“A Spiritual Foundation:
To Each One of Us According to the Measure of Christ's Gift”

The Appomattox Court House Presbyterian Church Pulpit
Rev. Cameron S. Smith
The Lord's Day, July 31, 2005
Ephesians 4:7-12

Last week, we heard about our unity in Christ, our coming together as one body, in one Spirit, with one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father over all. But here in Eph. 4:7-12 we go from unity to diversity: A diversity that strangely enough makes our oneness possible.

To comprehend what I'm talking about, consider this analogy with the Space Shuttle Discovery's lift off from Cape Canaveral last Tuesday. I realize that all analogies eventually pull up short, but I think this captures the spirit well. The Space Shuttle, I'm told, has well over a million working parts, and each one of those parts has to function practically flawlessly for a successful take-off and landing. If a part the size of a card in a playing deck is damaged during lift-off, you have a potential disaster on your hands!

On the human side, there are literally thousands of tech specialists, maintenance workers and engineers involved in each mission. All of these diverse parts -- human and otherwise -- have to work together seamlessly, everyone contributing their own particular expertise, in order to ensure the safety of each astronaut aboard those billion dollar, high tech machines.

Someone has wisely noted that it shouldn't really be a surprise when a shuttle explodes during a launch or implodes on re-entry; rather it's absolutely miraculous when all of the parts work together for a safe, uneventful and successful mission! All that you and I see is a flawless, seemingly easy launch and landing - no big deal. Wrong! It's complex, with many different special people and diverse mechanical parts coming together to make it look easy. The Church is just like that as well, working with a diversity of gifted people functioning as one!

Listen again to the first words of our passage this morning: (Eph 4:7) "But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift." The take-home message from our passage this morning is this: Every man, woman and child in this congregation has a spiritual gift. Nobody can say, "I don't have a spiritual gift."

This is the message right out of the starting gate this morning. When it says that grace is given to each one of us, this is the language of spiritual giftedness. Spiritual gifts and grace are the same because it is God, through Jesus Christ, who is the author and dispenser the gifts. It's Christ Himself who determines the measure of each gift, meaning that Christ not only determines the recipients, He also measures out the quality and intensity of each gift.

To describe this amazing divine distribution of gifts, the apostle Paul (unfortunately) quotes on a very difficult verse from Psalm 68 (v.18) and then spends two long verses expanding on it! "Therefore it says, 'When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.' (In saying, 'He ascended,' what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)" (Eph. 4:8-10).

Although the citation from Psalm 68 is tough to understand, the bottom line is not so obscure. The he here in 4:8 is Christ. He was born a man - he…descended into the lower parts of the earth -- taking up human flesh and accomplishing His mission. He was crucified, and on the third day, rose from the dead, ascending far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things, blessing "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." (cf. Eph. 1:3).

The difficulty arises when you compare Psalm 68:18 with its citation here in Ephesians. It's different and it's a problem! The Psalm says, "You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there." (Ps. 68:18). The Psalm says the gifts were received - Ephesians says they were given!

Very briefly, here are some of the ways Psalm 68:18 has been interpreted in light of the Ephesian reference:

     1. THE MOSES VIEW:
According to Rabbinic tradition, this is how the Targum interpreted/translated/understood this passage: "You, Moses the prophet, ascended to the firmament; you took captivity captive, you learned the words of the Torah, and you gave them as gifts to the sons of men." The one who ascended on high was Moses. He led the children of Israel - a host of captives in [his] train - through the wilderness to Mount Sinai, where he received the gift of the Law, symbolically representing God's dwelling in the midst of His people.
     In Ephesians, it is Jesus who ascends on high and instead of giving the Law, sends the Holy Spirit to His people. Jeremiah describes it with these well known words: "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts." (Jer. 31:33).

     2. GOD THE WARRIOR KING:
Under this view, God has triumphantly marched from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion - the Temple Mount -- in Jerusalem with His people. The host of captives are the enemies that have been defeated on the way. The victorious God receives gifts among men through the tribute they pay Him, and the offerings and sacrifices that He receives from His people.
     In Ephesians, you realize that there are many references to the heavenly host - good and bad angels (cf. Eph 1:10, 20-22; 2:1-2; 3:10; 4:27; 6:10-20). When Jesus was raised in power - ascended on high - the host of captives in [his] train were none other than Satan and his demonic horde, defeated and having to recognize the superiority of the Son.

     3. GOD THE PROVIDER:
This view sees Psalm 68 as a commentary on Numbers 18:6: "Behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting." There is here, both the idea of taking and giving. God takes the Levites to Himself and they belong to Him; but God graciously gives them back to the people so that they might minister in the Temple and teach the people how to live holy and obedient lives.
     In Ephesians, Christ has indeed ascended on high and sent His Holy Spirit; but He's also given "the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…." (Eph. 4:11-12).

Of the three views just presented, I would say that the third view (God the Provider) seems to fit the Ephesian context a little better. Just as God took the Levites to Himself for the purpose of giving them graciously back to His people; so God has called and given to the Church pastors, teachers and evangelists for the purpose of equipping and building up the body of Christ. This activity isn't limited to teaching and preaching the Word, as crucial as that is; but it also means helping God's people find their spiritual gifts and encouraging them to expand and extend the use of their gifts. As I said before, and let me say it again, all of God's people are gifted. There are no exceptions!

At this point, we must turn to some practical considerations. First, you must recognize that everybody is not gifted in the same way, and it takes some diligence to find your spiritual gift! Secondly, your particular gift must be developed. Thirdly, you must realize that all gifts are primarily spiritual. I'll explain what I mean be that when we come to it, but let's take the first point.

1. All of you aren't gifted in the same way
Unfortunately, when we think of spiritual gifts, sometimes we get the mistaken impression that it only refers to preaching, teaching or some other leadership position. But, that's not the case. Not everybody's called to lead. 1 Cor. 12:29-30, being another list similar to what we have here in Ephesians, is particularly helpful when it says, "All are not apostles, are they? [The answer expected is, of course not!] All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?"

One of my friends from Florida, Megan, likes to tell the story of her excitement when she came to know Christ. She was eager to serve the Lord, but she didn't know exactly how she should do it, or where to fit in. So, when there was a need at the church for a treasurer, she jumped in with both feet! However, it became obvious to everyone, including Megan, that this wasn't where God wanted her to serve. It was a disaster! But, let me tell you, put a microphone in her hand, and that girl can flat out sing! She just had to find the niche where God wanted her to fit in. She knew that God had something for her, but she just didn't think of her beautiful voice being a way that she could serve God and His people.

Romans 12:6 makes the point even clearer: "We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us…." Sometimes I wish that I could serve the Lord with a musical instrument; and sometimes I wish that I could work well with my hands. Oh, the things that I could accomplish for the Kingdom of God! But, God has given me a place in the kingdom, and I continue (neverending) work hard to try to develop that gift, just as you should, as well!

2. All of you need to develop your gift
The need to develop our gifts is the second point. Listen to the rest of the verse that I just quoted from Romans 12 (verses 6-8), "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Notice that it says that each of us is to exercise them accordingly! It's not optional, and further, spiritual gifts don't get developed over night!

Ten years ago, when I was starting to flesh out my sense of call to ministry, I jumped at the opportunity to teach an adult Sunday School class. This was a large church, and I was flattered by the invitation to teach. I thought this was what God wanted me to do. I prepared diligently for that class. The first week, over sixty people filled the room. I absolutely blew it. I was so nervous that you'd have thought I didn't do any preparation! The very next week, only twenty showed up, and then the next week, ten. I was discouraged, but I didn't give up. I knew that God had called me to do this, and so I kept at it. You must do this with your gifts as well.

3. All of us need to recognize that all gifts (talents!) are primarily spiritual
The final point for today is that we need to realize that spiritual gifts are primarily spiritual. What I mean is that all too often, we think of spiritual gifts only in terms of what we do on Sunday. We don't use spiritual gifts in our everyday lives, so the thinking goes. But it's wrong! Every talent you have has been given to you by God, to develop and use for His glory!

James 1:17 tells us that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" Peter says "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God….Whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever." (1 Peter 4:10-11)

I love the story in Exodus about God's commissioning of the labor force to build the Tabernacle. The story makes clear that all skills are God given, and to be used primarily, in the service of the Kingdom. "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you." (Ex. 31:2-6)

The point here is surely that we often treat our spiritual gifts and talents just like the tithe: After we've bought everything that we need, and after we've paid all the bills; then we tithe what's left over. In the same way, our talents often get used up in our jobs; our community activities; or our personal hobbies. Any time that's left over, we might donate to God!

Please give thought to these three points of application: 1) That there is a diversity of spiritual gifts in the body of Christ, and we need to identify the gift that God has given; 2) We need to develop those gifts! And 3) all gifts, that is talents and abilities are spiritual. God has given you everything you possess, and those abilities are to be used primarily for His purpose and His glory!