Blog
Every Leader Should Be Called & Commissioned
September 26th, 2023
By: David Hoskins
Five-fold leaders are called by God to their function/calling however they also fill the office of elder in the body of Christ thus making their appointment sure.
While gifts, callings and functions come from God, the office of operation comes as an appointment from apostles who entrust and commision leaders into the governmental office of elder.
1 Timothy 3:1 (NIV)
1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.
Leaders are called by God. They are not self appointed. They are appointed into the office of elder by apostles in order that they may represent the government of the Kingdom as they operate in their five-fold calling and function.
The Kingdom has a governmental side to it that will not be changing unless from heaven for the King has an order to His Kingdom.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,
upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,
to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice
from henceforth even for ever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
The dual role of both office and function is clearly laid out in the life of Paul. He was called by God to be an apostle however the time eventually came when the apostles such as Peter, James and John acknowledged the grace upon Paul and sent him forth with governing strength.
Acts 9:17-28 (KJV)
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
Galatians 1:1 (KJV)
1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Notice the italics in the above scripture. It was an addition to the original manuscript made by early translators to add to the scripture in an attempt to make it more clear. It has lead to quite a bit of confusion in the body as self appointed leaders and apostles seem to be the norm of the day.
The self appointed crowd seem to forget that Paul and Barnabas were sent out from Jerusalem by James, Peter and John into their first apostolic mission to establish the government of the Kingdom expressly in Antioch.
Galatians 1:15 – 2:1 (KJV)
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. 20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me.
Galatians 2:9-10 (KJV)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
A word to emerging leaders:
Know the foundation that you are flowing out of. Commissioning of leaders is an apostolic team function and comes through testing and adhering to the qualifications listed in Timothy and Titus. Commissioning brings foundation and accountability into the life and ministry of leaders.
Every leader needs ministry accountability in their lives. Where there is no accountability there is also much room for breaches in integrity and character.
The apostle Peter described himself as both called and appointed as he describes himself as an apostle and a fellow elder.
1 Peter 5:1 (KJV)
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
His appointment came from Christ the apostle of his faith but subsequent appointments by the apostles were clearly an apostolic function in the early church.
Titus 1:5 (KJV)
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Acts 14:23 (NASB)
23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.