The Pattern In The Mount”
Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
When Moses was about to build the tabernacle for God, God cautioned him to accurately construct it in accordance to a specific pattern that He would show him. The Lord has a particular and unique pattern of ministerial construction for every local assembly, and every corporate and individual ministry.
This spiritual architectural blueprint is referred to as the “pattern in the mount”.
In our Greek scriptures the word “admonished” is defined as “divine instruction according to revelation.” This is an exhortation for us to cautiously build our ministries step by step in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes and not our minds.
Every earthly ministry is as “an example and shadow of heavenly things.” “An example”, is a copy or a model of the original. Every ministry, which God calls us into, is the copy of an original, which God has already created and dwells with Him in the heavenlies.
The brilliancy and the glory of these heavenly ministries create for us a shadow, or lets say an outline, for the ones who have been called to faithfully reproduce these ministries here on earth. The vast responsibility of all believers is to reproduce its heavenly original with the greatest of earthly accuracy. The blessings of God will fall upon each ministry in proportion to how accurately it has been reproduced in “accordance with the pattern shown in the mount.”
Why did God demand such precision? The purpose of the OT tabernacle was to manifest the invisible God in His glory so that His people, the Israelites, would know Him. Through His glory, God also revealed His laws to Moses to then be transmitted to the Jewish nation.
One of the church’s great problems is that it has failed to grasp that every ministry has a “pattern shown in the mount.” Because of this failure, we actively subscribe to, and create many church activities. Sadly enough, not many of them have much to do with any “patterns” that God has initially for them. We sow much and reap little. We will do much more by seeking and waiting upon the Lord for revelation, than in busily getting wrapped up in a host of church activities.
Any local NT assembly must understand, and execute “the pattern in the mount” with meticulous care. This model is demonstrated for us primarily in the Books of Ephesians and Colossians. A congregation’s success or failure to do so will result in the same success or failure to manifest the Person of the Lord Jesus to a dying world.
The Testimony of God
In the Old Testament we find that God’s fullness dwelled within the Ark of the Covenant located in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle of God. This Ark of the Covenant is also called the Ark of the Testimony.
Eph 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
§ Ephesians 2:21 tells us that the church is a “holy temple in the Lord.” If we would go and research our original Greek New Testament, we should discover that the word implemented here is the “Holy of Holies”. The church in fact is the holy of holies of the Lord. As the Holy of Holies, the church is the dwelling place of God. As the Holy of Holies, the church does become in fact the Ark of the Testimony. It is the one and only universal agent that must, and can, furnish full evidence with all supporting facts, that define the reality of whom God is. It must manifest Him in His fullness, so that the world has enough evidence to reach a verdict to accept or reject the gospel.
Exo 26:33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
§ The American College Dictionary defines for us testimony as “ evidence in support of a fact or statement.”
§ Therefore, within the Ark of the Covenant resides the complete and absolute evidence that supports all of the facts of whom God really is. In other words the fullness of God dwells inside. Therefore the church’s great responsibility is to furnish to the world at large with preciseness, who God really is. It must so fully declare Him that the world has all the facts that it needs, to accept God or reject Him. In reality, the testimony of God is no different to the testimonies given by witnesses in a courtroom. The purpose of testimonies is to furnish a jury with enough factual evidence that will allow it to reach a truthful verdict.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness( testimony) unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
§ Matthew 24:14 confirms exactly what we have been speaking about. The only way that the gospel can be effectively preached is through the church’s testimony or witness of the Lord Jesus according to what we have spoken about. What is the kingdom of God?
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
§ Verse seven and eight tells us that the kingdom consists of healing of the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons, and freely giving. The preaching of the gospel must include the testimony of God’s kingdom, or the plain evidence of all of these signs and wonders being performed by the Lord here on earth. The testimony of the kingdom of God becomes a reality as the church brings forth the glory of God. Many times I have been sadly bewildered when I hear the church getting so excited, and talking about the rapture, and the end of the world being so close at hand. The end indeed may be close. I am not the one to say! However, the Lord tells us in Matt 24:14 that the gospel must be “preached for a witness”. Are we doing this? Are we furnishing strong and plain evidence to the non-Christians of whom God is, and making His kingdom visible? Can the end yet really come? I do not know.
The Church Is The Fullness of God”
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
§ The word for “fullness” in verse twenty-three, of Ephesians chapter one, is a most interesting word. Allow me to define it for you. Envision that you have a bottle filled with Coca Cola. What is the Coca Cola? Is it the bottle, or is it the liquid inside of it? I would propose to you that it is that brown, sweet, delightful liquid that we gulp down and enjoy. So what is this fluid called Coca Cola made out of?
§ Well, it is made up of every ingredient that is perfectly mixed in its required quantities and precise order, to lawfully recognize and labeled it as this reality that we call Coca Cola. This is the fullness of Coca Cola! In other words, the fullness of Coca Cola is the very essence and nature of this liquid, which makes it to be Coca Cola and nothing else.
§ The fullness of God then, describes the very essence, the reality, and the evidence of who God is. It also describes to us every attribute and characteristic that is required, to make God, God.
§ The church is the fullness of God! The Lord has called upon the church to manifest Him in His very essence and reality. He has also summoned the church to manifest every attribute and characteristic that makes up the whole essence and reality of who He is. This is called the glory of God, or allowing the invisible God to become accurately identifiable fulness of him that filleth all in all.” the Lord describes Himself as “the God who desires to fill every person, and every part of that person, with Himself.” However God wants to go further still.
§ He is not only satisfied with filling every part of one believer with Himself. In any local assembly, God desires to fill every part of every believer within Himself. As this takes place, the fullness of the Lord becomes manifested through that local assembly.
§ Wherever the glory of the Lord is displayed, multitudes will always throng to hear Him and to be ministered to by Him. This is the definition of revival, and it can only occur through the manifested presence of the Lord. Revival is one of the primary functions and responsibilities of every local assembly. I have always been sadly puzzled with many of our church strategies, and church growth programs, developed in attempts to draw people to them. We only need to allow the Lord Jesus to be amply manifested in His glory. The multitudes will surely follow. Jesus did not have to bring revival. He is “the revival.” The more that He becomes manifested; an automatic revival will always ensue. The NT Testament church model demands that every believer must be touched, transformed, and filled by the Lord Jesus in every aspect of his or her life for the model to work at its peak.
The Mystery of Christ
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Ministry must always take place in the realm of God’s callings and spiritual gifts. There is nothing worse than to see a pastor who was called to be an evangelist, or an apostle attempting to slide into the shoes of a senior pastor. The function of every spiritual gift is always to reveal the person of Christ. The apostle Paul defines spiritual gifts simply as the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. The apostle John tells us that the Holy Spirit in turn testifies to, or gives the revelation of the Person of Jesus Christ.
1Cor 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
§ Every God given ministry then is geared towards revealing the Son of God. This is why I always say, that it is crucial for every local congregation to have as many spiritual ministries as possible in place and fully functional. Many of our present day church models work in reverse to this view, severely limiting the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
The dispensation of God in verse twenty, is defined as the administration of God’s kingdom in its varied ways. God has entrusted the pastor with the administration of His kingdom that pertains to the nurturing, guidance, and shepherding of his people. God’s dispensation to the prophet is to progressively, in the dimension of time, reveal His Son through the spoken or rhema word. The apostolic dispensation is to reveal Jesus Christ through the logos or written word.
Colossians chapter one and verse twenty five goes on to say that all dispensations or administrations of God are aimed at fulfilling the word of God. “Fulfilling” in the Greek is defined as filling something full. Through our fulfillment, or in the filling up of the word of God, we reveal the Son of God who is the logos and the rhema word.
John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (The Greek says: In the beginning was the logos, and the logos was with God, and God was the logos.
Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Prophecy through the rhema word is the testimony or the revelation of the Person of Christ.)
26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Verse twenty-six and twenty seven then go on to tell us that Christ is the mystery of God. What an odd thing to pronounce Christ as a mystery! We know however that it is of utmost important that this Christ who dwells as a mystery be revealed. Why? Verse twenty-eight tells us. For us to have the ability to present every man perfect in Christ it can only come as Christ is revealed to him or her. The revelation of Christ to another person in turn can only come through our preaching. Our preaching then can never truly be about things, but it must be Christ. Revelation within, preaching without. This is true preaching! The apostle Paul further shows us this concept in Romans 16:25
Romans 16:25 ¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Col 1:28 whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
The manifestation of Christ is what allows us to present each man fully instructed. As a fellow believer becomes instructed, God can set things right in his or her life. As the believer has the example of the revealed Person of Christ before their eyes, they can grow into Him in all things and be presented perfect or matured.
The Meridian Webster dictionary defines a mystery as something, which is not understood, or is beyond understanding. The person of Christ living within us is shrouded in the secrecy and darkness of our spirits. We cannot see Him, hear Him, and touch Him. We cannot understand what He is doing, or hear what He is saying. (I am talking about all of this in a physical and tangible way, as we would talk and relate to another human being. This mystery has been made known to the church. The body of Christ is responsible to reveal this mystery to the world.
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
The Five Fold Ministry and Church Leaders
Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Acts 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church
In the pages of our scriptures, we find church leaders described as elders, to be in fact a group of men that have co- equal roles in authority and ministry. The church elders that we see today are men in positions of substantially less activity, responsibility, and authority than that of pastors.
It is my belief that in every local body, the governing board of elders should include a pastor with a minimum of at least one apostle, one prophet, and one evangelist. The reason why I purposely left out teachers is a very interesting one. There is no doubt that there are ministers called exclusively to teach, as we see on several occasions in the book of Acts. In Ephesians four and verse eleven however the text in the original Greek says the following.
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Greek: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors/ teachers;
Please notice that it does not say pastors and teachers, but pastors/ teachers. We understand then from our original Greek that senior pastors have a double calling on their lives. As shepherds of their congregation, God has gifted them with the ability to teach them as well. I think that this is a great encouragement!
It is only when we have the ministry of the apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, and the pastor/teacher can verses twelve and thirteen of Ephesians chapter four fully comes to pass. These are incredibly important verses that explain to us how the church fulfills its role in bringing the glory of the Lord into all of the earth.
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
§ “The perfecting of the saints” is defined for us, as the endowment of believers in any local assembly with all that they spiritually require to become fully equipped and successfully carry out their ministries and callings.
Through them all of the members should be made capable of performing their several parts in order that the whole church may be built up in its completeness.
§ It is impossible for a pastor without the apostle, prophet, and evangelist, to ever accomplish this. The Greek root word for “perfecting” is the same one observed in the word for mending in Matthew 4:21.
§ Believers must be mended, repaired, furnished and equipped, and then be raised up so that they can bring forth the glory of the Lord through their ministries, whether in their local assembly, or in the mission field. This is the function of any local body. This is why I say that the church should operate much more as a school, and much less as a place where pew sitters come to hear a sermon.
The glory of God is displayed through the efficiency and activity of each members, obedience and ministry before God.
The person of Christ is revealed in the local body and this brings us into a and accurate knowledge of the son of God
“For the work of the ministry” . Our Greek text reads really like this. “Into the work of ministries and offices.” The role of the church elder board comprised of senior pastor/ teacher, apostle, prophet, and evangelist is to mend, repair, furnish, equip, and raise up the believers in their particular assembly. The end result of this process is to place such saints into their callings, offices and ministries. This believer now, who has been equipped for his or her particular ministry can now in turn supply their specific contribution to the building up of the He gave the five-fold ministry as gifts. To bring all of the members of the church to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ so that we may come into the unity of the faith. Only then can the fullness of the glory of God be brought.
13 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:
Until we arrive at, or attain to. All members must come to their proper unity and maturity.
Oneness of faith in Christ, and into a full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God.
Participation and peak efficiency in ministry brings us into a mutual vision, and understanding of our faith in Christ or the particulars of our walk with Christ. Our comprehension and oneness in the particulars of our walk with Christ brings us into an oneness of revelation of the Christ.
Many times we all talk about Christian unity and the oneness of the body of Christ. By spiritual position, we are one in Christ.
§ Practically speaking however, I do not think that Christian unity is something that we attain to by just simply wishing or singing about it. In verse thirteen the Greek word “unity” is defined as unanimity. For us to achieve practical unity as believers upon on earth, we must reach a point of spiritual unanimity. This is an issue of the spirit. We must become one in spirit. I believe that unanimity of the faith can be only achieved through believers that have allowed the cross of Christ to touch and transform every part of their lives. As the cross of Christ kills off what is of the old nature, the Lord Jesus is revealed and created in the believer. Unanimity or unity comes about because there is the “One and Same Man Christ Jesus” created in all of us. Unity among believers, is really unity into the revelation of the same Person Jesus Christ dwelling in each of us. The cross is the only way to bring about s this revelation. If we do not value or understand the cross, our soul life is left alive; unruly and corrupt as it is. Unity can never take place like this. We have no point of real and practical unity amongst ourselves if Christ Jesus is not being revealed. “and of the knowledge of the Son of God” . Here we find the same word “epiginosko;” the complete, thorough and accurate knowledge. If we work backwards this verse, we see that indeed our unity can only come as we grow in the revelation of the Son of God.
§ “unto ( or into) a perfect man.” Who is this perfect man? This man is no one else than Christ Jesus Himself. The word perfect describes a fully-grown man. Unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ is the description of what makes this man perfect. The measure of the height or stature of the perfections of Christ, is this perfect man.
The fullness of the knowledge of the Son fills that body with all of His fullness.
As we are filled with the fullness, we are filled with the love of God.
As the fullness of Christ is revealed and we come to know and understand, we all grow up into the maturity of God. A perfect man is a full-grown man. The church as a full-grown man can fully bring forth the glory of God and subsequent revival.
The stature of Christ is an ideal that has magnitude.
It is the measure of the height of the perfection or maturity of the Christ.
We become one in believing Him and knowing Him.
14 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;
That we may be no longer children. A transformation must take place.
Nepios literally infants, and other minors that are immature and untaught.
Tossed to and fro dashing or surging waves. In changefulness and agitation the nepio is carried about by every wind of or degree or doctrine.
The sleight of men is the element of an evil atmosphere,
§ Dice playing and deception. Instead of growing up into the revelatory knowledge of Christ, we make philosophies, or things (debt, miracles, being blessed) the main focus.
Doctrines become divine truth. Things, blessings, miracles, financial prosperity becomes the major instead of the minors.
Christian philosophies lead into a false way of Christian life that strays the nepio fatally from the truth. If we concentrate on things, we shall always be immature. These philosophies pertaining to Christian “things” will not bring the revelation of Christ. The church will not grow up into all things by Christ who is our all and in all. If our Christianity is about getting our miracles, being blessed, debt cancellation, we will always be infants.
15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Another great concern that I have, is found in verse fifteen. Our personal growth as believers, or our corporate growth as local assemblies, must be into the person of Christ. Christ is the end, and the object, or goal of each and all believer, and every church.
This is also what it means to grow into Him in all things. A church that reveals the Person of Christ in its midst can grow into Him in all things. This assembly has Christ as its example and model. As human beings we grow quickest when we have a role model that we can observe, learn from, exemplify, and follow. The revealed person of Christ is our only role model. As His is revealed, we grow into His revelation and reveal Him even more.
The dangerous problem that I see today in our churches is that Christ is not being revealed. We are producing churches that are not growing into the person of Christ, but into things. Blessings, miracles, prosperity, religion, and so forth are the things that the present day church grows into. How can any church grow right, if it is growing into things and not into the Person of Christ?
By thruthing into we grow into Christ in all things.
Part is revelation knowledge.
Confessing the truth may in love grow up into.
Confession is an outward expression of what is really part of us.
Only in relation to the Christ, and seizing the head; and through an efficient revelation of Him can the church grow up into Him in all things.
The more revelation of the Christ, the more that we can grow up into Him.
Of the revelation of The Christ must be the end and the object of all of our growth.
Christ is the object and goal to which our growth in its every stage must look to or be directed.
Because of this, in all points of our growth, in all the circumstances of our growth, it is Christ that fills all and in all.
Apostles and Prophets
Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
§ The apostle Paul always categorizes apostles and prophets together. They are in the same class because their revelatory functions in many ways are similar. Ephesians chapter three, verses four and five tells us that apostles and prophets have been specifically called to a ministry of revealing the mystery of God, which is the person of Christ into a local body. Though every believer has been called to reveal the Person of Christ through their ministries, the revelatory anointing in apostolic and prophetic people is especially emphasized. When the prophetic flow is curtailed or prohibited in our assemblies, we in fact cut our own necks off. The revelation of the Person of Jesus Christ is crippled at best.
§ Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
§ Ephesians chapter three verses eight and nine guides us a bit deeper into the supremely significant importance of the apostolic and prophetic revelation of Christ our mystery. As we have discussed before, the Person of Christ contains within Himself all of the treasures and riches of who God is, and of what He possesses. These treasures, the Greek scriptures tell us, are undetectable, un- searchable, and unreachable through all of our fleshly efforts. Only through a spirit of revelation into the mystery of the Person of Christ can these treasures be manifested out to the body through the preaching of the gospel. Verse nine tells just this. Part of Paul’s apostolic/ prophetic ministry as described in verse eight and nine, is to not only reveal theses undetectable riches. In verse nine he goes on to tell us that the purpose of this revelation is to make every one else within the local body aware as to what is their part, participation, share, and calling into the riches of Christ is.
2 Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the rhema words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
§ In the above scriptures we see another reason why apostles and prophets are of vital importance to a local congregation. Both, as we have said, are called to reveal the Person of Christ. In Second Peter three and two, the emphasis is on the rhema words of the prophets and the commandments of the apostles. This gives to understand; that the revelation of the Person of Christ, through the mouths of prophets, is more geared in realm of the progression of time. In other words the prophet is especially gifted and called, to reveal Christ and His purposes in the local body from moment to moment as the circumstances and the affairs of the church warrant it, just as we previously said.
1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
§ The prophet also supplies direction, vision, and guidance for a local body.
§ The apostolic ministers reveal the Person of Christ, but more so it seems, not in the progression of time, but in relationship to the foundation of the written logos or word.
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
(Greek: ... and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the full knowledge of the truth..
§ In conclusion then, there must be an apostle and a prophet within the governing board of the elders of each and every local assembly. Both provide the church with the revelation of the Person of Christ. The prophet reveals the Christ in the progression of time; the apostle does it foundationally in accordance with the Word of God. Both ministries are needed to provide the full revelation of His person, which allow the rest of the body to share, and participate in Him and His riches.
The Evangelist
Many of our churches excel in evangelistic program and noteworthy efforts to reach the lost. Yet there is a vast difference between utilizing evangelist outreaches and raising up the evangelist.
Many of us who participate in evangelistic outreaches, do not have the call of the evangelist on our lives. Though God has summoned each and every one of us to do “the work of the evangelist”, there is no substitute for recognizing, raising up, and releasing the evangelists within our local congregations.
Acts 21:8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Acts 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
§ In the above scriptures we can observe firsthand the ministry of Phillip, the evangelist. It is noteworthy to see, that Phillip as well, preached or revealed the Person of Christ to the world, through the ministry of signs and wonders.
§ Evangelists are gifted in miracles, signs, and wonders. It is this kind of revival type of ministry that will open up the sleeping eyes of the lost. True evangelists must be sought out, raised up, and if called by God, placed on the governing board of elders of the church. Their ministry in part is essential in multiplying the growth of a local body.
The Pastor
In conclusion, I believe that the pastor has probably the most important, if not the most challenging, exciting, and difficult occupation in a local assembly. As the guiding head of the governing board of elders, he is the final decision maker amongst them. The pastor is most probably also the individual to whom the Lord gave the initial vision for the particular local body. The rest of the board of elders must recognize this, and give the pastor the respect and obedience, which is due to him because of his calling by the Lord.
However, the pastor must be incredibly humble, obedient, and discerning before the Lord. He must recognize the solemn importance of the apostolic and prophetic ministries, and allow them to fully operate in the church in accordance with the leading of the Holy Spirit. These ministries are the foundation of the revelation of the person of Christ to the church. Because it is a foundation, the revealed Person of Christ is the only groundwork on which a particular local assembly can build and grow. The pastor’s ministry is to shepherd, guide, and oversee. It is essential that the pastor recognize the prophets and apostles in his midst. Churches today are continuously building upon a foundation made up of things and not the Person of Christ. This is because the apostles and prophets have not been recognized, raised up and released.
The pastor is the conductor of this great symphony orchestra called the church. His role must not be only one of getting behind a pulpit to give a sermon. Part of his grave responsibility is to recognize, rise up, mentor, and release the “fivefold ministry”. He is the pastors’ pastor.
Pastors have these profound and tremendous responsibilities! I have always sensed that many of us pastors, have misunderstood, and have been partially deceived by the enemy into assuming a role greatly inferior to what the Lord has in mind for us. Many senior pastors get caught up into spending countless hours counseling on the phone, making hospital visits, and ministering to an innumerable amount of people. Am I knocking these things down? Absolutely not! However, a pastor must make it his main priority to delegate his authority and responsibilities. He must locate and raise up other people of God within his congregation that will assume much of these affairs. The pastor must spend considerable time each day in prayer, and in the study of the Word. Part of his cry before the Lord must be a continuous one for the revelation of his model and outline of “ the pattern shown in the mount”. Another part of his prayers must be directed towards the recognition by discernment, as to who his leaders must be and who are the apostles, prophets, and evangelists within his congregation. We notice, that Jesus spend a considerable amount of his ministry with twelve men, whom he mentored, raised up and then released. So it must be with the r pastor. The main objective of the church is not a sermon or Sunday school, but the release of the glory of the Lord into the entire world. The pastor must free himself enough to fulfill these awesome responsibilities.
The Gideon Principle or That of the Over Comers
Today more than ever, dynamic and lasting church must operate solely in accordance with the rhema word of God confirmed in the hearts of a few. This is the Gideon principle or the principle of the over comers.
Watchman Nee stated that since the church at large has failed to obey God, God has attained and completed His work always throughout all generations with a few people. It is supremely important that these few will hear and obey the rhema word without hesitation. They must always move forward, never doubting or hesitating. God will do great things and accomplish His plans through these few in each and every local body. Basically the work leaving Egypt and entering into the Promised Land was in the hands of Moses, Joshua, and Caleb; the three over comers.
Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Exodus 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
7 ¶ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Jude 7:5 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
