What is Ordination?
International Family Network
Ordination is a biblical principle and directive that is found throughout both the Old and New Testaments. It can be seen in operation first of all in the Garden of Eden and then repeatedly during every spiritual awakening right through to the Acts of the Apostles and the early church. There is however, reference to ordination before this time by the prophet Ezekiel, where he says of Lucifer,
‘You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.’
(Ezekiel 28:14)
He prophesies concerning Satan that, prior to his rebellion and fall, he was Ordained (or set in place) by God as an anointed cherub on the holy mount of God.
This pre-time prophetic revelation serves to show the importance of ordination within the Kingdom and Body of the Lord Jesus Christ. His rejection due to pride, led to rebellion, violence and disorder.
“...God is not a God of disorder…”
(1 Cor 14:33)
The importance and reason for ordaining ministers is fundamental to the nature and character of God. He loves order - He created it and used it to bring to birth the world and everything in it - including mankind. He ordained light and darkness. He ordained earth and sky, land and sea and in so doing provided a structured environment for mankind.
“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the East, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.”
(Genesis 2:8)
When God put Adam in the Garden of Eden, the wording used implies appointment or ordination. Adam was firstly appointed to a position provided and prepared for him, later on in verse 15. God completes the call by defining his responsibility i.e. to 'work it' (the garden) and take care of it.
The principle itself is that of one who has authority, delegating to another a commission of responsibility and therefore a realm of spiritual authority. It is the highest form of 'service' within the Body of Christ. Jesus said, ‘He who would be chief among you, would be the servant of all!’ There are different degrees of ordination as there are different measures of service.
Ordination therefore can be defined thus:
- The appointment of an individual to a place or position of authority.
- The delegation to an individual of an area of responsibility. Moses ordained elders to assist in the management of the mighty nation of Israel.
“He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”
(Ex 18:25)
He also ordained the priesthood, with Aaron as high priest.
'Have Aaron your brother brought to you from the Israelites, with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so that they may serve me as priests.’” (Exodus 28:1)
Towards the end of his life and ministry he ordained Joshua - his disciple - to be his successor.
So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so that the whole Israelite community will obey him. He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command, he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in,…”
Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses (Numbers 27:18-23)
The pattern continues Samuel and David, Elijah and Elisha and many others, each exemplifying ordination as God's purpose for their day. Then Jesus speaking to his disciple’s states quite clearly that he chose and ordained them to go and bear fruit.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - Fruit that will last then the Father -will give you -whatever you ask in my name.”
(John 15:16)
When speaking to Peter after His resurrection. He commissions Peter to feed and take care of his sheep. In every instance mentioned, each individual had laid aside their own will and desire to take up and submit to, the will and desire of God. In so doing, they fulfilled their destiny and call, to powerful effect!
Who Ordains Who?
Over the years, many have come to me and asked that I would ordain them. Usually I have mixed emotions regarding their request, as not all are genuine in their quest to be ordained. Motives are very important. Before I give any answer, whether it being Yes or No, I first ask a number of questions.
The following are an example:
1. Am I their Apostle?
2. Who have these individuals submitted to so far? And have they already an Apostle whom they are in relationship with? (As you do not want to usurp another’s authority and build on another’s foundation...)
3. Have they split from somebody else, therefore creating a church split? If so, that would have to be dealt with as this will cause them problems later on and reflect on me!
4. Are they looking to be in Association or Affiliation? (There is a big difference between the two.) The first is that they may take the relationship lightly. In the second case, you are their Apostle i.e. Father in the faith… All this has to be qualified for future relationship development; remembering that every relationship must have a foundation of understanding which gives clear boundaries to both parties; stopping any confusion or misgivings.
5. You have to truly find out what each individual means when they say they want to submit to you! Many of courses want to be ordained but don’t want to submit to anyone… It’s the Apostles and the Apostolic teams that connect the local churches which in affect stops any isolation of any individual group… i.e. we are one universal body…
6. Am I ordaining a ministry gift or an Elder of the local Church? Eldership is governmental, an Office of responsibility with authority to rule. Each Elder, as we have already seen, is a Shepard (which does not mean that they are automatically a Pastor) and perhaps, will operate to some degree in gifting. On the other hand we also then need to recognize that not every Elder is a five fold ministry gift. Remembering, an apostolic ministry does have governmental authority. He can be responsible for a region, territory, nation, etc. Although the other five fold ministry gifts should submit to an Apostle that they are in relationship with. They may have some governmental authority but it’s meant to operate in submission to the apostolic structure.
As ministry gifts are not necessarily governmental positions, unless they are apostolic, but even then the Apostle submits to the authority of the local church… We as Apostles only have authority over any individual group as a result of submission through relationship. It is fundamental that the apostolic anointing that we are discussing here is recognized.
7. I only ordain leaders because I know them personally or the person in question is known personally by leadership that is in relationship with me. The reason for this is that elders or ministry gifts for that matter (when I mean ministry gifts, I mean itinerant ministries) have to be qualified as seen in the New Testament. You can not personally qualify an individual if you don’t know him.
Therefore in the New Testament when Elders where being put into a position of leadership, this was done by an Apostle and presbytery of apostolic leaders. You will also find in the New Testament that there was an emphasis on Elders being recognized by the people, the local body as good and honorable individuals. But once Eldership has been appointed they then have the right to ordain anyone who God raises up to a position of Elder or ministry gift. (As the local elders are the authority for their given territory) This can be approved by the apostle…
8. Once all the above is clarified you then can set a date for the ordination service. This can be done in any given setting. I usually ordain ministers in front of their congregation because the congregation also needs to see that their pastor is submitting to an apostle. This would be a normal Sunday morning, perhaps one would teach on church structure or some other leadership message, referring to ordination. The Body of Christ needs to understand what is going on…
Then at the right time, laying hands on the individual to recognize their position and praying for an impartation. This needs to be done with a presbytery of other leaders including other visiting pastors… Words of knowledge and encouragement are also important. Expect the supernatural, change and increase not only for the minister in question but also for the church as the anointing should then increase. Again you can look at Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5 Even the Apostle Paul told Timothy to fight the good fight using the word of prophecy given to him when hands were laid on him: 1 Tim 1:18… etc.
9. Regarding ongoing relationships this is down to the type of relationship that you have agreed upon. Our role as an apostle is to help ministry gifts/elders to become the best that they can be. Watching as a father over their child who is trying to walk for the first time… applauding their victories… loving them enough to overlook their failures… Seeing their future success, when they can not…
There are many other issues that need to be observed but all that I know I have learned from the Holy Spirit. I have learned that many want to use me, which is fine, but I am not so quick to ordain people these days. The given individual by the way has to pay for the traveling expenses, paper work that is incurred, honorarium on the day and renew their membership fee every January… This keeps them accountable… If however a Senior Pastor says he wants to be in affiliation then they have to tithe the tithe to me as their apostle.
Hope all this is helpful… Remember we don’t wear name tags… People are trying to find out how to be an apostle… That is the wrong perspective on it… Whatever is in the bottle will be tasted when the bottle is poured out… You don’t learn to be an apostle, you allow the apostle in you to be revealed!
Primarily for building up and preparing:
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, Ti-mon, 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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