Five-Fold Ministry of Ephesians 4

The five-fold ministry is spoke of in Ephesians 4 and the importance of this ministry is quite clear as you read the verses there. Let’s examine this truth.

“⁸ Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ⁹ (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:8-13

Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. In his position as Lord of all he gave gifts unto men. Those gifts he gave are: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. This is ultimately the ministry of Jesus to the elect. He works through the five-fold ministry to accomplish some specific purposes in the above verses. It is Jesus’ ministry to the body. It cannot and will not fail; for if it fails then it is Jesus that failed. If Jesus gives the gifts to men, then those gifts will accomplish what they are sent for. This ascension ministry is the gift that he sent to men. The problem arises, that Satan is a perverter of God’s Word. He also sends his five-fold ministry to subtly deceive and hybridize the church, bringing death. But the genuine ministry is a gift from Jesus to his people. They cannot and will not fail. However, first, before the ministry can accomplish the work of Jesus in sending it, there must be a restoration of the original faith as has been fulfilled through the ministry of Brother Branham, fulfilling part b of Malachi 4:5-6 to “turn the heart of the children to their fathers.” We now have the original faith and the gifts that Jesus has sent can accomplish the purpose written which is:

1. For the perfecting or equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. The work of the five gifts of Jesus to the body is to equip them, to dress them for the work of the ministry and edifying of the body of Christ. The work of the ministry is not limited to the five-fold, it is for the entire body. The word “perfecting,” in the KJV, means “complete furnishing” and speaks of how the military is equipped for service. They are given the proper uniform and weapons to accomplish their objectives. The five-fold ministry is used of Jesus to bring “complete furnishing” or to properly dress the saints for them to accomplish their objective which is two-fold a) the work of the ministry b) the edifying or building up of the body of Christ.
2. Until we all come to the unity of the faith. This speaks of coming to a unified revelation of the Word wherein we are all seeing the same reality revealed before us.
3. Of the knowledge of the Son of God. This speaks of coming to a place of maturity where the same works of the Son of God and the same submission of his life is in place in the Bride.
4. Unto a perfect man. It speaks of the same thing, the full manifestation of Christ in Bride form
5. Unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. a further explanation of the last two, but this showing that the fullness of Christ will be in the Bride at the end time.
6. That we will be steady and firm in our revelation of the doctrines. Self-explanatory. A revela-tion that is progressive in nature, ever growing, but not changing from one idea to another to another. Steady and firm convictions that are growing, but not changing from this to that.
7. That we would be able to speak the truth in love. This speaks of having the right balance, speaking the truth can sometimes be harsh and even rude, but when it is seasoned with love it can speak directly to the heart of a person and doesn’t bring division or hurt.
8. So that the entire body would grow and edify itself in love. The Bride is to come to this place of perfect love in building one another up into the revelation and manifestation of Christ.

This ministry does not cease and is not fulfilled by Brother Branham alone. He is surely a part of it and as the messenger to the age we all need to stay faithful to his teachings; but the five-fold ministry is still working and is in effect.

“194. Would the Bride of Christ have… would the Bride of Christ have a ministry before the Rapture?

233. Sure. That’s what’s going on right now, see, the Bride of Christ. Certainly. It is the Message of the hour, see, the Bride of Christ. Sure. She is consist of apos-tles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors. Is that right? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.] That’s the Bride of Christ. Sure. She’s got a ministry, great ministry, the ministry of the hour. It’ll be so humble.” [1]

That is Brother Branham answering a question during the time of the preaching on the seven seals. This is an ongoing ministry that is continuing today. The work is continuing and will be fulfilled soon, but not until the last one is called and brought into this revelation.

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[1] 63-0324M, Questions And Answers On The Seals, Rev. William Marrion Branham