United For Living With Purpose

TEXT: Ephesians 4:7-16

Ephesians 4:7–16 (NLT)

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

8 That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”

9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.

10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

INTRODUCTION:

Someone once called a preacher to say he wanted to place church membership. But, he went on to explain that he did not want to worship every week, study the Bible, visit the sick, or serve as a leader or teacher.

The minister commended him for his desire to be a member, but told him the church he sought was located in another section of town. The man took the directions and hung up.

When he arrived at that address, the man came face to face with the logical result of his own apathetic attitude. There stood an abandoned church building boarded up and ready for demolition.

I. EACH BELIEVER IS GIVEN SPIRITUAL GIFTS. (Ephesians 4:7)

Ephesians 4:7 (NLT)

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

A. Each believer is given spiritual gifts at the point of salvation.

1. It begins with the giving of the gift of the Holy Spirit (Text, Acts 2:38)

Acts 2:38 (NLT)

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2. The Holy Spirit imparts a gift or gifts to the believer (text, 1 Cor. 12:11).

1 Corinthians 12:11 (NLT)

11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

B. Each believer’s gifts are given by grace.

1. Spiritual gifts are not earned but given without personal merit.

2. Spiritual gifts are abilities that are specifically imparted by the Holy Spirit and are not natural abilities.

3. Spiritual gifts are given to profit the whole church, not build up the individual (1 Cor. 12:7).

1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

II. EACH BELIEVER IS GIVEN SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN ORDER TO HELP THE BODY OPERATE EFFECTIVELY (Ephesians 4:11).

Ephesians 4:11 (NLT)

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

A Different gifts are given to different individuals. (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:4,8-10; Rom. 12:4-6a).

1 Corinthians 12:4 (NLT)

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 (NLT)

8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.

9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.

10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

Romans 12:4–6a (NLT)

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,

5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

1. He alone is the source of spiritual gifts.

2. The Holy Spirit gives the gifts as He desires.

3. He gives different gifts to different believers.

B. Different ministries are assigned to different individuals. ( 1 Cor. 12:5).

1 Corinthians 12:5 (NLT)

5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

1. Similar gifts may operate in different ministries of the same church.

2. God appoints different believers to different types of ministries.

C. Different aspects of the ministries are determined for different individuals. (1 Cor 12:6).

1 Corinthians 12:6 (NLT)

6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

1. Different operations or aspects of the same ministry gift and ministry are appointed to different believers.

* example: People with the gift of teaching can be appointed by the Holy Spirit to teach in different ministries (Bible teaching, Discipleship, Missions). People who teach in the same ministries are appointed by God to teach different age groups or classes.

III. EACH SPIRITUAL GIFT IS GIVEN WITH PARTICULAR GOALS IN MIND. (Ephesians 4:12-15).

Ephesians 4:12–15 (NLT)

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

A. To equip each member of the body of Christ to do the work of the ministry. (Ephesians 4:12a).

Ephesians 4:12a (NLT)

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

1. Every member of the body of Christ is to be involved in ministry.

2. The purpose of spiritual gifts is to equip other members of the Body to minister.

* The feet are not there for their own glory, but to carry the rest of the body (equip) so that each other part can do it’s job, and the whole body can do its job.

B. To build up the whole body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12b).

Ephesians 4:12b (NLT)

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

1. The purpose of each gift is to help the body to grow.

2. If a body does not grow, something is wrong!

C. To create unity in the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13a).

Ephesians 4:13a (NLT)

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

1. The purpose of each gift is to unify the body for effectiveness.

2. When one member of the body begins to wage war on another member, the result is disease and death.

D. To promote spiritual maturity in the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13b).

Ephesians 4:13b (NLT)

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

1. Through learning more about Jesus.

2. Through helping believers become more like Jesus.

E. To help believers to become firmly grounded doctrinally. (Ephesians 4:14).

Ephesians 4:14 (NLT)

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

1. Doctrine is important!

IV. EACH GIFTED MEMBER OF THE BODY IS VITAL TO THE WHOLE BODY. (Ephesians 4:16).

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

A. The whole body is held together when every member does his part. (Ephesians 4:16a).

Ephesians 4:16a (NLT)

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

1. There are no extra parts in the Body of Christ! (1 Cor. 12:20-27)

1 Corinthians 12:20–27 (NLT)

20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.

21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,

24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.

25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.

26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

* When one member of the body is removed or does not function, there are problems throughout the body. The disease of Diabetes is a prime example. The organ that should produce insulin does not do it’s job…creating all kinds of other problems.

B. Every member of the body must do his share if the whole body is to function properly. (Ephesians 4:16b).

Ephesians 4:16b (NLT)

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

1. All parts must do their job completely or the body cannot function effectively.

*Example: If a blood vessel is blocked and does not carry the needed blood supply, it spells disaster for all other members of the body.

C. When the whole body works together the result is a church that is built up in love (Ephesians 4:16c).

Ephesians 4:16c (NLT)

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

1. When all members of the body function properly, the result is a harmoniously knit, unified, loving body of Christ.

CONCLUSION:

A- Summary

B- Invitation:

1. Have you been saved? If so, you have been gifted for service within the Body of Christ. Why not yield to the Lord and let the Holy Spirit empower you for service?