4 "E"ssentials: Equip

Why This Series?

I Want To Be Very Careful

It is an honor to have the privilege to pastor some of the greatest Christians I’ve ever met. We all need a little tweaking from time to time but that’s true of everyone.So this series is not a reprimand, it is an encouragement. It’s an exploration where we get to look at what we are doing currently and what we are experiencing, and line it up with what God’s word tells us.

The 4 “e”s

Quickly, a good church...

EXALTS - that is we lift up and praise the Lord at all times.

ENCOURAGES - that is we lift up and give courage to one another “as long as it is called TODAY” so that none of us stumble and fall.

EQUIPS - that is we must get the tools necessary to do the ministry that God has called us to.

EVANGELIZES - that is we reach out to the world that He so wisely put us in so that we can be a part of His plan to rescue them.

Let’s put that that together..

A good church will emphasize the exalting of the Lord, encouraging of one another, the equipping of the saints, and the evangelizing of the community they are in and by extension the world around them.

A member of that church will find opportunity to exalt the Lord, be free to encourage those around them, have opportunity to be equipped in the works of service for the Lord, and be given opportunities to evangelize the circles that God wisely placed them in.

A member of that church will exalt the Lord, encourage the people around them, seek to be equip and help equip the other members so that we can be prepared for works of service, and evangelize the circles he wisely put us in.

Today I want to discuss the third of the four “E”’s: Equipped

Intro

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Huffington Post wrote an article titled “3 Unexpected Ways to Find Your Life’s Purpose.” In a nut shell they were.

Get More Action - You can’t think yourself into finding your life’s purpose. You have to do your way into it.

Drop from your head to your heart - do what you love, and the rest will sort itself out.

Break up with the “ONE” - often we find ourselves attached to that one thing we are supposed to be doing. Realize that there are many things in this world that will bring you fulfillment.

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There is a good chance you are a Christian who wants to find what God’s will is for your life? What does God want me to do? How do I do the thing He is calling me to do? How do I be the best Christian I can be?How do I fulfill the plans He has for me () How do I “press on towards the mark of the high calling”

If I don’t know what I am called to do and more importantly, if I know what I am called to do how can I be the best I can be at it?Well, that is why we are here today. Maybe your an unbeliever that’s thinking you might want to believe. Maybe you are here because you want to be trained and this is the first step. Whatever the reason...

I want to give you a brief description of why we (you and me) are here on this planet and how to be all the God created us to be.

​English Standard Version Chapter 411 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Let’s Start with the Context

The main theme of the Letter to the Ephesians is Unity amongsts the believers

Ephesians 4:3–6 ESV

eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:3–5 ESV

eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

ep

Eph 4:3-5

But vs 7 takes a small turn to speak to the individuals that would have read or heard the letter. We read:

Ephesians 4:7–11 ESV

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

=11

Quickly to describe the point of the ascending and descending and filling, I would say to you, “the idea here is that Christ is the ultimate authority. He reigns in Heaven, and defeated Hell, as as says:

Matthew 28:18 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

This Christ desires us to have unity, and to accomplish that He give each of us gifts (plural) to accomplish that task.

Five-fold ministry?

apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers.

There has been a tremendous amount of work done to define these offices. One of my favorites defines the lines as such:

The apostle governs.

The prophet guides.

The evangelist gathers.

The shepherd (pastor) protects.

The teacher grounds.

The problem though is that if you look at the job descriptions associated with these titles through the Bible the lines blur. There are numerous “tests” online that you can find to help put you in your box, but I want to say to you, “That is not the point of this passage.” In fact, if you take those tests over and over again, it will often change depending on your moods and whims.

Why is this important? Well if we spent to much time trying to define the lines we might never get to the main point. Or worse, we might never feel qualified to the work that God has called us to because we are waiting for the title that goes along with it. I want to tell you that you already have the title - and that title is “called,” and that title belongs to every Christian. Those callings and practices are going to be different to different people. I like to see this line not as a list that puts as set of parameters that we need to fit in, but they are just examples of the fact that there are many gifting that are going to operate differently in different people. And one of the most amazing things about being a Christian is that God is somehow able to take all of our individual talents and gifting and mold them into a body - His Church.

​ ESVThere is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:4–6 ESV

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

What is the point?

The fact of the matter is that each of us have may different gifts, and while five titles are listed here, and you might not have one of those titles, you are Christian, you therefore have the most important title — called.

gifts, and while five titles are listed here, and you might not have one of those titles, you are Christian, you therefore have the most important title — called.

Eph 4:7-8

Ephesians 4:7–8 ESV

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

We all have been given gifts as Christ has seen fit to gift us. Throughout our lives those gifts may actually change or improve. And whatever those gifts are, they were given for His same purposes.

To Equip

Ephesians 4:12–13 ESV

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

​ ESVto equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Katartismon - fit together, repair, adjust, In non-biblical writings the word is most often used in the building of a ship. The skilled builder would take a rough piece of lumber and shape it according the the gifts of the wood.In the same way we are tasked to equip one another. We will find that as we grow:He fits us together in perfect ways. He repairs and adjusts us so that we can be exactly what he created us to be.We find our real purpose.

RAPID FIRE GOALS

Unity

unity of the faithunity in the knowledge of the Son of God

Maturity

Maturity

Goal - fullness of Christ

No longer children - tossed around by every wind of doctrine

not deceived by human cunning, craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Led By Love

Speaking the truth in love.

WE grow in every way into the head - Christ

WE as a body is equipped

as WE work properly,

WE grow properly

Conc.

I want to say that as a pastor my goal is to equip the body of Christ - here especially but to those seeking to be equipped.

What we are doing here today is just the beginning. Our hope is that we can help each other grow so that we can be equipped to His good works. You are on a journey with us to do a few things as I will describe.

But I can’t do it alone. This church - and everyone who is part of it - needs to be concerned about the equipping of the saints.

In addition to that as a body of individuals, we need to be seeking Him to help us determine our gifts and to be equipped.

To assist the church in building up and equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.

Right tool for the right job…chess table

Vision

And so as in all things we pray....

To provide a place and develop effective strategies so that anyone who desires to pursue the Lord’s plan for their life can find a place to acquire effective training and practical application for the works of ministry.To provide a help for churches that desire to equip their members for the works of the Lord.

Strategy

We are going to use a head, heart, hands approach to the equipping.This will be a team effort..HEAD - Lessons will be provided it will be up to you to take them. Studying the word is essential.HEART - Your life (and ours) will be examined - not judged. Opportunity to live and demonstrate a Godly life with evidence of the fruit of the Holy Spirit will be assumed (just like you should expect it from my life). This is more than a simple abstaining from sin, it is a lifestyle with habits that produces growth in the body of Christ.HANDS - Opportunity to minister will be given and supported in two ways.You will pray and ask for God’s leading - We will support you in those things God has called you to do, understanding that we are all being equipped and fit togetherWe will pray and ask for God’s leading - you will support us in those endeavors God has called us to do, understanding that we are all being equipped and fit together.We ask that you find a mentor(s). A mature Christian friend to walk with you on your journey to maturity. This is true of everyone, but a requirement for those seeking to be officially recognized as a minister of the Lord.

Those Responsible for Your Growth

The Holy SpiritBut the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (, ESV)YouTherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ()Mentors and InstructorsBut as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. (, ESV)