• Spiritual gifts are designed for building up the Church (see 1 Corinthians 14:12).
May grow up into all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:15-16 NKJV).
• An individual believer is a 'joint', 'part', or 'ligament' of the Body of Christ. When 'the whole body, joined and knit together' by operating spiritual gifts together the 'organic' structure of the Church is set to grow.
Holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God (Colossians 2:19 NKJV).
• When Christians operate their spiritual gifts together, a church is connected to the Head of the Church—Christ—and it will grow 'with the increase that is from God'.
A. Fivefold offices
God calls some Christians into spiritual offices to lead and extend the Church.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11 NKJV).
• These five gifts are named as people with their respective designations or offices.
• Spiritual offices originate from God, comes directly to a person as a revelation, not conferred by people (see also Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1). All fivefold offices share two roles in common.
For the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12 NKJV).
• Firstly, equipping (Gk. katartismon, means 'perfecting') believers to minister (Gk. diakonias, means 'serving'), a micro concern.
• Secondly, increasing (Gk. oikodomen, means 'building up') the Body of Christ to become a global movement of God, a macro concern.
Fivefold ministers are anointed to produce three significant results.
Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Ephesians 4:12-14 NKJV).
• Firstly, teaching believers to experience God's Word and to stay doctrinally sound. 'Knowledge', epignoseos, is knowing by experience. When a believer knows Christ personally, he has reached the 'full stature' like that of a grown up, able to make wise judgement, discern erroneous teaching, and perpetuate the truth.
Till we come to the unity of the faith … speaking the truth in love … (Ephesians 4:13, 15 NKJV).
• Secondly, teaching believers to practice God's Word together lovingly by 'speaking the truth in love'.
May grow up into all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:15-16 NKJV).
• Thirdly, coaching believers to operate spiritual gifts together. In the networking of spiritual gifts, the 'organic' structure of the Church is set to grow.
Each of the fivefold offices has its distinctive designations.
• Apostle advances God's global move by destroying demonic frontiers, breaking new grounds, preaching the gospel, laying doctrinal foundation, fathering disciples, imparting anointing, mentoring ministers, organizing local churches, conducting disciplinary, administering restoration, and raising finances.
• Prophet advances God's move by proclaiming God's will into being, confirming times and seasons of God, and exhorting believers to stand strong for the Lord.
• Evangelist expands the Church by capturing open doors, obtaining extraordinary results in evangelism, and ministering with signs and wonders.
• Pastor oversees spiritual progress of believers, rallies members to minister to one another, and networks them to advance the Church.
• Teacher teaches from his life with authority and the anointing, training believers to accomplish God's assignments for advancing the Church.
B. Twelve ministry-gifts
God places the twelve ministry-gifts in the Church for us to reach the world (see Acts 1:8).
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that [1] miracles, then [2] gifts of healings, [3] helps, [4] administrations, [5] varieties of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:27-28 NKJV).
• Miracles, gifts of healings, helps (giving of support to the strong), administrations, and varieties of tongues are five of the ministry-gifts that 'God has appointed to the Church' (which covers all local churches).
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if [6] prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or [7] ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in [8] teaching; he who exhorts, in [9] exhortation; he who [10] gives, with liberality; he who [11] leads, with diligence; he who [12] shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Romans 12:6-8 NKJV).
• Prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation (godly counsel), giving (financing spiritual ministries), leadership, and showing mercy are another seven ministry-gifts of the Church.
A church should develop these twelve ministry-gifts into productive ministries.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NKJV).
• The 'diversity of gifts' through the 'diversity of activities' becomes the 'difference of ministries'. The volume of 'activities' determines whether a gift has become a 'ministry'.
• Spiritual gifts are developed into productive ministries through frequent use.
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith … Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith (Romans 12:3, 6 NKJV).
• A ministry can never be higher than the 'measure of faith' you possess. You need to grow from faith to faith (see Romans 1:17; Luke 16:10) for a gift to produce a consistent volume of activities to become a ministry.
C. Ministry formation
The 'soldiers' of Christ should be positioned into battle formation for defeating the works of demons (see 2 Timothy 2:3; Philippians 2:25; Philemon 2).
1. Winning frontier
Apostolic Frontier (Gifts: Apostle, Prophet, Varieties of tongues)
• Pioneering (Ministries: Apostolic Teams, Apostolic Intercession & Decree)
• Spiritual Worship (Ministries: Worship Teams, A Day in the Secret Place)
• Intercession (Ministries: Prayer Warriors-In teams, Church Prayer, Pastoral Intercession, Fasting & Prayer)
Evangelism (Gifts: Evangelist, Apostle)
• Target Area (Ministries: Outreach System, Marketplace Outreach, Harvest Day, Harvest Season, Seeker Events, Discovery Seminar-In Discovery Cells)
Community Services (Gift: Gifts of Healings, Miracles, Showing Mercy)
• Target Area (Ministries: Helplines, Caring Teams, Encounter Seminar, Deliverance Seminar, Health & Healing Seminar)
2. Supplying services
Prophetic Revelation (Gifts: Prophet, Prophecy)
• Prophetic Assembly (Ministries: Directions for Church, Directions for Members, Direction for Ministers)
Equipping & Sending (Gifts: Teacher, Fivefold Gifts, Teaching)
• Discipleship Program (Ministries: Foundation 100-Discovery 101, Discipleship 102, Ministry 103, Christianity 104, Leadership 105, Vision 106-Taught by Instructors)
• Ministry Training (Ministries: On-the-Job Ministry Training, Apostolic Program)
Godly Counsel (Gifts: Pastor, Exhortation)
• Preventive Counseling (Ministries: Personal Management Seminar, BGR Seminar, Freshies Nites Versions 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, Career Building Seminar, Character Building Seminar, Marriage Preparation Course, Relationship Seminar)
• Crisis Counseling
3. Supporting base
Church Government (Gifts: Fivefold Gifts)
• Apostolic Presbytery (Ministries: Apostle oversees Ministry, Prophet oversees Worship, Evangelist oversees Evangelism, Pastor oversees Fellowship, Teacher oversees Discipleship)
• Apostolic Networking
• Ordination of Ministers
Pastoral Care (Gifts: Pastor Gk. poimen, episkopos, presbuteros, Ministry Gk. diakonia)
• Vision Network (Ministries: Fellowship Cells, Discipleship Cells, Leadership Cells)
• Vision Day (Ministry: Consolidation for Section Overseers, Cell Leaders, Interns)
• Section Reunion: (Ministry: Consolidation of Members)
Supportive Services (Gifts: Helps, Leadership, Administration, Giving)
• Ministries: Meeting Organizers, Ministry Administrators, Ceremonial Assistants, Floor Management & Security Assistants, Editorial & Publicity Assistants, Ministry Financiers
D. Develop gifts into ministries
Spiritual gifts can be developed into effective ministries through frequent use.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NKJV).
• 'Diversity of gifts' means there are various kinds of gifts. Frequent manifestation of a certain gift affirms that God has allocated it to your stewardship.
• 'Diversity of activities' means there are various ways of operating a gift. You can operate healing gift on one person or en masse in a gathering, which requires more faith (see also Romans 12:6).
• 'Differences of ministries' means various kinds of establishment. There must be a considerable volume of consistent operation of a gift before it can be regarded as an established ministry.