Ephesians 4:4-9
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 36 viewsNotes
Transcript
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Gifts
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
These are the elements of unity.
Paul is working backwards as we had just been urged in v3 to keep unity in the Spirit. He now works to the source of Unity, which is Father God.
Regardless of label, there is only one church universal
Our unity rest not in the color of our skin, the symbol of our governments, the names of our ancestors… but it rest in God, and God along.
Having a worthy walk results in unity among the believers.
Unity in faith towards God
Unity in our mission from God
Unity in our destiny in God
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
Let’s deal with vs. 8 first:
Paul is making an allusion to Psalm 68:18
You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.
In this case, Paul is referring to Christ as a victorious conquering King who now bestows gifts to his subjects.
Regarding Eph 4:7
Some translations are slightly different here.
The NLT captures the idea that the Grace that we have been given is connected to a giftedness flowing from the generosity of Christ.
However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.
The NIV Captures the idea that each one of has a measure of Grace or Giftedness.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
in other words, Christ, the victorious King saw fit to give each one of us a measured gift that we are to then use in building and preserving unity in the Body of Christ.
We can’t compare our measure of Grace with others:
We need to walk in the gift / grace that we have been given. .
This one gets sticky… why? One word, pride.
We have to be careful to remember the worthy walk we have been called to involves walking in relationship with other Christians… marked by
humility / gentleness / patience / longsuffering / Unity
Did anyone in here have something they really wanted as a kid? You know, the newest bike, toy, or gadget?
You work hard to be on your best behavior to ensure that mom and dad would be willing to shell out the bucks for your desire.
It was somehow easier to walk in “humility, gentleness, patience while you were waiting on your parents to bless you.
Something I’ve come to realize as an adult. Often times, when I’d finally get the thing I desired, I no longer felt obligated to be on my best behavior.
My desire to be blessed was inwardly directed and selfish.
Our conquering King did not distribute gifts to his children so they could then be selfish and inwardly focused.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
You’re to be a good steward of your gift that is then used in the service of others.
We are equipped to serve others. No-one is an island in the church.
We need the giftedness others possess.
Christ determines our roles, so as we serve we honour him.
I want to explore with you the ideas of Spiritual Gifts.
We need to have a proper opinion of ourselves:
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
We’ve all seen American Idol, it’s never pretty when people walk outside of their giftedness
Ask yourself some questions:
What are you naturally good at?
What are the desires and dreams? Again, with sober judgement.
I’ve secretly desired to be a Gospel Singer. (Mike, you feel me on this one) / But I’m not sure it’s going to happen for either of us.
Ask God about the “measure of faith” he has given you.
Where have you served in God’s kingdom and seen growth?
Growth spiritually in yourself
Growth in those you serve
2 - We need to understand our proper place.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
Every preacher starts out wanting to be Billy Gram
Our effectiveness for Jesus isn’t measured by our success, but by our surrender.
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
This isn’t our party, church isn’t about us… it’s about everyone else.
It’s about the members we are missing, because we haven’t told them about Jesus
3 - We need to serve in our assigned stations.
so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Conclusion:
What if I don’t have any gifts pastor Adam? You do!
We have to rest in God choice for us and how he has equipped each of us to serve.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.