3. Gift of Prophesy; Gift through tongues & interpretation.

The gift of prophecy is entirely different from the office of prophets. The Holy Ghost gives the ability to speak prophesy to believers, even to rebellious ones, as a gift, so that God's presence may be with the people of God, as in Psalm 68:18. It says, "thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them." In the old testament, God tells people what will happen in the future through prophesy. However, now it is not exactly foretelling, but God reveals what is in the hearts of the people, so that the name of God may be glorified. It is used as a ministry tool to edify the body of Christ. But false preachers use foretelling as the gift of prophesy to deceive and exploit people. "1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all (believers) prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth." If all prophesy, it will reveal the secret of a person, so that he will be amazed and accept that your God is the true God. Instead, false preachers guess something and tell it as prophesy, and bring shame to the name of God. The gift of prophesy may also work as the combination of the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation. Believers may learn from the prophesy and be comforted by the prophesy. However, even though the gift of prophesy is from God, it is only a guideline given through us, who are ordinary immature believers. So, it will not be as perfect as the revealed word of God. So, the gift of prophesy is inferior to the scripture.

4. Evangelists venture into the field and perfect the church.

At present times, evangelists are floating preachers, who do not have their own church to minister. Church pastors help them so that they could preach in their churches. It was not so, with the bible evangelists. They ventured into the field, harvested for the Lord, and established churches. Further they worked in the ministry to edify and to perfect the church, the body of Christ. However, much details are not given about evangelists. "2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand." Just before the departure of apostle Paul, he hands over the responsibility of the ministry to Timothy. He tells him to do the ministry of an evangelist. These verses say what is the job chart of an evangelist. It involves preaching the truth; then to reprove, rebuke, and to exhort with doctrine. Paul tells him to endure affliction, which is the integral part of the ministry.

5. Ministry is to serve God, but now it is a reputable profession.

Jesus has begun the ministry with his disciples. After his resurrection, Jesus Christ told his disciples to continue his ministry. The apostles has done so and the book of Acts has recorded that in many places. The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy ghost stood with the ministry of the apostles. In Acts 20:24, apostles Paul says, "24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Apostle Paul also has received the ministry from Jesus Christ, and he was willing to die for the ministry with joy, as all other apostles. 1 Corinthians 16:15 says, "... the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints." Here, Stephen died, and instead of mourning, his family have addicted to the ministry. The saints and followers of Jesus considered it as an honor to have received the ministry and were willing to give their lives for it. But at the present day, the ministry is considered as a profitable and reputable profession. But the true ministry is an opportunity to live with God for eternity to come.

This portion is not on the Video: Bishop and Deacon.

The word bishop is one of the word in English just thrown in to the bible to give any meaning we want to give, like the word baptism. I do not know the reason why the original translators chose such words. My language has similar grammar structure as Greek language. In my language bible, the word is translated as supervisor (overseer). They would supervise, or oversee the believers, or we may say, they are like shepherds to the sheep, in the bible context. An apostle may also be considered as a shepherd, and the position is referred as bishopric in Acts 1:20. Our church pastors may not be shepherds, because their job is administration as well as to conduct the ceremonies as priests would do, like conducting worship services, etc. They cannot supervise people, since they serve them. The position of a shepherd overseer is not available in present day church set up. So, they call the supervisor of pastors as bishop. In a way it may fit since they supervise. In the bible, they supervise or oversee the believers to lead them in godly life. Another position that goes along with a bishop is a deacon. A deacon is a helper to the supervisor (overseer), as well as he will be of help to the sheep also. A deacon is the mediator between the shepherd and the sheep (believers), who are followers. In our present churches, they are not sheep, but they are members.