Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NLT
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
After reading this it’s clear God is the master planner and organizer. The system is set for us to plug and submit to, with the results already known for when we operate as the body HIS way. I’m my own life I can see in looking back that I no longer am blown and tossed around the way I once was- prior to Joy Fountain I wasn’t properly committed to a local assembly the way God has instructed me to. All the opportunities for me were there, but I was choosing to do it my own way.
If you’re feeling up and down, tossed around and that you’re not yet aligned with this verse and it’s promises reread it and seek God for some next steps! The Holy Spirit will help you!
Powerful message!!!
But in the same time very sad reality among us Christians.. is clearly the difference about the way our growth happens.. Growing In God Or Just Growing Old? As some people get older, they get better, but some other people get older, and they just get bitter. Spiritually, some people are not growing in their knowledge and love for the Lord… they are simply getting old. But Christians need to be growing in the in Lord on a daily basis. Exactly reading the Bible and understanding one simple message: “The Holy Spirit is using our lives to be open letters about the gospel.. “ Paul reminds us of the importance of growing up and becoming a mature believer as he shows what our motive for maturity should be, what our measure (standard) should be, and what our marks (signs of growth) ought to be.
As body of Christ and in christian maturity we grow in unity of faith and in this way the supernatural of God will be lived every day in our lives. God’s blessings will come to us!!! Amennnn?!!
There will always be new teachings springing up from time to time. The Lord calls us to maturity such that we are not soon moved from one thing to the other especially when people try to “trick us with lies.” We need to firm up our foundation in Him as the days we live in will most definitely witness more upheavals. Jesus Christ remains our standard. May we continue to grow into Him in all things.
I like what you said pastor about the opportunities are there, but you did it your own way! So often that’s the case, I can relate to that. Early on in that scripture it talks about the the gifts Christ gave to equip for work and build up the church. The gifts are there, now we have to humble ourselves and come under there direction and trust God will give them the grace and wisdom to help us get where we need to go! Thanks pastors for all you do in the church!
5 Gifts given to the church.1…Apostle 2..Prophet 3..Evangelist . 4. Pastor 5..Teacher….(From Big to the littlest.)…if we look at our hand we can see that the apostle would be the thumb ( keeps all 4 in order) then the index finger the prophet which points, the middle finger would be the evangelist who gets to evangelize and is well known all over and brings people to Jesus , the 4th finger pastor who marries the church , and the little finger the teacher who teaches the word..Jesus had all 5 !!
From reading the above verses and studying the word this is what I’ve learned… Jesus never made Himself to people as he was more then them or in other words a show off…He was humble and used His authority with wisdom , He was caring and forgiven, when he talked to people he listened and would give them a chance to change their ways.
God has given the church these 5 gifts and we must learned to use them as the example shown by Jesus, respecting one another knowing that the church is the body and we must work together in love helping the church to grow and help the church to be well equipped , if the body hurts it can’t do its job properly and how will the church grow , be equipped and be healthy ? We know that a healthy body needs to be well nourished, therefore by being watered and fed with the word of God, and being filled with the Holy Spirit we will have a healthy body and well equipped, the Holy Spirit will guide us and will warn us , therefore we won’t be tossed around to and fro , we will be well grounded that our roots will be so deep in Him that when the storms come we will not be moved but instead as it passes we will be able to stand up again!!!
The Holy Spirit will indeed warn us. As you have rightly pointed out that part comes if we are well nourished. Thank you
We pull togeather as one makes the church stronger. Like the body of Christ We can no longer be fooled with false prophets. We know where going with ourl lord
Amen to that. We will not be fooled by false prophets