Baptist City Blog

There have been many influences in my life who have helped me to grow into the Christian that I presently am. There was not just one person who influenced me, but everyone from outside preachers to my Sunday school teachers have had some influence on my life. Without each influence, I would not be the preacher, Christian, husband, father or friend that I am.

In the verse above, God shows the importance of having many influences in ones life. Each influence that you have is there to help perfect or mature you for the “work of the ministry.” In other words, each of these influences help grow you so that you can be involved in the ministry of building others.

Who are these influences that we are to have in our lives? Verse 11 shows us these influences when it says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” God used the apostles to leave us the New Testament Scriptures. In other words, reading the New Testament will grow you. God also used the prophets to pen the Old Testament. In other words, the Scriptures as a WHOLE were given to help mature you as a Christian. Just reading the New Testament will not grow you into the Christian you are supposed to be. That is why God says, “All scripture…is profitable.” There are some who say that the Old Testament is no longer relevant for today, and they are absolutely wrong. You cannot mature as a Christian without reading the Old and New Testaments.

Moreover, God placed human influences in your life to help you mature. He sends evangelists to your church to help mature you. This is why you need to attend all the services of a special meeting when your pastor invites an evangelist. God also uses your pastor to help mature you as a Christian. Your pastor should not just be some figurehead in your life, but you need to allow him to pastor you so that God can grow you to the point where you can minister to others. God also gives teachers to help mature you. When you miss Sunday school, you are missing an important part that God has ordained to mature you. Each Sunday school teacher that you have had will have an important impact in your spiritual maturity.

There is one part that is often overlooked in this verse that helps to mature you. The Scriptures and human influences in your life all had a part in maturing you, but you will never reach spiritual maturity without ministering to others yourself. Notice it says, “… for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” You don't edify others without teaching others yourself. If you don't get involved in trying to teach others, then you will never mature to the spiritual level that God wants you to be.

Let me encourage you to do three things. First, set a time in your daily schedule to read the Scriptures. You cannot grow without reading and studying God’s Word. Second, let the human influences in your life help you grow. That means you must be careful that these influences are right, and you must be there when they are teaching and preaching the Word of God. Third, ask God to grow you to the point where you can teach others. These three areas are the only way you will be perfected or matured as a Christian.