The Gifts of Grace
Equipping the Church
Part 4
By Nick Bibile
Eph
We shall continue from last week. When you look at how God had arranged things
so perfectly in the heavens and on this earth, we realize his how orderly with
his infinite knowledge he has arrange all things. Look at the heavens, the sun
has its function day by day, so does the moon and the stars. God gives rain,
sunshine, given us the air to breath. The mountains, seas, rivers, vegetation
all are beautifully arranged. God is a God of order. He in his infinite power
had arranged everything orderly and he governs them precisely.
In the same way the church belong to
him, and he has set things in orderly manner in the church. Christ is the
cornerstone of the church; the doctrine/teaching comes from the apostles and
the prophets. The entire Bible consists of what God have told to the prophets and
what Christ has told to the apostles. How come the apostles were able to
remember in detail what Christ taught them?
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is
the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto
you.
It is he who has given the gifts and put them
in their place so the church will function effectively. He did not give all
these gifts to one person to bear but distributed them according to his will.
Last time we studied on apostles and prophets and we will continue today with
evangelists, pastors and teachers.
The apostles were great
importance; here in order they become number one, even before the prophets,
why? Because Christ himself called them and appointed them, furnished them with
extraordinary gifts and the power of working miracles, and delivering the truth
without error. (John 14:26) They performed miracles confirming the truth.
Christ sent them to spread the gospel and to plant and govern churches.
The prophets expounded the
writings of the Old Testament, and foretold things to come. The evangelists
were ordained persons (2
Then once a church is
established there are pastors and teachers. This can be one
office. Teaching pastors. Who will shepherd the body of Christ.
Evangelists
As we saw the beginning the
evangelists were companions of the apostles and assisted the apostles. Philip,
Luke, Titus and
Pastors
and teachers
Jer
Pastors
are those
who have the charge of a particular flock. Pastor’s job is to govern the local
body of the church. Pastors are the shepherds of the flock and at the same time
there are elders who can be teachers, they may be gifted brethren in the church
who will assist the pastor. The chief calling of the pastor is to preach and
teach the word of God in its fullness, to feed the flock.
Ac
6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of
the word.
Pastor
should preach the sermon to his own heart before giving to others. He needs to be digested by the word of God
first if not he can feed poison to the flock. The great puritan John Owen said,
“It is an easier thing to bring
our heads to preach than our hearts to preach”
Every sermon should be centered on Christ and
God’s grace. The grand rule of the
pastor is to search the mind of God what is revealed in the Holy Bible and
preach and teach to people in simplicity so they can understand. He is to
preach the revealed will of God not what his opinions or not even what people
would like to hear.
2Ti
4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
1Pe
4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man
minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all
things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion
for ever and ever. Amen.
Pastors
preach the word so there will be conversion of souls who come to the church and
the believers in the church would be sanctified.
Ro
Joh
The
word of God is the sword of Spirit. The Holy Spirit has made the word and
shaped it as a sword. The pastor has the weapon of the sword which the Holy
Spirit has put into his hands; he will not abuse this weapon but use it
effectively. This double edged sword will be used to remove sin and to heal.
The
pastor is to preach the word with authority in the Spirit’s power with
boldness. Not words of human wisdom and juicy words that tickle the flesh.
1Co
2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
The
pastor should preach only the truth not his experience nor give entertainment
only the truth can save the sinner and only the truth can bring sanctification
and holiness to the body. It is only the scripture can penetrate the heart not
human manipulations. It was preaching of the truth that the Reformers turned
Remember king Jehoshaphat who wanted to hear what he liked to hear and
not the truth? All the other prophets told him what he liked to hear except the
true prophet of God Micaiah. The king complained of Micaiah
and said, “Did I not tell you he would not prophecy good concerning me but
evil.” (1Kings
Pastor is an expository teacher,
exegesis of scripture, the word exegesis means
exposition or interpretation of scripture. Not interpreting according to the
opinion of the pastor but according to context.
Love
for the Bible should be promoted by the pastor. Honoring the Bible pointing to
the Bible and not to psychology or human wisdom. The center of his preaching is Christ
alone. The focus of the church is not
the pastor but Christ; the center of the stage is not the pastor but Christ.
Joh
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know
any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Lu 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all
the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things
concerning himself.
2Co 4:5 For we
preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants
for Jesus' sake.
Pastor not only feed the flock but pray
for the flock. Pastor knows his sheep well, knows who are growing and those who
are weak, he is concerned of the sheep and pray for them so they will be united
in Christ in one accord and the desire of the pastor is that they will be
strong in the Lord, they will not just sit and listen but be obedient to the
word. Pastor is concerned for the souls and encourage
the flock to witness and to make disciples.
The pastor’s motive should be right
before the Lord. There are many pastors who are fleecing the flock. Their
motive is money just like any other worldly business. They want the church to
grow so they will become rich, they would do every possible worldly ways to
accomplish this purpose.
1Pe 5:1
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a
witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that
shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you,
taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy
lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage,
but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye
shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
But
sad to say that in many mega churches the star of the church is the pastor, the
pastors are being honored and glorified more than Christ. Charles Spurgeon
said, "Let God send the fire of His Spirit here, and the minister will be
more and more lost in his Master. You will come to think less of the speaker
and more of the truth spoken....
A
Minister told young Spurgeon, “From every town, every village in
Today
there is a seeker sensitive movement in
"Dear friends, we know that souls are not won
by music, if they were it would be time for preachers to give way to opera
singers."
He also said, the church has come down to the level
of the world.
"Jesus said, 'Preach the gospel to every
creature.' But men are getting tired of the divine plan; they are going
to be saved by a priest, going to be saved by the music, going to be saved by
theatricals, and nobody knows what! Well, they may try these things as
long as ever they like; but nothing can ever come of the whole thing but utter
disappointment and confusion, God dishonored, the gospel travestied, hypocrites
manufactured by the thousands, and the church dragged down to the level of the
world."
Where is the sound doctrine? But only practical
sermons are preached with entertainment. Spurgeon said, "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists;
and some pastors and teachers .., for the work of the ministry" (Eph.
We are living in the days of apostasy
and pray to God that he will pour out his Spirit again so there will be true
revival, true repentance the church of God will be holy and be different than
the world.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love.