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Continue Edifying in Christ

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,  to equip his 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” (Ephesians 4:11-12 NVI).

The Lord, urges us to live a life worthy of the calling that we have received: Being humble, gentle, patient, bearing one another in love, making every effort to keep unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…(Ephesians 4:1-7 NIV), because He gives us the task in order to equip His people.

As part of the process of training leaders, we are instruments in God's hands. We ourselves have been called by God who calls and prepares and equips us. “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40 NIV). We must be prepared and trained to be instruments that God wants - to transform our lives and for the transformation of other lives.

The word "trained" comes from the Greek katartizo which means training, perfected, to mend, to arrange, to restore, to perfect, to complete, to seek perfection, to have prepared, It will provide, well learned. The word katartizos means: "perfection". (Diccionario Conciso Griego Español,1998, p. 95).

God’s will is that we be effective, fully trained in communicating, proclaiming, teaching, guiding, and being channels of blessing. Not only do we have the privilege to be prepared, but we have been given the responsibility to prepare and train other servants that God is calling for a great work in His kingdom.

“Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20-22 NIV).

A phrase of mine that I wrote in 2015: “Spiritual training puts us in a process of holiness, to be the suitable instruments for a work with eternal results” (Tere Martínez, 7-29-15).

So, it's not just about training others, but we've also been called as instruments of God and we need to take care of our own fellowship with God, our Lord. We must not be empty channels, because what are we going to offer? How are we edifying others, if we ourselves are not being edified?

The dams in California were empty and during the last fires were useless. A dam without water does not fulfill the mission for which it was made. How are we going to be those channels of blessing, if we ourselves are not being edified in Christ? With the word of God?  If we do not have communion with our God through prayer and His Word? Knowing Him implies relationship and communion.

If this is not happening in our lives, we are going to be left empty, and what are we going to give? How are we going to influence this generation and the others to come? How are we going to edify if our own lives are stagnant, because we are not connected to the source of power that is God.

The training that God gives us makes us mature Christians and helps us to be like "filter" Christians that we can immediately realize what is false in doctrines and teachings. It is not surprising that today there are so many false teachings and people who are being deceived. Therefore, our duty is to be trained and be mature in spiritual life. We play a very important role in the lives of all those who are being prepared, trained, to be competent in carrying out God's work.

Let us not stagnate spiritually. Do not stop praying, reading the word of God, fasting, seeking His presence. Let us not conform with what we have, but let us seek to be trained efficiently, (katartizo). God called us to be builders, in the kingdom of God.  “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 1:20).

In the context and later text of Ephesians 4:11-12 (Eph. 4:1-10, 13-16) we have some steps to continue being edify ourselves by the process of Christian life and building up the church: having a worthy life in God, Be humble, strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit, abide in the doctrine of God has given us, recognize the grace we have been given. Grow in unity in knowledge of Jesus Christ, continue to grow in love.

The training from the Lord never ends with a diploma, or degree. In fact, His training lasts meanwhile we are here. His training makes us katartizo perfected, to complete, to seek perfection, well learned. The word katartizos means: "perfection".  His training brings blessing and spiritual maturity.

Seek your communion with God and allow the Lord to continue preparing you, and to put you in training He wants to use on behalf of others, and blessings will flow.  Don't let yourself become obsolete. We must continue being edified in Christ and applying what we have learned, to have something to give.

GOD’S WORD!

 - Rev. Tere Martinez serves as a professor in NBC's Hispanic Pastoral Ministries Program.

Published: 02/14/2025

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