Sermon: Every Christian is a Minister Ephesians 4:7-16

Sermon: Every Christian is a Minister  Ephesians 4:7-16

 

 

One Way Christian Center is a Reformed Baptist Church, located at 605 E. 6th Street in Olustee, OK close to Altus, OK and Altus AFB.  

  

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 By: Bryan Walker Given on: 5/20/2018  Sermon plays on KWHW 93.5 FM on: 6/3/2018

 

Notes

 

• • This Psalm is a victory Psalm
  • Speaking of Yahweh, Jehovah, Elohim, God
    • • There are many places in the NT where God is quoted as Christ
        • • Paul uses this phrase to show Christ is God
          • Another example of the Trinity

• • 1.  The grave, 2.  Hades or Hell 3. Throne to the Earth
    • • Opt for #3 – the battle was won on the cross
      • However, the victory parade occurred after the ascension
  • This Psalm is about a God won victory
    • • Christ’s victory was on the cross
        • • Christ won the victory over the Devil, sin and death
          • Soldiers would pass out gifts after a great victory
          • Psalm said received gifts, Paul said gave gifts
            • • Roman soldiers, gifts and spoils of war
              • Ascension – we share in His victory
  • Simplified
    • • Christ came down
      • Christ ascended victorious
      • He equips his church to accomplish its mission
      • Christ has the power to give gifts to whom he will
      • Christ is God in the flesh
      • Exalted far above all the heavens
        • • We serve a mighty God
  • Important Paul quotes a text that clearly defines Christ as God

• • • • He has given us the MEANS to walk worthy of our calling
        • • We have ample provisions
          • We should not be weak because our LORD is great
  • Notice it is Christ who gives gifts
    • • He equips us for our ministry
        • • He calls us
            • • We need not pressure people into a ministry
              • Needs are great in a small church
              • But the need and the calling are two different things
              • The means to fulfil our needs is great
  • Music ministry
    • • Need – so videos on an old TV
        • • Scott & Leah had the calling for music
          • Josh was sent to us
          • Piano, now we also have Kristen

• • We [each one of us] are Gifted by Christ to do something
    • • This is measured out, given out by Christ
      • This is according to Christ AND from Christ
        • • All have some gift or some way to contribute to the body
          • You might not know it yet.
  • We all need to go to the next level – Not always
    • • We mature but we don’t always change ministries
      • Covet another person’s gift and not use your gift
      • The key is to be humble, and serve the body
  • Don’t be consumed with what others have.  
    • • Are we constantly looking for another office?

• • And he gave – To the everyone in verse 7, AND he gave
    • • He also gave these for us
      • The Word of God through the Apostles
      • All the great preachers, all the local preachers and teachers
        • • I can’t name all of the people I learned from
  • What is the common thread here?
    • • apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers
        • • All centered on teaching & preaching the word of God
            • • Not fund raisers? Not events, not market suveys, not coffee shops in the church, not on the meals…
  • All ministries are gifted to us
    • • We don’t decide to do a ministry
      • Did you call yourself or did Christ call you
      • We see this in the parable of the talents
        • • Given to each according to his ability.
          • They did not decide to go get talents
            • • What happened to the one who hid his talent?
                • • ‘You wicked and slothful servant!
  • Did Christ call you or have you been asked by one of us
    • • The needs are great
        • • We must not sit back and do nothing
            • • But we must do what we are called to do
      • Our ministries are not handed down, you dad, and grandfather…
        • • There are many who should not be in the ministry
  • What is the purpose of these offices

• • Every member is a minister in some way
  • My job as a pastor is to minister to you to equip you
    • • Not for passenger work
        • • Trips to PA – I drive everyone sleeps
          • This is not a bus with sleeping passengers
  • You are to be equipped for what? 2 things

1. 1. 1. For the work of ministry
      2. For building up or edifying the body

• • Are you a saint?  Then you are to minister to each other
    • • The whole premise of this section is Christian UNITY
      • Serving each other’s needs
        • • Sometimes being served but also serving
  • Building up what, the body of Christ
    • • Look around, the body of Christ
      • Who is responsible for church health?
      • Starts with the pastors and teachers
        • • They must be teaching the Word of God
          • Next, church health resides with the saints
  • The body analogy is UNIFIED and ALSO diverse
    • • Many members make up one body

• • Unity with diversity –
    • • A puzzle with all the same pieces.
      • A color painting with just one color
      • Not all members and gifts are equal but all are important
        • • All serve a function

• • He is comparing an outward part like a hand and a private part
    • • All parts are important
      • Not all parts are the same
  • Why have we been gifted?

• • In once since we are already in unity
    • • We have a basic unity in Christ
      • We don’t have full unity of the faith
      • Baptist, Presbyterians, Armenians and Calvinists
  • We lack a full knowledge of the Son of God,
    • • We unify in the truth of Christ
        • • This knowledge brings us to maturity
            • • We are to grow and develop

1. 1. No longer children
   2. Grow up

• • Children lack stability
  • Difficulty focusing – on the Word
  • Children are selfish
    • • It’s all about me
  • Children are all knowing
  • Don’t like authority
  • Don’t like to work, we must make work fun
    • • Think of the modern church
  • Companionships are childlike vs. mature
  • Children are easily deceived
    • • tossed to and fro
      • We guard our children
      • The deceiver is active
      • What would you do if you saw a van pull up to your child? candy
  • Children lack the understanding of gifts
    • • They play with the paper and the boxes
      • As we mature we begin to understand the gifts of Christ

• • You are ministering to one another…
  • What do you do when your fellow Christian falls for false doctrines
  • What do you do when they embrace sin as a lie?
  • What if someone is being led astray
    • • Do we say nothing?
        • • Do we mind our own business?
          • Don’t judge?
      • Speak the truth in love
  • Sad thing is too many don’t know enough to speak truth
    • • How can you speak the truth if you don’t know the truth?
      • Do you know what you believe?
      • Do you know why you believe what you believe?
      • Do you know it well enough to explain it to others?

• • Each part must work properly
    • • Each person is a part of the body
      • This takes work and effort
        • • Children don’t like work, we must mature
  • The whole body suffers when one part is not working properly
    • • One little disc in the back, can shut a body down
  • The result of everyone working together is growth
  • The growth occurs in love
    • • Love is shown through actions
  • We are not to act like children
  • We must grow up in Him
  • Everyone is a minister and everyone needs ministering to