Young People's Group

The Equipping of The Saints

by Mitchell Tan
June 03, 2020

THE GIVING OF GRACE GIFTS

The Lord Jesus as a triumphant King has given to us grace gifts. These are spiritual gifts that have been specially bestowed on us through His abundant grace.

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”
Ephesians 4:7

Everyone has been blessed with spiritual gifts for service. They are meant to be discovered, cultivated, and employed for His work.

THE LORD’S GIFTS TO THE CHURCH

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers …”
Ephesians 4:11

The Lord Jesus has also provided for us servants of God as His gifts to the Church. He has raised up apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers to be leaders and servants of God who would help establish the early Church. Each had a different role to play and yet they served and ministered together as one in helping the Church to be strong and to thrive.

THE GOAL OF THE LORD’S GIFTS

“… For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”
Ephesians 4:12

The goal of these servants of God was with reference to the development of the spiritual gifts.

1. THE WORK OF EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS

Their main goal was to help the saints of the Church to be equipped for ministry. The word “equipping” in Greek has the idea of training and perfecting the saints. This was with reference to the development of their spiritual gifts. These servants of God were meant to help the early Christians to cultivate and to perfect their spiritual gifts. Each one has differing gifts and they are not to think themselves more highly than they ought to think but to think soberly (Romans 12:3-4). The training is meant to help everyone realize their giftedness and to work humbly together as one.

2. THE EXTENSION OF GOAL

A. FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY

The word “ministry” in Greek means “humble service”. The spiritual gifts that are developed in our lives are meant to be employed in humble service to the Lord and to each other. Ministry is a spiritual gift in itself. If we have the gift of ministry, we are to use it in our ministering (Romans 12:7). Whatever spiritual gift we may have, ultimately it is meant for the profit of all. We are to be a blessing to people as we minister.

B. FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

The word “edifying” in Greek has the idea of “building up”. These saints when well trained and equipped with spiritual gifts will be able to edify the Church. They are there to strengthen each other through good words of grace (Ephesians 4:29). They are also meant to edify through supporting each other especially the weaker ones (Romans 15:2). Young people, let’s endeavor to discover our grace gifts, develop them, and use them to edify the Church. Let’s seek to build each other up through the employment of these gifts.

Back to Article Listing