Ephesians Series Week #24 Spiritual Gifts Ephesians 4:7-12 5/5/2013

Transcription

1 Ephesians Series Week #24 Spiritual Gifts Ephesians 4:7-12 5/5/2013 I. Introduction and review A. Last week we considered hell, hades and where we go when we die B. The story of the last great team of the Dallas Cowboys 1. They assembled players like Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith Larry Allen, Jay Novacek, Deion Sanders, Charles Haley, and Nate Newton 2. They each were great talents and some of the best to ever play at their positions 3. Together they made a great team 4. But what if the coach decided to play a. Michael Irvin, at defensive end b. Charles Haley, at wide receiver c. Troy Aikman, at right guard d. Nate Newton at quarterback e. Emmitt Smith at linebacker f. Jay Novacek, at running back g. Larry Allen, at cornerback h. Deion Sanders, at left guard 5. That team would be horrible Page 1 of 12

2 6. That is because the players weren t playing in the positions in which they were the most gifted 7. The church is like that 8. Each member has been given one or more spiritual gifts 9. And they must be allowed to utilize that gift in their role in the church for things to function or work as God intended C. Now we look to the passage which speaks to us of our spiritual gifts II. How the giving begins [4:7] A. Verse seven starts with a word of contrast, a word that is an adversative the word but 1. So what is adversative or being contrasted 2. The individual versus the body or the church 3. Paul leaves the church as a whole and seeks to speak to the inividual members B. To each one that is to every believer, not every person C. Grace was given 1. Grace was key in God s plan of salvation for us [see Eph. 2:8-9] 2. But the grace about which Paul speaks is part of the next progression of grace 3. We should understand it to mean a special enabling power which is given to all believers to use in the exercise their spiritual gifts, among other things 4. Consider the appliances which could be found in a kitchen, each one of Page 2 of 12

3 those appliances has a different purpose or use, but they all need electricity to make them function properly, and without that electricity, they are basically worthless 5. This grace is the electricity that empowers the spiritual gifts spoken of subsequently in this passage D. The measure of Christ s gift 1. Measure me,tron metron {met'-ron} Meaning: 1) measure, an instrument for measuring 1a) a vessel for receiving and determining the quantity of things, whether dry or liquid 1b) a graduated staff for measuring, a measuring rod 1c) proverbially, the rule or standard of judgment 2) determined extent, portion measured off, measure or limit 2a) the required measure, the due, fit, measure 2. The measure is how much grace we can receive or hold 3. What limits the amount of grace that our Lord wants to give to you in the exercise of your gift? III. The gifts [4:8] A. He gave gifts to men 1. Read the passage with out the parenthetical statements [i.e.verses 7,8 &11] 2. These are the spiritual gifts about which we are talking 3. From Psalm 68:18 a. Why would Paul refer to an Old Testament passage when referring to spiritual gifts, a New Testament phenomenon b. Did you know that at least one spiritual gift is prophesied about in Page 3 of 12

4 the Old Testament 4. Consider Isaiah 28:7-16 [11] a. Stammering g[el' la`eg {law-ayg'} Meaning: 1) mocking 1a) mocker (noun cstr) (1) to mock or mocking: (a) (b) (c) To treat with ridicule or contempt; deride. To mimic, as in sport or derision. To imitate; counterfeit. b. Tongue hp'f' saphah {saw-faw'} or (in dual and plural) tp,f, sepheth {sef-eth'} Meaning: 1) lip, language or speech c. Foreign rxea; 'acher {akh-air'} Meaning: 1) another, other, following 1a) following, further 1b) other, different d. The Hebrew people were very proud of their language. It was free flowing, melodic and beautiful (1) they considered the languages spoken by others not to compare to their language. Other languages were choppy, or stammering an evidece that the people who spoke them were uneducated, mentally inferior and not a people who had been blessed by God (2) they also recognized that they were the recipients of the Page 4 of 12

5 Word of God e. So what does this prophecy say, the gospel of salvation, as the message from God will be proclaimed to you, the Jew, in Gentile languages f. That would be an affront to any self respecting Hebrew g. But that is what the gift of tongues was all about, proclaming the gospel in another language, known to those who heard it h. The first time that happen was at Pentecost when the gospel message was proclaimed to Jews, who were pilgrims to Jerusalem and the message was spoken in their native languages 5. Paul speaks about spiritual gifts not only here, but in Romans 12:4ff and I Corinthians Peter also addresses the subject in I Peter 4:10 B. But what is a spiritual gift? 1. Spiritual gifts are certain abilities or skills given to each Christian, which enable them to perform a particular function in the work of the church, with ease and effectiveness, for the glory of God 2. Possession of one or more spiritual gifts does not indicate merit or spirituality 3. There are two categories of spiritual gifts a. Temporary and permanent b. Permanent don t last for all time but are only viable throughout the church age, because the are gifts given only to the church Page 5 of 12

6 c. Temporary gifts were those given and used from the time of Pentecost through the completion of the Canon, the final writing of the New Testament d. That time period was approx. 32 to 95 A.D. e. Temporary gifts were used by God to focus attention on the gospel message and to establish the church (1) that is why many times these temporary gifts are referred to as foundational gifts (2) the fact that the Holy Spirit has withdrawn the temporary gifts in the post canon period is His way of focusing our attention on the Holy Word of God f. It is this passage in Ephesians that tells us that no gifts were given until after the ascension of Christ, but that they were not empowered until after the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost g. You do not seek a particular spiritual gift, they are sovereignly bestowed by God [See I Cor. 12:11] C. Paul does not list all of the spiritual gifts here in Ephesians, instead he only speaks of the ones that he deems important to the concepts he is trying to communicate 1. Some scholars believe that all spiritual gifts are not listed in the Scripture, but merely representations of categorical concepts IV. So let s consider these gifts [4:11] A. Apostles this was a spiritual gift God gave to build the foundation of the church [see Eph. 2:19-22] Page 6 of 12

7 1. They had to meet certain qualifications; a. they had been with Jesus b. they could speak with the absolute authority of God c. they established churches and founded missions d. they had sign gifts, such as miracles, healing and/or tongues which proved their authority 2. There are no Apostles today 3. This gift is no longer given how do we know that? a. consider the purpose of this type of spiritual gift b. they were given to help establish the church c. that is especially true before the Bible was available, that is pre New Testament canon d. consider the problem of authority (1) today the Scripture provides authority (2) then there were no New Testament Scriptures e. now look at the Corinthian church where there were constant problems with spiritual gifts (1) consider I Cor. 13 (a) verses 1-2 speaking of problematic spiritual gifts (b) verse 8-11 i) te,leioj teleios {tel'-i-os} a) Meaning: 1) brought to its end, finished completed 2) wanting Page 7 of 12

8 nothing necessary to completeness 3) perfect 4) that which is perfect 4a) consummate human integrity and virtue 4b) of men 4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature b) Grammar: adjective normal nominative neuter singular no degree from te,leioj (2) now see James 1:25 (a) the perfect law (b) te,leioj teleios {tel'-i-os} Meaning: 1) brought to its end, finished 2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness 3) perfect 4) that which is perfect 4a) consummate human integrity and virtue 4b) of men 4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature B. Prophets a. Prophets did two things (1) they would speak to the present situation, that is sin and the corruption of God s plan (a) sometimes they would do it based upon a special revelation from God [see Acts 11:28] (b) sometimes it would be based upon the revelation of Page 8 of 12

9 the Scriptures (2) then they would speak of what God was going to do and His coming judgment (a) sometimes they would do it based upon a special revelation from God (b) sometimes it would be based upon the revelation of the Scriptures (3) sometimes they would speak additionally of God s signs, that what He said He will do and (4) speak of scriptural principles which had not yet been recorded in the Bible b. Today only prophets who get it from the Scripture c. If you hear, God has spoken to me and told me that..., they are not from God 2. Evangelists a. They can be ones who evangelizes large groups like Billy Graham b. Or a one on one person like Bill Bright of Campus Crusade 3. Pastors a. All Pastors are also given the gift of teacher b. Pastors are shepherds of God s people c. They lead a local church according to the direction of God s Word 4. Teachers a. All teachers are not pastors Page 9 of 12

10 b. God, through the Holy Spirit gives them insight into His Word and c. The ability to communicate its (1) meaning and (2) the application of that meaning (3) to those He brings to hear that teacher 5. In this passage Paul uses a grammatical construction called the Granvill Sharp s rule which tie these two, pastor and teacher, together suggesting both gifts to one person a. However, there are tow other passages relating to us spiritual gifts which list these tow separately [Rom. 12:7 & I Pet. 5:2] V. Considering the gifts A. Principle 1: Just because you have a gift, does not mean you will be perfect at it 1. You grow into your gift 2. Over time, if the gift is exercised, you will learn how to effectively utilize it B. Principle 2: Just because you don t have a certain gift doesn t mean you won t be able to function in that area of ministry 1. For example we are all called to serve; to show compassionate mercy to others; to evangelize others 2. Who was a teacher? C. Principle 3: We should seek to discover what our gift or gifts may be 1. Does God know what they are? 2. Is He willing to tell you? Page 10 of 12

11 3. There are tests [inventories or assessments] you can take to help you discovery your gift 4. Experimenting with a particular gift may be enlightening 5. Seek feed back from others you can trust 6. Practice makes perfect 7. The more you use the gift, the stronger it becomes VI. God s purpose in giving spiritual gifts to His children [4:12-13] A. The purpose is several fold: 1. To equip the saints for the work of service a. Equipping katartismo,j katartismos {kat-ar-tis-mos'} (1) Meaning: complete, furnishing, equipping (2) Origin: from katarti,zw katartizo {kat-ar-tid'-zo} Meaning: 1) to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete 1a) to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair 1a1) to complete 1b) to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust 1b1) to fit or frame for one's self, prepare 1c) ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be b. Work e;rgon ergon {er'-gon} Meaning: 1) business, employment, that which any one is occupied 1a) that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking 2) any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind 3) an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that Page 11 of 12

12 which is less than work c. Service diakoni,a diakonia {dee-ak-on-ee'-ah} Meaning: 1) service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others 2) of those who by the command of God proclaim and promote religion among men 2a) of the office of Moses 2b) of the office of the apostles and its administration 2c) of the office of prophets, evangelists, elders etc. 3) the ministration of those who render to others the offices of Christian affection esp. those who help meet need by either collecting or distributing of charities 4) the office of the deacon in the church 5) the service of those who prepare and present food 2. To build up the body of Christ a. oivkodomh, oikodome {oy-kod-om-ay'} Meaning: 1) (the act of) building, building up 2) metaph. edifying, edification 2a) the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness 3) a building (i.e. the thing built, edifice) Page 12 of 12