"God Gave..."
“God Gave…”
Blessings folk!
A proper understanding of Ephesians 4 is pivotal to the Church functioning as the Lord designed.
Sadly, most do not pay much attention to the Word.
Let’s take our time.
Note just two things.
What did God do?
Why?
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 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.14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
What did God do?
He gave.
What did He give?
He gave…
- some as apostles
- some as prophets
- some as evangelists
- some as pastors
- and teachers
Many refer to these as “spirituals gifts”.
I believe this is inaccurate.
These are gifted individuals...True Believers gifted with the Power of the Holy Spirit for Purpose.
These are “functionings” within the Body.
The Purpose we will examine later.
Why does the Lord do this?
For the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
The Body is built by the Body functioning in love within the design of the Lord.
This is profound.
So different from what is seen in most “church growth” strategies of man.
May we know the Word of the Lord.
May we live as He designed.
...to be continued...