Part Of A Whole
The Holy Spirit…he’s so many things but what I love is how he leads us. He just nudges us ever so slightly and if we are sensitive to his leading we will notice it and obey. I felt a few weeks ago to revisit Ephesians. There was something the Lord wanted me to see. So I began to read that book several times over.
This scripture stood out to me one day…Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he (Jesus) has appointed some with grace to be apostles, and some with grace to be prophets, and some with grace to be evangelists,[a] and some with grace to be pastors,[b] and some with grace to be teachers.[c] 12 And their calling is to nurture and prepare all the holy believers (us) to do their own works of ministry (or the work of ministry) and as they do this they will enlarge and build up the body of Christ.”
Most people think that the Pastor or paid leaders of the church are the ones who are to DO all of the ministry things. But this is clearly telling us that the ones who are gifted to vocational ministry, and all are not, are to equip the Body to do the work. In this way the Body will be enlarged and built up. We can get frustrated when the Pastor doesn’t do this or that like we think he should, but maybe our part is the part we feel he isn’t doing? If we would all just do our own part it would all get done. #boom
So with that in mind, I started thinking. We all seem to have favorite ministers we like to listen to. Some like fiery evangelists or some prefer a quiet teacher etc. Some of that has to do with our personality or liking a particular style of speaking. Some of us like deep theological teaching and some like it lighter and practical.
What I believe the Holy Spirit began to show me is that we need it all. Jesus himself gave the gifts in Ephesians to the Body. They represent who he is. He personally is all of those gifts. Each one contains a part of the revelation of Jesus. Together they are complete. I saw that to have the fullness of Christ’s teaching we must embrace each office for what we need. Sometimes I just need a fiery message to get me stirred up! Sometimes I need an in-depth teaching on a subject to learn more about it.
If I only listen to Prophets I could become harsh and critical. They can be very direct like the Apostle Paul or John the Baptist. If I only listen to teachers I can learn a lot but lack the motivation to apply it. If I listen to mostly preachers I can get emotionally hyped up but not actually learn anything helpful. Each office of gifting teaches up one part of a whole. Without each part we can become lopsided and ill equipted.
I remember a few years ago my DIL telling me of a message she loved and suggested I listen to. She told me it was by Steven Furtick. I immediately didn’t want to hear it because I did not like barking/preaching style. But I somehow KNEW (thank you Holy Spirit) I needed to listen. So I did. That series was one that changed something in me forever. I would have missed key pieces that spiritually I needed if I had not chosen to obey and listen. I made a decision after that to be open to listen to anyone the Holy Spirit directed me to.
I chose to overlook the style or approach and listen for the message the Spirit of God wanted me to get. I mean God used some crazy ways to speak to people; once it was a donkey! I realized I had judged different styles because they weren’t my favorite. How many times do we do that and miss what God is trying to impart to us? I’ve endeavored to be obedient to whomever the Spirit is leading me to listen to in that particular season in my life. Those tidbits of knowledge from each minister built one upon the other to get me the revelation I needed when I needed it.
I believe the enemy tries to get us to judge or dismiss one or more of these gifts or the vessel they come through, so that we cannot be effective or complete. He hates unity. His goal is to stop the plan of God. So step out. Listen to his direction. He can lead you to just the right message at just the right time.
Father open our hearts to everything that you have for us. You know exactly what we need at just the right time. Lead and guide us to the right resources, give us those soft promptings and help us to obey them when you do. Your word says “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things…” Each of your ministers has apart to give us. We desire all that you have. Expand our hearts to hold more of you!