APOSTOLIC PARADIGM SHIFT: We have been operating in the Five-Fold Ministry in a limited capacity, and creating a deficiency in: 1. Perfecting the saints 2. Work of the Ministry 3. Edifying the Body of Christ 4. Coming into UNITY IN THE FAITH 5. Unity in the Knowledge of the Son of God 6. Becoming perfected 7. Having the measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ It has been the error of two extremes that has kept the Body of Christ from being healed of their distorted expression of the missional and movemental purpose of the Church. On the one hand, there is a total dismissal of the 3/5 of the Five-Fold vocations (Apostle, Prophet and Teacher), stating that they have been replaced by Scripture and Apostolic succession of the Episcopate. There is no scriptural evidence or precedence that would justify the view of the replacement of these vocations, but the fact that they had ceased to function at a point in Church history. On the other hand, you have those who wholly embrace the Five-Fold Ministry, but as a description of a select few who have been chosen as the leadership of the Church. Both of these views are incorrect. It either denies the Church the full expression of Christs ministry through the Church or it isolates members of the Body from their natural role within the body due to the doctrine of five-fold exclusivity. The error is the disregard for the connection between verse 7 and 11 of Ephesians 4. BUT TO EVERY ONE OF US applies TO EVERY SINGLE BELIEVER, not just a select few. The statement that, BUT TO EVERY ONE OF US IS GIVEN GIFTS, applies directly to the five mentioned in verse 11. The true operation of the Church means that EVERY SINGLE BELIEVER will function in the vocation of either an APOSTLE, PROPHET, PASTOR, EVANGELIST or TEACHER. This will not only not only provide and effective accomplishment of the aforementioned 7 relational objectives of our Unity, Diversity and Maturity, but it will initiate a full expression and operation of the ministry of Jesus Christ to the world. I will be writing more to this paradigm in coming times, as I prepare for an upcoming release on this matter. I am interested in thoughts concerning... Dr. John L. Hairston, Apostle.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 23:19:07 +0000
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