As we continue studying how to comply with II Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith,” we find this basic evaluation of our faith can help us live the most fruitful and fulfilling life possible. There is no other life as exciting or fulfilling as following the King and doing His will. This will help us stay on course and close to Him.

         The primary way the Lord has provided for us to follow Him and to grow up into Him and in the faith to which we are called is to become an active part of His body. Ephesians contains the most detailed account of New Testament church life, and Chapter 4 explains how this is accomplished. There may not be a church body anywhere on earth today that functions according to this example where each person is taught, trained, equipped, and functioning. Why? How can the church get there?

         Spiritual transformation begins with vision. As more and more Christians are acquiring the vision to become part of a body of believers according to the Ephesians 4 model, we know the time is near. However, this cannot happen until the apostolic ministry that measures up to the biblical stature of that ministry is restored. Apostles are far more than the franchise-builders they are purported to be. They are master-builders appointed by God to build His house into what He has called it to be. When authentic apostolic ministry is restored, there will be apostolic fruit. 

Presently, all the equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4 are functioning in only a fraction of what they are called to be, and for some, that fraction is quite remarkable. However, there is much more to come. The apostolic ministry that is coming will help equip all these ministries, so they can rise to their full statures and equip all of God’s people.

Rather than lamenting how far the present church has fallen from its biblical model, let’s impart a vision for what will soon come and help prepare the church for it. Church historians have often called new movements of the Holy Spirit “waves.” If you have ever surfed, you know that to ride a wave you must first discern where the wave will break. Then you must position yourself to be there, moving in the right direction, when the wave comes.

For the body of Christ to prepare for the harvest that Jesus said would come at the end of this age, we must become the functioning body we are called to be. Ephesians 4:15-16 tells us how: “we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”  

         Growing up in “all aspects into Him” requires “the proper working of each individual part.” If less than 5% of Christians know their calling, we obviously have a long way to go. When the apostolic ministry is restored to the church, and all equipping ministries begin to function in their full statures, this will happen much faster.

         Next week, we will cover the four stages of this process and how they can now be implemented into church life. When we do this, we can expect an increasing momentum in all aspects of our spiritual lives. Then we will all be well-positioned and moving in the right direction when the next great wave of the Holy Spirit comes.

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