HOLY SPIRIT MINISTRIES (Ephesians 4:11-12)
Being prepared for serving God.
Jesus gives to the church five different sorts of helpers to prepare us for serving God. The Holy Spirit helps them to help us.
Jesus may decide to use any of us to be one of those helpers. He may use us in different ways at different times.
Apostle – someone who is sent.
In the church, an apostle is someone who is able to know what to do and do it.
Jesus wants things to be done in his kingdom. Someone has to know what should be done and to lead others in doing it, so that people are not confused about what to do, and so that we are able to work together.
When Jesus sends someone to do a particular job in his kingdom, they are being an apostle. Because they know what Jesus has given them to do, they are able to lead others in doing it.
An apostle can also help by encouraging us to find out for ourselves what God is calling us to do, and to be confident in doing it.
Who do you know who God uses as a helper in this way?
Is this a way that you would like God to use you?
Prophet – someone who speaks.
In the church, a prophet is someone that God speaks to about what he is feeling, what he is going to do, what he wants to happen and what he wants people to know.
When things are going wrong, or when something new or special is going to happen, or when there is something that we need to hear from God about, Jesus sometimes helps us by giving someone a message about it so that we know what we should do in this situation.
When Jesus shows someone something and they tell it to the people that it is meant for, they are being a prophet. Because they have heard what Jesus wants people to know, they are able to tell people his message.
A prophet can also help by encouraging us to listen for what God is saying to us, and to be confident in sharing that in the right way.
Who do you know who God uses as a helper in this way?
Is this a way that you would like God to use you?
Evangelist – someone who is a messenger with good news.
In the church, an evangelist is someone who tells people about Jesus and helps them to decide to give their lives to Jesus.
Jesus wants people to give their lives to him, to enjoy everything that God has for them and to be involved in the work of his kingdom. An evangelist helps people to do that by telling them about Jesus – who he is, what he has done, what he wants to do in their lives. The evangelist also tells people how they can trust their lives to Jesus, and encourages and helps them to decide to do that.
When someone tells others about Jesus and helps them to give their lives to Him, they are being an evangelist. Because they know how to explain about Jesus, and because of what Jesus has done in their own life, they are able to help others to decide to follow Jesus.
An evangelist can also help by showing us how we can explain clearly to others about Jesus, and how we can help others to trust their lives to him.
Who do you know who God uses as a helper in this way?
Is this a way that you would like God to use you?
Shepherd – someone who takes care of sheep.
In the church, a shepherd is someone who takes care of a group of people who are following Jesus – making sure that they have everything they need, and protecting them from things which could be harmful.
Jesus wants his people to be protected. We could be harmed by doing or thinking wrong things. We could be harmed by what other people may say or do to us. We could be harmed by hurtful things that happen in our lives. We could be hurt by the powers of evil. Jesus gives some people the ability to be like shepherds – to care for us and to help us to avoid or to come through harmful things. Although we will not avoid being hurt at times, we will be helped to overcome bad things that have happened, and to know God’s healing and strength.
Jesus wants his people to grow in knowing him and in living for his kingdom. Those who are shepherds, as well as protecting us, help us to grow as part of Jesus’ people – each of us being like one of Jesus’ flock of sheep.
When someone cares for and encourages others who are following Jesus, and helps them to be safe from things that would stop them living as a Christian, they are being a shepherd. Because they can see what people need, and they care about it, they are able to help people to grow together in knowing and following Jesus.
A shepherd can also help us by showing us how to care for others in ways that will help them to be all that they should be.
Who do you know who God uses as a helper in this way?
Is this a way that you would like God to use you?
Teacher – someone who teaches.
In the church, a teacher is someone who shows what the Bible says, who explains it in a way that people understand, and who helps them to live in a way that pleases God.
Jesus wants his people to learn to understand what is in the Bible so that they will know him better, and they will discover how God wants them to live. Jesus gives to some people a special ability to see what is in the Bible and to explain it in a way that the Holy Spirit uses to make a difference in people’s lives.
When someone speaks or writes about what is in the Bible in a way that helps people to receive what God wants to do in them, then they are being a teacher.
Because they have studied and understand what the Holy Spirit is saying in the Bible, they are able to help others to see things that they might not have seen themselves.
A teacher can also help us by showing us how we can study the Bible and learn to understand its teaching for ourselves.
Who do you know who God uses as a helper in this way?
Is this a way that you would like God to use you?
Being prepared for serving God
Jesus gives to the church five different sorts of helpers to prepare us for serving God. (Ephesians 4v11-13)
The Holy Spirit helps them to help us.
Jesus may decide to use any of us to be one of those helpers.
He may use us in different ways at different times.
Apostle – someone who is sent.
In the church, an apostle is someone who is able to know what to do and do it.
Jesus wants things to be done in his kingdom. Someone has to know what should be done and to lead others in doing it, so that people are not confused about what to do, and so that we are able to work together.
When Jesus sends someone to do a particular job for his kingdom, they are being an apostle.
Because they know what Jesus has given them to do, they are able to lead others in doing it.
An apostle can also help by encouraging us to find out for ourselves what God is calling us to do, and to be confident in doing it.
Prophet – someone who speaks.
In the church, a prophet is someone that the Holy Spirit speaks to about what God is feeling, what he is going to do, what he wants to happen and what he wants people to know.
When things are going wrong, or when something new or special is going to happen, or when there is something that we need to hear from God about, Jesus helps us by giving someone a message about it so that we know what we should do in that situation.
When Jesus shows someone something and they tell it to the people that it is meant for, they are being a prophet.
Because they have heard what Jesus wants people to know, they are able to tell people his message.
A prophet can also help by encouraging us to listen for what God is saying to us, and to be confident in sharing that in the right way.
Evangelist – a messenger of good news.
In the church, an evangelist is someone who tells people about Jesus and helps them to decide to give their lives to Jesus.
Jesus wants people to give their lives to him, to enjoy everything that God has for them and to be involved in the work of his kingdom. An evangelist helps people to do that by telling them about Jesus – who Jesus is, what he has done, what he wants to do in their lives, and how they can trust their lives to him.
When someone tells others about Jesus and helps them to give their lives to Him, they are being an evangelist. Because they know how to explain about Jesus, and because of what Jesus has done in their own life, they are able to help others to decide to follow Jesus.
An evangelist can also help by showing us how we can explain clearly to others about Jesus, and how we can help others to trust their lives to him.
Shepherd/Pastor – someone who takes care of sheep.
In the church, a shepherd/pastor is someone who takes care of a group of people who are following Jesus – making sure that they have what they need, and protecting them from things which could be harmful.
Jesus wants us to be protected from doing or thinking wrong things; from what other people may say or do to us; from hurtful things that happen in our lives; and from attacks of evil. Jesus gives some people the ability to care for us and to help us to avoid or to come through harmful things and to know God’s healing and strength. Those who are shepherds, protect us, and help us to grow as part of Jesus’ family.
When someone cares for and encourages others who are following Jesus, and helps them to be safe from things that would stop them living as a Christian, they are being a shepherd. Because they can see what people need, and they care about it, they are able to help people to grow together in knowing and following Jesus.
A shepherd can also help us by showing us how to care for others and to help them to be all that they should be.
Teacher – someone who teaches.
In the church, a teacher is someone who shows what the Bible says, who explains it in a way that people understand, and who helps them to live in a way that pleases God.
Jesus wants his people to learn to understand what is in the Bible so that they will know him better, and they will discover how God wants them to live. Jesus gives to some people a special ability to see what is in the Bible and to explain it in a way that the Holy Spirit uses to make a difference in people’s lives.
When someone speaks or writes about what is in the Bible in a way that helps people to receive what God wants to do in them, then they are being a teacher.
Because they have studied and understand what the Holy Spirit is saying in the Bible, they are able to help others to see things that they might not have seen themselves.
A teacher can also help us by showing us how we can study the Bible and learn to understand its teaching for ourselves.