Good, and Bad Five-Fold Ministry

Good, and Bad Five-Fold Ministry

A perfect example of a good or bad leader is to be found in the Book of Ezekiel, chapter 34. Let's see what the Scripture has to say, first about the bad one first.

     Ezekiel 34:¹  And the word of YAHVEH came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Yisrael, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says YAHVEH YAHVEH to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds (Ministry) of Yisrael (church) who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? The church should not be a promotional agent for a ministry it should be for the sole purpose of feeding the people spiritually. Feeding here speaks of those who look after their own interest first, how much am I being paid, what type of house will I live in.

 ³ “You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. (The ministry is not just to take of the best from the congregation, and force them to do so, but we must feed them spiritually, taking them from one level spiritually to the next level).

 ⁴ “The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. (It is the office of the Teacher who strengthens, the Pastor who heals and binds up; it is the Evangelist who brought back those driven away and the lost. Every one in the church is in some need, and the only thing that can minister to their needs is the Word of YAHVEH. If a minister is not living by the Word of YAHVEH, he or she is not ministering to the people).

 

 ⁵ “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. (When people are not being fed in a church, they will scatter, they will go to different church looking for nutrition, in the end becoming food for deceiving religious spirits.)

 ⁶ “My sheep wandered through all the mountains (other churches or sacred places), and on every high hill (those who look good from the outside); yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them (going to see what has happened to that sheep).”

 ⁷ ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of YAHVEH:  ⁸ “as I live,” says YAHVEH YAHVEH, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field (false religion). Because there was no (good) shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock.” Even a bad shepherd is still consider YAH’S shepherd.

 ⁹ ‘Therefore, O shepherds (Five-Fold Ministry), hear the word of YAHVEH! (Warning) ¹⁰ ‘Thus says YAHVEH YAHVEH: “Behold, I am against the shepherds (ministry), and I will require My flock at their hand (They will have to give an account of their shepherd ship). I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more. For I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” YAHVEH will hold the false ministers responsible, He is against them, and will hold them responsible. There are many malnourished sheep in the church, who were never taken to any new pasture, they have resided in the same pasture all their lives, the initial diet, message of salvation was never changed, they were never taken to the spring of still waters for refreshment, much less taken up to the mountain plateau. Therefore spiritual immaturity becomes the norm, and religious dogmatism sets in.

Luke 22:³¹ It happened that a Jewish priest was going down that road. When he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. ³² Next, a Levite came there, and after he went over and looked at the man, he walked by on the other side of the road. The story of the Good Samaritan is a story of those religious leaders who just walk by leaving one of their own that had fallen victim to evil hands and did nothing to help. It was a Samaritan who the Jewish people looked upon as dogs who stop to help. Not only did he help, but also it cost him to stopped and was will to pay whatever it cost. How I wish that this were the motivating spirit of today’s ministry.