Living

Living/Serving/Growing in Unity (Eph. 4:1-16) Prisoner of the Lord = Conceding sovereignty to God (Eph. 4:1) Humble/Lowly (Num. 12:3, Matt. 18:1-4, Luke 9:46-48, 22:24-27, Rom. 12:3 &10, Gal. 5:13, Eph. 4:2, Phil. 2:14 & 8, Col. 3:12, 1 Pe. 5:5-6) Humble: gentle, mild, meek, free from arrogance or vanity, deferential, peaceable, obedient, yielding, recognizing our sinful condition and our need for God’s grace, the opposite of self-centered, seeing others' needs and concerns as having the same importance as our own Gentle/Meek (Mt. 11:29, Phil. 4:5, Gal. 6:1-2, Eph. 4:2, 1 Thes. 2:7, 1 Tim 3:3, 2 Tim 2:24-25, Titus 3:2, James 3:17, 1 Pet. 2:18) The Greek term for gentleness here (epieikes) also means to be reasonable, yielding, non-defensive, kind, forbearing or lenient. It does not signify timidity or cowardice, but rather great strength brought under control, as in the context of a powerful horse trained to serve. It involves not demanding our own way. Humility produces gentleness. Patient/Long-suffering (Ro. 2:4, 9:22, 2 Cor. 6:6, Eph. 4:2, Col. 1:11, 3:12, 1 Tim. 1:16, Gal. 5:22, 1 Thes. 5:14, 1 Tim. 3:3, 2 Tim. 2:24, 3:10, 4:2, 1 Pe. 3:20, 2 Pe. 3-5, 9 & 15) Literally, to endure with unruffled temper. Following the example of God’s/Christ’s patience/longsuffering towards us. Bearing/Forbearing in Love (John 13:15, Rom. 2:4, 3:25, Eph. 4:2, 1 Cor. 13:7, Col. 3:13) It actually means to "put up with". For us to be able to do this is a fruit of Christ's love in us. Such love, covers a multitude of sins, faults and idiosyncrasies. One Body (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 12:12-27, Eph. 3:6, 4:4, 12, 16, 5:23 & 30, Col. 1:18, 2:17-19) Think of the analogy of a living body. Many parts with different functions, working in concert, constituting a single being. Produced by the extension of one original cell, growing until it becomes mature. One Spirit (Acts 2:17-18, Ro. 8:1-27, 1 Cor 3:16, 12:13, Eph. 4:4) The one, great, eternal, unchanging Holy Spirit that gives life unto the body. One Hope (Ecc. 3:11, Ezek. 37:1-14, Acts 23:6, Ro. 8:24, 12:12, Eph. 4:4, Col. 1:5 & 27, 1 Tim. 1:1, Titus 1:2, 3:7, Heb. 6:11-19, 1 Pe. 1:3, 1 John 3:2) The hope of Christ’s return, and of our rapture/resurrection to eternal life where we will be made new, restored to what God intended us to be, more like Jesus and partakers in His glory. One Lord (Eph 4:5, Phil. 2:9-11, 1 Cor. 12:3) Lord meaning "ultimate authority." That being Jesus Christ. One Faith (John 3:16-17, Eph. 4:5, 2 Cor. 4:13-14) In salvation through Jesus Christ

One Baptism (Matt. 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, Acts 1:5, 2:38, 8:12-16, 11:16, Ro. 6:3, Eph. 4:5, 1 Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:27) By one spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Eph. 4:6) A summation of the trinity. One Creator, worthy to be worshipped, One Lord over us, One Holy Spirit in us. Gifts to God’s People by God’s Grace (Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 1 Pe. 4:10) Apostles - (Acts 1:15-22, Eph. 4:11) Literally one sent with a commission as a divinely appointed representative. The strict qualification for this office is to have been an eyewitness to Christ's Resurrection. Not many of us meet that; hence that office was unique to the first century. Their purpose was to lay the foundation of Christ’s church. (This presents an argument against the Mormon’s modern day “Apostles”.) Prophets - (Deut. 18:18, Joel 2:28, quoted in Acts 2:17-18, 3:22-23, 11:27-30, 13:1, 21:10-11, Eph. 3:5, 4:11, 1 Cor. 14:3 & 29, 2 Pet 1:19 prophetes, not primarily a predictor, but one who, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit speaks forth the mind, the heart and the counsel of God, even when it is undesired. They are called to awaken the mind, care for the soul, and instruct the heart of God’s people. The prophet presents God’s Word in a manner that it is clear, vital and compelling. The word prophet comes from a root word which means "to cause to shine," with the prefix pro, which means "before." Someone who stands before and causes the word to shine -- that is a prophet. From the day of Pentecost in 33 AD to when Paul arrived on the scene he heard oral histories of the gospels, and there was only the book of James (49 AD) and the Jewish Didache.1 The New Testament took some seventy years to be written and accepted as holy writ. So the prophets of Jesus Christ were very important in the foundation of his church. They were called to speak forth the word of God as revealed to the Old Testament prophets, the words of Jesus as revealed in the gospels, and the word of God as revealed in dreams, visions, and revelations. The men and women gifted with prophecy also spoke for God using the words of the apostles. These New Testament prophets were also called upon to equip the saints for ministry; edify, comfort, and encourage believers; and reveal the secrets of men's hearts. Most prophets today use the Scriptures to tell us the heart and mind of God, because the Scriptures are complete. However, it has recently been reported that Islamic Arabs in Morocco and Algeria have been receiving visions of Jesus Christ and accepting him without any guidance from Scripture or other Christians at all. So we should probably be hesitant to say that visions, revelations, and dreams are over; or to, in any way, place limits on the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus also warned his disciples to be aware of false prophets, especially in the last days (see Matthew 24:11).

Evangelists (Acts 8:4-40, 21:8, Eph 4:11) The name "evangelists" (euaggelistes) comes from "evangelism" which means "good news." An evangelist is one who is especially spiritually gifted to boldly share the good news of the saving

gospel of Jesus Christ and to invite people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The proof of an evangelist is that he/she leads people to Christ. All Christians are called to evangelize as God gives them the opportunity (2 Tim 4:5). Modern day missionaries may be considered evangelists. Eusebius, a fourth century church historian, defined the evangelists and described their ministry: "They performed the office of evangelist, being filled with the desire to preach Christ to those who had not yet heard the word of faith. …And when they had laid the foundations of the faith in foreign places, they appointed others as pastors … while they themselves went on again to other countries and nations." The evangelist is concerned with the beginning of the Christian life, while the teaching-pastor is concerned with the development and the growth of that life. Therefore, evangelists are basically obstetricians, having to do with birth, and teaching-pastors are pediatricians, having to do with diets and diseases and the need for fresh air and exercise. Pastors and Teachers (Mark 6:34, Acts 20:28, Eph. 4:11, 1 Pe. 5:2) poimen kai didaskalos, shepherd-teachers. The absence of the word "some" before "teachers" indicates that the offices of "pastors and teachers" are in reality combined into one office with two ministries. Grammatically, there is a link between "pastors," or shepherds, and "teachers," which would make this one person. Teaching is part of shepherding, as illustrated in the life of Jesus. A shepherd must be a teacher (1 Tim. 3:2), though one could be a teacher without being a shepherd, for teachers are listed without any reference to shepherds (Ro. 12:7, 1 Co. 12:28). Sheep can only be healthy when they are fed. A church can only be strong when its members are fed God’s Word. Jesus called himself the good shepherd (John 10:11). And Peter called Jesus the Chief Shepherd (1 Pe. 5:4). Peter was not only an apostle, but he was also called to be a pastor/teacher by our risen Lord at the sea of Galilee after his sin of denial was forgiven. Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs...Take care of my sheep...Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17). The key to true teaching is awakening interest, arousing attention. It is "warning every man" and then "teaching every man" in Christ To prepare/equip (katartismon) God’s people for service (diakonia) so that the body may be built up (Eph. 4:12, Col. 1:28) These are gifts with a common purpose, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. All involve bringing God’s word to people. The term (katartismon) is used in the context of setting bones, forming coalition governments, mending nets (Mark 1:19), rehabilitating offenders (Gal. 6:1), outfitting someone for a particular task, or getting someone into shape, like an athlete for a competition. The word also refers an artisan, or someone who uses his hands to make or build things. Infancy/Immaturity = Lack of grounding/Vulnerability to being misled