The role of the evangelist is to lay the foundation of Jesus “as Saviour.” This is the foundation by which a house is built. Which is by wisdom. And wisdom is the chief thing. It begins with salvation. Which is why Jesus is both the beginning, AND the end. He is both the foundation, AND the Head. Which is why the fear of the Lord is “the beginning” of wisdom. Salvation is merely “the beginning”. The first act. In the many rooms of the Father heart of God, He always has more to give to those who ask. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7). Salvation just buys you a seat at His table. We then need to learn how to eat from His sumptuous table of plenty.

Which is where the other ministries come into play. Whereas the midwife is the “evangelist”, the role of the “apostle, prophet, pastor and teacher” is to feed the young convert from the table of the Father into becoming the fullness of the image and likeness of Christ. Which is when, as for Jesus, the “Word becomes flesh” for each and every one of us. Theirs is to minister unto the body until it comes into the fullness of Christ according to Ephesians 4:15. The fullness of Christ, being the word made flesh, is only possible when the house that has been built on the wise foundation of “Jesus as Saviour”, is also established upon “Jesus as Lord”. Which is the ensuing season and time under heaven which follows immediately after the new born delivery of “the convert” by the midwife, when all the rooms of each convert’s house then begin to be filled with every precious and beautiful treasure. Which are the beautiful and rare treasures of understanding and knowledge. “By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.” (Proverbs 24:3-4). 

The rare and beautiful treasures of understanding and knowledge only bequeath themselves unto the heart of one who is “a disciple”, which is someone who is teachable, a learner. One can only acquire knowledge and understanding if one is willing sit at the feet of Jesus, like Mary, which is the better thing that won’t be taken from any of us (Luke 10:42), which is “to learn”, to yield to a Teacher. Who is, by heart and Spirit, a Father first and foremost. Which is when Jesus also becomes “the Head” (the end), not just “the foundation” (the beginning). Which is when Jesus becomes Lord, not just Saviour.

For it is more about who Christ is in us, than who we are in Christ. He needs to be both Saviour and Lord. For unless the fullness of Christ is made manifest in us, we remain a seed at best, a convert only. But when that seed then takes root and then emerges from the earth in which it was planted, by keeping its eyes fixed on “the light”, it grows up into all that it was called to be, which is the fullness of Christ in us. For our calling is for the fullness of Christ to be made manifest in us. Which is only possible when the heart of man chooses not only salvation, but also discipleship. Which is when the fellowship of the community work together as a body to progress those “converts” into “disciples”. Which is to help build the walls of the living Jerusalem upon the foundation, the chief cornerstone, which is wisdom, which is salvation in Christ. Which is when the apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers all work together, not against each other, to nurture the seed of Christ planted in the “converts” of Jesus at salvation, into “disciples”. Which is when Jesus also becomes Lord. Which is when we mature from seed form into “trees of righteousness”. Which is to bear fruit that remain. Which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

“Salvation” is the gate by which man enters, but “discipleship” is the straight and narrow path by which the fullness of Christ is made known in all of us, not just in spirit (seed), but also in truth (soul and body). Which is why the great commission does not end with merely making converts of people (Matthew 22:37), but with making disciples out of our fellow neighbours (Matthew 22:39). For whilst we rest at mere converts, we have fallen short of the true calling for which the body has been equipped with all gifts (1 Corinthians 12). Which is to go and make disciples of all nations. “16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20).

Which is more about the fullness of Christ in us, than who we are in Christ. Which is when the rooms of this tabernacle will be filled with every rare and beautiful treasure.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be all the honour and all the glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17).