Read Ephesians 4:7-16

On Friday:

We noted that every believer is gifted in some manner - vs. 7.

We noted that every believer's gift has cost the greatest possible price - vs. 8-10.

We noted that every believer's gift is Christ-centered - vs. 11.

This morning our Scripture focus is upon Ephesians 4:12-16. "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Today we will learn that every believer's gift has a threefold purpose - vs. 12-16.

Note a significant fact: the five gifts described Friday in verse 11 are gifts that involve speech or proclamation. They are very specialized gifts, gifts that are usually looked upon as being the focal point of ministry in the church.  

1.  There is an immediate purpose for the speaking gifts in the church and among God's people - vs. 12.  It is to equip believers to do the work of the ministry. The word "perfecting" means to equip for service and ministry. This is critical to see, for the preacher in the church is not to be the only one who goes about doing the work of the ministry. In fact, his primary task is to be an equipper, a person who makes disciples and prepares others to serve Christ. Note another critical point: the very purpose for equipping laymen is so that the body of Christ, the church, may be built up. This is a significant point, for it means that the church cannot be built up without the members themselves doing the work of the ministry. All believers within a church must be involved in the work of the ministry.

If the work of the ministry were left up only to the preachers, the task would never get done, for there are too few preachers. Laypersons must be equipped to reach the lost and to minister to the needs of a world reeling under the weight of evil and suffering and death.

ILLUSTRATION:

Is every member of your church a minister?  Listen to this challenging story about a group of Christians who discovered their spiritual gifts and began to minister: 

"A church of my observation had experienced consecutive years of progressive growth.  As attendance increased, buildings were added and the ministerial staff was enlarged.  It appeared that there would never be an end to financial increase, but then the bottom dropped out of oil prices and the area slipped rapidly into its own recession.

"Every possible cost-cutting measure was implemented, including drastic staff reductions.  The pastor expected severe negative responses from the congregation when services that they had taken for granted were no longer available.  Instead, the people testified, 'We are spoiled brats who have been waited on hand and foot by our paid staff.  Now it's time for us to go to work.'

"...The church not only went on, but it strengthened its family relationships and drew new members into its ranks even though most of the ministerial staff were gone.  Getting the people involved in the work of the ministry proved to be a needed tonic for that congregation, for they had been overfed and under-exercised for a long time.

 2.  There is an eternal purpose for the speaking gifts - vs 13. It can be stated no clearer than what the verse itself says. It says three things:

a.  The servant of God works to bring about a perfect unity among God's people. The servant of God is called...

• to bring peace and reconciliation to the church.

• to lead people into perfect harmony and oneness of spirit.

• to shepherd people out of cliques, divisiveness, murmuring, grumbling, griping, and all the other sins that militate against a perfect unity.

b.  The servant of God works to bring about the knowledge of the Son of God.

c.  The servant of God works to bring about a perfect man, a man who measures up to the stature of Christ Himself—to the fullness of His stature.

3.  There is the personal purpose for the speaking gifts - vs 14-16. This purpose also involves three parts.

a.  That we no longer be children and immature, being led astray by false teaching - vs. 14. Again, the verse is the best commentary on itself. Ministers are given to keep us from being "children, tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of [false] doctrine" or false teaching. We must always remember, there is such a thing as...

• "the sleight of men": deceivers, cheaters in the faith, men who will cheat us out of the truth.

• "cunning craftiness": deceivers who act clever and have novel ideas that sound correct, but they are only deceptions of the truth.

Note that such deceivers are plentiful, so plentiful that they are just lying, waiting to deceive.

b.  That we grow up in all things—in Christ - vs. 15.  Note there is only one way to do this: by speaking and proclaiming the truth. This is our task as believers.

Jesus stated in John 15:3, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."  

c.  That we do our part in building up the church - vs 16. Note that every joint or every believer "supplies" something to the body of Christ (the church). And what every joint or believer supplies is very significant. Note how the significance is stressed: Christ takes every joint or believer and the believer...

• is fitly joined together with all the other believers.

• has his work compacted with that supplied by other believers.

• has an effective and productive work along with that of other believers.

• helps to increase the body.

• helps to edify the body in love.

What more could be said about the contribution made by every believer? What greater challenge could be given to a believer? We must give all we are and have to get the job done. Much is at stake for each of us.

An eternal weight of responsibility rests upon every single believer, for each one is responsible for reaching people and building them up. Some people will never be reached and ministered to if a single one of us comes up short. For this reason, every one of us is gifted by Christ Jesus our Lord.

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations,  but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."  (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  What can you do that would be practical ministry?

2.  Here are some suggestions for you to consider:

• Befriend a single parent and find ways to serve them.

• Do you know someone who has just gone through a divorce? Reach out to them and keep them in the flock of God's church. They need love...not rejection.

• Do you know a family that is "losing it" with the kids? Offer them your listening ear and offer to share with them some Christian resources on parenting.

• Do you know of a marriage on the rocks? Are you willing to pray and do all you can to help the couple? What are some practical things you can do to help them?

3.  Ask the Lord this question right now:  What would You have me do in our church?