Spiritual Leadership 2 - What Equipping Brings...

Yesterday I began the process of writing about the reality of what authentic spiritual leadership looks like according to Ephesians 4:11-16.  Here is the quick review:  (1) Jesus alone gives spiritual leadership to people (2)  The church is to be led by Spiritual/Godly Leaders (3) Leaders are to be Equippers  (4) Leaders value the giftings of the Saints  (5) Leaders know that the goal is building maturity. These serve as the foundation of authentic spiritual leadership and they must be present.  When they are not present then the church will not move forward in the most effective way. When they are present, then everyone can experience an ownership and togetherness in ministry that thrusts the body forward where there is city community influence.  So when the leadership understands that equipping the saints for ministry and will lead the body to Christlike maturity, then here is what happens naturally with this kind of focus.  It is what Paul writes in verse 12 & 13 of Ephesians 4.

12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

So building on yesterday's foundation, here is what equipping the saints for ministry and having the goal of maturity will bring:

1.  The people of God lead out in ministry (vs 12)

This is Ministry that is not just happening among the staff, but it happening among the whole body of believers. It happens when people are taught who Jesus is and what it means to walk with him.  They then in turn long to serve and invest their gifts both in the church and in their community.  Ministry happens naturally, but if one misses the foundation of equipping, then one misses out in seeing the people lead out in effective ministry.

2.  The Body of Christ is built up (vs. 12)

Look at that closely.  When people are serving effectively, then the natural result is that the body is built up.  Jesus is honored and people see the greatness of his glory when the local body of Christ is built up and is strong.  

3.  Moves the Body toward Unity of Faith and the Knowledge of Jesus (vs. 13a)

Look at the progression closely of the first two points until this new point.  The leaders know that the goal is maturity and equipping and they pursue it passionately.  This naturally leads to the more of the body doing ministry where people are coming to know Christ, marriages are being healed and an obedience flows out of their hearts. This in turn builds the local body of Christ to be strong, have community influence, and where it is clear that Jesus is alive in the midst of the people.  Then, when that is going on, people want more and more of the power of living in his presence and it moves the body toward a unity and a depth of knowing Jesus that they have never known. 

4.  Moves the Body to the fullness of Christ (vs. 13b)

There is a passion for the glory of Christ that moves a body of believers to want everything that Jesus truly is.  If this pursuit of this ever stops, then some serious soul searching needs to be done.  This is the ultimate pursuit of the local church - Jesus!!!  Jesus is our pursuit and this pursuit drives everything and is the ultimate foundation for our desire to equip the saints for effective ministry.  

I want to be somewhere, among believers who want to be lost in the fullness of who Jesus is and where we see people being totally changed by the manifest presence of God in their midst.  God is always looking for a people who will say "yes" to him no matter the cost.  When he finds these kind of people, to them he comes and grants their very desire - More and more of Him.

Do you long for something like this?

Until tomorrow for part 3 (last part)...What the effects of the fullness of Christ bring.