Ephesians 4:7–10
7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives. And He gave gifts to men.” 9(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
Focused Thinking: (Eph 4:7–10)
What is Paul addressing in verses 7–8?
Eph 4:1–6 discussed the unity of the church (1 Co 12:12–13).
Eph 4:7–8 discusses the diversity within the church (1 Co 12:4–11,
14–20).
What gifts did Christ give the church?
He gave gifted people to local churches (Eph 4:11–12).
He gave gifts to people (Ro 12:4–8; 1 Co 12:4–11).
When did He give gifts to the church?
8When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives and He gave gifts to men.
Each believer receives grace/enablement (Eph 3:2, 7–8) as Christ apportioned it (Eph 4:13, 16).
Each believer functions in the church by God’s enablement, proportionate to the gift (spiritual ability) bestowed on him, no more or less.
Who are the gifted people God gave to the church?
Ephesians 4:11–12
11And He gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
What are the gifts God gave to believers in the church?
Romans 12:4–8
4For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ and individually members one of another. 6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
I Corinthians 12:4–11
4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. 6There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9to another faith by the same Spirit and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10and to another the effecting of miracles and to another prophecy and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
What is the significance of Eph 4:8 being an Old Testament quote?
It confirms God’s giving of gifts. (Most scholars believe Paul was summarizing
Psalm 68.)
- The essence of the psalm is that a military victor has the right to give gifts to those who are identified with him.
- Christ, having captivated sinful people by redeeming them, is Victor and gives them as gifts to the church.
What was the purpose of Jesus descending and ascending?
10He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.
He is able to fill all things by giving gifted people to the church.
He is able to fill all things by giving gifts to people in the church.
Eph 1:22–23
22And He put all things in subjection under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The fullness of Him fills all in all through the church.
- What a beautiful and powerful definition and description of the church.
- What an awesome vision for the church.
Personal Application:
- We must redefine the church.
- We must mobilize the church.
It is about the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
- The gifted people in the church must equip the believers in their gifts (Eph 4:11–12).
- We must help people identify their gifts.
- We must equip people in their gifts.
- We must employ people to use their gifts.
- We must work incredibly hard at equipping and employing people to use their gifts.
- We must embrace a gifts test and stick with it.
- We must embrace a strengths test and stick with it.
- Is their anything more important to someone’s spiritual growth?
- Is their anything more important to the church’s mission?
Interactive Prayer:
Father, help us live up to the awesome calling of being “the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Father, erase the 20/80 principle in our church. We want more than 20% of the people doing the work of the ministry. We aren’t presenting true Christianity when we aren’t equipping our people to serve. Forgive us for the ways that we have unintentionally lowered the standard. Forgive us for the ways we’ve allowed the disobedience of the modern church to redefine the standard and expectations for believers.
Father, help us present the biblical vision for serving. Give us the personnel and resources needed to equip and employ our people. Our church is operating far below its potential. What could You do through us if our people had a vision for serving, for “the fullness of Him filling all in all” through us?
Father, that’s the vision of the church I want to lead. Anoint our teaching so that these types of truths anchor themselves into the hearts of our people. Show me how to write a doctrine of the church. Show me how to write a doctrine that paints a picture of the most beautiful bride in the world. Imagine how beautiful the bride of Christ can be when all the gifts and strengths of the bride are employed in loving people?
The church is the hope of the world. Nothing else can change the world. Nothing else can replace death with life. Father, we want to be the most attractive, the most loving, the most respectful, the most loyal and the most faithful bride ever. Help me and our church redefine church for this country and this generation. I pray that my greatest works for You are in the next forty years. Give me a double portion of Your Spirit to serve You and be used by You over the next forty years. Do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that I can ask or think according to Your mighty power that works in me and receive all the glory in the church forever and ever. Amen.
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