We are gifts given to the Church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NLT) Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the complete standard of Christ.
It was customary growing up to give gifts, especially on special occasions. I remember a myth I was told as a child: don’t give a gift and take it back or you will get a boil on your tongue. That was complete nonsense and deception. When it comes to the Lord, He will never give a gift and take it back. Whatever the Lord has given you, it is forever.
When I started my Christian walk, I learned about gifts God gave to the church. It is without merit or entitlement. There are many teachings showing that we must work hard to receive these gifts from the Lord. After studying the scriptures, I noticed something very specific. God gives gifts out of love, not by obligation, our decisions or choices to love him in return or to obey him. The scriptures say before we were formed in our mother’s womb; he called us.
If you go through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, there is a pattern. God showers his children with gifts! We notice a unique gift when we looked at Ephesians. This gift not only comes with a promise, but with benefits. The benefits of maturity and like mindedness of Christ through the host of man.
We were not given as gifts to be worshiped or served.
As a pastor or an apostle, being given to the body of Christ as a gift. I must equip the body of Christ as part of my mandate. It is part of my mandate to equip the body of Christ, the Church. Not by forcing my doctrines, beliefs or archetype on anyone. There is no scripture that states we must all be the same. What it says is we come into unity in faith and knowledge of God’s son. God’s gifts serves a purpose to re-confirm or establish our connection with him.
Leaders are gifts given to serve the need of the body of Christ the church. God gave his son to the world as a gift. The Lord Jesus exemplified true leadership. He served his disciples and followers. Since the beginning of time, God gave gifts to express his unconditional love to us.
When the Lord gives us gifts, it is to communicate His love to us. He offers us gifts we don’t need to work for. There are no special tasks to complete or forms to fill out. Apostles, prophets, pastors, Teachers and evangelists are gifts to equip God’s people.
You’re a gift to the church. It is an honor to serve God’s people and to teach them to do the same. This is how we build the body of Christ! We unite with each other. We recognize we are gifts to the church, the body of Christ.
