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apostles, denominational ordinations, discipling, evangelists, evangelizing, foundational ministerial gifts, function combinations, functions, gifts, God-ordained gifts, human gifts, manifestative spiritual gifts, motivational spiritual gifts, prophets, shepherds (pastors, teachers
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ~ Romans 12:4-5
Every believer in Jesus Christ is a member of His spiritual Body. However, every believer in Jesus Christ’s Body neither is given the same spiritual gifts nor given the same combination of spiritual gifts. For example, every believer neither functions as a prophet, nor functions in the prophet-evangelist-shepherd combination.
There are five kinds of foundational ministerial gifts or God-ordained gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds (pastors), and teachers (see Ephesians 4:11-13). These God-ordained gifts are functions NOT titles! They are spiritual human gifts given by Jesus Christ to His entire Body. Mankind often confirms these spiritual human gifts with denominational ordinations, but God confirms these spiritual human gifts with His Holy Spirit who directs the God-ordained functions/gifts in believers whose callings are to serve and meet the needs of others.
There also are different kinds of manifestative spiritual gifts (e.g., word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning spirits, diverse tongues, and interpretation of tongues; see 1 Corinthians 12:7-11). These spiritual gifts are how God’s Holy Spirit works through believers in a given situation so as to demonstrate God’s supernatural power.
Lastly, there are different kinds of motivational spiritual gifts (e.g., prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership and mercy; see Romans 12:3-8). These spiritual gifts are how God’s Holy Spirit works in believers to shape their worldview and motivate their words and actions.
The common denominator in the foundational ministerial gifts, manifestative spiritual gifts, and motivational spiritual gifts is the Holy Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit endows every believer with any number of these functions/gifts—each believer gets the functions/gifts God wants that person to use in the Body of Christ. Each “called” believer operating in ordained, manifestative and motivational spiritual functions/gifts in love will use these gifts in an orderly fashion, as he or she edifies and equips the Body of Christ to fulfill the Great Commission of evangelizing and discipling the world.
How are you using your ordained, manifestative, and motivational spiritual gifts? Shalom.
Keep it real…Live it out…Watch it work!
~ from my manuscript – Keeping it Real: Daily Renewing the Mind
Gone Fishin' 
I believe God called some to be pastors, prophets, apostles etc as the scripture indicates in Ephesians 4. I believe everyone is given gifts and the foundation of those is in Romans. But I believe.the gifts in Ephesians are offices of service. Far from being loudly titles they most often humble individuals operating in them beyond what most are called to bear.
Joseph Elon Lillie,
I thank you for reading this blog entry and for leaving your comment. While I do agree with most of what you have said, I cannot agree with your use of the word “office” for what God has called a function.
Office is defined today as: a position of authority, trust, or service–usually pertaining to one that is public in nature. (e.g., the office of the mayor; the Office of the President, etc.).
Synonyms for “office” are: position, post, job, occupation, appointment, role, situation, station, function, capacity and etc.
The problem with the word “office” is that most men and/or women today who call themselves “pastor” do see “pastor” as a TITLE, and they see what they do as a JOB, OCCUPATION, and a POSITION of authority, as in – I am your boss position of authority. And why not, since they are receiving a paycheck for what they are doing. Additionally, many mega-church pastors think they are holding a public office, as most of these churches have elected or voted on who will “pastor” them. Now that’s another power-hungry position of authority “church” issue that would take too long to comment on here.
On the other hand, FUNCTION is defined today as: a purpose or activity natural to or intended for a person or thing (which no doubt is similar to what” function” would have meant in biblical times).
Synonyms for “function” are: purpose, commission, mission, task, concern, use, responsibility, charge, activity, role, what someone is to DO, and etc.
It is God who calls, enables and equips men and women to go forth and “function” as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, or teacher. These are the foundational ministerial functions–the purposes for which believers in Christ have been created to fulfill on this Earth.
Every believer is an evangelist, and most believers operate in a combination of the above-mentioned functions. These functions are supernatural giftings, and not natural talents that have to be strengthen and sharpened–for example–via theological or divinity school training. It is the Holy Spirit who is working through the people functioning as apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, or teachers–and not they themselves!.
Furthermore, the service, ministry, helps, and so forth, that the people who fulfill said functions achieve are those believers’ supernatural credentials, which is why apostle Paul says that he has no need to carry any letter of recommendation and/or a resume with him, because the best letters of recommendation possible are the supernatural correspondences Jesus Christ via the Holy Spirit has written on the hearts of Christ followers. These supernatural letters testify to the successful ministry work of God’s sent messengers (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:1 ff).
I could go on, but the main point here is that an apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd (pastor), or teacher is NOT an OFFICE (is not a JOB, OCCUPATION, and/or a public POSITION of authority), but certainly that is what these functions have morphed into over the centuries. God is the One who has elected (chosen) the believers who will fulfill one or multiple functions on this Earth, and it is His Son Jesus Christ who “gifts” these human functions to the Body of Christ. Therefore, none of these functions is either an “office” that humanly has been appointed or a voted on position, or a selection made by churches’ hiring committees, trustee boards, Human Resources, congregations, and so forth.
Respectfully,
Nadine