Why?
Why did Jesus catalyze a five-fold team (Peter, James and John)? What benefits did the Master expect from such a strategy?Fortunately for us, Apostle Paul was given clear revelation on this question and the Spirit inspired him to write it down in Ephesians 4!
Reading the Gospels does provide us with lots of clarity about Jesus. He had a missional plan from day one (Jn 1:13). Since His time on earth was limited (Mt 8:31), a trained and empowered team would be needed to keep His mission going after His departure (Mk 1:16ff). Specifically, Jesus activated three, diverse catalysts to lead together (Lk 9:28ff).
Reading Apostle Paul’s Ephesian letter (Eph 4:12-16), however, expands our understanding of Jesus’ rationale by detailing His multiple desired outcomes: “It was Christ who gave (a five-fold team) to equip His people for works of service so that” (vs. 11-12):
“The body of Christ may be built up” (vs 12) and Paul highlights three specific ways:
- So that His community would experience “unity in the faith” (vs 13)
- So that His community would have a “knowledge of the Son of God and become mature” (vs 13), and
- So that His community would “attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”. (vs 13)
As highlighted in a prior blog, our Heavenly Parent(s) place a high priority on maturing and equipping us for Their missional plans (Eph 2:10). Accordingly, this same vision and priority is front and center for any APEST team!
“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” (vs 14).
Jesus knew from personal experience that His persistent enemy is highly motivated to disrupt and destabilize Kingdom communities (Lk 4:1ff). It is, therefore, no surprise that alignment to Jesus’ words and ways is an important priority for APEST leaders.
Paul details a third desired outcome for APEST equipping, namely relational authenticity. “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” (vs 15).
Jesus knows how tempting it is for His followers to take offense at one another rather than be transparent and honest (Mt 18:15ff). As we have seen, Paul was very clear on godly relationships as a prerequisite for five-fold ministry (Eph 4:1-3, 15, 32).
Lastly, Paul highlights one more priority for APEST teams to focus on: Jesus wants all His followers prepared for and engaged in a godly building of the Kingdom. “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” (vs 16).
Following Jesus means loving and serving others well (1 Pt 4:8-10).
To Summarize: Jesus is calling all five-fold teams to equip their communities to walk in: unity, His Word, Jesus’ authority, stability, transparency and godly service of our world.
Which of Jesus’ priorities best describe your community? Which describes a needed place of growth?
Choosing Jesus’ ways again today,
