January 30, 2022
Morning Service

It’s so nice to not have to read an obituary to bring a message from God’s word.  So this morning I get to look at one of my favorite passages in the Bible.  Eph. Chapter 4.

Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul from his first imprisonment. (Acts 28), around the year of 62AD.  You can read of his involvement with this church in the book of Acts, chapters 18, 19, 20.  As he left this church he gave a farewell address to the elders of the church.  He said this;  “(Act 20:32)  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”  Little knowing that one day this farewell address would be part of this Word of grace, that he commended them too. But we can see that this word was able to build them up, and to give them an inheritance among those who were sanctified, or set apart, in believing this gospel.

So, this is what we do, we teach from this Bible the things that Jesus wanted taught.  We have His teachings, and the teachings of the Apostles, no need for anything else.  So, let’s get right into this particular teaching of God’s Word.

 

(Eph 4:1)  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (Eph 4:2)  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

·        Paul was actually a prisoner in Rome for preaching this gospel message, but also, I believe he felt like a prisoner to the Lord although he was a free man, his calling and duty made him feel like he couldn’t get away from this calling.

·        Walk worthy, wherewith ye are called.  He explains what this means in the next verse.  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. 

·        This is a challenge for us as Christians to live in this manner.  It is expected of us.

(Eph 4:3)  Endeavouring (work hard) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

·        Unity, Paul cries out for this throughout his writings. (Work hard at keeping the unity of the Spirit, or the teachings of the Word. 

·        In peace.  Do you think the early church worked hard at keeping these instructions. How about during the Crusades, and reacquisitions. The church killed thousands of Christians during these periods of time.

NOW NOTICE. HERE IS ONE OF THE TEACHING THAT HE WANTS TAUGHT IN UNITY.

(Eph 4:4)  There is one body,(HIS CHURCH) and one Spirit,(THE ETERNAL SPIRIT OF GOD) even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;(CHRIST’S RETURN) (Eph 4:5)  One Lord,(JESUS) one faith,(IN JESUS) one baptism,(ACTS 2:38) (Eph 4:6)  One God and Father of all,(WHO IS THAT ETERNAL SPIRIT) who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

(Eph 4:7)  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (A PORTION OF HIS ANOINTING SPIRIT) (Eph 4:8)  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

(Eph 4:9)  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

·        As you study you will find out that the lower parts of the earth is where we live.  He descended from being the Word of God, to being the flesh filled with the Eternal Spirit of God, Immanuel, which is God with us.

(Eph 4:10)  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

NOW NOTICE:

(Eph 4:11)  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

·        This is what is known as the 5 fold ministry.  He goes on and explains why He gave this ministry, for how long is it to last, and what these gifts will do for the church. 

FIRST OF ALL WHY!!!

(Eph 4:12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

FOR HOW LONG?

(Eph 4:13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect(COMPLETE) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

WHAT ARE THESE GIFTS SUPPOSED TO DO FOR THE CHURCH?

(Eph 4:14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Eph 4:15)  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

·        Remember what Jesus said concerning the last days; (Mat 24:24)  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

·        (2Pe 2:1)  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

 

Something our kids will say on a trip, “are we there yet?”  No, I’m afraid not, and we may never get there.  However, the idea is we continually endeavor to reach this goal of unity.  I think we certainly do our part.

There is a teaching on each of these gifts, as well as the other gifts of the Spirit.  Rom. 12, and ICor. 12.  Easy to remember locations.

 

It behooves us to endeavor finding, and teaching the same gospel that the Apostle Paul taught.  He gave this warning “(Gal 1:8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

As we have accepted the overseeing of this congregation of the Lord’s church, we try and make sure you are not hearing a lot of false doctrine.  The ones that proclaim to have these gifts will certainly be tried, and proven before they will be able to speak in our pulpit.  I realize that there are some things spoken by some that maybe aren’t Biblically correct, but we try to call Bible things, by Bible names.  This was the cry from those who were in the Restoration movement in the late 1800’s from which the Christian Churches, the Churches of Christ, and others came from. 

 

Our prayer, “Father please help us to preach Your one and only gospel.”