🔥 40 Days of Fire Bible Study “Elevated by the Word, Not Elevated by Men” By: Prophetess Gladys Dark
INTRODUCTION: God Elevates Man Through His Word—Not Through Titles
In seasons of revival and consecration, the Spirit repeatedly brings the Church back to one truth: God elevates people through His Word—NOT through man-made titles, church politics, or denominational hierarchy.
Throughout Scripture, God never honored positions created by men for their own glory. God always elevates based on assignment, obedience, character, and stewardship, not applause or ecclesiastical ranking.
1. THE FIVEFOLD MINISTRY: GOD’S GIFT TO EQUIP, NOT TO EXALT
Ephesians 4:11–12 outlines five specific offices Christ Himself instituted:
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers
These are not ranks. They are functional gifts for:
equipping the saints,
building the body, and
maturing believers.
Paul teaches that the goal is unity and growth—not hierarchy.
❗ The fivefold ministry is a gifting system, not a ranking system.
2. WHY “BISHOP” IS NOT IN THE FIVEFOLD
Across many denominations, “bishop” has become a position of prestige, sometimes associated with:
purple robes,
ceremonial rings,
hierarchical authority,
presiding roles over churches or pastors.
But biblically, the word “bishop” (episkopos) means:
📖 “Overseer” — a pastor, elder, or shepherd responsible for spiritual oversight.
(1 Timothy 3:1–7, Titus 1:5–9)
📖 1 Timothy 3:1–7 (KJV)
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
📖 Titus 1:5–9 (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:
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
The early church used three interchangeable terms:
Elder (presbyteros)
Overseer/Bishop (episkopos)
Shepherd/Pastor (poimen)
These described the same level of leadership responsibility, not a rank above others.
✔ The title “bishop” is administrative, not a spiritual gift category.
✔ Christ never listed “bishop” as a fivefold office.
✔ Paul never taught bishops as ranks above apostles, prophets, pastors, or teachers.
Most denominational elevation ceremonies (collars, rings, croziers, thrones) are traditions, not Scripture.
**🔥 Therefore: “Bishop” is not missing from the fivefold— it was never meant to be part of it.**
3. JESUS TEACHES AGAINST TITLE-DRIVEN MINISTRY
Jesus confronted religious people who loved:
the best seats
public honor
lofty titles
spiritual superiority
**Matthew 23:8–12 — “You are NOT to be called ‘Rabbi’… nor ‘Father’… nor ‘Master.’
The greatest among you shall be your servant.”**
Jesus was not banning words; He was condemning spiritual elitism.
⚠ Jesus rejected title-climbing.
✔ Jesus taught servant-leadership.
✔ Jesus exposed ego-based ministry.
He showed that:
Authority flows from Anointing, not adornment.
Elevation comes from the Father, not religious ceremonies.
4. PERSONALITIES IN MINISTRY: HOW THE CHURCH MISJUDGES GOD’S SERVANTS
Even in the early church, people judged ministers based on:
Who was more eloquent
Who was more charismatic
Who was more humanly impressive
Paul addressed this directly.
1 Corinthians 1:12–13
“I am of Paul… I am of Apollos…”
Paul asked:
“Is Christ divided?”
❗ Paul warned them:
the Church must not create celebrity ministers,
spiritual tribes,
personality cults.
The danger?
People begin following personalities instead of following Christ.
Paul said:
1 Corinthians 3:3–7
“One plants, another waters, but GOD gives the increase.”
He destroys the idea that ministers should be viewed as competitors.
The Work is God’s. The Glory is God’s. The Increase is God’s.
5. APOSTOLIC WARNINGS ABOUT MAN-MADE ELEVATION
The Apostles repeatedly warned:
Do not exalt men.
Do not elevate teachers to idolatry status.
Do not measure Anointing by personality differences.
Galatians 1:10
“If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Colossians 2:18
Paul warns against self-made religion—traditions disguised as spirituality.
Romans 12:3
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.”
6. THE REAL ELEVATION GOD HONORS
The Word elevates:
character
obedience
humility
faithfulness
fruitfulness
purity of heart
service to others
Psalm 75:6–7
“Promotion does not come from the east or west…
God is the judge: He puts down one and lifts up another.”
1 Peter 5:6
“Humble yourselves… and God will exalt you.”
CONCLUSION: FIRE THAT PURIFIES TITLES AND REFINES CALLINGS
In these 40 Days of Fire, God is burning away:
false hierarchy,
ego-driven ministry,
title worship,
personality competition,
man-made religious ranking.
And He is restoring:
biblical order,
servant leadership,
purity in calling,
Christ-centered ministry,
the true fivefold purpose.
**When the Word elevates you, no man can demote you.
When men elevate you, no title can sustain you.**
🔥 40 Days of Fire Bible Study (Part II)
“Elevated by the Word, Not Elevated by Men”
By Prophetess Gladys Dark
INTRODUCTION
There is a difference between God elevating a man and men elevating men.
When God elevates, it is:
by the Word,
through obedience,
rooted in character,
demonstrated by fruit.
When men elevate, it is:
through titles,
positions,
religious hierarchy,
personality admiration.
In this season of fire, God is cleansing the church from man-made elevation so that only His voice, His order, His identity, and His truth remain.
1. THE FIVEFOLD
MINISTRY: GOD’S GIFT TO EQUIP — NOT TO EXALT
Ephesians 4:11–12 lists five ministry functions:
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers
These are equipping roles, not ranking titles.
✔ The fivefold is about assignment, not position.
✔ It is a function, not a throne.
✔ Christ gave these gifts for growth, not ego.
2. WHY “BISHOP” IS NOT IN THE FIVEFOLD
The modern church uses the word “bishop” as:
a promotion
a higher rank
a governing title
a ceremonial elevation
But biblically, “bishop” (Greek: episkopos) simply means:
Overseer — an elder or pastor responsible for guidance and spiritual care.
It is an administrative role, not a fivefold office.
📖 (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9)
These Scriptures describe a bishop as:
blameless
hospitable
able to teach
sober, patient
ruling his house well
not a novice
Nothing about this role suggests “higher rank.”
It is simply pastoral oversight.
3. JESUS TEACHES AGAINST TITLE-DRIVEN MINISTRY
Jesus rebuked religious leaders who loved titles, honor, and recognition.
Matthew 23:8–12
“Do not be called Rabbi…
Do not call anyone ‘Father’…
The greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Jesus taught:
Servanthood over superiority
Humility over hierarchy
Assignment over adornment
He exposed ego-driven ministry—and that spirit still needs cleansing from today’s church.
4. PERSONALITIES IN MINISTRY & THE DANGER OF MINISTER COMPARISON
Paul confronted the early church for turning ministers into personalities.
1 Corinthians 1:12–13
“I am of Paul… I am of Apollos…”
Paul corrected them:
Ministers are not competing brands
No one has a monopoly on revelation
God, not the vessel, brings the growth
❗ Personality worship creates division.
❗ It corrupts discernment.
❗ It elevates charisma over character.
The apostle warned that when people follow personalities, Christ becomes divided.
5. JESUS NEVER BUILT A CHURCH BUILDING
This is a critical revelation the modern church has forgotten.
✔ Jesus never built a sanctuary
✔ Jesus never built a temple
✔ Jesus never built a synagogue
✔ Jesus never instructed His disciples to build one
Instead, Jesus ministered:
in homes (Mark 2:1–12)
in fields (Mark 6:39–40)
on mountains (Matthew 5:1)
at lakesides (Mark 4:1)
in deserts (Luke 4:1)
in streets (Matthew 9:35)
Jesus preached in a synagogue only a few times:
Nazareth (Luke 4:16–30)
Capernaum (Mark 1:21–28)
Healing the bent woman (Luke 13:10–17)
These were visits, not Jesus establishing a building-centered religion.
🔥 Jesus built PEOPLE — not buildings.
6. WHY “WE’RE GOING TO CHURCH” IS NOT BIBLICAL LANGUAGE
The early believers never said:
“going to church”
“my church”
“I attend such-and-such church”
Why?
Because in Scripture:
YOU ARE the church.
Paul wrote:
“You are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9)
“Your body is the temple” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
“We are the house of God” (Hebrews 3:6)
✔ We do not go to church
✔ We carry the church into a building
The building is just a gathering place, not the identity.
7. THE WORD “CHRISTIAN” IS NOT GOD’S NAME FOR US
The word “Christian” appears only 3 times in the entire Bible (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).
It originated in Antioch as an outside label, often mocking.
❗ Jesus never used the word “Christian.”
❗ The apostles never introduced it as identity.
❗ It was never God-given.
8. GOD’S REAL LANGUAGE: SONS & DAUGHTERS
The Bible overwhelmingly identifies believers as:
sons
daughters
heirs
children of God
disciples
saints
a royal priesthood
ambassadors
the bride of Christ
Identity is relational, not religious.
God births children—He does not produce “Christians.”
9. CREATION IS NOT WAITING FOR CHRISTIANS — BUT FOR SONS
This is the heart of the revelation:
Romans 8:19
“All creation eagerly waits for the manifestation of the SONS of God.”
Creation groans for:
mature identity
sonship authority
kingdom representation
God-reflecting character
Not for:
titles
denominations
Christian labels
church buildings
Creation responds to sons, not religious systems.
CONCLUSION: FIRE THAT PURIFIES IDENTITY AND DESTROYS FALSE ELEVATION
In this 40 Days of Fire, God is restoring:
identity over labels
calling over titles
assignment over hierarchy
kingdom authority over church politics
sonship over religion
**When the Word elevates you—no man can demote you.
When men elevate you—no title can sustain you.**
Prophetess, if you want:
