John K. Jenkins Sr - The Purpose of the Gifts

I want to start a new series tonight that I’ll be doing for communion during the next several communion services. I want to call it «The Body of Christ.» I’m going to do a series on the Body of Christ. Ephesians chapter 4 is where I’ll begin tonight-Ephesians chapter 4. I want to talk about this because there is a spirit in our country where people think that church is not necessary. There 's an attitude in our communities that says I can worship God at home, and you can worship God at home, but you can’t become everything that God wants you to be when you’re isolated and alone. Thank you to all 17 of you for that rousing affirmation. It’s critically important that the way God designed the church includes purposes associated with it. I want to try to kill the spirit and destroy the attitude where people think they don’t need the rest of the body. If I stub my toe, something happens; the nerves in my toe send a message to my brain that says my toe is in pain. My brain sends a message to my hands and my back to reach over and try to provide comfort; my brain tells my mouth to say something that expresses the pain I 'm in. My mouth opens wide, and my eyes widen in an effort to bring some consolation to my toe. But if the toe were cut off and nowhere to be found from the body, it would not be able to appreciate all the things the rest of the body did to come to its aid. The truth of the matter is that God designed the church so we can function better together. We function better together than we do in isolation. As I look at the book of Ephesians, the church in Ephesus is a powerful church. I think you’ve heard me say this on multiple occasions; they accomplished much for the kingdom of God, winning souls to the kingdom. They tested and evaluated what preachers said; they didn’t just accept what a preacher said as fact without evaluating it. They put the local idol makers out of business, rebuked demons, and cast out devils. They had a level of commitment and dedication that was honored by the Lord. The church in Ephesus was a profound, amazing church; if I could pastor a church like this, I would be happy. They were so amazing that others tried to imitate them and be like them. They attempted to cast out demons from people just as they saw the church in Ephesus doing. It was a powerful church, and I am persuaded that the church in Ephesus became a mature church because they recognized that the body needs each other. As much as you might not want to admit it, you need that person sitting next to you. I know you might want to tell them that you don’t need them. When I was growing up, we used to sing a song that I have since learned is an unscriptural song; it’s not true. And here’s how the song went: «I’ve been lied on, cheated, talked about, mistreated, I’ve been scorned, talked about, shoe as you’ve already been up, down, leveled to the ground. As long as I 've got King Jesus, I don’t need nobody else!» That 's not true. I mean, we sang that song, jumped, and danced, but you need a doctor when you get sick. A whole lot of you have needed some lawyers in your day and time; you need a teacher to learn things. God never intended for the church to function with you being separated and outside of the body. You need the body-tell that person sitting next to you, «I need you to help me become everything that God wants me to be.» This choir, the Carter Legacy Singers- did I get that right? Now, y’all are college graduates, right? Y’all are a little slow in answering that question. They sound beautiful collectively! You need the sopranos; girl, you are a singing soprano. Let me just ask you: where do you live? Upper Marlboro? Oh, and where do you live? Suitland? Y’all are local people. What church do you go to? Do you have a church home? Okay, and you’re in between churches? We’re going to have to pray for you, girl; I have to pray for you. They can’t function as a choir independently; they create a beautiful song because they work together. You did a wonderful job, sir; let me take my hat off to you-wonderful, outstanding work! But you don’t need everybody else. In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul is teaching the church in Ephesus something about the church, and I 'll only be a couple of minutes longer. Chapter 4 is where I’ll pick up at verse 11. Here 's what he says; let me pick up at verse 11. «And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.» He outlines some gifts that He has given to the body. God put gifts in the body, and He lists some of them. This is not all of them; these are some of them. Some are apostles, some are prophets, some are evangelists, some are pastors, and some are teachers. Then He tells us the purpose of the gifts; here’s the main point I want to talk about — the purpose of the gifts. Verse 12: here’s number one, the first purpose that He…