Open The Word | Fungua Neno

⏱️ 3 minutes.

Greetings beloved of God,

Today let’s look at what’s expected of us as believers when relating to the rest of the body of Christ:

And He Himself gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ

Ephesians 4:11-12

Paul, in explaining the foundation of the church, says He (meaning Jesus Christ) gave to the church various offices, namely apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers. These offices were crucial in the founding of the church.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,

Ephesians 2:19-20

It was by design that some people in the church would rise up to occupy these offices, and Christ Himself would be the cornerstone on which the whole church would be built.

Looking through the book of Acts, we see how God used these men in mighty ways to bring about the founding of the church and the spreading of the gospel.

While there’s a lot to be said about the individual tasks and roles of the aforementioned offices, I would like to draw our attention towards verse 12:

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ,

Ephesians 4:12

This verse highlights the purpose of the various offices. They are meant to equip the believers to take part in the building up of the church. This is where our exhortation comes in. It is clear that God will raise up people to lead. Today we have pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and so forth. However, it’s more common to question what these ministers are doing in their roles.

While it is true that such ministers are to be held to a higher standard, and scripture tells us they will be judged more strictly:

Do not, many of you, become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.

James 3:1

However, it is important to remember that as believers, we’re not just meant to come to church and warm the pews. While verse 11 focuses on the offices given to the church, verse 12 takes time to express what the response of the church ought to look like.

Paul says the reason for these offices being given to the church is so that the church can be equipped to build up the body of Christ.

The implication here is that after sitting under the teaching of these leaders such as pastors, missionaries, and evangelists, the believer is expected to be equipped in order to go out and serve the body. This service to the body may include discipling other believers, sharing the gospel, and supporting the body through different means with respect to their giftings.

Here is my challenge to us:

• Do we acknowledge the authority of those who have been appointed to lead us?
• Do we faithfully sit under the teaching of those who shepherd us and equip us?
• Do we faithfully apply that which we have been equipped with in the field, that is, in our homes, our workplaces, and the marketplace?

I pray this word encourages you to go and use what you have been equipped with to build up the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your brother in Christ, Paul.