Ephesians 4:7-16

Ascension Day

May 21, 2009

 

 

Ephesians 4:7-16 (New International Version)

 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it[a] says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."[b] 9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until 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.

 14Then 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 men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From 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.

 

 

 

Many people have difficulty saying good-bye.  Several families have had the experience at church or elsewhere where one person keeps talking, unable to separate from a conversation while the rest are growing impatient in the car.  The dating couple has to share just one more kiss.  We may have difficulty making the separation when a friend is moving.  Considerable emotion and a desire to cling to the person occurs when a soldier reports for duty.

 

The Ascension of Jesus also involved a good-bye.  Yet it was not a sad event.  It was wonderful in its effects and meaning.  We note this Ascension Day

IT IS AN EVENT WORTH CELEBRATING

I.  Christ’s ascension affirms His victory for us

II. The ascended Christ provides gifts for us

III. The ascended Christ’s gifts build us up

 

Christ’s ascension is an event worth celebrating because it affirms His victory for us.  Jesus had completed His earthly mission.  He came to our world to serve, not to be served, He once noted.  The task He had designed with His Father and the Spirit in eternity was redeeming the world.  He had carried it out by descending not only to this earth, but to the depths of humiliation.  His trek took Him to the cross, where He suffered and died.  But then He had risen again on Easter.  That glorious event placed God’s stamp of approval on His work.  We know we are forgiven.  The job is done.  After rising from the grave our Savior spent a few weeks providing to the disciples “many convincing proofs” that He was alive, so they would be sure of that key fact.  Then He ascended to heaven, returning to His Father with His mission accomplished.

 

The Apostle Paul noted in alluding to Psalm 68, “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”  Leading a parade of captives was a demonstration of victory.  Today is such a celebration.  The Ascension is oft overlooked but it is worth celebrating.  It carries one more assurance that we are saved.

 

The Old Testament reference noted the Victor supplied gifts to us.  We share in the spoils of His successful war.  His dominion over all things serves for our benefit.  We will share in His glory eternally.  Our glory will not equal His, but it will be wonderful.  Heaven is our home with Jesus in glory and beauty and fantastic fellowship with all who trusted Christ.

 

We need that reassurance.  Death hits the lives of all of us, but it is especially on our minds this week.  Victory over death is ours because Jesus completed His mission and defeated it for us.  Death is not the end but the beginning of real living and fullness of joy.  Our certainty of victory in Christ is also helpful when we are down and out about anything.  And we have lots of that these days as well.  Jesus’ victory is complete.  With the big picture settled and the impossible problem solved, we know He will do the rest.  Look up, not staring into space like the disciples after the ascension, but joyously looking ahead with confidence.

II.

In sharing His victory the ascended Christ provides gifts for us.  Some of those gifts are the spiritual offices listed in the text.  First mentioned were the apostles, the Twelve who learned from Christ and were sent out to bring His message to the world.  We would include Paul himself in that role, for He was specially called by the Savior.  These men shared the Word and were inspired by the Holy Spirit to author the written scriptures of the New Testament that bring us Jesus and His work of fulfilling His planned mission and the prophecies of the Old Testament.  The prophets were messengers of God; the evangelists, gospel sharers, especially in new areas.

 

Then there were those positions familiar to us:  pastors or shepherds who tend the flock of Jesus and teachers of young and old.  All focus on the Word, the spiritual food we need and by which faith is given and grows.  These workers train us or “prepare God’s people for works of service.” 

 

To perform that service requires talents or spiritual abilities, and our victorious, ascended Lord has provided those in abundance.  He has given them to all of us, as Paul pointed out, “To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”  There is a variety of those gifts.  That diversity is used to supply all the needs of God’s people.  Some of the gifts directly involve proclaiming the Word and others support those efforts.  All are important.  Paul used the body imagery at the end of this chapter and in more of his writings.  You know the importance of each of the many parts of your body.  Some parts are small and unseen; others are visible and attractive.  All are needed for efficient functioning.  In the same way, each member of the body of Christ has an important role in carrying out our continuing mission of bringing the gospel to all nations.  God supplies the gifts and divides them out in His wisdom, so we have nothing to get conceited about regarding our own gifts nor need we feel jealous about the gifts of others.  Use your gifts faithfully for the work of the Lord. 

 

Thank God for what He has given you.  Identify your gifts with the help of a Christian friend if you do not recognize them yourself.  Develop and employ your gifts.  That’s part of the ongoing celebration of Christ’s ascension.  It is worth celebrating.  God’s kingdom will benefit.

III.

That benefit comes as the ascended Christ’s gifts build us up.  They lead us to withstand false teaching.  Paul noted, “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 men in their deceitful scheming.”  Infants are helpless against assaults.  They need protection, but help is not always present.  They need to grow older and bigger and stronger.  Paul compared the effects of false teaching on spiritual novices to being in a storm-tossed boat.  You may have had some experiences of that kind and know the danger.  Sometimes it doesn’t even take all that major of a storm to get you far off course.

 

As false teaching changes some parts of God’s Word it poses the danger of shipwreck to your faith.  That catastrophe is worse than the sinking of the Titanic, for it means you are lost eternally.  The comparison at the end of the verse is to gambling with loaded dice.  You won’t win if the house is using dishonesty.  False teachers pretend to teach the truth but they do not do so, deceiving many.

 

The ascended Christ’s gifts build us up to grow to maturity, with the ability to recognize and refute error.  Then we’re also able to handle temptation.  Maturity is filling out the body as the end of the text described, with all the parts present and strong, held together by the ligaments and working with coordination.

 

Paul also told us how it comes.  “We all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.”  Maturity is based on knowledge, specifically, knowledge of the truths of God’s Word.  By the Spirit’s working that knowledge is translated into faith.  The gospel is the foundation.  Trust built on it is the structure.  It is tested by life’s experiences:  trials and temptations that send us deeper into the Word.  Adorned by God’s blessings, our faith becomes a sturdy and strong structure, serving God and living to His glory.  God does that work in more people—many others.  Unity of faith results.  That unity is not a mere outward organizational bond but a true oneness in the Lord and His teachings.

 

Maturity:  sometimes it is an elusive goal in earthly life.  When do boys become men?  I’ve heard it suggested that men are just big boys with bigger toys.  I won’t venture into the ways of the ladies.  My point is this:  attaining maturity is a growing process.  We’re not there yet, especially spiritually.  In fact, the process won’t be complete until God takes you to heaven.  So let’s keep working together, worshiping, studying God’s Word, using our gifts.  God will bless us by building up our faith and maturity.  His purposes will be achieved.

 

The Ascension isn’t really a good-bye.  Jesus is still with us, assuring us of victory, providing gifts, building us up.  He has plenty for us to do as we carry out the work of His kingdom, and that’s exciting work as we grow in and share our faith.  The Ascension is an event worth celebrating as we continue the work of our ascended Lord.  He will bless our continuing celebration.