Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
A couple of weeks ago I preached a message about living a Life Worthy to be Called Christian. The crazy thing is, the more you want to live that kind of life, the more you realize how far you fall short. Perhaps Paul said it best concerning his own spiritual journey – “Brethren, I haven’t arrived yet. I haven’t accomplished all that I should have. But even though I have made mistakes in the past, I am not going to stay stuck in the past. I am determined to keep reaching out for what’s ahead. I am determined to keep striving with all that I have to someday become what God wants me to be. (my paraphrase of Php 3:13-14) Though none of us will ever completely achieve all that we should be, the desire to become more and more like Christ should be our highest ambition. Paul referred to it as ‘the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ It’s God’s noble purpose for our lives.
Most messages have three points. Today you’re in luck – I only have two:
1. God Calls Us to be His People
2. God Equips Us to be His People
I. God Calls Us to be His People
A. Called Before the Foundation of the World
Paul began his letter to the Ephesians by saying:
‘Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.’
Before God created the world, He determined that He wanted us to become His sons and daughters. Just knowing that should change the way we approach life. And if that was not enough, scripture teaches us that God did this knowing that we would never be worthy.
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together , and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
I am always searching for great books that will help me in my journey Christ. Pastor Zack recommended to me a book by Charles Spurgeon: The Pastor’s Prayers.’ Friday morning I began reading and I came across these lines in one of Spurgeon’s prayers: ‘Thy grace must give us even to know our need of grace. We are not willing to confess our own sinfulness until Thou doest show it to us.’ And so I prayed – “Dear God, help us as a church body to realize more the wonder of Your grace and give us a desire to live more fully in it.” As Paul said to the Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 15:But by the grace of God I am what I am : and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
B. Three Results of God’s Gracious Call
1. It Establishes For Us a Lifestyle
Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.
The call of God upon our lives is not for an afternoon visit, but for a total abandonment of who we were so that He might make us who He called us to be. Paul explained it this way to Titus: Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, [with a self-control that denies ungodliness] righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
2. It Joins Us Together With Fellow Believers
Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Christ’s body is called ‘the church.’ The word church means – ‘called out ones.’ Scripture tells us that Christ is the head of the church and we are members of His body and fellow-members one with another.
Some professing believers say that they can worship God as well at home as they can with the church. I don’t agree with that and I don’t believe that. I understand that there are some who are shut-ins and can’t come to church. I’m not talking about them. I’m talking about the person who can come to church, but doesn’t come to church because they would rather stay at home. A person who says that they can worship God as well at home as they can at church is either:
a. Going to the wrong church and they need to find another church, or –
b. Not really worshiping God in either setting
Often this is empty rhetoric use as an attempt to excuse our lack of love for God and His people. We read in the book of Hebrews: Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. John the apostle said: 1 John 4:2 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
God’s plan for the world today is that they:
a. They hear the gospel and be saved
b. They follow the Lord in believer’s baptism and join a local church
c. They be faithful in their attendance and support of that local church through their prayers, financial giving, attendance and service
Concerning church life Paul wrote to the Philippians: Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
When God calls a man to salvation, He calls Him to become a part of Christ’s body, the church.
3. It Creates From Us a Place for God to Dwell
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
This is God’s plan for the church. This is His will.
II. God Equips Us to be His People
Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till 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: 14 That 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; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From 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.
A. Grace for Every Believer
Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
What is grace? We often say that grace is – ‘Unmerited favor.’ That is true. Yet as we become more mature in Christ, we need to gain a deeper understanding of God’s grace and how it operates in our life. One resource says that grace is: {the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.}
God imparts His grace to us in many ways:
- The ministry of the Holy Spirit,
- The Word of God,
- Prayer,
- Christian music,
- Fellow believers.
Paul tells us that God has given a gift of grace to every one of us. Every member of Christ’s church has been grace for salvation and for service.
B. Grace for a Growing Church
As we continue to study Ephesians 4, we learn some of the ways God works through His people in order to accomplish His purposes:
1. Church Leadership
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Paul lists four groups of people God has ordained to give leadership to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor/teachers.
a. Apostles
Apostles is a reference to the twelve Jesus chose to be His disciples. We read in Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
b.Prophets
Many believe prophecy is still an active spiritual gift in the church today. Personally I question that. I believe that the prophets of the New Testament were individuals used by God to received and to reveal biblical truth to the church, before the completion of scripture. As with certain other spiritual gifts, once the the inspiration of scripture had been completed, the role of prophet ceased.
c. Evangelists
When we speak of evangelists, most of us think of men like Billy Graham. Although every believer has the responsibility of sharing the gospel with the lost, there seems to be certain individuals who have an unusual ability to do so. I also believe that the evangelists Paul was referring to here in this passage were probably men God used to help spread the gospel out into the world and to plant churches.
d. Pastor and Teachers
Then Paul mentions ‘pastors and teachers.’ Many believe that this is a two-fold description of the same person.
i. The word ‘pastor’ means shepherds and one of the primary duties of a pastor is to lead God’s flock.
ii. In addition, pastors are to be teachers. The duty of teaching the church is not exclusive only to the role of a pastor, yet a good pastor puts forth great effort to make sure that God’s people are being fed spiritual truth.
2. Church Membership
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till 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: 14 That 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; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From 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.
There is a great deal of spiritual truth found in these verses. To put it in a nutshell, it is the duty of pastor/teachers to help God’s people to mature so that through the ministry of every believer, the church is built up in the love of God. One translation interprets vs. 16 -“As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (NLT)
Conclusion
Here is the question we need to ask ourselves this morning: ‘How is God using me to build up the body of Christ?’
The spiritual offices Paul listed are foundational offices. The reason God ordained them was in order to help the church become established. Yet once that foundation is laid, the building is determined by the involvement of each and every member. For me personally, I have found that I experience God the most when I am being used the most. Therefore I encourage every member of Christ’s body to search for God’s will and to pursue that will with all of their hearts.
"Seeds of Faith" 