Equipping for Ministry “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV “…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…” Ephesians 4:11-12, NIV And when this equipping ministry is effectively happening in the life of every believer in the church, as Paul goes on to say in verse 16, “the whole body…grows and builds itself up in love.”

In His Refuge, We Equip – Part 1 Psalm 143:1-12

I. Life in a fallen world left David spiritually dead and dry David’s spiritual decline caused him to appeal to the Lord’s mercy (verses 1-2) David was appalled by his spiritual decline in the face of his enemy’s assault upon his spirit (verses 3-4) “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

I. Life in a fallen world left David spiritually dead and dry David’s spiritual decline caused him to appeal to the Lord’s mercy (verses 1-2) David was appalled by his spiritual decline in the face of his enemy’s assault upon his spirit (verses 3-4) With the vitality of his spirit nearly gone, David deeply reflected upon God’s past work of redemption (verses 5- 6)

II. David turned to the Lord’s Refuge to seek the restoration of both his spirit and his walk with the Lord David’s confidence that the Lord would restore him rested solely in who the Lord is (verses 5, 7-12) steadfast love = the Hebrew word חֶסֶד “Return to me, and I will return to you.” Malachi 3:7

II. David turned to the Lord’s Refuge to seek the restoration of both his spirit and his walk with the Lord David’s confidence that the Lord would restore him rested solely in who the Lord is (verses 5, 7-12) David’s hope that the Lord would restore him relied solely upon the work of the Lord (verses 7-12) The Lord would cast His favor upon David (7) The Lord would deliver him from the evil influence of his enemies (9, 12) The Lord would teach David to walk in His ways without stumbling (8, 10)

II.B.3 - The Lord would teach David to walk in His ways without stumbling (verses 8, 10) Believers should “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…” Colossians 1:10 “being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might…” Colossians 1:11

II. David turned to the Lord’s Refuge to seek the restoration of both his spirit and his walk with the Lord David’s confidence that the Lord would restore him rested solely in who the Lord is (verses 5, 7-12) David’s hope that the Lord would restore him relied solely upon the work of the Lord (verses 7-12) The Lord would cast His favor upon David (7) The Lord would deliver him from the evil influence of his enemies (9, 12) The Lord would teach David to walk in His ways without stumbling (8, 10) The Lord brought glory to Himself by equipping David to faithfully serve Him (11-12, [2])

III. How does the biblical concept of a Refuge shape our approach to our Equip ministries? As our Refuge, God is the equipping source of our works of service “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil…” Revelation 2:2 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” Revelation 2:4-5

III. How does the biblical concept of a Refuge shape our approach to our Equip ministries? As our Refuge, God is the equipping source of our works of service In His Refuge, we equip and serve, motivated by the desire to make His name great “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:6