The pre/free GIFT Ephesians 4:7-16 We all like something that is free right!!! We love it. You ever go to the supermarket when they are handing out the free foods. We used to have BJ’s which was similar to sams club in the east. We would go there once a month and we as kids loved it when it was free samples day we would just go from sample t sample and meet up with our parents later. It is awesome now you have to worry about being abducted and all. Today as we celebrate our graduates that have the world in front of them we look to what the word tells us about the gifts tat come from the Lord. Ephesians 4:7-16 The pre/free GIFT

“God never loses sight of the treasure which he has placed in our earthen vessels” Charles Spurgeon See too often as we enter the world, remain in the world, or get sucked in by the world we become blinded to the treasure GIFT that God places within us. SO LETS TALK ABOUT WHAT PAUL IS SPEAKING HERE TO US CONCERNING GIFTINGS

Sorry as a parent I believe that I hear the but a lot Sorry as a parent I believe that I hear the but a lot. also as a Pastor I her that word a lot. Like an apology and then there is always the but. Or yes this was my fault but. Don’t you love that when an apology comes and then the next word that comes from their mouths is BUT!!! Well this scripture comes to follow an entire chapter on unity then all of a sudden Paul says BUT What!!!!! WHY in the world is there a need for the word but 1. But

BUT- we are not just unified but also diversified Text BUT- we are not just unified but also diversified Unity of the Spirit is an ABSOLUTE The GIFTS (spiritual) given by God bring about diversity They are the subject of this passage

It is not a natural ability Every believer is gifted It is apportioned by Christ It is not a natural ability

Gifts that are given to build up the church Gifts that assist in witnessing and ministering Jesus provides the grace (strength, wisdom, courage, motivation, etc..) to complete the gift

The gifts came at a very high cost The gifts came at a very high cost. One that we may never hold the ability to truly understand. We too often put cost with a financial mount next to it. Yet this is not that. This is a very different kind of cost. 2. Cost

Cost- the picture of Christ giving gifts is dramatic It is a picture of an ancient king who has conquered his enemies Jesus gives the gift of meaning The picture is of a king victorious as he rides his white stallion across the city threshold and then his army battered yet hopeful behind him and then after that the captives A I turn of a battle that took much effort t complete and a reminder of enemy that is constantly after what is not His

The great enemy of man tries to alienate which results in emptiness Jesus provides us meaning Jesus provides us purpose Jesus provides us direction ALL THROUGH SPIRITUAL GIFTS SO IF GOD HAS GIVEN SUCH MEANING AND PURPOSE THAN WHY ARE SO MANY EMPTY BECUASE WE SEE TALENT AS THE REPLACEMENT FOR SPIRITUAL GIFTS WE SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT FULLY COMMITTED TO CHRIST WE SEE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT TRULY DENY ONESELF

REAL LIFE IS FOUND ONLY IN SERVIE GOD HAS ORDAINED IT SO

One who is sent out as as a representative an ambassador a person who is sent to another country to represent another country THREE THINGS ARE TRUE OF AN APOSTLE 3. Apostle

A. HE/SHE BEONGS TO THE ONE WHO SENT HE/SHE B. HE/SHE IS COMMISSIONED TO BE SENT OUT C. HE/SHE POSSES ALL THE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF THE ONE WHO SENDS HIM OUT

APOSTLE- NARROW AND WIDE USAGE It reminds us of the 12 apostles (narrow) In this passage it is referring to others who would reflect the calling of the apostles not replace them

Qualifications- in the narrow sense it would have been physically appointed by Jesus Christ In the board sense it is appointed by the gifting of the Holy Spirit for all believers This is not speaking of the gift of pastoring, being a prophet, rather the gift of an apostle

Every believers gifts have a three fold purpose

There is an immediate purpose for gift To equip others To build up the church To reach the lost The development of saint

There is an eternal purpose the apostle works to bring about a perfect unity among God’s people in each individual church To Sheppard people out of grumbling, gripping, and all other sins that militate against a perfect unity

the apostle works to bring about the true knowledge of Jesus Christ (our purpose) The apostle works to bring about maturity in one another

There is a personal purpose That we no longer be children That we remove ourselves from cunning and crafty men That we become aware of the schemes of worldly clever deceivers of the faith

that we grow up in ALL things Christ That we do our part in building the church

What else can be said?????????? 1. We should be challenged to look at the difference between giftings and talents 2. We should be challenged to examine the eternal weight of our giftings 3. We should be challenged to ok at the sacrifice made for us to have gifts 4. We should look at the heart of those attempting to destroy that