Ephesians 4:7-13
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.” 9 (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.) 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
I believe with all my heart that Jesus had and still has a divine plan for His Church. He did not leave the Church without direction, leadership, or provision. Through His ascension, He gave gifts to men for the building, governing, and equipping of His Church.
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declared:
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [g]prevail against it.
Jesus is committed to building His Church according to His own plan, pattern, and purpose and so He gave gifts to men.
GOD IS A GOD OF ORDER AND PURPOSE
God never does anything randomly. Everything He does is intentional, purposeful, and perfectly planned. Throughout the creation account in Genesis, after each act of creation we repeatedly read:
"And God saw that it was good."
Everything God does reflects His character, excellence, perfection with absolute intentionality. There has never been anything that God does without purpose When God appoints men and women, He does so with specific plan and purpose. When He gives gifts, He does so with purpose.
From Genesis to Revelation, we see this truth, God builds according to His pattern not man’s pattern, not man’s ideology, not for man’s glory, but for His. When He gives instructions, He expects us to build exactly as He has shown.
NOAH: BUILDING ACCORDING TO GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS
When God instructed Noah to build the ark, He provided detailed specifications regarding its size, structure, and design.
Genesis 6:14-16
14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.
God did not simply tell Noah to build an ark; He told him exactly how to build it. Noah's obedience to God's pattern preserved humanity and fulfilled God's purpose.
MOSES: BUILDING ACCORDING TO GOD'S PATTERN
When God instructed Moses concerning the Tabernacle, He provided precise instructions regarding every aspect of its construction, worship, priesthood, and service and then God said to Moses in - Exodus 25:40
And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.
God was specific about, the design of the tabernacle, the priesthood, the furnishings, the sacrifices, the anointing oil and the order of worship. Finally, we are told in Exodus 40:16
"Thus, Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did."
And again, in Exodus 40:33-34
"So, Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."
When God's house is built according to God's pattern, God's glory fills the house. When the Church of Jesus Christ is built according to His specification, the 21st century Church will experience the glory and the power of God just like the early Church did.
BUILDING ACCORDING TO GOD'S PATTERN
Every time we obey God’s instructions and build according to His divine order, we experience His manifested presence. Likewise, when the ministry gifts listed in Ephesians 4 function effectively, they energise, strengthen, and mature the Body of Christ.
The Five-Fold Ministry is essential to the growth, health, and effectiveness of the Church. For the Body of Christ to function powerfully, these gifts must not only be recognised but also released. If we only recognise and not release, we do not get the fullness of God’s manifold plan for His Church.
Being:
- THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY
- THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST
- THE UNITY OF THE FAITH AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD
- A PERFECT MAN
- THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST
When people say to me these things are not possible, they make the word of God of no effect. God has made His grace available to us all, so that we can become A PERFECT MAN and WALK IN THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF FULLNESS OF CHRIST. The issue is not God’s ability it’s our agreement with God. When we align our words with His Word, grace flows. When we accept impossibility, we block what grace wants to accomplish. Many of us have listened to men of God who have said but we are humans we can never be perfect, so my question then is why did God put it in His Word. Because He never intended us to achieve it by human strength- But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN
Jesus has determined to build His Church according to His design. He has given every believer a measure of grace so that every believer can operate in the gifts He has given.
He gave gifts to men. Not only did He give gifts, but He also gave grace according to the measure of each gift. Every believer has been given a gift and Grace to operate in that gift. Whatever God has called you to do, He has also given you the grace to accomplish.
BELIEVING A LIE
One of the greatest lies of the enemy is convincing believers that ministry is reserved for a select few. As a result, many Christians remain dormant, uninvolved, and unaware of their divine calling.
The truth is that every believer has a part to play in the work of God's Kingdom. Including you, do not exempt yourself. The truth of today is that the Church must recover and rediscover the heart of Christ. His heart for people, families, communities, souls, the gift of Christ to the Church, is to bring unity and purpose to the body.
Paul says in this passage of scripture about maturity –
Ephesians 4:14-15
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
There has been too much immaturity in the church today, people jumping from one man of God to another, People chasing prophecies instead of pursuing Christ. There has been too much of debates and arguments instead of building and edifying the Church. Immaturity has weakened the Church, scattered believers, and created confusion. This is not the Church Jesus is building.
It is time to reclaim everything the enemy has stolen and step into God's purpose for His Church.
Ephesians 4:16
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.
Ephesians 4:16 is Christ’s design for the Church
1. Joined and knit together, with no competition, but complimenting one another.
2. Every joint supply and contributes to the needs of one another in love.
3. Every part does its share, everyone actively involved, serving and building not spectating or criticising.
4. Seeing, discipleship, growth and maturity in every area of the Church as we serve in love.
5. Edifying one another in love, we influence the culture and people will see and declare that these ones have truly being with Jesus.
These ministry gifts, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers were never given for entertainment, decoration, titles, or spiritual hierarchy. They were given for equipping, building, uniting, and maturing the Church of Jesus Christ.
I pray that as we explore these gifts throughout this month, a divine shift will begin to take place in Word of Life Church to the glory of God. I pray that there will be a shift in our maturity, our unity, our service to God and people, our spiritual effectiveness, our hunger for God, moving and flowing in our high calling, in Jesus’ name. I pray that God will begin to stir up something fresh about His Kingdom in our hearts in Jesus’ name.
We have all been graced with gifts that come from God. Activate your gifts today in Jesus’ name.
