We enter this world with a purpose, and as parents, we recognize the unique qualities in our children and nurture them towards professions like teaching, medicine, piloting, engineering, or any field where they can thrive. This is the same approach our eternal Father does in our life to make us as a Miracle worker.
Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV) '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. 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. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. ‘
When we are born in Christ as believers of Christ. It’s like a baby born to a parent, the baby is expected to grow as a “teacher”, “engineer” or “doctor” or some other ability. Like wise God expects us to grow into a “apostles or prophets or evangelists or pastors and teachers”
But many of main stream christians are Church goers and do not nothing for Christ. We are just a ordinary believer from the day we were born again till now. Many continue to be Babes even after they get older.
We are called into the family of Christ not only as believers, but to do service for Christ, Service for Christ happens thru Apostles, Prophets, evangelist, Pastors and teachers
Miracle worker
We are called to be workers of Christ, Its thru the Power of Christ we become a Miracle worker as Apostles, Prophets, evangelist, Pastors and teachers
Ephesians 4:11 (NIV) 'So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers
The Word says “So Christ himself gave the”
Christ did not give himself generic, he has a specific purpose - the word “the” means he gives himself unique to each of us. The pastor that he wants to create in each person is different from other pastor he creates in the same church.
The word “the” is used for each of his works the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers
Each of us vary by the Spirit of Christ - that calling is done by God according to his Omniscience character to know, what each of us are to be used for.
We have no authority to say, I want to be a evangelist or pastor or any other worker, its God’s desire to do according to his will. Each of us have been got for a purpose in this work, its to fullfill his works..
We Humans see - “Apostles, Prophets, evangelist, Pastors and teachers” with a ability of Church or ministry or theology experience, we always say that to this kind of work you have to have theological knowledge, mostly its true. But only with theology knowledge one cannot become Apostles, Prophets, evangelist, Pastors and teacher.
Jesus definition of “Apostles, Prophets, evangelist, Pastors and teachers” is quite different
God chooses the low and ordinary people to ordain people to do his job
He chose fisherman to be his disciple (Peter / James / John Luke 5:10)
He chose Cupbearer to be his prophets (Prophet Nehemiah Nehemiah 1:11)
Most of the time, Satan deceives us to make us believe that we need a theological school study to enter into service. That’s the lie he puts every believer and make them stay as babies in Christ for many years.
Theology alone does not make one Apostles, Prophets, evangelist, Pastors and teacher. The calling and “Christ himself” part which makes each of us to his work. If he can train a fisherman to be his disciple , why not you or me. If it’s his will you have to do a Bachelor or master in Theology, he will even do that, let that not be a constraint in our mind
Our job is to have dependence with God to make this work.
Miracle Workers Service
Now that we are called to do his service, there may come many questions
a) How long are we called to do his service ?
b) Where will I get the direction from ?
c) Who will help me ? There can be many more questions that may come our mind
a) Calling
Ephesians 4:12 - ‘to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up '
The calling - Christ did this so that we are equipped to do the works of his service “to equip his people for works of service”
What is the service he is asking us to full fill whats written in Matthew 28 and Matthew 9
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”'
Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV) - ‘ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”'
This service is given to us, so that we “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” and “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”
God’s promise to us is as we start having the burden to do what he has called to do, Jesus will transform each of us according to his will of The “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers”
b) How Long will this be Given ?
How long will this be given by Christ to us ? - the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith
Ephesians 4:13. '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. '
“Until” - this refers to everlasting - not bound by time, but there is a catch, “Until we all reach in Unity in the Faith”
Key here is “Unity in the faith” - We live a life with Christ thru Faith every day, if the faith is broken then this stops. Faith in Christ is the Keys for us to receiving the teaching from Christ.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) ‘- And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. '
So key is to have Faith and walk with him in full dependence
We see many pastors are faithful in the beginning and go south as they deviate from Faith. The ministry is there but the presence of Lord is not there. The Chruch turns to be a Ministry of business and blessing ministry. They loose the Grace of God.
c) What will be given to us in his service ?
Ephesians 4:13. '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. '
God’s knowledge is given to us - “and in the knowledge of the Son of God “, Its revealed to us thru the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God guides us.
Luke 10:21 (NIV) 'At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. '
Its Given till we “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, Its given to us till we become Mature
Maturity comes as we age, as we experience - Similarly in Christ, we become mature the longer we walk with him, we learn God’s instruction / Chiding / Counsel to make us a better miracle worker in Christ.
I have always wondered how the Sr. Pastors get their daily manna to preach in pulpit with their busy schedule, Have you wondered how “Billy Graham” got his manna ? Its with this promise. I am sure many pastors are living a life according to Ephesians 4:13. to get better every day.
Jesus also matures us to give the Gifts of Spirit at the right time , he gives these spiritual blessing to us either one of them or many of them to his chosen as written in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
The Spirit Wisdom or
The Spirit of Knowledge or
The Spirit of Faith, Or
The Spirit of healing or
The Spirit of Miracles or
The Spirit of prophecy, or
The Spirit to distinguishing between spirits or
The Spirit to speaking in different kinds of tongues or
The Spirit to interpretation of tongues or
The Spirit to Distringuising between spirits
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 - ‘Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. '
All these are given to fulfil the one and only purpose of God’s miracle worker,to do God’s will in the world and glorify God. 1 Corinthians 12:111 “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. '
By God’s choice he gives freely, it cannot be bought by our works.We read in Acts on how “Sons of Sceva” did to imitate Paul Acts 19:11-16 and how they were badly beaten down.
d) What is Ephesians 4:13 “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”
Not only its given till we mature but till the fullness of Christ comes into us
Fullness of Christ comes with the “Fruits of Spirit” - Gal 5:22-23
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. '
Gains of Miracle Worker
Ephesians 4:14-16 '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. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. '
Once we are a miracle worker, how are we shaped up ?
You are no longer an infant - “Then we will no longer be infants”
You no longer are believer in Christ, you are matured to become either Apostles, Prophets, evangelist, Pastors and teachers - Miracle worker of Christ
Power to Fight the enemy back - Ephesians 4: 14 “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.”
Craftiness of Satan - Craftiness character comes from Satan, This is given to fulfil the promise in 1 Corinthians 3:19 (NIV) ‘For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” ; '
Fight false Spirits / Teaching - there will be false spirits in us to deceive us like christ. 1 John 4:1-3 (NIV) ‘Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. '
Fight back the “Spirit of falsehood” vs “Spirit of truth”
1 John 4:5-6 (‘NIV) They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. '
Outcome of this Service is “Grow in Christ” / “Do as Christ “
Ephesians 4:16 (NIV) Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. ‘
The reward is not in the world. God will reward this eternally as we are “doers of Christ”, he will honour ever small act that’s done for him, when you read revelation God is doing this for the Miracle worker
Revelation 21:1-6 'Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. '
God’s reward for us eternally is
Revelation 21:7 'Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. '
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