For the past two weeks, Pastor Bill and I have been preaching on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We invite you to read these sermons on our website or by hard copy if you weren’t able to be here.

            Today we end the preaching series with this letter from Paul to the church at Ephesus. A church that he founded about 50 years after Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. As the chief apostle of Christianity, he founded this church, located in Asia Minor. An important coastal city, famous for its seaport, vibrant trade-based economy, home to the largest population, and steeped in the religion and culture of Greek mythology. Most notably among them, the majestic Temple of the Goddess Diana, one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient world.

            It was in such a setting that Paul found it necessary to write his beloved and fledgling Christian church, to remind them of their spiritual gifts and the reasons for them. In that bustling metropolis, teaming with traders from all over the world, similar to Los Angeles or New York City, that Paul uses his gifts to proclaim the Word of God. Some of the church members were architects, engineers, contractors, construction workers, carpenters and plumbers. Paul tells the builders that Christ gave everyone a gift (grace), an unearned skill, to build the church. And he wasn’t talking about bricks, mortar or stone. How could they not understand? How could they not get it? Everyone knew that building projects provided economic stability for the economy--food, shelter and status. Paul had to remind the Christians that the work of Christ was even more important than their livelihoods. And today, we, the post-modern church, greatly need this reminder as well.

            Christ came from above, descended to earth, experienced the grave, and returned to heaven so that there would be no place in the universe that did not experience his presence, the Holy Sprit. “Salvation is for everyone,” is the message of verse 10. The Spirit is here to “fill us up with his presence” so we can rest and relax and take naps. Right? We are awarded gifts to love and serve God and God’s people, to make the church that Jesus began stronger.

            Within a typical human family, from the moment of birth, the family feeds, cares for and loves the newly born, all the while watching, hoping and praying for signs of growth: Is the child curious, is there ample movement of the limbs, are the five senses developing at the right stages, is weight gain normal? No one wants to hear an obstetrician say, “failure to thrive.”  We weep with such families, don’t we? Because it means there is a serious developmental problem.

            During our Christian Conversations a few months ago, one of the areas of improvement we identified was Spiritual Maturity. God created us to love and serve in the name of Jesus so that we can lead others to love and serve in the name of Jesus. Lack of using the gifts he distributed renders a diagnosis of failure to thrive, stagnation, little or no growth, spiritual immaturity. Baby Christians are easily tricked into believing everything that comes down the pipe because they haven’t developed the bonding relationship they should have with Christ. Remaining on a bottle, drinking milk, is a sign of a developmental problem. If a child refuses to move on to cereals, strained fruits and vegetables, and so on wouldn’t you do everything necessary to stimulate growth?

            This is one reason why we study the spiritual gifts of Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, and these five spiritual gifts/offices in Ephesians 4:11. Apostles are those who establish new churches. Prophets are those who speak the eternal truth and consequences of God’s Word. Evangelists are those who share their faith with non-Christians. And Pastors and Teachers are those who proclaim God’s Word and lead congregations. Verse 12 says the Spirit provides these leaders to equip and prepare the church for ministry and service, to help the church walk and talk the gospel, not to do the work for the church.

            Verse 15 smoothly ushers us to the challenge of today’s message: “Grow Up in Christ.” Not in the obnoxious Joan Rivers, “GROW UP!” way, but in the loving example provided by Jesus, who emptied himself of divine glory, took on the flesh he created, lived among us, died for us, conquered sin and death, and returned to heaven to build a place for us because that’s what God wants. God wants to spend eternity with us. That’s how much he loves YOU! How much do YOU love HIM? Enough to grow up in his son? By using the gifts we have received from the Holy Spirit’s Extravagant Generosity? By sharing the good news? By glorifying God? By doing our part in word and in deed to love and serve God’s  people? By building up the church to make it stronger, not weaker?

            Verse 13 says the church must continue its work and ministries until all have knowledge and faith in Jesus. When we use our gifts to build up the church, rather than tear it down, or ignore it (I’m not sure which is worse), we show signs of spiritual maturity.  In Luke 10:2 Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray for God to send out more workers.” Help WUMC to fulfill its Vision to Reach UP, Reach IN, and Reach OUT. How? Pastor Bill and I would love to pray and talk to you about your spiritual gifts. Amen.