1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.“

God is love.  The Bible teaches that love is more important than spiritual gifts, miracles, doctrinal teaching, or hope (of course, God wants every church to have those things as well).  The Bible says love is even greater than faith (1 Corinthians 13:13).  Love does not boast.  Boasting is incompatible with Jesus living in us and loving others through us.

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“They love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’  But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.  And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.  Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.  The greatest among you will be your servant.” - Matthew 23:6-11

Our flesh craves prestige and power.  The Holy Spirit does not accommodate this trait of man.  In the Work of the Holy Spirit, there is a constant struggle to keep our flesh from interfering with the Spirit’s Work, from hurting God’s project.  The Spirit wants to give glory to Jesus and none other.  Our flesh wants at least a little glory for ourselves.  Some people feel a need to be someone “special” – as did the Jewish leaders Jesus describes in the passage above.   continue

Ephesians 4:11-13 – “It was he 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.”

The New Testament describes five types of ministries in the church: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers.  All five are operating in the faithful church today, even if the individuals do not use these titles for themselves.   continue