Built Up Together Scripture Reading – Ephesians 4:11 - 12 (NLT)

"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ." 

God has gifted each one of us in many different ways as it touches our lives vocationally. I certainly am thankful that my dentist has been gifted with a steady hand and my doctor with a watchful eye and careful sense of diagnosis.

When it comes to ministry in God's church, we of course believe in and encourage the priesthood of all believers as today's text teaches. For there is so much good work to do for the Kingdom of Christ, that everyone that God has called has a place and a purpose to fulfill in glorifying His name.

When it comes to what some may call, 'full time ministry', or what is described in the above versus, I always stress that the ministry is not only a job or a vocation that one must be gifted for, but it is primarily a calling. It only is out of a God breathed calling that individuals will be able to lead in the church of Christ as He has intended.

The job description of pastor's/teachers, missionaries, and evangelists is that we in the church of Christ Jesus may be, 'Built Up Together', each one finding their place in God's planned purposes for their lives. This by the way is the work of God that people would be built up, strengthened, encouraged and then sent out with the good news that Jesus Christ is alive and well!

Our part as God's people is to lift up those who find themselves in this place, and allow the Spirit of Christ to use them to release us into fullness of ministry for the greater glory of Jesus Christ our Lord and the spread of the Good News of the Gospel to the very ends of the earth. 

Prayer Father I thank-You for those who have responded to the full time calling of ministry. I pray for leaders that You will protect them and give them favor and grace with their boards and ministry leaders. May Your church continue to advance in power for the glory of Christ Jesus my Lord. Use me to encourage this good work. 

Memory Verse:  Ephesians 4:3 NLT "Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."