Ephesians 4:11-14
Verse 12 …to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
We pick up the list of specially gifted teachers the Holy Spirit has given the Church. We talked about the apostles and prophets but the last three on the list are the one most often gifted these days. When we think of evangelists, pastors and teachers, we likely have names or faces which come to mind of people we know who have had that role in our lives. These people have taught us and helped us grow, just as the Lord planned.
When the word evangelist is used most think of someone well known but the truth is you don’t have to speak to tens of thousands to qualify for the title. These are people who make Christ known to anyone they come in contact with. While we are all commanded to make Christ known these individuals are gifted at being able to sense the way the Spirit is working in someone’s life and is able to speak the truth in the moment as that person needs to hear it.
Then there are the pastors in our lives. It is probable we all know multiple pastors who have had influence in our lives. Maybe they were the ones preaching when we were children and the Lord spoke to us through their sermons. Or maybe they were the ones who comforted us through a hard time, teaching us how knowing Jesus intimately and having the promise of eternity with Him gives us hope even in the hard times.
We have all had Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, mentors and such which have taught us the better things of life from the teachings of the Bible. We learned how we are sinful because of choices made by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We learned how God is the ultimate judge through the story of Noah and the flood. They taught us how to live pure lives with stories about Joseph in Genesis and David failure to live pure in 2 Samuel 11.
We learned from them about Jesus coming as a baby and shepherds being told about His birth. We were taught about all the miracles He did and the way He taught us to live. We heard about how the religious leaders of the day had Him killed but that it was really God allowing Him to die so He could be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. And they told us the wonderful truth of His rising again from the dead. They told us the Gospel in the easiest to understand language. They used the Sword to shape our lives.
Making It Personal
Who impacted your life with the Gospel? Who do you allow to help your grow in your knowledge today? Are you being faithful in using the Sword to shape other people’s lives?
Making It Personal Kids
Who has made an impact in your life? What have you learned about Jesus recently? Do you tell others about Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for placing people in our lives who can teach us many things about You. Help us know You more and more. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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