The Miracle of Life Change: The End or Not?

For those who know what has been going on lately, as of last Wednesday (not yesterday, but the one before it), I finished facilitating a course called The Miracle of Life Change. It was a very powerful series and I had a lot of good response to it. Something that is key to understanding how to experience life change is that it is an on-going process. When God first converts us from the old into the new, we begin our journey towards maturity. It's a process! So, for those who've completed the course, don't let it end there, keep pressing forward!

For those who have not been in the loop or have not taken this course before, I would encourage you to look into it. And even still, if you can't, check out Ephesians 4 (even though I love the entire book). Why Ephesians 4? Well, in the grand summary of Ephesians, chapters 1,2, and 3 are all about what God did (very loose summary). Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are how Paul tells the believer to walk/live their life (again, very loose summary).

Paul uses a very clear (to the first century church) word picture that reaches back into Psalms when he talks about "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." (NIV) He is basically stating that because Christ was victorious, or the proof that he was victorious is that he gave gifts! So picture this: In the days of old, Israel's army would conquer a city and then summon the general or king (of Israel) to come and lead the train back through cities of Israel. The king customarily rode on a white horse and led first the army, which was followed by the captives (which were either half naked or completely naked.... the point was humiliation), and then followed by the enemy's animals and carts of possessions. So if the king came through your city and you watched as the train paraded through the streets, you were given gifts because the king "won" the victory. How cool would that be to get a gold earring or a cow because your king was so awesome? Fantabulous!

Notice something else about this; it's the king that gives you the gift. Your king gives you a gift(or gifts) of his choosing. You don't get to pick it(or them) out. So why do you get the gifts? Because of what Christ accomplished. Now notice right below that passage about the giving of gifts what it says. It tells you exactly what the gifts are for (right after the parenthesis of course). "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (NIV) How cool is that? So, he gave theses gifts so that some would be apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers. And by extension of that, those people are suppose to use those gifts given in order to equip the body to do works of ministry!

Not too far after this passage, Paul says that we all are to work together as each "part does its work". I would encourage you to read the whole chapter (or the whole book) and then pray about it. What gift or gifts did God give you? What has He placed on your heart to do? The Bible says that God created us to do good works which he prepared for us. That means he has a plan for your life. That plan is so perfect that nothing you could ever imagine will ever compare to it. So do you know what "part" you've been called to play? Pray about it and walk in His love. God Bless.