Ephesians 4:15-24

[Shield]

Shield> lets pray:)
Shield> Dear Lord we love you
Shield> we ask that in these few moments we have
Shield> that you will help us better understand your Word
Shield> so that we may make application to our lives
Shield> in Jesus name amen:)
SuzieR> amen
Shield> in a moment I will voice you folks:)
Shield> before I do I will post some Scripture...
Shield> that serves as a context for tonight's study
Shield> Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Shield> Ephesians 4:12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Shield> Ephesians 4:13 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.
Shield> Ephesians 4:14 Then 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 men in their deceitful scheming.
Shield> as you can see God has given diverse gifts....
Shield> so that the church may be equipped
Shield> more specifically...so that Gods people may be equipped
Shield> for the purpose of building up the body of Christ
Shield> and in that diversity
Shield> there is unity of purpose and relationship
Shield> and this is what we shall see as we continue
Shield> as I post verses i will invite your input
Shield> :)
Shield> Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Shield> rather then being blown around by every wind of doctrine....
Shield> we are invited to a different way
Shield> Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Shield> why do you suppose the writer calls Christ the Head?
bluebird> because he is the director of our lives
Shield> amen bluebird
Shield> from the reading of the text....
Shield> we see the metaphor of the body being used
Shield> there are different body parts....yet one body
Shield> Christ is the head of the body
Shield> so he controls and directs as bluebird pointed out
Shield> Ephesians 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Shield> here we see each part of the body doing its work....
Shield> each part is important
Shield> and each part functions with loving intent
Shield> in other words...
Shield> the best interests of the body and each part are foremost in the minds of each
Shield> so each part has a function
Shield> and each part supports the other parts
Shield> Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Shield> Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Shield> here we see the writer dealing with the opposing view...
Shield> or way of life
Shield> in verse 18
Shield> what words stand out to you?
shay^> darkened, separated
bluebird> darkend
Shield> yes
Shield> I agree
Shield> those are key words
sower> ignorance
Shield> the word "from" is key too
Shield> yes
Shield> what are they separated from?
bluebird> God
SuzieR> life of God
Shield> yes
Shield> both really
Shield> so we see a separation from the life of God
Shield> this implies a severence in relationship
Shield> they are not a part of this "body"
Shield> they have hardened their hearts
Shield> Ephesians 4:19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
Shield> sensitivity to what?
Shield> any ideas?
sower> sin
Shield> Having lost all sensitivity
shay^> to life, to God talking to them
Shield> yes
Shield> they have seared consciences
Shield> so yes sower in that sense i agree
Shield> and yes shay^ they have ignored Gods word
Shield> and the voice of the Holy Spirit
Shield> in effect they have distanced themselves from relatioinship with the Lord
Shield> and in so doing have been made children of wrath
Shield> Ephesians 4:20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
Shield> Ephesians 4:21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Shield> notice key transition words
Shield> what does the word "however" tell you?
shay^> different from the previous means discussed
Shield> yes
Shield> exactly
Shield> he is drawing a distinction
Shield> and contrast yet again
Shield> and is showing them that rather than following false teaching and evil behavior
Shield> it is the will of God that we follow the truth of Jesus Christ and take on a Christlike attitude
Shield> Ephesians 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Shield> so we put off the old ways
Shield> we reject sin
Shield> Ephesians 4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
Shield> God wants to make each of us new
Shield> let me tell ya somethings folks
Shield> if you do not yet know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior
Shield> this is a perfect opportunity to do so now
Shield> why be miserable?
Shield> why wallow in the ick of sin?
Shield> why be estranged from the Lord God?
Shield> when all we need to do is to accept the free gift of salvation
Shield> Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Shield> Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Shield> by whose standard are we judged?
Shield> in terms of our worthiness?
Shield> any ideas?
GodzGurl> God's??
Shield> yes
Shield> and what is His standard?
Corky> we are all in the body together... to hurt another is to hurt ourself
Shield> its ok to make an attempt:)
Shield> yes Corky that is very true
Shield> Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Shield> true righteousness
Shield> and holiness
Shield> is God holy?
sower> yes
GodzGurl> yes
Shield> amen
Shield> most certainly!
Shield> is he perfect?
GodzGurl> yes
sower> yes
Shield> exactly
Shield> now then
Shield> if God is holy
Shield> can He stand to be in the presence of any sin?
sower> no
GodzGurl> no
Shield> correct
Shield> so then
Shield> if God is holy and cannot tolerate sin in his presence
Shield> by what measure is our righteousness measured?
Shield> it aint a trick question:)
shay^> God's
Shield> yes
Shield> Gods holiness
Shield> here is the deal
SuzieR> :)
Shield> i talk to many folks about the Lord
seekHim> Shield -> perfection.
Shield> some decide to accept his free gift of salvation
Shield> seekHim => yes
Shield> and some don't
Shield> the reason why many don't is that they feel that they are not all bad
seekHim>Shield -> but since none of us are or can be perfect, God sent Jesus for us.
seekHim>Amen
Shield> in fact...they are pretty ok
Shield> seekHim => i agree
Shield> so then....
Shield> what do we tell people who say...hey! i am a good person!
sower> being good doesn't cut it
Shield> uh huh
seekHim>Amen
GodzGurl> that they aren't all good
Shield> so what DO we tell them?
seekHim> They need Jesus in order to enter heaven!
Shield> what good does that do?
seekHim>Jesus covers their sin.
shay^> Personally I try to find what made them turn away
Shield> shay^ => often that is helpful I agree
Shield> seekHim => how does Jesus do that?
seekHim> See... the wages of sin is death. But, since Jesus died on the cross in our place....
sower> with His blood
seekHim> By his death on the cross. All we have to do is accept his payment for our sin.
seekHim> yes, sower.
Shield> so what is the effect of accepting this gift on our worthiness?
Shield> after all are we not still imperfect?
seekHim> Yes. But, when God looks at us he sees Jesus in us.
Shield> bingo
sower> being perfected by the sacrifice of Christ
Shield> God views believers through the lense of Jesus Christ's righteouness
seekHim> Amen, Shield! Amen!!
seekHim> Guys, if there's anybody here tonight, who doesn't know Jesus... if there's anybody here who hasn't accepted The free gift that Shield talked about, talk to one of us. We'd love to help you.
Shield> amen
seekHim> come, dear ones. Have you accepted that free gift?
Shield> if any of you would like to do that please pc one of the ops thanks
Shield> as you are considering this invitation...
Shield> please know you may also pc seekHim he would love to talk to you as well:)
Shield> lets pray
Shield> seekHim would you pray please?
seekHim> Sure, Shield.
seekHim> Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for coming to earth.
seekHim> Thank you for becoming one of us, and dying on the cross so that we could be restored and re-united with your Father.
seekHim> Jesus, we praise you. We are unworthy, yet you died for us. Thank you.
seekHim> I ask you to work in the lives of those here. Lord, if there are any here who don't yet know you, may tonight be their night.
Shield> yes Lord
seekHim> Thank you for this evening together. We ask you to join our fellowship, in Jesus name. Amen
Shield> amen!
sower> amen
SuzieR> Amen!
J4him> Amen
salti_away> :) amen
Daisy2> Amen:)
Shield> thanks for coming all!
Corky> Amen and Amen