Ephesians Part 19
Each believer carries within them something essential for the good of the whole. When we yield our hearts to Him and offer our innermost being (Psalm 51:6–7), God can use every part of who we are.
The Church is one body, but that one body is made up of many distinct and vital parts. Each person is a part of the body and each person has been given a unique measure of God’s Spirit and grace—not grace for salvation here, but grace for service, grace to contribute to the life and health of the body.
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7).
No one is without purpose or value. Even when we feel insignificant, unseen or unsure of our role, this verse whispers truth: “To each one of us.”
Each believer carries within them something essential for the good of the whole. When we yield our hearts to Him and offer our innermost being (Psalm 51:6–7), God can use every part of who we are. This is the kind of sacrifice God delights in, complete surrender (Romans 12:1).
The word Paul uses for grace (charis) means favor freely given, a gift that cannot be earned or deserved. In God’s Kingdom, gift-giving is an act of love. The Father, who delights in giving good gifts to His children, has built gifting into the very fabric of who we are. These are not aimless abilities but expressions of divine purpose. Some reflect care and compassion; others bring peace, order, joy, determination or connectedness. Each is a thread in the tapestry of His grace. And as with all of God’s gifts, each strength carries a shadow—compassion can become control, drive can turn into dominance, joy can slip into a satisfied complacency. Yet when God’s Spirit unites with our spirit (Romans 8:14), He transforms these natural traits into spiritual strengths sanctified and set apart for His glory.
Paul’s own life was a vivid picture of this truth. He writes elsewhere,
“By the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought, but to think soberly” (Romans 12:3).
Paul’s intellect, his training under Gamaliel, his Roman citizenship, and his zeal were all raw material that God refined through the gift of the Spirit. Grace took what was natural and made it supernatural. God does not erase who we are; He redeems who we are.
This grace, Paul explains, is “according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” The measure is not random; it is intentional. Christ, the risen and exalted Lord, distributes gifts in perfect wisdom—to equip, strengthen, and build up His body. As Psalm 68:18 declares,
“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
Paul sees Christ as the conquering King who, having triumphed over sin, death and the devil, now returns in victory to bestow gifts upon His people. The imagery is royal and triumphant: the Victor ascends with the spoils of battle, and those spoils are spiritual gifts poured out through the Holy Spirit.
Before He ascended, Jesus told His disciples,
“Unless I go away, the Helper will not come to you” (John 16:7).
The giving of gifts was contingent upon His return to the Father. At Pentecost, that promise was fulfilled:
“Repent and be baptized . . . and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
From that moment forward, every believer who receives the Spirit also receives a calling—a place, a role, a portion of grace for the good of all.
The gifts of the Spirit and place in the Body are deliberate and intentional to be used as tools for transformation. Each one is given for the strengthening of the Body of Christ—that the Church might reflect His love, His truth and His glory in the world. Whether our gifts seem small or significant, visible or hidden, they are all vital. The same Spirit who empowers apostles and teachers also empowers servants, encouragers, intercessors and givers. All gifts are spiritual when yielded to the Spirit.
Paul summarizes this divine generosity in verse 11 of Ephesians 4.
“He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).
In tomorrow’s lesson we will explore each of these functions of service meant to equip and build the body of the Church.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
