Operative Energy in Christ
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, part of the Truth Series from Ephesians
Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town, Aug. 2024

Scripture reading
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 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. (KJV)

Five-Fold Ministry Purpose
What the five-fold ministry is supposed to do, is release the measure of Christ’s gift in each saint, to enable them to fulfil the hope of their calling in the ministering service of Christ Jesus.
When this happens, all the collective operative energies flow into the building up of the body of Christ, versus an individual experience alone. There is a wonderful balance between your personal walk with God and the corporate synergy that comes from agreement and acceptance of one another’s anointing – or operative energy by the Spirit!

Operative Energy
The word we are looking at today is:
G1753 energeia (pronounced as ‘en-erg’-i-ah’)
From G1756; efficiency (“energy”): – operation, strong, (effectual) working.
Active, operative, effectual and powerful working power of the Holy Spirit.

Ways the Holy Spirit’s operative energy builds up the Body of Christ, the Church
• Grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
• Captivity led captive.
• Jesus fills all things with all things – he first descended to hell and then to heaven.
• He gave us fivefold ministers: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
• Purpose of the gifts is for perfecting the saints, equipping for hte work of the ministry
• Brings us to the unity of faith
• Knowledge of the Son of God
• To a perfect man: measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ
• The Holy Spirit stabilizes us in the storms and winds of doctrine.
• Speaking the truth in love.
• Grow up into Jesus the Head of the Church.
• Joint and knit together by what every joint supplies.
• Effective operative energy in the measure of every part.
• Edification: Building up the Body of Christ in love.

Three key points for me:
1. Jesus’ gifts – He gives us 5FM gifts to make this all happen – receive them.
2. Focus on the Fulness – The focus should be the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, versus the individual ministries on their own.
3. Energy to participate and build – Allowing the operative energy of the Holy Spirit activates each part to be joint and knit together and to bring their part to the whole body of Christ – that is the growth and increase we should desire above other petty performance indicators of man.