Claim Your Ministry
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Key Verse: “Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Selected Scripture: |
THERE ARE MANY WAYS we might describe the ministry of the Church at the present time. It is evident, however, that the most important part of this ministry is that work within each member—the work of conforming our character to the likeness of our Lord and Head, Christ Jesus. This is the “vocation” described in our lesson.—vs. 1
In order to begin this vital aspect of our ministry we must of necessity recognize that there is a unity or singleness of purpose which all must possess who have entered into covenant arrangement with God. Paul stresses this by saying that there is only one Spirit, one body, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism that is in order at the present time, even as there is only one God.—Eph. 4:4-6
God recognizes that though his people all come under the oneness and unity described above, yet the abilities and backgrounds of each vary. Such being the case, God is very merciful and gives us each the needed grace, or Divine favor, needed to be successful in this ministry, as long as we remain truly consecrated to the doing of his will in our lives.
The Key Verse says that this grace is given ‘according to the measure of the gift of Christ.’ (vs. 7) This ‘gift’ is specifically referring to the power and influence of God’s Holy Spirit, and it is the varying measures of this gift in each that enables all to achieve, by grace, the goal of a successful ministry.
Further in the Selected Scripture, Paul indicates that Jesus has provided additional means by which we might be victorious in our ministry, and quotes Psalm 68:18: “When he [Jesus] ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” (vs. 8) These gifts that Jesus has given to us are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”—vs. 12
The reason for all these helps is that, if used in accordance with God’s will, they will help us to achieve not just a unity of purpose, but additionally a unity of faith and knowledge that would be evidenced in a perfect [complete, mature] man, one who has attained “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”—Eph. 4:13
Continuing, Paul warns us that to claim this ministry and be successful in it means that we must be firm in our beliefs and convictions, not allowing every “wind of doctrine” (vs. 14) to toss us around as children. Satan, our great Adversary, is desirous of doing just this, and will use his most subtle deceptions to attempt to throw our ministry ‘off course.’
However, we can thwart Satan’s efforts by staying close to those things which we have learned. One of the important ways we do this is “speaking the truth in love” (vs. 15) to one another by assembling together as often as possible. By doing this faithfully we will “grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”—Eph. 4:15,16