Not of This World – Part 2

Review 

Last month, we started a series titled “Not of This World.”  

It addresses the fact that our Christian lives originate from a world beyond this one. 

This matters because the problems of this world cannot be solved by this world. 

An Ancient Letter 

Written in the first century, it’s authored by an early Christian revolutionary named Paul. 

He founded a church in Ephesus, which is located on the coast of modern-day Turkey.  

• He’s writing to encourage them. 
• He’s showing them how to be super people in a natural world 

 In the first half of the letter, Paul explains that we are thoroughly equipped with superpowers, abilities gifted from God, divine capacities that are accessible to us through faith. 

• In the second half of the letter, he explains that just because we have superpowers, doesn’t mean we don’t face challenges. 
• We addressed the first of seven segments we’re going to cover in this series.  
• The First Segment was titled “Learning How to Skywalk,” which explained the biblical concept of how we can be seated in heaven while walking on earth. 
• Today, we’re starting the second segment, titled “Avengers Assemble.” 

As powerful as we are in Christ, we still have the capacity to disappoint each other 

• We can still be foul. 
• We can still be immature. 
• We can still do wicked things. 

Be Eager to Maintain Unity 

Ephesians 4:3 (ESV): 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  

• We shouldn’t be eager to label people for exclusion.
• We need to look for ways to collaborate with other believers. 

A Real-World Example 

Doing the Hard Things So We Can Do the Better Things 

Romans 12:18 (ESV):18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

Political agreement is not required for spiritual unity.

The Team Up Never Gets Old 

Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV): 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  

We Each Receive Super Abilities from God 

Ephesians 4:7 (ESV): 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  

The Blessings of Victory Extend from Jesus to Us 

Ephesians 4:8 (ESV): 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”   

Psalm 68:18 (ESV): 18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. 

Ephesians 4:8 (ESV):8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 

God is revealing new insight about an Old Testament passage in a New Testament context.

What Christ has, we have.

To quote the Bible scholar Francis Foulkes, “As conqueror he has received gifts that he can bestow.”–Francis Foulkes[Francis Foulkes, Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 10, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1989), 121.]

Ephesians 4:9-10 (ESV): 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)  

Specialty Ministers 

Ephesians 4:11(ESV): 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,  

Ephesians 4:12(ESV): 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 

Ephesians 4:13(ESV): 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,  

The collective Christ person is an adult. 

What are stem cells? 

Stem cells are a special type of cells that have two important properties. They are able to make more cells like themselves. That is, they self-renew. And they can become other cells that do different things in a process known as differentiation.”[“Stem cells: What they are and what they do” https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117] 

“Stem cells also can become brain cells, heart muscle cells, bone cells or other cell types.”[“Stem cells: What they are and what they do” https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117] 

Specialty ministers are the stem cells of the church. 

They produce other people with gifts like them, and they develop people with gifts different from them. 

How Does This Apply to Us? 

Ephesians 4:14 (ESV): 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and from by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV): 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.