11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (Eph 4:11-12, NKJV).

Here we find the divine plan for ministry. The Lord Jesus has gifted His church with leaders who equip the believers for ministry. Verse 11 lists those Christ has given as gifts to His church: "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers." The gifts are the men themselves, not just the capacities given them or the offices they hold.

The first two offices are "apostles" and "prophets." These appear to be limited to the first Christian generation as foundational to the church (cf. 2:20; 3:5). Apostles were those who had seen Christ (1 Cor 9:1-2), were witnesses of His resurrection (Acts 1:8, 21-23), and were immediately commissioned by Him to preach the gospel (Matt 10:5; Gal 1:1). In a broader sense, others closely associated with the apostles directly commissioned by Jesus are also called apostles (Barnabas in Acts 14:4,14; Timothy and Silas in 1 Thess 2:6).

Prophets performed a preaching function; they spoke under the direct inspiration of the Spirit of God. Through them, God gave guidance and instruction to the church when there was no written New Testament (NT). After the writing of the NT, the offices of apostle and prophet appear to have ceased. Evangelists and pastor-teachers are needed for every age and so continue.

The word "evangelists" occurs only three times in the NT, to describe Philip (Acts 21:8), Timothy (2 Tim 4:5), and here in Ephesians 4. It means "one who announces good news." This is a special gifting and ability to preach the gospel clearly and effectively to the unconverted, often in an itinerant ministry. It also may be a special enablement to equip others to share their faith. Our text certainly indicates that the function of these gifted men is for the equipping of the saints for their ministry.

The next office is translated "pastors and teachers." The original Greek text signifies one office with a dual function. Note the text reads "some pastors and teachers" rather than "some pastors and some teachers." When the modifier "some" is used with the conjunction "and" then it applies to both nouns.

Rather than being itinerant, the emphasis of the teaching pastor is on shepherding and instructing in a settled ministry. This office is synonymous with bishop/overseer and elder. We find all three terms used together by Peter:

1　The elders [elder] who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2　Shepherd [pastor] the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers [bishop/overseer] (1 Pet 5:1-2a, emphasis added).

The pastor-teacher is to give himself to the teaching of the Word of God. He is to present every believer under His charge mature in Christ: "Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus"(Col 1:28). They are not to be distracted by other tasks that can be delegated to others (see Acts 6:1-6).

Christ’s gift of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers are given for a specific purpose: "for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (v. 12).

The word "equipping" means "to make fully ready." The dictionary defines equip as, "to supply with intellectual, emotional, and spiritual essentials." The believers are equipped "for the work of ministry." We can define "work of ministry" as whatever role God has for you that either directly or indirectly contributes to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. "Ministry" means service; to minister means to serve. Every Christian should be "in the ministry."

And what is this work of ministry or serving supposed to achieve? It all should contribute to "the edifying of the body of Christ." To edify means to build up. It refers to growth in maturity.

The process then is: (1) The gifted men equip the saints, (2) the saints then serve (using their own gifts, (see Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12; 1 Pet 4:10-11), (3) the body is then built up or edified and we all grow into maturity (i.e. Christlikeness). Every Christian is to contribute to this goal.

Every Christian is commissioned, for every Christian is a missionary. It has been said that the gospel is not merely something to come to church to hear but something to go from the church to tell—and we are all appointed to tell it. It has also been said, "Christianity began as a company of lay witnesses; it has become a professional pulpitism, financed by lay spectators!" Nowadays we hire a church staff to do "full-time Christian work," and we sit in church on Sunday to watch them do it. Every Christian is meant to be in full-time Christian service . . . There is indeed a special ministry of pastor-teachers and evangelists – but for what? . . . For the perfecting of the saints for their ministry. –Vance Havner

What an amazing plan God has for us! What a privilege to be part of His church! I trust you are already engaged in ministry or moving in that direction. If not, what is keeping you from it? God has a plan for His church and that plan includes YOU! A body needs all its parts functioning to be healthy. Ask yourself, "Am I doing my part?"

Have you met the Tate family? Every church seems to have some members of the Tate family. Perhaps you have met some of them.

There is old man Dic-Tate who wants to run everything, while Uncle Ro-Tate tries to change everything. There's sister Agi-Tate who stirs up plenty of trouble, with help from her husband, Irri-Tate.

Whenever new projects are suggested, Hesi-Tate and his wife, Vege-Tate, want to wait until next year. Then there is Aunt Imi-Tate, who wants our church to be like all the others. Devas-Tate provides the voice of doom, while Poten-Tate wants to be a big shot.

But not all members of the family are difficult. Brother Facili-Tate is quite helpful in church matters. And a delightful, happy member of the family is Miss Felici-Tate. Cousins Cogi-Tate and Medi-Tate always think things over and lend helpful, steady hands.

And of course there is the black sheep of the family, Ampu-Tate, who has completely cut himself off from the church.

Sound familiar? That humorous story illustrates the diversity found in churches. It is amazing that God has brought people together from such diverse backgrounds to work together as a local church carrying out gospel ministry. While the diversity can sometimes cause friction, God intends that the diversity of members should serve to strengthen the church as each one makes his or her unique contribution.

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore He says: 
    "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."　　
9 (Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) (Eph 4:7-10, NKJV).

First, observe in v. 7, "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift." Christ is the source of spiritual gifts given to every believer. Spiritual gifts are divinely granted capacities for spiritual service. The purpose of spiritual gifts is for mutual edification. These gifts are sovereignly and graciously given to individual members of Christ’s body. Spiritual gifts are granted to us for the purpose of conducting good works that edify the body.

Secondly, we also learn that Christ’s grace gifts are given "to each one of us." No Christian can rightfully say that he or she has nothing to contribute to the life of the church. Christ not only calls us to spiritual service, He equips us.

Paul next quotes from Psalm 68:18 demonstrating that Christ is the One who leads His people out of captivity. In verse 8 we read, "When He ascended on high." Paul identifies the One who ascended is Christ who "first descended into the lower parts of the earth," v. 9. In His humility, Christ descended to earth in His incarnation to serve us. Possibly, though not likely, it can refer to descent into the grave or Hades, in other words, the death of Christ (cf. Acts 2:27, "For you will not leave My soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your holy one to see corruption.")

After His resurrection, Jesus "ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things," v. 10. He is the ascended Lord of the universe who has all authority in heaven and on earth (Mat 28:18). The extent of His authority is unlimited. His grace and gifts supply sufficiently to every need. He fills all things.

Jesus is Lord of His church. He purchased His bride with the price of His own blood. He has a purpose and a plan for His church. That purpose is to glorify the grace of God among all people. His plan is to give gifts to His church to equip and mobilize the saints of God to spread the Good News. Jesus loves His church and supplies His church. We are His captives being led His glorious train. How wonderful it is to be part of His triumphal procession! We will learn next week about the various gifts Christ gives to His church. But for now, take a moment to thank and praise God for calling you and gifting you to be part of His eternal purpose.

God has given us the means for fulfilling His eternal purpose—the local church. "The local church exists as God’s chosen vehicle for aiding believers in the fulfillment of the Great Commission." I like this definition of the local church. God is the one who thought of and formed the church. It is not a man-made invention. Sometimes people say, "I’m spiritual, just not into ‘organized’ religion." Well, I think organized is better than disorganized. But, we must remember that the church is God’s idea. He has given to us the means for carrying out the ministry He has called to participate in.

The first instance of the word "church" in the New Testament is in Matthew 16.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matt 16:18, NKJV).

Jesus, the King, is building His church on the confession of faith that He is the Savior-King. The church of King Jesus is the manifestation of the kingdom of God in the present age. Local churches are really outposts of the kingdom. They are not just religious organizations that exist as one among many communities in the "global village." No, a church is made up of kingdom citizens who will one day live in the fully-realized and established kingdom of God during the Millennial reign of King Jesus.

God the Father has promised to Jesus, the Davidic King, the right to rule the world: "Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall [rule] them with a rod of iron" (Ps 2:8-9b; Cf. Rev 2:26-27). Jesus will one day rule the world physically. In the meantime, King Jesus exercises His authority in and through the local church.

Any Christian who is not participating in the God-ordained structure of a local assembly of believers is in disobedience to God. The first Christians were drawn to each other out of mutual love and fellowship. It was their new identity in Christ that drew them together seemingly without having to be told "this is what Christians do." What they did can give us insight into the ministries of the church that we should emulate.

42　They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43　Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44　All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45　Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46　Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47　praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47, NIV).

From this description of the early church we can identify five ministries of a local church:

1. The ministry of teaching: "they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching."

2. The ministry of fellowship: "they devoted themselves to . . . the fellowship. . . . All the believers were together and had everything in common.　. . . They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

3. The ministry of worship: "they devoted themselves to . . . the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe . . . . they continued to meet together in the temple courts . . . praising God."

4. The ministry of service: "Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. . . . enjoying the favor of all the people."

5. The ministry of evangelism: "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

It is quite evident from a study of the New Testament that a believer cannot live out the Christian life apart from the local church. Yes, it’s true that sometimes churches do not live out their calling to love one another and many people have been disappointed and even hurt by a church. But that is no reason to abandon the local church. God uses the local church, as imperfect as it is due to being filled with imperfect people, to refine and sanctify us as we participate and exercise the "one anothers" of the New Testament. God will never abandon His church. May we give ourselves to loving and serving our Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, through our participation in the local church.

In service of the King,

Pastor Massimo