Kingdom Stewardship of Spiritual Gifts
Ephesians 4:1-16
Introduction:
In preparing for this message, I realized it will raise a lot of questions. It convinces me that we have to have another message or teaching on this in the near future.
If I did my job, hopefully you’ll feel compelled to learn more about spiritual gifts.
To be more specific, as we talk about Kingdom Stewardship of Spiritual Gifts…I’d like to mention what we won’t cover:
-Attempting to list and describe each gift (the lists we find in Scripture lists are representative but are not exhaustive-1 Cor. 12, Rom. 12, Eph.4)
-How to discover your spiritual gifts
-Discussing the different views on gifts (Prophecy, Tongues, Healing)
Amazingly enough, there’s still so much to say about spiritual gifts …also my guess is we’ve heard very little about the topic of the course of our Christian lives…
if you’re not a Christian, hopefully you’ll be able to get a glimpse into how this ‘church thing’ is supposed to work.
So, today we want to look at Ephesians 4:1-16
Let’s begin with Vs. 1-3
Now, Paul spent the first 3 chapters explaining the Gospel…the work of Christ…and now, in chapter 4….he’s making the turn into how the Gospel affects our living: Theology is meant to lead to theopraxy…right doctrine to right living.
So he begins by URGING them to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called:
-He’s saying, “live in light of who you are” or more specifically… “live in light of who you are in Christ”. We’ve talked about this before but it’s the indicate/imperative structure.
-illus. American Idol/Lion King (Simba)
you don’t live this way to become a Christian…you live this way b/c you ARE
-B/c you are in Christ (by faith)…live with humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another….EAGER to MAINTAIN the unity of the Spirit…that’s what Christians do.
-Christians demonstrate these fruits/behavior…and demonstrating this fruit will MAINTAIN YOUR UNITY.
Now it’s interesting that he urges them to maintain the unity of the Spirit…
-it’s significant because he doesn’t say, “become unified”…or “become ONE”…he says maintain…and the implication is, you are already are one…in Christ. He spends 2:11-22 speaking of this.
-He stresses this in verse 4….He uses the word ONE seven times…seven often referring to perfection/wholeness…perfectly, wholly one!
-We don’t need to work to create unity…we already are one, we maintain the oneness we have through our expression of Spirit inspired character (Gal. 5…humility, gentleness, patience)
-In a larger church setting especially…it’s hard to feel unified…we seem segmented… I wish we were one…but we need to understand unity in light of the indicative/imperative. WE ALREADY ARE ONE….in Christ. So…we should act accordingly. We should live out of the oneness that is ours.
-Church…if we recognized we already are ONE and treated each other accordingly. This would make a tremendous difference in our church life and church experience:
-illus. It’s like meeting a relative that you haven’t met before.
Cuz: There’s a warmth/connection that comes b/c we’re blood.
PRACTICALLY/EXPERIENTALLY we may be strangers…but simply b/c I KNOW WE’RE FAMILY…I won’t treat them like a stranger.
-HOW MUCH MORE THE BODY OF CHRIST…our blood runs much thicker than even family b/c it’s Christ’s blood that flows in us…and that’s much weightier than even family bonds.
-illus. This is why if we’re believers, we can meet someone…anywhere in the world and feel an instant connection…like meeting someone from Philadelphia in a foreign country.
-If our church LIVED as though WE BELIEVED WHAT WE ALREADY ARE….it would make a profound impact.
-we wouldn’t keep each other at arms length…I can open up my life to you because we’re family.
-illus. when a family member is screwing up…aren’t we much more prone to show grace…b/c they’re family. Yeah…he’s a wreck but that’s my brother/sister/mom/dad…and I love ‘em..their family.
We’ll speak more on THIS NEXT week…w/ Stewardship of Relationships…but CHURCH…WE’RE FAMILY….WE’RE ONE…Let’s live like it…Maintain and grow the UNITY that’s already ours.
HOWEVER in the very next breath, after stressing our ONENESS…he begins to make a a turn…he says:
“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”…and he begins describing the DIVERSITY OF GIFTS in the church.
There is unparalleled unity in the body of Christ and at the very same time, there is great diversity.
-We see this UNITY in DIVERSITY in God’s very nature: One God, three persons…we three distinct roles in salvation history.
-The church reflects this same simultaneous oneness and diversity.
-Cults, totalitarian regimes are about conformity at the expense of individuality; Post-moderns…often desire individuality so much…but there’s a tension b/c individuality leads to loneliness and isolation.
But in the Gospel…in the church….we find deep connectedness and unity in our oneness but that oneness does not squash our distinctive individualistic personalities. Only in the Gospel can we find such a deep, UNITY in DIVERSITY.
Specifically…with regard to DIVERSITY of the body…Paul is NOT just talking about personality, dress, ethnicities, though that’s true….but SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
“But grace was given to each one…”
First of all…he says “Grace” was given to each…grace in this context is in reference to a Spiritual gift. In fact, the word for gift comes from the word for grace…charismatic
-By God’s grace, we are each given a gift…each one of us…every believer
-the moment you came to Christ you were given a gift…it may be dormant…you may not realize it, but we all have one, if not multiple gifts
Second part of vs. 7 reads, “according to the measure of Christ’s gift”
-Secondly, he determined which gifts and how many gifts you would receive
-1 Cor. 12:11: “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills”
-Just as we talked about talents…we’re given different amounts…not to compare but use what we have
Then we get to vs. 8-10 which quite frankly, sounds quite peculiar:
-it’s an appeal to Psalm 68:18
-The imagery is of a conquering King, who has defeated his enemies and as he returns them, he parades his vanquished foes before his subjects…and then the spoils of war…he gives out as gifts to his subjects.
-Paul is saying…Jesus Christ is the ultimate conquering King. He conquered through his descending…coming to earth, taking the wrath of God and bearing the weight of human sin…but rising again, conquering Satan, sin and death…AND HE IS NOW ascended to the throne, ruling and reigning…in his victory…he gives his gifts to his people.
-not just treasure and loot…but SPIRITUAL GIFTS
WHY? Why did he give these gifts out to the church?
Christ is King and as we read in Eph. 1:10…he will unite all things to himself…He will bring everything under his Lordship….He will renew, restore and redeem all things….and HOW DOES HE DO IT?
THROUGH the CHURCH AS IT THEY USE THEIR GIFTS as a BODY
-Acts 1:1…Luke writes, “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up…”
-The clear implication is that IN THE FIRST BOOK I DEALT WITH WHAT JESUS BEGAN..AND NOW IN MY SECOND BOOK…I WILL EXPLAIN HOW HE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK, though he has ascended…ACTS IS ABOUT HIS WORK CONTINUING, THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT…THROUGH THE CHURCH.
-the first scene is Pentecost…giving of the Holy Spirit…and there came SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO MEN.
This is why Jesus says…
-John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
-I say to you…PLURAL…all of you listening…
-B/c I’m going…b/c my ascension…b/c I will send the Holy Spirit and give gifts to all men…greater things will be done BY ME...THROUGH YOU…than I in bodily form could have done
SO…the gifts that God has imparted to you (your portion)…are from Him and as you use HIM, he is continuing his ministry of redemption, Kingdom work THROUGH YOU!!!
-Poythreuss: Our gifts are subordinate but analogous to his:
-QUOTE: The work of Christ for us can be conveniently classified under the traditional triad of offices: prophet, king, and priest. Christ speaks to us (prophet), he rules over us (king), and he gives his life in service for us (priest). When we are united to Christ, we are transformed into his likeness and bear his image (2 Cor 3:18; Rom 8:29; Eph 4:24). Naturally, we become prophets who speak his word to others (Col 3:16). We become kings who exercise authority in his name over the areas for which we are responsible (Eph 2:6; 6:4). We become priests who serve one another (1 John 3:16).
-Ultimate Prophet: no one..human…will ever speak with the same authority, power and finality as he did…but when we use word gifts, (the one’s listed in our passage today) Christ is applying His Word through you
-Ultimate Priest: no one will care for people to the degree that Christ did…but when we care for others…we are extending Christ’s care
-Ultimate King: no one has the wisdom and foresight and perfect plans that Christ does….but when we use leadership, administrative gifts…Christ is extending his rule through you.
So Christ, in grace gives each of us a gift, analogous to His…to continue his ministry…
This is why, Christ is referred to as the Head…of the Body.
-It’s interesting that the main pictures of the church are BRIDE and BODY…not boss and employees, are commander and soldiers.
-BRIDE and BODY both signify ONENESS/CONNECTION
-He doesn’t just command the church to do things…he gives gifts and HE HIMSELF IN SPIRIT IS AT WORK…THROUGH THOSE GIFTS.
-My brains sends impulses, through my nervous system to my hand…
NOW LET ME EMPHASIZE…CHRIST CONTINUES HIS WORK, BY GIVING GIFTS TO MEN…AS THE BODY.
-We can’t think individually…you can’t say…ok now I know my gifts and I’m going to go off and build God’s kingdom… God designed it so that…we need each other….No one person has all the gifts. It’s only as we use the gifts TOGETHER, FOR ONE ANOTHER…that you get a full picture of Christ’s ministry.
-To begin with….We need CHURCH LEADERS: In our passage today, Paul only lists a few gifts…APOSTLES, PROPHETS, EVANGELISTS, PASTORS AND TEACHERS (PASTOR TEACHERS)…they’re all word based gifts AND they’re all gifts given to ruling officers of the church…elders (apostles don’t exist anymore).
-Paul lists these to say…they are to use their gifts to EQUIP THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY (THROUGH WORD GIFTS)
-Our job, is to preach the Gospel…keep people on course….fixed on Christ living in the Gospel...REMEMBER, THEOLOGY…TO THEOPRAXY
-GOAL BEING CHRIST LIKENESS…but ultimately, it’s not up to the pastors alone…the pastors play a part to equip…through their gifts
-but in. 15, 16 it says…WHEN EACH PART IS WORKING PROPERLY….MAKES THE BODY GROW SO THAT IT BUILDS ITSELF UP IN LOVE.
-YOU NEED US AND WE NEED YOU!!!! Just getting a seminary degree doesn’t mean I can go save the world…I’m just one part.
-it’s ONLY when EVERYONE is using their gifts that the church will go properly.
-GROW BOTH INTENSIVELY AND EXTENSIVELY OR QUALITY AND QUANTITY
-This should change the way we view church…what do you think when you think of a good church?
-Size….Dynamic Leader….but what Scripture is telling me…is a good church is one in which every member is using their God-given Spiritual Gift faithfully…that’s a good church b/c that’s a more accurate picture of what I wanted.
CLOSING THOUGHTS/COMMENTS:
Now we’ve said a lot…so let’s wrap things ups….
Let’s begin with a definition:
A spiritual gift is an ability, divinely bestowed and sustained, to grasp and express the realities of the spiritual world, and the knowledge of God in Christ, for the edifying both of others and of oneself. –J.I. Packer summary on John Owen
1. Spiritual Gifts are not Natural but Supernatural: A spiritual gift is an ability, divinely bestowed and sustained…
-This gets tricky…b/c sometimes…people do have natural gifts that God will use supernaturally. Other times, people aren’t naturally gifted but God uses them. Classic example:
-illus. Dwight Moody/Charles Spurgeon….19th century greatest preachers…Spurgeon was an incredible orator…Moody was horrible
-this should also encourage us….b/c many times we measure ourselves by worldly standards. Maybe you feel like you don’t have many natural talents…We admire people with natural gifting…but they’re not meant to be natural gifts!!!
2. If it’s a Gift, it will Spiritually Edify: To grasp and express realities of the spiritual world…and knowledge of God in Christ for edifcation…
-ji packer…it’s only a gift if and if God uses it to edify. What makes a gift a gift is that God uses you. This is why a talent is not the same thing…a talent doesn’t edify someone spiritually and bring the healing that comes when you bring someone under the kingship of Christ.
-Throwing a great spiral is not a spiritual gift…though some may argue…it’s a talent.
-Cooking…is not a spiritual gift…it’s a talent. Cooking may be a talent you use to exercise your spiritual gift of Hospitality: is a spiritual gift…whereby you are so welcoming and caring that people spend time with you and leave feeling the love of God and the welcoming of Jesus…they walk away feeling cared by Christ.
3. The Churches Health, Effectiveness and Clarity of Mission are directly related to the proportion of Gifts being exercised.
-“Jesus knows what gifts are needed right now, and he gives to each gospel congregation those gifts; "that congregation in Wales needs these gifts. I will give them." None of the gifts we are given are useless or redundant gifts. There isn't one. We get from Christ relevant 21st century gifts. Let me use an illustration from developing a talent; an Eskimo wouldn't be helped by receiving the gift of being able to drive rickshaws in Thailand; no Aberystwyth housewives would be helped by having the gift of bullfighting; a bushman in the Kalahari wouldn't be helped by having the gift of ice-skating. Such skills are useless for those people.
When Christ gives a gift it is perfectly suited for the world we live in now, and for our entire futures.”
-God in his wisdom, knows what He wants to do IN and THROUGH Renewal…neglecting our gifts, or not exercising them…first of all, is robbing God. I purchased that gift with my blood…and I have a purpose for it…but you’re blocking my purpose. (it’s a lot more than…we have these needs…or it’s good to be involved in church)….it’s STEWARDSHIP (1 Peter 4:10). Not only are we robbing God, but we decrease the health and effectiveness of the church…and cripple it from it’s full potentional.
-Our generation’s view of church is so deficient and unbiblical…when we think church, we think attending corporate Sunday worship and maybe small group….but you can’t read the NT and come to believe that’s the sum total of church.
-God designed the church as a body…that needs every part to function. What do you call a person…where only a few organs, typically vital organs operate. You call them parapalegic, paralyzed…vulgar term, vegetable.
-What do you think happens to church when most of organs are not function…it becomes a vegetable…a shell of what it’s meant to be.
And we’re surprised when church feels dead and stagnant. OF COURSE….
Gifts of the Spirit, says Owen at the outset of his Discourse, are ‘that without which the Church cannot subsist in the world, nor can believers be useful unto one another and the rest of mankind, unto the glory of Christ, as they ought to be’.
Gifts of the Spirit were, and are, Christ’s sole weapons for setting up, extending, and maintaining his kingdom….‘a ministry devoid of spiritual gifts is sufficient evidence of a Church under a degenerating apostasy’Brothers and Sisters…if you are a Christian…you have the Holy Spirit…then you have a gift. That gift is indispensable….what grace that is!!! As each of us is faithful in using our gifts, not only will we grow in effectiveness…but our mission becomes shaped by it…Part of how the vision of a church is shaped is by looking at your gifting….we pick officers by gifting…
-illus. One pastor called it connect the dots…
-the less dots there are, the less full the picture is…
Brothers and Sisters…I urge you. Find your gifts and if you are not already…PRACTICE THEM, DEVELOP THEM..not b/c a pastor is urging you…or this or that ministry needs you…that’s weak….
but B/C THE RESURRECTED JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN YOU A ROLE THAT ONLY YOU CAN DO IN HIS PLAN FOR REDEMPTION….AND AS WE ALL DO OUR ROLES WELL…HE EXTENDS HIS MINISTRY AND SAVING GRACE TO OTHERS…AND THAT’S A LIFE WELL SPENT.