Ephesians 4:8-12
Introduction: In this lesson we see that God gave gifts unto me for a specific purpose.
I. He led captivity Captive– Ephesians 4:8 -First “he led captivity captive” and then “gave gifts unto men”. Before Christ could give gifts unto men, this had to take place first.
I Corinthians 15:1-3 Here we see how Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day. What did Christ do as he was dead?
After the Resurrection of Christ- Matthew 12:40 “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”
- Luke 16:19-26 two areas in the heart of the earth “Abraham’s bosom / paradise Luke 23:43 and Hell, separated by a “great gulf fixed”. When a “believer” died at that time, they went to Abraham’s bosom until there was a full atonement for sin, and Christ died and shed his blood.
- Christ was in the heart of the earth for three days- I Peter 3:19 preached to the spirits in prison (hell). I Peter 4:6
- Jesus Christ died and descended into the lower parts of the earth for three days preaching. After three days, Jesus rose from the dead, spoke with Mary in John 20:16, and ascended to the Father bringing those in paradise to heaven. Jesus then returned to meet his disciples in John 20:19 that same day.
II. Gave Gifts unto Men– Ephesians 4:11 The gifts that were given here are men specifically. Paul said in I Corinthians 12:1 “not to be ignorant concerning Spiritual Gifts”. Christians today can be ignorant concerning Spiritual gifts: is there such a thing, where do those gifts come from, to who were those gifts given to, etc. In looking at these gifts of men, given to men, we will start with those gifts that are not used anymore and which don’t really concern us, then to go on with those that apply to us today.
Apostles- Matthew 10:1-10 Apostles were given in time past and are no longer active today. These were given at a different time for a different purpose, “he gave them the power” to show forth sign gifts to an unbelieving Jew primarily- I Corinthians 1:22 “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom”.
- Vs 1- Power against unclean spirits, cast them out.
- Vs 1- heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease- with a touch.
- Vs 6- But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
- VS 8- Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils.
- Know This- If someone today claims to be an Apostle, they are not a Biblical Apostle. The signs of the Apostles ended after the book of Acts, (the Acts of the Apostles).
Prophets- Prophets spoke and did exactly what God told them to speak and do. Today, we have the Bible fully written and we no longer have prophets whom God speaks to individually and privately to share with everyone else.
- Hebrews 1:1-2 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds”
- Jonah the prophet who was swallowed by a great fish was a man who eventually preached what God wanted him to preach. Jonah 1:1-2 “Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” Jonah 3:3 “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord”.
- Know This- If someone today claims to be a Prophet, he prophecies about future events that have already been written down in the Bible, not something that is not in the Bible and whom no one knows about- II Peter 1:19-21 “we have a more sure word of prophecy”.
Evangelist- Evangelist in scripture preached the gospel in many cities.
- Philip the evangelist- Acts 21:8 “Phillip the evangelist”
- Phillip the evangelist preaching to the Ethiopian eunuch- Acts 8:26-40
- Preach the Gospel- Romans 10:14-15
- Evangelist today are mostly missionaries and church planters.
Pastors- Also known as Elders/Bishops in the Bible, these are men called by God to be overseers of a local congregation- I Peter 5:1-3
- Pastors feed the flock-vs 2
- Pastors shouldn’t do it for the money- vs 2
- Pastors are an example- vs 3
- Pastors are Men- I Timothy 3:1 “This is a true saying, if a MAN desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work”. Vs 2 “the husband of one wife”.
Teachers- Having the ability to instruct believers in the truth of God. To help Christians be rooted and grounded in doctrine, reproof, correction.
- Teaching and Preaching are Different- Acts 15:35 “Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also”.
- Teaching correct Doctrine- Romans 16:17 “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them”.
III. The Purpose of the Gifts- Ephesians 4:12 these three things take place in a local church.
For the Perfecting of the Saints- Men preach and teach the word of God and the saints are perfected by the Word of God- II Timothy 3:16-17
For the Work of the ministry- Ministries grow from a local church and are an extension of the local church. God uses Christians to be a part of these ministries- nursery, Sunday schools, jail, nursing home, teen, witnessing, missions, etc.
For the Edifying of the Body of Christ- We want to work with, not against the body of Christ therefore we edify. I Peter 4:10 “as every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”. Ministering to other in the body of Christ edifies others in the body of Christ. These gifts were not given so that we can glory in them but to edify others as we exercise them.
Conclusion: God has gifted men to get his work accomplished on this earth. Because of it, men should walk close to God to know his will and direction.