EPHESIANS 4:1-16

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

EPHESIANS 4:1-16

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

EPHESIANS 4:1-16

8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?

EPHESIANS 4:1-16

10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,

EPHESIANS 4:1-16

12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

EPHESIANS 4:1-16

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

EPHESIANS 4:1-16

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

WHEREWHERE IS JESUS IS JESUS AND AND WHATWHAT IS HE IS HE DOING TODAY?DOING TODAY?

EPHESIANS 4:1-7

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

EPHESIANS 4:1-7

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

EPHESIANS 4:10-13

10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,

EPHESIANS 4:10-13

12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

JESUS IS IN JESUS IS IN HEAVEN WITH HEAVEN WITH BELIEVERS.BELIEVERS.

EPHESIANS 4:10

10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

JESUS IS JESUS IS SERVING THE SERVING THE CHURCH.CHURCH.

EPHESIANS 4:4-7

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

The church is like a bodybody.

EPHESIANS 4:11-13

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

EPHESIANS 4:11-13

13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Jesus has not abandoned us; in fact, he says, “I’ll never leave you nor “I’ll never leave you nor

forsake you.” forsake you.” Jesus sends the Holy Holy SpiritSpirit. And God the Holy Spirit, the

third member of the Trinity, is present with the church.

He’s present with the people of God, and so he brings the presence of God among us, and so he’s the one who connects us to the Lord Jesus. He’s He’s

the one who, in every way, brings to the one who, in every way, brings to us the life of the Lord Jesus. us the life of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus is servingserving the church, he’s lovingloving the church, he’s payingpaying attention to the church, he’s devoteddevoted to the church, he’s

concernedconcerned for the church, and he’s workingworking in the church through the person,

and the presence, and the power of the God the Holy Spirit.

Nations come and go, circumstances come and go, and the people of God continue

moving forward. Across all the cultures, and all the opposition, and all of the persecution,

and all of the ostracism, and all of the complexity, the church just keeps pressing church just keeps pressing

forwardforward.

What is on Jesus’ heart is every local church that loves and serves him. And so we love

Faithworks Christian Church, and we love all the churches that love and serve Jesus.

We want our heart to be his heart.We want our heart to be his heart.

JESUS IS GIVING JESUS IS GIVING GIFTS.GIFTS.

If you’re a Christian and the Holy Spirit’s in you, you should like to giveyou should like to give. You realize God’s a giver, and to be a giver is a good

thing. See, the more you give, the more joy the more you give, the more joy you have.you have. That’s why no one is more joyful than God. No one’s more joyful than GodNo one’s more joyful than God.

God loves to giveGod loves to give. We don’t have to beg God to give. “God so loved the world he gave us his only Son.” God loves to give. Our God loves to give, and the more you get to know the more you get to know the God who gives, the more you become the God who gives, the more you become

like the God who giveslike the God who gives.

One of the easiest tests for Christian Christian maturitymaturity is whether you’re a giver or a

taker.

(1)(1)

HE GIVES HE GIVES JESUSJESUS

EPHESIANS 4:7

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

God gives himself. God gives himself. Jesus gave his life, he gives his righteousness, he gives his

salvation, he gives his love, he gives his affection. And when the Bible uses the

language of grace, that’s what it’s talking about. Our God, the Lord Jesus—he’s a giver.

(2)(2)

HE GIVES HE GIVES THE HOLY THE HOLY

SPIRITSPIRIT

EPHESIANS 4:3-4

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;

God has given us his Spirit, so we’re not orphans, we’re not abandoned, we’re not

alone. We don’t have to live by our own power; we can live by the power of God. We’re not We’re not left to our own thinking; he can direct our left to our own thinking; he can direct our

understanding. The Holy Spirit is present in understanding. The Holy Spirit is present in the church.the church.

(3)(3)

HE GIVES HE GIVES PEOPLEPEOPLE

God gives us people as gifts. God gives us people as gifts. You need to know that you are a gift. You’re a gift to others; you’re a gift to

our church.

People don’t just have gifts; they are gifts. And if we only think that people have gifts, then we use them for their gifts. But if we believe that But if we believe that people are gifts, we love and appreciate the people are gifts, we love and appreciate the

person, not just their function. person, not just their function.

People are gifts. People are gifts. And some of you, let me just say, are great gifts. Others of

you are painful gifts, but you’re all gifts. You’re all gifts.

(4)(4)

HE GIVES HE GIVES SPIRITUAL SPIRITUAL

GIFTSGIFTS

EPHESIANS 4:8

8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

SPIRITUAL SPIRITUAL GIFTSGIFTS

It doesn’t really matter whether it’s a natural natural

talenttalent or a supernatural supernatural giftgift.

A natural talent natural talent is something you just innately have from birth; a

supernatural giftsupernatural gift is something you have from your new birth.

A natural talent natural talent is something you can do before you’re a Christian; a supernatural supernatural

gift gift is something that accompanies the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit

when you become a Christian.

The way you find your spiritual gift is trial and trial and

errorerror.

CONSUMERCONSUMER MENTALITY vs. MENTALITY vs.

CHRISTIANCHRISTIAN MENTALITY MENTALITY

EPHESIANS 4:12-13

12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

• In a consumer In a consumer mentality, the mentality, the leadership exists to leadership exists to serve you.serve you.  

• In a Christian mentality, In a Christian mentality, the leadership exists to the leadership exists to equip you to serve equip you to serve others. others.

CONSUMER MENTALITYCONSUMER MENTALITY CHRISTIAN MENTALITYCHRISTIAN MENTALITY

• It’s more like a businessbusiness transaction. “How “How can I give the least can I give the least amount of money amount of money and commitment and and commitment and get the most return get the most return on investment?”on investment?”

• ““How can I give my How can I give my money, my time, my money, my time, my gifts, my capacities, gifts, my capacities, my abilities, and my abilities, and where could I help where could I help bring unity and health bring unity and health to our church to our church familyfamily?”?”

CONSUMER MENTALITYCONSUMER MENTALITY CHRISTIAN MENTALITYCHRISTIAN MENTALITY

YOUR GIFT IS YOUR GIFT IS NOTNOT YOUR IDENTITY.YOUR IDENTITY.

And Paul says over, and over, “In Christ, in “In Christ, in Christ, in Christ, in Christ.”Christ, in Christ, in Christ.” He does it in

this section as well. Let me just be very clear: you’re not what you do; you’re what Jesus has done. You’re not what you do; You’re not what you do;

you’re what Jesus has done.you’re what Jesus has done.

NINETEEN NINETEEN SPIRITUAL GIFTSSPIRITUAL GIFTS

• 1 Corinthians 12:8–10, • 1 Corinthians 12:28–30, • Romans 12:6–8, • Ephesians 4:11• 1 Peter 4:11

• 1 Corinthians 12 • Romans 12, • Ephesians 4, • 1 Peter 4

BIBLE REFERENCES FOR SPIRITUAL GIFTSBIBLE REFERENCES FOR SPIRITUAL GIFTS

(1) (1) GIFT OF WISDOMGIFT OF WISDOM 1 Corinthians 12:8 1 Corinthians 12:8

If you have this gift, you love giving timely, you love giving timely, helpful insight.helpful insight. You can read people and

circumstances, and everybody’s looking at it like a knot.

(2) (2) GIFT OF GIFT OF KNOWLEDGEKNOWLEDGE1 Corinthians 12:81 Corinthians 12:8

If you have this gift, you love to study. You you love to study. You love to researchlove to research. You might like books and

footnotes and dead people.

(3) (3) GIFT OF FAITHGIFT OF FAITH1 Corinthians 12:91 Corinthians 12:9

If you have this gift, you just—you trust you trust God, but it’s not a naïveté; it’s a childlike God, but it’s not a naïveté; it’s a childlike

faith. faith. It’s not a childish faith, but it’s a childlike faith.

(4) (4) GIFT OF HEALINGGIFT OF HEALING1 Corinthians 12:91 Corinthians 12:9

If you have this gift, you love to pray for you love to pray for those who are sick.those who are sick. You love to pray for

sick people because you fully know that God is a great physician and that he can heal people. So, we don’t heal people; God we don’t heal people; God

heals people. heals people.

(5)(5) GIFT OF GIFT OF MIRACLESMIRACLES 1 Corinthians 12:9 1 Corinthians 12:9

If you have this gift, you love to pray and you love to pray and see God show up in power to do see God show up in power to do

extraordinary, amazing things that reveal extraordinary, amazing things that reveal his power and his might and his majesty. his power and his might and his majesty.

(6)(6) GIFT OF GIFT OF DISCERNMENTDISCERNMENT1 Corinthians 12:101 Corinthians 12:10

If you have this gift, you love truth and you love truth and holiness. This is where you can discern holiness. This is where you can discern teaching. Some of you can discern the teaching. Some of you can discern the

presence of Satan and demons.presence of Satan and demons.

(7) (7) GIFT OF GIFT OF APOSTLESAPOSTLES1 Corinthians 12:281 Corinthians 12:28

If you have this gift, you love leading a you love leading a movement. These would be missionaries, movement. These would be missionaries,

church planters, cross-cultural church planters, cross-cultural missionaries, and that would include missionaries, and that would include

those who work across multiple those who work across multiple churches.churches.

(8) (8) GIFT OF GIFT OF TEACHINGTEACHING1 Corinthians 12:281 Corinthians 12:28

If you have this gift, you love to impart you love to impart biblical truth. You love that. What makes biblical truth. You love that. What makes

you so excited is when you teach you so excited is when you teach something, and they got it. something, and they got it.

(9) (9) GIFT OF GIFT OF ADMINISTRATIONADMINISTRATION1 Corinthians 12:281 Corinthians 12:28

If you have this gift, you love stewarding you love stewarding resources. Your life verse is in 1 resources. Your life verse is in 1

Corinthians: “Do everything in a fitting Corinthians: “Do everything in a fitting and orderly way.” For you, you’re like and orderly way.” For you, you’re like

label maker, files, charts and graphs. You label maker, files, charts and graphs. You like to organize things. like to organize things.

(10) (10) GIFT OF GIFT OF EVANGELISMEVANGELISM1 Corinthians 12:281 Corinthians 12:28

If you have this gift, you love non-you love non-Christians. You love them, and you love Christians. You love them, and you love

talking to them about Jesus, and you love talking to them about Jesus, and you love seeing them meet Jesus. seeing them meet Jesus.

(11) (11) GIFT OF GIFT OF SHEPHERDINGSHEPHERDINGEphesians 4:11Ephesians 4:11

If you have this gift, you do become a you do become a pastor, there’s a pastoral office, but this pastor, there’s a pastoral office, but this

is also a pastoral gift. What this means is is also a pastoral gift. What this means is that you love to help people, you love to that you love to help people, you love to

care for people, you love to nurture care for people, you love to nurture people, you love to invest in people.people, you love to invest in people.

(12) (12) GIFT OF GIFT OF ENCOURAGEMENTENCOURAGEMENTRomans 12:8Romans 12:8

If you have this gift, you love motivating you love motivating people. They’re super helpful, and some people. They’re super helpful, and some

of you don’t know that that’s such a huge of you don’t know that that’s such a huge gift. gift.

(13) (13) GIFT OF GIVINGGIFT OF GIVINGRomans 12:8Romans 12:8

If you have this gift, you love meeting needs. you love meeting needs. You love to give. So, you’re even the person You love to give. So, you’re even the person when people are talking, you’re like, “Oh, do when people are talking, you’re like, “Oh, do

you need that? I’ll get it. Do you need that? I’ll you need that? I’ll get it. Do you need that? I’ll do that. I want to give. I want to meet that do that. I want to give. I want to meet that

need. I want to help.”need. I want to help.”

(14) (14) GIFT OF GIFT OF LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP( Romans 12:8) ( Romans 12:8)

If you have this gift, you love mobilizing you love mobilizing people for a cause. You love to be the people for a cause. You love to be the point leader, and this isn’t just out of point leader, and this isn’t just out of

pride.pride.

(15) (15) GIFT OF MERCYGIFT OF MERCYRomans 12:8Romans 12:8

If you have this gift, you love hurting you love hurting people. people.

(16) (16) GIFT OF GIFT OF HOSPITALITYHOSPITALITYRomans 12:13 Romans 12:13

If you have this gift, you love welcoming in you love welcoming in strangers and entertaining them. strangers and entertaining them.

(17) (17) GIFT OF GIFT OF TONGUESTONGUES1 Corinthians 12:8-101 Corinthians 12:8-10

There’s a private gift where you pray in the language of angelslanguage of angels, Paul says, and that’s a

private, personal time for you to connect with the Lord. Then there’s also a public ability to

communicate the gospel of Jesus in a language that you don’t know. So, you speak one language;

somebody else speaks another language.

(18) (18) GIFT OF GIFT OF INTERPRETATION INTERPRETATION OF TONGUESOF TONGUES1 Corinthians 12:8-101 Corinthians 12:8-10

Jesus wants them to get saved, so he allows you to speak their language, because the word

“tongue,” literally translated, means “language.” But if you have this gift, it’s either private, and you you love to pray and connect and be filled with the love to pray and connect and be filled with the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit and/or a public ability to proclaim the

gospel of Jesus.

(19) (19) GIFT OF GIFT OF PROPHECYPROPHECY1 Corinthians 12:8-101 Corinthians 12:8-10

If you have this gift, you love to either you love to either speak or write the truth of God’s Word. speak or write the truth of God’s Word. You’re not writing the Bible, but you’re You’re not writing the Bible, but you’re taking what the Bible says and not just taking what the Bible says and not just

imparting the information but doing so in imparting the information but doing so in a very forceful way that elicits a a very forceful way that elicits a

response.response.

HOW ARE YOU HOW ARE YOU GIFTED?GIFTED?