Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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GIFTS OF HOLY SPIRIT AND SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
Bible portion: Ephesians  4: 11-15
Verse: 13 Until  we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the son of God, at a full grown man, at the measure of the stature of the” fullness of Christ.

Devotion

      Paul in Ephesians 4, continues to teach the people  about the importance of God's gifts of leadership.
  It is important to realize that  leadership gifts centers on the word of God which is fundamental to a mature  church.  When the study of the word is diminished, the church will not sustain properly.   That's why expository teaching is important on the part of the teachers.  Apostles are a called out  in groups by the Lord , anointed  to do a special ministry commissioned by Lord Jesus.
Missionaries are evangelists equipped for preaching the gospel to the end of the world.  New testament prophets received direct revelation from God, which they imparted to the  church, predict the future, or they  interpret revelation.  
           Though all believers are supposed to be evangelists, a gifted evangelist should have  sound knowledge of the doctrines and  the word of God. Paul continues to say that those who are gifted as  Pastors or leaders should equip the entire  people of God to the building up the body of Christ, and to grow into maturity, unity and Christ likeness.
Church growth  through evangelism and teaching, should achieve three things. 1. to
attain  a unity of the faith and a knowledge of the Lord. 2. to help the believer grow into spiritual maturity. 3. to attain the measure of stature which belongs to the body of christ
 which means – attaining the perfection of faith  and the essence of that is to hold fast to Christ as true and perfect god, and to mature unto a full understanding of the divinity of the son of God.
            Like children, those believers who lack maturity in Christ, are likely to be carried away from Christ and His teachings, concepts and doctrines, sent by Satan in  his subtlety.  The only way to escape from the trap is to grow in the maturity and knowledge of the Lord. V15; The Truth here refers to Christ and the church.  Both are true things and we should hold in love to these true things, that we may  grow up into Christ likeness.
 
PRAYER
 
: Lord Jesus, you are the head of the  Church, help us to grow into maturity  and in the knowledge of  you, protect us from being carried away by Satan's  subtlety. Strengthen us to edify your name by our activities towards  building the body of Christ.  Amen.

 
Thought for the Day 

  One of the powerful passages  in  the Bible after the cross. Paul has clearly explained salvation in the beginning of ephesians, but  here he continues on and present to us the reason Jesus died.   God created the body of Christ ,the Church to wholly love, trust and serve  His son Christ.  But until this truth
besiege our souls, we are victims of world's philosophy of life.
 

Dr.John K.Thomas  Tabor MTC NY 

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