SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Foundational Gifts (Part 1)

Memorial Drive 2/16/20 SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Foundational Gifts Ephesians 4 Knowing and developing my spiritual gift/s allows me to have a part in SUPPLYING what is needed for the growth of a fellowship of believers! Our Primary Text … “And He gave some as APOSTLES, and some as PROPHETS, and some as EVANGELISTS, and some as PASTORS AND TEACHERS, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-13) … THE FOUNDATIONAL CHURCH-GROWTH GIFTS (Ephesians 4:11-13) • The Gift of APOSTLE or APOSTLESHIP 181-183 ◦ The SPECIFIC USE of the Word “Apostle” Luke 6:12-13 Christ “chose twelve … whom He named as apostles Acts 1:2, 13 Luke refers to “the apostles whom He had chosen” and later gives their names ◦ The WORK OR CALLING of the Apostles Acts 1:8 They were to be His WITNESSES (“eye-witnesses”) Acts 1:21-22 It was necessary that another apostle who had “been with Christ” serve as a WITNESS of Jesus’ resurrection I Cor. 15:5-10 Paul was an “apostle come lately” for Christ “appeared to me also”, to one “untimely born” So “THE apostles” were divinely appointed by Christ as those who had seen Him and could testify to who He was! But they weren’t JUST witnesses in terms of SPEAKING of Christ, they also had the task of passing on the instruction of Christ to His church. John 21:24 They were also entrusted with WRITING Scripture At first here is no INSTRUCTION on how to BE what we ARE -- CHURCH! The apostles and prophets are involved with establishing the foundation of the newly birthed church, and this included speaking and recording everything the church for its growth! “… you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s HOUSEHOLD, having been built on the FOUNDATION of the APOSTLES and PROPHETS, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone …” (Eph. 2:19-20) I Cor. 12:28 God appointed “first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers” Clearly there is something SPECIAL and UNIQUE about THESE gifts in the early church! These foundational truths that are called Scripture were first called “the traditions” 2 Thes. 2:15 Stand firm and hold to THE TRADITIONS which you were taught ‘whether by WORD OF MOUTH or BY LETTER from us” I Cor. 11:2 Hold firmly to THE TRADITIONS just as I delivered them to you Phil. 4:9 The “things which you have learned and received … practice” 2 Tim. 2:2 The “things which you have heard from me” entrust to “teachers” Jude 3 Contend earnestly for THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE FOR ALL HANDED DOWN to the saints A Strong Warning! “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: IF ANYONE ADDS TO THEM, GOD WILL ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK; and IF ANYONE TAKES AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD WILL TAKE AWAY HIS PART FROM THE TREE OF LIFE AND FROM THE HOLY CITY, which are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:18-19) ◦ The GENERAL USE of the Term “Apostle” The term is used of those NOT among “the twelve” plus Paul (See Heb. 3:1, Acts 13:2-3 with 14:4) • THE GIFT OF APOSTLE (and Prophet): Are They Still Around? “The gift of apostle is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to assume and exercise general leadership over a number of churches with an authority in spiritual matters that is spontaneously recognized and appreciated by those churches.” (Wagner, 181) WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? … We SHOULD pay attention to such commands as: “Desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy!” (I Cor. 14:1), “Desire earnestly to prophesy!” (I Cor. 14:39) and I Thes. 5:19-20: “Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances.” And we SHOULD seriously consider “the gifts of the Spirit.” However, SOME claim a complete restoration of apostles and prophets with the same degree of authority as the original apostles that God used to give us the New Testament Scriptures! “Since these new apostles are commissioned by God, THEIR AUTHORITY MAY NOT BE QUESTIONED.” (Berean Research on NAR Movement) What GOD says: “Do NOT despise prophetic utterances but EXAMINE EVERYTHING CAREFULLY; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” (I Thes. 5:21) There are those who place a greater emphasis on dreams and visions and extra-biblical prophecies than they do on the Word of God itself! There are some who are saying that God is giving “new revelations” that are equally authoritative as Scripture. No! No! No!