Today's Unqualified Ministers
[ excerpt from 'End Time Prophetic Insight' / 2007 ]
100% QUALIFIED Leaders....
Here is an important fact to remember before reading through the following Leadership Requirements. That is, every so-called Christian leader who is seen [today or future] holding himself up in front of God's people as a 5-Fold minister is automatically representing himself as being 100% QUALIFIED, 'above reproach' & having fulfilled all of the following requirements as set forth by the great Apostle Paul.
Similarly, when a person enters a doctor's office, then that doctor is representing himself as 'fully qualified' just by walking into the room & standing in the lead role as the doctor. From the patient's perspective, most every patient has no second thoughts whatsoever re- garding whether that doctor is fully qualified, partially-qualified or a medical phony altogether. Currently, this is the exact same scenario within the body of Christ today in assuming that a leader at the forefront is automatically "fully qualified".
Logically, just by the mere fact that a "Christian" minister is standing up in God's House & operating as a "5-Fold Leader", then immediately [even without that leader verbalizing it] he is representing himself as being 100% qualified. In knowing this, then as believers begin gaining the knowledge of Leadership Qualifications, then many [90% or more] of today's "Christian" leaders & "Reverends" will suddenly be accurately discerned by believers as not being 100% qualified at all, which makes them unqualified.
Most of today's unqualified leaders are wonderful true Christian brothers, even gifted with true leadership skills. However, if they have not passed ALL of the tests then they are not ready for 5-Fold Leadership capacity. Most believers [or anyone] would rebel at the thought of having surgery by a surgeon who was recognized as being only "partially-qualified". How much more alert should believers be in identi- fying a qualified [or unqualified] spiritual leader who leads God's sheep & who is charged [by God] with watching over their eternal souls ? [Heb.13:17].
In Summary:
To re-emphasize, if any so-called '5-Fold Leader' fails in even 1 of the Requirements for Leadership, including the above areas, then he is UNQUALIFIED to lead the children of God as a 5-Fold Leader. He must qualify in ALL areas.
The Apostle Paul called it "being above reproach" which he said every Leader & overseer "must be". [ I Tim.3:2 ]. Paul left no exceptions. As previously indicated, he also said that unless a man is "first tested" & then found to be "above reproach", then he does not even qualify for a "deacon" position in the church. [1 Tim.3:10 / Greek: "attendant"]. Not to mention as a 5-Fold minister in charge of over- seeing God's flock.
But today, 90% [min.] of today's Christian "leaders" in America fail Paul's very 1st requirement of being "above reproach". Many TV preachers & ministers today have such unbecoming natures that their un- Christ-likeness can be discerned within the very first moments that they begin speaking. This shows them as being unqualified.
But, if ever a minister is discerned as being un- qualified, then the next discernment should be to determine if that individual leader is truly a Christian or, in fact, is a false man or woman of God al- together. Here again, the criteria & insight in this chapter coupled with the kind of spiritual discern- ment spoken of in Hebrews 5:14 will clearly identify "who's who?".
However, at this time prophetically, if a particular Leader is recognized as being UNQUALIFIED & not "above reproach", then the body of Christ must FIRST pray for that person & for his or her strengthening & that he/she will be found & kept in Christ.
Secondly, a believer must consider prayerfully about peacefully withdrawing from that particular leader since he has more work ahead of him in order to pass the "tests" & qualifications which Paul identified in scripture. [1 Tim.3:10].
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul gives many powerful insights, instructions, encouragements & even warnings to God's Leaders & also to believers who aspire to Leadership. One major word of wisdom & warning which he gave to Timothy is just as vital [maybe more] for today's 5-Fold Leaders in these End Times.
The Apostle Paul said:
"Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utter- ance & by the laying on of hands by the elders. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself & to your teachings; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself & for those who hear you." [1 Tim.4:14-16].
Excerpt from Chapter 4 of 'End Time Prophetic Insight' - book / Biblical Leadership Requirements
Copyright 2007 / End Time Prophetic Insight / US Library of Congress / All Rights Reserved.