Ascension Gifts PropheticInsights
THE FIVE-FOLD ASCENSION GIFTSINTRODUCTION And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28).FIVE-FOLD DIFFERENCES There are distinct and unique differences in the five-fold ascension gifts. All possess a different measure (metron) of grace. Let's begin our journey in the study of the five ascension gifts. Notice the use of the word some and not all in the following text: 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 (Ephesians 4:11-12).DISTINCT AND DIFFERENT In the above scripture it is very clear that Jesus gave five different ascension gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to the Body of Christ. If we do not understand the distinct differences and the role each plays in perfecting the Body of Christ, then it will be impossible for us to benefit from their uniquenesses.For example, if we try to make a prophet function like a pastor, we abuse the prophet by trying to get him to do something that he is not called to do. Therefore, we cannot benefit from the unique grace on his life. Likewise, if we try to get a pastor to function like a prophet we abuse the pastor and cannot receive from the unique grace on his life.It is extremely important that the Body of Christ thoroughly understand the differences between all five of the ascension gifts, thereby enabling us to advance and mature spiritually.FIVE UNIQUE GIFTSTo better understand the differences between the five-fold ascension gifts, lets assign certain words that would best describe their unique functions. By looking at the words we generally associate with the different ascension gifts, we get a clearer idea of their distinctiveness.Also, let's list some short definitions of the five-fold ascension gifts as basic explanations of their occupations within the Body of Christ. Let's start first with the ascension gift that we are the most familiar with, the pastor.WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PASTORPASTOR (poimen). Pastors are shepherds, called to love and nurture God's people. Words associated with the pastor include:- Shepherd - Nurture - Tend - Feed- Comfort - Lead - Protect - Guard - Sheep - Nice- Still waters - Green pastures - Patient - Longsuffering - Serve - Counsel - CompassionateWONDERFUL PASTORAL GIFTS Pastors are wonderful gifts from Jesus and of great benefit to the local church.They are typically full of mercy, love and compassion. They offer wise counseling, sound godly wisdom and advice. There are many times when we need the loving grace and nurture that is on the pastoral ascension gift. The grace on the pastor is to impart in the believer a love for God's people.THE TEACHER We need more than compassion and love, however, we also need to become disciples. For that we need the teacher. (Even though there is a unique ascension gift of teacher, it is not to say that the pastor cannot teach 1 Timothy 3:2). WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TEACHERTEACHER (didaskalos). Teachers are set in the Body of Christ to instruct us in the Word of God. - Explain - Train - Instruct - Educate - Simplify - Academic - Prepare - Mature - Tutor - Expositor - Disciple - Steps - Keys THE INSTRUCTORSTeachers have a unique grace to breakdown scripture into easily understood and attainable steps. It is not enough for a person to only be born-again, they must be instructed in the Word of God and the ways of righteousness. The grace on the teacher is to impart a heart in the believer to make students of the Word of God.THE EVANGELISTSEVANGELISTS (evagelistes). Evangelism is telling the Good News that Jesus Christ died for sins, was raised from the dead on the third day, and is now extending forgiveness of sins to all who would believe. - Go ye - Souls - The lost - Gospel - Good - News - HeraldWORDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVANGELIST- Glad tidings - Salvation - Great Commission - Reconciliation - Signs and wondersThe grace on the evangelists gift is focused on the harvest. However, the evangelists grace ends after a person is born again. Then that person needs the grace of the other ascension gifts to fully mature. The grace on the evangelists is to impart a heart in the believer for the lost.THE PROPHET Prophets are ascension gifts that are set in the church to produce a hunger for the voice. PROPHET (prophetes) of God.WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPHET- Say - Seer - Mouthpiece - Messenger - Watchman - Revelation - Decree - Proclaim - Prepare the way - Burden - Announce- Pray - Utterances - Turn - Prophesy - Prophecy - Foretell, Forth tell - Root out - Intercession - Repentance - Holiness - Deliverance - Dreams - VisionsTHE PROPHET'S GRACE Prophets receive and communicate the mind and will of God. Jesus uses them to announce His will, unlock mysteries of His Word, bring conviction of sin, and focus the believer on an intimate spiritual and holy life. Prophets are spokesmen of God. The basic foundational function of a New Testament prophet is edification, exhortation and comfort. The grace on the prophet is to impart to the believer a hunger for the rhema Word of God (voice of God).APOSTLE (apostolos) Apostles are God's builders (architekton) of the glorious church. Apostles are the most panoramic of the five-fold ascension gifts. They have the ability to see the whole picture. Whereas a pastor might be more local church-minded, the apostle has more of a world (universal) church vision. His heart is to mobilize the local church into a fine-tuned, invading and occupying army.- Impart - Confirm - Activate - Strengthen - Strategies - The Church - Design - Plan - Structure - Architect - Ordain - Reform - Proton - Demand - Builder - Doctrine - Administrate - Father - Govern - Pioneer - Trailblazer - Foundation - Sent-one - Warrior - First - Order - Messenger - AmbassadorWORDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE APOSTLEAll of these words best describe the different attributes of the various ascension (doma) gifts. Once we understand their differences we can benefit from their uniquenesses. The grace on the apostle is to impart to the believer a heart to build Jesus' Church.A FULL-TIME VOCATIONFive-fold ascension gifts are full-time ministry vocations set in the Body of Christ to thoroughly prepare every believer for the work of the ministry. The work of the ministry is The Great Commission. Serving and meeting the needs of others. Doing the work of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher.REGULAR OCCUPATION I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called (Ephesians 4:1 Italics added). In the scripture above, the Apostle Paul specifically addresses the five-fold ascension gifts about their calling. He tells them to walk (live) worthy of their vocation. The word vocation is a Latin word meaning calling. The English definition of the wordvocation means regular occupation.IMPARTING GRACE When we look at the five-fold ascension gifts as regular occupations rather than part time activities, it provides us with clear insight into the difference between the believer and the five-fold ascension gift. Five-fold ascension gifts are set in the Body of Christ and the local church specifically as full time vocations. Their call is to impart the unique grace that is on their life into every believer. Every local church should have resident in the believers of that local church all five graces of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED Not everyone is a five-fold ascension gift. Not everybody in the local church is called into full-time ascension gift ministry. This does not mean that you, the born again believer, is not called into ministry. In fact, every five-fold ascension gift is called to provide a unique grace for you to be thoroughly equipped to do the work of the ministry.EFFECTIVE DISCIPLES Some think that they must be a five-fold ascension gift to qualify for ministry. This is not the case. It is possible to pastor, nurture, love, care for, and comfort others without being an ascension gift pastor. Yet, to do so effectively, as a believer, you need the unique grace of an ascension gift pastor imparted to you. It is possible to teach the Word of God and not be an ascension gift teacher. Yet, to raise up a disciple of Christ effectively you need, as a believer, the unique grace of the ascension gift teacher imparted to you.DISCIPLES It is possible to teach the Word of God and not be an ascension gift teacher.Yet, to raise up a disciple of Christ effectively you need, as a believer, the unique grace of the ascension gift teacher imparted to you. It is possible to lead someone to Jesus through sharing the Gospel and not be an ascension gift evangelist. Yet, to have a heart for the lost requires an impartation of the five-fold ascension gift evangelist into your life.RECEIVING GRACE It is possible to prophesy and not be an ascension gift prophet. Yet, to create a heart in the believer that hungers for the rhema word of God (voice of God) you need the unique grace of the prophet imparted to you. You can have a desire to build the local church and not be an ascension gift apostle. ENABLED BELIEVERS A person does not have to be a car to enjoy the benefits of a car. Nor does a person have to be an airplane to enjoy the benefits of an airplane. Likewise, a believer does not have to be a five-fold ascension gift of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher to benefit from the unique grace on the life of those different ascension gifts. The believer is enabled to become complete only after the impartation of all five-fold ascension gifts in his or her life.THE WORK OF MINISTRY Finally, what is the work of the ministry that the believer is being equipped for?It is the work of the apostle (build), prophet (prophesy), evangelists (reach the lost), pastor (love God's people), and teacher (make disciples) that has been imparted to that believer from all five ascension gifts.
