What is your belief of the "5 fold Ministry" teaching from Ephesians 4:11-12 ?

You have asked two questions that will take many words for me to express my belief fully. Because of the times we live in, many words are skewed and slanted to justify false teachings of movements today. Their use of the words of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers taken from Ephesians 4:11-12 are manipulated to effect false change, and gain offensive position in these tumultuous times. So, I must take care to explain my belief fully, so my understandings are easily separated from the false teachers moving today.

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 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: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:7-16 av)

1. Every Christian is given a measured gift from Jesus Christ.

2. Some of those gifts include skills and moving toward doing the works of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers.

3. These special gifts of authority, responsibility and accountability are given to certain Christians for specific purpose...

(1) For the perfecting of saints

(2) For the work of the ministry

(3) For the edifying of the body of Christ

4. Jesus Christ provides these five specific offices to...

(1) Unify the Faithful

(2) Give knowledge of the Son of God to them

(3) Bring His followers to perfection

(4) Make the Faithful able to experience the full measure of the stature of Jesus Christ

5. Jesus Christ knows that if those given talents to carry out the five offices of authority, responsibility and accountability, are diligent in carrying out His Word and Way, then the congregation of Believers will...

(1) No longer be children who are able to drink only milk, but rather able to understand the deep things within His Word

(2) No longer be tossed to and fro by every false doctrine

(3) No longer be trapped by the worldly and wicked, who crafitly make up lies to deceive the righteous followers of Jesus Christ

6. By speaking the Truth in love, those possessing one of the five positions of ministry, cause all who thirst and hunger to be filled and grow into all things of His.

7. Jesus Christ is head of it all, as his followers are joined together according to His Will, and increase His Works, through love.

That is my interpretation of the Scripture. But I believe that you are probably asking a much deeper question, and one I am going to try to answer more deeply.

I believe that Jesus Christ established me as a Teacher of His Word and gifted me with the ability to handle His Word effectively and truthfully. I believe that He has tasked me to bring some of his children to maturity, where they are fed the deeper things according to the Word of God. I also believe that an additional task is given to me to constantly and fervently speak out against false teachers, false prophets, and false doctrines in these times.

HOWEVER.....THIS IS IMPORTANT.....DO NOT CONFUSE MY BELIEFS WITH THE MOVEMENTS THAT ARE DEVELOPING IN THESE DAYS!

All gifts of office have been given throughout the generations by Jesus Christ to lead His people where He wanted them to be, and to grow them to the places He Willed.

I do not believe that there will be a restoration of the five ministerial roles, because I believe they have been around since Jesus Christ established his church. You cannot restore something that has been always active according to the Will of God.

I do not believe the roles of the apostle and the prophet will be redefined in the last days. Those sent out to do the things of Jesus Christ, have been sent out since the days He walked this earth. To suggest that the role of apostle was lost, and would be found once again in the latter days is ludicrous! So goes the ministry of the prophet...at the Will and under the Control of Him, not man! Prophesy exists for the pronouncement of Jesus Christ, and brings in the coming things leading to His Rule. If prophets have not been heard, it is because He has chosen them not to speak. If he wants a prophet to speak, then those established and given that gift of ministry will do just that in His Time and in His Way.

I do not believe that Sons of God will manifest themselves, with full stature of Jesus Christ, and assume His role on this earth! I believe this is blasphemy! The followers of Jesus Christ will never become Him, nor ever have His Works to accomplish with their own hands. When a faithful and mature Christian is given one of the ministry offices, then Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit might well move them to do great works....But... this is so important! Without that leading, the Christian would be unable to establish and complete even the smallest task!

I do not believe that those who appear to speak in tongues, perform divine healings, do miracles, levitate, resurrect the dead, or any of the other popular pastimes that false teachers and misled believers practice, are always at the direction and moving of my LORD GOD, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit! Don't get me wrong....I have seen my share of the great things of God, and have marveled at His Movings and His Grace! But I have also seen the "wicked worldly" and the "wannabe leaders" practice their manipulative deceptions on the weak, lonely, crippled, widowed, orphaned, divorced, addicted and shallow minded. I have seen these false teachers lead the child down the path of lies, and watched as they taught them the practiced speech of tongues, and the raised hands of unrestricted release of their spirits, as they falsely called it the moving of the Holy Spirit!

But....

This is what I do believe....

The Word of God has warned us to take care in the last days, as false teachers and false prophets would arise doing great miracles to trick the weak. I believe that many of the new ministries that are growing today who are focused on the Five Fold, to establish authority and control for themselves over the spiritually lost and weak, and it is part of the exact things that Jesus Christ was warning us about to avoid!

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:21-24 av)

I am graced and honored to be chosen by Him to teach His Things to those He Leads my way, and I am committed to teaching His Things according to His Word and Will. I have been groomed by Him, and given the skill and gifts necessary to accomplish that task. That gift of ministry that He has given me has not elevated me to control man, but rather, to lead maturing Christians through His Word according to His Way as I am guided to teach the things He wants me to teach.

So the same words that I use to describe the five offices of ministry in Ephesians 4:11-12 are almost the same words that the false teachers use. That's where it is so difficult for the young, and so important for the mature to discern the differences and lead their people in the right path. When the words are just spoken, it is sometimes hard to discern. But to examine the fruits of the Works is the clue to the righteous discernment, and the weighing and measure of the true motive of the Leaders of Faith.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20 av)

I hope this has helped in your evaluation of Becker Bible Studies Teachers and Authors. Everyone one that is part of our ministry has this same, deep and committed belief that they are accomplishing the things according to His Word and Will, because that is how He has led them.

If we can help in your ministry, please let us know!

God's blessings,

David "Bucker" Becker