Quote: "Herein is the reason every true ministry gift feels and experiences an intimate oneness with the person of Jesus Christ because we literally have a part of Him deposited and living inside our human spirits. We live in awe of Him always. We essentially know who a true Ephesians 4:11 ministry gift is by the deep love and commitment they display towards Christ. Our goal is to become Christ-centric rather than gift-centric." Lemuel Baker

Introduction

I decided to pen this topic as a result of a monthly news letter I sent to the friends of our ministry. The content of Ephesians 4:10-12 is a foundation for the Church as influencing Church Leadership as well as Christians being developed as they grow into their destiny roles.

Ephesians 4:10-12 (New International Version)

10. He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12. to prepare Gods people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Understanding Ephesians 4:10-12

Jesus Christ Himself who descended into hell to take back all authority from satan also ascended up into the heavens above all expanses of the sky and universe victoriously presenting His own blood to the Father who placed Jesus' blood on the alter in the heavenly Holy of Holies where Jesus' blood still exists today crying out for you and for me. Jesus' blood did not just dry up on the ground but was delivered to heaven.

Jesus had to ascend to heaven so that He could rule the world as a victorious King. Now that Jesus ascended into heaven He now intercedes and prays the scriptures 24/7 for you and for me, reminding the Father of His atonement for you and His victory over satan for you. Jesus became poor only at the cross when He took on our sin, poverty sickness and curse so that you and I might be rich.

After Jesus ascended to God the Father Jesus Himself, truly indeed gave wonderful giftings to the Church distributed to Christians according to their destiny or purpose in life. Jesus gave us Ones sent forth with orders, messengers with direct orders from Jesus Christ Himself who are strong and in the full image and character of Jesus Christ Himself. These are Apostles (greek. apostolos). Unfortunately there are those who call themselves apostles, prophets and pastors who are actually sent from satan and misguided to varying degrees. The Apostle Paul had to manage this unfortunate situation in his day but it did not stop him nor discount he was a true Apostle.

If we encounter those who are "wolves in sheep's clothing" we simply make the truth known to them in love only once and try to discern whether they could have a change of heart. Then give them to God and pray for them. Never argue or get angry but stay in the love of God and stay secure in your faith. God has called you and me to live a life of peace.

There are real Apostles in the world who have been given an authentic endowment (greek. Charisma, Charismata or Charis) who are strong in the fruit of the Spirit, meek, righteous, wise humble and kind. These individuals only display the power of God when it is needed to prevent misfortune in the lives of others never for show. This discipline of power under control is the definition of meekness. Moses had this ability so did the Apostle Paul.

You can tell who the Apostle is by the fruit of the spirit even more than the power and authority they display.

Christ after He ascended to heaven also gave the ability and gift to some people to be spokespersons for God or Prophets (greek. prophetes), one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, telling forth thus says God, also concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause, kingdom of God and to human salvation.

Jesus Himself also gave the ability to some to be a bringer of good tidings, an Evangelist (greek. euaggelistes). These persons with this gift cannot stop telling and sharing the gospel. Telling the gospel intensely motivates them and keeps them awake at night dreaming of how, when, where and to whom they must share the gospel. These are traveling ministries who go into mission fields to preach to the unbeliever.

Jesus Himself after He ascended to heaven also gave the ability to others to be Pastors (greek. poimen), those to whose care and trust others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow. Jesus was and is the perfect Shepherd, The Good Shepherd.

Jesus Himself also gave the endowment to teach, one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man one who is fitted to teach. If you are called to any leadership endowment Jesus outfits you for the job. These persons are Teachers (greek. didaskolos) with a gift and knowing things from the scriptures by revelation, who love people, desire to see people prosper and be successful in all areas of life. Teachers help connect the dots for all of us. Teaching is a calling to them not a vocation. Teachers know Jesus intimately.

All of the Ephesians 4:11 gifts have the following in common: They are each aware that they report directly to Jesus Christ Himself and that their goal in life is to please Him. Each ministry gift desires to be more like Jesus Christ. It is important to understand Jesus Christ is indeed the sum of all of the following:

1. Chief Apostle

2. The Chief Prophet

3. The Chief Evangelist

4. The Chief Shepherd and Shepherd of our Soul

5. The Chief Teacher

We report to Him; He is better at it than we are because He wrote the book on all giftings. All giftings literally come out from Him into our human spirits. HINT! This is the mystery within God's leadership gifts. Herein is the reason every true ministry gift feels and experiences an intimate oneness with the person of Jesus Christ because we literally have a part of Him deposited and living inside our human spirits. We live in awe of Him always. Deuteronomy 6:5 is the experience of a true leadership gift which records "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Literally Christ in us the hope of glory as recorded in Colossians 1:27b.

Prov 4:23 (KJV) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

To help identify the true apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher look for the following:

1.The person gives Jesus Christ the credit for all things and does not take the credit for himself. You will be able to tell this person really knows Jesus is everything and the person is always dependent upon Christ. A true gifting from God does not want to be called an Apostle or Prophet because after getting to know Jesus realizes that Jesus deserves all the glory and all we have in light of Him even titles are as filthy rags. A true gifting will ask and will insist not to be referred to as an Apostle or Prophet. If you want to make a true Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher happy live for Christ maturely before them. Seeing Christians mature into the image of Christ and Christ formed in their lives is sufficient reward.

Before we make a decision to embrace any title, I prayerfully ask each reader to seek a personal revelation, intimacy, and fullness of the person Jesus Christ and move from rhetoric to reality, add experience to positional and at the point when Jesus Christ becomes experience to you and you buckle at your knees and break in His magnanimous presence and glory then at this point lay your title before Him and you will see that He trumps all titles and all titles are judged as filthy rags in His presence. Think about this, at the hour of your death if indeed you are a Christian, your most meaningful thoughts will be of the love of and the person of Jesus Christ not your title. A true Apostle when the truth and witness of being an Apostle comes via the presence of God will lay the title at Jesus' feet like Peter did when he laid his title down to be crucified upside down.

A true leadership gift knows if he considers his gift more important than any other gift given to the Church such as the foundational gift of the server, the organizer or one who shows compassion he immediately is in spiritual decline. The Apostle Paul gives the advise recorded in Philippians 2:12-13 to work out our salvation with fear and trembling knowing the top priority for every Christian is to finish the race strong, being pleasing to Christ and having a good heart. We do not want to preach to others and be an outcast at the end of our ministry? What does it profit us if we gain all titles and lose our souls? Titles that are too dear to us will cause us to stumble, lose our souls and is considered a weight that can easily overcome us. A title identifies your potential as a result of the gifting you possess, your accomplishments, maturity and above all your responsibility to mankind. Beyond this we must let it go and gives our titles back to God in humility and soberness.

To arrive at a reasonable perspective regarding titles it is important to have insight into the thinking of the original Apostles of Jesus Christ a.k.a as the Apostles of the Lamb. This information is derived from the Church Fathers such as Origen, Hippolytus, Irenaeus, Papius of Hierapolis and Eusebius who documented the Apostle Peter felt himself unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as His master Jesus Christ . At Peter's request Peter was crucified with his head in a downward position in Rome under emperor Nero in 64 AD. Emperors Domitian and Trajan were also responsible for the deaths of several of the other original Apostles. Jesus was all-important and Peter and his apostleship insignificant in light of the person of Jesus Christ.

It also helps to see the selfless life each of the original twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ lived and how each loved Christ exponentially more than physical life. Andrew preached in the countries of Georgia and Bulgaria then was crucified on an olive tree in Greece. Bartholomew a.k.a Nathanael preached on the Continent of India as did the Apostle Thomas and Bartholomew was crucified upside down like Peter in Armenia or southern Georgia. Thomas died in India and was buried there after being thrust threw four times piercing four organs with a spear made of pine wood. James the Son of Alphaeus while preaching in Jerusalem was stoned to death and buried there.

James the son of Zebedee and brother to John the disciple who Jesus loved was beheaded by Herod in Jerusalem. John the brother of James son of Zebedee died of old age in Ephesus after he returned from Patmos where he was previously exiled. Matthew also called Levi who wrote the Gospel of Matthew died of old age like John the Beloved near present day Tehran, Iran. Philip was crucified upside down in Turkey and buried there. Simon the Zealot Son of Clopas became the second Bishop at Jerusalem lived to 120 years, died of old age and was buried in Jerusalem. Thaddeus Labbaeus Judas Son of James died of old age in Berytus of northern Iran. You will notice four of the original Apostles, John, Levi, Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot all died of old age. We can too if we focus on "love and peace." We must include Judas Iscariot who hanged himself after betraying Jesus.

Rest assured we will know the true Apostle even if the title is not used by discerning the comprehensive giftings of love, revelation, character and mighty works because of the revelation. The position becomes obvious as we look at the comprehensive gifting package not just the mighty acts. It is appropriate to say a person is an Apostle as a statement of fact. If a person uses the title officially in print it is respectful to address the person according to the printed title as you would for any discipline to avoid any discord. This is my advise.

"The person of Christ is so overwhelming causes all titles melt in His presence." Please hear this! If we live in His presence and we should, all things melt away to include titles. Christ is and has always been sufficient to satisfy the soul. In Christ's presence inevitably ones knees buckle in His presence and yields to Him what is rightfully His which is worship. Friend the "offices" of Ephesians 4:11 are only "gifts" that are inferior to the "giver" of the giftings thus see the gifts for what they are and put them in perspective as far inferior to the "Giver" of all gifts. See Jesus as superior and the gifts as inferior and this will be the proper perspective.

2.The person is truly humble and down to earth not a movie star and a celebrity. They are cognizant of reality not detached from reality. They epitomize God's ability to use a human vessel for God's honor.

3.The person lives a meek life not seeking the applause of man but of God. This person does not release God's power to exalt himself but only when the occasion requires it, for example to prevent misfortune in the life of a person and only because he has compassion on someone.

Ephesians 4:12 is the outcome God has in mind. You see in all our getting we should have understanding. The goal God has in mind is to see all parts of the body equipped, thoroughly furnished and complete. The Ephesians 4:11 gifted people are God's business, they are set in the body employed by Jesus Christ to help outfit, equip and furnish the Saints. Ephesians 4:11 ministry gifts are direct reports of Jesus Christ. These Direct Reports of Jesus Christ are sent by Jesus Christ to proclaim and promote religion among men. These people are sent by Jesus to promote your growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness and holiness.

The Koine Greek word "Hagios" is used for the word Saints which means "Holy Ones." According to the New Testament you and I are "holy ones" and very valuable to God thus He sends the best endowments to you to help you reach your full maturity.

"May the grace, love, faith and power of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself be in you, around you taking dominion over all situations in the earth for you to give you victory strength, rest, empowerment to victoriously finish your mission for this life  with joy."