Fullness and five functions
Today, as the KC Underground, we unite in prayer and fasting.
Every great move of God, both in the Bible and throughout history, begins with extraordinary prayer and fasting. People of the Underground, well done! Together, we believe that Jesus is at work, redeeming and restoring, even in this dark hour. As we pray today, this guide will unite our hearts and voices in agreement. This week, our focus will be on Ephesians 4 and the five-fold gifting of APEST.
Filling and fullness in Ephesians
In Ephesians, we are described as “the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.”
The theme of “filling” and “fullness” is central to the book of Ephesians and represents the New Testament call to spiritual maturity and unity.
Ephesians 1 speaks of universal fullness, with Christ filling all things in every way.
Ephesians 3 speaks of personal fullness, where we are filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 4 calls us to ecclesiological fullness, where the Church is called to maturity, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
This fullness spoken of in Ephesians 4 can only be achieved through five-fold equipping.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and the 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 4:11-13 (NIV)
Prepare your heart
As we begin today, become deeply aware of Jesus, the one who fills everything in every way. Give Him your full attention, affection, and allegiance.
Listen to “Fill Me With Your Fullness.”
Prayer for the strengthening of the five functions
Today, we will lift up the strengthening and harmonizing of all five voices: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers.
Apostolic: Reflect on those in your life who are apostolically gifted. Let the Holy Spirit bring their names to mind and thank God for their presence.
Pray for each one by name, asking the Lord to clarify, mature, and strengthen their apostolic calling. Pray for the apostolic function to grow and prosper in your life, your microchurch, and the Kansas City Underground.
Prophetic: Let the Spirit highlight those you know with prophetic gifting. List them by name and give thanks for them.
Pray for each person by name, asking the Lord to clarify, mature, and strengthen their prophetic calling.
Pray for the prophetic function to flourish in your life, your microchurch, and the Kansas City Underground.
Evangelistic: Allow the Spirit to bring to mind those who are gifted in evangelism. Name them before God in gratitude.
Pray for each one by name, that their evangelistic calling would be clarified, matured, and strengthened.
Pray for the evangelistic function to thrive in your life, your microchurch, and the Kansas City Underground.
Shepherding: Consider those in your life with a shepherding heart. Thank God for each one by name.
Pray for their calling to be clarified, matured, and strengthened. Pray for the shepherding function to deepen in your life, your microchurch, and the Kansas City Underground.
Teaching: Bring to mind those who are gifted teachers. List them by name and thank God for them.
Pray for their teaching gift to be clarified, matured, and strengthened. Pray for the teaching function to grow and impact your life, your microchurch, and the Kansas City Underground.
Harmony and Maturity
Finally, pray for these five voices to blend together in harmony, so that the Kansas City Underground will:
Be equipped,
Be built up,
Reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God,
Become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Listen and Respond
Take a moment to thank God for your own calling and voice. Be still and ask the Lord if He has anything to speak to you about APEST. Write down any impressions you receive, and if possible, turn them into an “I will” statement.