Eph 4:7-13

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage Read the Passage at least twice Who is in the passage? What action verbs do you see? What other words stick out in your mind

vs 7 Grace comes back to be again more than salvation but also how we live and work for God. The Apportionment of grace isn't about salvation but about what God has called us to do. Paul's grace was to preach to the Gentiles (3:2,7-8)

vs 8 comes from Ps 68:18. It talks about God being victorious. He comes to his throne as a conqueror. In the Psalm He receives the gifts from men (as would happen as a way of honoring the victory won) but Paul changes it to God winning through Jesus and now He shares the His gifts with us. (idea of Isa 53:12) Those gifts are intended to make an impact today for the church (vs 13)

vs 9-10 The question is raised as to what part of earth did Paul mean Jesus decended to? Some say it means Hades (thought to be below earth) but I believe Paul would have said that if that is what he meant. Rather I take it to be similar to Phil 2:8. Jesus gave up His rightful place in heaven to come to earth and die on a cross and now comes back to His throne victorious in the battle over freeing us from sin. (again see Isa 53:12)

vs 11-13 The purpose of His giving the gifts is to

• reach a unity in faith that he talked about in beginning of Chapter 4 and 2:14-18

• Knowledge of Jesus Christ- applied knowledge not just head knowledge -A knowledge of His grace that saves and His grace that gifts us to work for God. Also goes back to 3:14-19. To use the gift properly you must be able to know the depth of Jesus' love.

• become mature - again goes back to 3:19 - to be able to understand what God has given us and how gracioous He has been. Believing that God does dwell in us (3:17) and exploring and living the riches he has for us. (2:7,3:16)

Whole measure- God has an abundance He wants to give. It is not limited. (Eph 2:7, Luke 6:38) Question for us is do we desire the whole measure? God gives out of His abundance through His grace. How generous He is and promises to be!

God has given a variety of gifts to different people all to obtain His goal. It isn't to make a name for yourself it it to bring each other to the fullness of God available to each of us.

Gifts are to build up not tear down.