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HELEN SANDERS
2-17-2024
HAVE YOU BEEN EQUIPPED?
In Ephesians 4:11-13 it says, “11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some; pastors and teachers; 12 for the perfecting [equipping] of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying (equipping) of the body of Christ: 13 til 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 fullness of Christ.
These five gifts to the church are often called the five-fold ministry. Each of these were given so that the body of Christ could be equipped to minister and to bring unity to the church. Yes, each born-again person is called to be a minister. The word minister does not mean standing in a pulpit in a black robe. It means to serve. Each of us is called to serve in some capacity. Some may be called to what is called “full-time ministry”, but all are called to minister.
It is the responsibility of the five-fold ministers to teach the saints. Several years ago, the Lord had me ask a question to those that I came across. The question was, “How many books are there in the Bible?” I was shocked that so few knew the answer. In the King James Bible, there are 66 books. 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Some of those that I asked were in full-time ministry, and they didn’t know the answer.
This led to the Lord telling me to start our ministry school. The purpose of this school was to equip the saints with basic knowledge so they would have an answer when people asked them. We are now in our third Ministry School. Several have come through the school and have been licensed for the ministry. Others have learned things they had never been taught.
There will come great deception like we have never seen. There will be many that will fall for the lies of the Antichrist and will be led into perdition. I see it already with so many Christians believing that homosexuality and abortion are okay. This is a lie that they have bought into, and it is totally contrary to scripture.
If the saints don’t know how many books there are in the Bible, then chances are they have never read it. A Pastor can teach truth my friends, but if the sheep do not want to act on it then he is not held accountable. The ones that are held accountable are the ones that have not equipped the saints for this hour that we live in.
What about you? Are you being equipped in the Church that you attend? If not, I suggest you find one that does equip you. God doesn’t want you to be ignorant. He wants you to know the truth because the truth will set you free. Get equipped and then equip others. Be the minister that God has called you to be.
GOD BLESS YOU
RUSSELL AND HELEN SANDERS
SPIRIT OF LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
www.spiritoflifeintl.org
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