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well good evening welcome back to the Lord's house for this evening sat worship I'd like you to turn your Bibles please for a call to worship to Isaiah chapter 40 Isaiah 40 we began reading the first 11 verses this morning - to begin worship so we'll finish the chapter of Isaiah chapter 40 12 to the end who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure weighed the mountains and scales and the hills in a balance who has directed the Spirit of the Lord or as his counselor has taught him with whom did he take counsel and who instructed him and taught him in the path of justice who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of understanding behold the nations are as a drop in a bucket and are counted as the small dust on the scales look he lifts up the Isles as a very little thing and Lebanon is not sufficient to burn nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering all nations before him are as nothing and they are counted by him less than nothing and worthless to whom then will you liken God or what likeness will you compare to him the workman moulds an image the Goldsmith overspreads it with gold and the silversmith casts silver chains whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution chooses a tree that will not rot he seeks for himself a skilful workman to prepare a carved image that will not taught her have you not known have you not heard has it not been told you from the beginning have you not understood from the foundations of the earth it is he who sits above the circle of the earth and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in he brings the princes to nothing he makes the judges of the earth useless scarcely shall they be planted scarcely shall they be sown scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth when he will also blow on them and they will wither and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble to whom then will you liken me or to whom shall I be equal says the Holy One lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these things who brings out their hosts by number he calls them all by name by the greatness of his might and the strength of his power not one is missing why do you say Oh Jacob and speak Oh Israel my way is hidden from the Lord and my just claim is passed over by my God have you not known have you not heard the everlasting God the Lord the creator of the ends of the earth neither faint snore is weary his understanding is unsearchable he gives power to the weak and to those who have no might he increases strength even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with Eggman with wings like eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint amen well please turn with me in your hymnals to him number 380 380 I'll ask you to stand [Music] [Music] [Music] we're asked is blessing upon our time here tonight our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father is that how that hymn writer the last verse says that all praise shall never never fail throughout all eternity father we come here this evening through your son the Lord Jesus Christ to praise you to worship you we know father this will be the activity for all of eternity to be a worshipper of the triune God Father Son and Holy Spirit how grateful we are Father for the salvation that is ours through your son to Lord Jesus Christ we are grateful for the fact that that has that that penalty for sin has been paid for that debt has been forgiven and we are right with you this night because of the Lord Jesus Christ how grateful we are Father for that salvation that cost the Lord Jesus Christ his very life blood he died so that we might be saved so we would not have to die for our own sins lord may we never grow tired of that may we truly be be blessed and built up in our most holy faith as we consider that the blessedness of the gospel as we were reminded that this this morning in this morning's worship worship hour in preaching our Lord we praise you for that gift and we pray that we might it might be a precious gift that each one of us who are saved who are in Christ safely in Christ and folded in Christ that father which really would awake every day with with Thanksgiving on our lips for our salvation that we would go to bed at night grateful for the fact that we are right with you that father you are a gracious God you are a merciful God and you look down with great mercy upon us and saved us from our never from art from her from our sins how we praise you father that you have also redeemed us so that we would not we would not remain but rather father you have sanctified absolutely would put on good good works that we might demonstrate that we truly are one of your children by good works so Lord we pray that your blessing would be upon this evening service that we would learn of Christ that we would be taught of Christ that we might leave this place made and molded and fashioned after the image of your son - Lord Jesus Christ we pray Lord that you would remove all distractions from us cause us Lord - to to hear your word here this evening with without distractions within and without distractions from without bless pastor Patrick because he brings the word we pray that you would strengthen him father to stand here and declare faithfully the the the word of God that you have laid upon his heart two to preach to us this evening so every do pray that spirit of the Living God might come and attend the worship service at Lord you would take that word and that you would be pleased to bless it and open it up and may it be truly manna from heaven spiritual manna from heaven that would fall upon fall upon us this night and we would be benefited beneficiaries of that word as it's opened up and as the Spirit of God causes it to to take root in each one of our hearts father we do pray your blessing this night to be upon the church in in Surrey as well we thank you for them we pray Lord that you would be pleased to own the Word of God as it's preached in that place this night continue to add to that group as many as are to be saved father we do pray that they would be a growing church and that you would be pleased to do bless them with unity and and office-bearers in the future as well we just commit them into your hands and pray Lord that you would be pleased to to own that worship service there this evening and also the church in Vernon father we continue to pray that you would bless them as they meet together cause them Lord to to be to be a group that would be that that would be under that that lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ that you'd be the head of that church as well be with them in decisions that they make in the future as well in regards to direction of future we pray Lord that you would be pleased to do to give them unity and give them clarity in their thinking and we do pray Lord that in due time they too would have an elder amongst them who would be their their pastor and that one who would come alongside and edify and build up and and be an encouragement to that congregation so Lord bless them we do pray and and add to their number as well we do pray Lord we ask your blessing to be upon the missionary enterprise all over this earth father we know that there are people who are laboring in some small fields some large fields some unknown to man but known to you we pray Lord that you would encourage each and every one we think of those who who labor in the Far East the santiago's and the compeers and and the Hamiltons and father others that are known to you how we pray that you would be pleased to bless them bless them with wisdom each and every day as they as they seek to do to be wise in the way in which they would conduct themselves we pray Lord that that word that Word of God would go forth from from their lips and to the to the groups and they work with and we pray Lord that you would multiply that work and that you would cause it to be a protected work and the Lord you would you would be please do - - to cause the many - to join and that the gospel would continue to spread across that great nation we think of those in in in in Cuba as well father we do pray for the for the Perez's that you would bless them that caused that the Word of God to go across that island an island that certainly the government is no no friend to Christianity and no friend to - to the Church of Christ yet father you are growing the church there across the island of Cuba and how we praise you for that father we pray that you would be pleased to continue to to give strength that to those pastors and and others as well unknown to us but known to you we pray Lord that there would be a a sweeping across that island of Cuba just a true a true gospel gospel bearing churches and that father you'd be pleased to bless and and own the Word of God on that island we pray Lord your blessing to be upon ourselves now in this hour we pray that you would be pleased to to to Tabernacle here amongst us give to us your spirit we do pray Lord and we pray that we would be worshippers of you and it's in Jesus precious name we pray amen well please turn with me in your hymn books to him number 280 280 and again I'll ask you to stand in worship [Music] amen you may be seated I'm please turn with me in your Bibles to the last book of the Old Testament Malachi as we finish finish out the the the Old Testament here enough in a few weeks Lord William I'm gonna begin chapter 1 of Malachi and just a historical context it was written around 460 BC during the the time of the the exile zazz they were returning to Israel under Azra and Nehemiah that's the the historical context for the book of Malachi well let's read chapter 1 the the burden of the Lord sorry the burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi I have loved you says the Lord yet you say in what way have you loved us was not Esau Jacob's brother says the Lord yet Jacob I have loved but Esau I have hated and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the Jackals of the wickedness of the wilderness sorry even though Edom has said we have been impoverished but we will return and build the desolate places thus says the Lord of hosts they may build but I will throw down they shall be called the territory of wickedness and the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever your eyes shall see and you shall say the Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel as son honors his father and his servant his master if then I am the father where's my honor and if I am a master where is my reverence says the Lord of Hosts to you priests who despise my name yet you say in what way have we despised your name you offered to filed food on my altar but say in what way how we defied you by saying the table of the Lord is contemptible and when you offer the blonde as a sacrifice is this not evil and when you offer the lame and the sick is this it is it not evil offer it then to your governor would he be pleased with you would he accept you favorably says the Lord of Hosts but now in shriek God's favor that he may be gracious to us while this is being done by your hands will he accept you favorably says the Lord of hosts who is there even among you who would shut the doors so that you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain I have no pleasure in you says the Lord of hosts nor will I accept an offering from your hands for from the rising of the Sun even to it's going down my name shall be great among the Gentiles in every place incense shall be offered to my name and a pure offering for it my name shall be great among the nations says the lord of hosts but you profane it in that you say the table of the Lord is defiled and it's fruit it's food is contemptible you also say oh what a weariness and you sneer at it says the Lord of hosts and you bring the stolen the lame and the sick thus you bring an offering should I accept this from your hand says the Lord but cursed be the deceiver who has in his flock a mail and takes a vow but sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished for I am a great king says the Lord of hosts and my name is to be feared among the nation's well certainly Malachi here he's he's he challenges the people of God the people of Israel was with careless and and ultimately heartless worship they were entering into worship but it was a heartless worship it was like it was a careless worship and God had had bountifully benefited his people he had brought them back into the land they were to rebuild they were to kind of in a sense start over again and what a great benefit that could have been theirs that should have been theirs that ought to have been theirs but because God ultimately he does benefit us with many many good favors he he sends favor upon favor upon a favor I guess our response or an application we might ask ourselves is all the good things that God sends our way do we enter into those things carelessly do we enter into those things heartlessly are we here this evening heartless in our worship careless in our worship or are we here because we want to be here we truly want to be thankful to the earth a thankful people thankful for our salvation passenger brother spoke just a few weeks ago one of Paul's prayers I believe it's through the Ephesians was for thankfulness that they ought to be a thankful people and that's something that I guess we all need to ask ourselves are we a thankful people because if we're here out of habit out of out of just normality but not that not being a truly thankful people to God then I guess were reflected in this first chapter of Malachi and shame on us and we ought to have dealings with God too to recognize that that ought not to be the way we come before God we ought to come before God as a truly thankful people thankful for our salvation thankful for the benefits that He bestows upon us day upon day upon day blessing upon blessing upon blessing and they if we if we have not been a thankful people to let's confess that to God and let's be a thankful people in the week ahead be a thankful people in this in this worship services evening for for the fact that we get to enjoy our salvation that has been we've been we've been given salvation by Christ and let's be a thankful people and let's worship with with with genuineness and and heartfelt this in our in our worship to God this evening let's pray and then we'll sing one we're human our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father we do confess to you but father you know our hearts and you know where we are at each individual here this evening and how we praise You Father that you are God who does forgive and you are God who is full of great mercy we pray Lord that you would forgive us when we do not worship you with with with a heartfelt religion with heartfelt desire we pray Lord that you would be pleased this night to to own the worship and cause us this evening father to be here because we want to hear your word off opened up we want to sing our praises our and our worship worship songs and hymns to you with grateful hearts we praise you Father for your spirit that your spirit is a winning spirit it does it does cause our hearts to beat after the things that that are spiritual and so we pray Lord that you would be pleased to this night bless us in our worship caused us to offer up our very best and we pray that in the in the week ahead as well that that we would be a thankful people every day we rise and have have have breath in our lungs that father we would be grateful to you and and safety and health and strength throughout the day as well as just knowing that we are that we are Christ in Christ as ours may that truly put a smile on our face and give us great joy in the here and now and in our daily living we do pray bless pastor Kirkpatrick as he brings the word very shortly be frail o that you would just embolden him embolden your word and we pray that he would know the Spirit of the Living God to come upon him and come upon your word and we pray Lord that you would be pleased to own the preaching and cause it to be for your for your for your worship and for your adoration and for your glory say and we do pray these things in Jesus precious name Amen well please turn with me in your hymn books for the last him to him number 458 458 and again I'll ask you to stand [Music] Amen you may be seated we call pump massacre Patrick well good evening everyone you can turn with me in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 4 fusions for we're gonna look at verses 7 through 16 this evening but I will begin reading at verse 1 to set the context Ephesians 4 begin reading at verse 1 I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called with all lowliness and gentleness with long-suffering bearing with one another in love endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace there is one body in one spirit just as you were called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all but to each of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift 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 by that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth he who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all things and he himself gave some to be apostles some prophets some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the Saints for the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect demand to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ then we should no longer be children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting but speaking the truth in love we may grow up in all things into him who his the head Christ from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies according to the effect of working by which every part does its share causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love amen well let us pray o Great God we're thankful for the ascended Lord Jesus Christ that he is at your right hand he lives to make intercession for his people thankful that he is our great High Priest through whom we have access to you O God we're also thankful that he gave gifts to his church he sent men to his church he gave gifts and we're thankful O God for these apostles and prophets and evangelists were thankful for pastors and teachers O God whom you set apart whom you appoint for the preaching of your word to equip the Saints in daily life for the building up of your church in the edifying of your new creation temple Oh God we're thankful this is done by the work of Christ he is our source he is our strength and he does this by your spirit oh God and by the Spirit of Christ and so God even as we gather here tonight we do pray that you would equip us for the daily grind in the daily life that we battles that we face in the daily life we pray O God that you be with every preacher who engages in the work of ministry and O God we do pray that we would all work together for the edifying of the body of Christ that we would know what the preacher is supposed to do what the ministry looks like but we also know what we are supposed to do as believers as well that we would be faithful O God that we would love the things that you love that we would love our pastors that we would love search that we would love the things that Christ loved even the church as he gave himself up for her we confess oh god that we are sinful we confess Oh God that we are selfish we confess that we do not love these things as we should and set up ourselves in front of these things for these things are easy to neglect but o God forgive us wash us in the blood of Christ we're thankful that Christ dying on our behalf dies for all our sins past present and future but o God even now help us ask the new creation people to live in a way that is pleasing to you to live in light of the gospel to live in a manner that is consistent with your word O God and so God tonight we pray that you would strengthen your saints tonight help us to grow in unity help us to bear with one another help us to put up with one another help us to endeavor to keep the unity of the bond of peace O God for there is one Lord one faith one baptism one God Adam father of our Lord one in God one God and Father whose Lord over all and through all and in all we're thankful O God that we do have this unity that we come from different backgrounds we are united in the Lord Jesus Christ and O God we pray that we would seek to love Christ seek to resemble Christ seek to grow in maturity like Christ O God and we know that we cannot do this on our own you call us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling we know God it's you who works enough in us both to will and to do so god we pray that you would sanctify us by your spirit caused us to grow in grace and knowledge cause us to be built up o God that we would know truth that we would from from deceit Oh God that we'd be able to spot false teaching but also that we would love one another and care for one another put away lying put away laziness put away our anger Oh God and we know that your spirit helps us in this you help us in this through the preaching of your word so god help us to love these things help us to grow in these things we do pray O God if there any here tonight that you would save them but that you would show them their sins show them they are not any of these things that they are that they are wretched and sinful O God that they might look to the Ascended Christ look to him and leave Oh God and we know God you are mighty to save but we do pray in all things that you would be glorified when we pray these things in the name of Christ amen when we come to chapter four of the book of Ephesians it opens up a new section chapters one through three deals with the new creation people we see the work in Salvation Father Son and Holy Spirit endeavoring to save a special people even the plan of it before the foundation of the world then we see the supremacy of Christ in chapter 1 verses 15 through 23 he is the one who has been raised he's the one who makes his enemies a footstool according to Psalm 110 and he is at the right hand of God the Father and he will fill all in all and we see the riches of God's grace in chapter 2 how old we were dead in our trespasses and sins God is rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us though we were dead he made us alive together in Christ Jesus then Paul goes on to spend the rest of chapter 2 in chapter 3 to talk about the mystery revealed that is Jew and Gentile United together Jew and Gentile brought together as the one people of God as Jesus builds the one temple of God with Jew and Gentile and then in Chapter four we begin this next section the the application section living as the new creation people what does it look like to be part of the resurrected body what his resurrection life actually looked like what does it mean to be part of the new creation he unpacks that for us in chapters 4 through 6 he begins by charging the Ephesians to walk in unity to bear with one another to endeavor to keep the bond of peace to seek unity with one another because we have many things in common though we come from different backgrounds one body one spirit one hope one Lord one faith one baptism one God and Father we see brother and we live on the other so we live on the wrong side of heaven still we still struggle with sin we still have sins that we deal with and sometimes we don't keep the unity we don't bear with one another we don't put up with one another because the reality is we are going to sin against one another that's why he says bear with one another because people are going to sin against one another even the Church of God even the people of God and really what he's saying for us and perhaps the overarching application with this section as he wants his people to grow in maturity and the flip side is or the problem is that we're not mature in the faith the flip side is we're toddlers in the faith and that's actually the language he uses in the verses there for us in verse 14 we are toddlers in the faith we are think we are mature but reality we are children still and one of the ways that we can evidence this or one of the ways that this comes about sometimes in the evangelical church is we view the church as the outlet for our gifts and I mean gifts with the air quotes the air quotes are on purpose because we're going to stick with bringing gifts and the spiritual gifts that are found in the scriptures sometimes we think the church is the place where we can have an outlet and do our thing the one thing we're good at the one thing that we can show everybody how awesome we are that's not what the church is brethren you see we need to grow and we grow by the gifts that are given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ and the ascended Lord Jesus Christ who causes us to grow through diversity there is unity in diversity he talks about there's unity with many different gifts that he does give and we'll talk about those true gifts as we go through and really in verses 7 through 16 Paul wants to show that Christ's gifting of the church was to bring about unifying truth-telling lives basically the unity that all supposed to have through the diversity of gifts is that we might all grow in grace that we might all be edified that we might all look like the Lord Jesus Christ that we would all hold fast to the truth live in light of the truth and tell the truth so let me ask you this question as we go through are you mature are you mature person in the faith and will seek to answer this under three headings this evening first of all the gift of Christ in verses 7 through 10 secondly the gift of ministry in verses 11 through 13 then lastly the gift of unity in verses 14 through 16 so the gift of Christ the gift of ministry and the gift of unity let's first look at the gift of Christ in verses 7 through 10 andrade oasis but to each one of us grace was given you see there's a wordplay here to tie in with the ones we see in verses 4 through 6 to each one of us to each one of us a grace was given a gift was given highlighting that there is some sort of unity in or diversity in unity not everyone is uniform not everyone is the same but we have the same lord same God same faith and the basis for our unity is found in the fact that we've all these things in common but that doesn't mean there aren't gifts given to the church each one of us grace was given notice according to the measure of Christ's gift now I think Ephesians 1 through 3 does unpack what those gifts do look like sometimes gifts aren't us doing certain things with our abilities sometimes gifts and spiritual gifts refer to the gifts of salvation justification brethren is considered a gift isn't it faith is considered a gift isn't it repentance is a gift given to us and even sanctification is a gift given to us so in Ephesians one through three that's the focus it's Christ's work of salvation in us and he further amplifies it here for us in verses 7 through 10 now when it comes to our sanctification there are sir in gifts that people do possess and gifts given for the advancement in our sanctification but we'll talk about that when we get to verse 11 but notice to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift Christ is the one who gives these things he goes on to demonstrate and show the power of Christ in verses 8 through 10 and he uses an Old Testament text to defend this or to explain this first aid therefore he says God or God says or the scriptures say when he ascended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men this comes from Psalm 68 you can turn with me in your Bibles to Psalms 68 this is the text that Paul has in view it's a psalm of David and it's speaking about the divine warrior specifically Yahweh as that divine warrior the one who triumphs for his people the one who goes on conquest for his Old Testament people and he perhaps the focus is on the Ark of the Covenant and the Ark of the Covenant as it progresses throughout Israelite history until it comes to a certain place until it comes to time where it rests in Zion so you see the call for the divine warrior in verses 1 through 6 then you see his might and strength in verses 7 through 18 but specifically in verse 17 the chariots of God are 20,000 even thousands of thousands who Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place he goes on to saying that after the holy place referring to Zion you have ascended on high you've led captivity captive the language is this precession of the ark as it travels up the mountain towards the temple as Yahweh is making his way to his home making his way to his temple as he's going to finally dwell on a specific building in a specific place for the people of Israel you have led captivity captive you have received gifts among men even from the rebellious that the Lord God my dwell there amongst his people and the rest of the psalm even goes on to talk about the procession of the king as he enters in to his sanctuary but notice the reason he enters into his sanctuary is because he ascended on high and he led captivity captive military language you see the Lord Jesus does go on conquest doesn't he we can't forget that when it comes to the work of Christ and the attend the the cross work of the Lord Jesus he does go on conquest to defeat sin he does go on conquest to defeat the devil yes substitution is front and center but we can't forget that he's a king and that he's a king who's going on to earn something and to go on war and warfare for his people because Christ truly is that divine warrior he comes he lives he dies he rises he ascends that all speaks of Christ as a king doing a going on conquest defeating his enemies and this is what Paul even says in Ephesians 1 15 through 23 this is a prayer that they might know God all the more and one of the things that he wishes they know more about God is the power the mighty power even the way he explains it the exceeding greatness of his power toward him who believe he can't even really put into words the exceeding mighty power of God which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead but not just raising for him from the dead but seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all powers that's what principalities and powers might Dominion above every name that is named not only in this age but also in that which is to come Christ is that mighty warrior and even Paul goes on to explain further in verses 9 through 10 back in Ephesians about the work of Christ now this he ascended what does it mean but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth I think what he's referring to here is his burial you see if it was just about his incarnation we wouldn't need the part where says lower parts within other parts of the earth if Christ just came in his incarnation and he wouldn't need that extra edition there for us but the one who ascended did he not first descend do you not first come down in the incarnation but part of the reason he came in the incarnation is to die he see the whole work of Christ is in view for us even the focus is on the ascension but one of the reason that Christ descend is because he first came and died and was buried he who first ascended what does it mean that he also first descended but he who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens tying with what he's already said already there is no power like the Lord Jesus there is no king like the Lord Jesus there's no might like the Lord Jesus that's why he says in Chapter 1 the exceedingly great mighty power of God it's just like saying it on and on again to try and describe God's power and this is what Paul wants us to see he who DS ascended is the one who first dissented now he is the one who was ascended far above Christ has defeated the cause of enemies and Christ now is sitting in his temple as the divine warrior your diffusions is all about brethren temple building and specifically the new creation temple isn't not what Paul says in 221 as he talks about Jew and Gentile being brought together in whom the whole building being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord in whom you are also being built together for a dwelling place of God in the spirit or even when it comes to Trinitarian work of God Father Son and Holy Spirit perhaps in the background there is Zechariah 613 where he talks with the council between the father and the son the father and the son specifically the branch and Yahweh and one of the things the branch and Yahweh are doing is building the temple that those who are afar off might come in and so really Ephesians is about the temple building specifically the church which is the new temple part of the true temple in the Lord Jesus as that new temple is being built up in Christ and so he goes on so when he talks about the ark ascending in Psalm 68 to Mount Zion he's ascending to the Old Testament temple now Christ has ascended as the true Ark to fill the new creation temple brethren isn't that what he says that he might fill all things and what does that mean when he says he fills all things I think it ties in with what is said in 319 again another prayer of the Apostle Paul he says to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you might be filled with all the fullness of God well that still doesn't explain it yet for us but I think 1 23 22 and 23 does and he put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the church which is his body the fullness of him who fills all in all so filling all at all here brethren refers to the presence of God in the new creation temple specifically the church and even the rest of the context is going to bear that out for us as or the rest of the verses are going to bear that out for us as Christ builds his church and fills his presence with certain gifts in that church because he truly is Yahweh of old even than Psalm 68 it is Yahweh in the context and Paul's bringing it to bear forth that Christ is God and he is the one who's ascended on high who first descended that he might fill his church so even Christ even though he's ascended and even the key theme of unity is still at play here for us because of verses 1 through 6 the source of any unity amongst the church is from the Lord Jesus Christ you see this when we get some practical implications for the Ascension of the Lord Jesus again we talk about the resurrection a lot and we should we can't forget the Ascension as well see there's something special in redemptive history with Christ missing in his humanity yes in his divinities everywhere present there's something special about his humanity being at the right hand of God the Father I said this morning yes it's a pledge in heaven but also it's the fact that in redemptive history the Spirit would be poured out and so the fact that Christ descends on high it's so that the Spirit might come that we might have that he'll pour amongst us and I just had that helper amongst us it's also that Christ might give gifts to his church though he's in heaven he still gives gifts on earth that he might fill all in all though he's at the right hand of God the Father so any unity we have and he gives given for that unity and he growth and he edification amongst the church is still from our source the risen Lord Jesus Christ who is at the right hand of God the Father so that's the gift of Christ let's then look secondly at the gift of ministry in verses 11 through 13 now notice who the gifts are the gifts are men and he himself gave some to be apostles some prophets some evangelists and some pastors and teachers Christ at the right hand who's gonna do the work he raises up men to do the work on earth Christ is doing the work through those men but he raises up men that they might be gifts to the church see brother I think that's what spiritual gifts referred to even in first Corinthians 12 in Romans 12 I think in play and I probably could be wrong but a lot of commentators especially the older Puritan boys speak of the fact that first Corinthians 12 in Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 are talking about the word based ministry and for specifically men who are appointed to that ministry think about it for a moment in Romans 12 we talks about the gift of giving and generosity isn't every our art every member isn't every member supposed to be generous aren't we all supposed to be giving are we all supposed to be you know you're giving to Christ Church according to various texts in Scripture I think what's in view in Romans 12 there is perhaps the diaconate that they might think to what they might think about giving liberally that they think who might need a certain gift and I think the same is also in 1st Corinthians 12 as well I think the offices are very much in play there but if they're not there it's especially true in verse 11 of Ephesians notice these are special offices not just the general membership he himself gave apostles prophets evangelists pastors and teachers I think the first three referred to the officers of the universal Church that is not just one local body but their officers of the entire church apostles God raised up certain men that they might be the foundation for which the church would grow in advance and you guys are seeing that in the book of ant acts as we see Christ give the apostles that that that task of is spreading the gospel from Jerusalem Judea Samaria to the ends of the earth but also to at that are the prophets I think the prophets here doesn't necessarily refer to the Old Testament prophets I think it refers to New Testament prophets I think that's what Paul has in view in 220 when he says built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets yes the Old Testament prophets are important I'm not denying that but I think the New Testament prophets are in view here as they help build the church I think AG Abbas is a good example of one of those prophets acts 13 gives us a list of certain prophets they were ones who were set apart in an extraordinary way that's a key difference between these Universal offices versus the local church offices in the offices we still see today they were called in this special way they saw the risen Jesus Christ they were probably the throne in heaven according to the prophets they weren't that's why the apostles and prophets are no longer today even if someone says I'm an apostle I'm a prophet ask them did you see the risen Lord Jesus did you get caught up to the counts room of heaven if they say no they are not an apostle and prophet that was for a special time a special place for the advancement of the church for the advancement of the kingdom of heaven and yes we are still under their authority because they wrote the Word of God but there are no longer abiding today but they are gifts given to the church and he also goes on to say some evangelists now perhaps this could refer to modern-day missionaries that's possible but again a lot of the older boys view it as more of a special type of ministry set apart you see the language only found in two other places in the scriptures fill up the evangelists not fill up the disciple but fill up one of the seven but I think you're gonna learn about very soon in Acts chapter 8 when he speaks the Ethiopian eunuch he's considered an evangelist and also Timothy in 2nd Timothy four or five Paul says do the work of an evangelist they were helps to the apostles they went around in region to region that they might set up and plant churches so these ones were very important for the advancement and gifts given to the church so I perhaps that's why I view them as universal offices again I'm not going to die on that maybe they're modern-day missionaries that could be the case but I don't necessarily think so then he goes on to say these other men were given some pastors and teachers now I think the two go hand-in-hand I think pastors are sub set of teachers there's a debate whether there are different things or the same position might not be mutually exclusive but I think they're perhaps very tied and close together these are the offices of the local church men who are raised up at a specific place like Chilliwack to be a pastor in a specific area that they might preach the Word of God and what's wonderful is Ephesus seems to get the brunt of the question of what that looks like acts 20 when all the language of Pastor teacher yo Shepard all those things are used in one chapter to talk about the one position of a pastor elder teacher all those things at Ephesus first Timothy 3 Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus that he might give and set apart guidelines to what elders pastors teachers actually look like so Christ himself gives these ones and notice these ones are gifts they're not self-appointed men God raises these ones up yes it's not wrong to have a desire for those things but the church needs to recognize those gifts as well I think Paul in Ephesians 3 1 through 13 he brings us up that he is Apostleship is been given to him as a gift and we saw that this morning in 1st Corinthians 15 it's not just grace in Salvation but grace and his Apostleship as well he is not these ones are not self-appointed Paul is not self-appointed so Christ gives men as gifts in a lot of ways pastors can joke that they are God's gift to the church because that's what the Bible actually says when it comes to pastors and teachers and God raised up these men or Christ gives these men for specific purposes and we see this in verses 12 through 13 now verse 12 there's a lot of debate on what's going on here in verse 12 I think for the equipping of the Saints , for the work of ministry , for the edification of the body that is is it the pastors and teachers doing the work of ministry or the pastors and teachers equipping the Saints for the work of ministry I think they are three coordinate the sayings going on your descrying what the pastors must do that is the pastors have been set up for these three things one for the equipping of the saints I think the equipping of the Saints is gonna bear out further what this means when we get to verse 14 and the language very much has to do with being prepped for battle being prepped for the daily warfare that mites come and we'll unpack that when we get to verses 14 15 and 16 and I think there's a comma here that knew the old King James gets this right by having that comma there God gave these ones these men for the work of ministry I think there are two reasons or two things we can draw from the language of ministry here one it's a service based calling ministry it's not meant to be lorded over it's not meant to be look how cool I am it's not meant to be that sort of thing it's meant to be as dr. Alberto pastor Albert Martin says it's born out of right motives but also that I think ministry here doesn't refer to everything that goes on in the church I think ministry here refers to the preaching of the gospel the proclamation of the truth so that the gospel might be heard might be proclaimed that the Word of God in its full counsel might be proclaimed from the pulpit and that requires faithfulness of certain men who are gifted to do so and then he goes on to say for the edifying of the body of Christ and again the language is of building up temple language once again tying in to what's said in 2:22 as the body of Christ the temple is built up God as Christ has given these gifts that the temple might grow and one of the ways it does grow as we see in verse 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 basically God has given these gifts that we might grow in maturity that we might resemble the Lord Jesus Christ in one of the ways we do that is to come together buted in the faith I think the faith here does refer to a dark a body of doctrine truth given to us we must all hold fast to a certain truth and he does sort of give you know the base for that in verses four through six but not only that that we might come to the knowledge of the Son of God referring to this kingly identity referring to the Incarnation referring to his deity all these things brought together the fact that he is the son of God and what's beautiful is that there is unity and diversity in that different men preach the same Christ different men preached the same faith that there might be unity in diversity with different men so that as we study these things as we ponder the Lord Jesus and why is it that we ponder the Lord Jesus because he was a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ the language of perfect man here does refer to maturity like growing up the hope is that as children grow up from different ages and different stages they might get be given more responsibility and like demonstrate some maturity Christians are supposed to do the same when it comes to the Christian walk sadly that doesn't happen sadly we don't grow sometimes but we are called to grow in maturity and were called to resemble the Lord Jesus Christ in that maturity isn't that what he says he says a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ that is Christ is our example Croy we can say that yes Christ the one who saved us but even in our Christian living what is it meant to look like we are meant to look like Christ right in the endeavoring to walk in the unity of the spirit the bond of peace we are all walking to try to resemble the Lord Jesus Christ as he is our first born and you see as we Christ as Paul says he is the only mature person he is the only one who was mature as SM vos says he is the might maturity by which all Christian maturity must be measured as the fountain and standard of the new human race in the new creation inaugurated in the first born this is why Christ has given these men that they might preach him that they might damn it that they might be ambassadors for him preaching the message if you want to come hear Jesus come on Sundays and hear the word preached that you might grow that you might be equipped that you might grow in unity and that we might all grow in maturity so that we see here very clearly the purpose of ministry and the purpose of ministry is to bring unity now this truly is a big major worldview shift especially in light of evangelicalism maybe not so here but very much so in other churches and perhaps they hear me saying this to be like what are you talking about because Christ sent gifts that you might equip the Saints for the work of ministry that is this this every member ministry and Sally it doesn't mean I've remembered doing what Christ says it really means it's an outlet for my special gift isn't that what it is you have this special gift here you serve in this area you have that other special gift to serve in that area but the church is not an outlet for your gifts yes we're going to talk about what every member must do when we get in the next section and the rest of Ephesians talks about that when it comes to the work of ministry only certain men are set apart in the specific calling and office for that the church is not an outlet for your gifts and I again air quotes with the gifts because that's really not about edifying the church it's really about how I look with my special gift isn't it it's really how cool I look standing at the front playing on the worship team it's about how cool I am serving in this area it's how great and awesome I am in many other areas sometimes I haven't even heard of the various ministries because people have to make them up so that people might actually they have to do they fulfill what so wrong in my opinion view of verse 12 becomes selfish becomes self-centered if you are good at art that's fine you have Monday to Saturday to do your art and if you want have an outlet for your art you'll buy a space and you'll rent out a gallery for a while and show it to round two people maybe people come in and buy it but the church is in that place for that or music if you're good at music wonderful but Monday to Saturday is the primary outlet for that it's not a place for you to bang your bongo drums because you know that's the outlet that you have for it and the reason I think of bongo drums is I just remember being on a worship team sometimes and the guy who couldn't really do anything was given the bongo drums I know that's mean to say and that's mean to bring up but that's typically the view okay he's not good at anything let's give him the bongo drums and we'll turn his mic down so nobody hears it we see the church isn't the place for that is it the church isn't the place for outlet of gifts it's the place for the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ the proclamation of the word of God that we might grow in unity this is why we need preaching and this is why we need to you with the other ministry as a gift and you pastors as a gift do you view your pastor as a gift brethren do view your pastor as a gift sent by God and you treat him as such because he is a gift given to you and without him you would not grow perhaps as me as well as you maybe are yes God would raise up other men but God has raised up a wonderful preacher for you to administer to you certainly corporately but privately as well with the Word of God do you value him do you love him and you pray for him and view him as that gift so the purpose of ministry is not about us it's about the gospel of Christ and yes I will deal with the general office of what every believer must do we should do mercy we should be giving we should caring not saying we shouldn't share the gospel with our friends and family first Peter three right you know be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you when it comes to the actual structure of the church it's very clear what Paul says concerning what it is about and it's about the Ministry of the gospel and the ministry of the word of God so that's the gift of ministry let's then look thirdly and finally at the gift of unity in verses 14 through 16 he goes on to further describe what's or the results of having these gifts given to us a lot of things to unpack with what the gifts do for us but verse 14 deals with protection he says that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men you see how is one edified one is edified by hearing the truth of God how does one grow in maturity one grows by hearing the truth of God and by hearing the Word of God why that we might be equipped and when we are equipped for the battle I think it means two things especially in the context here I think it bears out the equipping of the Saints is not for the work of ministry but for the daily grind you see being equipped or equipping of the Saints so we might be prepared in the marketplace of religion that someone who comes along and says there's no resurrection from the dead we go uh-uh that ain't true or perhaps at the time that they were living and perhaps someone came along and said Christ didn't actually come he just appeared to come or perhaps someone else might say you know what the only way to earn your salvation is by working it's really not of Jesus at all why do we need to be prepped for that because the gospel hinges on that and so even in Titus 1:9 when Paul is speaking about what pastors should do he talks about how they must give instruction in sound doctrine and be ready to refute those who contradict it and so one way that pastors help equip the Saints that they might know the truth and be equipped to deal with those two our false teachers and doesn't he go on to talk about these men these ones who come in there cunningness tossed to and fro in the language of to-and-fro here is that storm language we see it in acts 27 when the waves and the boat is just carrying along they have no control that's really what he's saying what he's saying is if we know the truth we have God who's in control and we know what's being said we're not meant to go to and fro with every wind of doctrine that comes our way that we might not be swayed that we might stand firm he goes on to say these ones we're by the trickery of men the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting the language here is very much loaded dice that's the actual thing that he has in mind there's actually the word we get for cube someone who you know rolls those dice you always gets a favorable you know your role that's what's going on men who come want to trick the people of God sometimes and Paul wants them to be unguarded that they are equipped but I also think equipping of the Saints refers to the daily grind of the Christian life and Paul unpacked that for us in chapter 4 chapter 5 and chapter 6 he goes on to talk about the armour of God that we might stand firm you see brethren if we have a job that's 40 plus hours a week and we got to go Monday to Friday 8 to 4 8 to 5 or 7 to 5 or whatever your hours actually are that's tiring and then you have a wife and child you gotta cook you got to come home and play with your kid and make sure they're doing well all that we'll try not to sin all that will try to live a godly way in trying to raise and guide your family and those things that takes up a lot of time not only that that there's spiritual warfare going on in your own heart where you're battling certain sins and you have to care for your family and then you have to come on Sunday to which is a glorious break and hear the word of God preached and drag your kids there or you'll make sure they're marching you know skipping along the way to church all those things are hard how do we have time for other gifts that we can not have best in the church that's where we should see our growth that's what we should grow that's what we should be doing it's being equipped for sanctification that we might be prepped along the way that we might pray that we might run from lust that we might run from you're clocking out or you you know stealing money that we might run from anger that we might run from coveting who we might run from lying that's what we need to be equipped to do because that is so much harder that is so difficult and we need God to help us along the way so we are protected by the preaching of the word but also tying with what we've already said verse 15 maturity continues but speaking the truth in love we may grow up in all things and to him who is the head who is Christ you know how to be a Christian you know how to be a solid member tell the truth know the truth and then tell the truth speaking the truth in love with one another if someone's in sin we might have say brother you sinned or if you've sinned against a brother you might have to go say brother I sinned against you our sister you might have to say those things to one and I actually you know you eat our words and be humble and say we're sorry we must grow in maturity and that is maturity telling the truth in love speaking the truth in love notice that we might grow up in all things into Christ again that we might resemble Christ the church might look like Christ that we might love one another that we might look like the head and we might grow up in all things into him who is the head of the church that's the task of all believers speaking the truth in love but then he goes on to say and speak of unity in verse 16 yeah unity is the focus throughout you know beginning at verse 1 be draws it together further in verse 16 notice from whom the whole body joined and nicked together Christians are still called to serve one another are called to care for one another Christians are called to speak to truth together in love I even think in 1st Corinthians chapter 12 we see in verses 20 through 31 Paul speaking about what members should do and then in verse 27 he goes on to speak about you know the various offices but one of the things he says in chapter 20 a chart chapter 12 verse 22 no much rather those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary when those members of the body which we think to be less honorable on those we bestow greater honor and our and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty but our presentable parts have no need but God composed the body having given great honor to that part which lacks it there should be no schism in the body but the members should have the same care for one another if one member suffers all the members suffer with it but if one member is honored all the members rejoice with it and he goes on to talk about how our some are apostles prophets teachers and the various gifts so we are still called to serve and care for one another we're still called to be model Christians what's sad today is sometimes people aren't fulfilled in their current vocations I think the ministry is gonna fill that void yes it's good if you have that desire not kibosh in that but to say the ministry is gonna fulfill your void that you do not that you have this big hole in your heart because you think you need to be in ministry sometimes what's happened today brethren is we've gone back to the Middle Ages and what I mean by that is we have this distinction being the secular job and the sacred job it's not wrong to make that distinction but the problem is when we view one higher than the other when we view the ministry higher than the actual jobs you know the day to day jobs and other people engage in there's dignity in good solid hard labor and work in different other vocations they're not one is better than the other some men are just gifted in other places you might not be gifted in the ministry and you think okay I'm having a tough time in this job here the ministry is gonna fulfill these things probably not but you see the point is we shouldn't distinguishing the sacred we shouldn't have that superiority view of the sacred work of the ministry there's very much dignity and all those other jobs think about the men who built the Tabernacles Bezalel and Ohio God filled them with the Spirit that they might work with their hands and there's dignity in those jobs you see you're not called to have your life fulfilled you're called to work hard you're called to love God in your vocation you see God's will isn't all razzle-dazzle but it means working hard it might not mean you're seen at the front it might not mean you serve in that sort of way but one of the ways to serve Christ church is to be a model Christian and to be a model member be a hard worker be a good example of a good husband or wife be a good example of a child or parent being an example of an employee or employer don't skip out if you're an employee employer and don't you know be lazy if you're an employee that's where we see you we can see you being a model Christian and not just that when it comes to the Church of God first of all we need to join the Church of God membership is a biblical thing brethren if you are not a member anywhere you need to repent and join a church because you're really not joined to Christ Church and really you're outside really of the realm of true protection because church discipline does not have any teeth does it when one is not a member someone's not a member you can't really excommunicate someone Kenya you can't bring discipline on someone can yeah but the Bible is clear with respect to membership it is a biblical thing and if you are not joined to a Church of Christ you should join a Church of Christ but not just join up show up you see we always want to do the big thing and use our gifts somewhere in that sort of thing usually this one happens people complain about their gifts not being used they want other things but they don't attend the things we already have do they we have two services we have Sunday school and prayer we have Bible study yes I get work is hard on a Wednesday night I understand that or a Tuesday night I understand that I get if there are other things involved you know providentially hindered I'm not denying any of those things I'm talking about if you're just sitting at home that's kind of the stuff I'm talking about and whiny and grumbling and playing there's nothing else when there's plenty of things to attend you just don't attend those certain things and then if you join up and show up then maybe we'll talk about where your gifts actually potentially lie but really the gifts are really or they what you're supposed to be doing is just being a model citizen citizen or modeled heavenly citizen and even he talks about this berry putting up with one another when someone sins against you you forgive them you're probably Mike you're not being very forbearing with people who don't join the church who aren't you know showing up when they should yes you're right I'm really sorry about that we should be more patient what's the point when we come together we're gonna sin against one another Christians are gonna hurt one another and we're called to bear with one another and my favorite rendering of that word is put up with put up with that person the world sometimes says I'm not going to put up with that guess what Christian you must put up with that and then he goes on to unpack these things further as he goes through he goes on it you unpack that further when we get to verses four I'm sorry throughout chapters four through six but he does say in verse sixteen being jointed knit together like a body that's the language it's ligament language Christ is the head we're part of the body where the ligaments all joined together by what every joint supplies according to the effective working by which every part does it share and every part doing it share is that she'll joining up showing up giving praying being part of the Lord's Supper according to acts 2:42 that's what members are supposed to be acts 2:42 so that it causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in if every part does its share and he unpacks these things the every member focus throughout the rest of the chapter and the section verse 25 therefore putting away lying let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor for we are members of one another Christians lie to one another be angry and do not sin do not let the Sun go down on your wrath or give place to the devil Christians get angry with one another let him who stole steal no longer but rather let him labor working with his hands what is good that he may have something to give him who has made work hard and he goes on to talk let no corrupt word I don't know that Lesley means swearing that could be part of it but what it means is building up encouraging language encouraging your pastor but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace for the years don't grieve the spirit don't be bitter and wrathful and anger and have anger and clamor and evil speaking but let that be put away with you from and from with all malice but be kind tender-hearted forgiving one another even as Christ forgave you walk in love walking light walking wisdom thing goes on to give specific relationships husbands wives parents children employers employees how the basically the basic Christian relationships should manifest the things we see in chapter 4 and chapter 5 that's what every member should be doing seeking to look like Christ as they are able in the vocation that God has given you with the family that God has given you so brethren are you mature are you growing do you value the ministry do you value the word base minister do you value the Lord's Day not because of the men in the pulpit but because yes you value your pastor but because of the one who appointed those men do you value it simply because Christ values it do you love the church because Christ loves the church how can you not love the church when Christ died for it and do you seek to be a model member if you are a member do you seek to do what first wear acts to says do you devote yourself the Apostles teaching do you give I think fellowship there ain't shooting the breeze I think it's talking about giving their the languages found elsewhere like that do you break bread that is do you prioritize the Lord's Supper and do you pray that's what members are supposed to be doing and members hopefully as they do those things will begin to evidence maturity in the Grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ who the great gifts that have been given by God so believers grow in grace value your gift the gift given to you namely your pastor value the ministry value growing in maturity and seek to be model members if they're any unbelievers here tonight the charge for you to be a model member isn't the charge for you your charge is to think about the fact that perhaps you are perhaps that you do lie perhaps that you are angry perhaps that you do not work hard because of those things that would damn you to hell for ever but there is a fountain there is a Lord Jesus who went on conquest to die on behalf of his people and I hope that you are one of his people that you might look to him through faith you might believe on him and have that gift given to you that you may believe on Jesus who ascended on high who is the Son of God who is raised from the dead if you look to him you shall live if you look to him you shall have life and if you look to him you shall be part of the people of God part of that new temple that new creation temple knowing that your sins are forgiven let us pray our Great God we are thankful that you do give gift to your church after Christ ascended on high we're thankful guy that these are men that you have given to your church or thankful God that you appoint these men through your calling these pastors teachers or a thankful God for our pastor we're thankful for pastor Butler and pastor Porter we're thankful to God for these faithful ones who preached your word day in and day out week in and week out help us to love them and value them oh god help us to value the ministry help us O God to love your church as Christ loved the church help us to love the things that you love help us to live as model Christians we know that we fail in this often Oh God we know that we are not mature help us along the way we do ask you to help us to put off the old man and put on the new help us O God to live in a way to walk in love to walk in light to walk in wisdom to be model citizens Oh God - to love one another and care for one another put up with one another we know that this is hard for us O God we're thankful that you do give gifts to your church to help us in this so god help us along the way encourage us to walk in a way that is pleasing unto you O God and we do pray that in all things you would be glorified we pray these things the name of Christ amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation when the pianos finished you are dismissed you