Equipping The Saints

"And he himself gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature. So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes." Ephesians 4:11-14 NET

When we unite as believers, the Holy Spirit distributes gifts. As we seek Christ together, these gifts become evident in our lives and the lives of those we interact with. It's important to remember that these gifts are not given based on our abilities or training but are freely given by the Father to demonstrate His glory. The purpose of these gifts is to equip each of us for ministry work. Together, we can use these gifts to make a positive impact in the lives of others by encouraging them by building them up and spreading Christ's love and grace.

The Father has empowered each and every one of us for ministry work. We must unlearn the notion that ministry requires formal training and years of schooling in a seminary. Instead, we can be schooled by the Holy Spirit, who teaches us the ways of Christ. Just like the specific callings mentioned in the above verse, the Father bestows these callings upon us for the betterment of the body of saints. Our ultimate goal is to build up the body for ministry work and to help them mature in their faith in Christ. “Christ gave you the Holy Spirit and He lives in you. You do not need anyone to teach you. The Holy Spirit is able to teach you all things. What He teaches you is truth and not a lie. Live by the help of Christ as the Holy Spirit has taught you.” 1 John 2:27 NLV

Together we desire the unity of faith, and these ministries mentioned above will continue until we are all unified in the faith of Jesus Christ, which is manifested through us. This unity of faith is powered by the Father and demonstrates His aim. The purpose of the Church, or loyal believers in Christ, is to allow Christ to live through us and be the powerhouse He was always meant to be. This is not brought about by human initiative but rather by the grace of the Father.

The full knowledge of Christ extends beyond what we perceive on the surface. In Greek, the term for knowledge is 'epignosis,' which consists of two parts: 'epi,' meaning 'upon,' and 'gnosis,' meaning 'knowledge.' Therefore, the word can be understood as 'upon knowledge' or 'a deeper and fuller knowledge'. This implies that if the Holy Spirit reveals everything about Christ to you, it is not merely something you have learned from a book but rather knowledge that has been applied 'upon' you. The complete 'applied' knowledge of Christ Jesus comes through a process of interaction with fellow believers who are as equally committed to the process of epignosis as you are. This process enables us to see Christ formed within us and within others in profound ways.

Our spiritual growth is a journey towards reflecting Christ's character in all aspects of our lives. As we grow more like him, we become true children of God and can demonstrate his love and power to the world. Our ultimate goal is to bring God's kingdom to earth and fulfill His will, despite the challenges posed by earthly and spiritual forces that resist His plan, we can have faith that God is with us, and He will empower us to overcome any obstacle that stands in our way. Let's continue daily by being changed by our relationship with Christ and His church to become the true children of God, knowing that Christ resides within us.

Many individuals have tried to establish God's kingdom on earth with good intentions, but they have gone about it in their own efforts apart from God. As a result, they either died, were arrested, or created authoritarian cults that deviated so much from the love of Christ that society labeled them as crazy or fringe. We all have one leader, Christ, whom we are accountable to and answer to. We are also responsible for the portion of Christ that has been given to us to share with others. Paul understood that he was not supposed to be an authority figure but a guide for the church, even though the people wanted him to be one. He knew the best way for the churches to function and thrive was to be autonomous, allowing room for the Holy Spirit to teach them.

Paul desired to help the church grow in maturity in Christ so they wouldn't remain like infants unaware of their identity in Christ. He wanted them to understand their faith better through practice and time. Paul's reason for growing the church was to protect them from being misled by false teachers with hidden agendas who could lead people astray. It is important to be aware of the culture and people around us and be wise in applying what we learn because we can be spiritual in our learning, but we must also be cautious of those who might try to deceive us outright through lies and deception.

Although Christ's spiritual presence is always present, maintaining the practical aspects of physical relationships is essential too. Applying Christ’s love in relationships is the key to the growth and health of the ecclesia. Paul was gifted at effectively teaching about both, and as a result, the churches he planted flourished, particularly the one in Ephesus.

Stephen Barnett