Prayer for All Members Based on Pastor Jared’s Message, May 8, 2022 Ephesians 4:7-16
Serving and Growing Together

Introduction: Having seen in Ephesians 4:1-6 our unity in the body of Christ, in these next verses we now see our diversity within the body. But our very diversity serves our unity and leads to our maturity:

1. We have different gifts. (4:7-10)

   But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” ...

   The grace here is ministry grace, grace to minister to one another. Our gifts are not for our enjoyment or edification alone, but to serve and to edify one another.

   The fact that Christ ascended means that He first descended: In coming down to earth He emptied Himself of His glory and then went even lower when He suffered death for our sake. Through His resurrection and ascension, He won over sin and death. As the conquering King He has gloriously given gifts to His people.

   Lord Jesus, thank You for Your generosity in giving us gifts out of Your great victory! Please help us to use them to minister to one another so that Your love and blessing may be seen in us.

2. We have different responsibilities. (4:11-12)

   And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ...

   Paul lists four gifts that were given to equip all the members of the church: apostles and prophets worked together to help establish the church within the apostolic age. The other two gifts, that of evangelist and pastor-teacher, extend through every generation. Their purpose is to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. Every member is needed. Every gift is needed. The church is an every-member ministry.

   Father, thank You that You have given us leaders to equip us. Please equip us through them and lead us all to serve the body with joy, knowing that every ministry role is valuable and needed.

3. The result of our unity and diversity is our maturity. (4:13-16)

   ...until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine...

   This passage tells us four ways maturity is demonstrated:

   • Christlikeness (vs. 13). Our number one goal is to know and become more like Jesus.

   • Sound doctrine (vs. 14). We need sound doctrine because we and our children and grandchildren

     are being bombarded by the falsehoods of the world.

   • Truth with love (vs. 15). We speak the truth in love, and pray, and trust God to do the work.

   • Contribution (vs. 16). When the members are all working together with their various gifts, it

     makes the body grow, building itself up in love.

     Thank You, Lord, that we can grow up together into You! Please show us how to use our gifts to serve one another and reach our full potential in You.