Equip Believers // Rod Plummer

God wants to equip you so you can live out the great plans He has for your life. This week, Pastor Rod teaches us how God equips us in three powerful ways so we can become strong in Him. ------------------------- EQUIP BELIEVERS HONOR GOD EQUIP BELIEVERS SHARE GOOD NEWS Ephesians 4:11-14 NIV Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. (12) Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. (13) This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. (14) Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Ephesians 4:15-16 NIV Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. (16) He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Matthew 4:21 NIV Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them… Matthew 16:17-18 NIV Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon (hears from God) son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (18) And I tell you that you are Peter, (petros - rock) and on this rock (petra - huge rock) I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. WE ARE CHANGED IN JESUS' PRESENCE Acts 4:13 NIV When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. HE HEALS THE BROKENHEARTED Luke 4:18 NKJV The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted. WE ARE EQUIPPED WITH EVERY SUPERNATURAL WORD FROM GOD Matthew 4:4 NIV Jesus answered, “It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” 1 Timothy 1:18 ERV Timothy, you are like a son to me. What I am telling you to do agrees with the prophecies that were told about you in the past. I want you to remember those prophecies and fight the good fight of faith. Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, (21).equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ------------------------- CONNECT GROUP QUESTIONS: What does it mean to “equip believers” according? (Ephesians 4:11–14) How can believers grow to be more like Christ as described? (Ephesians 4:15–16) Why did Jesus call ordinary people like Peter and John to follow Him? How does Jesus heal the brokenhearted as written? (Luke 4:18) What does it mean to live by every word that comes from God instead of just by “bread alone”? ------------------------- Connect with us: Web: mylifehouse.com Instagram: instagram.com/lifehouseglobal/ Facebook: facebook.com/lifehouseglobal Other Podcasts: Want to listen to our messages in other languages? Lifehouse Japan (Japanese & English): https://lifehousejapan.captivate.fm/listen Lifehouse Hong Kong (Cantonese & English): https://lifehousehongkong.captivate.fm/listen