Levites Naturally Gifted
It is only natural for a New Testament Fivefold Ministry Levite to produce the fruit of his calling. It is as natural to him as a bird that can fly without being taught how to fly. The fruit of the Apostle is divine order and the fruit of the Prophet is holiness and fear of the Lord and the fruit of the bible Teacher is revelation of God’s word and the fruit of the Pastor is oversight like a shepherd watches over a flock and the fruit of the Evangelist is salvation as he wins unbelievers to the Lord.
The main point to emphasize however is that those who are in the Fivefold ministry did not honor themselves with this distinction but these men were born with a Ministry Gift from their mother’s womb and they distinguish themselves as being called by the fruit which they produce.
Old Testament Type and Shadow of Fivefold Ministry
There is a principle that everything in the Old Testament era is a type and shadow of the things that were to come later under the New Testament period. This principle can also be applied to the Fivefold Ministry Gifts under the New Testament which are direct counterparts of the Old Testament Levitical priests born of the lineage of Aaron.
Hebrews 5:4 (NIV)
4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
No one can take this honor upon themselves to assume themselves to be a Levitical Priest because they must be born in the lineage of Aaron in order to become a Priest. This principle also has application under the New Testament as well because those who serve within the Fivefold Ministry cannot assume themselves to intrude into this role but only those who were born with the gift can be Fivefold Ministers. In the same way that a Priest had to be born within the lineage of Aaron so also a Fivefold Minister has to be born from his mother’s womb with the office of a Fivefold Ministry Gift.
Transition from Priest to Prophet
Biblical evidence can be seen of a link between a Priest and a Prophet under both the Old and the New Testaments eras which shows the relation of the Levitical Priesthood to the Fivefold Ministry.
Jeremiah both a Priest and a Prophet under OT
Jeremiah 1:1 (NLT2)
1 These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
Jeremiah was a son of a Levitical Priest from the town of Anathoth so this means he was born of the priestly lineage of Aaron. This made Jeremiah a Levitical Priest by his family lineage.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NLT2)
4 The LORD gave me this message:
5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
But the same Jeremiah was also born with the office of Prophet from his mother’s womb. He had been born within the lineage of Aaron as a Priest and he was also born with the office and gift of a Prophet. This Priest/Prophet dual-calling speaks of how those born into the priestly lineage were now “morphing” into those who were born into the office of Prophet. This has application under the New Testament because just as men were born into the lineage of Aaron so also men under the New Testament era are born into the Fivefold Ministry. This is a spiritual type and shadow that shows that God was transitioning from having Priests born into the lineage of Aaron and was now moving to have men born within the office of Prophet.
This same principle is also evident under the New Testament era when God did a new thing and was moving outside of the lineage of Aaron and was morphing the priesthood of Aaron into those men born into the office of the Fivefold Ministry. John the Baptist is one of those men who was born into the Levitical priesthood and who was also born from the mother’s womb with the office of a Prophet.
John both a Priest and a Prophet under NT
Luke 1:5-9 (NLT2)
5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron.
6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.
7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week.
9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.
The father of John the Baptist was a Jewish Priest named Zechariah who was born of the lineage of Aaron of the priestly order of Abijah. This means that John the Baptist was actually born with the distinction of belonging to the priestly lineage of Aaron and was therefore a Priest by birth.
Luke 1:11-17 (NLT2)
11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar.
12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him.
13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.
14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
John was born as a Prophet under the same anointing that Elijah possessed to turn the hearts of the Jewish people back to God again. But at the same time John was also born to a Jewish Priest and was of the lineage of Aaron through the priestly order of Abijah. Again, this is speaking of the connection of the lineage of Aaron and that of being born with an office of Prophet. Both Jeremiah and John the Baptist were born with the office of Prophet and were also both born within the priestly lineage of Aaron.
The spiritual connection here is that in the same manner that men were born into the lineage of Aaron so also men have been born into the gift and calling of the Fivefold Ministry.
Real and Fake Religion Distinguished
The distinguishing factor between real and fake religion is that true religion is run by men who are called into the Fivefold Ministry and false religion is run by laymen hirelings who invent their own false religion that “apes” those things which are ordained by God. A spiritual illustration of this is the false religion invented by Jeroboam compared with real system of worship ordained by God in Jerusalem.
1 Kings 12:28-33 (NIV)
28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there.
31 Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites.
32 He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made.
33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.
Jeroboam created a new false religion that “aped” God’s system of worship in Jerusalem. He chose his own days of worship rather than following God’s prescribed method. But the greatest factor that distinguished his false religion from the real worship in Jerusalem was that he appointed priests from all sorts of people who were not Levites. Under God’s system only those born in the lineage of Aaron the Levite could be Priests but under Jeroboam’s false system of worship any religious freeloader who wanted a crust of bread could be appointed to one of the false priest positions.
1 Samuel 2:36 (NIV)
36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a crust of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”‘”
Those who belong to false religion only have one goal and that is to create a livelihood for themselves. This means those involved in false religion are driven by greed and have no care whatsoever for the eternal value of human souls. When these same false religious leaders die then they will perish in hell together with those who follow them. False religion has no relation to the Fivefold ministry because these false religious leaders are all laymen ministry intruders who flatter humans for their money and initiate all kinds of social programs and entertainment trying to keep people within their system. Jeroboam occupied the people with the vanity of pursuing false religion in order to keep them away from the real worship system in Jerusalem. In Jerusalem they had real Priests born into the Levitical priesthood but Jeroboam made priests out of any religious freeloader who wanted a position.
See the link “Religious Vultures” for more details.
In the same way that the false religion of Jeroboam was distinguished by having leaders who were not Levitical priests so the same principle applies under the New Testament era. Whenever a religious system is invented and run by laymen (those are not called into the Fivefold Ministry by birth) then they are involved in a false religion just the same as Jeroboam. Only that ministry which is run by Fivefold Ministry Gifts is that which is ordained by God and all other types of religion are derived from human origin and have nothing whatsoever to do with God’s kingdom.
Ministry Gifts that Carry Over into Natural
1 Kings 4:5 (NLT2)
5 Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the district governors. Zabud son of Nathan, a priest, was a trusted adviser to the king.
Zabud was the son of Nathan the Prophet who served as Prophet to David during his reign. This same Nathan was also born within the priestly lineage of Aaron and also had a gift of Prophet as well. His son Zabud became a trusted adviser to King Solomon.
Some might wonder why Solomon would need an adviser when he was the wisest man on earth? But the fact remains that God speaks through ordained channels and therefore certain matters were channeled through others when God did not speak to the king directly.
The fact that Zabud was the offspring of Nathan (the Priest/Prophet) and Zabud also was serving as a trusted adviser gives illustration to the office of Apostle that was to follow under the coming New Testament era. The Apostle is born in the lineage or born with the gift of Apostle from the mother’s womb. This is like Zabud being born of the Priest/Prophet Nathan and at the same time serving as a royal adviser. Often the Apostle will be given wisdom to counsel leaders and businessmen and kings (civil servants) because he can see principles which God did not disclose to these laymen leaders regardless of how high their natural IQ might be. An Apostolic adviser can see things that natural men cannot see and this is often the case with those called into the office of Apostle. They can see things from a spiritual perspective that can be of huge benefit to natural laymen civil leaders or businessmen or kings.
1 Kings 4:5 (NLT2)
5 Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the district governors. Zabud son of Nathan, a priest, was a trusted adviser to the king.
Also, the same scripture speaks of Azariah who was also a son of Nathan the Priest/Prophet and this son was in charge of the district governors. This means he had leadership capacity to advice and oversee and to implement a plan as carried out by the district governors under him. Again, this eludes to the coming New Testament era when the gift of Apostle was introduced because often the gift of Apostle crosses-over into natural matters like administration. In this scripture therefore Azariah and Zabud were both sons of Nathan the Priest/Prophet with one giving oversight and administration over district governors and the other providing advice for the king. This has application to the Apostles under the New Testament era because they are also born into the (priestly lineage) of the Fivefold Ministry but they often cross-over into natural matters to provide counsel and advice and even administration to laymen leaders in charge of natural matters.
Acts 4:34-35 (NASB)
34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales
35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
The administration of church funds in the early church came under the jurisdiction of the Apostles. Placing the funds at the feet of the Apostles is an expression of placing these funds under the authority of the Apostles for administration. Apostles commonly operate in the Spiritual Gifts of the category of “Revelation Gifts” and therefore they were able to stop all financial fraud in the church because no freeloaders could avail of support who were not qualified to receive it. The Apostles would know immediate by Word of Knowledge for present things and Discerning of spirits to disclose secret heart motives in humans. That is why the Apostles were in charge of the administration of church funds in the early church.
Acts 6:2-4 (NIV)
2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them
4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
The Apostles then appointed the first deacons to be in charge of natural matters in the church so that they could give their attention to prayer and ministry of the word of God. This means that the Apostles had authority to appoint leadership for service in the church because the gift of Discerning of spirits could tell who had a good heart motive and who did not. This gift also works to tell who possesses a Fivefold Ministry gift.
See “Spiritual Gifts” for more details.
The principle to see is that often Apostles will be used to oversee and administer natural things (like oversight of finances or appointment of leaders to do natural service like a feeding program for widows). The Apostles are commonly like the sons of Nathan the Priest/Prophet who did both administration and oversight as well as providing counsel to kings or civil servants and other laymen leaders of responsibility.
King Intrudes into Office of Prophet
1 Samuel 13:8-14 (NIV)
8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.
9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash,
12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
13 “You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”
King Saul was not authorized to offer a sacrifice to the Lord which was the duty of the Prophet. Saul intruded into the office of the Prophet when he felt compelled by the pressure of circumstances. Saul being rejected by God for this intrusion has application under the New Testament era as well. This shows that Kings (layman businessmen or laymen civil leaders) cannot intrude into those areas set apart exclusively for the members of the Fivefold Ministry.
Apostles are often used to give advice or oversight or administration to those who are laymen kings or civil leaders. If these laymen try to do these things on their own, they can experience rejection by God for going against divine protocol.
2 Kings 3:11-12 (NIV)
11 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
12 Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
Notice that these three kings needed to go to the Prophet Elisha in order to inquire of God because God did not speak to them directly about these matters and would only give direction through a Prophet. This is part of God’s divine protocol and laymen leaders including kings can greatly benefit by seeking counsel from Apostles and Prophets.
Solomon had an administrator and an adviser who were both sons of a Priest/Prophet and this speaks of the carry-over of the Apostle into natural matters needed by kings and laymen leaders.
1 Chronicles 27:5 (NLT2)
5 Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest was commander of the third division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the third month.
Benaiah was a valiant man and a commander of 24,000 troops and the head of the body guard of Solomon. This same Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada the priest and this again gives illusion to the Apostle under the New Testament era who crosses over frequently from spiritual to natural matters. The Apostle can be compared to a man of war like Benaiah because he declares war upon all disorder and gives guidance and advice and counsel and oversight and administration as part of his gift. The offspring of the Priests in these scriptures speak of them doing natural service and it is a type or illustration of the Apostle who also has a gift to serve both on the natural and spiritual sides.
Ephesians 4:8-11 (7KB)
8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, Jesus the Messiah led captives in his procession and gave ministry gifts to men.”
9 Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.
11 In giving ministry gifts, He gave some as Apostles, and some as Prophets, and some as Teachers and some as Pastors and some as Evangelists,
After the resurrection Jesus ascended from the lower parts of the earth into heaven and at this time, he also gave ministry gifts unto men which include Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Pastors, and Evangelists. The office of Prophet carried over from the Old Testament era but then God added four new gifts of Apostle and Teacher and Pastor and Evangelist which did not previously existed under the Old Testament era.
Hebrews 3:1 (NIV)
1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Jesus himself was the first Apostle and he also dispersed this gift to other men on earth after his resurrection.
The Old Testament Levitical Priesthood speaks of the New Testament counterpart of the Fivefold Ministry. Already under the Old Testament era God began to cross-over from the Levitical Priest to the Prophet. Then the Priest/Prophet (John the Baptist) was again seen in the New Testament and then God did something new by adding a total of five ministry gifts.
These gifts are all-male in orientation because God was finished with male passivity under the New Testament era. This is evident by the requirements that they be a husband of one wife indicating all Fivefold Ministry Gifts (plus the deacons) are all to be men who have their own wives and children at home in order as examples to the congregation.
Titus 1:6 (NIV)
6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
An Elder or Bishop or Pastor is to be a husband of one wife and have children who are believers and orderly and well-behaved and this also applies to all of the Fivefold Ministry.
1 Timothy 3:12 (NIV)
12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.
The same requirement for the Fivefold Ministry also applies to the deacons who do natural service in the church. Deacon men are to be the head of their own households with their wives in submission and their children obedient.
All of the men serving as leaders within the church were to have their households in order according to biblical precedent or they would be disqualified from leadership positions and would not even be fit to sweep the floor as a deacon in the church.
There is much revelation found in the Old Testament regarding the Levitical priesthood that has direct application to the New Testament Fivefold Ministry Levites. The fact that some sons of Levitical priests crossed-over into natural administration reflects the same principle as seen with Apostles who often set things in order both in natural matters as well as in spiritual matters. Both natural and spiritual are dealt with by Apostles as is seen with the sons of the Levitical Priests/Prophets under the Old Testament era.
Both Natural and Spiritual Beings
Humans are both natural and spiritual beings and the Apostle has been given both natural and spiritual wisdom for counseling and administration and this is reflected in the Old Testament era sons of the Priest/Prophets who also crossed-over into these natural matters. God created both the natural and spiritual and gave the gift of Apostle to minister to both sides of human makeup.