Ephesians # 19 Eph 4-13 thru 4-15

   All right, we’re going to pick up from right where we left off last week.

   I. Let’s start reading with EPH 4:11-12

       A. The AMP translation words V 12 like this, “His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints, that they (the saints) should do the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the Church).”

          1. Pastors can not do all the work. It’s the Pastor’s job to equip the saints, to cause them to grow through the Word, so that the saints can do the work of the ministry.

              a. The AMP says, “His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints, that they (the saints) should do the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the Church).”

                 i. The 5 fold ministry gifts are given to the church (the saints) to ministry the Word of God, in turn the saints are to get involved in ministering to others.

   II. EPH 4:13

          A. 1st of all, this V tells us that we will always need the 5 fold ministry, and that includes the Apostles and the Prophets.

                 1. We need the 5 fold ministry gifts until 4 things happen.

                        a. 1 Until we all come in Unity of the Faith.

                               i. The body of Christ has never come in unity, there are so many different division (churches).

                               ii. The subject of different Churches isn’t bad, but we have never come in unity of the faith.

                               iii. We’re getting closer as the Word of God is being preached, and people are listing to the Word. The Truth of God’s Word is going to set the people free and it will bring unity.

                        b. # 2 (The 5 fold ministry cannot end) Until we receive a full knowledge of the Son of God.

                               i. The KJV says, “Of the knowledge of the Son of God.”

                                      i. The word “Knowledge” is the Greek word “Epignoseos” which means “Full knowledge.”

                                      ii. Again we’re getting closer to that goal.

                        c. The 3rd thing that is said, “Unto a perfect man,” The Greek literally says, “Unto a Mature man.”

                               i. There will always be babes in Christ that will need to grow up in HIM.

                        d. # 4 goes with # 3 and that is as the KJV puts it “Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

                               i. Basically that means a maturity level to a fullness like that of Christ.”

                               ii. I think we going to need the 5 fold ministry until we get to heaven.

          B. EPH 4:14

                 1. Paul is telling us WHY we need the 5 fold ministry gifts.

                        a. In (V 13) Paul says, we need the ministry gifts so that we can grow.

                               i. But can’t we grow by studying the Word at home? YES and we should study the Word, But Paul says that it is very important in our spiritual growth that we go to church. (Or when a true Prophet of God is in town, that go to hear Him or Her.)

                               ii. Not everyone is a prophet of God, even if someone else says they are, or even if they say they are.

                               iii. If you’re not sure where a minister is, You’ll here me mention from time to time who are true men of God that are teaching the Word of God.

                               iv. People that I don’t know anything about or if their in error, I wont talk about them.

                 2. In (V 14a) Paul again tells us why we need the 5 fold ministry gifts.

                        a. The 1st part of that V says, “That we be no more children.”

                               i. The word “Children” should actually be “Infants.”

                        b. The 2nd part of (V 14b) says, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro.”

                               i. Those that are not going to Church and hearing the Word of God become immature in the things of God, and they have opened themselves up to being tossed to and fro.

                 3. But that’s not all. Let’s read it again. (V 14c)

                        a. If you haven’t gotten yourself firmly planted in church and Going to see men of God like K. Hagin and K. Copeland, you’re going to be “Carried about with every wind of doctrine.”

                               i. A wind of doctrine is something that is going through the body of Christ that may have some truth to it, but it’s been taken so far that it becomes an error. (DELIVERANCE)

                               ii. Just like a natural wind, they come and go.

                        b. Without being planted in a good church, it’s easy to slip into error.

                        c. The last part of (V 14d) says, “By the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

                               i. A lot of the time people are sincere, but they’re sincerely wrong. They just don’t know any better.

                               ii. But there are those that will try to deceive in order to build up their own group, or to get money.

                        d. Deception doesn’t come in an obvious way.

                               i. Satan can come as an angel of light.

                               ii. It might look good at 1st, but if you look at it through the Word of God your eyes will be opened.

   III. EPH 4:15

          A. When Paul says “Speaking the truth in love,” I believe that this is referring to something that the word teaches.

                 1. You might be able to tell someone how to get a job.

                        a. Giving them some advice from the Word.

                        b. But if you saw a Brother in the Lord steel something, to probably don’t want to go to the police and tell them what happened.

                               i. (Proverbs 10:12) Says, “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” KJV

          B. Back in (EPH 4:15) it say, …The word “LOVE” is the Greek word “Agape.”

                 1. Which is a true kind of love, the God kind of love.

                        a. When “Speaking the truth in love” your motive should only be “to help the person.

                              i. Not to use the sword of the Spirit (the Word) to stab the person.

                 2. When you do Speak the Truth in Love to correct someone from their errors, that will bring them back on track.

Ephesians #19 Eph 4:13-15.docx

WOLCC THROUGH PM 7/18/96