Jesus Culture

The 5-fold ministry is described in Ephesians 4:
Eph 4:11 KJV
(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

These offices are important to the body. They are just as important to the Church as having a mom and dad are to the family. Naturally, there are those who would argue this, particularly those who were raised by one parent or perhaps had to raise children as a single parent. I'm not saying the body cannot prosper to an extent without these offices, but I will argue that it's not the perfect plan, it is not ideal, and if you compare to the body that does have these offices held in rightful submission to God - there is no comparison. One moves in order, authority, and power, while the other struggles in certain areas of leadership and gifting. That said...

These positions - rightfully ordained and occupied - create within the body a 'culture' that otherwise cannot be created. It's a Jesus Culture. It's a culture wherein the body is exposed to the 5-fold potency that God instilled in His body. It's the fullness of the immune system of God. When just one office is missing, there is a chink in the armor.

To the inverse, if you take a person who is fully-anointed as a prophet and turn them loose in a church that does not believe in the gift of prophecy, you run the risk of destroying that body because the 'culture' cannot support the anointing. The result of such a mix would be offense and division. This is not God's will, but the devil's.

But oh... do we not now see the value and power of a Jesus Culture that fully operates within the Holy Spirit and with all the working parts in order? A culture where the saints are 'perfected' and the body is edified? (Ephesians 4:12)

The Office of Minister

For many of us who have grown up in church or who are actively involved, going into 'full-time ministry' has always been a VERY pleasant thought. Working with like-minded people, most of whom you are probably good friends with, doing lunches, meetings, missions, etc... together, is appealing. However, after taking inventory the reasoning behind this appeal can be somewhat sobering.

We like to hang out with people who are like minded in faith and vision because it's easier. We like the thought of a non-stress work environment. After all, I'm not responsible, necessarily, for those I work with if everyone is already a believer - right?

In some ways, trading in the corporate office for an office down at the church would be much like taking a soldier off the battlefield and putting him or her into the recruiting office. You get to talk about conflict all day long, but you don't have to endure any. (No offense to recruiters - most have done their time!)

I'm not saying there isn't a place or purpose for this, but no wonder it's not God's will for everyone to work in the church office! We need soldiers doing ministry on the battlefield. We need office leaders who will pray for their company's success and for the salvation of their peers. We need people who live it and walk it - outside the church walls.

If your dream is to work for the church - don't abandon that. But meanwhile, keep hammering where you are, because you are the minister on duty. You are gate that heaven has opened for others - today - right now! Don't discount it! You hold a very important office!

Ignore the Numbers

Jesus did over 90% of His teaching in the area of Galilee, which is a small triangular area cornered by the cities of Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Corazin. The sides of this triangle are approximately 3 miles long.

What do you think of when you think about changing the world with the gospel message? Do you think telling people about Jesus at work has little or no effect? Do you think you have to have the website with thousands of hits? Does it have to be a tent revival that draws thousands?

Jesus spent most of His ministry teaching within a 10 square mile area (closer to 5). Do you think He had much of an effect? Most who heard Him went the other direction. Those who scriptures portray as being the most receptive were often single people in lonely circumstances: a woman at a well, a blind man, an adulteress.

Do not despise small beginnings. Rather plant when you can plant, reap when you can reap, and wait to see what God does with the Harvest.

Pillars

Isa 6:1-4(1) In the year that King Uzziah died I then saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.(2) Above it stood the seraphs; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.(3) And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of Hosts; the whole earth full of His glory.(4) And the doorposts moved at the voice of the one who cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

In this temple vision that Isaiah had, he sees the glory of God filling the temple. He describes great grandeur; the whole earth is filled with His glory!

Then there's a subtle little statement... the doorposts moved. Some translations say the foundations - others say 'the pillars'. The temple pillars moved at the sound of His voice.

Every congregation has pillars. We discussed these just the other night - the 5-fold ministry as given in Ephesians chapter 4. Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists are the pillars of the church. They NEED to shake and be moved at the sound of His voice.