SUNDAY June 13, 2021

The Equipping of the Saints

...and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...
Ephesians 4:11-13

The pastor/teacher is called to feed the flock of God. They are to be shepherds: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).

What a great responsibility these men of God have in loving and taking care of people! As they diligently teach the Word of God, believers will grow in Christ. Once they mature, God will develop their spiritual gifts and will use their lives tremendously. Pastor/teachers also need to guard the truth of God. Paul exhorted Timothy, a young minister, to be faithful in his call to ministry:

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

Teaching was the principle goal in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). The reinforcement of teaching doctrine was among the four essentials of the early church (Acts 2:42). Paul taught the Word of God from house to house (Acts 20:20). Teaching is important because we need to pass on the message of the Gospel to the next generation. Our young people need to know Christ. Teaching will equip them for the work of the ministry. Then they can discover their spiritual gifts!

Now what is food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God; and here again, not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water passes through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering it over and applying it to our hearts.
~George Muller~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!