The Value:We value training and equipping. We equip through modelling and providing opportunities to develop and build individuals in all that God has purposed for them that is evidently seen and that which is concealed.
Equipping
Are you equipped to fight a war?
Are you equipped to Cure / Treat a brain Tumor?
Are you equipped to Cook?
From all the above questions we understand that the word ‘Equip’ is especially used / means training, rigorous study, to supply somebody/something with what is needed for a particular purpose, provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose.
Joshua was equipped by Moses for leading the Israelites into the promised land.
Timothy was equipped by Paul for pastoring the church
Why Equip & Why Disciple?
What’s the difference?
Disciple literally means “pupil” or “learner”
First, a disciple is called to walk with Christ; they profess and live out their faith in Jesus Christ.
Second, a disciple is equipped to live like Christ; they are engaged in a process of spiritual growth and transformation.
Third, a disciple is sent to work for Christ; they are serving the Lord.
Discipleship is a bigger umbrella and Equipping is part of discipleship. A person is equipped while discipling but not discipled while equipping.
What if I don’t want to be equipped?
When we don’t disciple (train and equip) someone who surrenders their life to Christ, they will almost always become lukewarm in their faith, worldly in their behavior, and hypocritical in their witness.
All of us as Christians want to give our life to a cause. We want to make a difference and do something with our life, don’t we? When we become a disciple of Christ we will eventually want to “bear much fruit” and do “good works that will last” (John 15:8, 16). Once we have surrendered our life to Christ, experienced the joy of His grace, the warmth of His love, the cleansing of His forgiveness, and the indwelling of His Spirit, we will inevitably come to a point when we can no longer be happy unless we are serving the Lord.
Who Equips?
The Church equips. Explain the core, committed, congregation, crowd, community category. Also, we need to carry that desire to be equipped.
Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent” (Exodus 33:11).
Not only did Joshua stay in the Tent, but scripture says he “would not depart” from it…in other words, he refused to leave. Was this time in the presence of God preparation and on the job training for Joshua’s soon to be leadership position, even though he didn’t really know all that God had in mind at the time?
Numbers 27:18-20 the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hands on him; and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him.” It would be Joshua who would now lead the people into the Promised Land.
Paul equips Timothy to care for the church with the following Instructions:
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,[a]
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[b] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 3:14-4:16
How do we apply the above scriptures in today’s reality?
As mentioned earlier, all of us are called to make disciples and send them out into the world.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19 -20
Each of us need to be taught to obey, to be equipped to go out into the world to make disciples.
Who needs to be equipped?
All of us.
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:11-16
Whenever God calls us to a task, He will equip us and enable us to complete that task.”
– Michael Youssef
How does God equip us?
- An opportunity– We have numerous opportunities as individuals and as a church to make all know God/hear the voice of God. God presents us with opportunities to make exploits for him.
- Through Afflictions – God uses our suffering to help others and complete tasks for Him. How so? It is God “who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).
- Through Gifts – If you are a Christian, you must have a gift; otherwise, you contradict Scripture because Paul writes that everyone has “gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith” (Romans 12:6). He’s given them to us, so we should use them. By Paul saying that God’s given them to us, he means all of us in the Body of Christ–the church. There is no doubt that “each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another” (1 Corinthians 7:7).
- Through the Church – God has equipped us by giving us the church; the church in its ministries also equips believers for service. God knows that you can’t do it alone and you can’t live in isolation and so he has prepared you a community of people called out of the world. You need a community so that you can know him more and make him known.
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality – Romans 12: 10 – 13
- Through the Holy Spirit – The Spirit of God lives in us, and is with us always. In the work that God has called us to do, remember he is your partner, For we are God’s fellow workers 1 Cor 3:9. Holy Spirit empowers believes in witnessing, Acts 1:8.
Jesus also equips us through His cross, to take up His yolk which is light and walk. He equips us to fight greater battles of life.
To end with here’s a short afterthought
Have you ever watched a pit crew in action at an auto race? I had the opportunity to be in the pit area during a race, and I was impressed.
In less time than it takes for most of us to put our seatbelt on and adjust the mirror, the crew had changed four tires, filled the gas tank, washed the windshield, given the driver a drink, and made vital adjustments to the car. It happens so quickly and efficiently because each crew member knows his job and does it right.
Speaking at a chapel service before the race, chaplain Max Helton said to the drivers and their crews, “Imagine all the people it takes to put on a race. What if they all wanted to drive? It would be chaos.” It’s the same with the crew. If everyone wanted to change tires and no one wanted to fill the gas tank, the car wouldn’t have a very long ride.
Likewise, in the body of Christ we all have been equipped with different skills to do certain tasks (Eph. 4:7-16). We can’t all be pastors or teachers. Some of us have to “change the tires” and “wash the windshield.” And each job is as important as the other.
For the body of Christ to fulfill its purpose, we each need to concentrate on our part and do it the best we can. –J D Branon
God builds His church and makes it strong
By using you and me;
And if we all will do our part,
The world Christ’s love will see.
Teamwork divides the effort
and multiplies the effect.
Let’s pray.
Sandra wife of Virjil .The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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