The "One Anothers" Using the Various Gifts of Christ (2)
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The right tool for the job: Digging a hole.
Church growth can be a lot like me digging a hole with a plastic bucket. If you don’t have and utilize the right tools for the job it can be nigh impossible.
What are the tools and resources that we need in order to be a healthy growing church?
Paul’s aim was to teach the Ephesian believers what it means to be a growing church.
We need to understand what it means to be a growing church.
What things do we need to understand?
1. If we want to be a growing church then we must ensure we are a healthy or unified church. (vv. 1-6)
2. If we want to be a growing church then we must ensure we all employ the various gifts given to us by Christ (vv. 7-11)
In order for growth to occur in our church then every member must utilize the grace given to each of us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
This grace is specifically called “gifts.” These are the resources that we need to accomplish the task of growing our local church.
In our text this morning Paul tells us that in order for growth to occur every member must employ the various gifts given to us by Christ.
What do we need to understand about these gifts so that growth can occur?
I think we find several truths in our text about the gifts given to each of us by Christ.
I. Within the unity of the church there is a diversity of gifts (7)
I. Within the unity of the church there is a diversity of gifts (7)
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
“Each one of us.”
A. Each one of us must actively use our gifts
A. Each one of us must actively use our gifts
But GRACE was given to each one of us.
B. Each one of us must humbly use our gifts
B. Each one of us must humbly use our gifts
They were all given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. That means that Christ not only gives each believer a gift but also determines the amount of the gift.
C. Each one of us must faithfully use our gifts
C. Each one of us must faithfully use our gifts
Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (1) Description of the Giving of Gifts (4:7)
Since the gift is measured out by Christ, there should not be any jealousy within the body. The difference of the gift does not determine the value. The difference of value is determined only by the individual’s use of it within the body.
Within the unity of the church there is a diversity of gifts.
Every single believer has been graced with a gift measured out to them by Christ.
What causes growth in our church? Every member utilizing their gifts! Every member actively, humbly, faithfully using their gifts for the building up of the church and for the glory of God.
If we want to be a growing church then we must ensure we all employ the various gifts given to us by Christ
What do we need to understand about these gifts so that growth can occur?
Not only that there is a diversity of gifts,
II. Christ’s gifts are of the highest value, meaning, and usefulness (8-10)
II. Christ’s gifts are of the highest value, meaning, and usefulness (8-10)
A growing church requires the right tools for the job. And the tools that we have been given are according to the measure of Christ’s gift. These gifts are of the highest value, meaning, and usefulness. In vv. 8-10 of our text Paul describes why our gifts are so very significant.
A. Highest Value (8)
A. Highest Value (8)
8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
After teaching that each one of us have been given gifts by Christ in v. 7, now Paul links the provision of those gifts with a quote from the OT.
This is one of the more difficult OT quotes to reconcile in a contextual manner. There are several complications in understanding how Paul is using this OT quote to strengthen his point on the gifts given to the church.
“Therefore it says.” This is an introductory formula commonly used in the NT to alert us the readers that Paul is going to quote an OT passage.
And here is the quote: “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and gave gifts to men.”
This quote most closely resembles Ps 68:18.
18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.
When you compare Ps 68 with Eph 4 the difficulties become obvious.
Ephesians 4:8- “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
Psalm 68:18- “You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men,”
Now, you can read many pages and many different arguments for how Paul is using Psalm 68 in Ephesians 4. Without getting into the weeds on this issue, let me say that I believe Paul is using Psalm 68 in a contextual way. That is, Paul is not changing the text of Psalm 68 to fit his point in Ephesians 4. Paul does not change, distort, or spiritualize the OT text in any way. Paul uses Psalm 68 in its appropriate context to draw a correspondence between the divine warrior of Psalm 68 and the victorious ascension of Jesus, where Jesus achieved total victory of his foes and gave gifts to His church.
Rather than directly quoting Ps 68:18 Paul seems to be summarizing the entirety of Ps 68 with words that resemble verse 18. And Paul’s point is to draw a correspondence between the two texts.
In Psalm 68 the psalmist depicts the triumphal procession of the victorious divine warrior. In ancient times after the king and his army were victorious in a battle or in a war they would often hold triumphant processions or parades through their own kingdoms to show off their grand achievements.
The king and his soldiers would parade through the main streets of town with their valuable treasures and captured prisoners in tow. In Psalm 68 the king is one who is receiving these valuable gifts or spoils from men. But often times if the king was feeling especially generous, he would distribute these spoils of war to his subjects as an act of good will. The one who received the gifts also had the ability to give those gifts to his subjects.
Paul is drawing on this correspondence in Ephesians 4.
8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
In Ephesians 4, Jesus corresponds to the divine warrior king in Psalm 68 in this he ascended on high and in doing so he led a hosts of captives.
After Jesus victoriously rose from the dead he ascending into the heavens. This ascension was his victory parade where he put Satan and his demonic forces on display as his captured and disarmed prisoners.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
When Jesus ascended into heaven he led a triumphal parade over all his enemies. He put Satan and his demons, he put sin, and he put death in complete and total subjection to his mighty power!
8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
Jesus Christ, the risen and exalted and ascended Lord let a host of captives, and he also in that triumphal procession gave gifts to men.
Now think with me about the quality of the gifts. In ancient times when the king would return in triumphal procession the gifts or the spoils of war would be in proportion to the victory that was won.
If the king conquered a small and insignificant enemy then the gifts would be what? Small and insignificant.
But if the king conquered a mighty and strong nation and returned with all of the wealth and treasures that nation had to offer, then the gifts would be in proportion to the victory that was won.
So now the question is how significant, how great was the victory that Jesus won over his enemies?
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
How great was the Jesus’ victory? It was FAR ABOVE all rule and authority and power and dominion, above every name that is named! Not only in this age, but also in the one to come! That’s quite the victory.
So, what about the gifts?
8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
What are these spoils of war that Jesus shares with us? Not only does he share with us our salvation, the forgiveness of all our sins, but Jesus also sends the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower us, and Jesus gifts us with the abilities and opportunities to participate in building His church!
Christ’s gifts are of the highest VALUE!
Do we treat them that way? Do we even use them?
B. Highest Meaning (9)
B. Highest Meaning (9)
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
Here Paul makes the point that logically because Jesus is the one who ascended, he is the triumphant ascended victorious Lord, that presupposes his former descent.
Where did Jesus descend? Or to what degree did Jesus descend?
He descended into the lower regions, the earth.
The ESV has a very word for word translation of the Greek. “He also descended into the lower regions the earth.”
There are three possibilities for what Paul means by this:
Simply the earth— it could be translated, “the lower parts, namely, the earth.”
Death and burial—the lowest point of human existence — it could be translated, “the earth’s lower part, the grave.”
The abode of the dead—where human souls go after they die, possibly even hell itself. It could be translated, “the parts lower than the earth or under the earth.”
I think Paul’s meaning is closest to the second possibility-
Ephesians 4:9 (ESV)
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the earth’s lower part, the grave.”
Most probably this is a summation of the three downward steps that Christ took as described in Philippians 2.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Step 1: Christ lowered Himself
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Step 2: Christ emptied himself
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Step 3: Christ humbled himself
What does this mean? It ought to impress upon us just how much it cost the Lord Jesus Christ to give us these wondrous gifts for the building up of the church.
Yes Christ is the victorious ascended Lord, who led his enemies in triumphal procession and gave gifts to men.
But first, before he could do all that
Ephesians 4:9 (ESV)
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the earth’s lower part, the grave.”
Before Jesus could ascend, he first had to descent into the lowest place possible: the grave. Jesus lowered himself, emptied himself, and humbled himself in order to provide for us the gifts necessary to build his church.
Therefore these gifts that each one of us has been given ought to have the highest meaning possible afforded to them.
Illustration: Timothy giving all he had to missions
Pic
“Timothy's testimony and sacrifice has been shared with believers. Many tears and prayers.”
Why?
1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,
2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.
4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Ephesians 4:9 (ESV)
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the earth’s lower part, the grave.”
Christ’s gifts are of the highest MEANING!
Do we treat them that way? What if the believers in Central Asia has responded with contempt saying, “just keep your pennies what good are the to us?”
How do we treat the gifts that Christ has given us for the building up of the body of Christ? Do we even use them?
How can we treat Christ’s gifts with the respect they deserve?
Put them to good use
Be grateful for the gifts we have been given. “Timothy's testimony and sacrifice has been shared with believers. Many tears and prayers.”
Simply put if we truly believe that Christ’s gifts have the highest meaning possible, we will use those gifts the way they were meant to be used.
Are you doing that? How are you using the gifts given to you by Christ for the building up of this church?
There should be at least one ministry that you are involved in. One practical way that you are serving in the church. Kids ministries, music, public worship ministries, service ministries, DISCIPLE-MAKING!
C. Highest Usefulness (10)
C. Highest Usefulness (10)
10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Paul again draws our attention to the ascended exalted position of our Lord. He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens.
And I want to pay close attention to that last phrase. “that he might fill all things.”
What kind of phase is that?
In the Greek world this is known as a purpose clause.
10ὁ καταβὰς αὐτός ἐστιν καὶ ὁ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν,
He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,
ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα.
so that He might fill all things.
Or for the purpose that He might fill all things.
Paul is telling us the purpose for why Christ first descended, then ascended far above all things, and in ascending he gave gifts to men. What was the purpose for all that?
So that Jesus Christ might fill all things.
Think with me. How does Jesus intended to fill all things? Physically, Jesus is in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father. So how can He fill the earth with is presence in a physical sense? Well, Paul tells us elsewhere that Christ fills all things through means of his body, which is the church!
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
What does that mean? It means that the church is the fullness of Christ who fills all in all. Or we could say it this way.
“The church is Jesus’ active presence on the earth.” — Dean Tylor
OK, let’s personalize this implication.
Faith Baptist Church is Jesus’ active presence in Oconomowoc, WI.
How should that truth affect us?
Does that truth give you a whole new perspective on what the church is all about?
We are graced by Christ through the Spirit with gifts so that we can become the active presence of Jesus in our specific community.
What does that mean? How do we, the church, become the active presence of Jesus in our communities?
I Saw Jesus in You: Ron Hamilton
Verse: 1
When I enter heaven's glory
And I see my Saviour's face,
I will offer Him ten
thousand years of praise.
Then I'll find that special one
In whose life I saw God's Son,
And through tears of joy with
trembling lips these words I'll say:
Chorus
I saw Jesus in you,
I saw Jesus in you,
I could hear His voice
in the words you said-
I saw Jesus in you,
In your eyes I saw His care,
I could see His love was there,
You were faithful,
And I saw Jesus in you
We are called and gifted by Jesus through the Spirit to show people Jesus and to help them become like Jesus unto the glory of God. Wow!
What a calling, and seemingly an overwhelming responsibility! How can we possibly do all that?
Jesus is the one who makes it all possible. We have all been given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Jesus led all the hosts of his enemies captive and gave gifts to us. First he descended into the earth’s lowest part, the grave, but then he ascended far above all things for this purpose that Jesus Christ might fill all things!
Christ’s gifts are of the highest USEFULNESS!
Do we treat them that way? Do we trust the Lord confidently putting our gifts into His service believing that through His enablement our church will grow?
We have been given everything we need to be a growing healthy church!
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Jesus, the ascended Lord has given every one of us a variety of gifts, in the form of both individuals and abilities. And they are all for the building up of the body of Christ.
How should we respond to all this?
Submission, gratitude, service, using our gifts to help the body grow. Using our gifts to help each other become more like Jesus so that we can be the fullness of him who fills all in all. When we use our gifts to help each other grow, we all become more like Jesus. And when we go out into our communities we become the active presence of Jesus Christ to our neighbors. This is what our disciple-making culture is all about. This is why it is so important to get involved in a disciple-making bible study with another individual in this church. That relationship is specifically designed to help you grow—to become like Jesus. Thus, fulfilling our purpose as a church. To be the very fullness of Christ to our community! What a calling!
If you are not discipling with someone yet, come and talk to me. Let’s get you paired up with another member in the church so that each of you can use your gifts for the purpose they were graced to you in the first place.
What does it say about us if we refuse to use the gifts given to us by Jesus?
In our text this morning Paul tells us that in order for growth to occur every member must employ the various gifts given to us by Christ.
What do we need to understand about these gifts so that growth can occur?
1. Within the unity of the church there is a diversity of gifts
2. Christ’s gifts are of the highest value, meaning, and usefulness
What is growth?
What causes growth?
Am I helping or hindering growth in my church?
How can I help my church be a growing body?
How do you need to respond to the Lord this morning?