“Equipped to Serve”
Ephesians 4:7-16
I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-3
II. Our Worthy Walk in Christ 4-6
A. Walk in Unity
1. Exhortation to united walk worthy of our calling 1
2. Characteristics of a united worthy walk 2-3
3. Unifying factors of the church 4-6
1. ONE BODY – We are all interconnected members of the same body.
2. ONE SPIRIT -- The same Holy Spirit indwells every Christian.
3. ONE HOPE – The same eternal destiny awaits every Christian.
4. ONE LORD – We all answer to the same Lord.
5. ONE FAITH – We all contend for the same once-for-all delivered faith.
6. ONE BAPTISM – The same Holy Spirit places every Christian into the same body.
7. ONE GOD AND FATHER – We all share and serve the same God and Father.
God unites us; we are to do everything possible to guard that unity by living in love.
4. Individual gifting for the church 7-16
Paul followed his declaration of unity with a brief mention of diversity within that unity.
The argument goes something like this…
? Every member of the body is eternally united to Christ and each other.
? Even though we are one, each one has been individually gifted by Christ.
? Jesus descended from heaven to earth in order to capture for Himself those who had at one time been captivated by Satan.
? By reason of His resurrection and ascension, He has thoroughly blessed His “captives” and become the one who fills that new community with His power and presence.
? Specifically, he has gifted the church with gifted individuals in the role or ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor/teachers whose purpose is to equip the members of the community to serve one another and build up one another.
? The ultimate objective is a people who unified in their beliefs and personal knowledge of Jesus which results in a Christlike spiritual maturity.
? This knowledge of the truth, through the teaching of gifted individuals and ministry of members toward one another, guards the members from a dangerous instability caused by false teaching .
? The consistent teaching, motivated by genuine love, brings about a deeper connection to Jesus, the head of the church, who unites the community and nourishes it through the efficient working of each gifted part of the community
? This efficient function of the members results in growth and building up of itself in love.
Let’s break it down now into bite sized chunks.
1. Every Christian has been individually gifted by Christ. 4:7
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Paul uses the term "grace" in its empowerment sense. It could be understood in the sense of the fact that empowerment was given to each one. This verse tells us that every Christian is given special empowerment by Christ. That empowerment is not the same for everyone. That special empowerment is determined by Christ's choice.
It is easy to remember where the discussion of spiritual gifting is found in the New Testament.
There are two “12’s” and two “4’s”.
First Corinthians 12 and Romans 12.
Ephesians 4 and first Peter 4.
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 Corinthians 12:5-7
All these (effects) are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Corinthians 12:11
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly Romans 12:4-6
When it comes to gifting, there are some common principles in all four of these verses.
• Everyone is gifted.
• Not everyone has the same gift.
• God determines and dispenses the gifts according to his will.
• God empowers the gifts in different measures.
• The gifts are granted for the benefit of the body of Christ not the individual member.
2. Jesus descended to earth and rescued us in order to gift us. 4:8
Paul identified the foundation of our gifting.
Therefore it (Psalm 68:18) says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."
Paul paraphrases a passage from the Psalms. It pictures a conquering commander returning home with a string of captives to put into the service of his kingdom. Basically this passage literarily reads he captured captivity. In our case, we were captives of the cruel enemy and Jesus set us free to become willing and beloved bond-servants in His kingdom.
3. Christ's ascension enables him to permeate and gift the body 4:9-10
Paul takes a moment to clarify the picture for us. Course there are many different ways that this passages been interpreted. Some see this as a reference to Christ's descent into hell after the crucifixion. Perhaps a case could be made for this out of peters discussion but I don't think it is what Paul means here.
(In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
The reference here is the fact that the One who ascended into the highest heaven first originated from there and chose to leave His exalted state to descend to the lower parts, namely the earth, in order to free a new community of people and has now returned there from where he directs and empowers his church with his fullness.
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." John 3:13-15
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
Because Jesus now resides in heaven in His exalted state and restored to his former glory, he is in a position to infuse the whole body with his very essence and power.
4. Jesus gifts the body with gifted leaders. 4:11-12
Not only does Jesus gift individuals but he gifts the body with gifted individuals in particular ministry roles. The specific categories listed here may not be inclusive but general.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
Apostles – – sent one, ambassadors, messenger.
This term was used in a limited sense as a reference to the original 12 apostles.
The term is also used in a general sense of those who were commissioned to establish new communities of believers.
Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Romans 16:7
Some believe that apostle and profit are no longer in operation today. There's no such indication Scripture that these roles longer exist. Today, we might consider church planters or missionaries whose primary role is to give direction to new communities of believers in un-evangelized places. Perhaps an apostolic role might also be applied to those who God raises up to a prominent position either nationally or worldwide that brings direction to a broader section of the body.
Prophet – both a forth teller and a foreteller in a New Testament and Old Testament sense.
This term is used in reference to those who heard from God and communicated that message to the people. These are those whose focus was on the "thus saith the Lord" kind of communication. There is obviously today a need for those who will courageously speak the truth of God to our culture as well as to the church of Jesus Christ. There is a need for those who have insight into our times and are able to bring God's perspective and warnings to the church to straighten up.
Evangelist – preacher of the good news foreteller of the gospel.
This term was used of one whose primary focus was to win the lost by communicating the good news of Christ coming into the world to save sinners. We are all to be engaged in the task of witnessing for Christ, but there are those specially gifted by God appointed by God that have the ability to communicate in such a way that the unenlightened see the light.
Pastor/teacher – teaching Shepherd.
This term was used for a shepherd of the flock whose primary focus was to lead a group of people through the teaching of God's word. Many commentators put these two together because there is not an “and” separating them as we find between the other roles.
Today, there may be those who are able to teach truth but not shepherd.
There may be others who are able to shepherd but lacked clear teaching.
It is God's intent to equip his body with those who are able to both shepherd and teach.
These were gifted individuals given to the body for a specific purpose.
5. God gifts leaders to equip members to serve and encourage the body. 4:12
What is the ultimate objective for these gifted leaders given to the church?
to equip the saints for the work of serving, for building up the body of Christ,
Today there's confusion about the role of the pastor. Some feel it's the responsibility of the pastor to serve and build up the body of Christ. At least this passage is very clear as to the pastor/teacher's role. It is to equip the saints.
The word equip is a very rich term.
The fundamental meaning is to put a thing in its appropriate condition, to establish, set up, equip, arrange, prepare, mend.
It was used in relation to mending a broken net. It was also used in the sense of setting a broken bone.
The pastor's job is to put people in an appropriate condition to do something. It's his job to establish a good foundation to carry out ministry.
The pastor's job to equip people to deal with life and ministry.
The pastor's job to help prepare someone for a God-given task.
The pastor's job to mend, heal or repair when necessary.
The ultimate reason for doing these things is that believers will be adequately equipped to serve and build up one another. It is each member's responsibility to serve one another and to build up one.
The central aspect in that equipping has a do with the word of God.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
it is the word of God it equips the believer makes an adequate for every good work. That is why it is the role of the pastor/teacher who focuses on the truth of the Word of God that will bring the foundation for effective ministry to each other. Some translations translate this as "work of the ministry". This gives us a sense that it only relates to those who go into formal ministry. The word translated "ministry" really is the word for Deacon or one who serves.
So actually the pastor teacher is to spend time teaching the word of God that will enable the members of the congregation, body of Christ, to serve one another. Not only is the body to serve each other but it is also to be equipped to build one another up. This term has to do with the construction of a building or the raising up of a building. Now every building has its parts that depend on the other parts of the building. It is the proper working of each individual part that causes the building to build a stand and become usable. Through the continual interaction with the truth of God the body of Christ becomes stable and strong.
6. We serve and encourage until we attain unity of the faith, knowledge of Christ, maturity, Christlikeness4:13
There is an ultimate goal to serving one another and to building up one another. It is not for world domination, or to build the biggest church in town, or for personal pride, or for personal kingdom building. The pastor teacher is to teach the word of God in order to equip the members of the body to serve one another and build up one another with the ultimate goal of unity and maturity.
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Here we see that unity is both a gift to protect and a goal to pursue. Maturity in Christ is the goal of our interaction with the word in each other. The work of service and encouragement must always lead toward spiritual maturity in Christ. Our goal is to become more like Jesus.
7. Faithful equipping prevents unstable thinking and living. 4:14
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
When the body engages in continual interaction with the truth of the Word of God and loving interaction between each other by serving each other and building one another up, then we become mature and stable. When the truth of the Word of God is strong we are no longer susceptible to every wind of teaching that happens to hit the airwaves for the bookshelf.
Paul warned about those who would enter their midst seeking to deceive them with false teaching.
I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:27-32
Notice the prominence of the word of God in Paul's ministry.
8. Consistent teaching motivates continual growth in Christ 4:15
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
It was a faithful teaching of the Word of God that would lead to not only stability but growth.
Paul has more in mind than frankness of speech tempered by love. Too often this verse is used to excuse telling people what we really think of them or to “truthfully” point out their shortcomings or failures. That may be only a small part of the application of this reference.
Paul primarily refers to the faithful and consistent communication of the foundations of the one-for-all delivered faith (truth) motivated by our love for one another. It is the truth of the word that causes maturity and growth. We are transformed by the renewing of our thinking through the faithful and consistent teaching of the Scriptures.
There is always room for growth and improvement. Are we growing? The goal is maturity and Christlikeness. The individual member seems to be the focus here. We as individuals are to continually expose ourselves to the truth of the word of God so that we can grow. Many believers are simply quit growing because they have quit grappling with the truth of the Word of God. The hunger for the truth of the word is being reduced by the increased consumption of the “junk food” of this world. We have a generation of biblical illiterates. We have more resources readily available than the world has ever known.
"God humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. Deut 8:3
God allows things in our life so that we will realize that life is not found in those things but true life comes from consistent interaction with God's truth.
Jesus said…
"If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32
To the degree that the word of God is not part of our life we will not experience life nor will we grow. And when our hunger for the word of God diminishes our faith flounders because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
9. Jesus empowers and nourishes the body 4:16
Jesus places and empowers gifted individuals in the body and supplies nourishment to those parts and joints.
from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is nourished,
Don’t let anyone deny you the prize by insisting that you engage in self-mortification or angel-worship. Such people are always going on about some vision they have had, and they vainly puff themselves up by their worldly outlook. They fail to hold to the Head, from whom the whole Body, receiving supply and being held together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God makes it grow. Colossians 2:18-19
It has been clear all along that Jesus empowers the church. He fills all in all. He is the life of the church. He is the head of the church.
10. The body grows by the efficient working of individual members 4:16
whereas before it was a reference to the growth of individuals I think Paul here refers to the source of growth for the body as a whole.
when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Christ empowers and nourishes the body but he does it through individuals working together in unity. When each member lovingly serves the body according to the gifting imparted by Jesus, the body grows stronger and becomes more like God intended His community to live.
The secret to growth is the consistent communication of God’s word which protects and nourishes the body through gifted individuals. True growth of a body will be in proportion to its passion to interact with God’s truth. Interaction includes hearing, heading and teaching the word.
God gifts some with teaching gifts that communicate the truth in teaching one another.
God gifts others with serving gifts that live out the truth in serving one another.
For a good many churches today they're trying to carry out the mandate of Christ with a dysfunctional body. They are trying to function with only one arm, one eye, two fingers, poor circulation, broken legs, overworked livers… You get the idea. It's time we got the whole body functioning as gifted and empowered by the Lord Jesus Christ. Every single one of you claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ has been gifted to function within his body. When everyone functions according to their gifting to the power of the Holy Spirit that works within every believer there will be both individual and corporate growth. And those gifts will all have something to do with a return to the word of God and honest interaction with the truth of the Word of God. Both our speech and our service will be a result of his life-giving truth flowing out of our gifting.
So let us grow up into him who is the head in every way.
Let us seek Him.
Let us serve him.
Let us speak his truth to one another in love.
