“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.“
Ephesians 4:7–16
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OCTOBER 25, 2024
If anything from these devotions stays with you, I pray that it is the knowledge that the church is a recipient. She is the recipient of God’s abundance (3:20-21), the recipient of God’s revealed mystery of good news (3:1-13), the recipient of God’s power (3:14-21), the recipient of the Spirit’s bond of peace that produces unity (4:1-6).
Now, in Ephesians 4:7-16, we see that we, as the church, are recipients of God’s grace.
The church has been given “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers” in order that we may be equipped “for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up.” The goal is still unity of previously “outsider” and “insider” people together before God, but Paul is more specific now. The unity we are to obtain is “in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.” In other words, the Spirit has given gifts within the church; when we use those gifts for the church, we will have everything we need to grow together, to be built up and equipped for works of service—works of service like local outreach, for example.
As we are taught, equipped, and built up to maturity, we will not be swayed by the “cunning and craftiness” of false teachers who seek to teach a different gospel that turns us away from the powerful love of Christ—the love that has filled us and sent us. Instead, we will become mature, a body held together “by every supporting ligament” that “grows and builds itself up in love.” How and for what purpose? “As each part does its work.”
What an incredible, incredible vision and invitation this is, friends.
At Wheaton Bible Church, therefore, we are to be an outpost of hope in our local communities, and that message of hope must be proclaimed, taught, and built upon by those who are gifted by the Spirit until we are mature and fully functioning in love. And yet, as we’ve seen, this power does not lie in us, but in God our Father—the one “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (3:20)
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- What does it mean that the church is the recipient and not the source?
- In what ways do you see Wheaton Bible Church maturing “by every supporting ligament” into fullness of love and service? What role do you play?
- Take a moment to pray for our church. Include our pastors and teachers at every level and capacity. Pray we may all be built up in this love, empowered to proclaim the mystery of God with boldness to the local communities around us.
Church Reading Plan:
- Today, October 25: Daniel 10; Psalm 119:1-24
- Saturday, October 26: Daniel 11; Psalm 119:25-48
- Sunday, October 27: Daniel 12; Psalm 119:49-72