How to Live Worthy with the Church’s Spiritual Gifts

Have you ever received a gift that was particularly meaningful and special? It was just tailored made for you.

• One of those special gifts in our family was the day that our son Isaiah received his wheelchair.

• Story of Isaiah’s wheelchair.

• [Insert Picture]

• They asked all kinds of questions to learn and get to so many various details about his life, his capacities, and how he lives and interacts with us.

• They measured him.

• They thoughtfully considered him and the interests of our family.

• The excitement that our entire family had to celebrate that gift when Isaiah received it was just incredible…

• I mean it was such a perfectly kind gift….it had Isaiah’s name written all over it…and the gift was a blessing to our whole family.

Church, do you believe that God has given you a tailor-made gift from the God of heaven and earth?

This gift is according to the measure of Jesus’s Christ’s gift…perfectly measured and apportioned to be a blessing for building up the church.

Please turn in your Bible’s to Ephesian 4:7–13. That’s on page _________ in the New Testament in the Bible under the chair of the seat in front of you.

After a special Mother’s Day message, we are returning to our verse by verse study through the book of Ephesians. Our annual theme this year is Building on Our Heritage.

For the first part of the year Ephesians chapters 1-3 have focused on the great salvation that Jesus Christ accomplished. The Gospel. The good news. Jesus died on the cross according to the Bible for the forgiveness of our sins and rose from the dead to rescue us from our evil and restore a right relationship with our God. God declares us righteous through our personal trust in Jesus.

So, in Christ, we then experience every spiritual blessing. He also unites and bring peace not just between God and humans but also between non-Jewish people and Jewish people. He brings them together and creates a new humanity, the church. The Church is made up of believers in Jesus Christ, we have new spiritual life empowered by God to do good works that he prepared for us to do to please the Lord.

Paul prayed that God would give us the power to grasp “the breadth and length and height and depth… and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge” (Eph 3:18–19). That God is worthy of praise because he “is able to do far more than all that we ask or think” (3:20).

If that’s true and our God can do far more than all we ask or think then we need to be sure that we are living worthy and consistent with such abundant kindness that God has given. That’s why this section of the letter we are focusing on what it means to be…Living Worthy of Our Gospel Heritage

Two weeks ago, we focused on the first 6 verses about part of what it means to live worthy of our calling involves striving toward unity…

In verses 7–13 which we will be the focus of our time today.

God wants us to see that striving for unity does not mean there is uniformity in the body. Rather, God’s grace and power uses diverse gifts to build up the body of Christ.

Please follow along as I begin in Ephesians 4 and I am going to read verses 1 to 13.

READ

EPHESIANS 4:1-13

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, ³ being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

“When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

¹¹ And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

This morning God wants to teach us about…

How to Live Worthy with the Church’s Spiritual Gifts

I. Recognize Jesus’s kindness and power to give a variety of gifts to his church (v.7-10)

One aspect of living worthy of a gift is viewing the gift correctly. We must have the right expectations for how God has chosen to reveal his kindness.

God’s abundant kindness and power is not shown through the same gifts…but a diversity of gifts to the church.

As one commentator states…

“Unity is not uniformity and is perfectly consistent with diversity of gifts.” John F. MacArthur Jr., Ephesians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 134.

If as a church, we don’t recognize this…then we won’t see the many ways God is showing his kindness toward you. A variety of gifts given that should be leading you to praise the Lord like Paul because he is able to do far more than all that we ask or think.

If you and I don’t recognize Jesus’s kindness and power to give a variety of gifts, you will be like the child at Christmas whose focus and expectations are on what you think ought to be the specific gift you should get …So they open present after present…gift after gift…but then they don’t get the gift that many others have around them…They are standing in a sea of gifts and wrapping paper and are fighting back the disappointment. So and so got…[fill in the blank]…how come I didn’t get…[fill in the blank]

The issue is not God’s lack of abundant kindness, but their expectations and view of God’s kindness is too small. Since they are so focused on a particular type of gift they don’t recognize and appreciate all the kind gifts given to them.

Celebrating Our Anniversary as a Church this year provides us with an opportunity to give recognition to the Lord for the ways we have seen God’s kindness at work in the church…It’s an evidence of Jesus’s power….We have such a variety of gifts given to this church.

And a mature and growing church that is unified can celebrate and rejoice in the different gifts that Jesus has chosen to give to the church family.

Whereas what can characterize the immature is a focus on not receiving the same kind of gift and then focusing primarily on yourself and your interests rather than Christ’s interests for how he chooses to build up the body.

Are you preparing your heart with the appropriate expectations for praising the Lord at some of the intentional opportunities to do this as a church family this year?

• Pastor’s Pizza Celebrating Long Term Members

• Church Family Night Dedications

• Church family night with Kossuth Street Baptist Church

• Stewardship Celebration

Our God is so generous it’s not like he ran out of gifts to give his church. He is not like you and I that operate on a limited budget and finite resources.

No way, all of God’s children get a gift and experience God’s kindness!

A. Each one gets to experience his grace.

v. 7 – But to each one of us grace was given…

Each one. Everyone. If you are a Christian, you were not left out. The expansive abundance of our God and the unity we experience through Jesus doesn’t minimize his personal relationship and kindness to each individual in the church family.

“God’s gracious relation to “all” is also a personal relation to each one (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7, 11) and a personal ministry through each one.” John F. MacArthur Jr., Ephesians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 134.

We see this important point that “each one” experience God’s gifts, in other passages regarding spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 – Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Peter 4:10 – As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Romans 12:6 – Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly

One of the implications of this truth is the importance and how this shapes how we value “each one” in the body of Christ. During our church family night as we welcome those who were baptized and those that shared their testimony, Pastor Viars often mentions how each person is a gift. Each of you are an entrustment from the Lord, to each one of us and how God has given each of you to this church family to build up the church with their spiritual gifts.

So part of celebrating corporately what God is doing in our church family is also rejoicing and finding times to celebrate and praise the Lord for what he is doing in the “each one” of our lives through his grace. This strengthens unity.

[If time allows more examples]

Notice it’s not only that each one gets a gift…but also its…

B. According to the measure of Christ’s gift.

v. 7 – But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift

The gift that each of us Christians possesses is determined by Christ’s generosity. So, we possess a special gift that our due portion from Christ’s abundant grace for the specific ways that we may benefit the body.

Take Paul for example…mentions the grace given to him for the benefit of the Church as an apostle… He understands this is his personal stewardship given to him by Jesus out of Jesus’s abundant kindness.

Ephesians 3:2 – if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you…

Ephesians 3:7–8 –…I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ…

That idea of being measured is precious. You gift is particularly determined by our generous God for you. A personalized made by God and from God gift.

In God’s infinite wisdom and infinite power and with all the kind resources he has at his disposal he measured to you accordingly from this immeasurable kindness knowing everything about you and how you would best serve and benefit the body to build it up.

[If time allows possible examples]

Then God wants us to recognize the reason for why we get to receive such wonderful gifts is not because you and I earned it, but because of Jesus’s victorious work.

C. Your gift is a victory prize from Jesus.

If you have played sports long enough or have children who have played sports often you hear parents whisper or say…”kids, these days…everyone gets a trophy”…even though they didn’t win and there effort didn’t seem sufficient to merit the medal. They call them participation trophies.

Well, we did not merit our spiritual gifts. The kindness that we experience as the church and the benefits that we reap from the rewards were a victory prize from Jesus. Jesus’s perfect victorious work and effort on our behalf won the day not our work. So, we share in the spoils because we participate and share in Christ’s victory by faith.

To make this point Paul’s quotes Psalm 68:18 in verse 8. Psalm 68:17–18, celebrates the victories that God gave to his people as he led them from Sinai to Jerusalem, and the gifts he gives are the spoils and treasures from war and conquering the enemies. God has revealed that Jesus is the promised victorious Savior of his people who has ascended to the Heavenly Zion at the right hand of God conquering all the enemies and powers in the universe.

v. 8– Therefore it says,

“When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”

Paul’s point in citing the Psalm is twofold.

• First it’s about the theme of Triumph/Victory.

• Second, the Psalm relates Christ’s victory with gifts to the church.

The saying “To the victor, goes the spoils” summarizes the point.

Who is the Victor? Jesus Christ. And him lead a host of captives is like a victorious warrior who has captured and conquered his enemies.

What then are the spoils of his victory that he gives to men? Gifts to the church.

Verses 9–10 then explain how Jesus accomplished this victory…that if Jesus had to ascend on high…logically this means that he had to descend…into the lower parts of the earth.

v. 9–10 – (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

This descent is a reference to his incarnation, when he descended from heaven to earth to become a man and lived on earth to accomplish our salvation as our victorious Savior.

Then Jesus ascended from earth to heaven to the right hand of the Father “far above all the heavens.” Demonstrating his rightful reign and authority to give gifts as rewards and spoils of his victory.

He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

[meaning to bring all things to perfection, for fulfillment

As Paul prayed earlier in the letter for us to know this victorious power of Christ…

Ephesians 1:18–21 – I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know…what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Recognizing our gifts to the church as a victory prize from Jesus helps us to be:

1. Thankful and not envious of the gifts. When we understand the condescension, humility, and sacrifice of Jesus to make this gift possible…how can I minimize the preciousness of the gift and not be thankful I have been given something. How can I not celebrate and honor the Lord for the other gifts that Jesus has given to the body of Christ.
2. Humbled. This gift is not something that I earned nor deserved by my effort, so when I use my gift for the benefit of the body, I want to direct the blessing and praise to the Lord. Reminding myself of the real hero, Jesus Christ.

So living worthy of the spiritual gifts involves recognizing Jesus’s kindness and power to give a variety of gifts to his church, and then you must…

II. Deploy your gift in the work of service for building up the body (v.7-13)

Jesus gives spirituals gifts for the purpose of sharing them. Walking worthy means that we must us them to serve the body of Christ. Each gift is designed for the purpose of building up the body.

So God moves from describing a variety of gifts in general to illustrating a few examples of the different people and their gifts he gives to the church.

A. Considering the benefit of different gifts.

v. 11–12 –And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.

Paul states that Christ gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.

The apostles and prophets in the New Testament is a reference to those who served and were gifted to the church in a foundational role, but the gifts of these people do not continue today. The spiritual benefit of these past gifts the Lord is using to build up the church through the completed Canon of the Scriptures, which includes their written eye-witness testimony about Jesus Christ.

We experience the blessing in these gifts because they were foundational to the completion of the word and to the establishment of the early church.

One of the ways we are built up is that…

Ephesians 2:19-20 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

The gospel mystery is revealed to the NT apostles and prophets in the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 3:5 – which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit

New Testament prophets, like their OT counterparts, were gifts to the church to provide the edification, exhortation, and comfort.

1 Cor 14:3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

They revealed God’s will to the church when the biblical canon was incomplete…

Paul continues to mention additional gifts that continue today…

Some were given as evangelists, those who were engaged in the spreading of the gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ…This is a benefit of the gift to the church. All Christians are commanded to evangelize, but the text says this is a gift to the church just like not all are apostles, prophets, or pastors…not all are evangelists to this measure of grace.

• Example of gifts of evangelism

• Acts 21:8 – Philip the Evangelist

• cf. 2 Tim 4:5 – do the work of an evangelist

Paul then mentions pastors and teachers.

[1 Corinthians 12:28–29] - apostles, prophets, and teachers

All pastors are to be teachers and “teachy” and able to teach as 1 Timothy 3 mentions the qualifications of elders or pastors…but not all those with the gift of teaching are pastors. Consider those who teach in children’s ministries, ministries throughout the week, small groups etc.

• [Possibly mention story of Pastor Bill Goode from Jerry Jamison and Pastor Goode being a “teacher” but not a preacher boy…was not evangelistic enough].

• Are you thankful for the variety of Spiritual gifts the Lord has given to this church?

• Generosity – Considering the resources for SMP and building projects

• Service – Community based outreach ministries and initiatives

• CDC opportunities

• Consolation/Admonishment/Exhorting ­– Women counselor’s and others serving at VOH (Race for Hope)

• Teaching – Local school teachers/professors at Purdue etc.\

• FBCM teaching team in Mexico City.

• Pastors –discerning and testing spiritual gifts through the Faith Bible Seminary in the context of the local church.

• Encouragement – recent cards/ prayers/ ministry

So how are you going to deploy your spiritual gift(s) toward the benefit of the body of Christ this week?

Notice that the leaders are given for the equipping of the saints for the work of service. These gifts are not carrying all the load. They equip the saints, the believers in the church for works of service.

B. Knowing the church still has room to grow from the use of your gifts.

v. 13 – until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Part of Faith Church’s heritage that we are building to continue to see more saints equipped. We want more maturing in Christlikeness. Serving in the works of that God prepared in advance for them to do, so that the body of Christ would grow.

Equipping involves preparing…making ready…[like preparing to go fishing…the word is used to describe they were…mending their nets for fishing when Jesus called the disciples].

• o Vacation Bible School Equipping the saints for the work of the Ministry

• § Pastor Garner, Shoops, Stefaniks etc.

• · Signup to serve.

• · Using gifts to serve children and disciple the next generation.

• § If time allows others…

The final goal of deploying our diverse gifts in unity is for: unity in the faith, growing in knowledge of the Son of God and, maturing.

1. Attaining unity of the faith.

• Everyone using their gifts helps the whole body grow toward the goal of oneness around Christian doctrine and practices.

• Unity is only possible around the truth.

• Our foundation for truth is God’s revealed Word through the Scriptures according to the faith once and for all delivered to the saints.

• o Disunity is often accompanied because attention is not given to God’s truth and not focusing on the right source of truth.

• To that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God…This is not just facts, but a maturing of experiential knowledge of Christ personally and intimately…

• We know in part but then we will know fully…

• 1 Cor 12:9 – For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

• Ephesians 3:19– and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

1. Maturing more fully in Christlikeness.

• God desires every believer to be like his Son.

• I am thankful for the many godly mentors/counselors in the body of Christ who are seeking to solve problems biblically.

• Why has that been such a part of our church’s heritage?

• Full measure means the desired height…The fully matured man….The standard set for the body of Christ, the church to reaching to the maturity that Christ has fully purposed.