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The overall thrust of the epistle to the Ephesians is Christ and His Church. Through this short epistle, we learn much about God’s design for the local church and how we relate to Him. 

In the 4th chapter of the letter, Paul begins to speak of the unity that we should have in Christ, referencing that there is “one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” (Ephesians 4:4)

He continues, there is one Lord, one baptism, one God and Father of us all. The fact is that God has designed everything so that we would be in unity with Him. And so, the local church functions toward this end. 

In verse 11, Paul explains some of the wonderful gifts God has given to help with this matter. He “…gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;…” (Ephesians 4:11)

Amazingly, then it is revealed to you and me, the cyclical process God designed to accomplish this marvelous conforming to Christ. 

We see that these gifts to the church were given:

For The Perfecting Of The Saints,
For The Work Of The Ministry,
For The Edifying Of The Body. (vs. 12)

This cycle should be continuing constantly in the life of any local church. There should be a work of perfection (completing) going on in the lives of Christians.  This should result in those who are His being able to work (labor) for Him, which in turn should result in the edifying (building) of the body of Christ. 

Most people may get the idea that the church meeting is primarily an evangelistic meeting. I would submit to you that the church meeting is primarily an equipping/perfecting meeting. This should, in turn, result in ALL Christians laboring for Him in two areas: personal evangelism and discipleship. 

When this takes place, following God’s plan and pattern, we will see the edifying (building) up of the body of Christ. 

How long is this to continue??--- well, the Bible tells us, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

I pray you would join us at Liberty Baptist Church and take part in what God is doing in this world!