How do we reach our destiny?

—Ephesians 4:1–16 (pt6)

First where we are up to:
Earlier in the series I talked about being “united with Christ”
If we fully grasp this then it will have a big impact on us
- What have we to fear—we are secure
- Illustration of the large ship that went down

Ephesians falls into two halves
Part one (chs 1-3) explains the truth, tells us what reality is about
Part two (chs 4-6) tells us how we should live by this truth
Closing part 1 is a prayer
“No prayer that has ever been framed has uttered a bolder request.” (J. A. Robinson)

For this cause, I bend my knee to the Father
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named

To him now, who is able to do beyond measure above all that we ask or think
to him be glory, in the church, and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I therefore encourage you, I, the prisoner of the Lord
to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called
with all lowliness and gentleness
with longsuffering, bearing one another in love
that we migh no longer be infants
but rather practicing the truth in love
we may grow up into him in all things
who is the head, Christ

2:2	in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
2:10	For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
4:1	I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
4:17	Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
5:2	And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
5:8	for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
5:15	Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

striving to preserve the one-ness of the Spirit
in the bond of peace
one body
and one Spirit
even as you were called in one hope of your calling
one Lord
one faith
one baptism
one God and father of all
who is over all, and through all, and in all (things)

until we all arrive
at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God
at the complete/mature/perfected human
at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

But to each of us was given grace
according to the measure of the gift of Christ
And he gave
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers
for the equipping of the holy ones
for the work of serving
for the building up of the body of Christ

continue

If a Roman commander was spectacularly victorious in winning a war, they would be granted what was called a “triumph”
- This is how Paul is picturing Jesus’ return to heaven.
- There would be an incredibly lavish procession
  - with carts full of captured gold and silver, and captives from the vanquished enemy
- They would enter the city through a gate only open for such an occasion
  - The crowds would go wild, showering the commander with flowers
- There are records of him throwing out money into the crowds
- Finally he would reach the centre of the city and be crowned with glory and honour
But in Paul’s story, we are the captives in the procession behind Jesus
- But what are these gifts he gives to mankind?

A few months ago I had an operation to investigate a problem
Afterwards I met with the surgeon and he said “While I was in there I had a good look around, but I didn’t see any problems”
Can you imagine if he said “You’re quite a bit lighter now Andrew, because while I was in there I saw quite a few things that I didn’t recognize—I couldn’t see what they were for so I removed them.”
- Can you imagine how delighted I would have been?
This is what we have done to the church!
- Jesus tells us the church is a body, both locally and globally
- He has designed the body, he knows how it works
But most of the time the church tries to function with just the gifts of a few people
- That is why very often it is a mal-functioning body
- I believe Jesus has always given these gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers
  - But the church has not received or understood this gift
- And this is why this message is so important
What if you are not following Jesus yet
- You are not part of this body,
- But you so easily can be
  - What do you have to do to become one of Jesus’ captives?
  - You have to surrender
The irony is that as we surrender to Jesus, we have true freedom
- Paul boasts that he is a prisoner of Jesus
- He then uses the same basic word to describe the unity of the Spirit as the bond (chains) of peace
All of us have something to offer!
- Let us use it so the rest of the body is not lacking anything