Ephesians 4:7-10
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction: Let’s make a few observations about gift cards for a moment. We won’t preach the illustration, we will preach the text…but the illustration will help paint a picture of what the Paul is telling us in this section of Ephesians.
Think about a gift card. First of all, in order to give a gift card to someone…you have to determine who is going to get it and how many funds you will put on the card.
Once you do that, you have to go online or in person to a store and pay the cost to apply real worth to the card, otherwise it is just a piece of plastic or a code that has no monetary value. Once the card actually has value…you wrap it up and give it to someone. The person then receives the card that has a pre-determined value assigned to it by the giver…and it is given to you for the purpose of actually using it for yourself or for the benefit of others (like when you take someone out to Starbucks because you have a gift card).
Gift cards, once given, are to be used. I am notorious for getting gift cards and then not using them. I feel horrible about this…I am a rather public person and people often want to express their appreciation to me and they do so by giving me gift cards. But if I don’t use them…I have wasted other peoples, love and intentions and provision. It’s horrible.
Let’s think about something more devastating. God has determined to give a gift to you and He determined how much He was willing to spend on you. He determined He would go all in on you. He would be willing to pay any cost…all the cost, the ultimate cost to bless you with a gift and so, with this determination, He sends Jesus into the store of the world to begin the long process of being tempted and tried in every way and yet without sin…how rare.
Have you ever gotten a gift card that you haven’t used?
Don’t you know that value is determined by how rare and precious something is? We don’t come close to grasping how valuable the sinless, perfect blood of Jesus is. We don’t know how rare it is, but never-the-less God does and through the perfect obedient life of Christ and through His selfless death on our behalf, the gift card has been secured and is extremely valuable…there is no invalid code here…this is the real deal. Then God wraps it up and calls it the “Gospel” which means, “Good News” and He offers that line of credit to us. This line of credit does two things.
First, it makes us righteous in His sight.
But, it doesn’t stop there…the line of credit that we have been given is to be poured out for the benefit of other people as well. This line of credit also gives us a specific enablement of the Holy Spirit to bless other people. This is what we call “spiritual gifts.”
Last Week: We have been equipped to maintain the unity because of what we have all experienced.
Last Week: We have been equipped to maintain the unity because of what we have all experienced.
We talked about the 7 fold experience of grace that we have all uniformly experienced. So maybe we are more united than we think.
Textual Idea: We have been equipped to maintain the unity with the gifts we have been given.
Textual Idea: We have been equipped to maintain the unity with the gifts we have been given.
Let’s read the text:
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
I want to highlight something that the some have interpreted the text to say…but really isn’t saying. Some people build a whole theological construct based on a false interpretation of Ephesians 4:8-10. But those that have done this are guilty of going beyond what the bible clearly teachings and have ventured off into theological speculation. The long and short of this is that Paul is not saying that Jesus needed to go into hell and beat up demons and the devil for three days. That is not what this text is teaching. If that is not what this text is teaching…what is the text teaching?
Let’s drill into the center of Paul’s argument and mine the treasure that we find there instead of allowing medieval era theologians to steer us away from the simple truth this text is teaching.
Here we go. Paul is going to quote Psalm 68…in Ephesians 4:8, and then he will add an explanation as to why he quoted it.
Psalm 68 is 35 verses dedicated to praising Yahweh, who has proven Himself to be a mighty warrior and who is victorious over all who oppose Him…and then there is an invitation for all the inhabitants of the world to give Him praise.
So this is the the big backdrop. There are forces that are at work against God and God’s people, but God has proven to be more powerful and fierce because his enemies have melted away as wax before a consuming fire. And then an invitation is extended to those who have recieved Yahweh’s tender care…and the invitation is to a, “Praise Yahweh Party.”
In verses 15-18 of Psalm 68, a picture is painted of Yahweh arriving at the “Praise Yahweh Party” and He takes His seat in the place of honor. The place of honor happens to be on the top of Mount Zion. He is the main attraction and all in attendance are gathered to celebrate Him and His victory over His enemies. But what is absolutely amazing about the giving nature of Yahweh is that when He approaches the seat of honor…there is a line of people who were once rebellious toward Him…who have been allowed to follow in His footsteps because they have been taken captive by Him. They have been rescued by Him and they are captured by Him and allowed to follow after Him.
And as if that isn’t enough, at this “Praise Yahweh Party” there are party favors given out to everyone in attendance. And these Party Favors aren’t little trinkets that will be thrown away after a day or two because they prove to be worthless or cheap…these gifts will prove to be invaluable commodities for the wellbeing of the assembled captives as they attempt to become more like the One who has captured them them from their former captivity.
Have you been taken captive by Jesus? Are you more captivated with Jesus than anything else this world has to offer? What sin still easily entangle you?
And so Paul says,
8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
The gracious provision of our God is the center of what Paul is getting at in these verses and not that there was more work for Jesus to do after His death and before His resurrection. If Jesus had more work to do in hell beating up demons, than why in the world did He say on the cross, “It is finished?”
Let’s not rip verses 8-10 out of the overall structure of Ephesians 4:1-16 and make an obscure teaching out of it…rather let’s see it for what it is and how it supports the over all structure of Paul’s argument for unity in Ephesians 4.
What does this passage contribute to argument for unity in this section? That’s our textual idea that we will now expound on.
Textual Idea: Each one of us has been gifted to maintain the unity.
Textual Idea: Each one of us has been gifted to maintain the unity.
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
As much as we all experienced this unity and oneness in our call, there has been “specific grace” that has been showered down on “each one” of us. That is, there has been a “specific equipping of grace,” a party favor from Yahweh, that has been given to each individual that makes up the corporate Body of Christ. Our Christian unity is enriched by the diversity of our gifts that we have been graciously given by God to build up the body.
How do you sense you have been spiritually enabled to bless other with what has been entrusted to you? Are you stewarding your gift well? How can you put it into practice this week?
So whether you like it or not…we are all in this together…so we must share what we have been given.
With the rest of our time we are going to look at verses 7 and 8 and have a discussion about the gifting of the Holy Spirit that has been given to “each one” of us. When I say gifting of the Holy Spirit I am referring to those gifts, capabilities, and ministries that the Holy Spirit sovereignly grants to Christians upon their conversion.
If you aren’t a Christian you may have some natural abilities and talents and skills that you have because of God’s gracious provision of common grace. Maybe you have been blessed with good genes or the ability to be trained up in a certain field. These natural abilities that you possess are still sourced in God’s general provision of common grace and that should cause you to pause and look up and say thank you.
Today, we are going to be talking about a special enablement of the Spirit that has been sovereignly distributed to each born again child of God upon conversion. This special enablement was was measured out specifically by Jesus Christ Himself because He is the Head of the Body of which we are members and He knows exactly what each member needs in order to keep His Body functioning properly in this world.
Let’s look at our passage.
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
You have been gifted.
You have been gifted.
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
This isn’t something you work for or need to go to school for. This verse teaches us that a “specific grace” was given to us. And if it was given to us…that means we are already are in possession of it.
At the moment of your conversion the Holy Spirit took up residence in your soul and He brought some house warming gifts with Him. You have been gifted in the past.
Each one has been gifted for the common good.
Each one has been gifted for the common good.
And I want to borrow from Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians to give a more robust teaching on this idea.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
You and I, each one of us, have been gifted by the Spirit for the the common good. The house warming gifts that the Spirit gave you upon conversion aren’t there to beautify your space for your sake. He brought them into your space that you might be a blessing to others with them.
The “specific grace” that you have been given, meaning the “enablement of the Spirit” that has been entrusted to your stewardship is for others, not you!
There are so many ways to apply this but I just want to cherry pick a few points of application that are certain as we move into application.
The critical importance of local church membership.
The critical importance of local church membership.
Some of you listening to this sermon are what I call a “long-term visitor.s” You are here in the assembly, but haven’t taken the plunge into full on commitment to this local assembly. Church membership is a beautiful endeavor. It is committing to a community by means of a covenant. Kind of like in a marriage, when you stand before God and many witness who will hold you accountable to your vow. Church membership is the executing the “one another’s” of Scripture with the same people on a regular basis, so that iron can sharpen iron and productive sparks can start flying as God shapes and fashions us more into the image of Christ.
Have you made a formal public commitment to the members at FCC? Would you consider attending our upcoming membership class for more information?
Upon salvation, the Holy Spirit incorporates us into the universal Body of Christ. If you are born again, you are members of the universal body, but to make this ultimate reality known, we practically demonstrate this in a localize context to a watching world through our active participation in a local assembly.
I just boiled down into two paragraphs the concept of local church membership. My final sentence on this topic is a question: If you attend here on a regular basis and haven’t made a formal public commitment to those assemble here, why? We will be having a membership class on _____________.
The second point of application is more lengthly and nuanced and potentially controversial. So this ought to be fun!!!
Commercial Break: Church Center App
Commercial Break: Church Center App
Have you updated your information on the church center app?
The critical importance of playing your position.
The critical importance of playing your position.
The bible says that we are all “members” of the Body. The analogy is great and it is found in 1 Cor. 12:12-27. In that passage, Paul is going talk about how we are all part of “one body,” but we all have different roles to play. Some are ears, some are eyes, some are hands, some are feet. At least one of us has to be the armpit…probably me!
Paul concludes his teaching by stating this...
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
ILLUSTRATE - Baseball coach - our players are getting better but but there will be times when the ball is hit to the center of the infield and my 1st, 2nd and 3rd basemen, my short stop, my pitcher and some outfielders will come charging toward the ball. One of them will eventually get it and pick it up…but they have no one to throw it to…but they throw it anyway in the general direction where there team mate should be, but they aren’t. That is called an error and the other team is awarded with more bases. It’s kind of funny and endearing when you are watching a bunch of 7 year olds act like they are magnetized to the ball, but when you see it in the church…it is a sad state of affairs and the enemy makes his advances against us.
I want us to imagine church like baseball practice. We all take our positions and coach Jesus steps up to the plate to give us some grounders and pop flies.
He steps into the batters box, grabs His bat named the Holy Spirit and He grabs the ball called “Spiritual Gifts” and then He looks out at all of us in the field and starts hitting some fungo. That is when you start hitting the ball to various players on the field to give them practice fielding.
The objective for us in the field is to receive what as been purposefully distributed to us by coach Jesus as He swing the Holy Spirit bat to hit the baseball, (Spiritual gifts) into our gloves. But once we get what has been given to us…we need to pass it on to the appropriate places in order to accomplish our objective as a baseball team.
We all play a unique role in the fellowship located here at 586 Birch Bay Lynden Road. Cool! So far so good…nothing controversial so far.
I want to be very careful and sensitive here No guilt or shame is intended to be heaped upon any listening ear for the next few moments. It is my deepest desire to be like Christ in next few moments because He doesn’t break bruised reeds and he doesn’t snuff out smoldering wicks.
So with extreme caution, tenderness, and with all the love I have in my heart I want to talk about church attendance.
Each of us here, and for those of you who are watching online, we all play a unique role. If you are not here on any given Sunday, for whatever reason…whether you are sleeping in, camping out, involved in sports, or because of a virus, it makes it really hard to catch what other people are throwing at you and vice versa. Maybe you got a ball hit to you, but you can’t throw it from your living room to the sanctuary.
It is also important to highlight that just because you are here in attendance in this building right now and have a ball in your glove…it doesn’t do any good to the overall objective of the team if you just keep it to yourself. You need to be actively participating.
If there is a sin that you commit by not attending the corporate gathering of the church, it wouldn’t be the sin of leaving yourself in an isolated state where your vulnerabilities to spiritual attack are exposed…the primary sin would be, neglecting to care for the vulnerabilities of others. It is leaving others exposed to attack because you aren’t present to protect them. Let me explain.
So often I think we miss the point of church attendance…we think…or other say to us...
What do you consider to be some of the differences between church members and regular attendees? What would you consider is “regular attendance?”
“You need to come to church because if you are isolated you are in danger of being eaten up by the devil who is prowling around seeking someone to devour.”
We’ve all seen the nature shows about how predatory animals hunt right? They work as a team to break someone off of the flock and then they have a much better chance to have a meal. I think that this is certainly true in the case of being out of regular fellowship. If you are in isolation, it is much easier to give into secret sins, or be trapped by despair or fill in the blank with whatever sin easily entangles you.
To combat this we think, “I better go to church or else I am in danger.” This is certainly true…but this is is also a very self focused, consumeristic approach to how we relate to the local assembly.
In this case the local assembly is there to bless me. I go there because of what I can get out of it. Like I said, certainly this is important, but there is another angle that Scripture takes that is more powerful and less self-focused.
The other angle that Scripture puts forward allows us to be the vendors instead of consumers. Before we look at a passage of Scripture, I want to look at a biblical word that describes who we are…that word is...
ἐκκλησία
ἐκκλησία
In Mark 3:13 as Jesus was beginning His public ministry He went up on a mountain and He extended a call to those He chose to follow Him.
13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.
Jesus calls out to individuals and they physically come to Him.
ἐκκλησία
ἐκκλησία
Def: to gather together, an assembled group of people. (legos)
This word is made up of a prefix and a root. The prefix is ek or ex, which means “out of ” or “from.” The root word is a form of the verb kaleo, which means “to call.” Thus, ekklesia means “those who are the called-out ones.” Those that make up the “church” move from where they are at and gather together with others who have also been called out.
Now with that in mind, let’s look at a passage that indicates and assumes that when we gather, we should be less like consumers and more like vendors distributing what we have been given.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Let’s take off our Western Civilization, consumeristic goggles and look close to see what the text is saying. When we look close, what we see is that the sin that we commit when we fail to gather as a local, physical assembly is not that we endanger ourselves, but that we endanger others.
Gathering with God’s people is not about being blessed (that is a good by-product), but gathering with God’s people is about being a blessing.
When we physically walk into this space we should say… “I have been gifted by the Spirit…how can I stir someone, anyone, everyone up to love and good works with my presence and my giftedness?”
When you adopt that mindset, (that Christlike mindset)…all of a sudden you will see needs all around you that you can can minister too.
Coming to the local assembly is not about what you can get out of it, it is about what you can contribute to it. You have been individually gifted by the Spirit, for the common good. But in order for it to be recieved by the local assembly, you have to be at the local assembly.
Your smile, your countenance, your voice, your demeanor, your attentiveness, your vocal amen when truth is spoken, your hug given to those in grief, your handshake extended to a stranger…this is what God, who created us as physical and spiritual beings can do with your physical presence at His solemn local gathering of called out ones who declare His excellencies.
SIDE NOTE: Do you know what was one of the main things that the Lord used to call me to Himself? It was watching someone else sing. It wasn’t hearing them sing…it was watching them sing. Sometime I will tell you the story.
Being part of a local church and yet not being in attendance is like ordering a turkey sandwich but asking them to hold the turkey. Gathering together with your brothers and sisters in Christ is the main ingredient. If you take away the main ingredient in a turkey sandwich you don’t have a turkey sandwich anymore. If you take away the gathering together with other believers, you take away what it means to be part of the ekklesia.
Q. But what if there is a virus that is threatening my health? Or what if I endanger the health of others by not doing what I believe is responsible? If you have those questions, I would so love to sit down one on one and interact with you and administer care for your soul. These are valid questions and no one should experience guilt or shame for having them.
Read Hebrews 10:24-25 and ask yourself how have you been specifically gifted to “stir others up.” Will you “stir” someone at our next meeting time?
Here are a few things to consider -
How is your absence from the local assembly threatening the health others? We just talked about a spiritual enablement that has been uniquely stewarded to you for the benefit of others. It has been sovereignly given to you by God so that you can stir others up with it. If you choose not to gather for a time being (for whatever reason), it is upon you to figure out how to bless others with the stewardship you have been given even if you aren’t among those assembled so that they aren’t endangered by your absence.
Threats to our wellbeing, whether real or perceived cannot excuse us from blessing others. I am not saying you are living in sin by not being here in attendance on a regular basis. I can’t just broadcast that indictment to everyone in a shotgun sort of way, because we all, as individuals have contextualized stories that need to be taken into consideration. But what I can broadcast in a shotgun sort of way is the biblical realty that your wellbeing is already being threatened simply because you live in a world that is broken by the sin that we have all contributed to God’s creation. Paul tells us that even creation itself is groaning under the curse of this place. And this is by God’s design, that we might long for His return to restore all things to Himself.
Trust Jesus when He says, “Take heart; I have overcome the world.”
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
The context of this verse is in the upper room as Jesus was prepping His people for His impending betrayal, beating and bludgeoning. Yet He says, “in me you may have peace.” The guy that was going to undergo severe affliction, not just perceived affliction, but actual, physical torment says, “take heart,” and “have peace.” How? How can He say that and offer that to others, when what was awaiting Him was disheartening and distressing? He could say that because what He was about to go through was a doorway that led to Him “overcoming the world.”
He was willing to die in order to secure your ability to be gathered together in a local assembly of called out ones, so that you can stir someone else up toward love and good deeds. He died to secure that for all of us. We can’t take this reality for granted…we can’t neglect this opportunity that Jesus died to secure for us...even if it means losing out on sleep or potentially getting sick, or if in the future our gatherings are illegal because they have been considered hate speech gatherings by a crooked and depraved generation.
He laid His life for the sake of the Body, so we will lay down our lives for the sake of His Body as well…even if that means our death because we know that death itself is a doorway through which we all must walk if we are to see our Savior face to face.
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
We have been equipped to maintain the unity by the gifts that we have each been given for the common good.
We have been equipped to maintain the unity by the gifts that we have each been given for the common good.
Communion