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The Evangelist

The Evangelist is known to be part of the five-fold ministries, and has been given to the Church for a very specific purpose.  However, we must differentiate between evangelism, which is the responsibility of the whole Church (Acts 11.19), and the ministry of the Evangelist, who is anointed by God to proclaim what Jesus accomplished on the cross in order to lead people to repentance and salvation.

Furthermore, there seems to be a lack of understanding, or revelation, as to the function of the Evangelist in the Church today, the conception being that the Evangelist is someone who just travels around winning souls for Christ.  It is a misconception that needs to be addressed, as many itinerant Evangelists end up being accountable to no one, their independent ministries leading them to feel disconnected from other Christians, alone and discouraged.

Yet, three things are very clear from the Scriptures: firstly the Evangelist always forms part of the eldership of a local church; secondly, he is always sent out from that local church to exercise his ministry outside the Church, to non-Christians; and finally he has a role to play in the perfecting of the saints in that local church. Thus we see that the anointing of the Evangelist is necessary for the edification of Christians in the local church.

A ministry that operates as part of a team

Even though the Evangelist is not mentioned very often in the book of Acts, the examples we do have, show that the type of independent ministry around today, simply didn’t exist.  Philip was a prominent Evangelist, mentioned in Acts 21.8.  We see his ministry in action in Acts 8:5 as he preached the Good News of Christ.  What is evident from Acts 8:14 is how the Evangelist works in partnership with other ministries. Peter and John, hearing what had happened after Philip had evangelised in Samaria, felt the freedom to go to support him.  Philip, who was originally from the church of Jerusalem, gladly accepted the added spiritual investment brought by the Apostles, who were elders in the same church as he was. There was true unity as the different ministries worked together for the advancement of the kingdom of God. Philip had no intention of starting a new church with those who had been converted. On the contrary, he remained accountable to the team that had sent him. He was free to obey the Holy Spirit, while at the same time being submitted to the body of elders, which was a great protection for him. He knew that he belonged to a team in which each was ready to give their lives for the others.

To share the grace of God with the lost

As with all the five-fold ministries, given by Jesus to perfect His people, Jesus Himself is our example… We read in Isaiah 61 that He had been sent to “preach the good news to the poor”. This is the anointing the Evangelist carries. It gives him the burning desire to reach out to the lost and proclaim the Good News of Christ, so that as many as possible will be converted. When he preaches, he doesn’t need to enter into deep academic teaching or theology, but preaches on the sufferings, death and resurrection of Christ with a demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power, and people are cut to the heart, repent and turn to Jesus. Through his anointing, people will always feel the love and grace of God for them. They will never feel condemned, judged or manipulated. That is why the message of the cross is so important to the Evangelist, because it is the cross of our Lord Jesus that demonstrates the depth of God’s love for us.

To bring repentence

The true Evangelist also knows that in order to be saved and cleansed from your sin, repentance is essential; not just a superficial invitation to Jesus to come into your heart. In Acts 2, Peter preached the simple message of the cross of Christ. When the Jews heard his words they were cut to the heart and cried out, “What must we do?” Peter didn’t reply, ‘Just invite Jesus into your heart.’ No! He said, “Repent…” Through this anointing and the message proclaimed, the Holy Spirit can bring men to repentance.

To equip Christians

Furthermore, according to Ephesians 4:11-13, the Evangelist plays an important role in the perfecting of the saints. As mentioned above, he has a role to play in the local church, and one to play in the world. The idea many Christians have that he is a roving agent in the Lord’s service is wrong, therefore, for what benefit can he be to the local church if he is never there? He must be able to impart his passion for winning souls to the people of God and show them the importance of sharing the Lord’s love with others. Witnessing for Jesus is a sign of our spiritual maturity, and in this way the Evangelist contributes to the Christian’s growth. We should recognize the necessity for this ministry in the Church, as much as for the other five-fold ministries.

Sent out by the church into the world

It is clear that a true Evangelist needs to go out, of course! He is free to go where the Lord leads him, because of the relationship, submission and trust that exists between him and the other elders. As he is sent from the local church, he knows he has their and support and that of the church, and reports back on his return.

Accompanied by miracles

The mark of a true Evangelist is that his message will be accompanied by miracles and healings as a demonstration of the power of God. Seeing the power of the Holy Spirit demonstrated through miracles, faith is imparted to hearts and many believe that Jesus is the Son of God and their Saviour.

Therefore, because of the responsibility he has, it is important that the Evangelist’s life is an example of one given to Christ for the Church.

Basil O’Connell-Jones

Personal Testimony

From the day I was born again I had a burning passion to reach out to the lost. For 15 years, I led crusades in Zimbabwe and in the region. I saw miracles and God’s power at work. But I was totally independent and hiding behind God’s gift for the ministry. It consumed me and I wasn’t interested in the spiritual health of the church. I felt frustrated that others didn’t share my own personal ‘vision’ for the lost.

As a result, there was no unity at all amongst our leadership; we fought and disagreed on most things. I was totally self-centered, carnal, and unspiritual.  Even though many came to know Jesus, there wasn’t much fruit in the life of the church.  When I first came in contact with Miki Hardy and the apostolic gospel, his message challenged me deeply. God began to strip me of my independence and to break my pride. Today, even though the gift and my zeal to share the gospel remain unchanged, I have only one desire: to identify myself with the cross of Jesus.

For 18 years now, I’ve been part of an apostolic team of men from many nations, cultures and races. My life and ministry are completely surrendered to this team the Lord has provided for my protection and growth, as well as that of the church I oversee. I’ve learnt that no ministry can develop to its full potential without submission to, and in relationship with, a body of Elders in the local church. I thank God for setting me free to serve Him in joy and freedom.

Basil O’ Connell-Jones is pastor of Grace Gospel Church, which meets in Pinetown, KZN.  He is a member of the apostolic team of CTMI.

The prophetic Anointing

The Prophetic anointing is one of the five perfecting ministries God gave to men so that Christians may come to spiritual maturity. The simplest definition of a prophet is that he is God’s mouthpiece. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he brings divine direction to the Church, as well as correction where necessary.

The gift of prophesy as opposed to the Prophetic ministry

The Prophetic ministry has often been misunderstood by Christians in recent years. They have tended to focus on only one aspect: manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit, such as prophecy, and words of wisdom, or knowledge. However, we need to have a clearer picture of what the Prophetic ministry is and its importance for God’s people.

The Apostle Paul encourages us all to desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy, though obviously, not every Christian who prophesies is a prophet. We really need to grasp this point, because there are many people today who declare themselves prophets simply because they prophesy. The four daughters of Philip the evangelist were not Prophets, even though they were prophesying (Acts 21: 8-9). The Prophet operates in the spiritual gifts as well, but because of the anointing and authority given by God, he brings much deeper clarity and spiritual insight, which God uses to edify and establish the Church.

The prophetic in the Old Covenant

Under the Old Covenant, one of the main aspects of the Prophet’s ministry was to turn the hearts of God’s people back to Him through repentance. In 2 Samuel 12, we read how God specifically chose the prophet Nathan to confront King David over his sin. The prophetic word from Nathan did not condemn David; but rather it produced an attitude of godly sorrow and genuine repentance in him. This facet of God’s authority is demonstrated most powerfully through the Prophetic anointing.

The Old Covenant Prophet would warn God’s people in order that they might escape God’s judgement.  The prophetic word would come in a very clear and direct way, and would expose the state of their hearts. God anointed the different Prophets to bring an uncompromising message, which came with great conviction and the fear of God. When the Prophet  “sounded the trumpet”, the people knew that God was serious about what He had to say. Unfortunately they often hardened their hearts to His word.

The Prophetic in the New Covenant

We need to understand that a true Prophet does not just prophesy good things. In fact, the Prophetic anointing should bring the fear of God into the Church, because it exposes sin and proclaims the way of holiness and sanctification.

In the New Testament we have no better example of the Prophetic ministry than Jesus Himself. In Matthew 3:12, John the Baptist declares: “His winnowing fork is in His hand and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Jesus came preaching a message of repentance, purification, separation and judgement, but always with a heart full of grace and love.

In Matthew 21:12-13, again we see Jesus exhibiting the Prophetic anointing when He found people buying and selling in the temple. His righteous anger was roused and he took a whip and drove the merchants out. Here is an aspect of the Prophetic ministry that is often misunderstood. The Lord was still operating in grace and love, even when he expressed Himself in this way, for it was necessary to confront and rebuke those who were treating the house of God as a marketplace. God chooses to speak in different ways, but His heart never changes. He is a God of love and mercy, but also a God of righteousness and truth, whose holy attributes are expressed here through the Prophetic anointing.

The Prophet is called to do a very specific work of purification in the Church in these last days, because no other ministry is able to accomplish this. Where there is sin a true Prophet will fearlessly declare it: but never out of an authority in the flesh. Thus the Church will not fall under condemnation but will feel the heart of the Lord leading them to repentance. The time is coming when Prophets will bring light where there is darkness and expose the hidden motives of the heart, because the Prophetic anointing brings purification and separation in the hearts of Christians.

The Apostle and the Prophet

Under the New Covenant, we can see another important aspect of the Prophetic anointing from Ephesians 2:20.

It is clear from the lives of Paul and Barnabus that the Prophet works closely with the Apostle to lay the foundation of the Church. These two ministries carry greater authority in the spirit than the other three. The Apostle receives and imparts the revelation of Christ, while the Prophet ensures that the Church remains in truth and sound doctrine.

The Prophet – a member of the body of elders

Men can draw much glory for themselves when God speaks and acts through them. This is why submission and accountability to a team of elders in a local church is a vital protection against the misuse of the Prophetic anointing. Contrary to what we are used to seeing in the Church today, Prophets are meant to form part of the local church leadership and be sent from there, like any other ministry. In Acts 15, we read how the Prophets, Judas and Silas, were sent from the church of Jerusalem to accompany Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch. If a man is not linked to a team, but has his own independent ministry, he can hide behind his calling and act on his own authority. He can say whatever he wants, and there is no one to speak into his life. But when a Prophet is part of a team, he is accountable for what he says and how he acts. He will accept rebuke and confrontation in truth and grace. His life will be an open book to the elders of the church and the people of God.

True or false Prophet?

The Bible warns us clearly that there will be many false prophets in the last days who will lead people astray by appealing to the desires of their sinful nature. But God is also raising up true Prophets who will be examples for the Church; and the anointing on their lives will bring greater protection to Christians’ lives. They will not be full of pride and arrogance trusting in their own ability.  Instead, they will be humble, with broken spirits and contrite hearts, prepared to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus. They will be known by their identification with His sufferings and His death, and will carry the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. The time of independent ministries is over, for God is bringing order back to His Church through the Prophetic anointing in these last days.

Peter McKenzie

A Personal Testimony

From early on in my Christian life, it was clear that the Lord wanted to use me in the Prophetic ministry.

Soon I found myself, as a minister, travelling to churches in different countries and experiencing amazing prophetic manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The blessing of this ministry was clear to many, but I was alone and vulnerable!

Through the grace of the Lord I met Miki Hardy and the Apostolic anointing on his life confronted my independence and pride. I surrendered my one-man ministry and submitted my life to that anointing.

The Prophetic anointing is still very much a part of my life and ministry today, but I now work with a team to which I’m accountable. My life is an open book to these men of God. I feel safe and secure, but still have the freedom to move in the Prophetic anointing.

My joy today is to see that I am contributing, with the other ministries, to bringing Christians in the local churches to spiritual maturity.

Peter McKenzie is Pastor of Avon River Church in Ringwood, UK.  He is a member of the apostolic team of CTMI.

Shepherds and Hirelings

- by Miki Hardy

There is a wave of deception sweeping through the Church today, which is wreaking havoc in the lives of the people of God.  Many Christians are unaware that they are being exploited by preachers and Bible teachers.  The reason for this is simply a lack of revelation of the true Christian life, the foundation of which is the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Jesus commanded those who would be his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him, but we seldom hear this message in the Church today.  If the revelation of Christ crucified is not in the hearts of preachers, how can they possibly impart it to the people of God, and what are they teaching in its place?  That is why it is my hear-felt desire to warn Christians about what they are hearing from the pulpit, so that they may be able to discern for themselves what is true and false teaching.  It is absolutely essential that God’s people come back to the foundation of their Christian faith – the message of the cross – or they will continue to be deceived by preachers who may use them and manipulate them for their own interests.

When the life of a preacher is not laid firmly on the foundation of the true gospel, he will never carry the heart of the good shepherd, Jesus Christ, because he has not experienced the breaking and molding process performed by the hand of God Himself.  This requires a deep work of the Holy Spirit in his heart.  They call of God is one thing, but to become a true shepherd is another.  In order to fulfill the call of God, what needs to happen in a man’s life must become evident to him, otherwise he will become a hireling who exploits the flock.  A hireling is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep.  He flees when he sees the wolf coming, because he does not care about the sheep/  But the real shepherd is ready to give his life for the sheep.  That’s the difference.  A Shepherd is prepared to deny himself and sacrifice his life for the sake of the sheep.  A hireling will never give his life for the sheep.  Rather, he will try to profit from them by every means possible.

2 Peter 2:1-3 reads, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.  By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words…”

Unfortunately, this is a widespread practice in the Church today.  By covetousness, preachers and teachers of the Bible are twisting Scripture, introducing destructive heresies, speaking deceptive words and using emotional manipulation, in order to profit financially from Christians.  They use the people of God to prosper their own ministries and gain fame and fortune for themselves.  They even manufacture all sorts of merchandise and sell them to Christians as ‘gifts’, paid for by ‘love offerings’.  The Church of Jesus Christ has become a marketplace.

When Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and saw people buying and selling, he took a whip and drove them out, declaring, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”  It is time for the people of God to realize that many of the preachers whom they trust and follow are willfully stealing from them.  They are thieves! But the greatest and saddest deception is that thousands of Christians believe that if they don’t buy or don’t give they are under a curse; condemned and cut off from the blessings of God.  That is exploitation, pure and simple.

When you become a born again Christian, the one thing you desire is to be fed spiritually.  That is why when you feed Christians with the right gospel, they are satisfied.  Their hearts will testify that what they are hearing is the truth, even if they are not ready to pay the price and take the road that Jesus took when he went to the cross.  Every Christian has a choice to accept that road or to reject it.  But the Holy Spirit will show them that the gospel that will feed their hearts is the one which demands their lives.  The lack of the revelation of this gospel is the reason why the Church today is being fed with lies and deception.  There is hardly an spiritual growth and very little maturity to discern what is being preached.  But a sure sign of when Christians’ hearts are being fed is that they are confronted.  There is a shaking and breaking taking place in them that leads to repentance.  That is what the true gospel does; it brings Christians back to the cross, where they are ready to repent and surrender their lives to Jesus.

Today, the Church is immature and the way of truth is being blasphemed, because the sheep are in the care of hirelings and not true shepherds.  Many preachers don’t want to identify with Jesus by becoming obedient to death, and are not willing to lay down their lives for the sheep. They are merely hirelings who are deceiving God’s people and exploiting them ruthlessly.  But true shepherds are those who are ready to participate in the sufferings of Christ and lay down their lives.  The product of this deep work of the Holy Spirit is resurrection life, which is the life of Chirst in them that is imparted to the people of God.  These are men who have grasped the revelation of the true gospel and demonstrate the heart of the good shepherd towards the sheep.  They are the ones who will preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified to the nations, and bring hope to many Christians who have been wounded and condemned by the lies and deception so prevalent in the Church today.  It is time that hirelings are recognized for what they are.

The Apostle

A vital ministry in the of the Body of Christ

The Apostolic ministry is one of the five perfecting ministries that we find in Ephesians 4. The word ‘Apostle’ is translated as ‘sent’, which means an Apostle is a messenger or an ambassador of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle is not someone who is independent but like the Pastor, the Evangelist, the Prophet, and the Teacher, he forms part of the body of elders in a local church. He is sent by the church on a specific mission, and gives an account of it when he returns. The Apostle, therefore, forms part of the ministry team of the local church; he is submitted to the body of elders and works closely with the other five-fold ministries. According to the administration of God’s grace, each of the five-fold ministry anointings carries a different authority. It is evident from the Bible that the Apostle carries greater spiritual authority than the other ministries, simply because it is part of the anointing he has received.

God-appointed

We have no better example of the Ministry of the Apostle and its anointing in the New Testament Church, than Paul himself. When we study his life and ministry, we see the authority that God Himself had given to him for the edification of the Church. This anointing was felt and acknowledged everywhere he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, despite the authority he carried, he was not a dictator but a man of relationship.  It must be made clear that the Apostolic anointing is something that is recognised firstly by the body of elders, but then also by the people of God. It can’t be fabricated; neither can it be claimed by anybody who wants to appropriate this title for himself.

The Apostolic message

This anointing is first and foremost demonstrated by the revelation of the Gospel the Apostle has received. The Apostolic ministry can’t be separated from the Gospel that Christ revealed to Paul and the other apostles. In Galatians 1:11-12, Paul declares that the revelation of the Gospel he preached came directly from Jesus Christ. It was not something he received from a man, neither was he taught it. And in Ephesians 3, he speaks about his insight into the mystery of the Gospel that had been kept hidden in ages past, but had now been revealed by the Spirit to the Apostles and Prophets.

What did Paul preach? What revelation had he received from the Lord? In 1 Corinthians 2:2, he states: “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified”.  In 1 Corinthians 3:10, he writes that by the grace God gave him, he has laid a foundation as an expert builder. The true foundation of Christian life is not just our faith in Christ, but also our identification with Him in His sufferings, His death and His resurrection. This is the heart of Christianity… the Apostolic Gospel, the message of the cross, which he described as “the power of God!” It is therefore not just what we believe that is important, but also what we live. It was obvious to all the churches that Paul lived what he preached. Nothing he said or wrote contradicted the way that he conducted himself.

The revelation of this Gospel is a sure sign of the Apostolic ministry, because it is the essence of God’s entire, and only, plan for His Church, with which Apostles are called to build the Church. That is why when the foundation is laid in a church by an Apostle, Christians receive a clear understanding of what God is asking of their lives, because the call becomes distinct and they have an example that they can follow.

Present-day Apostles must receive and preach the same revelation as Paul did. The Lord Himself will enlighten the men who are called to this ministry and reveal to them the mystery of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A Father of the Church

Another important proof of the ministry of the Apostle is the spiritual relationship between him and the leadership of the church, with which he works, and God’s people. This is clearly seen in the Book of Acts and in Paul’s epistles. In 1 Corinthians 4:15, Paul writes: “Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the Gospel.” He is declaring plainly to them that although many others may have come to testify to them about Jesus, it was he who had begotten them in the Gospel. He is not referring to new birth by the Spirit, but of the foundation he has laid in their lives through the revelation of the Gospel. We see Paul stating confidently in 1 Corinthians 16:1 that the church in Corinth should do what he had instructed the Galatian churches to do regarding the collection for God’s people. He was not the pastor of that church, but he was at liberty to speak to them on that subject because of the relationship they had with him in the Spirit. They were submitted to the Apostolic anointing on his life, and this anointing gave him the authority to proclaim the whole will of God to them. We have a further illustration of this in Paul’s relationship with the Christians in Macedonia. This confirms to us that the Apostle is a father to the churches he works with.

Submission and authority

We can see the same submission to the Apostolic authority in the hearts of the servants of God, who had recognised the anointing on Paul’s life and had forged powerful and enduring relationships with him in the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 4:17, he writes, “For this reason I am sending you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.” Paul calls Timothy his son because he had begotten him in the Gospel. He had the liberty and confidence to send Timothy wherever he felt necessary, at any given time, because of their deep relationship in the Spirit. In Acts 20, we read of the spiritual relationship Paul had with the elders of the church of Ephesus. We can sense that their submissive attitude was the direct result of their spiritual relationship. The Apostolic anointing was instrumental in unifying the local churches of the New Testament.

Protector of doctrine

The Apostle is the protector of doctrine. We see how often the Apostle Paul defended the Gospel he received and lived. He also warned the churches repeatedly about the false doctrines to which they were exposed. The lack of true Apostles today is the reason why so much false teaching and emotional manipulation have been able to enter and take root in the Church. The revelation the Apostle imparts, the anointing attached to his ministry, and the example his life is, bring security and stability to God’s people. The Apostle is humble because of his identification with the sufferings and death of Christ. Thus, Paul was able to say: “Follow me as I am a follower of Christ”.

MIKI HARDY

Fabien Larhubarbe

Personal Testimony

At the age of 30, having completed Bible School and become a pastor, my only ambition was to lead a large congregation. I was full of zeal, yet my teachings were technical and I was legalistic. But, despite my best efforts, I couldn’t see any change in the lives of the believers who never seemed to get on with each other. Neither did I see the need for God to work in my own life.

After a few years, I was a broken man, and finally came to see my independent state; but I had no answer. I was afraid of joining a team, concerned about divisions. I dreaded the idea of being manipulated by people looking out for their own interests.

When I met Miki Hardy, as I listened to him, there was a testimony in my spirit that he carried a real apostolic anointing; his messages turned my life upside down. I discovered a man with a heart for God’s servants and for His people, who wants the Church to be firmly established on the pure foundation of Christ. Since that time, his way of life has been a challenge to me. I’ve understood that when God calls someone to serve Him, it’s not to follow his own plans, but to give his life and devote himself to the people of God. Thereafter, I saw how the apostle, through his ministry, his spiritual authority, and his discernment, brings a security to the Church in times of trials. By imparting the grace and the heart of the Lord, and without imposing laws, he is able to lead the Church away from all religiosity and the spirit of the world.

The message of the cross has enabled me to work in unity with other servants of God, without any sense of competition. Today, I serve the Lord in peace, joy, and freedom.

Fabien Larhubarbe, Elder at Eglise Chrétienne de Curepipe’, Mauritius. He is a member of the apostolic team of CTMI.

THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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 fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

If you have spent some time reading the Bible you will acknowledge that the apostle Paul, who wrote these words, experienced an extraordinary conversion to Christianity while on the road to Damascus. He writes in Galatians 1:11-12 that the gospel he preached was not something man made up, or which he received from a man, or was taught. Rather, he received it by revelation directly from Jesus Christ. However, his message was no different to that which the other apostles preached – the message of Christ and Him crucified. In his epistles he explains that the preaching of the cross, which is the power of God, can only be effective in presenting every man perfect in Christ when it is exercised through the gifts of the five-fold ministry.

The Early Church

Sadly, today, many Christians acknowledge the existence of the five-fold ministry without seeing its relevance or understanding its application to the Church.  Others appear to be anxious about the potential impact it could have on their personal ministries and prefer to ignore it and look the other way. Whatever one’s belief, no sincere Christian can conclude that the gifts Jesus gives to men to lead and build up His Church were exclusively for the Early Church. Everything written in the New Testament about these different ministries working together to build up the Church will always apply as long as the Church is on earth. The same Spirit, who moved when the Church began, is still at work today. Jesus has not changed. He still gives the same ministries today as He did at the beginning – for the same purpose – so that His body, the Church, may be edified and His people brought to perfection in Him. During the Dark Ages of the Church, these ministries disappeared for a time as a result of the worldliness and religiosity that took hold of Christianity. But today, God is restoring them and bringing His people back to the true foundation, so that they may become mature and reach unity in the faith. That is why these ministries, which can only be united by the gospel of the cross, are paramount for the Church.

Different Anointings

Each of the five ministries is represented by a specific anointing, and each anointing is different. The work accomplished by each of these ministries depends entirely on the anointing that is linked to it. That is why it is dangerous to try to define them by the way we believe they ‘ought’ to function. This leads to men assuming titles for themselves and imitating others. Jesus embodied all five of these ministries and He distributes them as He sees fit, so that His very nature can be imparted to the Church through the men in whom He invests His anointing. Thus, these ministries represent Jesus in the Church. When they work together in unity, Christ is manifest. The authority of the Church of the New Covenant is represented by the five fold ministries and the other elders of the local church, who all work together to do the will of God. Therefore, one person alone can represent only a part of the authority of Christ in a local church.

Working together

This explains why in so many churches Christians are unable to grow beyond a certain point. Generally, the only spiritual food they receive is from a single anointing, that of the pastor. It all revolves around him, and everything begins and ends with him. There are thousands of churches like this that don’t have relationships with other ministries and churches and exist in complete isolation. But in the New Testament, we find no independent ministries or isolated churches. On the contrary, we find numerous local churches spread across the Roman Empire, linked by the five fold ministries, working and functioning as one. That is why the people of God were able to grow and become mature. There were no barriers of race, culture, language, nationality, or social status!

Also, the five-fold ministry does not consist of independent ministries. One person alone cannot accomplish God’s work. All five ministries working together are essential for the Church. There is an understanding in the Church today that if you are a teacher, you have your own ministry; an evangelist, you have your own ministry; and a prophet, you have your own ministry. Sadly, in most cases they are not linked with a local church, or with one another. Most are totally independent, accountable to no one. They preach what they choose to, do as they want and go where they please. I don’t see any evidence of this in the New Testament. In fact, I see the very opposite. I see the different ministries working in relationship with one another and men who have been sent by the local church to other churches to contribute to the equipping of the Christians and the edifying of the body of Christ. And in all cases, I see that they were submitted to one another. Working in unity like this, is the fruit of the gospel of the cross in the lives of these men of God.

God’s Will for the Church

So the different ministries are sent. This is a vitally important point that we need to take in. We see in the book of Acts and in his epistles, that the Apostle Paul was sent by his local church, and when he returned he gave an account because he had been sent. When you have not been sent you don’t have to give an account to anyone. You are independent and you can do as you please. However, we see in Scripture that both ministries and believers were sent out from their local church by the apostle or the body of elders. The Apostle Paul was part of the body of elders of the local church in Antioch. He would leave on his missionary journeys and then return. As he travelled, he built enduring relationships with his companions and with other anointed men in local churches. Furthermore, he continued to work in unison with them for the spreading of the Gospel and the strengthening of the Church.

There are numerous examples in the book of Acts and in the epistles of the New Testament that confirm how the five-fold ministries worked together in unity to equip Christians for works of service and bring the Church to maturity. We see the apostles working closely with all the ministries, whether they were prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers. No one acted independently and each one recognised the role and the value of the other, and it brought unity in the faith and a firm foundation for the Church. The Church needs all these ministries because each anointing is different and necessary for the building of the Church. Christians are then able to grow in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. That is God’s will for His Church.

Building fruitful ministries

In the late 1980s, I experienced a miraculous intervention of God that transformed my life and ministry. At the time, I was the ‘man in charge’ and yet wasn’t in any way accountable to my fellow elders. We were a group of pastors working in different churches around the Island, each with his own plan to build his own little kingdom. There was no real unity amongst us but rather division, competition, etc. I acted totally independently and was struggling with a sense of disappointment and failure. I was discouraged because the people that God had entrusted to my care were not being set free from sin and seemed unable to grow in maturity. Added to that, I had problems at home in my relationship with my wife. I was ready to give up completely. But God, by His grace, led me to the book of Acts and the epistles of the apostle Paul and I began to see what the Church was meant to be. The message of the cross opened my eyes to my state. I realised that the problem was with me and I repented before the Lord. As soon as I was prepared to lose my life, take up my cross and allow the Lord to break and mould me – not an easy thing to accept – I began to experience great victories in my life, my marriage, my relationships with my fellow elders and my ministry. The people of God sensed the change in me and responded with the same attitude of heart. This work must start with the servant of God.

Today, we are in close relationship with different ministries from around the world, as we work together to build the Church. I have witnessed the five-fold ministry active and bearing fruit in the local church, as Christians are edified and brought to maturity in Christ. I am convinced it is the only way for the Church to rise up out of the shadows and make the light of Jesus Christ shine throughout the world.

The role of each ministry

According to the administration of God’s grace, each anointing of the five-fold ministry carries a different authority – for example the apostle and prophet carry a greater authority than the other ministries.

The Apostle lays the foundation; he reveals Christ and the heart of Christ for the Church. In other words, every Christian who receives the apostolic message knows from the moment he is converted that he has lost his life and that it no longer belongs to him. The Apostle is a father to many churches, leaders and Christians, as he provides oversight, direction and protection to the church thanks to the anointing on his life. It is, therefore, easy to understand that his ministry and anointing brings unity amongst local churches. The Apostle is also a protector of the sound doctrine of Christ.

The Prophet has the very specific role of acting as God’s mouthpiece, inspired by the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist best describes this ministry under the New Covenant. When talking about Jesus he said: “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” It is a ministry of authority, preaching repentance, purification and separation, accompanied by the fear of God.

The Evangelist’s consuming desire is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ for the salvation of souls and he is ready to give his life for this. His message is simple but powerful and is accompanied by miracles and healings. The Evangelist’s presence in local churches is important because the anointing inspires Christians and encourages them to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Like a caring shepherd, The Pastor watches over, nourishes and protects the people of God. His anointing gives him authority in the local church, but he does not use it to dominate other elders and Christians under his care.

The Teacher is anointed to build on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets by communicating the Biblical doctrine of Christ in a clear and accurate way. He delights in delving deeply into Scripture and the anointing enables him to impart truth to the Church.

The five-fold ministry does not consist of independent ministries. They all form part of the eldership of their local church and all work together in unity so that the saints may benefit from all different anointings and be equipped for the work of the ministry.

Where is the Church Going?

- by Miki Hardy

I am distressed about the state of the Church today.  Sin abounds and many Christians are discouraged, empty, and walking in defeat.  The Church today no longer puts up with sound doctrine.  It has rejected the truth and turned aside to myths.  Many preachers today are deceiving Christians with fables and false teachings.  They make empty promises that God will shower His blessings on them if they just follow techniques.  These preachers only want to make Christians feel happy, so they tell them what they want to hear.  But many Christians are in a desperate state. So I ask the question: Where is the Church going?

For the church to come back onto the firm foundation of Jesus Christ I believe it is vitally important the Christians understand the real promises of God, which were first spoken to Abraham and still speak to us today in Scripture.  The Body of Christ has the right to inherit and receive the true promises and blessings of God.

Genesis 12:1-3 reads, “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country… I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’”

God did bless Abraham with material possessions, but that is not the essence of the promise.  Abraham is known today as the ‘father of faith’ not because of what he owned, but because he dared to believe in the promise of something he would never see with his own eyes.  The promise he received was spiritual.

In Galatians 3:14 we read, “He (God) redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”  Here apostle Paul links the faith and blessing of Abraham to the New Covenant God has made with His Church.  God is spirit and He makes spiritual promises for a spiritual purpose.  The purpose of God’s promise to Abraham was to save mankind through Jesus Christ, His son.  This is the essence of God’s promise to us as Christians today: the redemption of our souls.

Hebrews 6:12 reads, “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”  This Scripture has been totally abused by preachers who talk about faith and perseverance to receive material blessings.  God does not promise us vast possessions, but eternal life in heaven and a victorious spiritual life on earth.  This is our inheritance passed down from Abraham through Jesus Christ.  In verse 9 it says, “…we are confident of better things in your case – things that accompany salvation.”  What are these better things that accompany salvation?  They are spiritual growth and maturity; to be conformed to the image of Christ and to become like Him.  That is the greatest blessing we can receive!

We who were not a people have become a people.  We are those whom God has chosen from the nations of the earth, who have been given the grace to believe and to be called children of God.  Therefore, what kind of life should we live?  A holy life!  The first verse of 2 Corinthians 7 confirms this: “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”  This was the paramount concern of the apostles. They never talked about what we can get from God.  They spoke about growing in Christ, and becoming spiritually mature people.  The true blessing of God is to gain victory over our sinful nature in a sinful world by our identification with Christ’s death and His resurrection.

The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:18 that the preaching of the cross is the power of God.  When I catch the spirit of the gospel preached by the apostles, I see the heart of God.  I see His promises and their purpose form the right perspective.  I understand that the purpose of God’s blessings is to enrich my spiritual life, bring me to maturity, and enable me to walk in victory over my sinful nature.  Christians need to rediscover the joy of suffering for Christ; the joy of identifying with Him in His death.  They need to feel the hand of God on their lives, breaking and purifying them, and shaping them into the image of Christ.

That’s why the Church needs to come back to the simple message – the cross of Christ.  Christians should be given the opportunity to deny themselves, take up their cross and lose their lives to gain the life of Christ.  This is blessing and spiritual life in its fullness!  This is the way to receive blessings that will not perish, which will lead us on toward the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls.  Why are we so eager to receive blessings that are bound to perish?

I am convinced in my heart that there are thousands upon thousands of Christians who are waiting to hear something that will feed their spirit, even if there is a price to pay. They must be sick and tired of hearing a gospel that has no power to change their lives.  Christians are hungry and thirsty for the true gospel.  They have the right to hear it and it is time for God’s servants to rise up and preach it.  God is faithful to His chosen people and He is bringing the message of the cross of Christ back to a defeated Church.  May the Church that He died for be restored, for His glory alone!

Day 3, I awake to the sound of rain and commotion as people stress to save their belongings from getting wet.  I’m in the middle of the tent, so I’m safe… As soon as it lets up, the teams eagerly line up for the second leg of the treasure hunt.  The sound of war cries can be heard from every direction, even as the rain starts again.  Nonetheless, with team spirits high, they press on until the final siren blows.  At lunch, it strikes me how privileged I am to be surrounded by 17 more elders from 5 countries who are present, wanting to know us better, and hear what we go through and help us.  What Grace!

That evening, Miki Hardy starts by asking if Jesus set the bar too high, when He said that birds have nests, foxes have holes, but He had no place to rest His head. “No, in fact, the bar is at exactly the right height!” states Miki with absolute conviction, “In order to serve the Lord fully, one must be prepared to lose everything; everything, in order to take hold of Christ and live true Christianity.”  We are a Christian  before ALL things… our job, our family, everything.  He is not speaking of the ‘title’ of being a Christian, but about the life fully identified with Christ, “where Christianity becomes our whole life, not just a part of our life!”  Every word from Miki’s mouth cuts straight to the core of my being, exposing the reason why I had been unable to find true contentment in my Christian life – I had never totally surrendered my life into God’s hands… I was born again, and it stopped there; my salvation just became a part of my life, there had never been any surrender, even less a sense of losing or dying to self!  He closes by repeating that the bar is at exactly the right height; by God’s grace we will be able to meet the set height.  That night as I lie down to sleep, I am at peace, secure that God had answered the cry of my heart.  I am in awe at what is taking place in my life.

Day 4, teams prepare at last to seach for the hidden treasure. With a booklet of directions and clues, 4 hours of frantic searching, running, racking our brains and panicking ensues.  Then the siren sounds, much to the dismay of 23 teams… Team 7 has found the treasure!

That evening despite mental and physical exhaustion you can sense the excitement for the 2nd meeting with Miki.  “A time ordained by God is coming where young men and women will rise up to serve Him without compromise, in submission to the pattern set by Jesus Himself.”  He explains how Timothy was only 29 when Paul wrote to him entrusting him with THE gospel he himself carried.  Miki finishes by quoting Jesus: “When I come back, will I find faith on the earth?”  He is convinced that, in these last days, the true foundation of the cross in our lives will be our only security that we will finish the race.

Last day of camp!  After packing and cleaning up, we all head down to the beach for the baptism service for 50 youth.  The rest of us stand on the seashore, worshipping and rejoicing with those who are taking a step to identify their lives with Christ. From there, everyone heads back to the tent for our last time together.  Each team has selected one member to share his/her testimony.  So when it’s the turn for our team, I find myself under a tent in Mauritius, standing before 500 youth, pouring out my heart of gratitude…

“My heart is overwhelmed and exceedingly joyful, I had hoped one of the girls would cry during her testimony, but it looks like it’s gonna be me… For years, whilst serving the Lord in other churches, there has been a cry in my heart. I was burnt out disillusioned, knowing that there had to be more to my Christian walk than what I was living.  Today, I have no words to describe my gratitude for the grace of God that allowed me to be here at this Youth Camp.  Because after my years of searching, I have found THE gospel that has the power to change my life; it has restored my heart and my relationship with the Lord, bringing back that passion and zeal I once knew as a new born Christian.  I bless the Lord for this camp and what it has done for me!”

Being Sensative to Others

- by Audrey Hardy

What a pleasure to write once again to all of you dear JOY! Magazine readers.

For this year, I would like to encourage you all to think back over the many blessings Jesus has showered upon you during the past year, and to be grateful!  It is so easy to focus on what we don’t have and would like, or to compare what we have to others and feel sorry for ourselves.

We have been given so much freely and consequently have so much to give.  It is so sad to see Christians today running after material blessings and measuring up a victorious life by what they possess; having their eyes only on themselves instead of on others!  They do not recognize that the greatest gift in life is simply being a Christian and serving Jesus, our Lord and Saviour!

I believe one of the greatest privileges we have, as Christians, is being able to carry the heart of Jesus to those around us, serving Him with His heart in this dying world…

Forging a Future

I am a giver and I love giving – not giving to receive something in return but with a joyful heart!  I love taking care of people and going out of my way for them.  When you carry the Lord’s heart, you cannot remain insensitive to the needs you come across everyday!  Jesus had a compassion for the masses, as much as for individuals.  This is how, as a Christian, I have become involved in various projects over the years.  I have found that with very little, I have been able to do a great deal and, in all of it, encourage others to join me in this great adventure!

Recently, the Lord brought a group of underprivileged children across my path.  These precious kids, ranging from 4 to 14, who call me “Miss”, have stolen my heart and become very special friends to me.  As things stand today, they have no future and no hope of ever making it in life.  But, with the Lord’s help, it is possible to change the course of their lives and give them a future!

My dream is to see them become successful in life and an asset to society.  I have so many plans for them: from setting up a school and giving them access to Christian education, to organizing educational and recreational outings, to provide for their daily needs when it comes to food, toys, clothes; but most of all, helping them become whole one day!  In it all, my aim is not to force Jesus on them, but simply to love them with His heart and allow Him in turn to win their hearts.

Saving Grace

I am so grateful that God has poured out His grace on my life, restored me and enabled me in turn to carry the same heart of grace for others. I want to be a blessing more than to be blessed. I don’t have time to get depressed or feel sorry for myself, or to think about how I can prosper.  I just serve Him and He takes care of me!  I am trusting that the Lord will put enough seeds in my hands to be able to sow into the lives of others, to help them in their everyday life and enable them to feel the heart of Jesus through me.

I am aware I could have been norn in that little village, but somehow I am on the other side of the fence, and I cannot sit there without having a heart for those who are less fortunate than me.  If, as children of God, we do not have this heart, who will?

Shine His Light!

Jesus, said “Let your light shine that they may see your works and glorify the Father…”  Let us seek to carry His heart in this world to those who so desperately need to feel His love!

To you, my precious sisters, I would remind you that God has equipped us as women with a special attribute that enables us to be sensitive to the needs around us.  Let us be women of the heart, rather than being overly concerned about the way we dress and look!

I am trusting the Lord that I will be able to help these kids and the sick, the poor, the children and the elderly, widows and orphans. If through it all, I can bring some hope and light to their lives, I am happy!  Whether they come to know Him in the end, is in His Hands.  But whatever happens, to Jesus be the glory!