Sermon for 8/16/2009
Ephesians 4:7-10
Introduction:
On the 31st of October, in the year 1517, a young monk, strode to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, in the German state of Saxony. With his hammer he nailed to that door a series of propositions, items for debate. Spiritual declarations. Among these were statements that called for a rediscovery of grace as the way to salvation. Among these were statements that proclaimed the Scriptures alone as the word of God. And among these 95 theses were some that insisted that every believer was called and sent by God into the world. That was revolutionary! And when Martin Luther took that to the church of his day, they didn’t want to hear it! The very idea that the common person might read the Word of God for himself – blasphemous! And that ordinary folks might consecrate the bread and wine at the Lord’s Table – incredible! That the farmer at his plow, the lawyer in the courtroom, the soldier at his post, and the cook in the kitchen – that all these were called and sent by God, just as much as the priest and the nun – that was offensive!
But, thanks be to God, thanks to Martin Luther and the other 16th Century Reformers, you and I today know that we are gifted by God, and that we are given the gift of sending. Every one of us can break new ground, go to new places, start new things, and dream new dreams, for the Kingdom.
WBTU:
A. Paul has just talked about how we should be one. Vs. 4-6
B. Paul in our Scriptures this morning begins to show how this oneness should be expressed, how it should be lived out everyday.
Thesis: To live out this oneness, Paul talks about our individuality, grace, and our gifts.
For instances:
I. Our individuality vs. 7 (But to each one of us)
A. How is it that emphasizing our differences, our uniqueness will help us to be one?
B. Last week we talked about how we are all unique from Ephesians 2:10.
C. In the church, in the Body of Christ, we are not cyborgs. Star Trek, Next Generation
D. A relative in the military, said, “When I say jump.” Then I interrupted him, “I ask how high?” “No,” he said, “you just jump. How dare you even question my orders?” Is this how the church is to work?
E. If we look at the animal world, they are all different. However, they are all animals.
F. When we look at humans, we are all different. However, we are all humans.
G. When we look at Christians, we are all different. However, we are all Christians.
H. This is the beauty of the Body of Christ. We are not all the same. Thank God!
I. We need each other and the Lord to complete us. Cannot work effectively on own.
J. Synergy (meaning working together) is the term used to describe a situation where different people cooperate advantageously for a final outcome. Simply defined, it means that the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts. If used in a business application it means that teamwork will produce an overall better result than if each person was working toward the same goal individually.
K. Music is a good example of synergy. Before a symphony, the instrumentalists get to their positions and begin to tune their instruments. It sounds terrible. Working on their own it is a mess or not nearly as beautiful as when they play together. When the conductor comes to the podium and waves that baton, they make beautiful music together. The church is like that. On our own we are a mess or not nearly as useful as when we work together. But when the Lord Jesus as at the podium, directing with his baton, we make beautiful music together. Are the instruments the same? Do they do the same job or make the same kind of music? No, but together they compliment each other.
M. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-20
II. Grace (Vs. 7-10)
A. This letter has a lot about grace. Grace is a gift we do not deserve. Grace is undeserved or unmerited favor.
B. Probably best definition is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Vs. 8-10
1. Jesus Descended v. 9
2. (John 1:14 NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
3. The question is often raised as to what Paul is referring to when he says that Jesus descended into the depths of the earth? Is he teaching that Jesus descended to hell?
4. It seems likely that this passage is teaching that Jesus descended from heaven to earth, just as it says in (Phil 2:6-8) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
5. This descent was truly a terrible descent for Jesus. For in limiting himself to the experience of a man Jesus removed himself from the power, glory and safety that the Godhead allowed him and became vulnerable and despised. At no time did he cease to be God, but at no time did he raise himself above his human existence. All this was done to achieve the final purpose of his mission. Indeed the world has never known such humiliation, such lowering for God to become one of us.
6. Jesus Conquered v.8
7. This is drawn by Paul from Psalm 68:18. Let’s turn to that Psalm for a moment. This Psalm pictures a common scene in the ancient Middle East, a great king returning from battle with captives in his train as he parades through the city to ascend to his throne. This is a Psalm that is looking forward to the Lord’s total conquest of his enemies: - vs.1 - Let God arise and his enemies be scattered.
- vs. 12-14 - Kings and armies flee in haste.
- vs. 21 - Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies.
- This is a Psalm that speaks of salvation:
- vs. 5-6 - A father to the fatherless, defender of widows, family to the lonely.
- vs. 19-21 - God daily bears our burdens, God saves us from death.
8. This is a Psalm that talks about Christ! Christ has come to conquer and save, and in his conquest he has led captivity captive. Vs. 18
9. Whom did Jesus lead captive? Death, Sin and Satan. All the work Satan had done to separate man and God was undone as Jesus hung on the cross. Death was conquered in the resurrection, Satan was defeated and the power of sin broken.
Appl.: Do you know pain? Jesus knows pain! Do you know suffering? Jesus knows suffering! Do you know death? Jesus knows death! But here is the good news, Jesus has overcome it, he has conquered Satan and sin and death. We can now cry out with the apostle Paul: "Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?" Those things which once held us captive are now captive of Christ.
10. Jesus Ascended vs. 10
11. The ascension of Christ is the sequel to his descent, his humiliation. As much as he humbled himself, so much more has he now been exalted!
12. (Acts 2:32 NIV) God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. (Acts 2:33 NIV) Exalted (ascended) to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:36 NIV) "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."(Acts 2:37 NIV) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"(Acts 2:38 NIV) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
C. This grace is talked about here but it goes beyond just the gift of salvation. Since we have received grace from Jesus Christ, we need to pass on that grace to others.
D. (1 Pet 4:10 NIV) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
E. Not just a saving grace, but a serving grace.
III. Gifts (Vs. 8)
A. Everyone who has received God’s grace has also received gifts to serve the Lord.
B. (Rom 12:6 NIV) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
D. Vs. 8- According to this passage it is appropriate then to see spiritual gifts as the ‘spoils of Calvary’. These are gifts bought by the shed blood of Jesus. Now we begin to see the true value of spiritual gifts. They are not some insignificant after-thought that we have been given, but a precious treasure purchased at a great price and give to each one of us personally for the edification and building up of the church. Now they begin to shine with the true glory they contain. PRECIOUS GIFTS FROM OUR KING.
D. Read Matthew 25:14-29.
1. How come they each got different amounts?
2. Why did the man with the one talent not use it? (1 Cor 9:16 NIV) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
3. I used to think that vs. 29 was so mean. Rich get richer, poor get poorer.
4. Use it or loose it. (Luke 16:10 NIV) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.
Conclusion and Invitation:
(Mat 25:30 NIV) And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Jesus has two gifts for us. One is saving grace. This one is for each of us personally. He has another gift for us and that gift is to be used for others. We cannot say that we will take saving grace but give back serving grace. We cannot accept the one without the other. If we try that Jesus might just take away all of his grace as seen in this last verse of the parable.
