Working Together with God

By Pastor Matt Black

09 December 2007
Lord's Day morning
Ephesians 4:16

Introduction: Open your Bible to Ephesians 4:16.  The title of this morning’s message is “Working Together with God”.

It is important to be working together.  Every part is important.  Can you imagine coming to church this morning in your beautiful automobile, having a nice conversation with one another, and all the sudden the left front tire gets an idea of its own and decides it doesn’t want to go to church with you.  All your other parts may be in perfect working condition, but without the front left tire in the right location, functioning in its designed manner, you’re not going very far!

Ephesians 4 tells us how we are all one Body and how we all function as an organic whole.  What if I told you I drove my alternator to church?  Tomorrow I’m going to drive my transmission to church!  It doesn’t work that way.  Each of us has a vital job to do this morning.  And that’s exactly what Ephesians 4:15-16 says. 

Let’s stand and read this portion of God’s Word this morning.  Ephesians 4, beginning with verse 15.  “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ  16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love”.

[Prayer for guidance]

God is up to something in this world. He’s not finished with this world yet.  We all want to be a genuine part of His work. We often say that we want to do something for God.  Listen, we can’t do anything of ourselves.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:9 that “we are labourers together with God”, and then he gives two pictures.  He says “ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”  There are different kinds of crops in God’s garden.  There are various kinds of parts in God’s building.  We are all different, but working together! 

And this morning I want to give you an understanding of the way we work together with God in our church and in our world. 

I.       Who’s involved in this great work?  Who are the Participants?

In Ephesians 4:15-16, Paul gives us a magnificent illustration of how God does His work in the world—that of a Body.  A body has many parts, but every part is dependent on the Head.  The tip of my little finger on my right hand gets it’s orders from my head.  Nerve endings run throughout my body, and every part is given direction through impulses from my brain! 

A.       You see God’s work depends on human organization and program, but on our spiritual union with Christ our Head.  That is exactly what verse 15 says we are to “grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ  16 From whom the whole body [is] fitly joined together”.  Everyone connected with the Body is controlled by the Head.  Everything comes from the Head. 

Paul is reminding us of Christ's authority; He is the Owner of the church - God has given it to Him; He is the one who adds to and builds his church; that He is at “Mission Control” for all the enterprise of the church; He is the one who infuses life and spiritual energy into the church; He is responsible for its maturing and growth; He is the one who supplies all necessary gifts; Christ is to the body of these people what our physical heads are to our bodies.

Every part of the body gets its direction from the Head!  So Christ can look at the whole church and say to it, “Without Me, ye can do nothing”.  Yes we are called to work together, but Paul said, “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).  Anything of eternal value that comes from your life will come out of your connection and union with the Head, Jesus Christ, and your unyielding obedience to Him!

We are one with Christ as Christ is one with the Father.  Christ has ascended to heaven, but He is more active in this earth today than ever before.  He’s present through His people.

The Scripture says we are to grow up into Christ, our Head “From whom the whole body” is fitted together. 

B.       So we’ve talked about the Head, but what is this Body that is fitly joined together?

Let’s ask a two questions about this body.

·  One- What is the “Body” of Christ?

·  Two- What is my place in the Body of Christ?

1.      First: What is the “Body” of Christ?

a.       The Body of Christ is the called out people of God.  In other places this Body is called the ekklesia, which literally means “the called out people assembled by God”.  Church is found 118 times in the New Testament all referring to God’s people. 

b.       The “body” is a metaphor, or a picture, speaking of all believers of all times.  It shows our interconnectedness with God and with each other.

c.       We learned back in verse 4, earlier in this chapter, that there is only “one body”.  God’s been calling people out of this world since He called Adam hiding in the Garden.  He called Abraham from Ur.  He called out Moses from Egypt.  Christ called out his 12 from Israel, and He calls His millions from this world.  So every believer is called to this body.  So you say, yes, I understand.  The body is God’s church, his people.  There is no believer that is not a part of His Body.  Old Testament saints were saved by Christ by looking forward to His work on the cross.  New Testament saints are saved by looking back to it.  There is one Body.

d.       And the Body is controlled by the Head.  Verse 15 says we are to “grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ  16 From whom the whole body [is] fitly joined together”.  Everyone connected with the Body is controlled by the Head.  If you today are not controlled by Jesus Christ, then you have no part in Him.  In other words, a Christian says “Jesus Christ is Lord!”  Jesus rules what I think, where I go, what I say, and what I do!  If He is my Head, then He controls ME!

I’ve answered the question “What is the Body of Christ?” 

Now we come to a second a second question that this verse answers.

2.      Second: What is my place in the Body of Christ?  And the truth we get from Paul is that, yes!—if you have been saved by the grace of God, then you have a very special place in the body of Christ.  The Scripture says we are “fitly joined together”.  Verse 7 says, “to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”  God formed you so you would “fit” perfectly into His Body.  So what is your place in the Body?  Your ability and your locality are not determined by you.  Your place in Christ’s Body is determined by Christ. 

This verse says we under the headship of Jesus Christ are “fitly joined together”.  This phrase is one word in the Greek.  It means to be “jointed”.  God saves us and He places us wherever He wants in the Body of Christ. 

Illustrations:

·         We cooperate like a Puzzle: Just like a puzzle is not complete without all its pieces, so we need each other.  Yes, God has made us all different.   There’s a reason for our differences.  We are called to cooperation, not isolation!

·         We cooperate like a Symphony: The Body of Christ is diverse and different because there is a symphony of different needs in this world.  In an orchestra, you have different sounds.  Each plays a different variation of the same theme.  All are needed.  So this verse speaks of God’s sovereignty as to who we are and where we are.  God knows what we need.

a.       When He places us in the Body, He gives us our function.  You didn’t choose your spiritual gifts.  You are just the right shape for whatever God has called you to do.  You were sovereignly designed by God to perform a special function in God’s family.   That’s why this verse says we are “fitly joined together”.  God has sovereignly fitted you and gifted you and shaped you.  Both your frailties and your strengths are all designed for you by God.  Accept your limitations and abilities and serve Him.  Don’t try to be someone else.   There’s no one else in the world like you.  You are unique.  You are a one of a kind.  He’s got a job specifically for you to do.

That means that if you are part of a body, then you have a specific function.  Verse 16 says that the “whole body is fitly joined together”.  A body is a compilation of different parts working together!  No part is excluded.  This refers to every single part united together.  No Christian is excluded.  Every Christian is to have the right “fit” and to be working properly (effectually) in the body.

Illustration:  I’m glad as I’m preaching here this morning that my legs are obeying my head.  My head is trying to get something across to you today.  If my legs were not cooperative, I wouldn’t be here! 

b.       Second, when He places us in the Body, He gives us our location.   God has sovereignly placed you right where He wants you.  We are “fitly joined together”.  God made you a certain way so that you would fit perfectly in a certain location. 

i          God put you in the family He did so that He could use you.

ii         God put you in the church that He did so that He could use you.  Now there are other churches besides ours that are serving the Lord with gladness and faithfulness.  All over the Chicago land area there are churches that have “not bowed the knee to Baal”.  The first step toward usefulness is seeing God’s sovereign plan He’s put you in the center of His will for your supreme usefulness. 

We are in the right place and the right shape for that which God has called us to do.  We have the right location and the right function.

c.       Thirdly, when He places us in the Body, He calls us to participation. The specific word here is “compacted”.   This word tells us that we are connected!  When William Tyndale first translated the Bible into English, he translated this word “knit together”.  The word “compacted” means “to weave or knit together.”  It means to be one or to be united, dependent upon one another.  We need each other! 

Application: Are you looking for the perfect church before you get involved?  You’re going to be waiting a long time!!  You know our church is not perfect and the people are not perfect, but you are to work toward Christlikeness wherever God puts you.  If you’ve been a Christian very long, you have seen that no two churches are exactly alike.  All churches have their strengths and weaknesses.  God has placed you where you are, so plug yourself in!  Don’t say, well I’ll wait until the church is perfect.  Listen, if you find the perfect church, don’t join it!  Because the moment you do, the church will no longer be perfect!  God put you where you are!  And you are to encourage others to become more like Christ right where you are.

So we’ve looked at the Participants in this magnificent work of God in the world.

II.       Now let us look at the Power of this magnificent work of God in the world.

A.       First we see the show of power in the Body.  Every member has a manifestation of spiritual power that is keeping the Body healthy.  We are a body that is “fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint [ligament] supplieth,”  Each part of the Body has a gifting and ability and a power!  If you are saved, you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you supplying you with power each day, not only for living, but for loving and building up your brethren.

Everything you do is connected to one another.  Everything you do has an impact on others.   What is your ministry?

B.       Then we see the source of the power.  “effectual working”: the phrase “effectual working” is one word in the Greek.  It is energeia.  We get our word ‘energy’ from it.  In ancient Greek literature, it is always used of supernatural power.  In the Bible it is a word that is ‘used only of superhuman power, whether of God or of the Devil’ (Online Bible, Greek Lexicon).  

Do you have a prayer life?  Do you love the Word? 

In other words, we are a “body fitly joined together” by the supernatural power of God.  God gives us the ability and gifts that we need to do exactly what He has ordained us to do! 

C.       Then we see finally, the sufficiency of this power.  This power is what you need and nothing more because God has individually measured it to you. We are to see the effectual working of this power “in the measure of every part,” 

III.       Finally let us look at the Purpose of this magnificent work of God in the world.  The purpose of your position and gifting and supernatural abilities in the body is simple: growth and edification of the Body.  This is twofold: Edification and Evangelism.

A.       We are to use our gifts to evangelize sinners.  We are given this power to make an “increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love”.  Increasing the Body means that we are being used of God to preach the Gospel to every creature.  We want to see the control and Lordship of Christ spread to every home in our neighborhood, every town in our state, every state in our country, and every country in our world!

B.       Second, we are to edify the saints.  We see the Body increase, and then the Body that continues to increase gets stronger.  So we see the Body “edifying…itself in love”.  Two things—

1.      There is cooperation. The Body has to edify the Body.   Another organ will hurt the body.  You put an organ that doesn’t match the Body into the system, and you are going to have organ rejection! 

2.      There is affection.  The body doesn’t want to do itself harm.  You don’t have to tell your foot to love your hand.  When you bump your head, your arm will gladly carry your hand over to your head to rub it! 

Conclusion: Let me close with two illustrations.

Physically, if you want to grow, what do you have to do?  You need to:

·          Eat!  You need to eat.  If you don’t eat, you will die.  Spiritually, you need to eat the word to function properly. 

·          Exercise!  You need to obey the word and practice the word if you are going to grow.

·          Go to the doctor and deal with illness.  If you have a tumor, you need to cut it out.  Sin is a cancer that will destroy you.

One other illustration.  Think of the car you drove here with.

Some of you parked your car outside last night. This morning you need to clear the ice off your windshield.  Now you could clear the ice off, but very quickly more freezing rain will adhere to your windshield.  So you need two things!

1.        You need the heater going!  You need it hot inside, so that the freezing rain has much less effect on your windshield

2.        You also need to have your windshield wipers going.

Here’s the application: Have the fire of a tender heart and the heat of the Holy Spirit of God alive in you always.

And second, Let the Word of God sanctify you.  Jesus prayed that we would be sanctified or cleansed by the truth, He said God’s word is truth! 

Finally, are you growing the body?  Are you a spiritual father or mother?  Have you  ever led someone to the Lord?  You can be and you ought to be.  In order to do that you have to be functioning properly.

Closing Hymn: 46 Crown Him With Many Crowns