Equipped (2)

The Difference Between winning and Losing – Being Equipped

We watched Jessica’s sister, Joan, compete in an amateur MMA fight last weekend. Joan won the fight in the 2nd round with a knock-out, a TKO. The ref called the fight just minutes into the 2nd round.

Joan started training just a few years ago. Her style of MMA is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a grappling and wrestling style of fighting. The other fighter was a kick boxer. From the very beginning of the fight, we could see that Joan was trying to get in close on her opponent. Joan was aggressive and shot in pretty quickly.

In the 1st round Joan ended up in a headlock for over a minute. Those are dangerous because these fighters are trained to compress the carotid artery so the opponent will pass out. As that minute passed slowly, we could see that Joan was slowly working her way out of the hold. As the round ended, she finally broke the hold and put the other girl on her back.

Round 2 didn’t take long. The other fighter was obviously winded. Joan looked strong and in command. Joan quickly got her to the mat. Systematically Joan moved through a series of maneuvers to get into a hold called ‘The Crucifix’. It is exactly like what it sounds. Once the hold is achieved, the opponent is unable to move, and Joan began to work away on her. Moments later the ref called the match!

This victory didn’t happen automatically or by chance. Joan had always been an athlete and in the last few years had managed her own fitness program. She kept herself in shape. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the most recent addition to her skills. Thousands of hours had been spent on the mat preparing for fights like the one last weekend. Thousands of repetitions of movements and conditioning had gone into her training.

Joan was equipped for the match and Joan won! It is likely that Joan will be making the leap into professional fighting by the end of the year.

Getting Spiritually Equipped

At Eagles Summit Ranch in Junction, TX Matt Roever and his father created a MMA gym dedicated to Chris Kyle but created to help veterans recover physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In the middle of the gym is a mat for training. Surrounding the mat are stationary bikes, free weights, weight machines, rowing machines, treadmills, and more. They have all the tools necessary to develop the veteran in skills, stamina, and strength.

Just as an athlete prepares to compete, believers ought to take very seriously their spiritual growth and maturity. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he lists the tools that Jesus Christ Himself provided for the believer to be built up.

Ephesians 4:11–16 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until 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. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

This passage is generally referred to as the 5-fold ministry, but it reveals more than that. It reveals the expectation for every Christian. Every Christian is designed to be of service, to be healthy, to be mature, and to be reflections of Jesus Himself.

A Healthy Body

Cindy and I watched the movie American Underdog. It is the story of the Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt warner and how he goes from stocking shelves at a local grocery story to becoming a two-time MVP of the NFL. One of the things that the movie illustrates is the importance of coaching. Kurt was talented, no doubt about it but his coaches in college, the arena football league, and, eventually, the NFL, would make him better. He just had to trust them and follow their advice.

Christ has provided us with coaches, or specialists, to equip us. “These specially gifted people (4:11) were given to the church for one ultimate goal: to equip the saints. The word for “equip” means to make right, like the setting of a broken bone, or to bring to completion by training or restoring.”[1]

Specialists

Apostles

The apostolic ministry had three distinct features. First, the apostles were commissioned by the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 1:2) and were first-hand witnesses to the teachings and resurrection of Jesus. Second, the apostles had the unique role of establishing the Church and producing Scripture. This role could not be duplicated after their death, since it was limited to those who had heard Jesus or were able to talk to those who had heard Jesus.7 The third feature, however, is an apostolic ministry (not office) of signs and wonders applicable to all ages (2 Cor. 12:12). This ministry was involved in the planting of churches. That apostolic function is similar to the task of the pioneer missionary today (2 Cor. 10:16). Paul’s journeys supply a vivid and practical pattern for our missionary enterprise.[2]

Prophets

Prophets were those in the Apostolic Church who had a special ministry of inspired utterance. While the apostles and evangelists took the gospel to the unregenerate world, the prophets exercised an edifying ministry to the various churches. For example, “Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers” (Acts 15:32). Their messages, however, were not to be taken as infallible, but were to be judged, or evaluated, by the other members of the local church (1 Cor. 14:29–33; 1 John 4:1).[3]

Evangelists

The ministry of evangelist in a very real sense overlapped the ministries of apostles and pastors in the New Testament. The function of the evangelist was to be the first to bring the gospel to those who had not yet been heard. In this pioneer sense the function of the evangelist seemed to overlap that of the apostle, who also served in new territory, at the edge of the already evangelized field. The pastor in the New Testament was also exhorted to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). The term was also applied to a layman in the church, the deacon Philip, who exercised the ministry of evangelism and was called “Philip the evangelist” (Acts 21:8). His preaching of the good news was accompanied by miracles, healings, and deliverance from demons. Many in his audiences were saved, baptized in water, and filled with joy (Acts 8:6–8).[4]

Pastors

“Pastors” could also be translated “shepherds” (Gk. poimenas). Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd who gathers the flock, cares for them, knows them, rescues them when they stray, and lays down His life for them (John 10:2–16). He remains the Chief Shepherd (Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 5:4). Pastors are undershepherds, having the ministry and responsibility of caring for and protecting God’s flock as well as being worthy of their imitation (1 Pet. 5:2–3).[5]

Teachers

Teachers were given a special ability to explain and interpret the truth of God’s revelation (Matt. 28:19–20; Eph. 4:11; 2 John 10). Some were itinerant, going from church to church. However, Ephesians 4:11 seems to connect pastor and teacher as a twofold ministry. The shepherd needed to feed the flock. The very word “shepherd” in the Old Testament (Heb. ro‘eh) is an active participle meaning, literally, “one who feeds.”[6]

The 5 ministries are gifts that are given to the body of Christ. But, let us not forget that each of you are a part of the priesthood of the believers. Each of us have access to the Lord and have a responsibility to spread the Gospel, walk in maturity, and be fully equipped. The 5-fold ministry is in addition to that.

United in Faith and the Knowledge of the Son of God

Ephesians 4:13 (NIV)

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God ...

Unity needs to be both attained and maintained. “While unity of the Spirit must be maintained (4:3), unity in our faith must be attained. The “unity of faith” means a unity of belief in Christ himself, and this belief relates intrinsically to our knowledge of him. The goal includes making a united effort to live out and proclaim this faith.”[7]

According to Barna Group community studies

90% of Americans described themselves as Christian in 1970. By around 2009, 77% did. In 2019, 65% of Americans described themselves as Christians. This was 12 points lower than the previous decade. Christianity is currently in decline in the US.

43% of our community are unchurched.

Only 38% of our community are actively in church.

34% are ‘dechurched’ (formerly either very, somewhat, or minimally active churchgoers)

These statistics suggest that we have a long way to go in presenting Christ in our communities. It also suggests that many dechurched people are not following Biblical instruction. We need all the tools that the Lord has provided for us to be able to reach the lost and to train Christ’s followers. The harvest fields are ready!

Mature

Ephesians 4:13 (NIV)

...and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Paul describes the body of Christ as similar to a human body. Christ is the head, of course. The body should be growing stronger and more mature. Paul provides his answer in verses 14 and 15.

Ephesians 4:14–15 NIV

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

I like what one Bible teacher explains:

It grows by truth and love. To allow ourselves to be hurled hither and thither by the fierce blasts of false teaching is to condemn ourselves and the church to perpetual immaturity (verse 14). Instead, what we need is ‘the truth’, provided we speak it ‘in love’ (verse 15). For it is ‘in love’ that the church grows and builds itself up (verse 16). What Paul calls for is a balanced combination of the two. ‘Speaking the truth in love’ is not the best rendering of his expression, for the Greek verb makes no reference to our speech. Literally, it means, ‘truthing (alētheuontes) in love’, and includes the notions of ‘maintaining’, ‘living’ and ‘doing’ the truth. Thank God there are those in the contemporary church who are determined at all costs to defend and uphold God’s revealed truth. But sometimes they are conspicuously lacking in love. When they think they smell heresy, their nose begins to twitch, their muscles ripple, and the light of battle enters their eye. They seem to enjoy nothing more than a fight. Others make the opposite mistake. They are determined at all costs to maintain and exhibit brotherly love, but in order to do so are prepared even to sacrifice the central truths of revelation. Both these tendencies are unbalanced and unbiblical. Truth becomes hard if it is not softened by love; love becomes soft if it is not strengthened by truth.[8]

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail

In Joan’s preparation for the fight she prepared defensively and offensively. Her trainers put her in the worst situations possible and taught her how to get out of them. And, in the fight she found herself in a choke in the 1st round. But she had been equipped with knowledge of how to get out of that hold and she did. She also focused on the offensive move of ‘The Crucifix’ and, again, in the 2nd round she found a way to put her opponent in the hold. She had intentionally equipped herself and used the experience of skilled trainers to be ready.

It is funny (odd) that we will take time to train for athletics, skills, and academics but often take no time to consider what we are doing spiritually. Let me give you some exercises:

Use the Bible to understand the difference between right and wrong. Then choose what is right.

Defend against false teaching by creating a resource of solid Bible teachers

Ephesians 4:14 NIV

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

3. Serve the church and community

4. Develop your own prayer time and study of the Bible.

5. As a parent, be intentional with training

6. Get involved in community groups, men’s ministry, and women’s ministry.

These meetings are designed to build you up and targets specific muscle groups (ie. men and women issues).

7. Become a part of the Great Commission – Speak up, pray, and give.

8. Model Christ in your family, work place, and in your neighborhoods.

9. Stay hungry and humble!

You may be here or at home listening to this message and saying to yourself, “But Pastor, you don’t realize how much I have on my plate!” I sympathize but I warn you, “You can’t put it off any longer.”

Not long after moving to the Chicago area to serve as teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, John Ortberg called a friend to ask for spiritual direction.

“I described the pace of life in my current ministry,” Ortberg writes. “The church where I serve tends to move at a fast clip. I also told him about our rhythms of family life: we are in the van-driving, soccer-league, piano-lesson, school-orientation-night years. I told him about the present condition of my heart, as best I could discern it. What did I need to do, I asked him, to be spiritually healthy?”

After a long pause, the friend said, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

“OK, I’ve written that one down,” I told him, a little impatiently. “That’s a good one. Now, what else is there?” Ortberg had many things to do, and this was a long-distance call, so he was anxious to cram as many units of spiritual wisdom into the least amount of time possible.

There was another long pause.

“There is nothing else,” the friend said. “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

Ortberg eventually got it. “I have concluded that my life and the well-being of the people I serve depends on following his prescription, for hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day,” he said. “Hurry destroys souls.”

—John Ortberg, “Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry,” LeadershipJournal.net(July 4, 2002)[9]

Or, “I like it. I’ll let you know when I can get to it!” we don’t have an option. We are commanded to be equipped.

People, like Joan, choose to be MMA fighters. Christians don’t get to choose to be in a fight. You are in a fight. But we have the opportunity to be equipped. Don’t neglect it!

[1]Bruce B. Barton and Philip Wesley Comfort, Ephesians, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996), 83. [2]Menzies, W. W. (1993). Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. (S. M. Horton, Ed.) (p. 177). Springfield, MO: Logion Press. [3]Menzies, W. W. (1993). Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. (S. M. Horton, Ed.) (pp. 177–178). Springfield, MO: Logion Press. [4]Menzies, W. W. (1993). Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. (S. M. Horton, Ed.) (p. 178). Springfield, MO: Logion Press. [5]Menzies, W. W. (1993). Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. (S. M. Horton, Ed.) (p. 178). Springfield, MO: Logion Press. [6]Menzies, W. W. (1993). Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. (S. M. Horton, Ed.) (p. 178). Springfield, MO: Logion Press. [7]Bruce B. Barton and Philip Wesley Comfort, Ephesians, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996), 84. [8] John R. W. Stott, God’s New Society: The Message of Ephesians, The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979), 171–172. [9]Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 397.