In a few short weeks the staff of BDTLB will be packing up and heading for Green Lake, Wisconsin where we will be joined by others for the Grace Revival for Evangelism Conference. This year's theme is, "Equipping the Saints." This is taken from Ephesians 4 where the Apostle Paul instructs the Church concerning the gifts the risen and ascended Lord had given to the Body of Christ.
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.
And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets: and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ. Ephesians 4: 1 0-12
It is interesting how the practical implications of these verses have been lost to the average child of God. Much could be, and has been written about the gifts listed in verse 11; we will not take time to address that in this article. But the final gift listed is that of pastor/teacher. Now anytime we are presented with a list of items given, we must ask ourselves one simple question, "Why?" Why was the gift given? In the case of Ephesians 4:11 , the answer to our question immediately follows and unfolds the clear work of the pastor/teacher, but more importantly, that of each member of the Body of Christ.
Fold 1: "For the perfecting of the saints." The Greek word translated "perfecting" is found only one other time in the Scriptures, but the usage here, combine with its other appearance, gives to us a good understanding of the message the Apostle was conveying in the present passage.
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. 2 Corinthians 13:9
The word perfection does not mean "perfect" as we use it today but, rather, it spoke of the equipping, the attainment of a goal, or a state such as maturity. In the Corinthian passage the Apostle is speaking of a process through which he was pleased the saints had passed. Paul was pleased that the Corinthian saints had reached, or attained to a certain level of accomplishment. This may be best understood when compared to any discipline in education. When students begin their years of education they know little or nothing of the primary subjects of English, arithmetic, history and science. But as the years pass by slowly, the student grows as his mind expands with knowledge. What was once little known becomes second nature and students graduate from high school equipped to enter the world.
Parenting is this same process. When a child enters the world they are unable to do little more than eat and cry. The parent assumes the responsibility of nurturing or perfecting the child and this carries on throughout the child's growing years. Instruction is built upon instruction, and lesson upon lesson as the child's mind is expanded and his experiences enlarged. Finally the day arrives when the child is ready, is perfected, equipped to fly from the nest and venture out into the real world.
Along this same line, the Lord has given to the pastor/teacher his role to nurture, equip and perfect the saints. As the pastor he is to protect them from error (Acts 20:28), and as the teacher he is to train his congregation in the Word of God in sound doctrine. Many saints often complain that going to church is like going to school. "I don't go to church to go to school, I go to church to feel good." The fact is that church is to be the training ground for the saints and the Pastor/teacher is to be the "equipper/ perfector." This role is sadly being lost in the church today and the result is a church that is fast becoming sterile, it's losing its spiritual impact upon the community. People know little, or nothing about the Word of God, but they feel good. They are Biblically ignorant, but they're happy about it.
But then the question naturally arises, "Equipped/Perfected" for what?
Fold 2: The Ephesian verse continues, "for the work of the ministry." Now the real impact of the gifts begins to become evident. The word "for" indicates the "why" of the pastor's role as a "perfector." The saints are nurtured along, trained, equipped and perfected to the end that they are to carry on the work of the ministry. Many in the church today look at much of the ministry as belonging to the pastor, after all, isn't that why he is paid? An increasing number of people in the church today are content to go to church on Sunday and to do their "thing for God" and then live for themselves the rest of the week. If someone is sick, in the hospital, or needs to hear the Gospel, then you call the Pastor. But is this really the function of the pastor? I think not.
Nowhere in Scripture is the function of holding someone's hand, of calling on the sick, or even the communicating of the Gospel said to be the exclusive function of the Pastor. Yes, the Pastor is to visit the sick, consol the hurting and share the Gospel, but that role does not grow out of his calling to the pastorate but, rather, because he is a child of God. But it is important to understand that these functions belong to every member of the Body, not just the Pastor. This is the "work of the ministry."
In 2 Corinthians 5:20, the Apostle Paul relays that in Christ we have all been made ambassadors of Jesus Christ and made the ministers of reconciliation. As such, we have received the word of reconciliation. This involves the presentation of the work of God in Christ in and through Calvary: His death, burial and resurrection. It is the proclamation of the Gospel that falls to every individual who has placed their faith and trust in the finished work of Christ. Evangelism is not the job of the preacher but, rather, it is the responsibility of every born-again Christian.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Romans 10:13-14
The word "preacher" should not be understood as the so-called professional standing before his congregation declaring the Scriptures. The word has the idea of heralding divine truth, a proclaimer. Every child of God who openly declares the Gospel of reconciliation to the lost can rightfully be declared a "preacher. "
The challenge of Romans 10:14 is offered following the simple declaration of the Gospel beginning with verse nine. Again, as in 1 Corinthians 15, the Gospel of salvation is simply the placing of one's faith/belief/trust in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. To call upon Him in faith believing is the simple "way" of salvation in this Age of Grace. But the challenge is given to those in Christ as the question is posed: How can any call upon Him if they have never heard? And more importantly, How can they hear unless someone tells them? This, my friend, is the work of the ministry.
Fold 3: This brings us to the third step in the unfolding answer to the question "why?" The passage in Ephesians concludes with the words, "for the edifying of the Body of Christ." The word translated "edifying" is a term related to architecture, or construction and means "buildup" or to "expand." Both of these thoughts are related to the overall picture drawn in the passage. The Body of Christ is an invisible organism made up of all saved individuals from the present dispensation. As such, every time a soul comes to Christ, the Body of Christ is expanded, or built up. Therefore, the child of God is to be a construction worker (the work of the ministry) assisting in the overall expansion, or the enlarging of the Body of Christ.
It can also be said that the pastor/teacher plays a role here in that it is his primary function to teach the Word of God, to declare sound doctrine in accordance with the Word of God rightly divided. In this the Body of Christ is edified, or built up, or strengthened. This is an increasingly neglected area in the postmodern church. Doctrine is being set aside and replaced with a fleshly-based, feel-good sermon. I believe most people would fail a test today if they were asked to answer questions on what their church believes and why.
The role of the pastor/teacher is that of the instructor preparing his class (the congregation) for ministry in the field. Every child of God is to be a missionary in their home, at work, and in the community. The preparation (equipping, perfecting) takes place in the local assembly under the guiding hand of the pastor/teacher. From there the student moves out into the community as an affective laborer for the Lord Jesus Christ to do the work of the ministry and edifying the Body of Christ.
So now it is off to Green Lake, Wisconsin and the Grace Revival for Evangelism Conference. As our theme states, our goal is to equip the saints to do the work of evangelism, of sharing the glorious Gospel of the Grace of God with a world of friends, relatives, co-workers, and acquaintances that are headed to a Christless eternity in the Lake of Fire.
This year's conference will be different in several ways. First and foremost, will be the daily "Bible Hour" with our teacher, Pastor Paul Sadler from the Berean Bible Society. Pastor Paul will be teaching from the Scriptures concerning the glorious Gospel of the Grace of God. I know you will not want to miss Brother Sadler's insightful teaching of the Scriptures on Wednesday thru Friday mornings.
Friday, the final session will be a "pep rally" of sorts. We will close out the conference with some rousing music and great preaching. We want everyone taking part in this year's conference to return to their homes and churches excited about sharing the Gospel.
This past spring there was much talk, along with radio and billboard advertising, of a coming Judgment Day. The radio preacher promoting this teaching used his radio program to promote the date and guarantee its occurrence. I'm sure that thousands of folks across the nation, and perhaps around the world, believed the preacher's message and prepared for their heavenly departure. The prophesied date arrived and passed without incident. The originator then claimed that the event had indeed occurred but that it was in a form differing from what he had proposed. Now he has established October 20, 2011 as the end of the world.
Friends, it is sad how the misguided ramblings of a radio preacher could stir up so much hope and activity only to pass by as so many predictions had done in the past. Many caught up in the teachings, no doubt, became disillusioned and have walked away from the Lord and the church. But even worse than those who walked away are the countless souls who watched this event unfold and now look upon Christianity with ridicule and disdain.
But one fact remains firm: the Lord is coming again and will, in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye, catch His Church away.
"For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which
are asleep.
For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be
with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
1 Thessalonians 4: 15-18
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead
in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall
be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
On the day described here, the Lord will come in the clouds and call His Church home. On that day the fate of millions will be sealed. All those who have heard the Gospel and rejected Christ will receive a delusion from the Lord, believe the lie of Satan, and perish in a Christless eternity in the Lake of Fire.
That day could come at anytime and it is for that reason that we who know the truth and are in Christ Jesus need to be vigilant in our responsibility to live for, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
We live in a nation that desperately needs Christ. Contrary to the media, America is not a Christian nation. Some polls place the number of truly born-again Christians between 7 and 10%. In a nation of over 300 million citizens, that leaves approximately 270 million Americans without Christ (this figure makes the U.S. the third largest unreached country in the world). That translates into the fact that 9 out of 10 folks we encounter on any given day are without Christ. America is a nation desperately in need of missionaries.
Two things - First, accept my challenge to become an effective ambassador for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a day certain ahead - when the Lord will call His Church home and close the door upon this present-day of Grace upon multitudes. Judgment Day is coming and the knowledge of this truth ought to transform itself into action on our part to share the Gospel. Second, if you haven't already planned to attend the Grace Revival for Evangelism Conference in Green Lake, it's not too late. I'd strongly urge you to consider attending the conference and to take advantage of the training, fellowship, and encouragement available. It's not too late to register.
How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
Posted By Cecil and
Connie Spivey
Share this Bible Message with your friends
No comments:
Post a Comment