Nisan 7
For The Perfecting
“And He Himself gave
some as emissaries, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as
shepherds and teachers FOR THE PERFECTING of the set-apart ones …” (Eph 4:12-13 ISR, emphasis mine)
It is not my
purpose, in this essay (and the ones to follow) to examine and define what each
one of the five-fold ministries are; there are, literally, volumes written about
each one of these ministry gifts, and no, not all of them are accurate. Rather, I wish to examine what is the purpose
of these ministry gifts, what is their function, what are they to accomplish –
what is their reason for being part of the body of Messiah. And contrary to what many have been taught,
they are not for self-exaltation.
Many translations
read – in our opening verses – “equipping” instead of “perfecting”, and both
words are acceptable. When we have all
of the equipment that is needed, we are complete, lacking nothing. The same is true of the state of being
perfect: nothing can be done to improve
that which is perfect and complete. And
I would venture to say that none of us are there yet.
How do we reach
this place of being fully equipped and perfect?
We can only do so by submitting to those “anointed and appointed” ministers
that our Creator has placed in our lives, and by absorbing their teachings and
instructions. Have we reached the place
of completion as yet? I know that I have
not.
If that is the case with all of us, then I would suggest that those who
minister in these positions still have a very important function within the
assembly of Messiah.
Or perhaps we have
reached the place where we feel that we no longer need a particular teacher or
minister. A phrase that has always been
popular is the one where “the Ruach
is my teacher; I have no need for any other.” Aaaaah, but one of the
lessons to be learned here is how to live in a covenant community, submitting one to another – a lesson
that can never be walked out in a “Lone Ranger” setting.
As we approach this
time of Passover/Unleavened Bread, it may be an ideal occasion for examining
the relationships we have with those in leadership. Are we learning and gleaning all that they
have to offer, or are we letting it go in one ear and out the other? Are we truly striving for perfection with
what we are learning, or are we so callous as to believe we have already
arrived? Are we studying to show
ourselves approved (2Tim 2:15), or are we finding fault with everything that is
being presented to us?
“Epaphras, who is one
of you, a servant of Messiah, greets you, always wrestling for you in prayers,
so that you stand perfect and complete in all the desire of Elohim.” (Col 4:12 ISR)
©2018
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