Ephesians 4:1 (NKJV) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
I. Everyone is called to
1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV) As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Ephesians 4:12 (CEB) His purpose was to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ
1. Walk worthy of your calling
Ephesians 4:2 (NKJV) With all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love
1) Proper attitude towards self
2) Proper attitude towards others
Ephesians 4:3 (NKJV) Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
2. Walk in – Endeavoring – laboring, first response
Ephesians 4:4-6 (NKJV) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
3. Walk in the resources God provides
1) Power
Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 4:7 (NKJV) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Ephesians 4:7 (GNT) Each one of us has received a special gift in proportion to what Christ has given.
2) Grace
Ephesians 3:7 (NKJV) of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV) As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Zechariah 4:7 (NKJV) ’Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!
3) Gifts
Ephesians 4:8-10 (NKJV) Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Conquering Hero God Almighty Jesus the King
Comes Home Victorious God ascends Jesus ascends
He leads the captives He leads the captives He leads the captives
Receives/gives gifts Receives/gives gifts Give gifts to the church
Ephesians 4:11 (NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
II. Some are called to minister to the
1. We have direct access to God
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
2. There is no such thing as a higher calling just a calling
1) The church is a living organism
2) The church is an organization
3. Paul mentions some of these gifts to the church
1) Apostles
2) Prophets
Acts 15:32 (NKJV) Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
3) Evangelists
4) Pastors and Teachers
4. Theological challenges that need to be considered
1) Office titles were not consistently used
2) Overlap in the function of different offices
3) Additional offices were created and changed as the church had need
1 Timothy 5:17 (NIV) The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
4) Ultimate authority shifted away from human leaders to the Scripture
5. Conclusions
1) Apostles like Peter, James and John are not around today.
Ephesians 2:20 (church) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
2) An apostolic anointing is still available today
3) The prophetic anointing is still available today
4) Titles are irrelevant; what counts is God’s calling, God’s gifting, and good training.
Ephesians 4:12 (NKJV) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Ephesians 4:12 (CEB) His purpose was to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ
III. Those called to minister to the ministers are to train the ministers for
1. Equipping the saints for ministry
1) Ministry to God
2) Ministry to each other
3) Ministry to the world
2. Edifying the church towards Maturity
1) Maturing the saints
2) Unifying the team