And he gave gifts…

“But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Ephesians 4:8

A very dear man of God went home to be with the Lord about two weeks ago. This man had been a blessing to me over the years. In the difficult times of my life, he inspired me to expect the best concerning the things of God. I enjoyed his ministry.

As I look back over the years of his ministry; he stood out as a very dedicated and committed minister. He was a gift to the Body of Christ.

God is a giver

God has always been a giver of many good gifts. Creation is a revelation in motion if his faithfulness!

God has given many gifts, but as in many cases, we don’t appreciate those gifts because of the wrapping paper those gifts come in.

When Jesus ascended up, he gave gifts! The gifts are for people.

The gifts are to enable us to come into the image and likeness of God!

Let’s go back to the original gifts of God given in the Garden of Eden,

In Genesis 2:9, in the garden of Eden, God planted every tree that was good for food. And he planted trees that were pleasant to the eyes.

The fruit trees of the garden were different from the fruit trees of the earth. The fruit trees of the garden were beautiful and pleasant to the eyes, in that  the trees were meant to reveal the glory of God! The trees were unique in that they imparted knowledge of the glory of God!

For example, I am sitting in the library writing this post. I am literally surrounded by millions of books on every conceivable subject! 

Adam and Eve opened the door to the reality of the knowledge of good and evil by eating its fruit.

Even in this darkness, God’s glory is revealed in that he is faithful and merciful, and he gives grace and eternal life!

All the fruit trees of the garden of Eden were gifts with special abilities!

Eat

God said to Adam, in Genesis 2:16, concerning the fruit trees of the garden, literally, “eating you shall eat.”

The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was his sacrifice of worship. It was his tool of service.

The fruit of the tree of life was his reward for faithful service! The tree of life could have imparted to Adam, an unending life even in a fallen state, Genesis 3:22

“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.”

Grace

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” Ephesians 4:7

Every one of us has received an equal measure of the gift of grace that was given to Jesus Christ.

There is another scripture that says, “we are hiers of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.” (Romans 8:17).

So whatever has been given to Jesus by God has also been given to us!

There is no doubt that Jesus opened a tremendous door of opportunity for us!

Hebrews 10:19-20,

“Having therefore boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.”

The garden of Eden has been restored. Adam’s sacrifice was fruit that came from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Our sacrifice is the blood of the Lamb of God!

The battle that we face every single day, day in and day out, is making a deliberate decision to eat from the tree of life or eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Sorry to say, most believers are eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Grace is not grace until it shows up doing what grace was designed to do for that season in your life!

Every season

John 1:16, “And of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace.”

Jesus is the living bread that came down from heaven, John 6:51

Living things have the gift of life in them. One of the amazing things about life is that it is associated with revelation through the light of knowledge. For example, John says,

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And light shineth in darkness; and darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:4

God breathed the breath of life in Adam. who was formed from the dust of the ground, and he became a living soul; 

Living Father, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” John 5:26

“As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.” John 6:57

How do you eat?

Believe and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. By feeding on the word of God daily and claiming by faith the promises. Thank God for his grace that comes to you on a daily basis. Look for it, expect grace to show up, turn to the promises first…

John 8:31-32

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believe on him, if you continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Grace & peace!