Ephesians 4 vs 11-16

Ephesians Chapter 4 Verses 11 – 12

·    Let me first say that this list given by Paul regarding the offices of the church is not exhaustive, there are more, and we know this because Paul doesn’t mention two of the offices he instructs about in Philippians and 1 Timothy which are deacons and bishops, or overseers/elders. There’s the greeter, the door opener, the security leader, the coffee preparer, the tithe counter, the prayer leader, the Children’s Ministry Director, the Women’s Ministry Leader, the facility manager, just to name a few! And each have three things. Each have their place in the Body of Christ, each have their calling, and each have equal importance!

·    We need all of these assignments, offices, giftings in the Body of Christ in order to (and we haven’t gotten there yet in our verse set) grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ (verse 15). And that’s what they are, they are giftings, assignments as Paul says here by, of and from Jesus Himself!

·    Perhaps we are different here and I’m ok with that but at this church we cannot and never will hire folks into positions or places in the Body of Christ. It’s first and primarily that Jesus has given you to us for this specific work or thing… And that’s the second thing I’ve already mentioned which is calling.

·    Calling is everything. What if the foot decided that it no longer was going to be a foot but now, starting today says the foot, I’m going to be the nose! That would stink! HA! Imagine walking around and in the place of your nose was your foot! A foot cannot be the nose. It’s a foot! And over the years I’ve seen folks and I’ve BEEN folks that have wanted to do this or that for the Lord in the Body of Christ but God hasn’t called me to it and not only do I stink at it but I stumble myself and others as well….

·    And that’s a good tell right there. If you constantly stumble or stumble others in whatever ministry you’re involved in or leading, may want to consider your calling. Calling is everything. And God has His purpose in who He calls to what. Let me go one more layer down for just a moment and forgive me if this is too aggressive…

·    If you are called to it then God will not only equip you for it but will also tie your heart to it. If you don’t love it then you’re not called to it… Not in the Body of Christ. Someone might say, “Well Jonah hated Nineveh but God still called him to it.” True, but Nineveh isn’t and wasn’t the Body of Christ with the specific purpose of Ephesians Chapter 4 (which we really haven’t gotten to yet).

·    Here’s a calling. You can’t do it. That’s what they say or that’s what all the practicals say… And as you don’t do it, you suffer and suffer and suffer, because your heart beats aren’t complete without it. Here’s a calling. Burnout doesn’t happen. Yes, you rest, yes you take breaks, both extremely important, but burnout? Impossible. How do you exhaust the Holy Spirit? Here’s a calling. There is no retirement. If I can retire from being a pastor (and I get it, I’m not talking about for health reasons) then I’m not called or my calling has expired which they do and can happen for a myriad of reasons. Here’s a calling. Even when times are extremely tough, you persevere because it is the Holy Spirit that sustains you and not your human abilities. Calling is everything….

·    And finally, importance. From the greeter to the teacher, each have equal importance in the Body of Christ. Tell me, what’s more important on a car. The engine or the lug nuts? Interesting, the car with the powerful engine is not only severely limited without the lug nuts but its also dangerous! Each role, each office, each assignment, each gift of Jesus in the church is as important as the other and let me tell you what I believe to be at the top of that list. What I call “glue ministers.”

·    This is a real office without a chair. This is a real position without a title in the church today but entirely essential. And that is all of the people that are simply kind, caring, fun, loving, worshipful, Spirit-filled, graceful and just refreshing. Those are the folks that are the life blood of a church that just glue it all together and the Lord is well pleased.

·    The glue ministers set the atmosphere. They flavor the fellowship. And that office we are all called to! I love it when folks come in and tell me I have a nice body (here at the church)! HA! And a strong, healthy Body of Christ has all of these things from the pinky toe to the belly button, ha! And Paul talks about four, some say five, specific offices here in Ephesians Chapter 4.

·    Paul calls out the offices of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and Pastor/Teachers, and it’s interesting, of the four Paul identifies, only one truly is a, what I’ll call a, position or office of the church. An apostle in the simplest definition is someone sent out. A prophet is someone who simply speaks forth truth. Past, present, future or even Holy-Spirit analytical (able to read and see between the lines to determine the heart and message of God).

·    Are there apostles and prophets in the church today? Absolutely! In every seat occupied by a Christian! But I want to be clear here that there is a difference Biblically between early church apostles and prophets, old testament prophets and todays. There are several proof texts to support this, one of which is Acts 1:15-17, 21-26.

·    “And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.””

·    “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

·    So, we see Biblically that in order to be an Apostle there had to be physical presence with Jesus. In addition, we saw earlier in Ephesians 2:19-20, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone…” And so, there is a foundation type of apostles and prophets which that foundation is laid and there are the modern church apostles and prophets which should absolutely be all of us.

·    Check out Ephesians 3:5, “…Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets…” Paul here is speaking about the church, the Body of Christ as a whole…and he calls us God’s holy apostles and prophets. So, next time someone introduces themselves as apostle this or apostle that, just respond, “Nice to meet you! I’m prophet/apostle (your name here)” HA!

·    Then evangelists. We have only one example of an evangelist called out in the Bible and that is Philip. And this simply means one that proclaims the good news of Jesus. Paul, instructing Timothy, who was an apostle and a prophet in terms of the modern church work of the ministry, says to him in 2 Timothy 4:5, “You be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” And so we see, and the point that I’d like to make here is that each one of us, and especially the pastor/teacher should be all three of these things…these offices of the church.

·    Why? For what purpose? Why do we even meet other than to spend time worshipping God and experiencing the blessing of the gathering of the body of believers? Why do we have these offices/positions in the church….?

Ephesians Chapter 4 Verse 12

·    This is the purpose of church and every ministry contained therein. Church can be a place where people come to meet Jesus and it should be but the primary place of apostleship, prophecy, evangelism…, those assignments are performed primarily outside of these walls. And so church and all ministries and ministers are as Paul tells us here, to equip and edify or build up the saints for the work of the ministry in the ministry field, which is the world.

·    Let me just be clear with this for one moment. We are not and should not be focused on ministry being perfect or doing things perfectly or having the best whatever in terms of ministry programs and offerings. We should be focused on equipping which is to teach the Word of God and create a place of prayer and worship and refreshing and we should be focused on building each other up! A bad attitude in a great ministry is a poison to the Body of Christ! We become the body of CRUST! All crusty and critical…and that is not going to win anyone to Jesus! Or bless us within the Body of Christ!

Ephesians Chapter 4 Verses 13 – 16

·    That’s it! This is it! Souls are broken because of sin. Personal sin and offensive sin. Sin done to them, to us, to you and to me. Church is where we come to heal and strengthen our souls. Through the Word of God being taught, through worship and praise, prayer and fellowship…so that we would, I would, you would, grow up. Change…. Reverse the power and effect and deception of the sin and the flesh in your heart and mind!

·    So that you don’t get tossed around with every wind of doctrine. Every fad that comes and goes in the faith or every circumstance that blows in and out of your life! It’s really simple. Simple in thought but boy is it missing missing missing in the church today. If the storm sets in and the wind blows, what happens, folks get a bit chaotic. Lots of activity. Panic. Reaction… Paul says if we/you are doing church right, what God has gifted us with, that shouldn’t happen in you like it happens in the world.

·    Its Hebrews 4:1-3, “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest…”

·    All of this and today really comes down to that. Have you surrendered your life to Jesus and if so, you should be growing in strength, internal rest, maturity and a bit of apostleship, prophet, evangelist even with a heart to care for and teach or lead folks closer still to Jesus… And that, that folks is where we perfect…that’s truly the best we can do because it’s the best thing that can be done… And that should be the church, as God purposed it!