Gifts From The Risen Messiah

Ephesians 4:7–16
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Some interesting statistics by Barna Research Group, Ltd., Oxard, CA 29% of all adults - and 40% of Baby Buster adults - have never heard of spiritual gifts 69% have heard of spiritual gifts but do not know what their spiritual gift is 1% of adults and 9% of senior pasto … More

Spiritual Gifts

This passage states that all men are not born equal (v. 7). Paul describes how Jesus Christ in his crucifixion and resurrection was victorious over Satan (vv. 8-10). When you were born into this world God gave you certain natural abilities. This could be in the area of mechanics, athletics, electronics, etc. Paul goes on to explain how in the spiritual realm each believer has at least one spiritual gift no matter what natural abilities he may have (vv. 11-13)

There is entirely too much politics in the church today. Many times people are put into positions of authority because of their social, or financial standing rather than because of their spiritual standing. He is the one who gives gifts to individuals. We must stop acting like children (v. 14). Love should always make us tell the truth (v. 15). Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body (v. 16).

Paul names four types of gifted men that God placed in the Church (v. 11). They are Apostles, prophets, evangelists and Pastor-teachers. However:

There are no apostles in the church today as they had to have seen the risen Savior personally.
A prophet is one who proclaims the Word of God. In a sense all believers should be doing this. In the Old Testament church believers did not have Bibles as none had been printed yet, so His Spirit would share God’s truth through those possessing the gift of prophecy. The other two positions are desperately needed today.
The number one ministry of the evangelist is to stir up and cause the unsaved to think of their eternal destiny and the saved to be concerned.
The responsibility of the pastor-teacher is to lead and feed the flock.

Application

I need to recognize that God has a job for every born-again Christian to do and make sure I am doing my job according to the spiritual gifts He has given me.

Ephesians 4:7-16 (English Standard Version)

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