1 Corinthians 12:28
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
Today we observe that it is God who appoints ministers of various kinds in the church. They don’t just volunteer. It is about calling. It’s not about personal ambition, beloved.
Much harm has been done in the church by people who presumed to operate in the capacity of the fivefold ministries. While all believers are equal in the sense of being members of the body of Christ, there is a critical functional difference. There is an anointing the Holy Spirit releases to those who operate in the office to which He appoints them.
Similarly, a parallel passage puts it this way, “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ep 4:11-12).
Note that the Fivefold Ministries (full-time ministers) are anointed to equip the saints (lay-ministers) to serve the Lord. Let us recognise the divine order in the church beloved. Then we can experience this: “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 fulness of Christ.” (Ep 4:13).
Pastor Josh