Lesson 49 August 10, 2003
5. The apostles credentials, or their credit card, the proof of their position were the sign gifts; 2 Cor 12:12
6. They possessed the most important position in the early church with the most authority.
7. Reasons this gift is not operational today! That it ended with the death of these apostles.
a. Who today has seen the risen Lord??
b. Foundation laying is by nature a function that ends.
c. No provision is made in the Epistles for the establishment of successors.
d. The church rests on the writings of the apostles, the foundational teaching that itself rests on the one foundation Jesus Christ.
Some observations on the gift of prophet!
The Prophets was a spokesman for God to his generation
1. When you think of a prophet, and his message; What is it that naturally seems to come to mind today?
2. The NT prophet basically did the same; he received a message from God and communicated it to the people; some predictive but primarily a message communicating God's truth, His will for them;
- This was a crucial gift in this transition period, during the founding / establishing of the Church;
3. This was a gift that was apparently possessed by many during the apostolic age. 1 Cor. 12:28; Acts 11:27.
4. That this gift was directed towards believers as its purpose is clearly stated in 1 Cor 14:3.
5. By the time John writes 1 John ['90AD] he warns believers to be cautious and exercise discernment and to test the message heard 4:1.
The third communication gift is that of evangelist.
1. The Evangelists; These are to operate primarily external to the church! Through their ministry the church (U) is increased quantitatively.
2. euvaggelisth,j a proclaimer of good news; given to the church at large; this refers to what we would call missionaries; ones who pioneer taking the gospel to an area where it is not generally known; ie. New Tribes;
3. In a general sense all believers should be evangelists; through their life and as opportunity arises to communicate the truth that man is a sinner and needs salvation and the good news that God has in grace made a complete provision for their salvation in Christ.
4. Here it is used in the more restricted or narrow sense of one who is specifically gifted to have an itinerant ministry proclaiming the good news to unbelievers;
** When new believers come into the body of Christ they need to be shepherded and taught; therefore the next category of gifted men!
Pastors - Teachers
1. The 2 words used help define the responsibilities that are in view.
2. Pastor; poimh,n = shepherd;
- This word poimh,n conjures up all that this pastoral metaphor suggests the leading, guiding, caring, feeding and protecting of the sheep.
- The greatest degree of protection for the congregation comes from faithfully teaching the Word.
3. The second word dida,skaloj - means "teacher" and emphasizes the pastor's number one responsibility to communicate the contents of scripture which is the only means of the believer maturing so that they are able to walk worthy of their calling in Christ.
- twice Paul states the Pastor must be "able to teach" 2 Tim 2:24; 1 Tim 3:2
4. The charge to the P/T is seen in 2 Tim 4:1-2 [prime resp.]
5. With this gift there is authority given in order to adequately carry out and fulfill his responsibilities.
- 1 Tim 5:17 "rule" proisthmi to stand first or before, therefore to rule;
- 1 Ths 5:12 "have charge over"
6. This rule and authority of the P/T in congregation is not by force, not dictatorial power;
- but by precept and example; Heb 13:7; 1 Tim 4:12