The Five Fold Ministry,
By Collette Toach, Les Crause and Shane Rossinger

Study shared by Patti Finney Compton

“Somebody shared this from my archived posts, but I am not sure where I got the some of the info from. But in reading it again, it still speaks to me. This is and has always been my heart. The Fathers heart. I was blind, but now I see. I thank you Yeshua for changing my heart to yours.”

We need to start looking at the Five Fold Ministry, not as a position, but as a function. Nobody has power over another. When we are able to see the Five Fold Ministry as a function, we can see the different ways that God causes them to serve the body.”

Study……..

The Emergent Church

The greatest kingdom is servant to all. As one begins to examine being a servant they come to see the Lord steering his body away from rulership. Lording it over others as a position. This is where scripture been misunderstood. As God reveals more and more revelation, we are receiving more understanding of the pattern of His End Time Church He desires to build.

When we see the Five Fold Ministry as functions, we will stop seeking titles and positions. We can then learn what the function is and how it applies to the building and equipping of the saints. Then we will not pattern ourselves after a world system with CEO headships which filters down into leadership. This type of thinking creates a hiarchy mindset of ruling over others. We are all sheep and a many membered body with Christ as our headship. Each joint supplies the body thru a function not a position.

A Description of the Five Fold Functions……

I. Apostles have a function to govern. They have an anointing to speak with government authority. Never over people, but into people, corporately as well as individually. They help build the Temple and establish it.

II. Prophets have the ability to see and hear, they are anointed to instruct as well as speak into the body, not over the body. They help build the body.

III. Evangelist function as one who gathers, they go and seek souls. They gather. They are one who helps others to hear by reaching out to unbelievers and many who are lost.

IV. A Pastor/Shepherd tends and cares for the flock. Shepherds are mature leaders within the community of believers. They do not rule over the flock, but have earned their right to lead, not rule. The Shepherd/Overseer help mature the body by helping them grow up in Christ.

V. The Teacher function is to serve the body the Bread of Life, so the body is nurtured with sound doctrine and protected from false doctrine. They are seekers of truth. Not to Lord it over the body but to help the body learn.

On another note……

The Religious Spirit always seeks rulership because they have not come into a full understanding of servanthood. (To be the least of these). Many church systems are based on a hierarchy mindset and foundation. People are competing and trampling on each other to get to the top only to find servanthood is required, not to mention one is to walk in love and forgiveness, one a steward to another. Stepping on each other, competing, jealousy, a desire to be seen, fame or fortune are not servanthood.

People will never get anywhere in God’s Kingdom, with a position mentality and mindset. God called each of us to supply to the other. Many will get to the top of the mountain, only to find, that what they need is at the bottom. “Servancy”. And sad to say, many were taught this, only to find out further down the road, it was never Gods original intent or plan from the beginning of the foundaation of time.

All of the Five Fold Ministry lead by example. They lead others to Christ. Not to themselves or their giftings. God will make room for the Five Fold Ministry and their functions and giftings. That means He will make room for your gifting. He does not need your help. For they are His gift to the body, called to be the least of these. Jesus was the greatest servant of all. He walked among the people. He set the pattern we are to follow.

The new Acts and emerging church will be a servant church. That means the Body is more important than yourself. When you can place more importance on someone else’s gifting, as more than your own, you are on the way to not only walking in the Ways of God, but to spiritual maturity. Humility will be a manifestation and measurement of the level of spiritual maturity one walks in. Servanthood is a major key and component needed to bring Gods Kingdom forth.

We can now begin to see what we need to do differently to impact this world. It truly is a paradigm shift from an old system to a new Kingdom. From mans kingdom to be served to Gods Kingdom to serve. More and more, we are able to see Christ raising up in us. And we are coming to a full knowledge of what the Finished Work of the Cross is and what that looks like applied to our lives. As Christ rises up in us, so should humility be rising. This is the place where we begin to reflect Him and look like Him in every area of our life. It is who we are, no longer what we do. But the who. Who we are in Him.

Maybe now, we can begin to have a glimpse of what God has been sifting and shifting to align His church into it rightful function, as a Many Membered Body. The changing of the guard is an old mindset. God is wanting us to shift with Him as He removes the old religious mindset from His body and pours in His new wine. From ruler to leader. From leader to servant. To Sons of God.

To be the least of these. Servant…………