Ephesians Session 9 Ephesians 4:11–16 [11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up 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 mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [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. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (ESV) Verse 11. Apostleship (Apostles) Prophecy (Prophets) Evangelism (Evangelists) Shepherding (Shepherds) Teaching (Teachers) Some observations. These specific gifts are very visible as they are used within the Church. They are generally more up front and public. Not the only visible ones, but definitely present in visible Church leadership. Because of that, I see a few dangers when stewarded poorly. Pride. Without biblical accountability, a leader operating with one of these gifts can easily fall to pride. Our boast should only ever be in Christ, for He is our everything. He sent us the Holy Spirit who has entrusted His gifts to us. He is the one who works in us to both will and work for His good pleasure, not our own. Idolization. Without true accountability in our lives, we can easily idolize those with these more visible gifts. We can become dependent on them rather than recognizing our true dependency on Jesus. Paul emphasizes the plurality of these offices. There’s not just ONE person here with the spiritual gift of teaching or shepherding or apostleship or prophecy or evangelism. It’s never good to go it alone. The Holy Spirit gifts His family as He sees necessary to accomplish the will of God in that place, time, and season. “And he gave the apostles….” God has both gifted us with His Holy Spirit and given us to the church. 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 [4] Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; [5] and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; [6] and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. [7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [8] For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (ESV) The purpose of these 5 gifts specifically? [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, To equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Equip: prepare; a bringing to a condition of fitness. Perfecting. Three misconceptions: The equipping and work of the ministry happens only on Sunday. Pastors should be doing all the work of the ministry. When they do, they burn out, and it’s a sign of an unhealthy leadership community. It’s unbiblical. Exodus 18:17–24 [17] Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. [18] You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. [19] Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, [20] and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. [21] Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. [22] And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. [23] If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” [24] So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. (ESV) When you and I neglect our gift, we may be providing the opportunity to a fellow member of the body of Christ to wear down. Pastors shouldn’t have to do any work. The church does not exist to pad the pockets of pastors and leaders. It does not exist to serve them. It does not exist to enable lazy shepherding and unaccountable leadership. It does not exist for the glory of any man, but the glory of God! What does the work of the ministry look like? Simply put: abide in Christ, read the word, do what it says, submit yourself to the Holy Spirit, let Him call the shots. **A pastor is not the only one qualified to go and sit at the bedside of a cancer-ridden middle aged man. Do we have training and tools in our toolbox that others may not? Sure, but it’s all to be stewarded for Christ and His glory and the good of His bride. We all have the same Spirit who gifts us as He wills! Acts 6:2–7 [2] And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. [3] Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. [4] But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” [5] And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. [6] These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. [7] And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (ESV) All are useful in the kingdom. It’s all about the giver, not the gift. Gift stewardship is always for the glory of the entruster, not the entrustee. YOU are a crucial part of the body of Christ. YOU, surrendered to Christ and submitted to the Holy Spirit at work in you, are a part of God’s redemptive story and a minister, set apart for His glory. The goal is to build up the body of Christ What does that building begin to look like? What does a healthy body of believers look like? [13] 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, Unity (unity of the Spirit vs. a spirit of unity) A confidence in Who we follow and what we believe about Him. Sound doctrine. Sound teaching. Biblical and accountable. A growing knowledge of Jesus (knowing Christ) And that abiding in Christ, that growth in knowledge leading to deeper intimacy leads us to a deeper maturity. Transformation happens when we get near to Christ. Mature manhood No longer children. No longer infants. No longer needing milk. In the Journey to the inner chamber, it’s moving down the feast past being spoon fed to being one who self feeds on the meat of the word of God. It’s stepping into the exercise room of faith and letting the Lord prune us, discipline us, convict and transform us through the ongoing sanctification of the Holy Spirit into mature Christ-followers. Christ-likeness Becoming like Christ. As we abide in Christ, we become more like him. Key word: attain to. A few benefits of being a part of a healthy body? [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. As we build one another up, equip each other, steward our Spiritual gifts as members of the body of Christ, and give ourselves to one another, we experience the benefits! Protection from false teachings and doctrine. Stability and an established faith. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (ESV) Grow up in every way Paul specifically mentioned speaking truth and love. Partaking of the fruit of the Spirit and letting it manifest in your life helps us grow up in every way. Emotionally, physically, mentally, relationally, financially, etc. Maturity in all these areas and more come when we abide in Christ. Into Christ Intimacy with Christ. What better aim is there? Joined and held together by every joint… As we serve one another, equip and build each other up, we maintain unity in the body. All members are necessary. When each part is working properly… That means that we can misuse our gifts. Or simply neglect them. I can hinder the growth of this body by not stewarding what the Holy Spirit has given me: time, treasure, and talent. So can you. Kind of like we can rebuild walls Jesus broke down, we can cause stunted growth in the Church. Christ makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. All growth comes from God. 1 Corinthians 3:5–15 [5] What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. [6] I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. [7] So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. [8] He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. [9] For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. [10] According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. [11] For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—[13] each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. [14] If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. [15] If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (ESV) Take Aways: Do you know your Spiritual gifts? If so, how are you stewarding them? In what areas of your life are you lacking maturity? In our biblical community, where do you feel led and equipped to serve?