Equipping the Saints Part 3

What is Equipping the Saints all about?

(Eph 4:11-16)  And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,  for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit. But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ; from whom the whole body, fitted together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of each part, producing the growth of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

The equipping sandwich

1. Calling [an equipping task]
What is the person’s calling?

“We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now.” 2 Timothy 1:9 MSG

“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall.” 2 Peter 1:10 NIV

2. Gifting [a training task]
What gifts, skills and talents does the person display? In the world, a person’s gifts are recognised in various fields (sport, art, education, speaking etc.) and trained.
1) Demonstrate the task (the learner watches);
2) Do the task together (I do, then you do);
3) Independence (you do on your own, I watch);
4) Review (you do it, I come back and check it).

“God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 MSG

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” 1 Timothy 4:14 NKJV

3. Knowledge [a teaching task]
What information, knowledge or wisdom does the person need? Knowledge is not just book learning, but includes life experience, educational and mentoring.

“I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” Romans 15:14 NIV

4. Character [an equipping task]
Will the person last in their calling? How is their character?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 NIV

The church as we know it today is very strongly oriented toward teaching and preaching. This stems largely from the value we have placed upon knowledge. As a result our leadership has been made up primarily by pastor/teachers who are now paid professionals.

Equipping, as a task set by Christ for saints to accomplish, falls inside two broad themes that Jesus spoke of:

* The great commandment and
* The great commission.

Equipping is based first on the instruction to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. He is our model, he is our source. It is him we are trying to grow up to become like. Equipping is based secondly on the instruction to go into all the world, make disciples and instruct them in all Christ taught and to obey all he said. This discipleship process is central.

An effective discipleship program

Equipping does not come from attending a single event and it cannot come from simply bringing your friends to an evangelistic rally or going to watch “Passion of the Christ”, or even having a prophetic, evangelist, pastoral,apostolic, teaching seminar. Although we may train and activate in a seminar, equipping is a lifetime process.

 Mentorship and relationship is most important over a period of time in equipping.

 Some closing thoughts:
* You cannot imitate someone you cannot access;
* You cannot give what you do not have;
* You cannot teach what you do not know;
* You cannot share what is not yours;
* You cannot impart (stir up and educate others)what you do not practice successfully yourself.