Restoration of the Offices

By Jim Durkin

Matthew 7: 24 says that anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock, the rock refers to Jesus and His Word. The Bible reveals everything that we need to know according to life and godliness. God is bringing about a restoration of His church. Many people are looking at the Bible in a new way, with an increased level of obedience. The Bible emphasizes the Lordship of Jesus and proffers submission because Jesus is our Saviour and our Lord. God is restoring His church to power in preparation for battle. Consequently, persecution and tribulation may break out against the church, so it needs to be prepared and brought to perfection.

Ephesians 4:7-12, shows how this can be accomplished, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift… some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints…” These offices are being re-established by God. The pastor may only operate as a counsellor and has no power to bring the church to perfection. He needs the other ministries to be well equipped.

Each of these offices is divinely appointed by God, and the Holy Spirit gives them a special impartation to operate in that office. The Teacher will bring new insight and perspective of the Word of God, as revealed by the Holy Spirit. The Evangelist will use the Word of God to get people to salvation. The Prophet prophesies the future and sees the purpose, plan and vision for the church and enlightens the others to move together in unity, as without that vision, the people shall perish. An Apostle is a person who establishes works, lays down a foundation, and keeps the church grounded.

For those in the church who will listen, the Lord is doing a great thing because of these ministries’ revival. We should seek the Lord for these ministries until they are fully established within us. When these offices work together, the church will be perfected and manifest itself in power and glory. They will operate in all nine gifts of the spirit, in prophecy, in tongues and interpretation of tongues, in gifts of miracles and healings, in words of wisdom and knowledge and discerning of spirits, all under the order and discipline of the Holy Spirit.