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MINISTRY GIFTS WITH CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: THURSDAY, 27TH APRIL, 2023

TOPIC: MINISTRY GIFTS WITH CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

TEXT: EPHESIANS 4: 1-25

1. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2. with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3. endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4. [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5.  one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6.  one God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.
7.  But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
8.  Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
9.  (Now this, "He ascended" -- what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10.  He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11.  And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12.  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13.  till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14.  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15.  but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ --
16.  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
17.  This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18.  having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the8life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
19.  who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20.  But you have not so learned Christ,
21.  if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22.  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23.  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24.  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
25.  Therefore, putting away lying, ["Let] each one [of you] speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.


MESSAGE:  
In this passage, Christians are asked to live a life that is worthy of their calling; to be humble, gentle, truthful, patient, forbearing in love and united in peace. Jesus Christ gave Christians gifts according to His grace to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These gifts are to be used for equipping the saints for the work of the ministry and for edifying the Church unto maturity. Hence, Christians should no longer live in sin but in the truth of Christ by renewing their minds (Rom 12: 1-2) and speaking the truth to one another.
The passage calls for self-examination on whether you are walking worthy of Christ. Are you living a life of humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance and peace? Are you still spiritually immature, wavering with every wind of doctrine? Examine yourself and repent if necessary (2 Cor. 13: 5). God expects you to use the gift given to you to equip others to attain stability, maturity and oneness in Him. Do not use the gift of God for personal gain. Remain and use your gift in the Church for the edification of the saints. Strive to discover your gift and let it be a blessing to other Christians and to the Church. Will you?


PRAYER:  
My Father, help me to discover and use my gift for Your praise and glory. Amen.      

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