OPEN HEAVENS FOR TODAY, RCCG OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 2019

  Today we shall go for the concluding part of this serial.

   3. Evangelists

These are individuals who are gifted in the preaching of the gospel and help others accept the Lord Jesus as Savior. Philip is the only one identified as an evangelist in the New Testament, hence we conclude he is the ‘pattern evangelist’ (Acts 8:5-13; 8:26-40; 21:8).

a. Signs Of An Evangelist

1. Travels. He travels to many places and preaches Christ (Acts 8:5) with
2. Signs, wonders And Miracles (Acts 8:6-13).
3. City-Wide Meetings. He holds city-wide meetings (Acts 8:5).
4. Personal Evangelism. He does personal (one one one) evangelism (Acts 8:26-40).
5. Equips Believers. He (along with the other four leadership gifts) equips church members for works of service (Eph 4:11,12).
   
6. PASTORS
   The word pastor is the same as shepherd. Pastors (like shepherds) guard, guide and feed sheep. Pastors care for, discipline, pray for, love and minister to the local congregation of believers under their charge (Acts 20:28). They should meet the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9).
   
   
   5. TEACHERS
   Teachers are enabled by the Holy Spirit to help others understand God’s Word (the Bible) and God’s plan. The gift of teaching is often combined with the role of pastor or elder (1 Tim 3:2, Titus 1:9).
   
   

   C. SUMMARY

   1. The Five “G’s”

   a. Apostles GUARD the Church from false doctrine and practice.

   b. Prophets GUIDE the Church in evangelism and missionary out reach.

   c. Evangelists GATHER in the unbelievers through preaching the Word with the accompaniment of healing, exorcism and miracles.

   d. Pastors GROW believers until they reach spiritual maturity.

   e. Teachers GROUND the believers on the solid rock Christ Jesus.

   
   

   

   2. Jesus Our Model

   In all of these Jesus is our model. He is called:

   a. Apostle (Heb 3:1).

   b. Prophet (Luke 24:19; John 4:19; Acts 3:22-26).

   c. Evangelist (Luke 4:18).

   d. Pastor (John 10:2; Heb 13:20;  1 Pet 5:4) and

   e. Teacher (John 3:2).

   
   
   3. Job Descriptions, Not Titles
   Church leaders may be combinations of the above. Some are evangelist-pastors. Others are prophet-pastors. Still others may be pastor-teachers or apostle-pastors.
   In the New Testament, these terms were not used as titles. They were used as job descriptions, to describe the function or gifts a man had. They were used in the same way we would describe a carpenter, a painter, an electrician or a farmer.
   Church leaders must avoid giving themselves titles of honor (Matt 23:8-12). Those called to church leadership are just servants of the Lord and of His flock (Rom 1:1; Tit 1:1).
   Let us follow the example of Peter, “…even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you” (2 Pet 3:15). He chose his words wisely when he referred to another leader as “brother Paul,” not “apostle Paul,” Shouldn’t we do the same?
   
   
   Thank you for reading all our updates, we believed you have been blessed. Please feel free to drop your questions and comments. GOD BLESS YOU.