The Equipping Station
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The "EQUIPPING STATION " The following are the key notes and principles that we use in The GFM Ministry in the training and equipping of people for further Christian Ministry. May they bless and inspire you to greater things in God. These are the basic notes for training our people. “The Gospel Faith Messenger” Ministry . . . The "EQUIPPING STATION"
The purpose of Leadership Training is to release the Church ~ and individual’s in it ~to function effectively! To see God’s people come in to their full potential in Him! All of them, into all of it! Not just a selected few! "It was He (Jesus) Who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 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 men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him Who is the Head, that is, Christ. 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” (Ephesians 4:11-16, NIV). The Scripture is quite clear as to the reason why the five-fold ministry giftings of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers need to be recognized and functioning in the Church today. They hold the "keys" to "preparing God’s people for works of service.” The apostle and prophet ministries hold the "key of knowledge” (Luke 11:49-52). Without them the Christians "suffer" through ignorance! Hosea 4:6 tells us, "God’s people are destroyed through lack of knowledge!” The word "destroyed" here means "to be silent; to cause to cease; to destroy; to cut off; laying waste, that which is laid waste" (Wilson’s). Ignorance is a killer! Pastors and teachers cannot equip the Church on their own. We need the over-all balance of apostles, prophets and evangelists too. Until the Christian Church recognizes this we will fail to achieve God’s purpose for us! The five-fold ministries get:
The Amplified Bible puts it this way: "His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the Church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God; that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood – the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection – the completeness found in Him . . . For because of Him the whole body (the Church in all its various parts closely) joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its needs] is working properly (in all its functions), grows to full maturity, building itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:12-16). That is the fruit of the five-fold ministries. The Church desperately needs to really mature into "the accurate knowledge of the Son of God.” What a challenge!
ARCHIPPUS Let’s learn from the life of Archippus. His name is recorded only twice in the whole Bible, yet we see some important things for us to learn from him. The two verses are: "And say to Archippus (meaning: "horse chief"; "chief groom" or "master of the horse"), Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfil it” (Colossians 4:17, KJV). "And to our beloved Apphia and Archippus, our fellowsoldier, and to the church in your house” (Philemon 2, KJV). The word "fellowsoldier" means: "one serving as a soldier of Jesus; one who works in conjunction with another, or together with another." Archippus was told he had received a ministry "in the Lord.” His responsibility was to fulfil it! There is a huge difference or gap between "the receiving” of a ministry and "the fulfilling” of it! That gap is the equipping process. Many talk of "their ministry," but few go on to effectively "fulfil that ministry" they talk about. If we take the meaning of the name "Archippus," we see it has to do with the grooming and preparation of horses. In the natural that is a very important and responsible position. The chief groom has to know how to handle the horses in his care. He has to work to a timetable of having the horses at their very best for and on the day of a show, a sale, or a race. If the horse is for sale, and it is not in the best possible condition, the price will be lower. The groom’s job can be "on the line." It involves discipline, timing, working in all kinds of weather, training the horses, getting and keeping them fit. The groom has to know what he is doing. He carries large responsibility and is accountable to the horses owner or owners. In Philemon 2 we see that Archippus was "a fellow soldier.” He could march (in step), strategize, fight, protect and work with others. He was not only good on his own, he was also good at being a team person. He carried spiritual responsibility of a house church. He was a Leader! Will you be an "Archippus" for Jesus and fulfil your ministry, which you have received in the Lord? THE AIM OF THIS TRAINING COURSE I like to refer to these "Equipping Station" notes as my guidelines for the training of my "Timothy’s." The name "Timothy" comes from the mentoring relationship that existed between the Apostle Paul and his spiritual "son in the faith", Timothy. Paul took personal interest in Timothy, training, encouraging, inputting and imparting prophetically into his life (the prophetic input is very important in Leadership Training). He equipped him! Then the day came when Timothy was released in his own right into his own ministry. He actually rose to be ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians. Paul trained him well. When Paul was commissioning Timothy into the ministry he gave him this advice: “This charge (“command”) I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience . . .” (1 Timothy 1:18-19; see also 1 Timothy 4:14-16, NKJV). The Prophetic Ministry through prophecies gave him three vital keys to him fulfilling His calling in Jesus Christ. We need those keys, too, that come through others prophesying into our lives by the Holy Spirit. Abraham trained his own servants – 318 of them! (Genesis 14:13-16). We place a high priority on developing the prophetic in our lives. A prophetic person (in simple terms) is one who is cultivating the voice of God in their lives and seeking to live by that which he/she hears from God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:15-17; John 15:26; John 16:7-15), therefore when we are hearing from Him we can have the joy of getting it right! It is recognizing the way God speaks to us that releases so much of the Holy Spirit ministry and gifts out of our lives. Spiritual Gifts are our “weaponry” to enable us to effectively accomplish the purposes of God! People around the world are desperately in need of a supernatural touch from God in their lives. The Holy Spirit actively working in and through us enables us to meet those needs in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! This is what Equipping for Prophetic Leadership is about ~
THE TRAINING ENVIRONMENT My philosophy in life has been: "Every day in God is a preparation for a better tomorrow!” Don’t forget: "There’s always somebody waiting on the other side of your obedience!” Ministry is all about "learning obedience” (Hebrews 5:7-9). (That is where you are at right now! The purpose of this "Equipping Station" is the moulding of your character into that of an unashamed man or woman of God!) ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
Quote: “A vision that is real produces a faith that works.” Question: “Are you reading the recipe, or producing the cake?” (See Rodney’s booklet, “Capture Your Vision”). Can you write your vision out in one sentence, so others can understand it? Do you carry a “missions” heart?
Quote: “If God can get money out of our heart, He can put it in our pocket.”
“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV).
These questions are extremely important. If you ignore them - and you have "problems" in these areas - then they will "find you out" further down the track of life. It is better to face them now in "the training time" than to have to face them when you are more known in public ministry. And we all know something about the humiliation and disgrace that "fallen ministries" encounter. If you’re not sure about some of the questions, why not ask a trusted friend to help give you an honest appraisal . . . or even open your heart to others in a “safe environment” group setting (making sure all are desirous to fulfil their ministries in God). (Likewise, if there are any questions that have not been asked here, and you feel they need to be, why not let us know about them. Thank you.) ARE YOU AN INDIVIDUALIST, OR A TEAM PERSON? Let’s be committed to making each other more successful!
WE NEED TO BE PRACTICAL IN THIS “EQUIPPING STATION”
These times give such valuable "hands on" experience and often help to confirm, or redirect us to focus on other areas of ministry as a result. Many finish up in overseas (and in national full-time ministry) after the experience of a short-term overseas mission. The questions and challenges presented in this paper need to have whatever time necessary devoted to them in order to seriously work through them. (For some, these issues may never have been spoken out publicly before?) In Prophetic Ministry the emphasis must always be “hearing and seeing” Jesus at work through the operation of prophecy and the Spiritual Gifts. The Holy Spirit – and true exercising of the Spiritual Gifts – will always be confirmed by the principles of Scripture; and will always glorify Jesus Christ rather than the one exercising those gifts. When giving prophetic words to others, it is important that they are recorded so the person receiving them can take them away with them and listen to them further. Having the words recorded is also a means of accountability. It enables the receiver to allow other trusted people to listen or read what has been prophesied so they can give an appraisal as to the accuracy, etc. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1). Another reason for having the prophetic words recorded is because people cannot fully remember every word spoken or prophesied, and need to be able to listen again at home and reflect on what has been prophesied. “Do not quench the Spirit (or, “do not put out the Spirit’s fire”). Do not despise (“make contemptible”) prophecies. Test (“examine, prove”) all things; hold fast (“firmly”) what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21). “I beseech (“urge”) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed (“fashioned in the same way”) to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). God bless you as you seek to develop the Prophetic Ministry in your life and so know the way of God more clearly. And may you see much good fruit coming forth as a result of teaching these Biblical principles. WHO IS THE LEADER? Rodney Francis, the Founder/Director of "The Gospel Faith Messenger” Ministry, trains his "Timothy‘s” from the principles of these notes. He is ably assisted by several leaders and others who carry the vision of "The GFM” Ministry. "The Gospel Faith Messenger" Ministry. New Zealand. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |