Jump Start # 3616

Ephesians 4:12 “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”

Lately, there has been a variety of workers down at the church building. Some days, it has just been busy. A guy showed up to do the annual inspection on the fire extinguishers. He said we had five in the building. I had to help him find them. There has been a leak in the roof and teams of workers have been attacking that. One of our cameras hasn’t been working and tech crews were out running wires and fixing those things. These people all came from different companies and they each had specific things they were doing. The roofers were not interested in the cameras and the tech team didn’t have the know-how to fix the roof. But one thing they all had in common was trucks filled with the tools and supplies they needed to do the job.

And, that leads us to the front part of our verse today. “Equipping the saints,” or perfecting them, as the King James states. The word for equipping means  to make fully ready, prepare or complete. In one ancient writing, it was used to load the boat. I like that concept, “load the boat.”

If one was going on a fishing trip, the boat would be loaded with fishing poles, tackle, nets and things to hold fish in. The boat would be prepared for that. If one was sailing across the seas to deliver grain and merchandise, then crates and barrels would fill the boat. If the boat was carrying passengers, then food and comfort would be the main preparations. I’ve been on paddle wheelers, river boats and ocean cruises. The vessels were prepared for their destination. The boats had been loaded.

Our verse is not about boats, but people, and not just any people. The people of God, or saints, is the focus of our passage. They have been equipped, completed, loaded with the necessary tools to serve. The purpose was to get the saints ready for the work of service. Duty calls. Love demands. People need us. It’s all hands on deck. But, before we can fully and completely do our job of helping others, we need to ‘load the boat.’

Some thoughts for us:

First, God has supplied the supplies. We are not left to wonder what ought to be put on the boat. The previous verse says, “He gave..”  The “He” is God. God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. That’s the supplies. That’s what goes on the boat. Those are the very things that will equip us. This is God’s supply chain.

That list is interesting. Each are different, but each are similar. Evangelists are not apostles. Prophets are not apostles. Evangelists and pastors have different roles. But, one thing they all have in common is teaching God’s word. That’s what the apostles did. That’s what prophets did. That’s the work of evangelists. That’s what pastors and teachers do. No counselors. No baby sitters. No fitness instructors. No growth management experts. Just those five that are listed. That’s all that is needed. That’s all that is necessary. That’s what will ready the saints to do their work. That’s what will load the boat for us.

God didn’t leave it up to us to figure out what we most needed. God knew. God provided. Nothing else is necessary.

Second, the platform upon which these supplies are going to be loaded on to our boat, is a willing and open heart that will be taught God’s word. The saints are to be equipped. How God wants this done is by the teaching of His word. In that word, we see David shepherding the people of God. In that word, we find our Lord, compassionately helping others. In that word, we see the selfless sacrifices of Paul. In that word, we learn humility, love and putting others first. Motivated by the word. Challenged by the word. Taught by the word. Led by the word.

Sermons empty of God’s word will not equip us. Our boats will be empty. Classes that spend more time in speculation and opinions, that seeing what God says, won’t help us do the work that needs to be done. God is counting on us to be His eyes, fingers and feet. But, we won’t go unless we are ready. Load the boat!

Third, through the service of the saints, the church is built up. We encourage one another. We lift our spirits. We support and help each other. This is why saints go out of their way for others. This is why the second mile and even the third mile is walked with others. This is why we sit in the surgery waiting room with others. This is why we go to the funeral. This is why we stick around after services. Our boats are loaded. We are well supplied. We have a good word to share. We have a smile to extend. We have a heart that is open for others.

And, we’ve gotten that way because we have been supplied by God. We are ready to do the job that is before us. We stand upon the Scriptures and we now face the task of encouraging others. Building up, making stronger, encouraging others is what we are about. We do that in worship. We do that privately by our conversations, sharing and love for one another.

It really isn’t hard to do this. Like a work truck, we are stocked with the tools necessary to do this job. There is a reciprocal effect through the N.T. We have been taught, so we teach others. We have been blessed, so we bless others. We have been forgiven, so we forgive others. We have been shown the light, so we show others the light.

These things do not stop with us. They pass through us to others. Building up one another is just one way we continue the reciprocal cycle.

Load the boats…

Roger