Ephesians 4:11-12

And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church), Ephesians 4:11-12

Our Father gives us these ministers. The first thing to realize is that people do not choose to be an apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist, or teacher it is a gift given to them.  It is a gift that has been given to them before they were even born.

But when He, Who had chosen and set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), saw fit and was pleased Galatians 1:15

And the children were yet unborn and had so far done nothing either good or evil. Even so, in order further to carry out God’s purpose of selection (election, choice), which depends not on works or what men can do, but on Him Who calls [them], It was said to her that the elder [son] should serve the younger [son]. Romans 9:11-12

These ministering gifts were given to us by our Father for our perfection. The people who have been given these gifts have been anointed, before they were ever born, to serve and strengthen the Body of Christ. What I am getting at is that our Father has had His Hand in directing their life’s always. So our Father will have insured that they fit into His Word so that we may know that they truly have been called.

Let’s look in 1 Timothy 3 to see what our Father tells us about our pastors and elders. Our Father shows us that our pastors and elders will be the husbands of but one wife. So for a person to truly have the gift of being a leader of the church, they will have to be married and they cannot have been divorced. We are told that their children must be well thought of. So to be a leader of the church, a person must have children. These people must not be new to the faith. They must not be drinkers. They must not be combative and here is a great one, they must not love money. 

We have been given a litmus test by our Father to judge if our leaders truly have been given the gift of serving us. Look at Paul, he was never married, he did not have children, and he was not used by our Father to be a pastor or an elder of a church. It did not mean that he wasn’t used mightily by our Father, it just meant that he wasn’t used to be a day to day leader of a flock. We are all able body minister’s. But to be a pastor or elder, a person’s life must have certain aspects to it.