Christ called those to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. It is five-fold offices of God. The Lord gives a burden on the heart as a placement, but the call is in any of the gifts. It is for God’s purposes.
First, to equip and prepare the people of Christ to minister to others, to handle life. Each person is equipped to minister, not just to receive. We should not just hire ministers to do the work or to lead a corporate outreach instead of us doing individual work of ministry. You can’t be trained if you aren’t present to hear the messages or share in the studies.
Second is the “building up” empowering the body of Christ. Jesus didn’t live a perfect life, but He lived a sinless life, submitted wholly to God. We have to be submitted and present to God’s Word. God wants to convict and heal. If you have sinned or experienced broken relationship, Jesus came to save and heal. This is done through ministry. The Church suffers from having difficulty in humbling ourselves, in admitting we don’t have it all together. We think the sermon or lesson is for someone else. (Matthew 7:1-5 ‘Judge not lest you be judged…’) Religious people can be hypocrites when we need to be Authentic Christians. God wants you right on the inside, not on the outside.
Third is to reach unity and maturity. Unity does not mean we look the same, think the same, or do things the same. But we are in unity or accord to promote the Kingdom. Different styles are not important as long as we share and preach the same message. God wants us to grow up.
When we are mature:
1. We are not tossed to and fro, anchored in the faith; not deceived by messages that sound good but are not of God. Fads and styles can come and go.
2. We are less influenced by men and more influenced by God.
3. We love with the unconditional love of God. Sometimes we should not speak. Not everything needs to be said.
4. We grow in every way into Christ so every part of our life reflects Christ.
2. We are less influenced by men and more influenced by God.
3. We love with the unconditional love of God. Sometimes we should not speak. Not everything needs to be said.
4. We grow in every way into Christ so every part of our life reflects Christ.
We are wired to revert to age of trauma… We need to pray that God matures us to understand love through His eyes. Also to know that the world doesn’t revolve around us.
We are to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Growing up in every aspect to allow God to choose what we get to be. (This is shown in the story of the potter and the clay. Jeremiah 18.)
The Body of Christ grows when we each mature and join together to allow God’s work. The Church gets healthy and healthy things grow. It is not the world or culture that is prohibiting the church, it is the lack of health in the churches. We need to be examples to show others how to handle life – with the Sprint and power of God.
As we grow and serve, the body “builds itself up in love…”
I found this song to fit today (and to make me cry) - It Starts Right Here:
Ephesians 4:11-16 New International Version
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Lord, Help me to be mature in mind, emotions and spirit so that I can be used by You to grow Your Kingdom. Mold me and use me.
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