Embracing the Five-Fold Ministry: Unlocking Personal Benefits of Serving God - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) February 20, 2024

Ephesians 4:11-13 - So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

This has been our anchor scripture the last 2 times we gathered and it continues to guide us today. We have discussed the need to step into our positions as administrators of God's kingdom here on earth. We now know that doing enables each member of the Body of Christ to help their individuals and the entire group of believers to grow in spiritual maturity. As everyone in the Body grows, God also provides blessings to those who accept the responsibility of their Kingdom Position.

Keep in mind that those who step into their role become servants of the Lord whom He uses to fulfill His purpose on the earth. The Bible is full of additional benefits and promises for such individuals. According to Psalm 35:27, God is concerned and takes delight in the prosperity and well-being of His servants. This is why the Lord ensured that Isaac reaped a hundredfold of what he planted after he obeyed the instruction to not leave for the greener pastures of Egypt when a famine struck the land in which he lived (Genesis 26:12). Unfortunately, all around him, others suffered because they did not His God. He, on the other hand, enjoyed wealth and power.

​God's commitment in 1 Samuel 2:9 is that He will guard the feet of His faithful servants. They will not experience the sudden disaster that comes upon the wicked (Proverbs 3:25). This was the case for Prophet Jeremiah, who having served God even in the face of ridicule, was not carried off to Babylon as a prisoner when Nebuchadnezzar's army conquered his people. Instead, he was given the privilege and respect of a dignitary who could choose whatever he wanted to do and wherever he wanted to go (Jeremiah 40). Even Jeremiah's scribe, Baruch, received a heavenly promise that his life would be protected (Jeremiah 45:5).

Paul repeatedly experienced the blessings that stemmed from serving God. On multiple occasions, his opponents tried to kill him but couldn't succeed before the time the Lord had appointed for him to pass on. Some conspired to kill him in Damascus, but he was lowered through the city's wall in a basket before they could find him (Acts 9). A plot in Jerusalem was foiled when his nephew learned of it (Acts 23). A poisonous snake bit him on the island of Malta, but instead of dying, he was miraculously healed. The people came to believe in God and Paul healed several sick people. It is no wonder that Paul could write, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (2 Timothy 4:18). He could speak that way because he'd experienced the power and protection of the Almighty.

This is not to say that God's servants will not face trials and tribulations. However, the Lord will inform His servants before they experience the obstacles that typically come upon those who have committed to serve Him. Amos 3:7 - Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. This is why Jesus knew what His end would be. Even Paul was told by the Lord how and when he would die. Such advance information is not shared with those who are not God's servants and in fact, the receipt of such knowledge changes an individual's standing. Jesus acknowledged that because He'd shared what He knew with his disciples, He could no longer call them servants. Instead, He had to call them friends (John 15:15). Another person who was called "a friend of God" was Abraham (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). He too received advanced notice of things that were to come as was the case when the Lord revealed the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah to him (Genesis 18).

Being a faithful and genuine servant, though not always comfortable, comes with several perks. They are worth the price because God is faithful and will always get His servants through every challenge that they face. I pray you will take seriously the need to discover your calling and live it for God's glory. This way both the Body of Christ, other believers, and yourself are edified and strengthened to achieve the Lord's purposes here on earth. God bless you.

To learn more, please read the following related posts:

1. Exploring the Role of the Five-Fold Ministry in the Christian Faith: How Do You Fit In? (The Five-fold Ministry 1)

2. Unveiling the Crucial Role of the Five-Fold Ministry: How Do You Contribute to the Body of Christ (The Five-fold Ministry 2)

3. Embracing the Five-Fold Ministry: Unlocking Personal Benefits of Serving God (The Five-fold Ministry 3)

Unveiling the Crucial Role of the Five-Fold Ministry: How Do You Contribute to the Body of Christ - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) February 16, 2024

On Tuesday, we learned that the Lord has a structure He uses to administer His kingdom purposes here on earth. We looked at Ephesians 4:11-13 which revealed a five-fold ministry that includes apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Then we prayed for God's revelation about which ministry He wants to plant us in.

Today, we continue with this topic but focus on why being planted in our Kingdom position is crucial.

Ephesians 4:11-13 - So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

These verses reveal the objective of the five-fold ministry. Individuals must work within their designated capacity to prepare all believers to serve the Lord. This way, the entire body of believers will grow in their faith in Christ and in their knowledge of Him to become mature Christians.

Therefore, God's kingdom structure builds up individual Christians and the entire body of Christ. As a result, we each have a responsibility to step into our positions so the Lord can use us to strengthen others and thereby strengthen the greater group of believers on earth.

Ephesians 4:14 explains how dire it is for us to be part of that kingdom structure. Ephesians 4:14 - Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Think of the Body of Christ today, is it not being tossed about via deceptive teaching from wicked people who claim to be servants of God? Despite God's clear word, lies and deception are widely tolerated. It is the same with adultery, divination (palm readers, horoscopes), the blending of false religions into the faith (yoga, New Age practices), and xesual immorality (fornication, homosexuality). False pastors are bringing and allowing the world to dilute God's words, leading their flock astray.

If we want to protect ourselves from such individuals we must step into our rightful positions in God's plan. We can't be satisfied with thinking 'Well, I'm not under deceptive teaching.' Our faith requires that we love our neighbors and be responsible for them the way Christ loves and is responsible for us. There's no room to be selfish in our thinking because we are called to contribute to the spiritual liberty of others and the body of Christ as a whole.

Did the Lord reveal your role in His kingdom business? Have you started praying and warring for your position? You need to, because your calling will enable you to honor God with your life and enjoy the benefits of service. We'll talk a bit more about those benefits next week. For now, ponder on today's post and prepare for fellowship at Noon EST. God bless you.

Exploring the Role of the Five-Fold Ministry in the Christian Faith: How Do You Fit In? - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) February 13, 2024

The administrative work of every government is carried out by ministries which are staffed to the brim with individuals. For instance, we have the Department of Education in the United States. This ministry's objective is to ensure that Americans receive an education that meets certain outlined metrics.

The Kingdom of God on earth is no different in that it also has ministries. These were established by Jesus Christ to ensure the sound administration of God's work. Ephesians 4:11-13 provides even more details, saying, So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Apostles travel from place to place planting churches and organizing them. Because of the Spirit of the Lord in believers, almost anyone can prophesy and should seek this gift according to 1 Corinthians 14:1. However, some people are singled out by the Lord to hold the office of prophet and these ones receive God's word about what is to come to steer His people aright. God uses evangelists to speak to non-believers, sharing the good news of Christ and the grace provided through His sacrifice. Pastors act as shepherds who feed and water God's flock so they grow in Christ with sound scriptural knowledge. And, last but never least, are the teachers who receive deep insights about God's word and share them with His people so believers learn and are strengthened spiritually.

​This is the five-fold ministry God has established for the edification of His people and the expansion of His kingdom on earth. This structure took the early church from a small group to what is now known as the Body of Christ today. It played a significant role in why you are reading this message today and will continue to impact the lives of people until God establishes His New Earth and New Heaven (2 Peter 3:13).

And the question we each must answer is this - do you know which one of these ministries you belong to? We each need to figure out where we fit into the administration of God's kingdom on earth. Has God called you to share the story of Christ with those who have either never heard it or who turned away from the good news? Has God called you to the office of prophet, giving you words of wisdom and knowledge about a person or situation's past and future? Do you have a special grace to hold the hand of your fellow believer and speak God's word over them in their good and bad times? Or are you the one who receives God's deep insight into His word and shares it with your loved ones?

If you believe in Christ and are allowing Him to guide your life (no matter how difficult that might seem), then you need to ask God how to play a role in His kingdom while you walk the earth. No position is too small, and indeed, starting small is one way God does things with His servants. Remember the story of Phillip in Holy Spirit is the Secret Sauce? He started as a food server at the church in Jerusalem, then he became an evangelist whom God miraculously transported from one location to another (Acts 8:39). Further readings of the New Testament reveal he continued to rise in God's Kingdom, becoming a well-respected man of God who was blessed with four daughters who also prophesied (Acts 21:8-9). Philip kept walking with God, and the Lord continued to advance Him from one position to another.

Every believer has a role to play and needs to know what ministry they belong to. This is how the Lord has determined that His people will grow from one level to another, glorifying Him and doing His works here on the earth. Therefore, if you don't know where you fit in, be sure to come back for fellowship as we will worship and intercede before praying during the last 10 minutes for the Lord's light so we learn how we are to best serve Him. And if you know already, praise the Lord! Be sure to return anyway so we can pray for those who need to know their calling.

God bless you.