#1447. The gifts of the Spirit lead to maturity - the fullness of Christ (6/2/26)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Ephesians series: Ephesians - To the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God.

From Ephesians 4:13, we see that the gifts Christ gives grow the church to maturity - the fullness of Christ (the church becomes like Jesus). 

To watch this devotional, please select the link below: 

Not so long ago I watched the musical Matilda. One of the songs is entitled, ‘When I Grow Up’. Some of the lyrics describe being grown up as: 

'And when I grow up

I will eat sweets everyday on the way to work

And I will go to bed late every night

And I will wake up

When the sun comes up

And I will watch cartoons until my eyes go square

And I won't care 'cause I'll be all grown up'

Today, let’s be stirred to pursue and encourage others toward true maturity. True maturity is a church that’s like Christ and He gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit to create maturity. 

1. Spiritual gifts equip us for ‘works of service’

The spiritual gifts—particularly those given to leaders—are given to equip (katartismós: to qualify, train, and prepare) every member of the church, not to make any individual prominent or famous.

If a church is to serve Jesus effectively, the gifts must be in operation. God has prepared good works for us personally and corporately, and the gifts awaken us to these works and train us for them. Whether it is worship, teaching, serving children and youth, community outreach, evangelism, church planting, or faithful witness in the workplace, the Spirit’s gifts equip God’s people for meaningful service.

These gifts equip us for ‘works of service’ (érgon diakonía). The gifts the Spirit gives do not create spectators, but servants—people actively working to love and serve one another.

As The Expositor’s Bible Commentary puts it so clearly:

The Spirit’s gifts produce a serving people, working in love for one another.

2. Spiritual gifts lead to the church being ‘built up’

When the gifts are used as God intends, the body of Christ is built up. Paul uses this image deliberately.

The gifts build up the church because, the body is built up as: 

• individuals discover and begin to use their God-given gifts,

• new people are brought to faith and added to the body,

• unity and strength grow as members depend on one another.

The gifts are not given to divide the church, but to strengthen it.

3. Spiritual gifts lead to ‘unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God’

The outcome of the body of Christ being equipped and using her gifts to serve one another is that we ‘all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God…’ 

It’s very important to notice that a proper use of the gifts by her leaders and the whole body, and true spiritual growth, is described in terms of ‘faith’ and ‘knowledge’. The gifts are not an end in themselves, they lead to growth in faith and knowledge in the church community. 

Here, we are told that using our gifts leads to two things:

• Gifts lead to unity in faith - This is about an understanding and agreement on central biblical truths and the gospel. The churches teachers and elders must help the church - in a distracting and perverted world - to know the deep truths of the faith. 

• Gifts lead to knowledge of Jesus - Along with the broad idea of ‘unity in the faith’ - specifically - our ‘unity in the faith’ has Jesus as the centre! knowledge and faith in Jesus grows stronger and stronger as we use the gifts properly. 

4. Spiritual gifts lead to us becoming ‘mature’ - which is the fullness of Christ. 

The proper use of the gifts will lead to the body of Christ  becoming ‘mature’. Maturity needs definition. 

Maturity, according to Ephesians is found in the final phrase of our text:

This is about the whole church - the body of Christ - becoming like Christ. Jesus is the measure of our maturity! We are to know Christ and do the works of Christ. All of us, in whatever roles and gifts God has apportioned to us, are to work for the church become Christ-like. 

Response - Are you, and is our church, growing in true maturity?

Jesus gives gifts to His church so that the body may grow into maturity  - unity in the faith and becoming like Jesus - doing the works of Jesus.

• Are we growing in the ‘the faith’? Do we listen to the teachers that God has put in our lives so as to grow in faith and knowledge? 

• How are you using your gifts to contribute to the image of Christ in our church community?

• Are we loving our church family by actively using our gifts to build and encourage others?

• Are we connected members of Christ’s body, or have we drifted into disconnection?

Finally,  ask Jesus, the head of the church, which is His body, to raise up the various gifted people that are required: 

Community Group Notes

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

Something that builds relationships and confidence to share; it’s good to regularly use this moment to ask the group: How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

This week is ’SIV Week’ (Serve, Invest and Invite) so we’ll focus more on our seeking to bring our community to Jesus. 

On Sunday, we continued our new series entitled: Ephesians: to the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. 

The message on Sunday was: Gifts Part 1. Gifts to Equip the Church 

We began the first part in this section on spiritual gifts - please do use the daily devotions to help you to reflect on this important subject. 

Please read Ephesians 4:1-13 and discuss:

• Personal Reflection – From Sunday’s message and this passage, what stood out to you? Was there anything the Spirit particularly impressed on your heart?

• What are spiritual gifts and what are they for? 

• How do we discover our spiritual gifts and what are yours?

SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

• How does a church that understands and uses their gifts become effective in mission? 

• When we think about our vision to plant a congregation into Roehampton, what are the gifts that are required for this?

• Sharing Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing stories of how we’ve seen God at work through simple faithfulness.

• Practical Next Steps – Who might God be placing on your heart at this time? Are there any “people of peace” (see note) in your life—those who seem open, welcoming, or receptive to spiritual conversation?

Let’s Pray Together

Let’s pray for one another in light of what we’ve studied and bring any other needs before God.

• Let’s pray for our mission in SW London -  particularly to become better witnesses in Putney and Roehampton. 

• Pray for courage, wisdom, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in our Serve, Invest, and Invite opportunities.

• Pray specifically for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives - that God would open hearts and deepen relationships.

• Ask God to work through us by His power, so that others may come to know Christ.