Given to Equip and Build (Ephesians 4:12)

“He gave some … as pastors and teachers,” (v. 11) … “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;” (Ephesians 4:12, NASB95)

As we read in verse 11, God gave some as pastors and teachers and their role as such is to include equipping the saints. “Equipping” has the meaning of making someone completely adequate or sufficient for something whether it is through instruction of giving someone the tools or equipment that they need. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read that, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17, NASB95) Both of these verses focus on the end of being equipped. One speaks to the person who is charged to oversee and conduct the teaching while the other to the source of that teaching. Both the person and the source come from God. The pastor-teacher is called by God to the role, and the Scripture (Bible, Word of God) is given by God as the true and unfaltering foundation of the teaching. As the man of God teaches the Word of God the people of God are to be equipped for their service to God.

In 2 Timothy 3:17 we find the words “adequate” and “equipped” used together. As the man of God (all believers) is made adequate through being taught the Word of God, and not is just some detached academic way, but by speaking to its effectiveness to point out wrong, lead back to right, and then instruct in following that right, we are made adequate. This word “adequate” is closely related to the word “equipped.” It might be said that the first refers to the person being qualified to complete the task and the second to the complete readiness to go out and do it. Both of them speak to success in doing the tasks of service set before us as we are made ready from instruction in the Word of God by men given by God to fill this role.

And as we to these works of service we perform what is necessary to accomplish an end which is building up the body of Christ. I remember years ago when I was doing a home loan for a pastor in southern California. He really didn’t want to put “pastor” as his job description and we joked together about what other terms He might use. One of those was the term “Body-builder.” What an apt description of the role given to the pastor-teacher, but someone given to the role of building up the body of Christ, and doing so in a way that is highly interactive and not classroom lecture with fancy media presentations. It is a hands on kind of relationship as the pastor or shepherd of the sheep given by the Great Shepherd has demonstrated for us with His own disciples.

In this we can take away several things. First of all, we need to be taught and God has given men to this task. The place for this teaching is as we gather together as one to hear, consider, and then apply to our own lives. Second, the teaching needs to be from the Word of God. It is critical in our choosing a church to attend that it be one given to accurately and effectively teaching the Word of God and not the opinion of man. There are many churches out there today who have discarded sound teaching or who do not emphasize its practical application to our lives. The role of the pastor-teacher is to make sure that the Word of God is taught in such a way in the church such that the people of God are equipped in service and moved toward maturity regardless of what the world around us might say or do.

I have to wonder during this current election cycle as I look at the so-called “evangelical vote” and find that a man who openly cuts down his opponents and who has waffled all over the board on biblical moral issues has garnered so much of the vote when there are others whose positions more closely align with those of Scripture and who openly profess their faith in Christ. I understand that there is anger and frustration out there, but is the way to respond? By giving heed to our anger and the words of anger, are we really living with hope as a people called to live by faith when the Word of God has shown us otherwise? The Word of God declares that we are not to be shaken by the evil one, nor are we to panic and take shortcuts in order to try to fix things ourselves or to avoid what we might perceive as even worse circumstances. We are to trust in Him, live according to His Word, and do this all by faith in our God who is immensely powerful to accomplish all that He intends in us and in the world. There is generally a separation between politicians and pastors, but there should not be a separation between the sound Word of God being taught by pastors leading to how we as Christians listen to, speak about, and choose our political leaders. One is to affect the other.

So much for the political outworking of this, but let’s also consider how we also respond to the teaching of God when it comes to walking right before God and man, as it comes to loving one another and reaching out with compassion to those in need, and as it pertains to walking beside those who are struggling and giving the comfort that we have learned from God to those who need the comfort of God. We are to continually sharpen one another and encourage one another to shy away from the world’s wisdom and apply the Word of God to all that we do. Lastly, knowing from the Word of God the great gift that we have been given in Jesus Christ, we can also boldly and with firm assurance declare this truth of salvation in Christ and Christ alone to others.

These and so much more all are out-working of the Word of God being implanted in our hearts, meditated on in our minds, and applied in our lives. And God has made this such a priority that He has called and gifted men to carry on this most vital task.

Joy in the Broken Latch

Fruit can be measured in a variety of ways. One of them is in that which the Holy Spirit does in us as we grow in Christ and are conformed to His image as evidenced by the list of Galatians 5:22-24. In that list are joy, peace, patience, and self-control (among others). For this next Sunday I am working on a message from Jesus' last "I AM" statement in John which is found in John 15:1, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser...." Jesus then said in verse 5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit...."

This past weekend we went through the event with the water heater. For those of you who did not hear about this one, well, needless to say it was a bundle of fun. Our water heater began leaking and soaked one of our bedrooms. Replacing it was not easy, and God really showed Himself to me in my the most frustrating of moments when I had no answers for a problem that surfaced or strength to complete the task. Tonight the challenge was the dishwasher (no not the human ones--they are capable). The latch stopped working and it would not close. At first I said that I would not deal with it tonight and probably not even this week. But then I realized how "escapist" that was, and I went in to look at the problem. After fiddling with it for a while it was very obvious that it would not work and no amount of playing with the latch was going to change this fact. So, I sat down quietly in front of the dishwasher and listened while I prayed. I asked Robin for a screwdriver, and I removed to top portion of the face to find that the handle was busted. There it was right in front of me--a broken part that could be replaced. I then went online and ordered a new one with the anticipation that it should arrive in two days. Unlike the water heater, I am hoping that this fix is that easy one, In the mean time we have plenty of hot water for the human dishwashers to step up and get the job done.

I started with Galatians by citing some of the things that the Spirit does in us as we abide in Christ. I am thankful that to a large degree I was able to experience joy and peace in this trial and especially thankful for some patience and self-control.

Practical object lessons for sermons (or for life in general) can be difficult. I hope that I don't have to relearn many of them. But then again I am reminded of the words James wrote, "Consider it all joy my brethren when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of you faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result that you might be complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4).

In verse 9 of John 15, Jesus went on to say to His disciples, "Abide in my love. ... These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." Submitting those things that frustrate us most to the infinite hands and wisdom of God is a huge relief. There are many things that are outside of our ability to fix, but there is nothing outside of God's ability to see us through to His perfect end.

(By the way, it's now the next day when I came back to edit this some. And the message that I was preparing has been delayed a week while God has drawn my attention to a passage I thought we would have to skip over for lack of time. He provided the time, and He gave us His Helper which is the promise of John 14 where I am studying today.
"The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9, NASB95)

Given to Teach and Tend (Ephesians 4:11-12)

“He gave some … as pastors and teachers,” (v. 11) … “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;” (Ephesians 4:12, NASB95)

Looking back specifically to the pastor-teacher and this verse which immediately speaks of these men being given to the church we see unfolded for us key parts of the role to which they are called. The name of the role (pastor-teacher) itself gives us insight as to what these men are called to do, and from the second part we know that an obvious part of what he is to do is teach. While this teaching may or may not include regularly speaking from a pulpit, it does include teaching the truths of God’s word. Looking to verse 12 we see that the content of this teaching is to be focused on at least two specific areas. One of them is equipping for the work of service, and the other is that of building up the body of Christ. There is a lot to these two areas and much has been written on them even as we read in man of the New Testament letters.

Another aspect of the title is that of being a “pastor.” This week I spoke with a gentleman from Great Britain who told me that our term “pastor” is a curious word to him. It not one that he was used to at home where ‘vicar’ and ‘rector’ were the ones he was used to hearing. And as I searched the internet while writing this post I found as many as 103 synonyms for the word ‘pastor’ with a great number of them having nothing to do with our Christian understanding but many did.

A close look at Scripture will reveal that the word “pastors” is actually only seen here in this passage in Ephesians and not even in all translations. In the ESV we see it translated as “shepherds.” The Greek word translated “pastor” here is ‘poimen,’ and in its other usages in the same translations of Scripture it is translated “shepherd.” It is for that reason that the definition included in the last post defines that pastor-teacher as one who is given to shepherd the flock of God. The pastor is a shepherd, and this is exactly what Jesus told Peter to do three times when He restored him to ministry in John 21 and told him to shepherd or tend to His sheep.

As we see them put together the pastor-teacher is more than a person who stands up front and teaches the people, but he is one who is actively engaged with them in helping to guide them in their spiritual walk and growth, both corporately and individually in Christ. He is given by God to care for the flock as Christ cared for His disciples and as we see exemplified by men such as Paul.

We also see in Scripture (though not covered in this passage) that this responsibility is not given singularly to the “pastor-teacher” but also to men who serve in the church as its elders who are charged both as overseers and shepherds.

Obviously, from this passage, we also see that the work of the pastor-teacher implies a result in the people. He cannot effectively equip and build unless people are submitted to the Lordship of Christ and the direction of the one given by Him to fulfill this role. The pastor is not any more or less special that any other believer. We are all called as one in Christ, and He has chosen just how it is that we are to serve. In the process of this happening some are more given to one thing and others to another. This will be expanded upon more as we move through this chapter of Ephesians and we look at the priority of the whole body growing together toward maturity. Peter said regardless of how we have been given by God to do what we have been called to do we are to do it by the strength that He supplies and for His glory.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10–11, NASB95)

Given to Build–Getters and Shapers (John 4:11)

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,” (Ephesians 4:11, NASB95)

Having first looked at the apostles and prophets who were given to lay the foundation for the church, next we look at those that Christ has given to do the ongoing task of working to build up the church—the evangelist and the pastor-teacher. One is given to presenting people with the good news of salvation and the other with the shepherding and instruction in how to live as saved members of the body of Christ—His church. Again, what follows is the summary overview of these two offices from the course on Spiritual Gifts prepared for Calvary Crossroads Church where I privileged to serve.

EVANGELIST. A messenger of God, called and supernaturally spiritually gifted, to influence the unsaved to trust in the good news of Jesus Christ’s redemptive story (Romans 6:23). Jesus modeled this gift of evangelism with Nicodemus (John 3:16). The good news is, in the words of Paul; “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9,10). Philip was known as an evangelist (Acts 8:4-13; 21:8), as was Timothy (2 Tim. 4:5). Surely, there were many more. And there have been many more throughout the history of the church. We even have evangelists today. The New Testament evangelist proclaims the good news.

In the first century, the early church Fathers knew there was no apostolic succession. A study of the first-century church provides helpful information in understanding the New Testament. The things that they believed are indicative of what the New Testament writers meant because there was such a short time span between them. It might be important to note here that the apostles endorsed a new form of church leadership for which guidelines were set forth, and that was the position of elder or overseer.

PASTOR-TEACHER. The supernatural spiritual gift and calling to shepherd the flock of God (guarding, guiding, encouraging, warning, etc.), feed them with the Word of God, and equip them to find their gifts so that they, too, can do the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11,12). Peter (John 21:15-17; 1 Peter 5:1-15).

The pastor-teacher is given to the church to remain in a local congregation and minister to its practical needs by applying doctrine. He is doing what the prophet did in a revelatory sense but using God’s Word. He is shepherding the church: guarding, defending, warning, challenging, instructing, building walls around it for its protection, and motivating it on a long-term basis.

Verse 11 began with, “And He gave….” In my time of searching out where God has next called me to serve I have been asked and had to answer the question about my certainty of this calling of God on my life. There is a lot to this answer which includes both desire and opportunity. The church belongs to Christ. We are called to seek after Him and follow Him in obedience. We are also read that He gives us the desires of our hearts. As we seek after Him and submit to His will and His way, He somehow does the incredible work knowing that this is what He wants as He also brings us to where He wants us. Both of these come together to form a conviction that says, “God, I’m yours.” Regardless of whether God has given you to serve as an evangelist or a pastor-teacher or He has given you the gifting and opportunity to serve in any other area of His church we are still His.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4–7, NASB95)

Given to Build–the Foundation (John 4:11)

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,” (Ephesians 4:11, NASB95)

Years ago upon joining the staff of a church I was given the privilege of preparing several courses intended to be used as regular curriculum offerings. One of those classes was on spiritual gifts. In looking at this issue I considered two primary areas gifting which were speaking gifts and serving gifts. Along with that was the challenge to look at miraculous sign gifts and another area which though given is not necessarily considered in the same category as spiritual gifts. This last category is centered not as much on the gift as it is one men who were given by God for specific roles or offices, and the key passage presenting these men together is Ephesians 4:11 where we read of Jesus giving “some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers”.

Over the next couple of days I’ll include a significant portion of the course overview concerning these offices and those given to them.

“This area of office versus spiritual gift is one in which there is a difference of opinion amongst educated believers. In verse 11 we read that some were given.... We eagerly acknowledge that whether this passage is speaking of offices or categories of spiritual gifts that in either case they are sovereignly given gifts from God. The distinction being made here is that in addition to the giving of spiritual gifts there also appears to be the added aspect of gifted men, men given by God to key roles or offices.

In this brief passage we read of what might on the surface be five offices, but in actuality are most likely four offices; that of the apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, and the pastor-teacher. Because of the grammar we believe the pastor and teacher to be one office, the pastor-teacher.

APOSTLE. One sent forth with a supernatural spiritual gift and a calling into the world with the message of salvation. God sent forth His Son, Jesus (Hebrews 3:1). Jesus selected and sent forth His twelve apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit with the good news of salvation (Matthew 28:19-20), and universal authority in matters of doctrine for His disciples. These twelve became the first building blocks to be placed on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:20; 4:11,12). They were also given the responsibility to equip for ministry within the church as well as minister to their surrounding community. Each new generation has submitted to the authority of Jesus Christ, His apostles, and their writings up to this very hour. Paul was the last apostle to be placed on the foundation of Jesus Christ, eliminating any need for new apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9). He became a prime example of a man who discovered his gifts and wrapped his life around them; “I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle and a teacher” (2 Timothy 1:11).

Now, some people are confused when they see that word [apostle] appearing in the New Testament. They want to elevate everyone who is a messenger to someone with an official title. So we have to be careful to make a distinction between the official apostles and the simple messengers.

There are a few men in the New Testament who fall into a very special category of apostles. The first is the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 3:1 says, “The Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” He is the first Messenger—the first Sent One. He is the Apostle!

Next, the twelve are called apostles. There are lists of them in Matthew 10:2-4 and Luke 6:13-16 (see also Mark 3:13-19; Acts 1:13). In Acts 1:25-26 they chose one to take the place of Judas. The lot fell to Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Here the word messenger takes on a technical meaning. Before, it had a general meaning. Christ gave it a very special technical meaning; the twelve gave it a technical meaning as an official title. When someone says, “Who is an apostle?” the twelve are referred to.

You say, “Is that the limit of its official use?” No. One other man in the New Testament falls into the category of an official apostle. Romans 1:1 says, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.” Galatians 1:1 says the same thing. These are the only official apostles.

There are no apostles today because no one sees Jesus Christ today. The apostle had to be those who had seen, heard, and had a vital personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They had to see the resurrected Christ. When choosing Matthias (Acts 1:22), Peter said, “one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection.” They had to see the resurrected Christ. Paul also saw the resurrected Christ (Acts 9:5; 18:9-10; 22:17-18; 23:11).

PROPHET. The prophet was one who had a supernatural spiritual gift and a calling to speak forth the words of God. Prophets in the Old Testament were used by God to speak to Israel about current and future events. Jesus was the prophet to come (Deuteronomy 18:18; Acts 3:22-23). The prophets in the body of Christ were called to speak forth the word of God about present and future events (Acts 2:17-18; 11:27-28). The foundation of the church was laid upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20). This foundation has already been laid, and it can only be laid once! It is on this basis that we can say that the office of prophet no longer exists.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19–22, NASB95)”

God’s household has one foundation, and that foundation has Jesus Christ as its chief corner stone. There are not multiple corner stones, just as there are not multiple foundations. All other stones are false and foundations are critically flawed. The one foundation laid by God was comprised of these first two groups of men—the apostles and prophets. These are the ones chosen and called by God to do this work, and it is upon the work and the record given through them that the rest of the building is built with access being gained only through the person of the Son of God—Jesus Christ.

Next we will look at those given by God to both for His use in procuring the bricks and working to see that they are properly laid in place—the evangelist and the pastor-teacher.

Sent and Done (Ephesians 4:9-10)

“(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)” (Ephesians 4:9–10, NASB95)

Verses 9 and 10 are a parenthetical clarification of exactly Who it is who ascended in verse 8. In verse 7 and throughout this letter Paul makes it clear that he is speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who was sent into the world to give the gift salvation to all who believe. In the context of this Paul wrote about Christ ascending and returning to the Father after His resurrection. In these verses he makes it clear his meaning that he is speaking of none other than God the Son who first descended prior to His being able to ascend.

In reading this I was reminded of a children’s action nursery rhyme, “The Grand Old Duke of York,” where the words tell us:

Oh, The grand old Duke of York,

He had ten thousand men;

He marched them up to the top of the hill,

And he marched them down again.

And when they were up, they were up,

And when they were down, they were down,

And when they were only half-way up,

They were neither up nor down.

It is a simple truth, for one to be in one place and then in another one has to travel the direction necessary to get there. In the rhyme the Duke marched the men up to the top of the hill such that when they were up there they were all of the way up. He also marched them down again, and sure enough when they were no longer at the top but had returned to the bottom they were down. For them to get back to the top they must again march up the hill all of the way. Just going part of the distance would not do it.

While there have been some who have tried to read a lot into the possible meaning of Jesus having first descended (possibly to Hades to being dead believers back with Him), any additional understanding of the passage is not included in the text. A simple reading affirms that in order for Jesus to ascend back to heaven He first had to descend to earth, which is what Scripture tells us He did.

In the English Standard Version verse 9 reads, “In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?”” The adding of a comma between regions (or parts) adds clarification as to where lower is without implying any entrance into an unseen under world or any accompanying action in relation to that entrance.

Elsewhere in Philippians Paul wrote of Jesus, “(5) Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. (8) Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (9) For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, (10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11, NASB95)

Jesus is and always has been the pre-existent eternal God, One with the Father and the Spirit. At a point in time He humbly emptied Himself to take on the form of man being born as a baby here on earth. In order to do this, we see that He descended from heaven to earth. Then a short thirty-three years later He laid down His life and then He took it back up again through His death, burial, and resurrection. Some would point to this passage specifically pointing to what happened during His death which is not spoken of in this passage. But the greater picture and the co-testimony of Scripture is that on the third day He rose from the dead to appear to His disciples and hundreds of others (1 Corinthians 15) over a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3) prior to Him ascending before Hs disciples’ eyes (Acts 1:9).

In simple terms He came, He conquered, and He returned with the purpose for which He came being fully accomplished. This is the testimony of Scripture. Paul tells us that Jesus is one and the same person Who did this.

I’ve been returning to John chapter 9 in my Sunday message preparation, and in verses 8-12 the neighbors of the blind man who was healed denied that this man who could now see was the same person because what happened was so far beyond anything that they could ever imagine. For man, this is a very reasonable assumption. These things are not things that man can do. But for our infinite all-powerful God there is no limit to His ability. What happened is the truth. The Son of God left heaven for a season to become man in order to give up His own life in payment for our sins. But these sins could not destroy Him. As God He also has the power to take it back up again, which is what He did, and in so doing He gave life to all who believe. When He had accomplished His resurrection and stayed around long enough to prove it real, He then returned to the right hand of the Father where He continues to intercede on our behalf awaiting the time that we join Him in His presence.

And as we will see in the verses that follow, His leaving did not leave us void of His presence or His help. Not only did He give us the Spirit of God to indwell, empower, and enable us, He also gave us one another to build up and encourage each other until we all reach the maturity that He intends.

Jesus is the One who did this. That’s the testimony of His Word.

If it's on Facebook it must be true?? - Palm 146

If it's on Facebook it must be true??

I saw another one of those pictures positing some interesting "FACT."

It claimed that if the Powerball monies of 1.3 billion were divided among the 300 million Americans that we would each receive some phenomenal amount of money each.

Do the math: $1,300,000,000 / 300,000,000 = $4.3 (four dollars). When you consider how much comes off the top for taxes you are left with a small fraction of even this. I think I heard something about a lump sum check of 880,000,000 which divided similarly is $2.93 (almost three dollars) before taxes.

Just putting something into print and getting people to regurgitate or re-post it does not make it true.

Where is your help and your hope?

Psalm 146 (NASB95)
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever;
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free.

8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous;
9 The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, but He thwarts the way of the wicked.
10 The LORD will reign forever, Your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the LORD!