Equipped by the Spirit

The enacting of dormant spiritual gifts in the church has been one of my passions since I was a Sophomore at NC State starting a Freshman dorm Bible Study.  There are four main passages concerning spiritual gifts in the New Testament (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:, Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Peter 4:7-11).  No list is comprehensive, but each is helpful to understand purpose and power spiritual gifts bring to the body of Christ and to the world!  In the coming months, before we launch Harvest North Raleigh, we will spend time studying through the gifts and their implementation in the church as the multiple parts work together giving glory to the Head, which is Christ.   

I was privileged to attend a 2-day equipping conference this past week with Don Cousins, author of LeaderShift.  During this time, he focused primarily on Ephesians 4:11-12, "And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."  The first four spiritual gifts are leadership gifts and their purpose is to equip the saints.  Equipping of the saints cannot occur without Scripture used to, "Teach, reprove, correct, and train in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).  This equipping with God's Word informs and directs every beleiver and guides our service to the church using our gifts. 

A church who enacts its spiritual gifts as one body is a healthy church. 

I am so excited to study these texts and gifts with you in the coming months so that we can serve exactly how the Lord equipped us, in order to glorify Him through His vessel, the Church.  "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7). 

Your pastor and teacher (Eph 4:11),

mike