Equipping The Saints For The Work Of The Ministry Part 4 / #26

Summary: Being equipped for the work of the ministry is something that the whole body of Christ should be concerned for, not just a few pastors, elders or deacons, which is something that the Bible Belt promotes. All Christians ought to be matured and prepared to seize the opportunity to encourage, pray for, or stand with people who come to you, reaching out for help.   Show Notes:     • The main function of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers is to equip the rank and file of the whole body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.   The church is never going to be the church until we embrace this truth.     • If a church is limiting itself to a few elders/deacons and or a pastor to do all the ministry, that church is crippled and will likely go no where.  This practice promotes a culture for most of the people to not grow or move in God.     • Most people have a real fear of getting up in front of a group, but we aren’t necessarily talking about that kind of ministry.   It’s basically doing the works of Jesus out in public, wherever opportunities arise.     • When people come to you with a problem and want to talk, if we aren’t careful, we will miss a real opportunity to encourage or pray with them.  It’s easy for these opportunities to slip by if we aren’t thinking about it.     • When someone opens up to you to share their problem with you, first off, he or she has a level of trust in you; second, they are really asking for help, and third, that’s the open door to encourage them and even pray with them over that problem.     • Disappointments that come because you didn’t take the opportunity to encourage or pray with someone can end up being a huge learning experience, and it tends to prepare you for the next opportunity.     Quotes: Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry is one of those things that has either been ignored or overlooked in modern Christianity in the Bible Belt, for the most part, because in the Bible Belt, they expect the pastor to do everything. All you have to do to have a kingdom business is to make it about the people rather than about the money. We don’t try to push the door down. I don’t see Jesus doing it. We don’t do it either. But if the Lord opens the door, step through that door.   References: Ephesians 4:11-12   Takeaways: It’s so easy for most Christians, because of fear, intimidation, or lack of training, to back off and think that those kinds of things are supposed to be limited to just a few. That’s not true at all. Being willing and prepared to love, encourage and pray for those in need is something that ought to be at the forefront in every Christian’s thinking.