You can view an in-depth discussion of The unified Body of Christ in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PneUKvEsG8M&w=560&h=315]

With thanks to

Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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What danger threatens the Christlike maturity of the church? Ephesians 4:14.

Paul perceives an environment not unlike our own in which various ideas, such as “every wind of doctrine” and “deceitful schemes” (ESV), are thrust upon believers. He uses three sets of images to describe the dangers of wayward theology: (1) the immaturity of childhood, “so that we may no longer be children” (ESV); (2) danger on the high seas, “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (ESV); (3) being swindled by clever people who, like gamblers, practice sleight of hand.

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Paul uses figuratively the Greek word kubeia (“dice playing”) to mean “cunning” (ESV) or “trickery” (NKJV).

Paul believes divisiveness to be an important mark of error: That which nourishes and grows the body and helps it hold together is good while that which depletes and divides it is evil. By turning from the divisive teaching and to that of tested and trusted teachers (Ephesians 4:11), they will advance toward true Christian maturity and play effective roles in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-13; compare Ephesians 4:15-16).

In what ways does a healthy church function like a healthy body? Ephesians 4:15-16.

In Ephesians 4:1-16, Paul advocates for the unity of the church and recruits the addressees to foster it actively. While unity is a theological certainty (Ephesians 4:4-6), it does require our hard work (Ephesians 4:3). One way we foster unity is by being active “parts” of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:7-16). Each of us is a part of the body and should contribute to its health and growth (Ephesians 4:7, Ephesians 4:16). We all should also benefit from the work of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers (Ephesians 4:11). These, like ligaments, tendons, and “every joint” (Ephesians 4:16, ESV), have a unifying function, helping us grow up together into Christ, who is the head of the body (Ephesians 4:13, Ephesians 4:15).

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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God is calling all kinds of people around the world to be a part of His one church.

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Revelation 18:4 NKJV Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Revelation 14:6-7 NKJV And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:16 NKJV one Lord, one faith, one baptism; Ephesians 4:5 NKJV

While God is working to reconcile us all into one church family that  encompasses heaven and earth, Satan is working hard to create disunity in the church. Satan is the master of illusions and he will oftentimes use illusions to create disunity. One member makes a comment  that was in no way meant to be an insult, but Satan will immediately encourage us to misconstrue what was said into an insult. You might miss a message that was sent to the whole church and then feel intentionally excluded from the church, when you failed to receive the message, even though it was just an innocent mistake on someone’s part. Satan has used all of us at one time or another to unwittingly or unwittingly  hurt someone in the church. 

Satan used Judas to betray Jesus but look at Jesus’ response to Judas.

Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.  But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Matthew 26:50 NKJV 

Though the word “friend” in this passage may have meant a mere acquaintance, David prophesied in Psalm 41:9 that Jesus would be betrayed by a familiar friend. Jesus does not call Judas a backbiter or a traitor. He calls Judas a friend. Jesus never minced words. He always called things the way He saw them. If He called Judas “friend,” then I am sure in His mind they were friends. Jesus realized, 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

Jesus realized Judas is not the enemy. Satan is. Jesus realized Satan was using Judas to get to Jesus and hurt Him. Jesus was wise and realized He was not fighting with flesh and blood such as Judas. He was fighting against Satan. Jesus was able to see past Judas and recognize who the real enemy is. Likewise when Satan uses people in the church to try and hurt us, we should look past the person who is just flesh and blood, and recognize the real enemy is Satan. Remember Satan know us better than our friends at church even know us. Satan knows which buttons to push to get me upset and offended, so he will get a friend from church to unwittingly push my buttons. A friend from church may make a joke about something I am very sensitive about, without having any idea I am so sensitive about the matter, but Satan knows and uses friends to unwittingly hurt me. 

When I was in my early twenties, I was young and broke. and I was very sensitive about being poor. I had bought a new car, but since I did not have much money it came without a stereo radio. I just used a little portable radio instead. One evening at church, a couple  with whom I was good friends  thought they would play a prank on me like we were always doing to each other, and they hid my portable radio. I was greatly offended because I thought by hiding the radio, they were making fun of me for not being able to afford a car with a stereo. I actually stopped speaking to them for a long time. Later I finally realized that we both had totally different interpretations of what happened that night. They thought they were just having fun with me, as usual, and it never crossed their minds that I would interpret their prank as them making fun of my not having much money. Satan used them to unwittingly to push my buttons. 

Granted Judas was not just playing a prank on Jesus when he betrayed him, but still Jesus was able to look past the flesh and blood and call Judas a friend, and recognize that the real enemy was Satan. 

So how do we defend ourselves against Satan’s tricks and illusions? By putting on the full armor of God.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,  for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV

Being girded with the truth about God’s love gives us confidence and security when Satan creates illusions to make it look like everyone is against us.  The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts against Satan’s insults, accusations and temptations. The Gospel of peace helps us maintain unity while Satan is casting his illusions. The shield of faith in God’s love keeps Satan’s insults and mind games from ever reaching our hearts. The helmet of salvation is worn over the mind. Our minds are fully confident that we are loved and saved by God. John 5:13 tells us we may know we have eternal life as we trust in the love of Jesus. The sword is the Bible that assures us of God’s love and exposes Satan’s tricks and mind games, ” lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV. 

And even if we suppose my friends did indeed know they were pushing my buttons that evening, I could still look past the flesh and blood, and defeat the rulers of darkness. All I need to do is,

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV

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Drawing on Psalm 68:18, Paul has just described the risen, exalted, conquering Jesus as giving gifts to His people from on high. What “gifts” does the exalted Jesus give, and for what purpose? Ephesians 4:11-13.

Paul identifies four groups of “gifted” people as part of the treasure trove of the exalted Jesus that He gives to His church: (1) apostles; (2) prophets; (3) evangelists; (4) shepherds (ESV) and teachers (the structure of the Greek phrase suggests these are a single group).

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Christ gives these gifts to accomplish important work: “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, ESV) and “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” (Ephesians 4:13, ESV).

This last point was of special importance to early Adventists, who were reflecting on the spiritual gifts of Ellen G. White. Does the Bible validate the functioning of the gift of prophecy in the church only during the time of the apostles? Or does the gift continue until the return of Christ? The early Adventists found their answer in Ephesians 4:13 and shared it through a story about the captain of a ship who was bound to follow the instructions provided for a voyage. As the ship neared port, the captain found that the instructions informed him that a pilot would come on board to help guide the vessel. To remain true to the original instructions, he must allow the pilot to board and obey the further guidance offered. “Who now heed that original book of directions? Those who reject the pilot, or those who receive him, as that book instructs them? Judge ye.” — Uriah Smith, “Do We Discard the Bible by Endorsing the Visions?” Review and Herald, January 13, 1863, p. 52.

We should be careful when we identify “shepherds” (or “pastors”), “teachers,” and “evangelists,” since we think of these positions within our own context and time. As far as we are able to determine, in Paul’s day these would all have been lay leaders who were serving the house churches of Ephesus (compare 1 Peter 2:9, Acts 2:46, Acts 12:12).

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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“However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

    ‘When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.’”

“Notice that it says ‘he ascended.’ This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself” (Ephesians 4:7-10, NLT). What is happening here, and what is Paul’s point in these verses?

Paul here quoted Psalm 68:18, which reads: “When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you” (NLT). Psalm 68:18 portrays the Lord, Yahweh, as a conquering general who, having conquered His enemies, ascends the hill on which His capital city is built, with the captives of battle in His train (see Psalm 68:1-2).

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He then receives tribute (“received gifts”) from His conquered foes (noting that Paul adjusts this imagery to the exalted Christ “giving gifts,” based on the wider context of the Psalm, see Psalm 68:35).

If we follow the order of Psalm 68:18, the ascent — Christ’s ascension to heaven (Ephesians 1:21-23) — occurs first, followed by the descent in which the risen, exalted Jesus gives gifts and fills all things. This is Paul’s way of depicting the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:1-47). This view is confirmed by Ephesians 4:11-12, which identify the gifts provided by the exalted Jesus as gifts of the Spirit.

“Christ ascended on high, leading captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. When, after Christ’s ascension, the Spirit came down as promised, like a rushing, mighty wind, filling the whole place where the disciples were assembled, what was the effect? Thousands were converted in a day.” — Ellen G. White, Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 158.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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