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The Goal of the Five Guys

Words of Faith Final

The Goal of the Five Guys

Words of Faith 3-8-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Ephesians 4

[11] It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,   [12] to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up   [13] until 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.   [14] Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

 

     What is the purpose of the equipping that God gives through leaders to the Body of Christ? The Holy Spirit breathes this purpose to us through Paul... to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up...

      The word that God inspired here is oikodome, and it means to edify, make stronger, or reinforce structurally with support and sound architecture.  The goal that God has for the Body through leadership is to build up a stronger, more competent Body of Christ doing the ministry of the Gospel.

     The goal is not to magnify or celebrate the leaders.  The Five Guy ministry is not about the Five Guys.  It is about the Body of Christ. A leader who loses sight of this will be both ineffective and frustrated.  Lesson one in leadership ministry is-- It’s not about me. 

      The goal is building up, strengthening, and reinforcing the architecture of the Body until 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.

       Listen to this vision.  Unity in faith and knowledge of Jesus.  Maturity that reaches the whole measure the fullness of Christ. That none would miss out on any of what Jesus has for you.  That sounds like a healthy Body of Christ.

       What does that process look like?  There is some work to do to get to that place.  It will not always be comfortable.  Godly leaders will always challenge us to grow and discover who we are meant to be in the Body of Christ.  Some leaders may be quite different from us and may even irritate us.

       Apostles will steadfastly challenge us to think beyond ourselves and our culture.  Prophets will challenge our worldliness and idolatry.  Evangelists will constantly remind us of the burden for the lost. Pastors will exhort us to care for one another, feed the flock, and move ahead to where God wants us to be-- and this means moving out of our comfort zones.  Teachers will bring to light truths in God’s Word that convict us of sin and changes that are needed.

       For the Five Guys ministry is not an easy life.  Apostles often live very dangerous lives and are ignored by believers.  Prophets are often not received in their home town-- are often persecuted or even killed-- and many lead very lonely lives.  Evangelists may be tuned out by those who do not want to share their urgency for the lost. Pastors are sometimes honored but are also rebelled against by the people when vision leads out of their comfort zone. Teachers are sometimes ignored as people become set in their belief or understanding.

      How we receive these people who are gifts to us is important.  Jesus said: "Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward..." (Mt 10:41).  Paul commended pastors, apostles, and missionaries such as Timothy, Apollos, and Phoebe-- giving them special honor. Paul exhorted care of all those who work among the Body of Christ. 

      Some good questions to ask:  Have you received the Five Guys-- the gift of leaders God has placed within the Body for you?  Have you received the shaping, encouragement, guidance, instruction, refinement, direction, and deployment that God has for you-- through those leaders that He has given to you?  Are you better prepared and refined for works of service-- with the gifts God has given to you?

       If you have Spiritual Gifts... but no one helping shape, guide, and refine you, you are no longer part of God’s plan-- the Five Guys plan.

 

        Father God, I want the shaping of the Five Guys.  I need shaping, guiding, and refining.  Show me the ways that I can receive the equipping by leadership.  Show me how I can receive and honor the ministers and leaders you have placed in my life.  In Jesus' Name.

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2010, 2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.