Growing Up In Christ. Part 3

Deacon Adekunle Adenuga

The Purpose of the Ministry Gifts.

Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV
(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The ministry gifts  apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers  were given for the perfecting of the saints. The word perfecting is from the Greek word katartismos translated as complete furnishing. It means training and preparing thereby equipping. Hence, the ministry gifts were given to train and prepare the saints, thereby equipping the saints with the technical [spiritual] expertise for the work of the ministry. The saints are to do the work of the ministry. Whereas the ministry gifts were bestowed on the church to equip the saints, by way of training and preparing them for the work of the ministry. In other words, the ministry gifts are for the training and preparing of the saints as servants in the Church.

Every child of God is a saint. Every child of God is called to be a saint for service in the Church. God did not save you to become an idle man in the kingdom of God. You have been saved to occupy till He comes to take you home. To do the work of the ministry requires urgency and wisdom. We need to know how to become a wise and faithful servant. Hence, we are to be equipped through the ministry gifts, so that we become matured and spiritually fit for the work of the ministry.

Romans 12:4-5 KJV For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
(5) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bone. Ephesians 5: 30. We all have functions in the body as individual members. These functions are to one another in the body. There are many members in one body and all members have different functions. The functions of each member are to contribute its share to the overall building up of the body. A member does not make a body. Divers members make a body. God put each member in the body for the benefit of all the members. The body of Christ consists of divers members with all the members joined together in one spirit. Though, the members perform different functions, they effectively work together in the unity of the Spirit to cause growth of the body for the building of itself in love. Ephesians 4: 16.

For the perfecting {or equipping} of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying {or building up} of the body of Christ. Now, the work of the ministry is for the building up of the body of Christ. The Church is the body of Christ. The Church is a spiritual house of the Lord. She is being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2: 20, 21. Collectively and individually, we are the Church. Together we are to grow so that the whole body can be built up as the spiritual house of the Lord. Each of us, as a vital necessity must take his place and position in Christ. Acts 4: 32-33.

Ephesians 2:20-22 KJV And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
(21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord:  (22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
We are being built up and joined together to grow into a holy temple in the Lord. You are being built up and joined together into a holy temple in the Lord. The essence of the building up of the body of Christ is for us to grow into and become a holy, spiritual temple in the Lord. All believers {the members of the Church} are built up together to become a dwelling place for God through the Spirit. Until you and I are built up by growing up in Christ, we cannot become a dwelling place [spiritual habitation] for God. 1 Peter 2: 4-5.