The Purpose of Ministry

Introduction

Have we ever considered why God gives us what He gives us. Questions often arise. Why did He give us Jesus? Why did He give us the church? Why did He give us apostles, teachers, pastors, and prophets. Before we get to the why it’s imperative that we understand that we should be thankful for the people God has blessed us with to equip us accordingly. The prophets were gifts from God. The apostles were gifts from God. Pastors, evangelists, teachers are gifts from God. For starters understand that everyone is not tasked with these responsibilities. Furthermore they are an integral part of edification and equipping.

Within the gift that they are, understand that there is a responsibility of stewardship concerning any gift that God has blessed us with. I’m certain that our ability to devote to the development and the growth of each other will sustain our ministerial efforts for a very long time. It’s evident that churches, ministries go through a number of ebbs and flows. Before we understand the gift of these positions it’s imperative that we understand that the gift that Jesus Christ is.

This pericope begins with Ephesians 4:7–10 “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)”

The playing field is level. Unity should prompt us to understand that above the various positions of leadership within Christendom we’ve all been given the gift of grace as well as the gift of Jesus Christ. His ability to conquer sin and death, walk this earth like us, live and experience pain and grief like us in effort that He might die for us so that we might have an opportunity with everlasting fellowship and communion with God.

We know that in accordance with the gift that Jesus is, we also know that Jesus informs us of another gift. The gift of the comforter or the Holy Spirit.

As Acts 2:38 informs us,“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

We have no lack with God. Not only does he provide for every spiritual need we have individually, but provides for our needs collectively. God puts the people in place to ensure we are equipped and edified properly.

Given By Jesus

It’s important that we understand that the church does not create it’s own leaders. These are people put in place by God. It’s his delegation. It’s His ability to move the pieces in the right place. It’s our duty to equip and edify. Nonetheless God does the placement.

We see a similar ideology in 1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

It’s important that we make one thing clear. The person isn’t the gift, it’s the power working through the person and their ability to steward it properly is the gift. It’s not to negate the idea that people aren’t gifted. God has blessed some of us, there’s people that have the ability to sing in a way that is soul stirring and moving, there’s preachers that have a way to preach in a way that encourages you and fires you up. There’s people who teach in a way that pushes you to want to live your life in the best way you possibly can. Understand that it’s a blessing to be talented but talent isn’t the in all and be all of God’s call to equip and edify. The unity pushes us to understand that although there is diversity in our giftedness, it’s all the result of the same spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:4 “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

Titles…

It’s apparent that we get hung up on titles. Nonetheless when the title means more than the duty, we are looking at things wrong. Nonetheless Jesus has the authority to give as He pleases.

When he refers to apostles he is expressing that this is one who fulfills the role of being a special messenger of Jesus Christ. Nonetheless this title was restricted to immediate followers of Jesus Christ. They were commissioned by Jesus. The effort was similar but the relationship was different than what we experience today. Apostles were commissioned by Jesus Christ for a particular task. It makes sense to list apostles in this text considering that there were apostles still living during the time he wrote Ephesians.

The challenge with titles is we put too much emphasis on titles. Sure there is a responsibility attached to the title but the challenge happens within our community of believers when we perceive that we should receive some sort of special treatment because of a title.

Consider a prophet in this setting. Essentially defined as one who speaks on behalf of God. It seems like a special role, but to be quite honest some of the most strenuous challenges we read about in scripture are the one’s that prophets went through. Leadership can be a stressful place, but trusting in God can push us to withstand the stress and the trials that leadership can bring. Do not get caught up in titles, it’s not about the title in front of the name but the work attached to the name. Make sure your work and your title match. It’s similar to walking into a grocery store, if someone has manager listed by their name there is a certain expectation of expertise.

The expectation is such, grammatically, the one that is connected in this text is pastor and teacher. It’s an expectation that the the pastor of the pasture should have the innate ability to teach the sheep effectively. The one who is responsible for the care and guidance of the congregation should be able to teach accordingly. I need us to see the function that is expected and not necessarily whether someone has the vernacular correct.

Equip and Edify

The goal that we become sufficient to the point that we are able to function in a space of service effectively. Equipping the saints begins with building a relationship and teaching them effectively. Jesus leaves us plenty of examples of this. He did not just lead the apostles but He never missed out on an opportunity to teach them verbally or in example.

Equip or in other words to furnish completely. To ensure they lack nothing as it pertains to sharing the gospel and bringing other souls to Christ. We all have a duty to share the gospel. We all have a duty to live for Christ Jesus. Nonetheless it is the duty of those in leadership to equip you in a manner to ensure you are fully qualified.

This is why leadership training or other teaching is not exclusive to the desire. It’s exclusive to the call.

2 Timothy 3:17 “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Edification is essentially construction. The focus is building it up as a result of an event. Understand that even though God has provided space for us to equip and edify it’s imperative that we understand that we are what God has made, sometimes it’s important that we have someone around to remind us who we belong to, and what we have been built to do!

When are we Finished

It’s not time to get comfortable, as long as there are people to develop. As long as there are people who do not know the goodness of God. There is still work to do.

Till we come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man.

There’s still work to do. Unity is challenging because it’s multi-faceted in nature. It’s something established by Jesus and exist but it’s simultaneously something that must be maintained by imperfect people with preferences and a past. The only way we achieve unity is if we are all keeping our eyes on the same target which is Jesus.

As it pertains to our identity in Christ, the foundation of our faith, when we function in our giftedness for the sake of the body of Christ and operate from a space of love it leads to edification and not rivalry.

The reason why we build each other up is to direct people to a place of unity of the faith and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. What is the outcome of our service to God? It’s interesting how the giftedness of God works. I’ve seen the most decorated secular academics be gifted in helping the homeless and I’ve seen a person who didn’t graduate high school preach in a way that brings many to Christ. This diverse gifting shows that there is space for everyone within the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Edify and equip those who execute the church’s ministry.

Above all, the only title that really matters is the Son of God and no matter what position we have in the church, coming to the fullness of knowledge of Jesus Christ is the goal. The goal of anyone in teaching or preaching is to proclaim a word centering on Christ not our own ideology.

The fullness of Christ exemplifies the end of time. Therefore if the earth is still spinning on it’s axis, we still have work to do. It’s not just about reaching goals as a church, it’s a manner of perfection for us in which we aren’t fully complete until we are in eternal fellowship with God! Jesus understood the nature of completion, the job wasn’t done until the job was done!