Monday 9 January 2023

Appreciating The Different Functions In The Body

Appreciating The Different Functions In The Body

I used to think that we should all be zealous about going after power evangelism. That should be the way. We should all be out there doing it. It is the commandment from Christ anyway.

However, such zeal can prevent us from appreciating other functions in the Body.

But 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 according to the measure of Christ's gift... And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 for the work of ministry... the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Eph 4:7, 11-12, 16

The purpose of the four-fold ministerial offices (Christ's gift) is to empower the believers to work together in correct order aka to work together properly.

The word 'equip' in Greek is 'katartismos', which means 'exact adjustment to enable the individual parts to 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫'.

Because when each part of the Body (the Church) is working properly, the Body will grow (Eph 4:16).

Equipping in this case doesn't mean that "I empower you to do what I do." No, that's not this context of equipping (which isn't really a good English translation).

Equipping is "𝐈 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐝". Because everyone is assigned to different functions in the Body. Only by empowering them to do what they are supposed to do will fulfill 'each part is working properly' and causes the Body to grow.

There are so many functions in the Body, and we need to learn to appreciate their work, even if their work is drastically different from yours.

Instead of trying to impart our passion and vision to others to do what we do, try praying and asking God how He wants others to be empowered into their God-assignment and appreciate the differences.

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