The Practice of Ministry

The fourth chapter of Ephesians introduces a change of direction for the book. The word “therefore” in verse 1, signals this change. Paul is saying, “because of what I have said, this is what I want you to do.”

To me, the first there chapters of this book are among the most thrilling and most profound in the Bible. Over the course of just 6 chapters, Paul lays out a wonderful catalogue of divine truth. I do not want to re-preach the verses we have already studied, but I do want to refresh your minds briefly about the glorious truths we have already studied.

In the first three chapters of this book, Paul’s focus has been on doctrine. He has been telling us about the doctrinal truths we believe. He has also been teaching us about our positional standing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Allow me to run through a brief overview of the great truths we have already encountered in this book.

God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world - Eph. 1:4.

God has given us all spiritual blessings through Jesus - Eph. 1:3.

God has determined that we will be like Jesus, and with Jesus, one day - Eph. 1:5; 11-12.

God has made us accepted in Jesus - Eph. 1:6.

God proved the blood of Christ that washed us from our sins - Eph. 1:7.

God reached out to us when we were dead in our sins and headed to Hell - Eph. 2:1-4.

God loved us - Eph. 2:4.

God gave us life - Eph. 2:5.

God has secured our future - Eph. 2:6-7.

God has secured our salvation - Eph. 2:8-9.

God has given us a new life in Jesus - Eph. 2:10.

God has brought Jews and Gentiles together in Jesus - Eph. 2:11-18.

God has made a new race of people from those who believe the Gospel - Eph. 2:19-22.

God desires to use us, bless us and teach about the divine mystery of His everlasting grace and love - Eph. 3:1-21.

Everything I just mentioned, and more, makes up the content of the first three chapters of this book.

In summary, Paul focuses in on three great truths in the first three chapters.

He writes about how God reconciled alien people to Himself.

He writes about how God reconciled Jews and Gentiles and brought them together in the Person of His Son.

He writes about how God redeemed Jews and Gentiles and made from them a new people, the body of Christ.

All of these great truths teach us about who we are in Jesus, and about all that the Lord has given to us through His grace. Now, Paul’s thinking takes a shift.

When Paul uses the word “therefore,” he is reminding us about everything he has already written, and he is telling us that everything he has already written calls for a certain response. Paul’s shift is from doctrine to duty. His shift is from positional truth to practical truth. His shift is from what we believe to how we are to behave. Paul moves from exposition to exhortation. He moves from principle to practice. Having told us about who we are and what we are supposed to believe, Paul now tells us how we are supposed to act.

By the way, this is a pattern Paul uses several times in the New Testament. The first eleven chapters of Romans are doctrinal in nature. Then, in Romans 12:1, he says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The same pattern presents itself in Gal. 5:1; Phil. 2:1-2; Col. 3:5; and 1 Thes. 4:1.

Paul knows what many people have forgotten: DUTY ARISES OUT OF DOCTRINE! How we behave in life will always be determined by what we believe to be true. Our practice will always be dictated by the precepts we hold to be true. In others words, if we are going to behave right, we must believe right.

Right doctrine is essential for proper living!

Until we come to a place where we correctly understand the doctrines taught in the Bible, we will not live lives that are pleasing to the Lord. As long as there are holes in our doctrine, we will be derelict in our duty to serve the Lord.

So, Paul turns from teaching us doctrine to teaching us about our duty as believers. He wants us to know that who we are should have an impact on what we are. He wants us to know that what we believe about God should determine how we behave before God.

Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The Walk of the Mystery: 4:1-6

Paul’s challenge is simple. He says, “…that we walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”

The word “walk” means, “to walk around.” It refers to how a person “regulates” his or her life. Simply stated, it speaks of “our conduct, or how we live day to day.” By the way, that world “walk” is going to figure heavily throughout the remainder of this book.

Paul tells us that we are to “walk worthy.” The word “worthy” is an interesting word. It means, “to balance the scales.” The literal meaning is, “to bring up the other arm of the scales.” It has the idea of “adding something of equal value.”

The word “vocation” refers to “a calling, an invitation.” It speaks primarily of our “divine invitation to embrace God’s free offer of salvation through Christ.”

So, Paul says that we are “live our lives in such a way that we balance the scales by adding something of equal value with what we have been given in Jesus.”

What have we been given in Jesus Christ? That is what Paul has been talking about in Ephesians 1:1-3:21. Let me remind you one more time!

God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world - Eph. 1:4.

God has given us all spiritual blessings through Jesus - Eph. 1:3.

God has determined that we will be like Jesus, and with Jesus, one day - Eph. 1:5; 11-12.

God has made us accepted in Jesus - Eph. 1:6.

God proved the blood of Christ that washed us from our sins - Eph. 1:7.

God reached out to us when we were dead in our sins and headed to Hell - Eph. 2:1-4.

God loved us - Eph. 2:4.

God gave us life - Eph. 2:5.

God has secured our future - Eph. 2:6-7.

God has secured our salvation - Eph. 2:8-9.

God has given us a new life in Jesus - Eph. 2:10.

God has brought Jews and Gentiles together in Jesus - Eph. 2:11-18.

God has made a new race of people from those who believe the Gospel - Eph. 2:19-22.

God desires to use us, bless us and teach about the divine mystery of His everlasting grace and love - Eph. 3:1-21.

All of that is doctrine! All of that tells us who we are and what we have in Jesus. When God gave us all that, and more, He placed it on one side of the scale. Since we are saved and know this doctrine, we now have a duty. It is our duty to balance the scales. How do we do that? We do it by yielding to the Word of God and living lives that reflect the truths of the doctrine we have been taught.

We will talk more about it in the coming weeks, but for now, let me point you to Phil. 1:27, which says,

Philippians 1:27 KJV 1900

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

We are called on to live lives that look good on the gospel.

We are called to live lives that reflect the changes God made in us when He saved us.

We are called on to be different, 2 Cor. 5:17; to be holy, 1 Pet. 1:16; to be like Jesus Christ, 1 John 2:6.

Paul’s challenge is very practical. He is simply saying, “God has tipped the scales with His blessings. You are in tremendous debt to Him for all that He has done for you. Now that He has called you to Jesus and saved you by His grace, do everything in your power to live in such a way that you balance the scales.”

We know we can never pay the Lord back for all that He has done for us and all that He has given us in Jesus Christ. Thankfully, He does not ask us to. All He asks us to do is to live lives that are consistent with Who He is, what He has done for us, and what He has given to us in Jesus Christ.

The EXERCISING of the Walk

(Note: The apostle does not tell us to “make” unity! Unity already exists in God’s church, our duty is to manifest it and maintain it! Notice how this is done.)

1. Lowliness - This word means, “Humility; an accurate understanding of your own moral smallness.” In essence, it means you realize your own insignificance while you see the worth of others, Phil. 2:4! It’s not “How great I am!” It’s “I am what I am by the grace of God!” it’s about us getting off our pedestal and realizing that were it not for the grace of God, we would still be a hell bound sinner living for the devil! Having a “lowly” spirit keeps me reminded of the fact that I am just one heartbeat away from failing God myself, therefore, I won’t look down my nose at others who may have fallen!

2. Meekness - This word means “gentleness; power under control.” It refers to having the power to react against others, but refusing to for the sake of Christ! Sometimes, it means keeping your mouth shut, instead of setting someone else straight. Sometimes it means reacting with honey when you want to react with vinegar! It means being sweet toward others!

(Note: When you are “meek and lowly” you are in good company, Matt. 11:29! By the way, meekness is part of the “fruit of the Spirit” Gal. 5:22-23!)

3. Longsuffering - This word means “patience, endurance”. It literally means “to be long tempered.” It refers to having a long fuse! Do you have a long fuse or a short fuse? What does it take to get you riled up? If we are going to promote unity in the church, then we must learn to be long tempered!

(Note: By the way, this is also part of the fruit of the Spirit!)

4. Forbearing in Love - The word “forbearing” means “to endure, or to put up with”. It means giving people space to be themselves. You see, the word “love” refers to God’s kind of love. It is a love that is unconditional and eternal. It doesn’t end based on what others do, but it remains constant and strong in spite of injury! Basically, this phrase calls on believers to give one another the right to be different, to hold different opinions, and generally, to be themselves!

Philip Melanchthon said, “In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. In everything, charity!”

(Ill. Paul’s additional comments in Romans 12:9-21!)

The EMBRACING of the Walk

Maintaining unity in the church requires more than just a change in the way we walk. Unity in the church requires hard work! The word “endeavoring” means “to exert oneself”. We are called upon in this verse to “keep”, “to guard; to keep as a prisoner”, the “unity of the Spirit”. In other words, we are to work hard to ensure that the unity the Spirit of God wants to produce within the church is unhindered and unbroken!

How are we to do this? By maintaining the “bond of peace.” “Bond” refers to “that which binds something together”. We might call it “glue”! “Peace” simply refers to “harmony between individuals”. As we determine within our hearts that we will walk in love toward one another, we will be exerting ourselves to see that the Spirit’s purpose in our church is carried out!

(Note: This duty does not lie on the other person’s shoulders! It rests squarely upon every individual in this church! It is my responsibility to walk in love toward my brothers and it is my duty to work for unity in the church!)

The Equality of the Walk

If we are to be united in the Lord, what is to be the basis for our unity? I mean, we all come here today from different backgrounds, different cultural foundations, different economic backgrounds, different lifestyles, etc. How can we possibly find any common ground? These verses tell us about to areas that every saved person in this room holds in common with every other saved person. These two areas provide us with the source of Christian unity.

A. V. 4-6 We Share Common Ground - The night before Jesus was crucified, He prayed for His people. In John 17, one of the things He prayed for us that His people would be “one”, John 17:20-23. To ensure that we would have the foundation upon which build in unity, the Lord provided us with 7 great possessions that every Christian in this room shares in Him.

(Note: One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. Did you notice that everything is about Him? When our lives, our desires, our will, our interests, etc, stop being about Him and start to focus on us, we are headed for trouble!) As believers, we may come from different places, but we stand on common ground!

B. V. 7 We Share Common Grace - Verse 7 begins a new thought, in which Paul will speak of the spiritual gifts that are give to the ministers of the church to profit the church. Of course, it is good to note here that every believer possesses at least one spiritual gift, 1 Cor. 12:4-27. That gift that you have been given was given to you to use for the glory of God and to be a blessing to the church! As each believer uses the gifts he or she is given, the unity of the church is strengthened and the church is helped!

It is sad when believers fail to exercise their spiritual gifts, or when they use them to tear down instead of build up!

Note: He may also be referring to the grace given to us by the Lord to be able to live with one another down here!

“To live above with saints we love, Oh won’t that be glory! But, to live below with saints we know, now that’s another story!”

(Note: The source of our unity lies in what we share in common and in the fact that we have each been especially equipped by the Lord to be a blessing and a help to the church!)

The Work of the Mystery: 4:7-16

The first word of verse 7 points out, we may be one, but we are still many. The word “but” in this verse is more than a simple conjunction. It literally means “in spite of that,” or “on the other hand.” The idea is that, while we may be united in Jesus, but we are still expected to be different people. We are expected to be individuals for the glory of God. We may be commanded to do everything in our power to maintain the unity of the body of Christ, v. 2-3, but, at the same time, we are to celebrate the diversity that makes our unity possible.

EPHESIANS 4:7 But unto every one of us is GIVEN GRACE according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

The ESSENTIALITY

Our diversity finds its root in the “grace” of God. The word “grace” is a common word in the New Testament. It refers to “undeserved favor, or a gift.” We often think of “grace” in the context of salvation. For it is “by grace through faith” that we are saved, Eph. 2:8. The word “grace” in this verse does not refer to the grace of God that saves us. It refers to the grace of God that “gifts” us for service.

When the Bible says that “unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of Christ,” it simply means that the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, has given each of us some gift, or gifts, of grace. These gifts are His enabling ministry.

When He saves a soul, the Lord Jesus takes up residence in the new believer through the person on His Holy Spirit. When the Spirit comes into a life, one of the ministries He performs is to give the new believer one or more spiritual gifts. These gifts determine that believer’s place in the body, and how that believer will ultimately serve the Lord. This truth is fleshed out in detail in 1 Cor. 12:7-27.

The primary truth to note here is that you are an individual and you have been uniquely gifted to serve the Lord. When He saved you, He gave you gifts that you may share with other believers, but the way the Lord uses you to exercise those gifts will be unique to you! That is, you may preach, but your preaching will be unique to your personality. You may teach but your emphasis may be children in Sunday School while someone else might stand before thousands.

Whatever we are, we are by the grace of God, 1 Cor. 15:10. We need to discover our gifts and allow the Lord to develop them the greatest of their potential. By the way, the best way to find your spiritual gifts is to get involved in a local assembly of believers and get busy serving the Lord. As you faithfully serve Him, He will open doors of service for you that will dovetail perfectly with the gifts He has given you in grace.

The EXPOSITION

Ephesians 4:12 For the PERFECTING of the saints, for the WORK of the ministry, for the EDIFYING of the body of Christ:

So, God saved us and He gifted us.

Why did He make each of us different?

Why didn’t He just give us all the same gifts?

He made us diverse one from another because that was what was best for the Body of Christ. If every member of the body was an ear, who would do the seeing?

If every member was an hand, who would do the walking?

God made us diverse for His Own reasons, and Paul shares some of those reasons in these verses.

V. 12a EQUIPPING - “for the perfecting of the saints”

The Completion Of The Body - Paul says “for the perfecting of the saints.” The word “perfecting” has the idea of “strengthening, developing, furnishing completely, or equipping.” It simply means that God has placed the various members in the body to help the body achieve its fullest potential for His glory. He has given the church, through the work of the Holy Spirit in gifting the various members of the body, all that we need to be strong, whole, and complete for His glory.

When I fill my place and you fill yours, the Lord is glorified and the church becomes what the Lord established it to be. We become His body, carrying His light to a world trapped in darkness.

V. 12b EFFORT - “the work of the ministry”

The Commitment Of The Body - When Paul refers to “the work of the ministry,” he is talking about “the business of serving.” Effective ministry is the work of the entire church. No matter how talented a Pastor or a group of leaders may be, there is no way that one person, or even a few people, can effectively do everything that needs to be done in the local church. No one is that gifted, and no one has that much time.

God has designed the church so that each member brings a different piece of the collective puzzle to the table. When the “evangelists” and the “Pastor/teachers” are faithful in prayer and the ministry of the Word, the church is equipped to serve the needs of the body of Christ. It is not enough for us to simply to show up at the church. We must go beyond merely attending and become actively involved in the work of the Lord in the world. We do this by yielding to Him and exercising the gifts we have been given. In other words, we serve the Lord and His church by doing just what He saved you and equipped you to do. Nothing more, and nothing less!

V. 12c-14 EDIFICATION - “for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

The Confirmation Of The Body - Now, Paul tells us that the gifts of God, especially the ones mentioned in verse 11, exist “for the edifying of the body of Christ.” The word “edifying” means “to build up, to establish, or to confirm.” It speaks of the church progressing from salvation to sanctification. It pictures the church doing more than merely professing Jesus, but actually projecting Jesus. It speaks of us reaching our fullest potential and maturity in Him. It speaks of the church growing up and being settled in our walk with the Lord. Paul tells us how the gifted individuals in the church make this a reality. Again, Paul is referring to the ministry gifts make this possible, but I would remind you that everyone has a stake in this. As I serve in the manner God gifted me to serve, and as you do the same, the church will grow spiritually and leave a more Christlike footprint in the world.

Ephesians 4:13a-14 Till we ALL COME IN UNITY of the faith, and of the KNOWLEDGE of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and CARRIED ABOUT with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

1. V. 13a EXPECTATION - “till we all come in the unity of the faith.”

Bringing The Body To A Place Of Conviction - “till we all come in the unity of the faith.” As the church is properly led, fed and service by the gifted individuals that make it up, it will come to the place where it believes and practices the same body of doctrine. God’s goal in sending preachers to the church is to teach the church His Word, so that the body might be built up through a belief in common truth.

2. V. 13b ENLIGHTENED - “of the knowledge of the son of God.”

Bringing The Body To A Place Of Consciousness - “of the knowledge of the son of God.” As we are taught the truth by those gifted to share it, we learn more about the Savior. The word “knowledge” means “to fully discern.” God sends the church preachers and teachers to help us come to know Christ better. As the gifts of the Spirit are exercised in the church, one of the outcomes is a fuller knowledge of Christ. One of the surest ways for a church to grow in power, love and glory is for that church to more fully understand Whom they serve and who they are in Christ. Paul phrased it this way: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,” Phil. 3:10.

3. V. 13c EMULATION - “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”

Bringing The Body To A Place Of Christlikeness - “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” This phrase simply refers to “reaching a place of maturity.” God has gifted His church to help the whole body come to a place of maturity. He wants us to grow up into the image of His Son. That is why He saved us! He saved us so that Christ might be formed in us, Gal. 4:19. God’s desire for every one of His children is that we all, without exception, become like His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 8:28-29. One of the ways God works to achieve this goal is by giving His church gifted individuals who use their giftedness for the glory of God and for the good of the church!

4. V. 14 ENDURANCE - That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and CARRIED ABOUT with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Bringing The Body To A Place Of Certainty - This gives the church stability. When we grow up in Him, we are no longer little children tossed around by every changing wave of doctrine that strikes us. We are not washed off our feet by every new teaching we hear. We are not easily deceived by those who would try to trick us and lead us away into error. The word “sleight” refers to “dice.” It speaks of those who rig the game in their favor by using “loaded dice.” Satan and has agents try to trick and trap the people of God, (e.g. “Lie in wait to deceive”) but when we are mature in the Lord, we are not so easily lead into a game of chance with the devil.

This kind of maturity is only possible each member of the body is in his or her place, walking in the will of God, and exercising faithfully the gifts He has given us. The reason for our diversity is this:

He makes us different, so that in the end we will all become the same.

He gives us different gifts so that you can benefit from how He has gifted me, and so that I can benefit from how He has gifted you. He made is different so that He might make us one with Christ!

The WEIGHT of the Mystery: 4:17-24

Ephesians 4:17-24 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Be Extraordinary: 4:17-19

Be Extrasensory: 4:20-21

Be Essential: 4:22-24

Because of all that Christ has done for you, are you willing to be for others?

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