Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 5/4/16

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 5/4/16

Eph 4:7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

When Jesus ascended to the Father He gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The plan of God is complete for our perfection.  We don’t need to feel that we are substandard because we have growth to do.  We can know that we have measured to everything that God has shown us. 

As we are measuring and walking with God, I doubt that there is a week that goes by that God doesn’t show us some way to grow.  There is a better way to handle a crisis or handle our mind. 

The gifts are for the perfecting of the saints.  God loves us enough that when He sees that there is an area in our life He uses the Body of Christ to help us to see areas that need to be perfected.

He gave all the gifts for the work of the ministry.  The entire body of Christ.  Not everyone is a preacher.  Not everyone is a teacher.  Not everyone has the gift of governments. 

The work of the ministry:  it takes the entire body of Christ.  We all want to be equally concerned about all our Sunday school teachers: the children, the high school students, the adults. 

We all want to be laboring together for the little children downstairs and for the adult teacher upstairs.  We want to be workers together for the ministry of God. 

Edifying:  isn’t it wonderful how God has designed that we be edified?  He knows what our needs are every time.

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

We all want to keep the faith and have a pure conscience.  We all want to labor in unity of prayer, unity of doctrine, and unity laboring together.  The bible says where any two agree as touching any one thing then it shall be done.

Concerning the Holy Spirit He told us to ask.  It is alright to get tired, to feel, “I have been spent.”  It is especially good when you feel, “I have exhausted all my resources working for the family of God.”  You and I, after we prepare Saturday and labor Sunday, realize Sunday night or Monday morning that you are tired. 

People that don’t work for God are tired.  If they are not working for God then they will get no heavenly reward.  God has a way of renewing and restoring us.

God gave us, as the body, the gifts and callings. “Till we come to the unity of the faith of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”  Isn’t it wonderful how God is?  He requires only what is right for each of us. 

When children know that they are accountable to their parents then they realize that they are accountable to God too.  This is the way to blessing, to liberty, and to freedom. 

We come to the fullness of the measure of Christ.  I remember when I got saved at 18 how good God was to me, how good my parents were to me, and how good the saints were to me.  I was a babe in Christ. 

One day the time came that it was time to grow up.  I was not a babe any more.  It was time to get my feet on the rock.

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

There have always been winds of doctrine blowing around.  There have always been things come along to see if you will stand firm. 

There will always be religious people that are fly fishermen.  They cast out the bait and see if they can get any one to catch it. 

Cunning craftiness:  The protection of measuring is that you are not gullible.  When you measure to truth you recognize the sound of it.  You know how truth sounds and how you respond to it.  

If you know how truth sounds and how you respond to it, then cunning craftiness cannot catch you.  If you haven’t measured, or grown, and you are struggling with, “Is serving God really the best way?”  Then when cunning craftiness comes you may not recognize it.

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

How we pray, respond, control our mind, or obey the Spirit of God affects every member of the body.  Some of you saints have really heavy loads and are in really special times in your life.  How you can help each one is be rightly related to the head, which is Christ.

Fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth:  The children probably don’t understand having a catch in your hand.  You children can reach out and pick up a glass and it not drop.  I cannot.  I try to program myself to take extra precaution. 

For the sister, you and I need to be rightly related so that we are supplying.  If you are doing your best to be rightly related then you will not be worried about your circle.  It is the same with every need.

What brings good Sunday school classes?  Every member praying for the class.  What brings good worship?  Everybody in it.  Good prayer meetings come from everyone being so happy that they can be in it.

This is the place, being rightly related to God and to our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Tomorrow morning my need may be very pronounced.  Your need may be very pronounced.  You and I being rightly related to Christ takes from us the mind burden and gives us a heart burden. 

Psa 92:10  But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

There is a way for God to anoint us with a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

This is a beautiful invitation.  “The Holy Spirit says come.  Let him that hears say come.  Let him that is athirst come.  Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.”