Post by Zac Loh on Mar 2, 2009 13:22:17 GMT -5
Are you tired of dwelling in the shallow? Do you feel it stale and mundane being continuously covering the surface? Every growing Christian will eventually reach a point of hunger within for deeper truths.
We cannot verify a ministry by pure academic. We need revelation truth and spiritual discernment.
Jesus Christ, the Word became flesh. The Word came through the virgin birth: a miracle. It was the miracle of the Word. The Word shall come forth miraculously. The teaching ministry is also a miraculous ministry.
Apostles-Prophets
Article – means a category
Some (article) apostles, some (article) prophets, some (article) evangelists, and some (article) pastors and (`kai’) teachers (Ephesians 4:11)
The (article) First and (`kai’) the (article) Last (Revelation 1:11; 1:17)
Jesus is both categories i.e. He is the First as well as the Last.
Ephesians 2:20
Of the (article) apostles and (`kai’) prophets
This category is apostles who are prophets as well. But looking at Ephesians 4:11, we read that apostles and prophets are two different categories.
So when we connect Ephesians 2:20 to Ephesians 4:11, we can put it that there are apostles-and-prophets meaning that there are apostles who are prophetic; and that there are prophets who are true-blue prophets.
Jesus did not choose twelve prophets but twelve apostles. We read about Agabus in the Book of Acts who was a true-blue prophet. So we know that there are prophets who are true-blue prophets who weren’t involved in the foundation building.
In any case, a person can have the gifts of more than one category, for example apostle-prophet Peter was also an evangelist, apostle-prophet Paul was also a pastor-teacher, Morris Cerullo is an apostle-prophet who is also an evangelist.
Acts 13:1
prophets and (`kai’) teachers
No article in front
This means that this is not referring to a category, but saying that within that group are both prophets and teachers.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF `FOUR’ IN THE BIBLE
The Church Is The House Of God Made Of Living Stones
A house has got 4 sides with Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone (Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11);
how the foundation of the house is made in that Bible time.
The church is the spiritual house of God made of living stones (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5).
Universality (The Whole Earth)
4 winds – universality (Mark 13:27; Revelation 7:1);
4 corners of the earth – universality (Acts 10:11; Revelation 7:1).
On The Fourth Day Of Creation (Genesis 1:14-18)
The Law of the First Mentioned (thanks to Dr. Paul Tan).
Rulership And Universality: The Ephesians Group, by right, is suppose to be the leaders of universal church on planet earth under the headship of Jesus Christ.
The Climax Of The Kingdom Of Israel: 4 Positions (Book of 1 Kings chapter1)
David the king (authority: apostle-prophet): Paul said I have the authority to build you up, Paul had the authority of an apostle-prophet.
Nathan the prophet (prophet).
Benaiah the commander (fighting for expansion: evangelist).
Zadok the priest (offer sacrifice, empathy for people: pastor-teacher): Ezra was a teaching priest, the symbolic pastor-teacher.
The Four Living Creatures (Ezekiel 1:4-10 & Revelation 4:4-7)
The face of a man – the pastor-teacher is the most humane ministry – who cares for you spirit, soul and body – who ministers to every aspect of our earthly existence.
The face of a lion – the Bible says the righteous shall be as bold as a lion – Jesus is the Lion of Judah – when the Israelites move, the tribe of Judah was in front – the ministry of evangelist has got to be divinely bold to confront spiritual darkness and territorial spirits controlling the minds of people, the evangelist must conduct spiritual warfare so that Satan’s hold on people will be release, so as to be brought into God’s kingdom.
The face of an ox – an ox is a working bull used in an agricultural society – an ox is the most productive animal in those days, you can imagine you as a farmer standing there gazing yonder, you can see rows and rows of plow – the Israelites who escaped from Egypt fell into idolatry and made a golden calf (a young bull) because it symbolized economic productivity (today we have the terms `cash cow’ or `bull run’) – the ministry of the apostle-prophet is the most productive for God’s kingdom, they are known for their accomplishment – the ox is strong, the apostle-prophet is known to carry massive burden and have such strength to face great opposition.
The face of an eagle – the eagle fly high, stay at high places for long periods until it need to feed which was when it swoops down to the earth, the prophet-prophet goes high into the spiritual realm and stay there long until he ministers to people – the eagle has sharp eyesight and can see large territory because of its height – the prophet can see the inner root cause or intent or motive of people, and the prophet can see many more things than others because God let him/her to see.
Going back to Revelation 4:4-7: together with the elders of the universal church, were the four living creatures. Again here, symbolically, we see that the 4-fold ministers are the elders of the universal church worldwide.
The Four Sides Of The Tabernacle
The entrance of the tabernacle faced east (Exodus 27:13-16). The entrance to the kingdom of God faced east. The sun rises on the east. A new day births forth. A new day begins. The beginning of a new life. The ministry of the evangelist. Saving souls bringing them into the kingdom. Souls enter the kingdom. New birth.
While the north symbolizes up in heaven, the south symbolizes the earth. The ministry of the prophet is very much dwelling in the heavenly realm - while the ministry of the pastor-teacher is very much focused on our earthly Christian living and everything that entails to living in this world (we are in this world but not of this world).
The sun sets in the west. It is the maturity of the day. Paul said, “I travail until Christ is formed in you.” The ministry of the apostle-prophet is for the maturity of the saints.
We cannot verify a ministry by pure academic. We need revelation truth and spiritual discernment.
Jesus Christ, the Word became flesh. The Word came through the virgin birth: a miracle. It was the miracle of the Word. The Word shall come forth miraculously. The teaching ministry is also a miraculous ministry.
Apostles-Prophets
Article – means a category
Some (article) apostles, some (article) prophets, some (article) evangelists, and some (article) pastors and (`kai’) teachers (Ephesians 4:11)
The (article) First and (`kai’) the (article) Last (Revelation 1:11; 1:17)
Jesus is both categories i.e. He is the First as well as the Last.
Ephesians 2:20
Of the (article) apostles and (`kai’) prophets
This category is apostles who are prophets as well. But looking at Ephesians 4:11, we read that apostles and prophets are two different categories.
So when we connect Ephesians 2:20 to Ephesians 4:11, we can put it that there are apostles-and-prophets meaning that there are apostles who are prophetic; and that there are prophets who are true-blue prophets.
Jesus did not choose twelve prophets but twelve apostles. We read about Agabus in the Book of Acts who was a true-blue prophet. So we know that there are prophets who are true-blue prophets who weren’t involved in the foundation building.
In any case, a person can have the gifts of more than one category, for example apostle-prophet Peter was also an evangelist, apostle-prophet Paul was also a pastor-teacher, Morris Cerullo is an apostle-prophet who is also an evangelist.
Acts 13:1
prophets and (`kai’) teachers
No article in front
This means that this is not referring to a category, but saying that within that group are both prophets and teachers.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF `FOUR’ IN THE BIBLE
The Church Is The House Of God Made Of Living Stones
A house has got 4 sides with Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone (Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11);
how the foundation of the house is made in that Bible time.
The church is the spiritual house of God made of living stones (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5).
Universality (The Whole Earth)
4 winds – universality (Mark 13:27; Revelation 7:1);
4 corners of the earth – universality (Acts 10:11; Revelation 7:1).
On The Fourth Day Of Creation (Genesis 1:14-18)
The Law of the First Mentioned (thanks to Dr. Paul Tan).
Rulership And Universality: The Ephesians Group, by right, is suppose to be the leaders of universal church on planet earth under the headship of Jesus Christ.
The Climax Of The Kingdom Of Israel: 4 Positions (Book of 1 Kings chapter1)
David the king (authority: apostle-prophet): Paul said I have the authority to build you up, Paul had the authority of an apostle-prophet.
Nathan the prophet (prophet).
Benaiah the commander (fighting for expansion: evangelist).
Zadok the priest (offer sacrifice, empathy for people: pastor-teacher): Ezra was a teaching priest, the symbolic pastor-teacher.
The Four Living Creatures (Ezekiel 1:4-10 & Revelation 4:4-7)
The face of a man – the pastor-teacher is the most humane ministry – who cares for you spirit, soul and body – who ministers to every aspect of our earthly existence.
The face of a lion – the Bible says the righteous shall be as bold as a lion – Jesus is the Lion of Judah – when the Israelites move, the tribe of Judah was in front – the ministry of evangelist has got to be divinely bold to confront spiritual darkness and territorial spirits controlling the minds of people, the evangelist must conduct spiritual warfare so that Satan’s hold on people will be release, so as to be brought into God’s kingdom.
The face of an ox – an ox is a working bull used in an agricultural society – an ox is the most productive animal in those days, you can imagine you as a farmer standing there gazing yonder, you can see rows and rows of plow – the Israelites who escaped from Egypt fell into idolatry and made a golden calf (a young bull) because it symbolized economic productivity (today we have the terms `cash cow’ or `bull run’) – the ministry of the apostle-prophet is the most productive for God’s kingdom, they are known for their accomplishment – the ox is strong, the apostle-prophet is known to carry massive burden and have such strength to face great opposition.
The face of an eagle – the eagle fly high, stay at high places for long periods until it need to feed which was when it swoops down to the earth, the prophet-prophet goes high into the spiritual realm and stay there long until he ministers to people – the eagle has sharp eyesight and can see large territory because of its height – the prophet can see the inner root cause or intent or motive of people, and the prophet can see many more things than others because God let him/her to see.
Going back to Revelation 4:4-7: together with the elders of the universal church, were the four living creatures. Again here, symbolically, we see that the 4-fold ministers are the elders of the universal church worldwide.
The Four Sides Of The Tabernacle
The entrance of the tabernacle faced east (Exodus 27:13-16). The entrance to the kingdom of God faced east. The sun rises on the east. A new day births forth. A new day begins. The beginning of a new life. The ministry of the evangelist. Saving souls bringing them into the kingdom. Souls enter the kingdom. New birth.
While the north symbolizes up in heaven, the south symbolizes the earth. The ministry of the prophet is very much dwelling in the heavenly realm - while the ministry of the pastor-teacher is very much focused on our earthly Christian living and everything that entails to living in this world (we are in this world but not of this world).
The sun sets in the west. It is the maturity of the day. Paul said, “I travail until Christ is formed in you.” The ministry of the apostle-prophet is for the maturity of the saints.
