Untitled Sermon (65)

GIFTS TO THE BODY OF CHRIST

INTRODUCTION:

THE BODY OF CHRIST CONSIST OF MANY DIFFERENT GIFTS, BUT EACH GIFT SUPPORT THE OTHER TO MAKE UP THE BODY OF CHRIST.

THESE GIFTS COMES FROM GOD AND MAKE UP THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH.

THESE GIFTS DO NOT OPERATE OUTSIDE OF EACH OTHER, BUT BRINGS UNITY TO THE BODY OF CHRIST.

EPHESIANS 4 :11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

APOSTLES MEANS ONE SENT AS AN AUTHORITATIVE DELEGATE.

PROPHETS PROVIDES EDIFICATION, EXHORTATION, AND COMFORT. THEY REVEALS GOD’S WILL TO THE CHURCH.

EVANGELIST THEY ENGAGE IN SPREADING THE GOSPEL.

PASTOR’S AND TEACHER’S

PASTORING BELIEVERS BY COMFORTING AND GUIDING, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME INSTRUCTING THEM IN GOD’S WAYS.

I LIKE TO DISCUSS 3 THINGS TODAY.

WHAT ARE THE PURPOSE OF THESE GIFTS?

HOW LONG ARE THESE GIFTS IN OPERATION IN THE CHURCH?

WHAT EFFECTS THESE GIFTS HAVE ON THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE?

A. WHAT ARE THE PURPOSE OF THESE GIFTS?

EPHESIANS 4:12 “for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

SO THE PURPOSE OF THESE GIFTS ARE FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS.

THESE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REGENERATED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. WHO HAS BEEN SET APART FOR GOD’S USE IN HIS SERVICE.

EVEN THOU THEY HAVE BEEN SANCTIFIED WITH A NEW NATURE, THEY STILL STRUGGLE WITH IMPERFECTION DUE TO THEIR FLESHLY DESIRES.

WHAT BRINGS THEM TO THE POINT OF PERFECTION IS THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH PREPARES THEM FOR GOD’S SERVICE.

THE REASON SOME OF US ARE STRUGGLING WITH PERFECTION IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT PUT THE WORD ON WHERE WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH IMPERFECTION.

THE WORD PERFECTING REQUIRES US TO INCREASE OUR FAITH IN CHRIST, FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, AND PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE WICKEDNESS OF THE WORLD.

THE OTHER PURPOSE IS FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.

MEANING THAT EACH ONE OF US HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH GIFTS FROM GOD THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SERVE OTHER’S SPIRITUALLY.

THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY CANNOT DO ALL THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY TO PERFECT THE SAINTS, BUT NEED OTHER HANDS TO PITCH IN SO THAT THE WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST IS BUILT UP, MATURED, STRENGTHEN AND FLOURISHES IN GOD’S CHURCH AND IN THE LIFE OF BELIEVERS.

EVEN JETHRO OFFERED MOSES ADVICE TO HELP HIM IN A HEALTHIER WAY, BECAUSE MOSES WAS BURNING HIS CANDLES AT BOTH ENDS.

WHEN THIS HAPPEN YOU BECOME TOO OVERWHELM AND YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BUILD ANYONE UP BECAUSE YOU ARE WORN DOWN.

MATTHEW 19:21 “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”

1 CORINTHIANS 14:3 “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”

B. HOW LONG ARE THESE GIFTS IN OPERATION IN THE CHURCH.

EPHESIANS 4:13 “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

HOW LONG THESE GIFTS IN OPERATION IN THE CHURCH?

UNTIL WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE IN THIS FIGHT TOGETHER FOR THE SAME CAUSE TO PERSEVERE UNTIL JESUS CHRIST COME BACK.

AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR US THROUGH SALVATION.

THAT LET ME KNOW THAT THE BODY OF CHRIST HAS SOME WORK TO DO, BECAUSE WE STILL SUFFER WITH DIVISION IN THE THE BODY OF CHRIST OVER DOCTRINES AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER.

MANY OF US DO NOT HAVE A CLUE WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR US THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR US THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ESCAPE FROM TEMPTATIONS, HIS LOVE AND CARE, OUR CITIZENSHIP IN HIM, RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, A PART OF HIS FAMILY, GOD’S GRACE, HIS FAVOR OVER OUR LIVES.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:17 “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”

C. WHAT EFFECTS THESE GIFTS HAVE ON THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE?

EPHESIANS 4:14-15 “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

MEANING WE SHOULD BE MATURED ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT’S FROM GOD, VERSUS WHAT’S FROM MAN.

1 JOHN 4:1-6 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”