The Blessing of
Spiritual Maturity
Book of Ephesians
4:1-13
That word maturity
means being in a complete state.
An example would be
that an apple is not mature until it has completed the ripening
process.
We must work toward
becoming "mature Christians".
Today in our lesson
we could say that Paul was not only imprisoned for his own sake, but
he was imprisoned for our sakes.
If Paul had not been
imprisoned, he would have never taken the time to write all these
epistles to the Church.
We may also think
that it was just by accident that we have the job we have but this is
not true.
After our salvation
our own home will be our first missionary field and our job the next
place to share the Word of God.
In our lessons so
far, the Apostle Paul has laid out the Doctrine of Salvation. This
doctrine is our only means of being in harmony with God.
The Word of God is
never complete in our lives, no matter how much we learn, until we
have made application of it to our daily walk!
The lessons we have
learned so far have been:
The eternal plan of
God for Christian believers.
The great blessings
of God.
The work of God's
mercy and the gift of God's "Grace".
Our reconciliation
and peace becoming a child of God.
The true Church, the
Body of Christ, our Heavenly Citizenship.
Note: none of these
things have been given to us as theories but as actual fact!
Now we can take what
we have learned and make application to our lives to grow in God's
"grace".
The bottom line, we
owe God much more than we could ever pay and He would chastise us if
we tried to work toward trying to pay Him for what He has already
done.
There are no works
to be saved and there are no works to keep us saved.
A true gift is never
to be repaid!
God works according
to His great love and it is in this same manner He expects us to live
and work!
So, let’s begin.
*****Eph 4:1 I
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy
of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
We must understand
that the Apostle Paul was not imprisoned to perform some great act in
Rome, or to Caesar, or even to the Roman people.
The Apostle Paul was
imprisoned for his sake, and our sake, and for the sake of the
"Gospel"!
We know that we are
all to be witnesses, (missionaries) once we become a child of God.
We should also
understand that God will have some specific calling just for each of
us and He will equip us for that calling!
God has already
honored us as much as we can be honored. One day soon we will
actually get to sit at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven.
There are many
promises of God, that we have not seen yet but we know we will get to
see them.
The Lord Jesus is
right now building a perfect world that we will be a part of.
throughout eternity.
We have nothing else
to do until He gets ready but one thing and that is to walk worthy of
the calling of God!
We are in an honored
position and we need to be walking according to the honor God has
given us!
Rom 12:1 I beseech
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.
When we join the
ranks of men such as the Apostle Paul we must remember, the message
of Jesus Christ and the "gospel" are the only hope for all
humanity!
This is Holy stuff!
This is Heavenly
stuff!
This is Serious
stuff!
Jesus Christ is the
only hope for all humanity for eternal life.
2Ti 1:9 Who hath
saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us
in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now
made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath
abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel:
No matter our
calling we are all to carry the same message!
So how are we to
walk?
*****Eph 4:2 With
all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one
another in love;
The most important
characteristic of all God's children is "Faith". "Faith"
in the salvation message and "faith" in the One who gave us
this message!
"Faith" in
the truth!
When we begin our
walk for the Lord we must remember a child taking their first steps
and know that we cannot walk with the Lord without holding on to His
hand.
Before our walk
begins, we must decide then, that our walk will please the Lord.
After "faith"
we must be free of pride. As one preacher use to say, we need to get
out of God's way. We cannot exalt ourselves and please God!
We can be sure where
there is "lowliness" (a lack of pride), there will also be
"meekness".
Meekness is
humility, submitting to the Divine will of God. We could also say,
gentleness.
Next, we see that
word "patience" that drives so many crazy, but we must be
patient in love toward one another and patient with that one we are
trying to lead to the Lord.
2Ti 2:24 And the
servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt
to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In
meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that
they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are
taken captive by him at his will.
So, we have "faith",
loss of pride, humility, and patience so far.
What can be next?
*****Eph 4:3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
It is because every
Christian is endowed with the Holy Spirit that we can, and we should
be in unity, all having the same mind of Christ.
This is a far reach
from what the church is today but, this is because the Church has
forgotten how to walk worthy of the Lord.
This passage says,
we must endeavor to keep unity of the Spirit and we fail miserably in
this trait of how to walk worthy of the Lord!
We must know that
each person is precious in the sight of God.
If even one soul
goes to Hell, then God has lost a very valuable and precious soul.
Why will God judge
the Church first? It will be because there is no unity in the church,
which means there is no peace in the church, even though we all carry
the same Holy Spirit!
This is not a
problem with the Holy Spirit, this is a problem that is in that gap
between our ears and a cold, cold heart!
To endeavor, is to
do our best to walk in the ways of Jesus.
There is no One else
in the Scriptures that has the words of life! There is no other means
of salvation period!
The modern-day
church is trying its best to remove the Lord Jesus who is the corner
stone, the foundation of the Church.
What are they
thinking?
What did Jesus pray
to His Father?
Joh 17:21 That they
all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent
me.
Joh 17:22 And the
glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one,
even as we are one:
Joh 17:23 I in
them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that
the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as
thou hast loved me.
It is the Holy
Spirit that unites us to Jesus Christ and when we go against the
Words of Christ, we will quench the Holy Spirit!
1Co 1:9 God is
faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus
Christ our Lord.
1Co 1:10 Now I
beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye
all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you;
but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the
same judgment.
To be saved is to
show that first sign of faith in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ
and this faith must remain with us all our days asking God to grow
our faith!
*****Eph 4:4 There
is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of
your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord,
one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and
Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
There are many
so-called denominations !"But only those who have named the Lord
Jesus Christ as their very personal Savior" comprise the true
Church!
***There is only
"One Body" of Christ!
When any person in
any denomination, places his or her trust in Jesus Christ, God does
certain things.
**First there is a
new birth, they are "Born Again".
Joh 1:12 But as
many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of God.
This takes place by
the Holy Spirit.
Tit 3:4 But after
that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy
he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he
shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
In many places it
seems that there must be some sign that the Holy Spirit lives within
the believer but there is truly only one way to tell.
Jas_2:26 For as the
body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
1Pe_2:12 Having
your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak
against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they
shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
As believers we must
do the works that Jesus gave us to do! This is the only way the world
will know that we belong to Christ Jesus and full of the Holy Spirit.
**God makes a new
creature, we become something brand new.
2Co 5:17 Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new.
**God places His
Divine nature inside the believer.
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are
given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye
might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust.
**God places His
Holy Spirit in of us that have "faith".
1Co 6:19 What? know
ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in
you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are
bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God's.
**God then causes
each of us to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Gal 5:22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law.
**God places us in
His Church.
1Co 12:13 For by
one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit.
There is only "One"
body "the Body of Christ".
The body of
believers that understand these things of God, will be in unity!
***There is only
"One" Spirit.
The "Body of
Christ" will all have the same Holy Spirit(Holy Ghost).
The Spirit of God
will separate us from the world and place us in the family of God!
Rom 8:11 But if the
Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he
that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
It is God's Holy
Spirit that decides where we will be placed in the "Body of
Christ".
It is the Holy
Spirit that calls us out of this lost world.
It is the Holy
Spirit that gives the gifts to us to be able to do the work, the Lord
has given to the Church.
1Co 12:7 But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
***There is only One
Hope for each of us that believe.
Every Christian has
the same hope, which is the day the Lord Jesus comes to redeem His
purchased possession.
We do not live a
life of uncertainty, once we are saved.
In Heaven we will
live a life of love, and peace, and joy!
We will live a life
of perfection, because each one of us will then be perfect.
It will be a perfect
love, a perfect peace, and a perfect joy and this will last
throughout a perfect eternity!
We are at peace
because we know that this "One" Hope is a reality!
We will all live in
harmony with the Lord!
Tit 2:13 Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave
himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify
unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These
things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man
despise thee.
***There is only
"One Lord"!
Just so we all know;
the true Church consist of only those who call upon the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ in "faith"!
Php 2:9 Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above
every name:
Php 2:10 That at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father.
God is very serious
about this thing:
Mat 7:21 Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will
say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity.
The will of our
Father is for every human being to steer away from sin and steer
toward God and His Words.
Mat 21:28 But what
think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and
said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Mat 21:29 He
answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
Mat 21:30 And he
came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I
go, sir: and went not.
Mat 21:31 Whether
of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The
first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the
publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
This is one of the
best descriptions of repentance in the Bible!
***There is only
"One Faith"
This one truly
breaks the world up! There is only "one faith", not two
faiths, not many faiths, that leads to God's presence and it is the
faith we have in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Jud 1:3 Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto
the saints.
Isa 45:22 Look unto
me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and
there is none else.
Act 4:12 Neither is
there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
All those who place
their trust in false religion need to give the Lord the chance to
show them the truth!
***There is only
"One Baptism".
It is true that all
believers have given public witness to their faith by submitting to
water Baptism as commanded by the Lord.
Mat 28:19 Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Water Baptism means
we are identifying ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, in His
death, His burial, and His resurrection and His Church.
Even the Lord Jesus
Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, to be our example!
Water baptism is to
be an outward sign of an inward change!
Note: Water baptism
does not produce a spiritual change!
Water baptism is not
a method of salvation!
**Then there is the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
1Co 12:13 For by
one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the
body is not one member, but many
This baptism of the
Holy Spirit will come only in the "Church Age" and He the
power behind the local church and the universal church!
Gal 3:27 For as
many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye
be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise.
The Baptism of the
Holy Spirit unites us with the Lord Jesus Christ!
Rom 6:3 Know ye
not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we
have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be
also in the likeness of his resurrection:
We should note that
this work of the Holy Spirit takes place at the very moment of
salvation, but it is a continuous work until God calls us home!
1Th 4:7 For God
hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1Th 4:8 He
therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also
given unto us his holy Spirit.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye
also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed
with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is
the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory.
All these things are
true because there is only One God, who is the Father of us all!
***One God, who is
our Father if we trust in His promises.
Joh 17:22 And the
glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one,
even as we are one:
Joh 17:23 I in
them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that
the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as
thou hast loved me.
Joh 17:24 Father, I
will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am;
that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou
lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
God is the Father
who presides over all His child by the Lord Jesus Christ and
indwelled by the Holy Spirit!
These things being
true (and they are) then all those who worship some other being are
not following the "Only God"!
We could also say
our Father is the giver of gifts!
*****Eph 4:7 But
unto every one of us "is given grace" according to the
measure of the gift of Christ.
Big faith, much
"grace", Little faith, little "grace" and the
same goes for blessings!
When you become a
Christian (like Christ) you have already received so many gifts from
our Father that we are truly blessed even if He did nothing else for
us.
If He was just God
like so many say, He would not care for what happens on this world
but to the Christian, He is our Father!
Gal_4:6 And because
ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
These gifts of the
Spirit do not mean a natural ability or a talent that you are born
with but even these will be increased if they are used to promote the
"Gospel"!
These are gifts that
build up each of us that are Christian. We all have received a very
personal gift by the Holy Spirit, to carry out the ministry of the
Lord Jesus Christ!
It should be obvious
the Lord Jesus Christ provides us the "grace" to use gifts
of the Holy Spirit.
This "grace"
means the strength, the motivation, the concern, the love, and the
power to use these gifts.
There is not one
Christian that God finds not to be useful!
Rom 12:3 For I say,
through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not
to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think
soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of
faith.
We must understand
that the Lord Jesus had to ascend back to the right hand of God for
the Church to move forward!
Joh_16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go
away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but
if I depart, I will send him unto you.
*****Eph 4:8
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that
he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the
lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that
descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens,
that he might fill all things.)
When the Lord
ascended back to Heaven, witnessed by at least 120 people, it was
Christ's declaration that even the grave could not hold Him!
We, who were once
enslaved by Satan, are set free only because Our Lord triumphed over
all His enemies, (Satan, sin, death)!
In these times of
the Lord, a conquering king would lead those he conquered out of that
city chained one to another.
These slaves, along
with the riches of that nation, would be given to other high-ranking
citizens, at their return from victory.
Psa 68:18 Thou hast
ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received
gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might
dwell among them.
Psa 68:19 Blessed
be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our
salvation. Selah.
As believers who
once were in bondage to Satan, we are now owned by the Lord Jesus
Christ but as belonging to the Lord, He provides wonderful gifts for
every one of us!
One of our greatest
gifts is, freedom!
Joh_8:36 If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Notice not set free
as releasing on the side of the road and could be captured again but
"made" free never to be in bondage again!
The Lord has given
to us, along with our freedom, a great future, a purpose for our
life.
The Lord Jesus
Christ is the giver of "life"!
This life can only
come if we are willing to face death!
Luk 9:23 And he
said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luk 9:24 For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose
his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Before the Lord
ascended, He had to go to that grave.
Psa 139:15 My
substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and
curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Psa 63:9 But those
that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of
the earth.
All the riches and
the power of the God in Heaven or earth could not pay our sin debt,
the Lord Jesus had to die to pay that debt that we could not pay!
He had to first be
declared dead and buried in that borrowed tomb before He could show
the power of God at His resurrection!
He had to fill all
things!
Which means that
Christ's descent into the lower parts of the earth might mean more
than just descending into Abrahams bosom!
The truth is the
Lord Jesus Christ had to die and having gathered all the sin of this
world past, present, and future, had to take that sin and also
experience our hell that we could be saved!
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also
himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And
deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage.
And of all those
that believe these things, Jesus has given us a new purpose!
*****Eph 4:11 And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
For there to be a
church, then there must be those who would begin the church.
We know the Holy
Spirit gives great and wonderful gifts and these gifts will blend
with those whom Christ Jesus has chosen!
There were only 12
Apostles that were specifically chosen by the Lord. The word
"apostle" means "to send out".
The qualifications
to be an Apostle were such that they had to die out.
They had to have
seen the Lord Jesus Christ.
For this reason,
there can never be any more apostles.
There some who were
Prophets, and these too had to die out because we now have the
complete Word of God and there is no need for "Prophets".
The Lord Jesus has
specifically chosen every evangelist, and pastor and teacher since
that time, so these must remain Divine appointments!
Just as prophets
testifies of things to come, the evangelist testifies of things from
the past and therefore they spread the "Gospel".
In many ways the
evangelist is like the missionary.
Act 21:8 And the
next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto
Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist,
which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
We also see here
that Philip had been one the first deacons as one of the seven.
Normally the Pastor
was the shepherd of one flock and the teacher would help with this
one flock.
The Pastor is to be
pastor and teacher.
The teacher is not
the same as the pastor.
What had Jesus told
Peter and made sure he understood.
Joh 21:15 So when
they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou
knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Joh 21:16 He saith
to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He
saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith
unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:17 He saith
unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter
was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?
And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest
that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
We can notice how
Peter passed this information on, in the places where he had begun a
church.
1Pe 5:1 The elders
which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall
be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the
flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by
constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as
being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
To be the shepherd
of a local flock, is a special calling of God which will bring a
specific reward.
1Pe 5:4 And when
the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory
that fadeth not away.
Note the shepherd of
the church was to feed his sheep even if he had to pick them up and
carry them, if he tried to be like Christ.
Isa 40:11 He shall
feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his
arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that
are with young.
Always understanding
that he was not the Chief Shepherd!
Psa 23:1 The LORD is
my shepherd; I shall not want.
The shepherd is to
seek and save:
Mat 18:11 For the
Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Mat 18:12 How think
ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray,
doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains,
and seeketh that which is gone astray?
To be a shepherd
over a flock of God's sheep is a very special calling!
It is the teachers
job to instruct the believers in the Word of God!
It can be said that
the teacher bears one of the largest responsibilities given by God
and will have to give a strict account to God for his faithfulness to
the Word of God!
Jas 3:1 My
brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the
greater condemnation.
In this passage a
master is a teacher!
God commands the
teacher to study the Word of God, be not ashamed of the Word of God
and, rightly divide the Word of God.
2Ti 2:15 Study to
shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
In the end all these
positions in the church have only one job.
*****Eph 4:12 For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we
all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ:
We can see that
accepting the gift of the Holy Spirit in any of these 5 gifts, had a
threefold purpose.
For perfecting that
body of Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
Body of Christ.
It is the job of the
church to make disciples who will also go out and make disciples.
Not everyone, does
God call for any one of these 5 positions, but the truth is:
Every child of God
is to do the work of the apostle using the gifts God has given to
them.
Every child of God
is to do the work of the prophet daily proclaiming the Word of God.
Every child of God
is to do the work of the evangelist in reaching out to the lost.
Every child of God
is to do the work of the Pastor, caring for that flock that God has
given to them.
Every child of God
is to do the work of the teacher, teaching the truth of the Word of
God to all those he knows.
This is the
invisible power of God of God, at work in this world!
Isa_55:11 So shall
my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto
me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
If every house of
God practiced these things the Church would be in unity of the faith.
If you want to
measure the growth of the church, it is not in numbers but how these
sheep are equipped to be local missionaries!
Spiritual growth is
gradual, and some will grow at a faster pace than others and though
this growth is silent, it is still the most effective force in this
world when properly applied!
We live in a world
where some think there should be a variety in the Church and some
seek that variety, but the absolute truth is there is only one
message from God, and only one Gospel of Jesus Christ!
The Church is the
hospital for lost and broken souls, while also being the school for
Heaven!
The Holy Spirit is
the school bus, but sometimes He must be the emergency vehicle.
We should understand
that the Apostle John said Jesus Christ was the Word of God.
Joh 1:1 In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.
The closer we get to
the Word of God the closer we get to perfection and the more we will
resemble the Lord Jesus Christ who is already Perfect!
Jesus Christ is
still our only model for the Christian life, though far too many have
rejected this!
Amen
Let's Pray!
