Gifts for the Body
Ephesians 4: One Christ, One Hope, One Body • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
<<READ 4:1-16>> <<PRAY>>
Nearly finished with Ephesians 4 series - plans to start Nehemiah in 2 weeks
Last week, looked at gifts in general; today, the specific gifts that Paul mentions in v11 and their purpose
Did you take time to discuss gifting last week? Did you look at the passages in 1 Cor 12, Rom 12, Eph 4, 1 Pet 4:10-11 and consider how God has gifted YOU for the good of His Church?
Today, vv11-12 - focus on some specific gifts, and what they mean for all of us.
ILLUST:
I. Christ cares for us by giving us leaders (v11)
I. Christ cares for us by giving us leaders (v11)
<<READ 4:11-12>>
EXPLAIN:
“He gave” continues the thought of v7 - Grace given to each of us, and among His gifts, Christ gave these specific gifts - Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers
So let’s look at these leadership gifts and consider what each one of them means.
"THE APOSTLES” - “messenger,” “someone sent with a message.” 3 uses in NT
1. Simple messenger, someone who carried a letter (Epaphroditus Phil 2:25)
2. The pioneer missionaries of the NT - Paul grabs Barnabas and they both get called “apostles” in this sense in Acts 14:14; James the brother of Jesus in Gal 1:19; Silas and Timothy in 1 Thess 2:6; possibly Andronicus and Junia in Romans 16:7
3. The group also called the Twelve - the group of men specifically picked out by Jesus
13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.
The Twelve had to have been with the disciples from the baptism of Jesus through His ascension - eyewitnesses to His earthly ministry
The number TWELVE chosen as the New Covenant equivalent of the OT Twelve Tribes
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
They took their eyewitness testimony with them wherever they went, and over the course of their lives committed it to paper with the Gospels and other NT writings.
In addition to the Twelve, Jesus chose Paul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul says he was unworthy, a persecutor of the Church, an enemy,
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
The Twelve plus Paul occupy a central place in the New Testament, speak with Christ’s authority, reveal Him to others
Paul is speaking primarily about FOUNDATIONAL apostles in verse 11, as indicated by the next gift:
“THE PROPHETS” - Spokesmen and spokeswomen. 2 uses in NT
1. When Jesus or the NT writers refer to the Old Testament, divide it into “The Law and the Prophets” or a similar phrase. OT Prophets STOOD in God’s presence, RECEIVED God’s perfect Word, DELIVERED God’s perfect Word to Israel and the nations, and also ADVOCATED for God’s people in God’s presence
Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Hosea, etc
They were able to deliver God’s Word as He intended because God Himself made sure of it
19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The New Testament usually sets Old Testament prophets in parallel with apostles - "prophecy of Scripture” // 2 Pet 3:14-6 - Paul’s letters called Scripture
2. One who speaks God’s words - receives fresh revelation from God & announces it under the authority of the Holy Spirit
Acts 11, 21 - Agabus & the daughters of Philip the evangelist
Luke 2:36 - Anna, old woman present in the Temple when Joseph & Mary brought infant Jesus
38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Notice how prophecy is connected to GOD revealing truths to those who hear:
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
Apostles & prophets are linked together by Paul in Eph 2:19-21, Eph 3:5, and here in Eph 4:11 as FOUNDATIONAL gifts - the means by which Christ broke ground in new places and established the truth of the Gospel. Often accompanied by signs & wonders
The “apostles & prophets” taken together belong to the period immediately after Christ’s death, resurrection & ascension.
Apostles & prophets revealed the secrets of others’ hearts (Peter to Simon “I see that you are in the gall of bitterness”), predicted future events (Agabus re: famine Acts 11), recognized God’s specific call on others (Acts 13 - HS said “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”), revealed fresh messages from God, encouraged the believers
Prophecy in the NT is closely connected to the Gospel and its progress - not personal prosperity or anything like that.
Genuine Christians disagree about the extent to which this kind of prophecy continues today. Some Christians believe it’s still fully at work in local churches, and that when Paul twice tells the Corinthians to “earnestly desire the gift of prophecy” in 1 Cor 14, that he’s talking about this Gospel-supporting, fresh revelation from God. Other Christians believe that this kind of prophecy has ceased because it was tied to the foundational gift of apostles & prophets.
Here at Bethel, we have people all across the spectrum on this point. And Paul does not decide the issue for us here in Ephesians 4. But all Christians can agree that true, Biblical prophets are a gift from Jesus for the Church.
“EVANGELISTS” - heralds of the Good News.
An evangelist is someone whom God has given a special gift for declaring and explaining the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.
In Acts 6, we’re introduced to a man named Philip, not the apostle but another guy, who is set apart as a deacon, and when the first persecution breaks out in chapter 8 and the disciples scatter throughout the area, Philip goes to Samaria and tons of people respond to the Gospel. The LORD works through him again in the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, and later in Acts 21 he’s referred to as “Philip the evangelist.”
Evangelists are a gift to the Church, just like apostles & prophets. Every Christian is called to bear witness to what Christ has done, but an evangelist does it with a fervor and giftedness that encourages the rest of us. If Billy Graham can preach to thousands, you can bear witness to your mom or dad or neighbor.
Verse 11 ends with the phrase “the SHEPHERDS AND TEACHERS.” These are closely related ministries. The ministry of the shepherd always includes teaching, but not every teacher is set apart as a shepherd.
A shepherd is a pastor, an elder, an overseer. These three words are interchangeable in the New Testament. So Peter says this:
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Elders are called to shepherd. In Acts 20:28, Paul says:
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
So an elder, an overseer, a pastor or shepherd, is called to care for the flock. To lead and and be examples. SHEPHERDS are called to imitate Jesus’s care for the flock, because He is the chief Shepherd.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
and
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Jesus says that His sheep will not listen to a stranger’s voice, but they will listen to His voice.
It’s a stirring picture of the intimacy with which Jesus acts to save His children. The shepherd knows His own sheep by name; they recognize His voice; He leads from the front and they follow because they know His voice; they will not follow a stranger.
SHEPHERDS know their flock. They don’t stand far away from the Church but enter into the lives of their people. Because Jesus’ voice is the means by which He leads the sheep, Jesus’ voice is the means by which the elders must shepherd the Church. Leading people by the Word of God is the primary expression of leadership by elders.
This is why Paul puts “the shepherds and teachers” in such a close relationship - the only way to faithfully shepherd is to do so by teaching God’s Word.
Others are called to serve the Lord as teachers without necessarily being shepherds. Go into any children’s Sunday School classroom, or Youth Group meeting, and you’ll find people that God has given to the Church as teachers in those contexts.
So, notice two things that bind each of these 5 gifts together:
First, each of them puts a focus on speaking or teaching God’s Word.
Second, each of them is a kind of SERVANTHOOD. Words like messenger, spokesman, shepherd, teacher, these don’t imply personal clout and ego. They are about serving others in faithful service to Jesus.
The greatest, most ambitious goal in the Church is to be servant of all, just as Christ came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.
One of my favorite bits of irony in the New Testament in 2 Cor 8 - Paul is sending Titus back to Corinth with his letter,
18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
And we have no idea who this brother is. His fame is preserved, but his name is not. Imagine the wonder of that - to be famous for preaching and anonymous at the same time. This is the epitome of what John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
So why does Jesus give these leaders to the church? Look at verse 12:
II. Christ gives us leaders to prepare us for ministry (v12a)
II. Christ gives us leaders to prepare us for ministry (v12a)
<<READ 12>>
Here’s where we demolish a couple of misunderstandings.
ILLUST: When I was a kid, I went to “St. Michael and All Angels Church.” In college, I went to “St. Paul Church.” I was a youth pastor at “St. Cuthbert Church.”
Maybe you’ve visited St. Patrick over on 10th Avenue.
The word “saint” conjures mental pictures of men with long white beards and robes, or women with far-off looks in their eyes and halos.
But according to Scripture, saints are just people who have been declared holy by God. Everyone who has been justified by faith in Jesus Christ is included when Paul uses the word “saints.”
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
So Paul says that Christ has given these gifts to equip you for the work of ministry. And that’s another misunderstanding we need to demolish. Ministry isn’t something pastors do. Ministry is something Christians are called to.
Ministry is just another word for service. This is the calling of verses 1-3 - <<READ>>
Remember in verse 7 - grace was given to each one of us. The leader gifts of verse 11 were given to equip the saints, through God’s Word, to use their gifts in service to Christ.
APPLY: So there are two applications that flow out of this.
First, expect your shepherds to be about the business of equipping you through the Word. We want to get you excited and prepared to use your gifts in service to Christ and His mission.
Last week, I closed by pointing us back to the words of Jesus that “it is better to give than to receive.” If you’ve spent your life as a Christian soaking up everyone else’s gifts, you’re missing out on something so much better.
When Jesus rescued you from sin & gave you His Spirit, and you repented and put your faith in Him, He gave you grace according to His wisdom & purpose. He didn’t hold back.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
You are a recipient of the extravagant outpouring of grace by Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit-empowered, careful exploration and exposition of God’s Word each week is one of the ways we seek to equip the saints for the work of ministry.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a kid or a great grandma - you are a gift to us.
“The work of ministry” includes everything that flows from the work of Christ in you.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
So expect your pastors and elders to open God’s Word to equip you for ministry
Another application - envision yourself as the saints and ministers you are.
Saints aren’t holy because of anything they’ve done. Saints are holy because the blood of Jesus has washed their sins away, and he has clothed them in His own righteousness.
Some of us struggle with the idea that God has called us to the work of ministry because we can’t see past the stains of our past. But everyone who belongs to Jesus by faith is a new creation. The old is gone. He saved Paul the murderous persecutor and sent him on a new mission to preach salvation in Jesus. Whatever you see when you close your eyes at night, it is not too great for Jesus to wash away. So don’t be afraid to listen when His voice calls you to the work of ministry.
Some of you are struggling because the ministry that used to identify you seems to be gone, or at least on-hold. Or your health is keeping you from participating in the gathered Body right now. You’ve been basically at home since March. What if you pick up the phone and call someone else you know has been homebound, and take the church directory, and start praying on the phone together for five families each day? Start small, and see what God does.
III. Christ calls us to ministry to build one another up (v12b)
III. Christ calls us to ministry to build one another up (v12b)
Let’s finish with a look at the end of verse 12, and the purpose for our ministry. <<READ 12-13>>
Christ calls us to ministry to build up His Body. He gave me to you as your pastor to strengthen you in His Word, and He gave you to build me up, too. We all have different gifts, and we all have been given to one another as gifts.
Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds & teachers take God’s Word and give it to His People, so you can give it to one another, and live it with one another - as verses 1-3 say, with humility and gentleness and patience, bearing with one another in love.
This is how Christ builds His Body.
Take what Paul says about gifts seriously here.
Jesus is our victorious King, triumphant over all. The fact that you are here today, on the lawn or online, is proof that the Fount of all Wisdom considered you, and thought about how to build up His Church, and chose for you to be here today.
No one has the Spiritual gift of tearing down what He has built. You were created in Christ Jesus for this time, in this moment, in 2020, for building up the body of Christ.
This is not like a man-made organization, with ever-changing priorities. The mission today is the same as it was when Jesus declared it - <<MATT 28:18-20>>
The well-equipped body of Christ discovers new gifts as Jesus pours them out. How do you think Jesus gives teachers to His Church? He builds them. Shepherds and evangelists are built by Jesus through His Word.
Maybe He’s calling you to be an evangelist. Maybe He’s calling you to equip one. One thing is for sure: He’s calling us, all of us, to the work of ministry.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION