 Right, so good morning everyone. Good morning to the students sitting here and good morning to the students on the plane as well. Welcome to this few semesters. For this semester, I'll be teaching on the Ministry of the Evangelist, the pastor and the teacher. And throughout this course, we'll be talking about the 5-fold ministry, we'll be talking about what is the ministry of the evangelist, the pastor and the teacher now. Some of us may think, what about the others? I'll be going to talk about these three important points and we'll also touch about the other gifts and the callings that are there in the church. So, the course notes are available on Google Classrooms. So, those are online, click here to download them. And even as we continue this course, you can track along with us. Like what I always say, between if you have any questions, feel free to ask those questions and we'll try our best to answer them. Right, so shall we start with a word of prayer? Father, we thank You for this day. We thank You, Lord, that even as we come together to study Your Word, we pray, God, that You will minister to us, Holy Spirit, Your Word will be a seed, Lord, in our hearts that will bear fruit in our lives. Everything that we learn throughout all the sessions, Lord, let it minister to us, let it strengthen us. And thank You, Lord, for teaching us to continue to trust in You. Thank You for the plans that we have for each one of us, Lord. We come into today's class and in this entire course into Your house. We give you all the praise and look in Jesus' name we pray. All right, so let me just quickly present the notes. All right, so this semester for this course, we're taking it in two separate classes. There will be two classes a week. One will be today and the other one is tomorrow. So it's broken into two days. It's going to go on. All right, so we have the content page here. We start with the introduction of the five-fold ministry. We talk about the evangelist, how the Lord changed this was that example. Then we go into the teacher and the pastor, right? I would encourage each one of us, maybe if we have read a book, the shepherd's staff, if you can get to your book, get the book, the shepherd's staff, it's a really good book. It talks about some aspects of the apostle, the prophet, the pastor and the teacher, the shepherd's staff. So this is a recommended study. I'm guessing it should be available on Amazon. But if you can get the book, maybe you can also circulate it among yourself. And if it is available, we'll also post it on the stream here. Okay, everyone can see my screen clearly. Do you want me to increase the font? You can see this way. Okay. All right, so let's begin this class. We'll talk about the introduction of the five-fold ministry. We've also talked about this in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 7 through 16. Now, we all know what the five-fold ministry is. It was the five-fold ministry. It was online. Feel free to post it on the chat. So we all know what the five-fold ministry is. But let's read Ephesians chapter 4, verse 7 through 16. Even as we read this, it's interesting to see that the apostle Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus. And out of all the churches, he's talking to Ephesus and he's saying, you know, the church in Ephesus is a church where there were already leaders. There were already deacons. So even when Timothy went to lead that church, there were already overseers, deacons. And so here he's setting things in place, right? He's saying this is what the church is. And within the church, there's something called as the five-fold ministry. So Ephesians chapter 4, verse 7 through 16. Let's read that. Anyone of us can read it. Go ahead. Ephesians chapter 4, verse 7 through 16. Try to understand how this was being called in the ministry of God as it's written. Ephesians chapter 6, verse 7 through 5. And we're talking about the chapter of Ephesus. Now this is the assembly of Lord Jesus in Ephesus that he also was presented in the book of Acts of the Child. He presented himself to the world, which is a very far above all of the heavens. And he might be always. And he is a group, some to be apostles, some goblets, some goblets, and some pastors and interests. For the people of God say it's all about God's ministry. For they become part of the world like that. We need all to come to the middle of the faith and all to talk to someone about a good God in man, to the nation of Christ actually, all of them believe that Christ. Okay. So, a very important point that we need to emphasize here is in verse 11, verse 11 it says, it was he who gained some to be apostles, prophets, pastors, and preachers. So what does it teach us? The apostle Paul is saying it is not our own calling. It is not something that we get to choose, but go on a point set on our life. And the Lord put some of us to be apostles, pastors, preachers, and we see the Bible ministry. So the ministry gift is a divine call. I've mentioned this before. Just because we like to travel, it doesn't mean I can choose if I want to be an evangelist. Or just because I like a church and I like to be on this pulpit every Sunday doesn't mean I can choose I want to be a pastor. Or just because I want to be known as an apostle, so I choose an apostle now. The point is the ministry gift is a divine call. It is God who points it for a pastor. Now how do we recognize it? Over time we will recognize it. And we must understand, see there are times when you and I as believers immediately we know, hey, God has called me for this. And you know that, okay, I'm going to do this. Like for example, Pastor Ashish himself, he knew that he was going to start a church. And this is when he was 13, 14 years old. Now you and I, for us it may be different. For me it may be, it may be it will take like five years for me to recognize, understand, okay, this is what I want to do. I always used to think, okay, what am I? Am I a Christian leader? Am I a pastor? Am I a evangelist? So the whole time I was wondering, what am I? But the point is the ministry gift is a divine call. And God will orchestrate things as long as we are doing what he wants us to do. The ministry gift is resident within the person. Just like how the Holy Spirit has nine gifts and it's resident inside of us. The ministry gift that is, you know, we studied that in fulfilling God's purpose, right? Our gift and our calling always go together. It's like a radio track, they're always together. So the ministry gift is always there inside us. God has put it inside us. Now for example, I'm just using this example. Say for example, God has appointed one person to be a worship leader. And God has given this person a talent to play music and sing. The gift is there. The gift is there inside. Now, when he's probably five, six, seven years old, 10 years old, he begins, he or she begins to understand, hey, I like music. And this is something that I want to do. So just because the gift is there doesn't mean they become a worship leader automatically or they become a worship team. There's something that they have to do. They have to prepare themselves. They have to give their life to the Lord. They have to prepare themselves. They have to ask God to empower them to be anointed of God. Then there's a practical of learning the music. And there's so many things that work. Same thing with the pastor. If you know that you're going to be a pastor, oh, there's so much we have to do. There's prayer, there's reading of the Word, there's preparation of the Word. Maybe you should not do it in our own step. I mean what? So this ministry gift is resident inside us. But the more we exercise it, we walk in that. The anointing of God comes and begins to use that gift in a powerful way. Right? So what is important here? We must understand it. Sometimes we don't know what our gift is. So many of us may have questions. I don't know what I am. I don't know if I'm a worship leader or a prophet or I don't know if I'm in the workplace. I don't know what God has called me to start a business. I don't know what I am. My gift is inside me. Right? Now when you read about ministry gifts, later we'll talk about that as well. Ministry gifts can expand to different kinds of gifts. Right? So for example, some people are involved with a gift of healing. Or some of them are involved with a gift of, they have this gift of ministering to people through art and craft. There's a gift of dancing. Right? There's some who are gifted in talking. Wow. So there are different kinds of these gifts. But the point is we need to step into it. It's like there's a shoe. And you're looking at that shoe and you know that shoe is something good for you. It's good for your future. All you have to do is wear it and walk in it. Everything will fall into place. It's like a puzzle. Start the course. God will bring things into your life. What is the best example? So many examples you can think of. Let me just give you two examples. One is Moses. What did God tell Moses? It's very interesting. He said to Moses, Moses, you are going to, your name means you've been drawn out of water. I protected you from the time you were born. The main reason was to bring you, the people of Israel out of Egypt. That was your only task. Right? That's all I want you to do. Now he knew it. He knew there was a gift inside of him. He knew there were leadership gifts inside of him. How did he know? There's a book of numbers he says. He himself writes it. He says, Moses was eloquent in speech. He was trained in the past. He knew he had leadership skills. Right? And he didn't recognize where to use those leadership gifts. And how to use it. Because he made a mistake. But we see that later on, and he was guilty, and he had doubted the burning of those leadership gifts was still there inside. But what was he doing for 40 years? He would be appreciative. Imagine how easily. You don't need any leadership skill for looking up the sheet. Not at all. But this gift was there instead. The moment God told him, get ready, pack your bags in yours. It was as if those gifts came back. It was all inside, it just came back. So those gifts that are there, it's irrevocable. Nobody can take it out from you. But you and I as believers have the option to use it or to suppress it. You get what I'm saying? Right? We have the option to use the gift or to suppress it. To walk in the gift or to say, no, that's not what I want to do. The option is ours. Now the gift is there. Look at Joseph. God told Joseph, your brothers will bow down before you. So he knew. He was special. He knew he was a gift. He knew there were certain things inside of him. He knew it. But what do we have to do? Did the gift go away? When he was in prison? When he was, you know, looking at all the things that are happening? No. He was still there. He was still able to interpret dreams. He was still a leader under Pharaoh's, under Potiphar's prison. He was a leader. Right? So the gift is always there and still is. Now, how do we recognize? That is a different topic altogether. But it's there. It's there. Now, the ministry gift, which is resident with the person, men and women are Christ's people to the church. Right? So when we look at the church, the body of Christ, why did God give us gifts? For example, the five-fold ministry. Why did he give us? If you read that verse, very clearly it says it is he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers. To do what? This has been a note of this. One, to prepare God's people for works of service. The first point, gifts are given to prepare God's people for works of service. It's not a show-off. It's not to be called a prophet, not to be called a apostle. For what? For to prepare people for the works of service. So if we are a apostle, or we are a prophet, or we are teaching and preaching the word, our main intention is to prepare people for the works of service. That is what. Build them up into a place of eternity. That's our number one priority. Number one. It's not even about us. It's about the people. That's the first one. What is the second one? So that the body of Christ may be built up. Now we are preparing people to serve under you or preparing people so that they may know that you are a leader. What is the reason? So that the body of Christ may be built up. So keep the mindset. One, we are doing this so that we build people up into maturity. Two, when they are mature, follow us and do whatever we say, but no. The point is the body of Christ may be built up and then until we reach the unity of the faith in the knowledge of the Son of God. Until we reach the unity of the faith. So all of these gifts that God has given to the church is given for a reason. But now when you look at the church across, over time, the church has grown revelation upon revelation. We have grown in different areas. But now when you look at the church it's more or less become a competition or it's become a place of, you know, of, what should I say? Not everywhere, but a lot of places. It's still a place of pride. That's how God is made. I've put all of them so that they can build the body of Christ. That's the whole point. It is not a billionaire one came though. And it's very sad to see that, you know, prophets, apostles they make these prophecies which are not true and, you know, just to entice people that many times we have heard of people, you know, people have sent videos and links asking is this right? Prophets have said if you don't do this you know, you won't have an income or you won't get a raise or if you don't give so much money this will happen. To your life, your children, you will never receive healing, all these things. Is that what prophecy is for? Is that building the body of Christ? So we must be very careful as well. So these gifts given to the church are to build the church and you and I as men and women of God we represent Christ's ministry to the church. Now picture this the Lord Jesus did ministry for three and a half years. He set the example. What did he do? Because there was no church what did he do? He set the example. He set the goal reach the gospel, lay hands on the sick, teach them heal, do miracles and he did all of that. He traveled from my area being the Messiah he could have just sat in one place. He lived in Jerusalem three and a half years but actually he struggled. Yesterday one of the students asked me after lifestyle advance how can we go through these difficult areas and preach the gospel? Now the Lord Jesus went to difficult areas in his own city in his own hometown people ridiculed him his own family ridiculed him right? But he set the example you and I we represent Christ's ministry do we represent Christ? Yes or no? Yes we represent Christ so whether we are happy angry, sad whatever we do we represent Christ so our ministry also represents Christ if we do ministry the right way it will represent Christ we do ministry the wrong way it will show it will point out see what your Christian people are doing and it is heartbreaking to hear stories of pastors and leaders in the church who have been dragged to court because of different reasons why? because it is affecting the ministry, it is affecting the church we represent the church many places we see we hear of the prosperity many other things we must remember when we are teaching the word of God we represent now we must do it carefully the purpose of the 5 fold ministry there are 3 bullet points there for the perfecting of the church for the perfecting of the church of the saints so that the saints can do the work of the ministry and then resulting in the body in the building up of the body of Christ 3 full purpose there then this will continue till when 3 bullet points there we will kill the all come to the unity of the faith that means what? this whole 5 fold ministry pastors, apostles, prophets features and all the other gifts will continue till we all come to the unity of the faith and when will that happen? when will we all come to the unity of the faith? think of it it is until we are in the rapture until the rapture happens until the rapture happens it will go on God will continue to raise the apostles of this 5 fold ministry will continue to go and the enemy will continue to rise to stop it so it's going to be a battle but it will grow the 5 fold ministry will grow the church will grow we have Jesus's promise he says I will build my church the gates of hell I was equaling the church through you and me through the 5 fold ministry next one till when will all this continue till we all come to know come to the knowledge of the son of God will we all come to this level of understanding right the apostle Paul writes in all of his letters what is the one thing very commonly he keeps stating he says I may increase in the knowledge I may increase in him I was reading a couple of passages this morning and I came to this passage just think about this also before he has seen all the revelations of God he has done great things he has started the church he has written so many books yes first hand encounters with God what is the book of Ephesians he says that I may know him and the power of his resurrection in me so Paul is not saying okay I'm done sorry not Ephesians it's in Philippians Philippians 7 3 11 which is a the book of Philippians is a prison episode it's during his last days and he's writing himself and I know him and the power of his resurrection in me in him at all you already know enough on the time you are a young boy you also went to the desert the Lord Jesus spoke to you personally you went up to the third heaven you have seen miracles you have done great things you already know him many places you have said the Lord Jesus himself came and minister to him you already know Jesus what does he say that I may know him and the power of his resurrection until we all come to the knowledge of God what does it teach us what does it teach us it teaches us that all of this we are just a drop in the ocean there is so much that we can learn this book of Revelation it does not end with a B.T.H.R Masters just because we get a Masters it doesn't end there there is so much and that's what we are here for as a body of Christ until we continue to grow in the knowledge of the Son of God the 5 fold ministry will continue to develop right and lastly we all until we all come to a perfect or mature man a full measure of Christ's statue so all of this will happen until we walk like Christ in this world Sunday sermon we spoke about praying for those who persecute praying, blessing those who persecute you now it's that easy it's so difficult even as I was preaching that thing to myself it's not easy but we cannot do it in our flesh through carnal ways we cannot forgive somebody who has hurt us through the flesh if we want to bless those who persecute us we have to do it and doing that makes us mature takes us to the place of maturity so all that we are learning I just want to make a note here some of us may say hey I'm going to start a business some of us may say I'm a housewife I'm just working in the corporate sector or this I just wanted to learn God's words so I'm joining the sessions it doesn't matter all of us are believers all of us are ministers so it's not like only if I'm a prophet only if I'm a teacher I will go and minister to people what was the purpose of all this work what was you know later on you see in all episodes what was Phoebe's work she was a merchant in cloth and you know if you look at Steve, what was Stephen's work so we need to ask so it's not that we have to be this only then we can minister God will place things that are like until we come through all of this okay so if you say you're a worship leader hey I'm not there in the fivefold ministry that's okay don't feel bad why God didn't add worship in this fivefold ministry but you know what's the best part all of this will pass away but worship will remain that's why God didn't put it here do you think of that I used to think of that because I was only leading worship I'm not there in the fivefold ministry they're not very clear it's what you mean I'm talking about 15 not years back and I understood that all of this also pastors teachers nothing is needed in heaven do we need all of them but what is there in heaven get used to it we have to get used to worship just keep worshiping I'm used to that so don't feel bad there's a reason the Holy Spirit knows exactly what he's doing okay so whatever the gift that God has placed in you don't limit yourself don't say okay since I'm not in this list so I can now this doesn't apply to me it applies to us even if you're a housewife a work agent it applies to us let's say in first Corinthians chapter 12 was 28 to 30 31 yeah was Corinthians 12 28 to 31 and God has appointed Jesus in the church first apostles again prophets very teachers they don't give some feeling about administrations that I can suggest all of the apostles all of the prophets all of the teachers all have gifts of ruins we all speak we all contribute but honestly these are the best gifts and yet I assure you you're right so again here Paul is writing to the church in Corinth now I've mentioned this before the church in Corinth was a troubled church it was a church that was flowing in the gifts of there was working of miracles there was prophecy there was word of knowledge all the gifts people are flowing in the gifts there was division there was confusion now I wouldn't say that the division was because someone got possible some of the prophets not what happened was some are saying I follow Paul some are saying I follow Paul some are saying I follow Paul in detail about the letter of the Corinthians next year but Paul is writing here and he is bringing some important points here let's let's just break it down 20 pages to 30 let me just break it down and in the church God is appointed first of all prophets second prophets third teachers now it looks like it's confusing here because the 5-4 ministry says something here if we go on teachers then working of miracles workers of miracles that's not there in the list also those having gifts of healing again that's not there in the list and those to help others not in the list those with gifts of administration and those speaking in different kinds of tongues now what's happening here you will see that this whole 5-4 ministry so Paul is dividing it he is saying in these ministry you will also have these functions that are available the administrator is not there in the 5-4 ministry but a pastoral calling will have administration gifts of healings and miracles is part of the pastoral apostle teachers everyone so it's part of all of that so the point that apostle Paul is doing is trying to bring out here see in the church in Ephesus he was trying to emphasize ok this is the 5-4 ministry but here in the church of God he is trying to bring out the aspects the reasons why this ministry is there now this is a build up church church Ephesians was still not here it was a growing church in this we must understand a few points let's look down the order stated in 1st Corinthians 28 must be understood both as one of establishment the way in which the early church unfolded God gave the apostles first then came the prophets and then the teachers so if you look at the book of Acts the apostles came first so 12 apostles they were first they were leaders of the church the apostle Peter started it the foundation was built let me see that he brings that sermon the first sermon thousands of people came to Christ the church was built apostles were first then came the prophets so if you look at the book of Acts the church in the church in Jerusalem and then the church in Antioch Acts chapter 11 19 onwards talks about the church in Antioch now you've got Jerusalem in one place you've got Antioch so what's happened in Jerusalem is a big church thousands of people Antioch is a smaller church but in that church in the Antioch church there were already prophets there were already people who were prophesying can you believe that here you've got apostles you've got the church you've got pastors you've got the people inside the administration and here in the church in Antioch what have you got prophets so people are prophesying in the church so that is why later on Paul goes to Barnabas they send Barnabas go to the church in Antioch and help them out so first was the apostle second was the prophet so of course in the church in Jerusalem there were prophets and God raised up many prophets to build the church and then there were teachers so within the community within the church community you see Apollos Aquila and Priscilla they were more inclined towards teaching and what did they do Apollos came he was listening to the sermon and he was a wonderful teacher of the word of God but he hadn't heard about the baptism so they spoke to him and then he became a great teacher so we see all these gifts coming up one establishment that is apostles, prophets and the teachers now what is important is God is not saying the apostles is number one rank number one prophets is rank number two and teachers is three he is not saying that so in hermeneutics we learn we need to take text put it into context in many places Paul says we are all one in the body of Christ there is no Jew, there is no green we are all one so why is he bringing this first second we must understand that he is trying to set a hierarchy this is how it is supposed to be within our church now if you look at any organization right if there is no hierarchy what will happen it is chaos you look at the church also imagine a church with no hierarchy ten of them making one decision the waste of time five of them will say no five of them will say yes now you are stuck in between so we need leadership you have to make decisions some decisions will be good some will be hard but it is good to have a hierarchy in the church as well we have many volunteers and they genuinely care for the church so they come up with a lot of ideas sometimes I have to say yes sometimes I say no we need to make make sure that the church is benefitted with every decision that we make right then there is one of leadership responsibility, governmental responsibility and authority then there is an anointing that goes with each ministry gift so within the church there is an anointing right so not everyone can be worship leaders but you will have some people who are anointed in terms of prayer they can pray not everyone can pray for a long time remember just a couple of months back this wonderful one of our church members she came up to me and said first I don't know anything I don't know anything whatever you want me to serve myself but one thing I can do first I can pray for the church I can spend time in prayer so if you want me to pray or start a prayer team I can do that I said you have go ahead start a prayer team so it is not easy she likes to she has that burden of prayer and there was another person all over the church he came up to me and said see Monday to Friday I work but I finish I start my work only at 3 in the evening so from morning to afternoon I have nothing to do right so till 3 o'clock so till about 1 o'clock so morning till 1 o'clock I am open to go out and share the gospel I like to do that God is coming now these are corporate girls who work in the corporate sector and can we do that we can start ministry teams find somebody else with you to go back to if Jesus do that show 72 it's like 2 by 2 right so there is an anointing that goes with every ministry you look at an evangelist you look at a pastor there is an anointing that goes with that so when you and I pray and we spend time in God's presence it is very important to ask God to anoint us the anointing is important right because if we keep doing something and we know that it's a gift and call you but if there is no anointing what will happen there will be an effect but this is the anointing only that makes the difference right it is the anointing which such as people's lives evangelist leading worship you can choose the most boring song right but if it's anointed of God it will catch people I remember this one time I was singing a song I think it was blessed to be able to go it is a fast song it's a fast song it's a fast song usually worship song only everyone start crying but with praise when this person came on to me and said oh yes it be the name of the Lord and I was touched so serious I was touched blessed be the name the name of the Lord is a strong tower when you said that I felt God's presence like a tower next to me now what is it that's all hundreds of things right but you ever think of those and it's anointed of God God anoints a song we can use words like this to touch people's hearts so God is not restricted to worship songs on the keyboard he's not interested in all that it's part of that but the anointing is what makes the difference so that is our responsibility some of you want to become pastors you need the anointing we cannot do it with our own strength we cannot you can carry it for maybe one year two years after sometime you will feel something more after you get light any day at once right God will take a person through 0.9 I'm at 0.9 so God will take a person through stages of preparation growth and development and there God will take a person through stages of three things preparation growth development now preparation very important and I've talked a lot about this right preparation time is never wasted time is important time it's time that God teaches us he removes things from us he removes there are some things that we need he strengthens us there are some things that he would say get it out of their life right so preparation is very important now the preparation can involve two things let's talk about these and then we will pick up from the next class preparation involves two things one practical preparation and two is a spiritual so let's put spiritual preparation first first spiritual preparation then what is spiritual preparation ok God go by the place of prayer reading God's word worship spending time in God's presence meditating on his words that is number one priority preparation stage God did that for people in the Bible for people in the Bible on to everyone this is very rarely a time God has used somebody and said ok since you are good you be there or not David how many years Paul 7 years Moses 14 years Joshua maybe about 10-15 years everyone he has taken them through stages so preparation is important putting that preparation to prepare themselves so even as we are here preparing for the things ahead it is a time when we prepare spiritually we need to be spend time in God's presence and even as we are doing it comes the practical preparation right I remember this very clearly when I was in modern college I was just learning about worship I could read maybe 3-4 songs at one time suddenly they said 1 hour worship now 1 hour worship how many songs 10 songs so I said choose 8 songs 8, 9, 10 songs sometimes one after the other I didn't know much I didn't know how to read I didn't know like prophetic worship and spending time in God's presence it was very new to me so 10 songs and we had one guy on the we had a drum kit and one guy all 10 songs couldn't see it over time I realized hey it is not a show and then I began to learn ok let's make it 8 songs let me spend time I began to watch videos began to learn from people around and then I do spent more time in God's presence learning at home and then I was able to understand ok I can do this I can absorb I can build people up I can declare verses and all became a God but it was all in the presentation thank God for the Bible scholars because free I can do it so preparation preparation will enable us to grow in the Lord if you are only preparing and not growing then something is wrong you must see yourself growing and that growth must bring development in your ministry gift and God will take us through these stages be ready to go through very important point don't rumble through those stages let those stages and God take his time through those stages alright so we will stop here and we will continue tomorrow is our next class so we will continue there shall we just say a quick word of prayer and we will close Father we thank you for what we studied today we thank you Lord for the online students as well we pray to all that you will continue to teach us and continue to lead us on that story we give you all the praise and Jesus name be great thank you for those who are online God bless