Rhapsody of Realities 16 April 2025: Equipping the Saints

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

The apostle Paul, in Ephesians 4, talks about the five-fold ministry gifts which are for the perfecting of the saints. What does it mean by “the perfecting of the saints?” It’s interesting to note that this does not imply making the saints better or more perfect. Saints are already perfect. It refers to equipping and bringing up the saints.

Consider this example: do children become more human as they grow? No! Every child is born perfectly human, just as their parents are. Children need to grow and be brought up, and this involves equipping them with knowledge and the requisite nourishment. Until they grow and are equipped with the right information, intelligence, and strength, they cannot fully engage in the activities that adult humans do, despite being already hundred per cent human.

In the same way, the perfecting of the saints involves helping them grow and be equipped for their purpose in the Body of Christ. There is a tendency for some Christians to resort to the ordinary way of life instead of living the transcendent life in Christ. Therefore, they need to be taught and reminded of who they are in Christ, and how they must live. This is the essence of the five-fold offices.

Read Yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities Here

This is why for ministers of the Gospel, our work in the Gospel must be well understood. We’re first and foremost called to be saints; saints of God, members of the Body of Christ. But then God created a structure for His Church and appointed some into special ministry offices to assist in equipping the saints in carrying out the work of the ministry.

PRAYER

Dear Father, I pray that Christians everywhere will fully understand and fulfil their roles and responsibilities within the Body of Christ, being strengthened in the faith and encouraged by the Spirit and the Word to stand firm in their convictions of Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

Ephesians 4:11-16

¹¹ And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.

¹² His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),

¹³ [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

¹⁴ So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead.

¹⁵ Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

¹⁶ For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.

Colossians 1:28-29

²⁸ Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One).

²⁹ For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:  Luke 15:11-32 & Ruth 1-4

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 2:23-28 & Leviticus 16

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Rhapsody of Realities 16 April 2025

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