The Pastor is a Gift to the Church (Ephesians 4:8-12)

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by

Robert Piña
in

Introduction: In this lesson we see that God gave gifts unto me for a specific purpose. 

I. He led captivity Captive– Ephesians 4:8 -First “he led captivity captive” and then “gave gifts unto men”. Before Christ could give gifts unto men, this had to take place. 

I Corinthians 15:1-3 Here we see how Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day. What did Christ do as he was dead? 

After the Resurrection of Christ- Matthew 12:40 “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”. 

  • Luke 16:19-26 two areas in the heart of the earth “Abraham’s bosom / paradise Luke 23:43 and Hell, separated by a “great gulf fixed”. When a “believer” died at that time, they went to Abraham’s bosom until there was a full atonement for sin, and Christ died and shed his blood. 
  • Christ was in the heart of the earth for three days- I Peter 3:19 preached to the spirits in prison (hell). I Peter 4:6 
  • Jesus Christ died and descended into the lower parts of the earth for three days preaching. After three days, Jesus rose from the dead, spoke with Mary in John 20:16, and ascended to the Father bringing those in paradise to heaven. Jesus then returned to meet his disciples in John 20:19 that same day. 

II. Gave Gifts unto Men– Ephesians 4:11 The gifts that were given here are men specifically.  Paul said in I Corinthians 12:1 “not to be ignorant concerning Spiritual Gifts”. Christians today can be ignorant concerning Spiritual gifts: is there such a thing, where do those gifts come from, to who were those gifts given to, etc. In looking at these gifts of men, given to men, we will start with those gifts that are not used anymore and which don’t really concern us, then to go on with those that apply to us today.

Apostles- Matthew 10:1-10 Apostles were given in time past and are no longer active today. These were given at a different time for a different purpose, “he gave them the power” to show forth sign gifts to an unbelieving Jew primarily- I Corinthians 1:22 “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom”. 

  • Vs 1- Power against unclean spirits, cast them out. 
  • Vs 1- heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease- with a touch. 
  • Vs 6- But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 
  • VS 8- Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils.
  • Know This- If someone today claims to be an Apostle, they are not a Biblical Apostle. The signs of the Apostles ended after the book of Acts, (the Acts of the Apostles). 

Prophets- Prophets spoke and did exactly what God told them to speak and to do. Today, we have the Bible fully written and we no longer have prophets whom God speaks to individually and privately to share with everyone else. 

  • Hebrews 1:1-2 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds”
  • Jonah the prophet who was swallowed by a great fish was a man who eventually preached what God wanted him to preach. Jonah 1:1-2 “Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” Jonah 3:3 “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord”. 
  • Know This- If someone today claims to be a Prophet, he prophecies about future events that have already been written down in the Bible, not something that is not in the Bible and whom no one knows about- II Peter 1:19-21 “we have a more sure word of prophecy”. 

Evangelist- Evangelist in scripture preached the gospel in many cities. 

  • Philip the evangelist- Acts 21:8 “Phillip the evangelist” 
  • Phillip the evangelist preaching to the Ethiopian eunuch- Acts 8:26-40 
  • Preach the Gospel- Romans 10:14-15 
  • Evangelist today are mostly missionaries and church planters. 

Pastors– Also known as Elders/Bishops in the Bible, these are men called by God to be overseers of a local congregation- I Peter 5:1-3. Pastors and Teachers are One. 

  • Vs 2- Pastors feed the flock. Spiritual food. John 21:15-17. 
  • Vs 2- Pastors shouldn’t do it by constraint. In other words, out of duty, because “I have to” instead of doing it out of love. Because I want to be a help to others. 
  • Vs 2- Pastors shouldn’t do it for the money. A preacher that does it for the money is a “hireling” according to John 10:11-14. 
  • Vs 3- Pastors are an example. “neither as being lords”- not as a dictator. 
  • Pastors are Men- I Timothy 3:1 “This is a true saying, if a MAN desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work”. Vs 2 “the husband of one wife”. 

Teachers– Having the ability to instruct believers in the truth of God. To help Christians be rooted and grounded in doctrine, reproof, correction. 

  • Teaching and Preaching are Different- Acts 15:35 “Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also”. Teaching goes to the head and preaching goes to the heart. 
  • Teaching correct Doctrine- Romans 16:17 “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them”. 

III. The Purpose of the Gifts/ Pastor – Ephesians 4:12 these three things take place in a local church when the Pastor preaches and teaches the Word of God. 

For the Perfecting of the Saints- Men preach and teach the word of God and the saints are perfected by the Word of God. To be perfected is to be complete, whole, not lacking. It doesn’t mean to be sinless. 

  • II Timothy 3:16-17: 
  • Doctrine- What is right. The teachings of the Word of God. 
  • Reproof- What is wrong. 
  • Correction- What to do when wrong is done. 
  • Instruction in Righteousness- How to do right. 

For the Work of the ministry- Ministries grow from a local church and are an extension of the local church. God uses Christians to be a part of a certain ministry that are specific to this local church. Ministries are not just one person doing something, it is a church collectively participating. 

  • There is a work in the ministry that has to get accomplished and the Pastor is to equip the saints to do work. It’s not only the preachers Job to reach the lost and help people that are in spiritual need. 
  • I have to prepare you to serve Christ- Matthew 28:19-20. 
  • Teach Sunday school, VBS, Nursing Home, Hospital visits, passing out tracts and NT Bibles, giving to missions, praying others.  

For the Edifying of the Body of Christ- (Build Up). Every member makes up the body of Christ. As every individual member grows in these things and in their knowledge of Jesus Christ, the body is built up, that is edified. 

  • I don’t want to keep back anything that I know from you. I want you to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Ministering to others in the body of Christ edifies others in the body of Christ. 
  • We will not be built up if there are divisions, cliques, murmuring, grumbling, griping, jealousy, and pride. Those things are selfish and edify the person instead of edifying the Body of Christ. 
  • Ephesians 4:3 “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. 

Conclusion: God has gifted Pastors to the church in order to perfect the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ. If I do my job right, you will the necessary equipping to go and do it yourself.