Thank you so much for reading the blog post today. The goal in writing these posts is to aid you in receiving revelation and understanding of Truth, the Word of God. Eric

In last week’s post (“Our Example!” 11-7-23), we shared that we are to follow Jesus’ example of ministry in fulfilling the work of the church by the power of the Holy Spirit. If you have not had the opportunity to read it yet, I recommended that you take the time to do so.

We shared that Jesus ministered as the Son of man, in His humanity, to show us that those who believe can, in fact, minister in the same way He did. (John 20:21).

Today’s focus will largely be on what the ‘work’ or ministry of the body of Christ is. I have encountered those who do not have a clear understanding of what their role is, or should be, as a believer in Jesus.

To begin though, I want us to look at Ephesians 4:11 and 12 (CSB), “And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,”

The word ‘gave’ in verse 11 means: one appointed to an office. An ‘apostle’ is a delegate, messenger, or one sent forth with orders. A ‘prophet’ is an interpreter, or spokesman for God. An ‘evangelist’ is a bringer of good tidings. ‘Pastor’ means shepherd, metaphorically, the overseer of church services or assemblies. Christ is the Shepherd or Head of the church, while the pastor is the under-shepherd. A ‘teacher’ is one who undertakes the work of teaching believers with the special assistance of the Holy Spirit.

These five offices for the church are referred to as the five-fold ministry. Those who fill these positions are specifically called to that position by the Lord.

Verse 12 of Ephesians 4 reveals the function of those in the five-fold ministry. ‘Equip’ means: complete furnishing, preparing fully. ‘Saints,’ agios in the Greek means: pure, morally blameless, those devoted to God who forsake sin, and live a ‘holy’ manner of life. ‘Work’ (ergon), means: the work performed in undertaking the ministry. ‘Ministry’ (translated ‘service’ in other translations) means: endeavor zealously and laboriously to promote the cause of Christ among men. ‘Build up’ is promoting another’s growth as a Christian and ‘body’ (soma) is ‘the church,’ those closely united into one ‘family’. Let’s read verse 12 again, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,” The work of those called to the five-fold ministry is to equip the saints for the work of ministry to build up the body of Christ.

In Ephesians 4:1-10 (ESV) Paul exhorts believers or members of the body of Christ to make an effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in peace because there is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. Jesus has only one body and we are a part of the same body of Christ as the early church. Part of your responsibility as a believer is to do all you can to maintain unity in the body.

As those created in the image of God, we are to reflect His character and nature. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV) reads, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Jesus ministered with humility and compassion. We need to minister with humility and compassion. Matthew 9:36, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Everywhere Jesus went, He drew a crowd. Why? They were drawn by the signs which He performed. John 6:2 (CSB), “A huge crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick.” However, Jesus did not do signs and wonders only, He also taught them the Word. They were amazed because His teaching was with authority. Mark 10:1, “Then Jesus left Capernaum and went down to the region of Judea and into the area east of the Jordan River. Once again crowds gathered around him, and as usual he was teaching them.” Luke 4:32 (NKJV), “ And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.” The Greek word for ‘authority’ is exousia which means: to be possessed of power and influence.

Mark 16:17 and 18 (ESV) reveals, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." ‘Demons’, daimonion in the Greek means: evil spirits or the messengers and ministers of the devil.

The only qualifiers for the demonstration of these signs is that you are a believer and minister in the name of Jesus. Remember, though, the signs occur by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit that is in you.

Remember we looked at Acts 1:8a (ESV) last week, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” Power in the Greek, dynamis, means: the power of Christ invisibly present and operative in Christian church.

With the presence of the Holy Spirit, we, His followers were given power to witness. However, Jesus also gave delegated authority and power over all the power of the enemy to His followers. (Luke 10:19).

We need to come to the place in our walk with the Holy Spirit where we will open ourselves to what the Spirit will do through us, as part of the body of Christ.

Reading 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (NASB20), we see, “ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, ‘gifts,’ charisma in the Greek, means: extraordinary powers [favor which one receives without any merit of his own]. The reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit distributes these gifts as He wills. These gifts of the Spirit are found in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (NASB20), “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. We will look more in depth at these gifts of the Spirit in a future post.

As we spend time in the Word and prayer we recognize His voice. Then, we need to give free access to the Holy Spirit to teach us, give us gifts, and manifest the presence of the Lord that is in us as a witness to the world around us.

God has created each one of us individually and uniquely. For some, we recognize certain giftings God placed in us when we were born. For example, some are born with great musical talent, artistic talent, or with outgoing personalities. Every believer needs to do what they can to develop and use those giftings as they have opportunity.

What is part of the work of ministry that every believer should do? Romans 12 reveals a lot of what we all can and should be doing. Verse 1 tells us “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.” To be a living sacrifice you would live your life sacrificially for Christ. This means putting the will of God first in your life. It is you being willing to sacrifice your desires, wishes, attitudes, and action (all that you are) to God, so you can fulfill His purpose and plan for your life, rather than your own.

Not all the members of the body of Christ have the same function. However, throughout the 12th chapter of Romans, we see a number of ministry possibilities. Romans 12: 6-8 (NKJV), “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness”

Then we read in Romans 12:9-21 what every believer should do as a part of their ‘work’ or ‘ministry’. Some ministers have called these the ‘service’ gifts. They are; prophesy, service, teaching, exhorting, being a giver, leading, being a giver of mercy, living in harmony, never avenging, feeding their enemy and witnessing.

Of course, what we previously shared last week from Acts 1 and 10 includes demonstrating Kingdom power, praying for the sick, casting out demons, setting the captives free, sharing the Good News, healing the broken hearted, and setting the captives and oppressed free.

Every believer has a part and function in the body of Christ. Even weaker parts are indispensable for Kingdom work.

You have a great part in the ministry or work of the body of Christ. As you read the Scriptures today, I trust the Spirit of God spoke to you and revealed that every gift He has provided for His followers means that it is for you! Every action listed in Romans 12 is something you can choose to do as a member of the body of Christ. Think about those things you love to do and ways you like to help others, then ask the Father how you can use those to minister to, encourage, or build up those in the body of Christ. Be willing to share with those you meet, how the Lord has intervened in your life and made you a new creation!

Share and reflect the love of God to all you meet.

The example you present of the nature and love of God, that is in you, may be the only one some people ever see.

Your responsibility is to obey the leading of the Spirit in you.

You partner with the Holy Spirit. Then allow Him to do the work.

He is responsible for the results!

Be bold, be strong for the Lord your God is with you!

Unless noted otherwise, the Scriptures used were taken from the New Living Translation.

CSB Christian Standard Bible

ESV English Standard Version

NASB20 New American Standard Bible 2020

NIV New International Version

KJV King James Version