Something caught me off guard once when I pastored, and God told me to teach a series on the five-fold ministry giftings/offices. I taught on these five ministry graces in the order that they are mentioned within the Bible in Ephesians 4:11: apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers.
"So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11–13)
When I taught on the apostle, I did my best to condense the teaching into a one-service teaching. However, I did teach longer than usual. Teaching on the prophet's ministry took two services. I couldn't cover enough in one week and had to use a lot of the teaching to clear up misunderstanding concerning this ascension gift. The evangelist ministry is very straightforward, and I was able to teach about that office in one session. The same time frame applied for the pastor's grace and office.
An Unexpected Anointing
When it was time to teach on the office of the teacher, something happened that I did not expect. A VERY strong anointing came upon me—a strong preaching anointing. Most ministers are either more of a teacher or more of a preacher. I fall more on the teaching side, but on this day one of the strongest preaching anointings fell upon me. The revelation about the teaching office, and its impact on nations and generations, flowed like a tornado. Out of all of the teachings I did on the various offices, God gave me the strongest grace to preach on this office! Whew!
After the service my wife was very quiet. Later, I asked her why she wasn't talking to me. She said that I looked mad as I was preaching, and she thought I was upset about something. I said, "No, I felt great!" The anointing came on me so strongly that I looked mad on the outside. Maybe I looked like a George Whitfield or a Peter Cartwright on that day, but the anointing brought a fierceness with that message.
Lesson: We have many schools of the prophets, apostolic trainings, pastoral fellowships, and evangelism trainings. Where is the "School of the Teachers" or "Symposium for Teachers"? Sadly, I think we have too often undervalued this gift and grace. As the prophetic has increased in the earth and within the Body of Christ, it must be counterbalanced by an increase of SOUND doctrine and SOUND teaching. (Photo via Unsplash)
The Need for Both the Prophetic and Teaching Offices
Please note at Antioch, where Saul (Paul) and Barnabas were released as apostles, that the foundation that sent forth the apostolic were prophets and teachers!
"Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." (Acts 13:1–3).
Of course, Antioch was not in its full maturity, but these particular verses were intentionally recorded by the Holy Spirit to illuminate to us the need for both the prophetic and teaching offices.
Let's pray: LORD God, we pray for a new level of value and honor to be bestowed upon the ascension gift of the teacher. We pray that a clarion call in the spirit realm would go forth for those called to this function and grace. May those that receive this call discern it, receive it, embrace it, and walk it out. Lord God, please illuminate the eyes of understanding of those who are called as teachers, and those with the teaching gift, that fresh and relevant understanding of Scripture for this time and hour are released.
We pray for those teaching ministers that You are calling to receive institutional training and schooling, that You lead them to the right Spirit-filled and biblically accurate places of higher learning. May You raise these teaching vessels up as instruments in Your hand to help the Body of Christ to walk in sound doctrine, and to not be deceived by false prophets and false teachers, and to not be tossed to and fro by every wind of false doctrine.
TEACHERS, ARISE!
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Demontae Edmonds
Freedom 4 the Nations
Email:Â INFO@F4Nations.com
Website:Â www.d4tn.org
Demontae Edmonds is the founder of Freedom 4 the Nations, host of "This is Freedom" podcast on Charisma Podcast Network, and host of Atlanta's "Highways" TV program. He travels the nations preaching the Gospel with notable signs, wonders, and miracles. His heart is to share the reality of Jesus Christ with the world through demonstrations of the Holy Spirit's power and presence. He has authored the books "Grab Hold of Your Miracle," "Discerning of Spirits: 7 Dimensions of Revelation," and "The Supernatural Gift of Faith."
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