The fivefold ministry is a divine order established by God to equip, edify, and empower the body of Christ for divine purpose and divine service. As Ephesians four affirms, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” These offices are divine instruments through which God’s grace flows, divine truth is proclaimed, and divine power is released to bring about spiritual maturity and divine transformation in the church and the world.
Each office in the fivefold ministry has a divine purpose, a divine function, and a divine authority. Apostles are sent to establish divine foundations, to pioneer new territories, and to oversee divine order. Prophets are called to reveal divine secrets, warn of divine judgments, and declare divine counsel. Evangelists are divinely appointed to reach the lost with divine love and divine truth, leading souls into divine salvation. Pastors are called to shepherd the flock with divine compassion, nurturing believers into divine maturity. Teachers are entrusted to unfold divine truth, to build divine character, and to equip believers for divine service.
The divine operation of the fivefold ministry requires a sacred principle of submission—submission to divine authority, submission to God’s divine order, and submission to one another in the body of Christ. As Hebrews thirteen seventeen instructs, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.” Submission is not a sign of weakness but an act of divine obedience, recognizing that divine authority is established by God for divine order and divine blessing. It is an act of humility, acknowledging that every office is a divine stewardship, and every authority is under divine sovereignty.
Submission to divine authority within the body of Christ ensures divine order, divine unity, and divine blessing. When believers honor and respect divine offices, divine grace flows freely, divine unity is maintained, and divine power is released to overcome spiritual opposition. As Ephesians four thirty-one to thirty-two exhorts, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Love and humility are the foundation of divine submission, fostering divine unity and divine victory.
Moreover, submission in the body of Christ is mutual—each member of the body submitting to one another in love and humility. As Romans fifteen five reminds us, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.” Mutual submission cultivates divine harmony, strengthens divine bonds, and accelerates divine purpose. It is a divine principle that promotes cooperation, promotes divine peace, and promotes divine progress.
The offices in the fivefold ministry are to serve as divine channels of grace, divine truth, and divine power. Leaders are called to serve with humility, to lead with integrity, and to submit to divine guidance. As Mark ten forty-five states, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Servant leadership is the divine model, where authority is exercised in humility and love, and where submission is a divine virtue that brings divine results.
The body of Christ is a divine community built on divine order, divine submission, and divine love. Each part of the body has a divine function, and each office has a divine assignment. When offices submit to divine authority and to one another, divine unity is achieved, divine strength is manifested, and divine victories are won. As 1 Corinthians twelve affirms, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” This divine order is designed for divine purpose, divine protection, and divine progress.
The fivefold ministry is a divine gift to the church, designed to perfect the saints, to equip the body, and to advance divine purposes on earth. Submission to divine authority and mutual submission among offices are divine principles that bring divine order, divine unity, and divine power. As Ephesians four twenty-two to twenty-four reminds us, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” When divine order is embraced through divine submission, divine power is released, divine victory is assured, and divine glory is manifested in the earth through the sacred work of the fivefold ministry.
Yours In His Service
C. C. RAYMOND
