USA – Three in One and Five in One, January 17, 2025

    There is always a cost to the Body of Christ when we choose to not follow God’s Word. One of the biggest realities in the church of America is seen in the way the role of the “Pastor” is defined. Some become quite proud and choose to force their own will on God’s people where others realize everyday they can’t meet all the needs of everyone. Either way, we are often reminded “pastors” are over-whelmed, under-appreciated, get “burned out” and leave the ministry. None of these symptoms are found in the lives of the leaders of the New Testament church.

    Most believers are quick to believe in the Trinity. God as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Much like I am a son, husband and father, but I am still George. Three in One. Sadly, many believers have a personal relationship with the Father and the Son, but not the Holy Spirit because they choose to not believe He is a person. God (3) = Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit (3). 3 & 1+1+1 are both three.

    Those that are called to serve God in our Christian community are immediately considered destined to be a “Pastor” and knowing we are to be conformed to be like Jesus, we study the ministry of Jesus during His 3 ½ years while He was with us as He began His work to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ could 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 as described in Ephesians 4:12-13.

    During His ministry in those 3 ½ years, He set the foundation because He was the apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher and shepherd. Jesus knew when He finished His portion of that work, no one person could accomplish what needed to be done so the people could come to know Him. The Holy Spirit was given to the apostles and those that believed to teach them all things and remind them of everything that Jesus had said. He appointed some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be teachers and some to be shepherds. No “office” appointed by God was expected to accomplish by themselves what Jesus was able to as we witness His ministry as testified in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. A quick review of the first part of Acts reveals the way in which they advanced the gospel by using those that were called to these appointed positions. 

Jesus (5) = Apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher and shepherd (5). 5 & 1+1+1+1+1 are both five.

    Our stubborn and prideful refusal to accept the 5-fold ministry that God appointed to prepare His Body for His return is because of our lack of faith. We believe in what we can see. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and CERTAIN of what we cannot see. If we repent and ask for His wisdom, He will give it to us because there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. He has even more to lose than we do, so there is no cause to doubt.