We look after our bodies, and similarly Jesus Christ the Head of the Body of Christ looks after His Body through the individual members, which are each part of that Body and directed by the Head Christ Himself. Therefore He has given certain ministries to the Body of Christ to look after the Body of Christ. Paul wrote about it in Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
These ministries are given by the Lord Jesus Himself. We cannot ordain a pastor or a ministry. These ministries are ordained by God Himself. If we make ourselves available as members of the Body of Christ, Christ Himself fits us into that slot which He has prepared for us. He called Paul to be an Apostle of the Gospel of Christ and therefore He calls each and every person into a specific function. He has a special purpose for each and every person but we need to be guided and directed by the Holy Spirit ourselves. We need to be directed by the Head Himself. Jesus said My sheep know My voice and they follow Me. Therefore we as individual members of the Body need to be fruitful, if we are not active, then we are dead, dysfunctional members of that Body. It’s like a tree that does not bear fruit, if it doesn’t bear fruit, it will be cut off. These functions in the Body of Christ, not the organized church, but the body of Christ, the living Body of Christ they are put in place, ordained by Jesus Christ Himself. If the Lord calls you to be a pastor or He calls you to be a teacher then He equips you. If He makes you a prophet or prophetess He Himself equips you, but you need to avail yourself to Jesus Christ then He can use you.
Paul also wrote to Timothy, he said: “But in a big house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and of earth some unto honor and some unto dishonor. If a man therefore purify himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use and prepared for every good work” 2 Timothy 2:20-21.
As members of the Body of Christ we need to avail ourselves to Jesus Christ. We are not free riders we are called for service and you and me each need to be directed by the Lord Himself so that we can be fruitful in His Body, His Kingdom.
