📖 CHRIST GIVES GIFTS TO HIS CHURCH
ONE BODY — DIFFERENT MINISTRIES — ONE PURPOSE
Main Text: Ephesians 4:7–12 KJV
Key Text: 1 Corinthians 12:4–7 KJV
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” — 1 Corinthians 12:7
Theme: Christ has equipped His Body for ministry. However, rightly dividing Scripture requires us to distinguish the foundational/sign gifts operating during the transitional Acts period from the continuing ministry and local-church offices describ... more📖 CHRIST GIVES GIFTS TO HIS CHURCH
ONE BODY — DIFFERENT MINISTRIES — ONE PURPOSE
Main Text: Ephesians 4:7–12 KJV
Key Text: 1 Corinthians 12:4–7 KJV
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” — 1 Corinthians 12:7
Theme: Christ has equipped His Body for ministry. However, rightly dividing Scripture requires us to distinguish the foundational/sign gifts operating during the transitional Acts period from the continuing ministry and local-church offices described in Paul's completed instructions.
🔰 INTRODUCTION — GIFTS ARE FOR SERVICE, NOT STATUS
The Body of Christ is one Body, but its members do not all perform the same function.
📖 Romans 12:4–5
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ…”
God never designed the local church to be a one-man ministry where everyone watches while one person does everything.
At the same time, we must rightly divide the ministries listed in passages such as Ephesians 4:11.
Apostles and prophets had a foundational function associated with revelation and the establishment of the early Body of Christ. Evangelistic, pastoral, teaching, oversight, and service ministries continue as believers carry out the work of ministry under the completed revelation entrusted through Paul.
Therefore:
Gifts are not for GLORY but SERVICE.
Gifts are not for COMPETITION but EDIFICATION.
Gifts are not for SELF but the BODY.
Our seven points are:
FOUNDATION — GOVERNANCE — REVELATION — PROCLAMATION — SHEPHERDING — INSTRUCTION — SERVICE
1️⃣ FOUNDATION — THE APOSTLE
📖 Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Romans 11:13; Ephesians 2:20
The first ministry is apostolic. But from a Dispensational position, we must distinguish the foundational apostles from modern church ministry.
A. FOUNDATIONAL COMMISSION
📖 1 Corinthians 3:10
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation…”
Paul occupied a unique position in God's revelation of the Mystery.
He was not merely another pastor or missionary.
Christ made him:
📖 Romans 11:13
“...the apostle of the Gentiles…”
B. FOUNDATIONAL REVELATION
📖 Ephesians 3:2–3
“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward…”
The risen Christ revealed through Paul truth concerning the Dispensation of Grace and the Mystery.
📖 Romans 16:25
📖 Ephesians 3:1–9
📖 Colossians 1:25–27
This distinguishes Paul's ministry from Israel's prophetic program.
C. FOUNDATIONAL COMPLETION
📖 Colossians 1:25
Paul was made a minister:
“...to fulfil the word of God;”
A foundation is laid once.
Therefore, from this Dispensational understanding, we do not seek new apostles today possessing Paul's revelatory authority.
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER APOSTLE—WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE DOCTRINE CHRIST ALREADY GAVE THROUGH PAUL.
📖 1 Corinthians 11:1
2️⃣ GOVERNANCE — THE BISHOP
📖 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; Philippians 1:1
The local church requires biblical leadership.
Paul gives specific qualifications for a bishop.
A. GODLY CHARACTER
📖 1 Timothy 3:2
“A bishop then must be blameless…”
Leadership begins with character.
A man's ability to preach loudly does not automatically qualify him to oversee God's assembly.
B. GOOD GOVERNANCE
📖 1 Timothy 3:4–5
The bishop must be:
“One that ruleth well his own house…”
Paul connects faithfulness in one's household with responsibility in the local assembly.
Leadership is stewardship—not dictatorship.
C. GUARDING DOCTRINE
📖 Titus 1:9
“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught…”
A bishop must not merely organize activities.
He must guard sound doctrine.
📖 1 Timothy 4:16
📖 Titus 2:1
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
A BIBLICAL BISHOP DOES NOT LORD OVER THE FLOCK—HE LEADS BY DOCTRINE, CHARACTER, AND EXAMPLE.
3️⃣ REVELATION — THE PROPHET
📖 Ephesians 4:11; 2:20; 3:5; 1 Corinthians 13:8–10
Prophets functioned during the foundational period of the early Body when God's revelation concerning the Mystery was being communicated.
A. REVELATORY MINISTRY
📖 Ephesians 3:5
The Mystery:
“...is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”
Their ministry was connected with divine revelation.
B. REQUIRED DURING TRANSITION
Before Paul's epistles and the revelation committed through him had been fully given and circulated, believers did not possess the complete body of written Pauline instruction that we possess today.
Thus revelatory gifts served an important purpose during that transitional period.
📖 1 Corinthians 12:28
📖 1 Corinthians 14:29–33
C. REPLACED BY COMPLETED REVELATION
📖 1 Corinthians 13:8
“...whether there be prophecies, they shall fail…”
From a cessation Dispensational perspective, we should not seek new revelation from modern prophets.
Our authority is God's written Word.
📖 2 Timothy 3:16–17
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
WE DO NOT NEED A NEW WORD FROM GOD WHEN GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS WRITTEN WORD.
4️⃣ PROCLAMATION — THE EVANGELIST
📖 2 Timothy 4:5; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
Unlike foundational revelation, gospel proclamation remains essential.
A. PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL
📖 2 Timothy 4:5
“...do the work of an evangelist…”
The evangelist announces God's saving message.
But what gospel should we preach today?
The Gospel of the Grace of God centered upon Christ's finished crosswork.
B. PRESENT CHRIST'S FINISHED WORK
📖 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…”
The evangelist does not preach:
Join our denomination.
Keep religious ceremonies.
Reform yourself first.
Earn salvation.
He proclaims what Christ accomplished.
C. PERSUADE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE
📖 Romans 3:26
God is:
“...the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
Salvation today is received by grace through faith apart from works.
📖 Ephesians 2:8–9
📖 Romans 4:5
📖 Titus 3:5
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
THE EVANGELIST'S MESSAGE IS NOT “DO SOMETHING TO BE SAVED,” BUT “BELIEVE WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE.”
5️⃣ SHEPHERDING — THE PASTOR
📖 Ephesians 4:11–12; 1 Timothy 4:6, 12–16; 2 Timothy 4:2
Pastoral ministry involves much more than standing behind a pulpit once a week.
The pastor cares for believers by feeding them sound doctrine.
A. SHEPHERD THE SAINTS
📖 Ephesians 4:12
“For the perfecting of the saints…”
The pastor's goal is not to make believers permanently dependent upon him.
His ministry should help them mature.
B. STRENGTHEN THE SAINTS
📖 1 Timothy 4:6
“...nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine…”
Believers grow through sound doctrine—not entertainment.
The local church should therefore be a place of biblical instruction.
C. SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THE SAINTS
📖 1 Timothy 4:12
“...be thou an example of the believers…”
The pastor must practice what he preaches.
His life should demonstrate:
sound speech,
godly conduct,
charity,
faith,
purity.
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
THE PASTOR'S JOB IS NOT TO BUILD HIS OWN KINGDOM—IT IS TO BUILD BELIEVERS THROUGH GOD'S WORD.
6️⃣ INSTRUCTION — THE TEACHER
📖 Ephesians 4:11; Romans 12:7; 2 Timothy 2:2, 15
Every believer should study Scripture, but God particularly uses capable teachers to establish believers in sound doctrine.
A. INTERPRET RIGHTLY
📖 2 Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth.”
The teacher must recognize distinctions Scripture itself makes.
In particular:
Prophecy ≠ Mystery
Israel ≠ Body of Christ
Law ≠ Grace
Earthly calling ≠ Heavenly calling
B. INSTRUCT FAITHFULLY
📖 2 Timothy 2:2
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men…”
Notice the pattern:
Christ → Paul → Timothy → faithful men → others
Sound doctrine is to be preserved and transmitted.
C. INCREASE MATURITY
📖 Ephesians 4:14
God does not want believers to remain:
“children, tossed to and fro…”
Doctrine produces discernment.
A mature believer asks not merely:
“Is this biblical?”
but:
“Where does this belong in God's dispensational program?”
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
THE BIBLE IS ALL FOR US, BUT NOT EVERYTHING IN THE BIBLE IS WRITTEN DIRECTLY TO US.
7️⃣ SERVICE — THE DEACON / MINISTER
📖 1 Timothy 3:8–13; Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–7
One correction to the graphic is important: Acts 6 does not actually call the seven men “deacons.” For doctrine concerning deacons in the Body of Christ, 1 Timothy 3:8–13 is the clearer Pauline passage.
Ministry is not limited to preaching.
God values faithful service throughout the assembly.
A. SERVE WITH HUMILITY
📖 Romans 12:3
“...not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…”
There are no insignificant members of Christ's Body.
Public visibility does not determine spiritual value.
B. SERVE WITH FAITHFULNESS
📖 1 Corinthians 4:2
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
God does not primarily require fame.
He requires faithfulness.
C. SERVE FOR EDIFICATION
📖 1 Corinthians 12:7
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
Whatever our capacity for service, its purpose should be the benefit and edification of others.
📖 Ephesians 4:16
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT HAVING A TITLE—IT IS ABOUT FAITHFULLY SERVING CHRIST AND HIS BODY.
🏁 CONCLUSION — DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, ONE BODY
📖 1 Corinthians 12:12
“For as the body is one, and hath many members…”
The church is not supposed to be:
One pastor doing everything while everyone else watches.
Christ's Body contains many members capable of useful service.
But rightly dividing Scripture also prevents us from trying to reproduce every supernatural and foundational ministry seen during the transitional Acts period.
Apostles laid the FOUNDATION.
Bishops provide GOVERNANCE.
Prophets supplied REVELATION during the foundational period.
Evangelists continue PROCLAMATION.
Pastors provide SHEPHERDING.
Teachers provide INSTRUCTION.
Ministers/deacons provide SERVICE.
Different functions.
Different responsibilities.
But:
ONE BODY.
ONE HEAD.
ONE LORD.
ONE PURPOSE.
📖 Colossians 1:18
“And he is the head of the body, the church…”
📣 CALL TO ACTION
1️⃣ DISCOVER WHERE YOU CAN SERVE
📖 Romans 12:4–6
Do not spend your Christian life merely observing others serve.
Ask:
Where can I help?
Whom can I edify?
How can I advance the Gospel?
2️⃣ DEVELOP YOUR CAPACITY TO SERVE
📖 2 Timothy 2:15
Study.
Grow.
Learn sound doctrine.
Become useful in the ministry.
You do not need an impressive title to become profitable to Christ.
3️⃣ DEDICATE EVERYTHING TO CHRIST
📖 1 Corinthians 15:58
“...be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…”
Do not serve for applause.
Do not serve for position.
Do not serve for money.
Do not serve to compete with another believer.
SERVE BECAUSE YOU BELONG TO CHRIST.
💡 FINAL THOUGHTS
1️⃣ FOUNDATION — APOSTLE
Paul was Christ's chosen apostle of the Gentiles and wise masterbuilder.
📖 Romans 11:13; 1 Corinthians 3:10
2️⃣ GOVERNANCE — BISHOP
Qualified overseers guard doctrine and lead the local assembly.
📖 1 Timothy 3:1–7
3️⃣ REVELATION — PROPHET
Prophets served a revelatory role during the foundational period.
📖 Ephesians 2:20; 3:5
4️⃣ PROCLAMATION — EVANGELIST
The Gospel of Christ must still be boldly proclaimed.
📖 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
5️⃣ SHEPHERDING — PASTOR
Pastors nourish and establish believers in sound doctrine.
📖 Ephesians 4:11–12; 1 Timothy 4:6
6️⃣ INSTRUCTION — TEACHER
Teachers establish believers by rightly dividing God's Word.
📖 2 Timothy 2:2, 15
7️⃣ SERVICE — DEACON/MINISTER
Faithful servants strengthen the local assembly without seeking personal glory.
📖 1 Timothy 3:8–13
✝️ CHRIST IS THE HEAD
🫂 WE ARE HIS BODY
📖 PAULINE DOCTRINE ESTABLISHES US
📣 THE GOSPEL IS OUR MESSAGE
🤝 EDIFICATION IS OUR MINISTRY
💪 FAITHFULNESS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY
👑 GOD'S GLORY IS OUR PURPOSE
“For we are labourers together with God…”
— 1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV
⚔️✝️✠ Lady Dinah Scivoletti ✠✝️📖⚔️
⚔️✝️✠ Turco, Joan of Arc Priory ✠✝️📖⚔️
⚔️✝️✠✠Act and God will Act (Actus et Deus Act)✠✠✝️📖⚔️
