Author: newlifenarrabri

Ephesians 4:12

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Here is my commentary on Ephesians 4:12. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 4:12

“… To prepare God’s people for works of ministry so that the Body of Christ may be built-up.”

The ministry gifts have a dual purpose- to equip the saints for ministry, and to build up the church, the Body of Christ.

There is an attitude amongst some Christians that the pastor is responsible for every ministry that happens in the church. As we stated in the previous verse, no one person can contain every ministry gift, let alone do everything that is needed to be done.

Pastors have responsibility for oversight, to give directions and set parameters for ministry in the congregation.

Pastors and the other five-fold ministers are to equip the saints, God’s people, for works of ministry. They are not responsible for doing all the ministry.

The way it should happen is that they first demonstrate the ministry. Then the disciples practice the ministry with supervision. Finally, they are declared to be competent ministers of the gospel .

The rabbinical model was for disciples to literally follow the Rabbi around everyday, observing and sometimes participating in the ministry. This was the model followed by Jesus and the Twelve.

So apostles should mentor future apostles, evangelists should mentor future evangelists, and so on. Because we are meant to be fathers to sons, the desire of the minister should be that the son should rise to greater levels of success in the Lord than he himself did. Any minister who is not seeking to raise up or to equip the saints is falling down on their job.

The expectation is not that every member of the body becomes a five-fold minister. The expectation is that every believer has the opportunity to participate in the ministry of the church and to do the works of ministry .

When this process is happening, the church becomes mature. Every christian should be taught how to share the gospel with unbelievers, how to pray for the sick, how to encourage the downhearted, and how to hear the Lord. These things flow from the hearts of the five fold ministers, and should flow to the hearts of the saints.

The second purpose of the five fold ministry gifts is to build up the Body of Christ.

The church needs strengthening to do its tasks, and the ministers are like coaches showing the body how to develop its gifts and become stronger in Christ. As different parts of the body learn to minister, the body as a whole is built up.

It is built up numerically through the witness of its members under the encouragement of the evangelists.

It is built up in purpose under the grace of the apostles and prophets, and it senses its purpose and direction as people learn their giftedness.

Pastors and teachers keep the body strong and on the right tracks. As the members of the body grow in understanding, they ensure at the whole body stays close to the Lord.

So the church is built up in every way through the correct operation of the ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit .

Key points in this verse:

  • The ministry gifts are given to equip the people of God.
  • It is not God’s intention for the gifted ones to do all the ministry.
  • Mentoring of rising ministers and equipping all the people are the focus of the five-fold ministries
  • As God’s people are equipped to do the works of ministry, the whole body is strengthened and built up.

Reflection on Matthew 9:1-13

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Scripture

Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.

Observation

Jesus returns to Capernaum. There, some people bring on a mat a paralysed man. Jesus says to him, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Some of the teachers of the law are upset by this. Jesus says, “I will prove my authority to forgive sins.” He then heals the man.

Everyone is amazed by this, and the people marvel at Jesus’ great authority.

Jesus then sees a tax collector named Matthew whom He calls to follow him. The Pharisees question why Jesus associates with scum like tax collectors. Jesus responds by saying it is the sick people who need a doctor not healthy people.

Application

The question of authority seems to have been a big issue for some people. They were often questioning where Jesus got His authority from, whether it was authority to heal or teach or to forgive sins.

All human authority comes ultimately from God, whether we recognise it or not. He is the one who puts governmental rulers and spiritual leaders in place.

As christians, we have authority over the evil spirits, authority to heal and perform miracles, authority to preach the gospel. This authority flows from God and is dependent on us remaining in close relationship to God.

We need to be under proper authority in order to exercise authority.

Prayer

Lord, please show me how to walk in the authority you have given me. Amen.

Quote for the Day

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In order to live out of the Father’s initiative, we first need to develop the ability to recognize His voice within us. We must be able to discern when the Spirit is speaking secrets to us, showing images of what He wants to do, or impressing us with His desire to heal or release other miracles. Mark Virkler

Reflection on Matthew 8:22-34

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Scripture

Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, and they begged him to go away and leave them alone.

Observation

Jesus and the disciples cross the lake on a boat. A fierce storm breaks, threatening to sink the boat, but Jesus sleeps through it. The disciples wake Him up and ask Him to save them.

Jesus rebukes the wind and waves, and suddenly there is a great calm. The disciples are amazed at His authority.

They arrive a the other side of the lake where they encounter two demonised men living in a cemetery. The demons recognise Jesus and start screaming. They beg Jesus to be sent into the herd of pigs nearby. So Jesus commands the demons to go, and the whole herd of pigs plunges down the hillside and into the lake.

The herdsmen flee to a nearby town, telling everyone what had happened. The entire town comes out to Jesus pleading with Him to go away.

Application

Many people want the benefits of Jesus without any cost to their lifestyle. This is why Jesus could truthfully say that many would call “Lord! Lord!” but not be saved.

The people of the town were not moved by the deliverance of the two severely demonised men. They were confronted by the loss of property and income that his freedom cost them.

They saw the miracle. They may even have recognised that Jesus was someone special. Yet, they wanted nothing to do with him, pleading with Him to leave them alone.

People can get excited about miracles and extraordinary healings. Then they go home unaffected.

In the end it is unbelief that holds people captive to sin. They refuse to believe that there is a better way to live, a better Lord to serve, than the one they have.

Jesus warns us to count the cost of following Him. Too many see the cost, but not the returns which are eternal.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to look to what I gain in following you, which is always a million times better than anything you ask me to give up for your sake. Amen.