Pastor Nate Brosher
Dec 21, 2023
Spiritual Maturity Pt. 3: Gifts of Christ
Ephesians 4:4-16 NLT
4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one
glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and
one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all. 7 However,
he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8
That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a
crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people." 9 Notice that it says, "he
ascended." This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.
10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all
the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. 11 Now
these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the
evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip
God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of
God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and
complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like
children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching.
We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever, they
sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in
every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own
special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy
and growing and full of love.
1. Christ “gave” to the Church.
a. Didomi – To give, granted, furnished, endued, appointed, commissioned, returned.
Apostle - Prophet - Evangelist - Pastor - Teacher
Apostle – (Apostolos) a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.
Ephesians 4:13 – This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 NLT - 10 Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have--Jesus Christ.
Prophet – (Prophetes) one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation.
1 Corinthians 14:2-4 NLT - 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won't be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
Evangelist – (euangelistēs) a preacher of the gospel. This name is given in the N.T. to those heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles:
2 Timothy 4:5 NKJV – 1 I charge [you] therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season [and] out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, [because] they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn [their] ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Mark 16:15 NLT - 15 And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”
Romans 10:13-15 NLT - 13 For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"
Pastor – (poimēn) a shepherd.
Outline of Biblical usage: A shepherd in the Near East was responsible for watching out for enemies trying to attack the sheep, defending the sheep from attackers, healing the wounded and sick sheep, finding, and saving lost or trapped sheep, loving them, and sharing their lives and to earn their trust.
Teacher – (didaskalos) an instructor. In the N.T. one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man:
Ephesians 4:13 NLT - 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
The Purpose of the gifts are to equip the Saints.