A Family Blessed to Bless the Community
ICS Daily Devotions
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
God has put in place the fivefold ministry in order for the church to be strong, stable and well equipped. Pastors are entrusted to lead the church because of the gift and the love for the sheep. They have the pastoral heart to genuinely care for the believers in the sheepfold. Therefore, it is important to be under a local shepherd whom God has appointed to love and care for you.
1 Timothy 4:13-15 (NKJV) Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
Timothy was set apart for ministry. It was a gift given to him by God and the elders ordained him through the laying of hands. He was to provide pastoral care, leadership and teaching to the church in Ephesus. Pastors of the church must always have a vision and know the direction before they set out to lead their flocks. They should share their vision with the church so that everyone knows what needs to be accomplished. However, they should always check to see that their flocks are in tune with their vision and that no one has fallen by the wayside.
The local church has a mandate from God to fulfil her calling in the city and the country. It must not be like a cruise ship where everyone is just in a holiday mode without any commitment. In fact, many churches are like cruise ships trying to leave the harbour but the tugboats are pulling them in different directions. Such ships will not even get to leave the port due to strife and division. Instead, the local church must be like an aircraft carrier that is on a mission commissioned by God with Jesus as the captain of the carrier. Therefore, every one of us is like an aircraft on a mission or holding a position in the carrier and the pastor is the chaplain in the carrier to nurse those who are hurt back to health. ICS’ church vision statement is we are a family blessed to bless the community and the nations, and that is our mandate or goal for the church.
Pastors cannot fulfil the callings of building the local church by themselves. They need partners just like Paul who was in partnership with the church in Philippi. The church will not be effective and efficient in carrying out her calling unless the local body of believers is of one accord, the same love, and like-minded with the pastor and focus on the same goal of preaching the Gospel. Therefore, all of us need to be aligned with ICS’ vision by serving in the various ministries so that we can fulfil the mandate given by God together.
Sermon Series: ServeFest
