DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APOSTLES, PROPHETS, EVANGELISTS, SHEPHERDS/PASTORS AND TEACHERS.
We read about these ministries in the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians 4:11;”And he gave some apostles;and some prophets;and some, evangelists;and some,pastors and teachers;”
The Lord Jesus purposely put these ministries in the Church as a way through which the church should be governed,in accordance with Scriptures in:
Ephesians 4:11-12;”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.”
The first purpose is “for the perfecting of the saints”, second is “for the furtherance of the work of ministry”,and lastly “for the edifying of the body of Christ”. It’s not for the purpose of destroying the saints,or seeking fame or gaining material things.
Any one who identifies himself as a servant of God,but does not have such a vision, he’s but a servant to the devil.
Let’s briefly look at each of the 5 ministries and how they work together in the perfecting of the saints and edification of the church of Christ.
1.) APOSTLES
As the name suggests, the term apostles means “people who were sent.”And being sent means that someone had sent them with a message/news.
The very first founders of the Christian faith were the apostles;the 11 apostles, not forgetting Matthias who became the 12th.They were sent to spread Christianity to all people.However, the Lord Jesus raised other apostles,in addition to the 12 who had been appointed first.Among them was Paul.This is because the 12 were too few to spread Christianity to the whole world.
Apart from spreading the Word of God,they also established churches.It’s for this reason that apostle Paul began many churches, especially in Galatia and Macedonia.
Even today,the Lord has appointed apostles whom he sends to spread the good news in regions where people have not heard about Jesus.They also establish churches belonging to Christ, and not of their own.
PROPHETS
The work of the prophets is to build up the church by revealing the messages given to them by God,which serve to comfort or earn the church of the things to come.
For example,in the Bible we read about Agabus,one of the new testament prophets, through whom God spoke to the church.God gave him messages as a warning to the church concerning what was to come.
Acts 11:27-30;”And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
And there stood up one of them named Agabus,and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Then the disciples,every man according to his ability determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
Thus, prophets are used by God as channels through whom he speaks to the church about what will happen in future, for the good of all.They do so not to gain fame or to earn money from the people, but for the building up of the body of Christ.
As soon as the prophetic message reached the churches, each one took to action by preparing with what was enough for them.In this way,the church was edified.
In the present times,there exist many false prophets,who do not foresee the future but are interested in people’s money.And what is more,they do not teach people to live holy lives,but rather teach about success and prosperity.Such are the kind of prophets who were predicted to come in the last days.
But in as much as there are many false prophets in the world today,there are also true prophets.For the Spirit of truth is still present in the world and does his work.
3.) EVANGELISTS
Evangelists work by drawing people to Christ through preaching the Word and witnessing Jesus Christ as the Way,the Truth and the Life.They are used as channels of breaking all that the devil has sown into the minds of people regarding to the Christian faith. it’s through their message that many who did not understand about Christianity or were taught otherwise concerning this faith,get freed/released.
An example of evangelists in the Bible is Apollos.He destroyed and broke down the foundations and all forms of teachings of darkness,that had been imparted in the minds of many.
Acts 18:23-28;”And after he had spent some time there,he departed and went all over the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
And a certain Jew named Apollos,born at Alexandria,an eloquent man , and mighty in the scriptures,came to Ephesus.
This man was instructed in the way of Lord;and being fervent in the spirit,he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard,they took unto him the way of God more perfectly.
And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia,the brethren wrote , exhorting the disciples to receive him:who, when he was come,helped them much which had believed through grace:
For he mightily convinced the Jews,and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”
Evangelists are characterised by the fact that they are always on the move.They move from place to place, preaching the good news,as their calling demands; just as it was with Apollos.
4.) PASTORS
Pastors specifically serve the purpose of shepherding a congregation of believers,i.e., the church.All those who believe after hearing the message taught by the evangelists or apostles have to join a group of believers for fellowship.Its then that the believers need to be tended/shepherded like sheep.
Qualities of a true shepherd are similar to those concerning overseers as in 1Timothy 3:1-7.That is,one should not be a lover of money,not a drunkard;but he should be able to manage his household well,and be one who is above reproach.
During the early church times,there were many true shepherds than false shepherds.Today,the opposite holds.There are many false shepherds than the true ones,all because we live in the last days,as predicted beforehand.
5.) TEACHERS
Teachers purposely serve in teaching God’s Word in the churches to help people understand what God requires from them.
Today, the world to dominated by many false teachers as compared to those who teach the truth.These false teachers preach material prosperity, and are lovers of the world and money as well.
In conclusion, the Holy Spirit is still present even today.Similarly,there still exist true apostles,true prophet,true evangelists,true shepherds,and truthful teachers.
The five ministries work hand-in-hand.For example,one may be an apostle and an evangelist; or an apostle and a teacher, and so on(1Tim. 2:7).Paul was an apostle and a teacher.He wrote many letters which contains teachings to the churches.
However,we ought not to boast about the gifts we have, for the Holy Spirit did not give them to us to make us famous or different from others.Rather, the gifts are meant to be used for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, and for the building up of the body of Christ.
God’s wisdom is great.The Lord is good.Have you given your life to Christ and undergone baptism?Have been filled?If not,what are you still waiting for? Remember we live in the last days.Jesus is right at the door, and about to come.
Maran atha!