Temple Baptist Church - 4-15-2026
Ephesians 4:4-16
Introduction: “Diversity of Gifts” Ephesians chapter four is an important one as it speaks of Church gifts that are both partial or passing and gifts that are permanent.
A. As long as our Lord walked on this earth, He personally took care of His people. He guided them; He comforted them; He protected them; He fed them, etc.
1. It is no wonder that, in John 14, He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled!” He was going away, and they thought that they were being left to fend for themselves.
2. I am glad that such was not the case. The Lord will never leave us alone to walk through this present evil world. God gave to the believers the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, individual gifts, and gifts to the local church.
B. When our Lord resurrected, He did two things that are listed in verse 8: He led “captivity captive” and “gave gifts to men.”
1. He brought out of Abraham’s Bosom all of the redeemed from Adam to the resurrection. Now the saved dead are with the Lord in heaven.
2. Secondly, He gave gifts—both individually and corporately—to those who remained after His resurrection. We found lists of gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 8, and Ephesians 4.
C. We have been discussing gifts of the Spirit given to individuals. Tonight, I want to look at the purpose of the gifts given to the church corporately.
1. Passing gifts were the Apostles and Prophets (foretelling). The Prophets and Apostles were passing gifts given to the early church until the coming of “that which is perfect,” the Word of God. They received divine revelation from God, and both gave it as they were “moved by the Holy Ghost,” incorporating it through the establishment of local churches.
2. The Apostles were foundational in nature. There were only 12 apostles, with Paul being the 12th, because Judas Iscariot was set aside.
a) They were foundational in building the New Testament Church. Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
b) The Apostles were not the building. They were the foundation upon which the building was built. Once the foundation was laid, their work was done and did not need to be repeated or continued. Their foundational work is eternally established in the foundation of the New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
c) The Apostles had to witness the resurrected Christ. (Acts 1:21-22, 1 Corinthians 9:1)
d) The Apostles had to be personally commissioned by Christ.
e) The Apostles were given the authority, through the Holy Ghost, to establish both churches and doctrine.
f) The Apostles were uniquely qualified and non-repeatable.
3. The Prophets. Ephesians 3:2-5 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: (3) How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (4) Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) (5) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
a) The Prophets, before the completion of the Scriptures, were given divine revelations that confirmed and communicated truth not previously known. These Prophets foretold events in the absence of a completed Scripture that we can sit down and read.
b) We now have a completed revelation, and prophets are no longer necessary. Such prophecy today would be extrabiblical revelation and would, of necessity, be added to our now-completed Bible.
D. The Lord also gave permanent gifts to the local church: evangelists and pastor-teachers. I want to look at them individually.
1. The Evangelist. To bring glad tidings, to preach the Gospel.
a) In our day, the word “evangelist” has taken on an unbiblical meaning. When we think of an evangelist, we think of a man who preaches revivals in local churches. Biblically, I believe these men are “Revivalists.”
b) The biblical evangelist is the missionary! These men are of utmost importance to the local church and to the world. In order to obey these great commands:
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
c) Evangelists, called missionaries, are essential to carrying, preaching, and teaching the Gospel to those the local churches cannot reach.
2. The Pastor and Teacher. One and the same man! Though punctuation is not inspired, it is right here. Learn English.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Semicolons mark the end of one thought and the beginning of another. “apostles;” “prophets;” “evangelists;” Now, look at pastors and teachers. There is no semicolon between “pastors and teachers.” The word “and” ties two equal things together in English.
a. Simply stated, the God-called pastor is also a God-called teacher. This is clarified in 1 Timothy, the first of the Pastoral Epistles, where the qualifications of the “bishop” or pastor are given.
1 Timothy 3:1-2 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
b. The value of the pastor-teacher is obvious in verses 12-16.
1) You find the perfection of the saints! Vs. 12 The word perfecting means to be “completely furnished.”
2 Timothy 3:14-17 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (fully equipped)
2) You find the work of the ministry! Vs. 12 Winning a lost world to Christ is not my job! It is not your job! It is OUR job!
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.
3) You find the edification of the local church! Vs. 12 The use of the word edifying, in relation to the local church, means architecture or to fitly build the church.
Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Everyone has a part in the work of the church so, if you are not doing anything, a part of the work goes lacking.)
4) You find the unity of the faith! Vs. 13 By faith, Paul meant the fullness of the Scripture. It is more than just salvation; it is much more than just doctrine; it is the fullness of the Christian life!
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
5) You find the fullness of Christ! Vs. 13 As full of God as you can get; as full of the Holy Ghost as you can get!
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. (So filled with God that you overflow in the presence of a lost world.)
6) You find the protection of the doctrine! Vs. 14 Not susceptible to false doctrine. Knowing what the Bible says and being able to recognize and spiritual enough to avoid false doctrine.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
7) You find the fellowship of love! Vs. 15 Charity covers a multitude of sins! If you love me, you can both tolerate and live with me.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
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