And with that, let's get into the Word of God.

Our text today is going to be chapter 4 in Ephesians and verses 7 through 16.

I'll have you turn there if you're not there already.

And once you do, if you're able, I'll ask you to stand.

If not, that's all right.

But you can follow along as I read the text.

The Apostle Paul is writing by the Holy Spirit to the church in Ephesus and says, verse 7,

but to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

This is why it says, verse 8, when he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.

What does he ascended mean except that he also descended to the lower earthly regions. He who descended is the very one

who ascended higher than all the heavens in order to fill the whole universe. So, Christ himself

gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers

to equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God

and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then, verse 14,

we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by

every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become,

in every respect, the mature body of Him who is the head that is Christ. From Him, verse 16,

the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work.

Let's pray if you would join with me.

Loving Heavenly Father,

will you settle us and enable us to focus and give you our undivided attention.

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