear the title of pastor force the people into doing things by telling them that they do not love God if they do not do this or that. They keep the people in such bondage that they are no longer allowed to have any friends outside of the local congregation. They have taken the people, removed the call of God on their lives through their lies and replaced it with the calling of men. Some even admit that openly and declare boldly that if you serve other people long enough, you will qualify for your own ministry!”

People do not qualify for ministries; they are called by God into them.”

The Lord will restore His flock all on His own, without involving the church and the pastors if need be. The children of God are not really sheep (sheep and shepherds are an analogy) – the people of God are temples of the Holy Ghost and each one of them are lead 29

differently. So a pastor cannot throw the whole congregation into a pot and try and control them all the same way. This normally happens because the pastor is not properly aligned with the fivefold ministry. In place of proper alignment with fivefold ministry and the Body of Christ these ‘pastors’ take the place of ‘sole overseer’. These self appointed or man appointed pastors then are generally too lazy to find out from God what each member of the congregation has to do, or they just cannot hear from God.

miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Translation - didaskalos = an instructor

In order to understand this role better, it would be a good idea to investigate the life of Jesus Christ. He kept on giving the people knowledge and understanding, showed them the right ways, but never ever forced them to stay with Him or follow a certain calling.

He never once told them they were not allowed to go to other Christians and fellowship with them. Being a Pastor is a great privilege and honor. It is also a great responsibility - one that the pastor cannot carry alone. They need the assistance of all four the other five-fold ministers in order to get their congregations to the point where they can successfully flow into their own ministries.

The role of teacher is vital to the continuation of the life and ministry of the Body. The teacher instructs in the areas that the apostles have directed and the prophets have confirmed lifting truth from Scripture and dedicating this to purpose. This is proper doctrine and the teacher is the primary instrument used by God to bring truth to His Body.

The concept of a fivefold minister is to instruct and mentor others in the Body of Christ.

The teacher must have a working knowledge of the Body of Christ to help nurture, train and mature believers and bring another The teacher teaches the students the basics as well as the intricacies of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Preacher publishes the wonderful works that God has done.

TEACHER JOH 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these 30

Like the Bible says: We have overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony". Preaching proclaims what God has done and stirs up our hopes. We become on fire for God and have very high hopes for Jesus to do miracles in our midst. A real teacher does not care to prove him or herself to unbelieving people. They know they have the truth and the fact that God moves with them is proof enough for him or her. God moves with them with signs and wonders.

We have developed a quick list to help you see if your role is in this area. Each of the fivefold ministry gifts has specific qualifications. Here are 5 for the Teacher.

which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

EVANGELIST evangelist = a preacher of the gospel

QUICK LIST FOR TEACHERS Evangelist is much more about function than office (as are all the fivefold gifts).

We have developed a quick list to help you see if your role is in this area. Each of the fivefold ministry gifts has specific qualifications. Here are 5 for Evangelist

1.

Not just an instructor but committed to the outcome of those to who he or she teaches.

2.

Qualified and appointed by the authority of Jesus Christ to bring understanding through the teaching of doctrine. Doctrine is truth lifted from Scripture and dedicated to purpose.

3.

He or she sometimes uncovers things from the Bible that other people just seem to miss.

4.

They teach doctrine. This becomes knowledge to the people of God. "My people perish because of a lack of knowledge" The Teacher provides this knowledge.

5.

Teaching rather than preaching.

ACT 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things

QUICKLIST FOR EVANGELISTS 1.

A Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Preach = kerusso, kayroos-so which means to herald (as a public crier), proclaim, publish as related to encouraging, exhorting, the local church body.

2.

Brings the Good News.

3.

Evangelists in the fivefold application bring encouragement to the body of Christ. One man asked me to help him understand what his role was 31

in the fivefold ministry. He was certain of his call to ministry but confused about what role he filled. Local pastors had told him he was a music minister or music pastor. He was further cofounded because he could not find ‘music pastor’ in the bible. This man served to lead worship in two congregations within his local community. His role was evident as an evangelist to the local body of Christ. He was confused about his role because the body of Christ is divided because of religious politics, but God was not confused about how he set His body in order. Christ is not divided. The fact that the body in that area was fragmented into various congregations has not deterred the flow of the Spirit as it moves in His gifts.

4.

Evangelists have the specific role of bringing encouragement to the body of Christ and also to bring spiritual revival to the lukewarm.

who did not have the gift of an Evangelist, was constantly frustrated for years when he preached at his own annual evangelistic meetings and received little responses for salvation. Then on one occasion, he broke with his tradition and invited a gifted Evangelist to preach. The result was astounding. There were more responses for salvation in one meeting than all the meetings that the pastor had ever conducted. A Holy-Spirit empowered gift is something to be reckoned.”ii 5.

The Lord also blesses Evangelists with signs and wonders so as to confirm the words that they preach. One of the purposes of the Evangelist is to lead seekers to Christ

It will be good if the church can identify those who have this gift from among their congregation and use their gifting.

As not all pastors are Evangelists, it will be wise to spot some early. “For example, a pastor of a small church,

new. However, this is also part of the role of the entire body of Christ. Some of the greatest men in the bible were called evangelists, Timothy and Phillip to name two. Evangelists hold an important role in the five fold ministry.

The evangelist is key to encouraging the body of Christ and as such is an invaluable equal to the pastor and apostle.

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If we look at the Great Commission, are we then all evangelists? Although we all evangelize, only some people are called to use this calling to train other people in getting them ready for their ministries.

Remember the call of the five-fold ministers.



To “be watchful”

An evangelist is to proclaim the scriptures, for the reason that they alone are profitable for the things necessary for one’s spiritual development (2 Tim. 3:16, 17); an evangelist is not to preach his opinion but “the whole body of revealed truth” (Acts 20:27).

Evangelist is a special gift to the body to encourage and uplift. Many people who have been misnamed as pastors are evangelists. Music ministers are generally evangelists, as are a plethora of other gifting to the Body of Christ.

To “be instant” - “To stand by, be present, be at hand.” “Hold oneself in constant readiness to proclaim the word” (Acts 13:13-16). “In season” literally, “well-season.” The word is translated “conveniently” in Mark 14:11. The gospel was “in season” in Acts 2:37.

The work of the evangelist is:  To follow the pattern of sound words (2 Tim. 1:13)  To teach faithful men and women (2 Tim. 2:2)  To correct opponents of the truth (2 Tim. 2:25)  To preach the word of God (2 Tim. 4:1-4) - This is an obligation of every Christian (Acts 8:4).

To “reprove” - “To convict, confute, refute, usually with the suggestion of putting the convicted person to shame” (Acts 24:25). To “rebuke” - “To charge one with wrong; implies a sharp, severe

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church to pastor”.

rebuke, with a suggestion of impending penalty” To “exhort” - “To admonish...to urge, one to pursue some course of conduct” (Acts 2:37-40).

 QUALIFICATIONS OF THE FIVEFOLD MINISTER, ELDERS, AND OTHERS

“With all longsuffering” - “Forbearance, patience.” “Patience with regard to antagonistic persons.” “That quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish…the opposite of anger…is associated with mercy” (Acts 14:19-22).

“With…doctrine” - “Sound and reasonable instruction in the truth” (2 Tim. 3:16,17).

Character requirements of all fivefold ministers (the goal is to have the best example of mature, Holy Ghost filled, leaders in these important roles in the Body of Christ):

WHAT AN EVANGELIST IS NOT  The evangelist is not an itinerant preacher, who merely goes from place to place preaching for what he can get in special contributions.  The evangelist is not one who only holds gospel meetings or “revivals.” [While an evangelist may limit his work in such a way, the Bible does not so restrict him.

1.

Spiritually mature (1 Tim 3:6) Positions of authority without spiritual maturity lead to the trap of pride. When pride grows in a man, sin abounds.

2.

Devoted to their spouse (Titus 1:6; 1 Tim 3:2).

3.

Children must be in submission (Titus 1:6; 1 Tim 3:4-5).

4.

Faithful Steward (Titus 1:7) 5.

Humble - not arrogant (Titus 1:7) 6.

Gentle - not quick-tempered (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3) 7.

Sober - not a drunkard (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3). This is not just overindulgence in alcohol but is idiomatic for any behavior that fuels addictive responses.

8.

Peaceful - not violent (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3)

 He is not someone doing the evangelist job while “looking for a 34

the fullness of Christ!

9.

Must have financial integrity - not greedy for gain (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3; 1 Peter 5:3) 10.

Hospitable (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim 3:2) 11.

Lover of good (Titus 1:8) 12.

Self-controlled (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim 3:2) Self-control is a characterization of every area life: diet, time, mouth, exercise, relationships, sex, and money.

13.

Upright (Titus 1:8). Integrity in his relationships and in the way they treat others.

14.

Holy (Titus 1:8). A life devoted to Jesus externally and internally.

15.

Respectable (1 Tim 3:7)

Some contend that everyone has a fivefold role and that the work of the fivefold is to train the rest of the Body so that they know and understand their purpose. I am not certain that everyone has a fivefold role but certainly everyone needs instruction. However, there is nothing wrong with everyone having a ministry role as this is the role of the Body of Christ.

Everyone may be called to hold a fivefold role. Certainly, we are all called to do the work of an evangelist.

I believe there is value in stressing the truth that there must be diversity of function in the body of Christ... a. This point is often overlooked when churches think about how they might involve every member b. Yet failure to appreciate this truth can hinder true growth, and at the same time be very frustrating for the members of the body of Christ Some congregations have been built around one particular kind of ministry or program. In those congregations, the only members who are really involved are those taking part in that one special program. But the church is a body. A body must have diversity if it is to survive. Evangelism, edification, benevolence, and worship are functions of every local congregation.

The role of fivefold ministry is to fulfill the function described in Ephesians 4:12-13, " ... 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."

This by no means concludes the lessons in related to the fivefold ministry. This is only the beginning.

Enjoy your journey. I am available to help in any way I can.

Leadership's function is to train and equip the body for the work of the ministry! The focus of good leadership is nothing short of aiming for the whole body to attain to the whole measure of 35

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Invocation for Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States was delivered by Paula White, pastor of the New Destiny Christian Center

We recognize that every good and every perfect gift comes from you and the United States of America is your gift, for which we proclaim our gratitude.

As a nation, we now pray for our president, Donald John Trump, vice president, Michael Richard Pence, and their families. We ask that you would bestow upon our president the wisdom necessary to lead this great nation, the grace to unify us, and the strength to stand for what is honorable and right in your sight.

In Proverbs 21:1, you instruct us that our leader's heart is in your hands. Gracious God, reveal unto our president the ability to know the will, your will, the confidence to lead us in justice and righteousness, and the compassion to yield to our better angels.

Paula White, pastor of the New Destiny Christian Center, is President Donald Trump's spiritual adviser. She has a Doctoral Degree from Life College (formerly International Circle of Faith Colleges Seminaries and Universities). “We come to you, heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus with grateful hearts, thanking you for this great country that you have decreed to your people. We acknowledge we are a blessed nation with a rich history of faith and fortitude, with a future that is filled with promise and purpose.

While we know there are many challenges before us, in every generation you have provided the 37

Of relevance to ICOF is Pastor Paula White is an alumni of ICOF CSU (International Circle of Faith Colleges Seminaries and Universities – Now Life College).

strength and power to become that blessed nation. Guide us in discernment, Lord, and give us that strength to persevere and thrive.

Now bind and heal our wounds and divisions, and join our nation to your purpose. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, the psalmists declared.

Let your favor be upon this one nation under God. Let these United States of America be that beacon of hope to all people and nations under your dominion, a true hope for humankind.

Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen�

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From the FIVEFOLD ROUNDTABLE TEACHING SERIES

The good definition of understanding is the foundation under which we stand; or what is under that which we stand? In exalting the gift, they fail to find their true purpose.

There are many gifts among them—helps, ministry, tongues, healing, prophecy, administration, encouragement, salvation, etc. The empowerment of God’s grace in any area of our life is a gift. Ministry is how we are called to serve God; gifts are how we are empowered by God to minister.

Distinctions in Ministry Gifting, Role and Function

By Barney Philips

The Bible says that all can prophesy, but this does not mean that everyone holds the office of a prophet.

All the leadership can pastor and care for the “sheep,” but that does not mean they all have the God-given office of a pastor in the fivefold ministry. Many can teach, but each one does not operate in the office of teacher.

Many have wrongly assumed that their gifting is their ministry rather than how they are to administer or dispense their gifting.

Gifting is not ministry, but the empowerment and means God gives us to accomplish our ministry. God’s grace in ministry works through our gifts; see Romans 12:6 and First Corinthians 3:10.

When someone declares their gifting to be their ministry, he or she usually lacks understanding and foundation.

God gives spiritual gifts to all, but ministry gifts he appoints only some to particular offices by measure of grace and authority.

This is the distinction between charisma and ministry gifting. The fivefold ministry gifts of Ephesians chapter 4 are ministerial

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offices of authority, given by grace, according to the measure of the gift.

Whereas, the gifts of Romans chapter 12 are charisma gifts that are given to each Christian by the Spirit according to His purpose for their life. Charisma gifts are part of who we are, and they are in us even prior to salvation, even though their full exercise may only manifest in service to God.

evangelist in a certain place because of the need. However, just because he did the work of an evangelist at that time, does not mean that he held the office of an evangelist. In the same manner, if someone prophesies, that does not necessarily a prophet. Just because someone done the work of an apostle and set up some churches and helped with foundational structure does not necessarily mean that person is an apostle; they are simple operating a gift of the spirit of an apostle.

The man God sets in a place operates under an apostolic gift of authority. He should then train others to minister and should provide people to care for the congregation. He should help define their gifting, ministry and call. The ones who should fill positions in the Church are those God has gifted and called for particular areas of services. When leadership is lacking

Everyone has been given charisma gifts, but not everyone has ministry gifts which manifests itself in offices of authority. Due to the immaturity of the Church, resulting from the absence of the Teacher, most recognize and seek charisma gifts; few are able to appreciate or recognize ministries of authority. This is one reason the Church is so lacking in foundation and Godly direction.

Those in ministry may flow in a variety of gifting from time to time. Even though Timothy was called an apostle and an elder, Paul told him to do the work of an

this order, you can then pin point the reason the church is lacking identity and 40

purposes. The set man should seek for the conformation of the Holy Spirit concerning the appointment of eldership, and then bring them before the apostle, prophet and elders for conformation; a presbytery of ministry who are in set order.

Restoration of the Church Three things that the New Testament church had that are lacking in the Modern Church: 1. Infilling of the Holy Spirit.

2. The gifts of the Spirit & 3. Fivefold ministry

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38).

Barney Phillips serves as ICOF Vice President of Missions http://www.icof.net

Apostolic Reformation "If the Lord tarries, there may yet be a grass-roots awakening that will overflow all sectarian barriers. There are a host of good people... who long for a visitation from heaven in old-time power. The kindling wood is scattered all round in all the churches. May God help us to rake off the ashes, uncover the live coals and may He blow upon us with the breath of His Spirit!"

-Vance Havner

Throughout history there have been waves of the Holy Spirit that resulted in attempts at restoration or reformation of the Church to return it to the original doctrine of the Apostles of Jesus Christ.

Movements of Apostolic Reformation have happened repeatedly since the time of John Wycliffe. In the last Century there was an Apostolic reformation that birthed the Apostolic Faith movement and subsequent 41

Pentecostal Movement. It is our expectation that we are on the verge of another similar wave of the Spirit. We refer to this as The Next Wave.

In a recent weekly Executive Session we discussed how the enemies of the cross seem more committed to prayer to their false deities than followers of Jesus Christ demonstrate. In discussing the challenges, understanding that there has been some 2000 years since the advent of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, we concluded that there is no organized effort to call the people of God to daily prayer.

Granted, there have been and remain efforts to such as the national day of prayer but this is only to direct us to prayer one day per year. Thus, it is our expectation to see a global 'Call to Prayer' where Biblical Christians (followers of Jesus Christ) would commit to pray on a daily basis.

The Next Wave The Next Wave will move away from the traditions of men and focus on the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teaching of the New Testament church and the Apostles of Jesus Christ. The next wave has little interest in superficial events and pseudo "outpouringsâ€&#x; opting for a real and sustaining manifestation of the power of God. Royal Priesthood

Here is our challenge: Prayer - 3 times a day. We are asking every follower of Jesus Christ to commit to prayer three times each day.

This is a commitment to daily prayer for the rest of our lives.

This prayer time can be anytime during the day but we are suggesting the following: • Morning - Pray by yourself, with your family or those where you work or go to school. This will help set the tone for the day.

For the Royal Priesthood (or the Body of Christ) to come to maturity it will take a fully functional fivefold ministry. To this end we have committed to ICOF .

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marijuana is not innocent. Tens of thousands do worse in school and later in life because of this drug.

Teenagers who smoke marijuana regularly drop out at twice the rate of non-users. Those who care about racial injustice will note that black men are disproportionately imprisoned for all types of crimes, not just drugs. Legalizing marijuana will worsen, not improve, the lives of black men, women and children.

Drugs and Drug Addiction have no Religious Preference Letters to the Editor The New York Times 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 To the Editor:

Bishop, Dr. Ron Allen President/Founder International Faith Based Coalition

As an African-American who works to rehabilitate drug addicts, I am dismayed to see the plight of black Americans used to push a prolegalization agenda. Most black men in prison for drugs are in for crimes committed because they were under the influence. By increasing availability, legalization would increase drug abuse and the number of men and women behind bars— black, white and Hispanic. Simple possession represents a tiny minority of prison inmates.

Drallenifbc@yahoo.com 916-807-1210 P.O.Box 5062 Sacramento Ca. 95818

Drug abuse is the greatest destroyer of individuals and families, and 43

What You Should Know About Fivefold Ministry

ministry. However, in the biblical sense this is not ideal. The Lord has never placed all the gifts in one person but wants the fivefold ministry to be shared among the leaders of the church. The church grows stronger when these ministers cooperate and serve the people, building them to become matured in their faith. The end result will be an effective congregation united in Agape love and at the same time doing the "works of service" by reaching out to the community.

By Albert Kang

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.'

Mobilization of Laity The mobilization of laity is absolutely vital for the church to grow strong spiritually and also grow large numerically. The "quantity" of the churchgoers goes hand in hand with the "quality" of the church. (Though the opposite may not necessary be true).

Seekers respond to the Gospel when the church's lay ministers are spiritually strong and well trained enough to present it with the power of the Holy Spirit. The fivefold ministry of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers has to be reintroduced in every church. The pastor has to observe, select and train lay people who have such relevant gifts. After training, these gifted people should be given clear guidelines, ministry descriptions, and the appropriate authority to serve and build God's people for other ministries. God has given us a self-perpetuating program it is up to us to obey Him and implement this in our church.

Ephesians 4:11-13 You have heard about the fivefold ministry as found in Ephesians 4:11-13, but have you seen it in operation? The chances are that you may have seen twofold or threefold ministry in the church. In most churches, the pastors are the ones who usually serve as Evangelists and Teachers. On some rare occasions, they might even take on the prophetic role and utter some prophecies. Once a year, they might lead mission teams to plant churches in other countries and thus take the role of an Apostle.

We have to appreciate these pastors for being versatile enough to do the fivefold 44

Apostles Govern

constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

(2.Corinthians 11:23-28)

The early Disciples of Christ were known as Apostles. They were the ones who were anointed by the Holy Spirit so that they could establish the fledging Christian faith in different countries.

Apart from the twelve well-known Apostles recorded in the Gospel we have to take note of the Apostles recorded in the other parts of the New Testament. The lack of clear distinction between these two groups of Apostles has led to misunderstanding as to what Apostleship is all about. We now know that there are people who are called to the office of Apostleship and then there are many who have apostolic gifts. Paul the Apostle challenged those who claimed to be Apostles but who were not willing to pay the price of that esteemed office:

Today, there are Christian ministers who call themselves "Apostles". There is no doubt that some of these are true Apostles but others have assumed this title as position of elevation. (Surf the Internet and you will be able to observe quite a few of these so-called Apostles).

Few of them hold apostolic credentials like that of Paul and I suspect that it is their insatiable appetite for recognition and power that has resulted in this abuse.

When I was in China, I had the privilege of traveling with an old Chinese pastor who had been imprisoned for his faith, by the Communists, for 27 years. During the journey, I observed how humble and Christ-like he was. Even at 75 years old, there was fire in his eyes whenever he talked about the Lord and the future of the Chinese churches. He was poor but was most willing to share the little money that he had with others. He had no car or even a bicycle. He dressed simply and had little possession. For more than ten years after his release from prison, he had been traveling around Southern China to establish underground churches. After traveling with him to visit a couple of these churches and watching him counseling, correcting and even reprimanding

Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been 45

younger pastors, I had no doubt that he was a true Apostle. In every church, he encouraged the congregation to establish more cell groups and more churches. In one church, he had to leave in the middle of a sermon because the police was after him. Even though he had never announced himself as holding the apostolic position, the people whom he served, recognized that.

should the people pay their taxes (Matthew 22:15-22). In having the gift of discernment, the Prophets are able to discern whether certain people are speaking on behalf of God's Spirit, human spirits or evil spirits.

Missionaries who pioneer and establish churches can be considered to be the modern Apostles because the primary task of Apostleship is planting churches.

Even though I have planted more than 16 churches and a few orphanages, I can only say that I am doing the apostolic work. The emphasis is upon the word "work" rather than the word "apostolic". It is a privilege to be used by the Lord in this way and never shall it be used as a position of elevation and honor.

Prophets speak on behalf of God and reveal His will. They are important in today's church because all Christians need to know the heart of God and learn how to work together for His glory. Most Christians may have prophetic gifts but not all hold the office of a Prophet.

Today, there has been an increase in the number of so-called "Prophets" who abuse this position of gifting. Many of them have assumed the mystical aura to impress naĂŻve Christians. Sadly, many Christians are still as superstitious as the pagans and they are taking these "Prophets" to be their personal fortunetellers. This is a very dangerous trend because if prophecies were based on the practitioners' ability to guess and convince, then the people would not be able to distinguish between the real and false prophets. In some of the surveys done in USA, such prophets were only twenty per cent accurate. This was tantamount to guessing as those who did not have the prophetic gifts also gained similar scores. The shamans and mystics in Asia would have done better

Prophets Guide In the New Testament, Agabus was known as a prophet even though his advice to Paul was inaccurate (Acts 21).

The daughters of the Evangelist Philip were also well-known prophetesses.

The purpose of the prophetic ministry is to guide the church. The prophets usually exercise revelation gifts such as words of knowledge, words of wisdom and discerning of the spirit in their prophecies. With the words of knowledge, they may foretell the future in specific terms. With the words of wisdom, they provide wisdom in difficult situations. Jesus displayed such gift of wisdom when He was faced with the condemned adulteress (John 8:1-12) and also during the issue about to whom 46

than that. In the Old Testament, the prophets had to be 100 per cent accurate or else they would be known as false prophets and be stoned to death.

salvation. Then on one occasion, he broke with his tradition and invited a gifted Evangelist to preach. The result was astounding. There were more responses for salvation in one meeting than all the meetings that the pastor had ever conducted. A Holy-Spirit empowered gift is something to be reckoned with.

Let me emphasize that we should not reject those who are called to the prophetic office but neither should we accept every utterance without using the biblical guidelines of evaluating and judging them. Let us be cautious as we weigh every prophetic word with the Scripture.

The Lord also blesses Evangelists with signs and wonders so as to confirm the words that they preach. The purpose of the Evangelists is to create new converts. After that, they hand these converts to the church and let the pastor-teacher does the grounding work so as to make these converts into Disciples. We should encourage those who have this evangelistic gift to come forward to be used for the kingdom of God. This is especially crucial for the future existence of the church because it is only through new converts that new Disciples come forth.

Evangelists Gather

Pastors Guard We are most familiar with the role of a pastor as this is the most prominent office in the church. He is the undershepherd of the Chief Shepherd who is Jesus Christ. His gifting is in the area of caring and nurturing the believers. He has overwhelming emotional stamina, patience and also wisdom to resolve church problems and human relation issues. James, the brother of Jesus, was known as the pastor of the Jerusalem church. Even the Apostles returned to report to him and the elders in that church.

Evangelists are Christians who have the specific gift of challenging seekers to have faith in Jesus and also to bring spiritual revival to lukewarm churches.

They are the "sales" force of the church.

It will be good if the church can identify those who have this gift from among their congregation and use them for the purpose of winning souls. As not all pastors are Evangelists, it will be wise to spot some early.

For example, a pastor of a small church, who did not have the gift of an Evangelist, was constantly frustrated for years when he preached at his own annual evangelistic meetings and received little responses for

Today, the churches are in a confused state because we do not recognize the call of God for ministers to serve in any 47

one of the other four ministries, except that of a pastor. Therefore we erroneously deem anyone who has a divine call should automatically become a pastor.

However, the pastor alone is never enough. He must activate other gifted lay members to take on this teaching ministry.

Spirit-gifted and anointed teachers are different from those who are teaching in the secular schools. This teaching gift is divinely given and special because it allows the teacher to impart divine life and at the same time reveal hidden spiritual truth. With the gift of wisdom, the teacher speaks the mind of Christ to his students and thus stirs up further hunger within them. The more the congregation understands the will of God, the better it is in serving Him. Sadly, many modern Charismatic churches are missing out on the dedicated teaching of the solid doctrines of the Scripture. The overt emphasis upon the spiritual gifts has led to neglect in the didactic ministry. No matter how many spiritual gifts that the Christian might have, nothing is more important than the consistent studying of God's Word under the guidance of an anointed and gifted teacher.

I met a Christian brother who is gifted as an evangelist but he is pastoring a church. This is frustrating him to no end.

He has tried to be a full-time Evangelist but during that time, even though the ministry results were good, his family almost starved. For practical reason of getting a fixed income for his family, he became a pastor. Evangelists usually do not get a full salary and have to live from offerings to offerings. It is now time for the churches to recognize the needs of the other parts of the fivefold ministry and to accord these ministers with appropriate income so that they can concentrate on their calling and serve the Lord and His church.

Teachers Ground

Restoring Fivefold Ministry For the modern churches to be powerful and effective, they have to reactivate the ministries of the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. The fivefold ministry is like the five fingers of a hand. Yes, we can use the hand even though it has only three fingers but it is not ideal. The handicap is obvious when we want to use it for heavier task.

The role of the teachers is vital because the spiritual and doctrinal foundations of the church depend upon them. They are the ones who do the grounding work. I can usually tell that a church is strong by seeing the number of good teachers it has. Most pastors are gifted with teaching ability and so they usually take the role of being pastor-teachers.

The task of churches today is heavy indeed. We therefore have to restore the complete operation of the fivefold ministry by giving the rightful positions of the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, 48

Pastors and Teachers. We must emphasize that for the fivefold ministry to be effective we must include the lay people. It should never be reduced to a domain for only a select few.

The maturity of the Church of Jesus Christ is at stake and the fulfilling of Christ's command to make Disciples of all nations has yet to be achieved. The churches cannot afford to play church games any more. Let's arise and make every effort to allow God to use us effectively in whichever part of the fivefold ministry that He has for us. Let's fulfill the Great Commission of the Lord without further delay.

Reverend Albert Kang received his Master of Divinity in 1985 from Far East Advanced School of Theology (now known as Asia Pacific Theological Seminary), a Bible Seminary belonging to the Assemblies of God. God has used him to initiate 16 churches and 3 orphanages in Asia and USA. His first church in Singapore grew from 23 people to 1,700 within six years. For 7 years, he ministered in Cambodia where he planted a Cambodian church and 3 orphanages. He then co-founded a new church in Pittsburgh, PA before returning to Singapore in 2001. Today, his ministry is based in Malaysia and affiliated with High Praise Church in Subang Jaya.

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Stephen (Acts 7:51-53) Being a man pleaser negates being a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10) We are to Please God (2 Timothy 2:4)

Five Sins to avoid in the Ministry Bishop Gilson Levi 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6

A POLITICAL APPROACH (1 Thessalonians 2:5) No Flattering Words Used The Wickedness of Flattering Words No flattering titles given to men (Job 32:21-22) The wicked speak with a flattering tongue (Psalms 5:9) Flattering lips are connected to a double heart (Psalms 12:2) The Lord will cut them off (Psalms 12:3) The flattering mouth worketh ruin (Proverbs 26:28) Flattery spreads a net for your neighbors feet (Proverbs 29:5)

Introduction: You would think that ministry would only be done by those who love God and seek to do everything according to God’s will, but this is not so. Any ministry that is done by a believer is extremely important, yet when it is done wrong it is extremely detrimental to the cause of the Christ.

May God work in our hearts to help us make sure that we are doing it His way.

A WRONG MOTIVE (1 ...Thessalonians 2:3) Not of Deceit Paul’s exhortation was not motivated by a desire to deceive.

Our motive should be to tell others the truth, even when it hurts.

Not of Uncleanness Paul’s exhortation was not motivated by some wicked desire.

Our motive in ministry should be pure.

Not in Guile Paul’s motive was not covered up in deceit.

Our motive should be obvious to all of those who serve alongside of us.

Not of Filthy Lucre (1 Peter 5:2)

A DOUBLE LIFE (1 Thessalonians 2:5) An Outer Appearance – A cloke The Inward Appearance - covetousness A DESIRE FOR THE WRONG GLORY (1 Thessalonians 2:6) They Did Not Seek Glory from Men (1 Corinthians 3:21 ; 1 Corinthians 4:7) Glory for Ministry Comes Later (Romans 8:18 ; 2 Corinthians 4:17) Conclusion: Are you serving the Lord? If so, check your motive. Make sure your desire is to please the Lord and not men. Be real and seek not to flatter others. Do not concern yourself with winning the praise or glory of men. It is vain. Ministry is about Christ and others.

It is about eternity

A MISPLACED DESIRE TO PLEASE (1 Thessalonians 2:4) We are Not to Please Men Good men in the Bible did not please men Jesus (Matthew 23:13-2) Peter (Acts 5:3-9) 50

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financed and built by a Pentecostal church in Holland. It included a large house, big Bible school, greenhouses, outdoor horticulture, aquaculture and poultry. It was amazing. Very different to what I had expected! So after a brief hello and quick look around, I left. All was going well with their Dutch involvement.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT --DAVID AND KATHY TAIT ARE SHIFTING TO KENYA TO LIVE! Kathy and I want to tell you our exciting news! God has made the way possible for us to shift, long term, 14,000+km from New Zealand to a compound in Webuye, Western Kenya, to become a physical example of kingdom living, both spiritually and practically.

We will leave New Zealand in mid June and arrive in Kenya mid July.

After coming home I was more specific about the call to Kathy. She said she needed to go over there to check it out, before making a decision. The opportunity came when we went to India for our son Nigel, and his now wife Savi's, wedding.

India is much closer to Kenya than New Zealand, and we found some very cheap fares from Delhi to Nairobi on Saudi Airlines.

WAITING FOR GOD'S TIMING Around 4 years ago the Lord told me to go live in Kenya and minister with our friends, David and Selina Walukhu. I mentioned this to Kathy at the time, in a general sense of going to Africa. Her response was, "Not until Mum dies." Approaching 2 years ago now, this happened.

We envisaged perhaps going there, helping a little in the Bible school, doing WWJ ministry round the countries in the area, with Kathy finding a job to help people, either in nursing or in some other way.

So, in August 2015 I went back to Kenya after a 10 year absence, with the specific purpose to talk with David and Selina. They were away! I saw them for 1 hour just as I was leaving Webuye for another town. After our reunion, they quickly showed me round the compound where they were now living. Quite different to 10 years before!

When we got to Webuye, we found the position had dramatically changed! The Dutch church, for internal reasons, had withdrawn, the compound had been handed over to the local Trustees, who were looking for a new vision. Wow! Tailor made for David and Kathy to come in and provide guidance to the people! Unbelievable! All in God's time,

The 6 acre compound had been 52

not ours.

I have got links to Google Drive for.....

For me, the vision tarried for 4 years before it was truly time for it's fulfillment!

So be encouraged if you are still waiting.

If it is His vision, the day will come - in His timing.

A presentation for friends, for you to look at, that shows in more detail where we are going..... https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/ 1DBgQPnqikwGQqxBLWGaeqwnrmIPJVWLgWRmvERZUHc/edit?usp=shari ng

A FEW DETAILS Webuye is an industrial town in Western Kenya, best known for its paper mill, (which had closed but reopened during our visit) and several sugar mills nearby.

It is 5,000 feet above sea level and has a population of 20,000 people. 400,000 people live in the immediate area and 4 million in the region. It is virtually on the Equator but its height above sea level brings a pleasant climate with temperatures of 32 down to 26c at night in the summer (Dec - Feb), and 27-13 in the winter (June - Aug) with wet seasons in between. Humidity is low, because of the height. The compound is just outside the town, in the country.

There are only 3 other Europeans in the immediate area, but many In the cities of Eldoret and Kisumu, less than 2 hours drive away, in different directions.

A larger town, Bungoma, 30 minutes away, has European supermarkets selling Western style products. So it is not David Livingstone stuff! Kenya is growing and modernizing fast, with a GDP growth rate of 5-6% p.a. The area is mainly Christian, although many are nominal, with perhaps 10% Muslims. It is a peaceful area. Terrorism is found primarily in Northern Kenya.

A presentation for churches or groups focused on what we are going to do....... https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B44p0f3 zvNcCNmJtb3BTOV9sRUk/view?usp=s haring A video of an Eye Clinic in Zambia, produced by SEE INTERNATIONAL who have also agreed to support us with surgeons and training once we have the infrustructure built. A heart moving watch! ..... https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B44p0f3 zvNcCRlMtZlRTeV95QVU/view?usp=sh aring Now the website is available at..... www.aneye4africa.org And a Facebook page at..... https://www.facebook.com/aneye4africa/

United States Contact:

I have now got all the materials together for what we want to do in Kenya. Have been waiting for a recommendation from the Governor of Bungoma County but got it!

Bernie L. Wade, PhD Life Network 7204 Hwy 329 Suite #1 Crestwood, KY 40014 502.655.8572 53

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LIFE FEST 2017 SEPTEMBER 8 & 9, 2017 LAGRANGE KENTUCKY HOSTED BY LIFE CHURCH & INTERNATIONAL CIRCLE OF FAITH

Men’s Fellowship Breakfast Louisville KY Hosted by Pastor Mike Frierson 502.528.5805 502.408.4942 Golden Corral 4032 Taylorsville Rd, Louisville, KY 40220 Phone: (502) 485-0004

For more information contact:

All Ministers are invited to participate

Anniversary Services Centro Christiano Bethel August 18 & 19, 2017 Pastors Hinmer & Katia Zuniga General Butler State Park Carrolton, KY 859,760.9086

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502.410.4263 i

ii

Reverend Albert Kang.

Reverend Albert Kang

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