Ephesians 4:7

I continue to be fascinated with Paul’s ministry. He is a Jew and he goes to the Gentile’s. The Gentile’s hear the great news of the Gospel and turn to Jesus.

These Gentile’s start to enjoy the benefits of the Jews and stop with the pagan worship and pagan rituals. The Jews view the Gentiles as the enemy and Paul has been out hanging with the enemy.

Because of the Gospel and Jesus coming to die on the cross the Gentiles are invited to partake in the history of the Jews and their freedom.

So

You have Jews who are upset that the Gentiles are taking their benefits.

Greeks and Romans are upset because Gentiles are no longer partaking in their rituals and pagan worship. They are blaming this group of Gentiles for their “gods” being upset with them.

Gentiles are being converted and placing their faith in Jesus. They are learning to think Christianly.

Paul is in Prison and he writes these letters under these conditions.

I like to apply this to our situation at Bridge of Faith.

First Generation of Bridge of Faithers who we continue to pray that they will come back and be the adults of Bridge of Faith. Much of what we do is because we wanted to set that generation free from the pains of the enemy.

We have those who might have recently started attending Bridge of Faith on Sunday mornings.

We have some that started driving to Bridge of Faith because they saw what God was doing and wanted to be a part of it.

We have a group of students that attend on Wednesday nights that are in families that have no church background.

We have all the families of the students who attend on a Wednesday nights that we are reaching out to in different ways.

so

you have all these different groups

We can some what highlight these different groups off of our trunk or treat event last Sunday evening.

At this event, we had those who had a trunk.

We had community organizations/members that had trunks

We had past students who came through the line. I met some of their children.

We had parents of the students who attend on Wednesday nights.

We had students that don’t attend.

(Stigma)

We pick up where we left off from two weeks ago in Ephesians

Ephesians 4:4–6 HCSB

4 There is one body and one Spirit —just as you were called to one hope at your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Think about last Sunday night 2-300 people coming through the trunk for treat line.

For those 2-300 people there is one body and one Spirit. One hope at your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

Of course the enemy wants to keep those who don’t yet know this in chaos and confusion. Enemy wants to keep them in their own grave. Enemy wants them to stay in brokenness. The enemy wants broken relationships with self, with God, with creation and with others.

Jesus wants to set them free!

Ephesians 4:7 HCSB

7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah’s gift.

He has opened this portion of the letter speaking of how we the church do life together in humility, gentleness and patience.

quick not on humility if you think you are humble it might be the best indicator of pride.

He moves us into a portion of the letter talking about gifts in the body of Christ. and verse 7 is the start of this section on gifts.

Notice how he starts.

Grace: The undeserved Favor of God. We don’t deserve it. It is unmerited meaning that we don’t deserve it. There is nothing we can do to earn it.

He imagines Jesus having all these gifts and him measuring them out and saying some for you and some for you.

The purpose of the gifts is unity.

Gifts can easily be used to cause disruption and disunity to the point of people starting new churches and ministry.

The diversity of gifts is given for the purpose of unity.

Ephesians 4:8 HCSB

8 For it says: When He ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity; He gave gifts to people.

He quotes a portion of Psalm 68 and it is not an exact quote. So some will say that it is a summary of Psalm 68.

Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary b. Diversity in Unity (4:7–16)

a passage which perhaps as early as this was associated with Pentecost in Jewish liturgy, and which could be applied to the triumph and ascension of the Lord followed by the bestowal of spiritual gifts to his church. In their original setting the words of the Psalm picture the Lord returning in triumph (either to the Jerusalem sanctuary or to heaven itself), after the overthrow of Israel’s enemies. He has made his enemies captive, and they follow, as it were, in his triumphal procession. As conqueror he has received gifts that he can bestow. Like many of the Psalms, this found ready application to the Christ. He has conquered his enemies, and returned to his Father’s throne in triumph, now to bestow blessings on his people.

Read some of Psalm 68. (Not on the screen)

Ephesians 4:9–10 HCSB

9 But what does “He ascended” mean except that He descended to the lower parts of the earth? 10 The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.

descended to the lower parts of the earth. Simply means earth and not hades here.

Jesus descended to the lower parts of the earth

Vs. 10 the One who descended is also the One who ascended

Jesus came an died.

Why did Jesus die?

Jesus took the penalty for you and I.

Jesus took the penalty of sin for us. Jesus paid the price for us. Through Jesus we have forgiveness of our Sin

The broken relationship between us and God is now healed because of what Jesus as done for us.

(Stigma slide)

Trunk or Treat can’t forgive sin

Biblical counseling can’t forgive sin

Bridgefit can’t forgive sin

Thrift stores can’t forgive sin

Jesus enters all areas of life.

He longs to bless

he longs to heal areas of brokenness through Biblical counseling

He wants to clothe is people

Vs 10 says he ascended far above all the heavens. That he might fill all things.

Jesus reigns supreme

From his place of reigning he might fill all things.

Put on coaching hat and coach up the church to do better from trunk or treat.

I would say we won the game last Sunday night

15 trunks of the 15 trunks 8 of those were staff trunks. 2 of them were community organizations

Thankful to staff families who were here

Others here Delaina and sterling doing a trunk

Dara and her family doing a trunk

The Boyd family making it happen

What I call success as pastor of Bridge of Faith is different than what others might call success. We are not doing events to make us feel good about ourselves.

It takes relationships for people to hear the Gospel of how they need their sins forgiven.

Careful that we don’t enter into a mission team mindset