Reasons To Embrace This Incredible Journey
I believe part of this metamorphosis, the change of physical institutional structures of the church, will come through the truth and understanding of the purpose of the five different passions, drives, and points of view found in Ephesians 4 (the evangelist, shepherd, teacher, prophet, & apostle). It’s purpose is to “equip” the “saints”, not staff, for the works of “service”. The “priesthood of believers”, the Church, is about to learn how to not only serve their God but serve each other. They will be willing to lay down their lives for their God and for each other. “Service” will be their motive, their passion, their desire, and they will use their personal passion to serve the body of Christ and edify their Lord and Savior, Jesus, whose fruits will be unity.
There will be a new accountability to each other in this new paradigm, not based on a hierarchal structure of dominant leadership, but based on horizontal leadership of walking beside the brethren in service; leading them by being in front of them, covering their back when behind them, and serving when walking beside them. This paradigm will demand intimate relationships of trust through service to be established among the brethren. Instead of being accountable to a hierarchal structure or titles and positions, the accountability will come through relationships and the willingness to “lay down your life for your brethren” and serving them.
So “Why Would I Want The Five Fold In My Church?”
….. because it makes the priesthood of believers, the laity, us, accountable.
….. because it releases believers in Jesus to serve others through their passions, giftings, drives, and points of view.
….. because it replaces enabled apathy with Holy Spirit led activity for believers in Jesus.
….. because it prepares the body, a priesthood of believers, the Church, to serve.
….. because it makes believers in Jesus accountable to one another through service.
….. because instead of enablement and inactivity, it promotes equipping and releasing of believers in Jesus to actively pursue service.
….. because it requires sacrificial service, the laying down of your life, for others.
….. because it equips the local body to serve the local community through Jesus.
….. because every believer is special, gifted, and equipped through Jesus to do the Great Commission, the Golden Rule, and to love one another.
….. because it forces every believer, me, and the entire priesthood of believers, us, the church, to ask the question, “Do I totally trust the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, and can I trust my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord?”
….. because it requires us to be our brother’s keeper through service and love.
….. because home grown leaders are birthed, nurtured, taught, equipped, and released by the local church, the priesthood of believers, to serve their local community.
….. because we can not afford NOT to embrace the five fold and its benefits.