Church! The Five-Fold Ministry and Spiritual Maturity

The Bible says that Jesus gave gifts for the perfecting of the saints, to preach and teach believers how to grow up in Christ and become mature Christians.

"And gave gifts ... and he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" - Ephesians 4:8, 11-12 KJV  [“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”]

When our Heavenly Father revealed Himself to His creation as the Son of God – the Father in flesh – He revealed to us what it means to be holy. It is by the ministry, and by the Holy Ghost within us, that we mature and strive to become holy like Christ.

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" - Ephesians 4:13 KJV [“This 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 full and complete standard of Christ.”]

We are given warnings, wisdom, and knowledge by our pastor and the five-fold ministry so that we will not be deceived by those that do not walk in the Spirit and Truth, that try to influence us with false doctrine and clever lies.

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" - Ephesians 4:14 KJV [“Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.”]

Instead, we will be strong in doctrine, bringing the kingdom of God with love to the lost, becoming more like Christ as we daily walk in His Spirit.

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" - Ephesians 4:15 KJV [“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”]