Freely Given, Jesus Gifts Us for Ministry

n our life was there ever a time where we felt like we are on an island and on our own? Was the circumstance in such a state that we felt no one could help us? That we are the only ones who could get through the mess. I am sure at some point in our lives we may have all felt like this.

In today's message Paul is addressing the Ephesian church to remind them and us that being God's servant is not the equivalent of being on an island all alone with no support groups around. His message encompasses this 'as God calls, God gifts us to do His will and to do the work He has called us to do'. There are two components that are important in Paul's message to the church: 1. through the gifts that God gives to us, the church will be able to sustain itself; 2. through God's love and the love we have for others the church will grow. By choosing to exercise your gifts given to us by Jesus, the church is built, it will sustain itself and it will grow.

When Jesus first descended from heaven as a deity this was God's gift to us. As part of God's plan Jesus had to die on the cross, be resurrected from the dead and then ascend back to the right hand of His Father sitting in heaven. If we believe one thing it should be this, God gifted us with the greatest gift imaginable, His Son Jesus Christ. The one who bore our sins and provided a path to our salvation and to the kingdom of heaven. Who else would have done this for you and me?

Paul uses the term grace as freely here in context in the message to the church. Paul reminds the church that if you are one in Christ and are using the gifts that Jesus has given to you, God will dwell in that house. Through Jesus and His grace we are given gifts to be used within the church. If God is dwelling in the house then the church will grow.

Growth of the church comes when we recognize the gifts that God has given to us and when we are obedient to use those gifts for God's purpose. We may not always see the full purpose of what God is doing but it is in our faith that we know whatever God is doing He is doing it for His glory. This is why faith in our Christian walk is critical. The word faith or a derivation of the word is used approximately 367 times in the bible from the book of Numbers to Revelation. Paul uses it in the book of Romans 40 times. Without faith we cannot believe what we cannot see. It is important to remember we walk by faith and not by sight.

Paul gives us a subset of the gifts that God has in building His church. Gifts are explained throughout the bible. For example in In 1 Corinthians 12, Hebrews, Romans, Acts, 2 Timothy and Ezekiel. These gifts are given to us from God through Jesus and all are used to Glorify God.

What Paul is defining to the Ephesians is some of the roles critical to church growth. He is not suggesting that these roles are any more or less important to the other gifts God gives to us as identified in other scripture. What Paul is telling us is this, God is not looking for stars, God is looking for those who want to do their best. To rely on God and Jesus to equip us with the right tools to execute our job. He has given a ministry to every believer and in all cases has gifted us through His grace.

My prayer is that we would seek God and seek the gifts that He has given to us. That we would have the desire to use these gifts in a selfless way to glorify our Lord and Lord. That our lives would dramatically change as we serve the one who deserves our full attention. That we would recognize God does not make mistakes and through our service we glorify Him who sits on the throne in heaven and we would be blessed abundantly knowing we have a seat with Him in the kingdom of heaven for eternity. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Amen! Amen!