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, emphasis mine)
It is not my purpose, in this essay, 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
everything that is written is 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,
these ‘giftings’ 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 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
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 certain teacher or minister. A
phrase that has always been popular is the one where “the Ruach (the Spirit) 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 to examine 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)
©2021
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