Appendix C
God Drew The Line Against Women Preachers In The New Testament Ministry :
The Five-Fold-Ministry
And he gave some, Apostles; and some Prophets; and some Evangelists; and some Pastors and Teachers (Eph. 4:11).
Elders (Titus 1:5-9):
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain Elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a Bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, nor given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers.C. Bishops (1Tim. 3:2).
A Bishop must then be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, nor greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God? Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into the reproach and the snare of the devil.
Relationships of a Man of God:
A Man of God is a Spiritual Brother, one of the Brethren, an Elder, an Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, or a Teacher. The word "Brother" describes his relationship in the family of God to all others among the redeemed. The word "Brethren" describes his relationship to the collective body of New Testament Ministers. The word "Elder" describes the relationship between one Minister and another without referring to each others particular office in the Five-Fold-Ministry.
The word "Apostle" describes one who has seen the Lord and was personally SENT by a supernatural anointing. Apostles can write Scripture. The original Apostles were the foundation of the Church and therefore were responsible for the establishment and protection of those doctrines of Faith and Practice, that were ordained to save the Church and all who would embrace and follow them. An Apostle in our generation would require a personal visitation by our Lord and a specific supernatural anointing for a special Ministry. Proof of Apostleship, is his total understanding and support of the Apostle's Doctrine. He would not alter, suspend, revise, or add to the Apostles Doctrine with a private revelation contradictory to the Scriptures. He would enforce and practice the Apostolic Truth, not interpret it and construct a value or opinion of his own making upon it, contrary to the existing New Testament record. Beware of FALSE APOSTLES (2Cor. 11:13)!
The word "Prophet" describes a man who lives a very holy life. He is above reproach. He is anointed of God to predict events and happenings. He may have power to order and ordain that certain judgments be sent from God upon unbelievers and the wicked. He calleth those things as though they were not. He may discern the hearts of the wicked, and alter the course of history. He exposes sin and wickedness, and delivers personal words from God.
The Word "Evangelist" describes an itinerant Minister who is led of God to preach at various places and open new doors of opportunity for the Apostolic Message. He may baptize, heal the sick, cast out devils, pray sinners through to the Holy Ghost, and instruct others in the more perfect way of the Apostolic Church. He works in conjunction with other Men of God, and his job and duty is to assist in bringing the Church and all believers into a oneness of perfection through holiness.
The word "Pastor" describes a shepherd. He is the guardian of a flock. The word describes a man who is well seasoned in love, patience, longsuffering, and reconciliation. He leads and nurtures the congregation. He is the enemy of satan. He is a leader, which if followed, finds green pasture and many Spiritual blessings for his people. He is tender but tough. He was not hired and can not be fired. He is God's friend. His duty and goal is to unite the local body into a oneness of perfection, through unity of the Apostolic Faith with THE CHURCH, the entire body of Messiah.
The word "Teacher" describes a man who is thoroughly instructed in the Apostolic Doctrine. He puts no interpretation or construction upon the Truth, he merely instructs it as set down by the authority of the Apostles. He knows where opinion begins and established Truth ends. He is not looking for new revelations. He is looking to restore, establish, protect, and undergird, those Apostolic Truths that remain. He has authority to set in order Apostolic Doctrine. His counsel is not in contradiction to the Scriptures. He is not a defender of denominations, organizations, associations, or any other group. He speaks for God in the beauty of Truth. If he falls into error he ruins his own character. If he apostates by adopting false doctrine or concocts a private revelation, he surrenders his anointing and Calling.
The word "Bishop" describes the office of Pastor in his official duty of overseer of TRUTH. This "overseeing" is different than watching over the flock as Pastor. As a "Bishop" he is not over other Churches. The office describes the work of "overseeing" doctrinal purity. When he Bishops, he is insuring that no one comes and brings a doctrine or teaching that is not Apostolic. As a Bishop, he will halt all false teachers, preachers, gifts out of order, people out of order, and any other thing contrary to sound doctrine. His work as a Bishop is often greater than his work as Pastor. As a Bishop, he represents the Apostles in doctrinal purity. Any Pastor who has not come into the Apostolic Church is therefore not qualified to be a Bishop. To be a Bishop, Truth must be the focus. The whole Truth and nothing but the Truth.
A Man of God may therefore be an Elder, and not a Pastor or Bishop. But he must hold an office in the Five-Fold-Ministry. If he is a Deacon, he is not an Elder. The office of Deacon is that of a trainee novice who desires to be an Elder and a member of the Five-Fold-Ministry.
Therefore, any Minister who does not contend for purity of doctrine can never be a true Pastor or Bishop in the Five-Fold-Ministry. Any Minister who is not over a flock of truly born again children of God according to Acts 2:38, is not a true New Testament Pastor. Any Minister who withholds himself from the unity of the Brethren through the Apostles Doctrine, is not a genuine New Testament Man of God.
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