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THE FIVE MINISTERIAL OFFICES. PART 1

THE FIVE MINISTERIAL OFFICES

FOR THE PERFECTION OF THE BRIDE OF JESUS CHRIST

[EPHESIAN CHAPTER 4: 11 – 13]

Part 1

Preamble:

This article is a compilation of as much information as is I found in the messages of Our Prophet Messenger Brother William M. Branham. It covers messages preached from the 1940s to 1965.
The information put together in this article is about the 5-Fold Ministry, namely: APOSTLE; PROPHET; EVANGELIST; TEACHER; AND PASTOR.

I have also brought together relevant scriptures for each office as many as serve the purpose.
In some of the quotes, I removed phrases that are either a repetition or incomplete statements. You can go back to the source of each quote and read it as it is, because the reference is made available for you to check. Much time has been put into this work.

The main purpose is to Call the Bride to Pay Attention to what The Messenger & Scriptures have said about this subject, which is important for their preparation to meet Him at His appearing. You are invited to read on the 5-Fold Ministry.
1. THE APOSTLEMISSIONARY

THE CALL TO APOSTLESHIP IS THE FIRST HIGHEST CALL
189. And He set some in the Church what? In the Church, in the Body, set some there here what? First Apostles  that is, Missionaries. We got one here in the church now, a little boy setting back there, a friend of mine, Brother, I call him Creech Jefferies. That is the first highest call, a missionary. You say, "An apostle is a missionary?" Absolutely. Go look in the dictionary and find out what "apostle" means; means "one sent." Go look in the, what a "missionary" means: "One sent." Same thing. The highest order is a Missionary, who travels the seas for the Lord Jesus.

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 58-09-28M

An Apostle’s office can be summarized as follows:
It is the first and the highest calling according to: [I Cor. 12: 28- 29]
“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.
[Are] all apostles? [Are] all prophets? [Are] all teachers? [Are] all workers of miracles?
Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?”

An Apostle is a Missionary, or one who is sent. He establishes and sets churches in order.
This Ministry is always accompanied by signs of an Apostle: [2Cor. 12:11-12] & [2Cor.6:2-10]
“I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
He travels the seas for the Lord Jesus Christ and is able and willing to stay on the missions for long spans of time:


SCRIPTURAL INDICATORS OF HOW AN APOSTLE OPERATES: [PAUL THE EXAMPLE:]
1. [Acts.18:11]. Paul in Corinth by the word of the Lord
continued there a year and six months teaching the word of God among them.

2. [Acts.19: 8]. Paul at Ephesus,
 “… Spake boldly for the space of three months disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God”

3. [Acts 19:9-10]. Paul still at Ephesus,
“… in the school of one Tyrannus.” He disputed daily, “and this continued by the space of two years, so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks”

4. [Acts 20: 2- 3]. Paul at Macedonia in Greece. 
“ And there abode three months…”

5. [Acts 28: 1, 7, 11.]. Paul at Melita Island, ministering; at Publius House, [verse 7]; 
… lodged us three days courteously” ; "three days." [verse 12]

And in various places, and after three months we departed.” [verse 11]

6. At Puteoli, [verse 13], he “found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days.

7. [Acts 28: 29-30], While he was in Rome:
“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him”

Do we have men who truly have the calling to Apostleship (Missionaries) in the Message today, who manifest this same pattern of an apostolic office? I see many pastors elevating themselves to apostles, and sit at home going nowhere. Examine and measure yourself if your claim is supported by the WORD EVIDENCE shown in the scriptures above.

Some rush over here, and quickly rush back home. They, with "THAT TITLE" on them, cannot stay away for 3 years or six months, like Paul, because they are often PASTORS at the same time. This makes one wonder if they are paying any attention to what the Messenger to the Laodiceans has said about “ not mixing ministries”


WHO AND WHERE ARE THEY IN THE 5-FOLD MINISTRY OF OUR DAY?
Could they be there, but unawares that they are doing what Ephraim, Manasseh and Gad were doing in their day? Read what the messenger to Laodicea says:


YOU WHO TEACH OTHERS TO OBEY THE WORD, DON'T YOU YOURSELF OBEY YOUR PORTION?
204. Ephraim doesn’t want to stay. One of them go over here, we find the Manassehs just over here, say, "Oh, my, the Lord's give me a good cornfield." Then here comes over here Gad, said, "Well, now, now, wait a minute." Said, "I'm supposed to raise oats, but I'm going to get corn too. Hallelujah." See? You aren’t got anything to do with corn; get oats; oats is your part to raise.

You are not supposed to herd sheep when you're supposed to herd cattle. God wants to place the church. But every one of them wants to do the same thing. "Hallelujah."You can't tell them a thing about it. No, no. They still got that goaty nature, "Butt, butt, butt, butt, butt, butt, butt." See, you can't tell them. That's right. Now, isn't that true? And you can't place the church. See?

MANIFESTED SONS OF GOD. 60-05- 18

WHAT IS THE PROPHET SAYING?
Many who are called to serve in the 5-FOLD MINISTRY of our Lord Jesus Christ are operating out of their position and calling. How can the 5 offices place the laity in order, if they themselves are out of place?


DO NOT TAKE SOMEBODY ELSE`S CORNER. STAY ON YOUR CALLING.
51. Now, this is my purpose of doing this. The church is always trying to take somebody else's corner. But don't do that. You can never raise corn in Ephraim's corner, if you're Manasseh. You've got to take your place in Christ, positionally take it. 

MANIFESTED SONS OF GOD. 60-05- 18

I know this is a hard and very unpopular statement to make.
Isn’t it true that many Evangelists have transformed themselves into Pastors? And Pastors into Apostles (missionaries?). Don't boil up now, if you are not guilty of it. Just relax and go on.


Where are the Agabas and the Silas, (prophets?) Can you see, [Ezk.33:31-33], repeating in Laodicea?
31. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
32. And, lo,
thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
33. And when this cometh to pass, lo, it will come, then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.”

OUR PROPHET MESSENGER HAS TOLD US NOT TO MIX 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT MINISTRIES TOGETHER THE SAME TIME.
140… How many remembers my commission when we built the Tabernacle here? He said, "Do the work of an evangelist." Didn't say I was an evangelist. Said, "Do the work of an evangelist (See?), for the hour will come when that's to be changed." And that hour is arriving. All right.
Now, in this, you can't mix two or three different ministries together, pastor and evangelize the same time. You can't be a prophet and maybe a pastor at the same time (See?), 'cause you have different works, different ministry.

SPIRITUAL FOOD IN DUE SEASON. 65-0718E

2. THE PROPHET/SEER

A TRUE PROPHET FORESEES AND FORETELLS AND IT ALWAYS COMES TO PASS.
108 The prophet is a special man. A prophet is a man of whom the Word of the Lord comes to, because the prophet is so designed life that his subconscious and his first conscious is so close together that he doesn’t go to sleep to dream his dream; he sees it when he's wide awake. See? Now, that's something God has to do. See, he sees what's going.
A prophet foresees way off (See?) the things that is coming. He sees the cup of God's wrath, full, before it is filled. See? He can say, "THUS SAITH THE LORD. God will destroy this city except you repent." Why? He's an eagle. He rides way in yonder. See? And he looks way off there, and he sees that cup of wrath poured out. That's what the prophets look at. He isn’t looking what's going on here; he's looking yonder. He's saying, "It's coming." He can go so high till he can see that shade. He said, "The world will be...? darkness and gross darkness." He's up high enough, the sun's shining now, but he sees that shade coming, and he’s saying what he's looking at. It isn’t here yet, but it'll sure be here. That's right. It's going to be here, gross darkness upon the people. He knows its coming, years away, yet he sees it.

WARNING.THEN.JUDGMENT. 63-07-24

ANANIAS WAS A PROPHET TO WHOM GOD HAD SHOWN THE EVENTS ON DAMASCUS ROAD.
939-84I believe Paul, the reason that he had to be baptized again is, he'd persecuted the Christians. That's right. And he knew, 'cause He said, "I have chosen him," He said to Ananias, the prophet. When He noticed Saul was down there in a room, blackened face and darkened eyes, and he'd prayed so hard and dust all over him, and he was blinded from the Pillar of Fire that appeared to him on the road down; and He said, "I have chosen him a vessel to the Gentiles." God knew that Ananias would be able to baptize him in the Name of Jesus Christ in the Damascus River three days later. But I believe his sins were already remitted, but he had to do this to show to the world. And I believe that that's the reason that we must be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. And I believe predestinated seed will see it, and only them will see it.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 64-08-23M

Scriptural examples:
Acts. [11: 27-28]. Agabas, a prophet from Jerusalem came to Antioch. He is of the status of the 5-fold ministers.
[Acts.15: 32]. Prophets, Judas and Silas, exhorted and confirmed the saints.

3. THE EVANGELIST

AN EVANGELIST IS A CHRISTIAN MINISTER WHO PREACHES TO CONVERT SOULS TO CHRIST.
757-64 I believe that the Lord has used me in little special things to help maybe lay a foundation for a prophet that will come. But a prophet doesn't operate the way I operate, now, you know that. A prophet isn’t an evangelist, and an evangelist isn't a prophet. A pastor isn't a evangelist, and an evangelist isn't a pastor. But God has set in the church, first apostles, then prophets, then teachers, then pastors and so forth. God set them in the church and God gave them an office.
But the morning when I laid that cornerstone, if you're spiritual you get it. Because of the cry of the people. If you could break that out or take the book and read it, it said, "Do the work of an evangelist."Didn't call me to be an evangelist, but said, "Do the work of an evangelist, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but for--heap themselves together teachers, having itching ears and shall turn from truth to fables."

TAKING SIDES WITH JESUS. 62-06-01

The call to Evangelize does not turn you to an Evangelist.
When Timothy was called to do the work of an Evangelist, it didn’t change him from his original calling.
As explained above, an evangelist is not a prophet, nor a pastor. Neither is a teacher, nor an Apostle.
Yet, all the other offices can be called to "Do the work of an evangelist."

TIMOTHY WAS THE FIRST BISHOP OF THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS.
72 Christianity at Ephesus was where the Jews lived, at Ephesus. And it was founded about A.D. 53 or 55. Christianity was planted there by Saint Paul. Later, Saint Paul spent three years at Ephesus. Paul's teaching bore great influence to the believers at Ephesus.
Next, Timothy was the first bishop of the church at Ephesus. Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus. In Paul's time it was a great church.

REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. EPHESIAN CHURCH AGE. 60-12-05 131-183

Timothy was the First Bishop, [Pastor], of Ephesus, but Paul the Apostle told him to also do the work of an evangelist.
AN EVANGELIST IS A SWIFT EAGLE, ALWAYS ON THE MOVE. HIS NATURE, IS NOT OF A PASTOR
104 But, you see, in the church there is the pastor, and that pastor is a special person.
…The evangelist is a special man. He's a man that's burning like a fireball. He runs into a city and preaches his message, and gets out of there somewhere else. See, he's a special man. …

WARNING THEN JUDGMENT. 63-07-24

AN EVANGELIST IS A SWIFT EAGLE, RAMBLING, ON THE MOVE, ROAMING UNLIKE THE PASTOR
23. … I realize that years ago I was called in the ministry. I've never made a successful pastor, because I got a roaming, rambling spirit. I can't be satisfied anywhere. Just wherever the Spirit moves, I've just got to move with It, because I have a Message. Jesus said, "I must preach in this other town also."

WHAT HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD ME? 65-11-21

AN EVANGELIST IS LIKENED UNTO A RESTLESS, SHIFTING WINDS
760-74 Now, here's what I'm doing. I have never felt that I should live in Indiana. I'm a I'm a rambler. I'll go one place and I think, "I'll go over here and I'll settle down here. This is it." I can't do it. When I go somewhere else I think, "I'll go over here." When I do it my wife calls me (what's that song they sing about?) "Restless Winds." You've heard it, I guess. Most all of you hear them sing... Well, that's what she calls me, "Restless Winds." About the time I get here, I think, "Boy, I just got to get home. I got to see the wife and kids. I just got to go to church once more and preach." When I get here and come down and preach once, kiss my wife and hug all the kids, get out in the yard to cut the grass, and an airplane goes over.I stop and wipe the sweat off my face and I want to go with him. Somewhere else I got to go. Well, I think I got to go down there, and I go down there and I preach there awhile and look around... There goes another one over; I got to go with him. See, there's no settling down place for me. I just can't do it. I'm restless, shifting, place to place, something, I can't help it.It's something in me and I know that I must do it.

TAKING SIDES WITH JESUS. 62-06-01

AN EVANGELIST IS A MINISTER WITH A NATURE TO CONSTANTLY WANT TO MOVE.
18 I'm on the move, and I guess I was just born a rambler.
My wife calls me... (I know she's here, so I'll get this after church, you all know.) What is that called,"Shifting Winds" or "Restless Winds" or whatever--whatever, you know, "Shifting Sands," or... I'm always on the move, in other words. And I've been married now twenty-two years, and I sometimes think I'm a stranger around the house, because I have to be going. But I'm looking for the time that when we'll be settled down in the homeland someday.

BROKEN CISTERNS. 64-07-26E

Do you think you would make a successful Pastor, if your nature is of this kind? Where you are leaning most, tells you what you really are.

AN EVANGELIST HAS TO BE THAT WAY FOR THE MINISTRY.
1062-4 An old friend of mine said to me couple of days ago, said, "I'm getting so tired of living in a suitcase."
I said, "Brother dear, I want to ask you something; I want to tell you something. I'm homesick. I been homesick for twenty years, and I have not got no home to go to." See? That's true. That's an awful thing to say. I could set down and cry to go somewhere home. I haven't got no home to go. Everywhere I go, I can't stay there a few days; I'm ready to go somewhere else. I been that way; I was born that way. My wife calls me "Restless Winds." I am just here and there. And that's an awful fix to be in, but I guess I had to be that way for my ministry. But many of you admire the... Well, we admire doing anything for God, but don't you never.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 64-08-30M

From these quotes, and scriptures The Evangelist is identified by certain characteristics:
He, like the other ministers, is a special man.
He is not a home steader like the Pastor.
He is a ground breaker or forerunner of the other offices. [Acts.8:14- 17]
He is effective when totally yielded to the leadership of the Holy Ghost.
He is usually the most popular and famous because of his nature and the extensive travelling.
The temptation to become Pastor is very great, especially when he is neglected and not backed up or supported by his local church in his universal operation for the entire body.

Philip was such a man that was burning like a fireball. He runs into a city, preaches his message, and gets out and moves to next place.
He was in Samaria when the Lord called him to go to Gaza in the Desert.
From the Desert he moved to Azotus, and to all the Cities, and wound up in Caesarea. [Acts.8:39- 40]
This Ministry is usually extensively followed by the promises of [Mk.16], i.e. signs, wonders miracles, deliverance, healing etc.

[Acts.8:5- 8]
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice came out of many that were possessed [with them]: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was great joy in that city.”


SCRIPTURAL IDENTIFICATION OF AN EVANGELIST:
1. [Acts 8: 5- 8] Speaks of Philip the Evangelist,
2. [Acts 21: 8] Speaks of Philip’s ministry in Samaria.
3. [Acts 8:26-27] Philip was called to the desert for the salvation of one soul, the Ethiopian eunuch.
4. [Acts 8:39-40] Philip was supernaturally transported to Azotus, and he also ministered in all the cities and Caesarea.
5. [Acts 8:14-17] Philip The Evangelist was the ground-breaker and fore runner of the Apostles, [John and James] who established and set that church in order.
“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”
25. “… And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”

Can you see the different ministries ministering to the various needs of the body? In Jerusalem, Samaria, Azutos, and Caesarea. Their ministries met the needs of Flesh [outer court]; their Spirit [inner court], and their Soul [holiest of the holy] [1Thess. 5:23]

Why didn’t Philip do it all? Why was it necessary for Peter and John to come to Samaria after Philip the Evangelist had done the ground breaking? Not that Philip couldn’t pray for them to receive the Holy Ghost, but it is best when God is in control of the ministries. [1Thess. 5:23]
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I hope so far we can now see the importance of the 5-Fold Ministry in perfecting this End Time Bride. This is the reason they were ordained for.

Continue with the remaining two offices in part 2