Professional ball players have specific positions and titles (point guard, tight end, quarter back, pitcher, goalie, etc.) based on their God-given talents and training. The same applies to five-fold ministers. Offices and positions help keep order on the basketball court, baseball field, at home and in the Church.Yet, there are many who say they don’t believe in titles and positions. That's most likely untrue. Most do believe in titles. They believe in Pastor, they believe in Supervisor, they believe in Auditor. It might be better if they just said they don't UNDERSTAND those positions and titles. That makes more sense. Without titles and positions, civilization would be in chaos. Sometimes, I use this example when people tell me they don’t believe in titles. Suppose you were speeding down a highway and another motorist pulled up beside you and told you to pull over so they could issue you a ticket. Would you pull over? Of course not. You’d assume they were nuts. They do not have the designated title, office, position or authority to make you pull over. On the other hand, if an officer of the law, one with the position, title and authority told you to pull over—you would obey. So, positions ARE important and we do believe in them. God’s house is not a house of chaos. Learn your position and others, and bring forth fruits with your gift(s). (Read parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30)I will add that, oftentimes, it’s not the positions or offices that people resist, it’s the haughtiness that some exhibit who hold the titles and offices. The gifts should not be a stumblingblock to others. With arrogance, people will not be drawn to Jesus, but will run away. Let us walk humbly before God and man.If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves…then will I hear from heaven… and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) The Church (as a whole) needs healing. He that has ears, let him hear what the Spirit is saying. God has anointed special forces to come in and correct the problems. They are called the Five-Fold Ministry.I’d like to share a few things about the office of the prophet. Prophets are Fearless Defenders of Truth and Righteousness Who Speak for God. A minister or layperson can be blessed with the foundational gift of prophecy. That does not make them a prophet. There is a difference in the gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet.In the movie, Jesus of Nazareth [starring Robert Powell, 1977], there is a scene where John the Baptist openly reproves Herod the tetrarch for marrying his brother’s wife. This act was unrighteous because Herod’s brother was still alive (Jewish Law dictated that his brother had to be dead in order to marry his wife). So, John, fearlessly, and openly reproved Herod. It is a classic example of a prophet in defense of what is true and right. Herod could have had John killed that very instant, but he did not. Even his carnal soul recognized the authority in which John walked. Mature prophets will, fearlessly, speak to your sin with the hope that you will change. The prophet Samuel, fearlessly spoke to king Saul, as did Nathan the prophet to king David. I believe Jesus was operating under his prophetic anointing when he called the Pharisees and Sadducees a generation of vipers. (Matt. 3:7) Jesus was the only living being who operated FULLY in all of the 5-fold gifts. Jesus is the ONLY ONE who can say that ALL OF THE GIFTS OPERATE IN HIM—IN THE FULLNESS! Prophets fearlessly defend truth and righteousness and speak for God. Take time to study the prophets of the Old Testament. They spoke to the Israelites about doing what is right in the sight of God, encouraged them to do away with idolatry and to turn from their wicked ways. When a church leader adopts an unrighteous lifestyle, God may send a prophet, full of the Holy Spirit, to sit in their service. There is something about that prophet’s presence that will trouble them. For this reason, prophets are often disliked by the wayward and they endure much persecution. I hear a lot of prophets say, “They just don’t like me. I don’t know why.” It may not be you, prophetess of God, but the spirit of the Lord in you that makes them judge themselves and become uncomfortable in their own error. But even this is love. It is an attempt by the Lord to reach them so they do not perish. He loves us all.When God sends in a prophet to check out a church, he may not unction the prophet to speak on the first visit. Unless you are sure that the Lord has told you, please don’t just walk up and start correcting those in authority. Most likely, you will not be received. Instead, I’ve observed the Lord just send the prophet/prophetess up to meet the leader and shake his or her hand after service identifying themselves like so:That was a notification! That was the Lord revealing that your church is under observation. If there is dirt, now’s the time to start cleaning up. Hope that a prophet flashes his or her badge to you. In other words, hope that they let you know God has sent them into your midst. The ground where many prophets tread is fertile for judgment. Take heed to the warning of the prophet. If a prophet was sent to my ministry, I would want to know, because I would be on my knees inquiring about their purpose. Does sin have a stronghold in my camp? Is my lifestyle hurting my relationship with the Lord? Or are they just here for membership and covering?After the prophet’s warning, correction follows. Ask the people of Nineveh about that. Never mind, they were wiped off the face of the earth after Jonah the prophet warned them. They changed for a period of time, but then reverted back to their old ways. (Jonah 1:1-2, 3:2-10, Nahum 3:7, Zephaniah 2:13)Iron sharpens iron. All of the five-fold ministry offices are designed to help leaders (in one way or another) and to become leaders in their own right. Remember, when a true prophet is sent among you or God gives them the unction to confront you—God is saying, repent of your wicked lifestyle and choose ye this day whom ye will serve.(3) Don’t be like Korah, Dathan and Abiram and have the wrong attitudes. The Bible records that the ground opened up and swallowed them and all who were with them. Read Numbers 16 (whole Chapter). In here, is an example of God’s judgment when His order is challenged as well.Prophets are seers, too. They see visions and dream dreams. Think them not strange. Realize, that just as the point guard or center for a basketball team has unique talents that help them to operate effectively in their position, so do the Officers in the Church. This may not be what you want to hear, but when order is set, the hand knows what is expected of it, the eye knows its function and position, and the whole Body functions properly. But first, the Body has to be willing to accept all its members… the hand, as well as the knuckles. Not all people are in their right positions, so the Body is currently out of order.I am purposely not getting into a discussion about false prophets and true prophets here because many Christians use their lack of knowledge about prophets to engage in a witch hunt for false prophets. Rather than become enlightened about prophets, they ban all prophets. What a convenient cop out? They know that a prophet can expose them, but if they are a false prophet, their words don’t have to be received. If you are living right, you have no need to fear God or His prophets. It is ultimately because of love that the Lord sends prophets to shine the light on darkness. Receive them. But if the prophet’s words, REGULARLY do not come to pass, rebuke him or her, for they are a false prophet. That’s all I will say about that today.Do not fear the coming of the fully-operational 5-fold ministry. Fear is not of God. If you fear any of the 5-fold ministry offices, I hope this knowledge will release you from bondage. Apostles also come to set at liberty. I am an apostle. In regards to the attempt to stop the flow of the prophets, it shall not be. I watched silently, not having maturity or authority to speak, when the leaders of the day ran the evangelists into caves (figuratively) through persecution. They stopped inviting them to minister. During revivals, pastors came behind dynamic, Holy Ghost-powered teachings by evangelists proclaiming, “This is my house! I am the one to look up to! Not him or her (pointing to the evangelist).” They rebuked the people for responding enthusiastically to the power of God in the evangelists. They shot many of them down. The persecution was so bad that a lot of evangelists changed their own title. They made themselves pastors, prophets and apostles. They are now out of position, playing right into the hand of our adversary, and the entire Body is hindered and hurting because of it. We need our evangelists. We need them, male and female, back in position. I’ll talk more about the gifts and callings of the evangelists in another issue.Finally, all of the Five-Fold Officers have the ability to teach, preach, evangelize and prophesy, just like all basketball players can dribble and shoot the ball. But each ball player, like each 5-fold minister, has a unique set of skills in which they are particularly gifted so they can operate effectively in their positions. So stand up and cheer for your starting lineup, the five fold ministry! 1 Chronicles 28:1; Ephesians 4:10-12
