Gifts for and of the Body

Prayer

Turn with me this morning to Ephesians 4. We are continuing our series through Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus

Today is Communion Sunday. And I love communion Sunday’s because it gives us opportunities to practice the faith we believe in. Coming to the table in unity, giving us opportunities to examine our hearts and minds, our souls, and once again relying on the completed work of Christ on the Cross who offered himself for our forgiveness and healing. But before we get there, I want to share with you a message that the Lord has put on my heart for us today from Epheisans 4…Gifts for and of the body.

Ephesians 4:7–16 NIV

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

God’s Grace has been given as Christ has determined.

The ascended Christ said he would never leave us nor forsake us, and so in his grace, he left us a gift…

John 14:26 NIV

26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 15:26 NIV

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

John 16:7–15 NIV

7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

God’s grace has given us the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit distributes gifts as he desires…and today we encounter a list of church leadership gifts.

God in his grace has given the church leaders who’s responsibilty, calling and duties are to equip his people

1 Corinthians 12:4 NIV

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.

1 Corinthians 12:28 NIV

28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

Apostles-

established churches, laid a foundation, direct role in establishing the word of God. And just for the sake of understanding…there is a difference between the office of Apostle and the apostolic gifting. There were only 12 Apostles

Mark 3:16–19 NIV

16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Acts 1:12-26- Shows the process the early church went through to replace Judas with Matthais

the gifting of apostle today looks similar…they are the men and women who hear a calling from God to start a new ministry, or to be church planters, they have a passion to see God’s word and work begin in new and creative ways in places where there the Word has yet to spread. The Apostle Paul is a perfect example. Paul is a special exemption that the church global just seems to be ok with but that’s because Galatians 1:1

Galatians 1:1 NIV

1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—

So 14 individuals have held the office of Apostle…though we know 1 gave it away.

Ephesians 2:20 NIV

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

And these men laid the foundation of the church, and established the Word of God as we know it.

We believe that the office of apostle is no longer needed but the spiritual gifting for the church is deserpately needed and is still alive today!

1 Corinthians 9:6 NIV

6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

Romans 16:7 NIV

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Prophets

hear a message from God.

1 Corinthians 14:1–3 NIV

1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

1 Thessalonians 5:19–21 (NIV)

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good,

Evangelists

- share the word of God with those need to hear.

Pastors/Teacher

1 Timothy 5:17–18 NIV

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”

The Ministry of the Word

Importance and high calling of the pastor-teacher role (Ephesians 4:11)

Dependence on God's grace for fulfilling this responsibility

1 Timothy 3:1 NIV

1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

Source of the pastor-teacher role: gift from the ascended Christ (Ephesians 4:11)

Misinterpretation of the comma in Ephesians 4:12 KJV

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

The word that Paul uses here for equip is the greek word Katartismos (kat-ar-tis-mos')

In fact, the first time we come across this word is when Jesus found the sons of Zebedee katardizo

their nets…

or mending, equipping their nets…

J.D. Greear in his book Gaining by Losing uses the analogy to describe the church.

And I love this analongy and since I came across, it has transformed the way I view Sunday morning gatherings.

But in his book Greear uses a comparative analogy to describe different types of churches.

He argues that the church in America has become like a Cruise Ship.

But what we are truly called to be is an aircraft carrier.

-Equiping…a place for healing, refueling, A place for hearing from our commanding officer and getting new orders, a place where we share our stories of battle to be encouraged along with our brothers and sisters in arms. A place where we come together to mend…and get ready to go back out.

In other words, a gathered church should be a place where we are equipped to do the work of ministry.

A. Ministry

* Equipping the saints for ministry (diakonia) - everyone has a role to play.

* Illustration: In our aircraft carrier example, we are not here to consume, like those on a cruise ship, we are here to serve. And like an aircraft carrier each and every one of us has a unique purpose and passion, and each and every one of us have been given gifts by the Spirit of God to accomplish our unique calling.

* Importance of how we listen to the Bible - practical application in our lives

Unity

Ephesians 4:13 NIV

13 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.

* Unity is already established in Christ (Ephesians 4:3)

* The church's uniqueness and effectiveness is diminished by cultural assimilation

* True unity comes from a shared knowledge of Jesus Christ, not social similarities

* Entry into the church is by God's grace, not achievement or status

Maturity

Ephesians 4:14–15 NIV

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

And this brings us back to communion. Where Jesus has invited us to all to the table.

And at his communion table he invites us once again to examine our hearts, to mend our nets and strive towards unity and maturity together.