Some people aren’t interested in fishing but it’s really a better way of life than receiving handouts all the time.
When it comes to ministry there is a place of maturity or critical mass when a Christian moves from a place of only receiving, to receiving and then giving out. Getting Christians to this place is one of my goals as a five fold minister.
They eventually move to where the majority of their receiving is coming directly from God and their load on the rest of the Body of Christ is very minimal. This frees up time and resources for others who are not as mature as well as amplifying ministry through the one who's stepped up to a higher level of maturity.
Things that build up the Body of Christ
I. Five Fold Ministers Equip
II. The Scriptures Equip
III. The God of Peace Equips
I. Five Fold Ministers Equip
Ephesians 4:11-13
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The Greek word in the New Testament for the concept of being built up is oikodome which denotes (a) "the act of building" (oikos, "a home," and demo, "to build"); this is used only figuratively in the NT, in the sense of edification, the promotion of spiritual growth.
Things that indicate maturity
A. Unity
B. Growing in the knowledge of God
C. We attain to the fullness of Christ
D. We teach others by word and deed
A. Unity
The Prayer for Jesus' Disciples
John 17:11
11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
John 17:20,21
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
When we're not unified it grieved the Apostle Paul and it grieves the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 12:21
20For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
B. We are growing in the knowledge of the son of God
2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
C. We Attain to the fullness of Christ
1. Christ’s Character
2. Christ’s Power
D. We teach others by word and deed
Kingdom Greatness
Matthew 5:19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
I. Paul
A. Timothy - Witnesses
1. Reliable Men
a. Others
2. The Scriptures Equip
2 Timothy 3:16,17
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
A. The Scriptures empower against sin
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
B. The Scriptures should cause our hearts to burn.
Luke 24:32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
C. The Scripture points to Jesus
John 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,
III. The God of Peace equips
Hebrews 13:20
20May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-9124
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