Why Are You Struggling in Your Role With Christ?

Ephesians 4:11-12 gives us Jesus' intended order of operations for His Church. There aren't any other options or alternative regardless of men's ideas. 

11 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: 

The Church, we the bride of Christ, only have three main responsibilities. 

1. Mature in God's Words. Hear them, Do them, Practice them.

2. Do the work of the ministry with those Words. Practice makes perfect. Perfect offers teaching. Teaching changes lives.

3. Focus on the Goal: Edifying or building the Church for Jesus.  Yes, it could include "building" a new building, but it is to support the "building" or "edifying," (increased population) of those in the Lambs Book of Life.

why do people struggle with Jesus' order?

Because maturing or perfecting our knowledge, practice, and perfecting living God's Words on Earth, takes time, effort, and doesn't meet the generations expectations of instant gratification. 

We've steriotyped the younger generation of having this attitude, however, in the Church, the older generations have thrived on it.

The idea that God just called you to serve, doesn't mean He called you to split your church and lead, or start another church. That thinking is as satanic as Lucifer's initial sin. Hello pride! 

Just because you've been called, doesn't mean you skip Christ's order of operations. It just means you've been invited to participate. Accepted to His Academy. You still need to earn your degree and graduate. Jesus said, "If you don't understand the way things work on Earth, you not going to understand Heavenly things." This is how it works on Earth and in Heaven.

An Old Testament example, which is one of many, is how Elisha studied with Elijah for a minimum of six years after being called. God has fashioned each of us perfectly for unique roles in His service and the success needed to faithfully fulfill those roles. It takes maturing, doing what we learn, and practicing to perfect the role.

In the New Testament Jesus as Son of Man had to learn His Father's Will, practice it, perfect it (mature) and teach it. He and God the Father talked often, and Jesus said, "I only say or do what I hear my Father tell me." 

After Jesus, Paul found that He needed a minimum of 2 years learning, doing, and practicing, before He was able to step in to His role in the Church.

Even the disciples spent a minimum of 3 years, learning, doing, practicing, and perfecting the roles they would hold for Christ. In what world did you think you were so much better, you could bypass the order? That is pride.

Why are you struggling in your role with Christ. There's an easy, truthful, answer. Because you don't want to do the order of operations Jesus mandated to get there. 

Oh yeah - Some of you just got offended and disagreed - Good! Grow up, renew your mind, repent (think differently) and stop wasting time wanting a "NOW Role." Choose instead to get busy learning, doing, practicing, and perfecting (maturing) in God's Words without the pride of thinking you should be instantly called to lead. Follow first - leading will come as perfection (maturity) is established.

The best sign of maturity isn't thinking you can lead on your own, it's focusing on helping the ones above you, become successful for Christ.

Honor them, so God can honor you.

Practice will end. Leading will begin.