The Tabernacle of Moses


8. The ascension ministries

Introduction

Eph 4:11-13 (NIV) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and [some to be] teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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.

ascension

These are the ministries Jesus gave to the church after His resurrection. The furniture in the tabernacle of Moses portrays the nature of these “ascension” ministries.

All in the cross

This diagram portrays the Lord Jesus in relation to the articles of furniture and illustrates the central concepts behind each ministry.

The Bronze Altar … The Evangelist

This is a person who has a distinctive ministry. He/she is a bearer of the message of good news of the saving gospel of Christ. The prophetic word in the Hebrew of the Old Testament speaks of a messenger who preaches, publishes, brings and carries good tidings. Jesus gave a summary of the Evangelist ministry when He quoted Isaiah. As a person seeks to approach God the first piece of furniture after the entry through the gate is the Bronze Altar. Here stands the Evangelist proclaiming salvation.

(Luke 4:18 NRSV) “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,

The ministry or service Scriptures The word defined
a. To publish the good news a. (Eph 4:11 NRSV) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, .a. A preacher of the gospel.
b. To win the lost through preaching, miracles & spiritual gifts b. (Acts 21:8 NRSV) The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him. b. A gospel messenger
c. To break new ground for the planting of new churches c. (2 Tim 4:5 NRSV) As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. c. A harvester of grain
d. To bring good news to the lost. (Rom 10:15 NRSV) And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” d. “evangelistes” = literally, a messenger of good

The Bronze Laver … The Teacher

This is one who is called to hold up a mirror to people of God. He/she is able to instruct in the Word of God in a way that brings clear washing by the water of the Word.

(Eph 5:26 NIV) to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

Through this ministry the church is able to understand Christ in His church more clearly, by seeing ourselves in the reflection given by looking into the revealed Word. As we see more clearly our souls are humbled and cry out for God to prepare us for his service

(Psa 51:10 NRSV) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

In the approach to God this bronze laver is the place of preparation. By cleansing the priest in water they were ready for ministry in the Holy Place. In the church it is here the humble see the truth of the doctrine of baptisms and willingly receive the Holy Spirit’s blessing. With joy they may then enter into the priesthood of the believer.

(1 Cor 13:12 NIV) Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

The ministry or service Scriptures The word defined.
a. To establish truth and doctrine from the Bible (1 Cor 12:28 NRSV) And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; a. A teacher and instructor in/of God’s Word.
b. To correct doctrine b. An educator who is able to IMPART Knowledge
c. To guide others who teach e.g. elders & pastoral teams c. One who instructs systematically the fullness of the Word in proper balance
d. To balance the inspirational ministry of the prophet d. “Didaskalos” = a teacher

The Golden Altar … The Pastor

(Isa 40:11 NRSV) He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

This ministry is placed over the heart. Without a shepherd’s heart no one can be effective in this ministry. The true shepherd will give his/her life for the sheep. There can be no room for ambition or pride, for this is a life ministry of caring service. Contrary to a much held view, this ministry is not a “ruling over” ministry in the local church. Ruling and governing is an eldership function.

All ascension pastors are of course elders, but they are not necessarily the oversight in the local church. Heeding their primary calling, they may be busy ministering to the universal church and shepherding the flock.

The ministry or service Scriptures The word defined
a. To show the saints the way of righteous living and guide them to walk in victory. a. (John 21:17 NIV) Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. a. One who leads, into fresh pastures, watches over the sheep nutrition. sheep follow a true shepherd
b. To counsel the saints b. (John 10:16 NRSV) I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. b. A good shepherd guides the sheep in ways best suited for growth.
c. Commits completely to caring for the saints at the personal level. Carrying the lambs, close intimate support and comfort. c. (John 21:16 NRSV) A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” c. One who tends the sheep, Cares for their feet, keeps away vermin, infestation & disease. Knows them intimately.
d. Protects and warns the church of danger d. (John 10:2-3 NRSV) [3] The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. d. One who the sheep recognize and listen to
e. Lays aside personal ways/needs/wants/ ambitions, in order to serve the church e. (Mat 18:12 NRSV) What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? e. “poimen” = shepherd

The Golden Lampstand … The Prophet

The prophetic office is given by a specific and personal call from the risen Lord. One who is so called, stands before the people as a man/woman who has been made to stand before God. He /she becomes privy to the “counsel” of God. A prophet stands with the apostle as a foundation ministry in the churches.

He /she brings the light of God’s Word.

The ministry or service Scriptures The word defined
a … To confirm ministry direction a. (Acts 11:27-28 NRSV) At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. [28] One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; a. A foreteller of God’s Word and future events.
b. To pronounce judgement b. For example: Ezek 35:2 (NRSV) Mortal, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, b. A forthteller of God’s Word.
c. To team with the apostle c. (Eph 2:20 NRSV) built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. c. An interpreter of the Word
d. To speak the “rhema” word d. (Acts 13:1-2 NIV) In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: [2] 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.” d. A mouthpiece of God by the Holy Spirit.
e Interpreter of the oracles of God e. e. “prophetes” = a proclaimer of a divine message; one who speaks forth.

The Table of Shew Bread. The Apostle

(Psa 23:5 NRSV) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

The apostle stands with the prophet as a foundation ministry in the church. This ministry sets in place the bread of life in balanced order in the local church. Founding, establishing, setting in order are all part of this ministry. The calling has the meaning of being sent on a commission of witness and preaching as an ambassador for Christ.

The ministry or service Scriptures The word defined
a. To be a spiritual father to others a. A delegate or ambassador
b. To bring revelation of the Word  

b. A commissioned one.

c. To establish local churches

.c. One given a charge.

d. To ordain elders

“apostolos” = one sent forth

Notes on the Ascension Ministries.

These ministries are given by Jesus after His resurrection. As Ephes.4:11 points out, they are anointed individuals, not gifts as with the nine gifts of the Spirit.

These persons are given to the church universal in order to bring the saints to a state of maturity such that each and every believer will be able to effectively serve as the Lord desires. This Ephesian 4:11 charge is the most important and the central function of the five ascension ministries.

Being elders, they all have oversight authority IN a church, but notice this is not authority OVER the church. . Local church government rests with the elders in each of the individual churches. An ascension ministry is always part of the oversight in his/her own local church, but in other churches is subject to the local elders.

The pattern has been confused by the misuse of the word pastor. Pastor began to be used in later times to mean chief elder or minister, so hiding the fact that the ascension ministry of this name is given to the church universal not the local church.

The local elders have the responsibility of testing ascension ministry before accepting the message being shared.

(Rev 2:2 KJV) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.

There is an implication that these specially gifted persons are “travelling” ministries who like Jesus may find few places to rest their heads.

(Mat 8:20 NRSV) And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Note that the Ephesians 4:11 charge is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, or works of service. Does this mean that like any trainers or educators they should move on from local church to local church and in the process grow each church into a more adequate witness.?

A little thought shows that all the functions and needs met by these five ministries discussed above cannot be met by one person. It may well be that any local church would greatly benefit by having all five in their ministry team.

At the very least wisdom suggests that there be some division of these equally important tasks between members of the Eldership. They are equal tasks so no one function can be elevated above another. Being a “Pastor” gives no authority over the other four ministries or consequently, over any other Elder.

We are still not clear on the true function of the ascension ministries and our lack of clarity continues to hold back the saints in their King/Priest calling.. Having an ascension Pastor in charge of the local church lacks balance and the church becomes skewed towards the fruit of the “Pastor” ministry.

Similar bias can occur when any ascension takes over the headship of the local church. For example a teacher will tend to bias the local church into an overbalance towards bible study.

Scriptural teaching is clear that the Elders (who in most cases do not have an ascension calling) should govern the local church and their plurality establishes the necessary balance.

The wisdom of this is clearer if one considers the story of Saul. Israel moved out of God’s perfect will and cried out for a king rather than the plurality of the judges. The NT church may well be doing the same. If this is so, it tends to explain the oft seen reluctance of church members to equip themselves for the work of ministry and the reluctance of many ministers to allow or encourage them to do so.

The shadow of the early church after Constantine that established the Roman concept of a priest who stands between the people and God and offers up a sacrifice for them. This long established idea that we need such a person colors the way in which the church goes about its daily duties. This is a clinging to the Old Testament priesthood and a denial of the Royal Priesthood of the believer.

We must all remember that Scripture calls us to grow into the full stature of Christ. He alone is the head over the church and we are all parts of the body.