November 29, 2024 FOR THE EQUIPPING
Ephesians 4:11-13 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelist, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
This is a follow up to the last blog. That blog was about the importance of believers assembling together, and that the church was not a building; believers are the church. It is certainly good for believers to get together at any place at any time. However, we must remember that simply ‘getting together’ is not the goal. As said in the last blog, assembly is defined as meeting together for a common purpose. It is important to note that God has placed certain individuals with specific gifts and callings in the body for the expressed purpose of equipping the believes (saints) for the work of service and for building up the body of Christ. He gives apostles, prophets, evangelist and pastors and teachers. (Some today question the idea of apostles and prophets-but nonetheless, it’s there in plain view.) There should be a common purpose when believes assemble, and that is to be equipped for service and to be built up. If we are missing out on these various gifts to the body, then we are spiritually anemic to some degree. The point being is that when we meet together, whether in a traditional church or in a small group, there is a definite purpose for assembling. The body is made up of believers with various gifting, and God has designed it in such a way that we need each other. To be a part of the body of Christ is a tremendous blessing. No one part of the body is more important than the other; each member has a place. Christ is the head of the body. Unlike the world, there is no hierarchy in the church; there are different functions and some members may be more in the forefront, but each member is equally important. So, first, let us assemble with other believers, but when we assemble, let it be with the purpose that is presented in the scriptures. One word of caution: body life can be ‘messy;’ believers are not perfect and there will sometimes be conflict; but even so, God is calling believers to come together and to grow in the knowledge of Him and in our relationships with other believers.
1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 26-27 “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But there are many members, but one body.” “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it”
Blessings, Buddy
Ephesians 4:11-13 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelist, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
This is a follow up to the last blog. That blog was about the importance of believers assembling together, and that the church was not a building; believers are the church. It is certainly good for believers to get together at any place at any time. However, we must remember that simply ‘getting together’ is not the goal. As said in the last blog, assembly is defined as meeting together for a common purpose. It is important to note that God has placed certain individuals with specific gifts and callings in the body for the expressed purpose of equipping the believes (saints) for the work of service and for building up the body of Christ. He gives apostles, prophets, evangelist and pastors and teachers. (Some today question the idea of apostles and prophets-but nonetheless, it’s there in plain view.) There should be a common purpose when believes assemble, and that is to be equipped for service and to be built up. If we are missing out on these various gifts to the body, then we are spiritually anemic to some degree. The point being is that when we meet together, whether in a traditional church or in a small group, there is a definite purpose for assembling. The body is made up of believers with various gifting, and God has designed it in such a way that we need each other. To be a part of the body of Christ is a tremendous blessing. No one part of the body is more important than the other; each member has a place. Christ is the head of the body. Unlike the world, there is no hierarchy in the church; there are different functions and some members may be more in the forefront, but each member is equally important. So, first, let us assemble with other believers, but when we assemble, let it be with the purpose that is presented in the scriptures. One word of caution: body life can be ‘messy;’ believers are not perfect and there will sometimes be conflict; but even so, God is calling believers to come together and to grow in the knowledge of Him and in our relationships with other believers.
1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 26-27 “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But there are many members, but one body.” “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it”
Blessings, Buddy
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