Source/Author: Dr Michael Dalseno

I have a choice between stagnation and regeneration. If I don’t continue to grow and serve I will somehow finish up in a spiritual and practical backwater – out of touch, out of place, out of synch, out of reach, and out of mind. I would become a product of yesterday, a casualty of today, and a drain on tomorrow.

“He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4 11-12).

This year’s theme, “Equipping to grow, growing the serve,” relates to every member of the Church. The phrase specifically comes from the above Scripture, though Paul alludes to this profound equation in basically every epistle he wrote. EQUIP – GROW – SERVE; this is the formula which applies to every member of the Church.

Paul would say it in other ways to other churches, individuals and contexts. Paul instructed Timothy, for instance, to “endure hardship” and “fulfill your ministry” (2Tim.4.5). He sent word to Archippus to “take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” (Col.4.17). Paul even goes so far as to refer to the house of Stephanas as people that “have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints” - strong words indeed (1Cor.16.15).

Everybody has a ministry. Everybody has to serve. But the Eph. 4 formula makes it abundantly clear that in order to be able to serve, people have to grow (mature). And in order to grow, it takes equipping to get there.

The challenge commences with equipping. We tend to too easily dismiss it with thoughts of being too busy, too early, too hard, it’s somebody else’s job, or, I already know it anyway. From a personal point of view, I am periodically reminded by the Lord how much more I need to be equipped. I have a choice between stagnation and regeneration. If I don’t continue to grow and serve I will somehow finish up in a spiritual and practical backwater – out of touch, out of place, out of synch, out of reach, and out of mind. I would become a product of yesterday, a casualty of today, and a drain on tomorrow.

Please don’t become like this. Resolve that this is going to be the year that you are going to be better equipped for something. Take hold of some of the training and experience opportunities presented by the Church this year. Start praying about it now – for you, for your family, and for your Church. Don’t gravitate back to negative old and worn habits. Kick-start your spiritual mindset, and “be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph.4.23)!