LESSON 5-Ephesians
Chapter 4
BEING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Ephesians 4:1-32
Eph. 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [a]edifying of the body of Christ,
4:11 What God now has in us is gift wrapped to the world; (the same content and the same intent,) Some are commissioned to pioneer; others are gifted as prophets, some as announcers of good news, some as shepherds with a real gift to care and nurture, and others have a gift to impart instruction through revelation knowledge. (Couriers, communicators, counselors and coaches). Mirror Translation
4:12 Each expression of His gift is to fully equip and enable the saints for the work of the ministry so that they may mutually contribute in their specific function to give definition to the visible body of Christ. Mirror Translatoin
Eph.4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
4:13 The purpose of the gifts are to present everyone on par and in oneness of faith; believing exactly what the Son of God believes and knowing accurately what He knows concerning us. Standing face to face in equal stature to the measure of the completeness of Christ. (A life filled to the brim with Christ, like a freight ship carrying its cargo.) Mirror Translation
The Purpose of Ministry Gifts Continued:
There is a five- fold ministry (leaders) which (as found in Ephesians 4:11-16) is the government Hand of God in the earth today. These office/functions, ministry callings come from God and are not elected by man, but are special equippings of the Spirit. These are ministerial offices/functions giftings which are full time ministry calls. Note; they may have full-time or part-time secular jobs as well.
I, rather say functions, since office depicts a lording over the laity. Jesus stated in Revelation that this is the doctrine of Nicolaitans. Rev.2:6, 14-15
Revelation 2:6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
These (ministers/ servant leaders) are assignments and mandates and are life- long callings. Their job description ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD is:
Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
An analogy of the 5-fold ministry is in the OT passage of David slaying the giant. 5 stones were chosen by David; the 5 Chosen Stones speaks in part of the Five Ministries of Ephesians 4:11. And He gave some, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds {Pastors}, & Teachers. They were drawn from the water (CHRIST) and were selected as a team to destroy the giant (the flesh/5 senses)!
5- fold is a team effort. Individualism is a threat in defeating the giant (the flesh)! This is being jointly fitted together and being Living Stones, 1 Pet. 2:5 and a Mighty Army, Joel 2:11.
Eph 4:11-16 is a long sentence. Let’s see if we can break it down:
- The five -fold ministry is called to equip all believers for works of ministry.
- They are called to the edifying or building up of the Body of Christ at large (all individuals, not just one church or denomination or select group).
- They promote unity through faith and knowledge in the Son of God, Jesus.
- This unity causes a perfecting or a maturing — and causes people to look and act more like Jesus and to walk in His anointing and power.
- The five -fold ministry will also equip people not to be deceived or fooled or tricked or misled by the enemy but will cause them to be wise in this world and able to speak the Truth in love in freedom and liberty and power.
- As people grow up in Christ, each person does its share with his/her gifting by the Spirit and so we need each other and nourish each other and grow as His workmanship in the Spirit of Love and these ministers will exemplify this.
Integrally intertwined within the PURPOSE contained in these verses is PROCESS. That process is five-fold ministries equipping and activating the saints. Consider the PROCESS as each gift equips the saints:
Apostles equipping/mentoring a “sent one” mentality.
Prophets equipping/mentoring vision and revelatory awareness.
Evangelists equipping/mentoring the ability to draw people to Christ.
Pastors equipping/mentoring a caring and concern for others.
Teachers equipping/mentoring sound doctrine and true knowledge.
THIS is what the five -fold ministry of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher is called to do! This is their JOB DESCRIPTION according to THE WORD OF GOD.
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 man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
This verse pertains to God’s plan, plain and simple. God’s purpose is for unity of the faith to occur in the church. It will happen. There are some that say “unity of the faith” is that we all get along. Jesus spoke unity that is based on us being complete in Christ. If you are not pressing on to completion, then you are not unified or have knowledge of our Oneness. A gathering or assembly with contrary doctrines is not in unity. Jesus prayed a prayer that we would come into unity and that has happened.
John 17:21-23 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (NIV)
IT IS FINISHED WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST!
How far can we go?
Eph 4:13 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. (NAS)
You are to become perfect (mature/complete) which does not stop when Jesus was a babe, or when He was 12 in the temple giving answers, but you have attained when you have reached the FULL stature of Jesus. You have attained when the last stone is set on the temple. You have attained when the tree bears ripened fruit to be eaten by all. You say impossible! We are talking about a place of growth where Paul and Peter and others have already been, a place in God where we are always walking in the Light, always walking in Love, always abiding in Him. God is no respecter of persons, what he does for the one He will do for the other. What God did in Paul and Peter concerning maturity, He will do the same work in you. This is a place where you know the Truth and it totally sets you free.
Our corporate goal, destination, and finish line is “the unity of the faith” for which Jesus prayed—one corporate Man! So, the third dimension of Moses’ Tabernacle, the Most Holy Place, is marked by maturity: the full stature of love and unity (Psa. 133).
Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
Eph. 4:11-13 Cross references:
1 Cor. 12:28; Acts 21:8; Acts 20:28; Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:7; 1Cor. 14:26; Col. 1:24.
We will continue with Lesson 5 next week.