Ephesians 4:11-16 - "To a Perfect Man"

Before I get into these verses, let me just mention that I'll be going toIndia from January the 15th through the 25th 2026, with a team fromGlobal Partners in Peace and Development. First, I'm asking for your prayersfor our team and myself as we go on this trip to India. We're going to be ableto do so many different things such as meet and speak to pastors, participatein dedicating a number of freshwater wells, and distribute gifts given through theGPPD gift catalog to the widows and Indian children. Also we'll be providinganimals for different folks to help provide food for them. We will be able toimpact and bless many precious Indian people and influence them for Christ. So pleasepray, pray, for safety and strength for this trip.  Alsosecondly, if you would like to financially help me cover the expenses for thetrip and with taking some gifts and money to give to pastors, simply donate itto “Mission Travel Support” through the PayPal donate button on our website: https://www.pmiministries.org/  Or you can send a gift to the address listed onour website where I have my office. Thank you in advance for your prayers andsupport. We're so blessed to have friends like you who've supported us over theyears and have helped us continue to do this wonderful ministry. Now,back to Ephesians 4:11-16. I want to share something that I noticed yesterdayin my devotional time, that I believe will speak to your heart, too.  Remember the Apostle Paul in this chapter has alreadytalked about the grace of unity, the ground of unity, and the gifts of unity, inverses 1-11. Now he's talking about the growth of unity (vv. 11-16).  When we have true spiritual growth in ourpersonal and individual lives, we will also experience growth in our churches. Paultells us that the offices and gifts of the apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors,and the teachers are given to the church for the perfecting of the saint forthe saint to grow to spiritual maturity. He describes this as, “To a perfectman”, (or “woman”). Yesterdayin my devotion time, while reading a devotion by Oswald Chambers, he spoke ofwhat it means to “be perfect”.  Thinkingabout it, I remembered back in Matthew 5:48, Jesus had said in His Sermon onthe Mount, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father inheaven is perfect." Then in Matthew 19, a rich young ruler came toJesus asking, "What can I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answeredand told him, "If you would be perfect…." Now, what does itmean to be perfect?  OswaldChambers tells us, "Beware of mental quibbling over the word ‘perfect’. Perfectiondoes not mean the full maturity and consummation of a man's power. But perfectfitness for doing the will of God (Philippians 3:12-15). Supposing Jesus Christcan perfectly adjust me to God, to put me so perfectly right that I shall be onthe footing where I can do the will of God, do I really want Him to do it? Do Iwant God at all cost to make me perfect?” (From his book, “It Thou Wilt bePerfect”, page 116) Thequestion for you and me today is, do I really want to be the person that'sspiritually mature to the place where I will be willing to yield my life sofully to God so that I’m always “about my Father’s business”. Am I doingthe will of God right now? The first characteristic of spiritual maturity is “Christlikeness”. Godbless!