• Welcome
• Benefits
• Association
• Affiliation
• Ordination
• Ordination defined
• Who ordains who?
• The title of bishop
• Financial requirements
• Apostolic fund support
• Disaster relief
• Aiding the poor
• Prayer

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P.O. Box 2, Figline Valdarno
Florence 50063, Italy

Telephone: +39 366 329 1315
E-mail: cfe@connectingforexcellence.com

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Who ordains who?

These "Ministry Gifts" (Apostolic) being primarily for building up and preparing God's people for works of service are therefore the principal "earthly" authority and receive their ordination directly from the Lord Himself without human involvement. Such was the case with the original disciples who lived with Jesus during His earthly ministry. Equally so however, was the case with Paul - "as one born out of due time."

"And last of all he was seen of me also, as one born out of due time, and others who evidence, by the signs following them, their call and gifting" (1 Corinthians l5:8 KJV).

"The things that mark an apostle - signs, wonders and miracles - were done among you with great perseverance" (2 Corinthians 12:12).

One of the characteristics of the Apostles ministry was that of ordaining elders, bishops or overseers. Wherever they went in order to establish the church in each particular area.

"Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust" (Acts 14:23).

Paul also instructs Titus to complete the work they had begun in Crete by appointing elders in each area.

"The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you'" (Titus 1:5).

In choosing seven men to administer to the practical needs of the church... In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 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. 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 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word, This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:1-7).

It was the apostles who validated the selections made by the people. Remarkably, these men were being given responsibility for what might be considered as a menial task, yet they were required to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. One of the men, Stephen, described as being full of faith, grace and power (v5 & 8), displayed signs and wonders befitting any apostle. So much so, that he incurred the wrath of the religious rulers who promptly persecuted him and contrived his death.

The fact that the first man ordained by the apostles should also be the first Christian martyr would indicate the spiritual importance of ordination. Were it to be of little spiritual value, it would not have drawn so much opposition. The pressure on the apostles to refrain from further ordination would have been considerable, (i.e., "'If this is what is going to happen when we ordain people, it doesn't seem like too good an idea!").

Similarly, the pressure on individuals to hold back from being ordained to ministry would have been great. But then - those full of the Holy Spirit, faith, grace and power are not easily intimidated!

Ordination therefore is carried out by those appointed by God, whose authority is evidenced by the position of responsibility they hold within the Body of Christ and by the demonstration of Holy Ghost power on their lives. Such men (Apostles) have something of value to impart.

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