Understanding ministry gifts

A lot of believers are ignorant of the different offices and functions of the gifts of ministry. Such ignorance causes them to fail to tap into the anointing of their leader as well as to develop their own gifts.
But this week’s message seeks to enlighten them. The gifts of ministry as listed in Ephesians 4:11 are: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Jesus Christ is the giver of ministry gifts.
And the overall purpose of these ministry gifts is to lead, nurture, grow and mature the saints. They are 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 of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4:12, 13).
Please note that knowledge and faith are necessary to operate in these ministry gifts or spiritual leadership offices and also that these individuals do not become leaders by their own decision or by appointment. They are not ready-made but are called from among believers and developed to serve in the offices.
Apostles
The term apostle means “to send away or to send forth.” These are individuals given the calling and the special ability to plant or start churches. Apostles are called for the foundational growth of the church. Such individuals are called, anointed with the ability to found and oversee churches and then are given to the body of Christ as special leaders. The twelve apostles of Christ were the first, and Paul was added unto them later on.
Their special function was to found the church in the world and several of them wrote books found in the New Testament. Apostles still exist today, and their function is to carry the gospel into new places and oversee the development of God’s work there. Steps involved in preparation of apostles are suffering, increasing in wisdom and stature, and learning. Paul is a good example to study.     
Prophets
These are God’s spokespersons and are mainly for the edification and encouragement of the church through expounding or giving meaning to God’s message. The gift of ministry known as prophet has two main functions: foretelling, which means to tell about an event before it takes place and forthtelling, which means to tell forth, to speak out.
A prophet is one who speaks by inspiration, that is, he speaks out as he is breathed upon by the Holy Spirit. One is speaking as a prophet only when he gives the meaning of God’s message as it is given by the Holy Spirit.
The Old Testament often told events even before they took place and gave the meaning of God’s message to the people.
However, their words were not usually found in the word of God already given (although were not contrary to the word). Only occasionally did they quote from a written record.
The New Testament prophets most often bring challenge and encouragement based on truths already received. The ministry of Judas and Silas in Acts 15:32 is a good example .Thus a prophet brings a special message from God by His Spirit to meet the needs of the people at a particular time. Development of a prophet involves praying earnestly everyday, knowing God’s word deeply and constant exercising of the gift.  Understand the difference between a prophet and one who gives a word prophecy. Word of prophecy can be received by any believer at one or another but a prophet prophesies as a matter of office, or calling.
Evangelists
These are men and women called and anointed for the numerical growth of the church. The main function of an evangelist is understood from the meaning of the word evangelist which means one who announces good tidings.
The good tidings associated with evangelism as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 include that Christ died for our sins. While the evangelist’s chief function is to preach salvation to sinners, he also preaches holiness to believers. The four steps in developing this gift are: much prayer, much study of God’s word, much learning to hear and obey God’s voice and much evangelising.
Pastor-teacher
Normally pastors and teachers form one gift called pastor-teacher, which means a pastor with a teaching ministry. Please note that even apostles, prophets and evangelists can also be teachers of God’s word.
The Bible has more to say about the pastor- teacher gift because it is the most common ministry gift. There is need for more of pastors in the body of Christ since they are for qualitative growth of the church.
 Some whole books of the New Testament are written for the instruction and training of pastors; the two epistles to Timothy and one to Titus. The work of a pastor is best understood when the title shepherd is used. As a shepherd the pastor loves, cares for, feeds, protects and leads his flock of sheep.
He also aims at reproduction; that is he trains his sheep to bring new members into the flock. Requirements for developing the pastor-teacher are nearly the same for evangelist but the pastor-teacher has the greater need to accurately divide the word of truth every time.

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