An
apostolic person is like a multi-tool Swiss Army knife. They are very useful in
emergency situations for a variety of tasks. They can do almost anything to
some extent, but not any one particular thing to the fullest extent.
The other roles of the five-fold ministry and the other gifts of the body can be likened to one specific tool for a specific function. One may be a skill-saw, another may be a hammer, another a level, another a drill, etc. These tools are for specific functions that can be used for that same function for long periods of time, rather than a multi-tool that can be used for a variety of functions for a short period of time.
They
are starters. God uses them to start things—ministries, churches, businesses,
outreaches, etc. When something is first being started, there are never enough
people to accomplish the tasks at hand, so an apostolic person may find
themselves doing a little bit of everything at the beginning. Suddenly,
they are teaching, preaching, building, playing music, singing, running sound,
cleaning toilets, and cooking in the soup kitchen. There is not enough help, so
they fill a variety of roles while things are getting started.
However,
as the ministry begins to grow and more people get involved, the apostolic
person then finds the people who are truly gifted in that certain area, and
they call them forth in that gifting. The apostolic person sets the people in
place according to the giftings and calling over their lives, and helps to
build the body, putting the hands, feet, eyes, ears, mouth, etc. together as
they begin to take part in what the Lord is doing in that region.
The
Lord then brings the pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets for the
establishment of the ministry.(However, sometimes, the Lord may have a prophet or evangelist work alongside the apostolic person to begin the work). The Lord also brings those in the congregation who move in
gifts of healings, helps, prophecy, cheerfulness, administration, leadership,
teaching, etc...
The other roles of the five-fold ministry and the other gifts of the body can be likened to one specific tool for a specific function. One may be a skill-saw, another may be a hammer, another a level, another a drill, etc. These tools are for specific functions that can be used for that same function for long periods of time, rather than a multi-tool that can be used for a variety of functions for a short period of time.
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