Foundational Gifts, Ephesians 4:11-12
India report - include pictures from Jharkhand - # of baptized believers (350 km on little motorbikes!)
“On the 23rd and 24th of April, the South West cluster had their area ministry at Kamdara in church planter Joseph Surin’s ministry field. Two of pastor Ruben’s lay leaders also joined for this and are excited to grow as lay church planters. Such events are helping the lay pastors to have first hand experience of the opportunities and challenges in church planting.
“The task is big and the labourers are few. Therefore every believer needs to realize that he has been commissioned to make disciples wherever he or she is. We as a fellowship provide trainings and tools for this. In this regard the Garhwa cluster had arranged for a 3 day lay leaders training from 6th to 8th April, under the leadership of the cluster Mentor Hemant Kujur. Praise the Lord for His provisions. Eighteen youth from the Berean churches and of other churches took part in this. Pastor Ruben Hans taught from the word of God and helped them to effectively use the gospel booklets. He also helped all the participants to make colour paper gospel that can be effectively used among illiterates.
“Later these lay leaders also had an opportunity to go out for practical ministry - to share the gospel. Anil Kujur is a college student who also took part in this. He was inspired by the way we are working in Jharkhand. He is helping 8 to 10 people of his cell church grow in Christ. He has joined Berean Fellowship from this May.”
PRAY
Last week - the unity in the body of Christ, -- true believers -- but in that unity there is tremendous diversity.
1 Corinthians 12:4–7 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 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.
Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
(v8-10 - parenthesis)
Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers…
And He gave… the victorious Christ, the conquering hero - gave gifts to men!
5 Gift Lists --
1 Corinthians 12:7–11; 1 Corinthians 12:27–31; Romans 12:6–8 ; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Ephesians 4:11
Notice that the lists are not all the same. -- Corinthians - the more ‘showy’ gifts, and a clear list of the order of the gifts in the church. (Issues they had with self-promotion, emphasizing the lesser gifts)
Romans - some similar, but not the showy gifts. More gifts of SERVING the body.
Peter - just major categories of the gifts - serving & speaking (It may not be important that you know the NAME of your gift…)
1 Peter 4:10–11 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians - Edification Gifts - sometimes called foundational gifts - ** These gifts are intended to PREPARE & EQUIP God’s people to use THEIR gifts. -
4 or 5 gifts listed here -- (pastor/teacher) Ephesians 4:11–13 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Apostles - ones sent with a commission -- specifically referenced to The 12 - disciples of Jesus that He called out & sent out, called them Apostles.
Mark 3:13–15 And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.
(Luke 6:12 - he first spent the whole night in prayer about this)
With Him, Send them out to preach, Gave them authority.
Specially called to be JESUS’ REPRESENTATIVES on the earth - chosen out of the multitude of disciples, these 12 (including Judas) - NOT something they passed on to a special ‘bishop’ (even in Rome!)
Requirements of an apostle -- Acts 1:21–22 - 1) have followed Jesus beginning with the baptism of John until the ascension; 2) a witness of His resurrection.”
Paul (as one untimely born) - called to be an apostle by the Lord Himself on the road to Damascus - specially gifted (and trained) to THINK & write - to look at the OT Scriptures & see how they are fulfilled in Christ - and to HEAR the Holy Spirit so that he could give direction for the Church.
Where would we be without him?
Apostles are a SPECIAL CATEGORY in the church -- Foundational gift!
2 Corinthians 12:12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
By Strict definition Apostles don’t exist today. But we RELY ON THEIR GIFT for the foundation of our faith.
Other category of apostles listed in the Bible - Barnabas, Andronicus, Junias, Apollos, Epaphroditus, etc.
Task - Proclamation of the Gospel, establishing the church, leadership in the church. (See Acts 15)
Loose definition for TODAY might include some missionaries - especially those that go to NEW fields & plant initial churches - and maybe those that today OVERSEE churches in new fields.
**
Sometimes we see ‘the signs of a true apostle’ in those places - giving
credence to the Christian faith.
Very broad sense - we are ALL sent with the message. But we are not all apostles.
No ‘strict’ apostles today, but their teaching is very relevant to the life of the church today.
Prophets - usually identified (in our minds) as fore-tellers. (telling the future) & sometimes they were. But more often “forth”-tellers. Speak forth the Word of the Lord & applying it to specific situations - especially before the written Scriptures were compiled.
NT prophets differed from OT prophets. OT prophets were often writers of Scripture. NT prophets more often APPLY the Scriptures to various situations, although there are some obvious fore-telling situations. (John in Revelation; Agabus in Acts 21)
Hear the truth from God, & express the truth to the church. (Not necessarily a supernatural hearing - but a discerning of the Word for a particular occasion)
Very valuable gift -- help to keep the church walking in light of the Scripture… Issue warnings about wandering, warnings about the future…
Agabus - warning Paul about what was to happen to him - (disciples @ Tyre had done this as well)
Acts 21:8–11
(Also
interesting that Paul HEARD the warning, but, led by the Spirit of God, did not
HEED the warning )
Was a very beneficial gift, under the control of the Spirit of God. Used of God to write Scripture, to convey His message - ESPECIALLY before the Written Word of God was finished.
(Which
might be why there is more prophecy in places where they don’t have the
Scriptures in their own tongues. - they are not writing Scripture, and aren’t
‘inspired’ in the same sense… )
Probably now more the gift of EXHORTATION (Romans 12)
Question is often asked, “Are there apostles and prophets today”? Not in the ORIGINAL sense. Apostles & prophets were FOUNDATIONAL GIFTS to the church.
Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
But there MAY BE those that have a gift of ‘prophecy’ - discerning the times… Must be controlled by LOVE!!! (later)
Evangelists - one who proclaims good news. -- only 3 references to this gift in the NT (in spite of Matt 28:19-20)
Philip the Evangelist -- (Acts 21:8) used of God (Acts 8) to reach the Samaritans, the Ethiopian Eunuch,
Acts 8:40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
2 Timothy 4:5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST!
We are ALL to be witnesses, we are ALL to be involved in making disciples (which includes telling the good news), but God has gifted some especially with this gift -
PRAY for more evangelists! Such a need for this gift in America, & in the world.
(India - some of the men are specially gifted this way.)
Pastors -- only ONE reference in the NT as a title! - and that’s HERE. = shepherd. (not a lot of pride in that title! - and in the only ONE reference! ** We make such a big deal about pastors in the church today!)
Patterned after Jesus as the GOOD shepherd -
John 10:2–4 “But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
John 10:27–29 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
Really the role of ‘elder’
1 Peter 5:2-4 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Acts 20:28-31 (to the Elders of Ephesus)“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, …
Role of the shepherd - to know his sheep, to call his sheep, to feed his sheep, to GUARD his sheep.
Teachers - might be combined with Pastors - they share an article, but they are both plural. All pastors should be teachers (as should elders), but not all teachers are pastors.
= one who provides knowledge, instruction.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
Matthew 28:19–20“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
** Part of the discipleship process - not just teaching KNOWLEDGE, but teaching OBEDIENCE.
Ephesians 4:11-13 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Equipping = to make suitable.
2 Timothy 3:16–17All 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.
Scripture is to equip us. These GIFTS are to equip us.
Equipping of the saints for the work of service -- = wait on tables, then serve -- For the Greeks service is undignified; we are born to rule, not to serve.
it is the SAINTS that do the works of service! Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastor/teachers are EQUIPPERS. -- That’s their responsibility.
We’l come back to this.
POINTS TO PONDER
1) Remember those that equipped ME -- SS teachers & VBS teachers when I was little - college professors that challenged my thinking - and taught me TO THINK. Pastors, camp counselors, PARENTS, my siblings… people that poured their lives into mine.
YOU think back -- who helped you to be where you are today? Give thanks for them.
2) TURN THAT AROUND -- are YOU helping OTHERS???
God takes ORDINARY PEOPLE and gifts them for service in His body - Nothing special about them.
Paul - 1 Timothy 1:12–13 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
It’s possible that He might gift YOU with one of these gifts - evangelist, pastor, teacher. - the church needs more of these! So many people yet to reach for Christ, to disciple and train, to equip OTHERS for the work of service.
ARE YOU WILLING to be used of God??? Not for pride, not for the prestige - but humbly, with EAGERNESS, proving to be examples to the flock.
3) These gifts are meant to UNITE the body, and BUILD UP the body.. Special gifts given by the Lord to build up the body of Christ.
** DANGER of misuse - if NOT under the control of the Holy Spirit!
OUT OF CONTROL aspect of EVERY GIFT. - PRIDE!
Apostle - demagoguery.
Prophecy - set yourself up as the authority and judge (even in the media (print, internet) - but you cannot see the fruit of their lives!
Evangelist - could become a self-promoter
Pastor - enabler, or fleecing the sheep,
Teacher - pride, imparting KNOWLEDGE without obedience, action.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT must to be evident! -- not the works of the flesh! (Not enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, (Gal 5:20), but rather love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)
Goal is to BUILD THE CHURCH - EQUIP THE SAINTS… it is SERVICE to the BODY. -- ‘minister’.
4) it’s tempting to wrangle about the meaning of these words, & whether or not some gifts have ceased, etc., and MISS OUT ON THE CALLING -- the gifts aren’t given to argue about, to divide, but to SERVE THE BODY SO THAT it will grow to maturity in Christ.
The JOY that there is in using your gift - knowing the privilege of helping others grow in the faith.
The GOAL -- unity in the faith… until we ALL… & we’ll get to that next week, Lord willing.