21 Day Journey – Day 11, Ephesians 4 & 5
In: Faith
How are you doing in your 21 day journey. I have been reading and praying and seeking God, but I can’t get to the computer every day, but I will do my best to keep giving regular updates several times a week. I also love to hear your feed back. What is God saying to you?
Ephesians 4:1
Live a life worthy of the calling you have received! We have been called by the eternal God, Almighty God who loved us and saved us and we are called to now live our lives in light of His glory.
Ephesians 4:2-6 Paul again stresses unity in the body. It come through humility ( a right view of our self before God), and gentleness with one another. We are called to do everything we can to make peace and keep peace with each other. We are all given the same Spirit of Christ, and baptized with the same baptism through the Spirit and Christ. Let us be one.
Ephesians 4:7-13 Christ has given grace to each of us to serve His body. He gave gifts to men, different callings – apostles, teachers, pastors, evangelists, etc. These gifts and callings are to help equip and build up the body of Christ so we can (1) reach unity in faith and knowledge of Christ, (2) become mature spiritually, (3) attain fulness in Christ.
Ephesians 4:17-32 – Paul calls us to walk out darkess, from a hardened heart that is insensitive to God and given over to lust and sensuality. We are called to put off the old self and to be made new in the way we think.
Eph, 4:26 Anger that is not dealt with can give Satan a foothold in our lives. This means we give him access when we hold onto anger and bitterness. If we do not forgive, Satan has a little piece of real estate in our hearts.
Eph. 4:29 Watch what you say. Your speech should not tear others down. Instead you should build them up.
Ephe 4:30-32 – Do not grieve the Holy Spirit who has sealed us. We grieve the Spirit through sin, through hardness to God and not caring about sin. Paul says to get rid of bitterness, anger, rage, brawling, slander, etc. Instead be kind and compassionate, forgiving others. Why? Christ forgave us. Follow Him in this.
EPHESIANS 5
Ephesians 5:8-10 This sums up much of the first part of the chapter. Walk in the light. Do not live in darkness. Do not delight in darkness and sinful behavior. You are to walk in the light of Christ.
Eph. 5:15-20 Your days are short, so use them wisely. Don;t be taken in by the evil ways of the world. Do not be a fool. Find out the will of God for your life. Do not get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit. This happens through surrender. Do not surrender to the power of alcohol by getting drunk. Instead surrender the presence and power of the Spirit. Let Jesus fill you with the Spirit as you surrender to Him. Ask Him to fill you with the Spirit. He promises to do so. The signs of a spirit filled life – singing, rejoicing in God, giving thanks to God. These are a few of the things that display the Spirit’s work.
Eph. 5:21 This is a big verse that basically starts off the next section about husband and wives, parents and children, masters and slaves. Christians are to submit to one another in love, put others first.
Ephe 5:22-24 God does call women here to honor their husbands as the head. This is God’s word to a wife, not a husband’s word. It is a great act of faith for a woman to follow and honor her husband as God desires.
Eph. 5:25-31 Husbands are called to die for their wives – to love her as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. We are to love our wives as a part of our own body – provide for, nurture, care for.
Eph 5:33 Husbands are called to love (honor, cherish, value) their wives. Wives are called to respect their husbands. A woman’s greatest need is to be securely loved and cherished. A man’s need is to be honored and respected. It is true to our nature. And God knows it. It is why it is in the book.
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.davidyarborough.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter.png){kind=icon}
No related posts.
2 Responses to 21 Day Journey – Day 11, Ephesians 4 & 5
Trish Hall
January 21st, 2010 at 4:59 am
A thought from Ephesians 4
: 11-12
This past Sunday I was sitting so comfortably in my chair enjoying our awesome worship time as I do each week when David said something that pricked my heart – he felt like that in his flesh he has taken this church as far as it could go and so much of the noise in his life was ministry — he wanted to hear from God. Hmm…
Later, I felt myself pondering, “Why has David hit the glass ceiling?”
In Ray Stedman’s book, “Body Life,” he says that pastors are not expected to do the work of the ministry or even the work of building up the body of Christ! Those tasks are to be done by the people—the ordinary plain vanilla Christians—what we call the laity. The word “equipping” in Ephesians 4:12
is translated from the word “mending” in Matthew 4:21
and Mark 1:19
as Jesus found His called working. The two pairs of brothers were equipping their nets, making them strong, preparing them for service, getting them ready for action! David and our other SSCC pastors are mending and equipping us for our call. Pastors exist to equip the everyday Christians to do the work God has given them – and gifted them to do in the power of the Holy Spirit.
So how does this apply? For me, this was an ouch! The thought that my pastors have possibly pulled my weight in their flesh trying to do ministry I was called to do in the Spirit. So what do I do or anyone else who may be in my shoes? Here’s what I am learning: We can seek to discover our spiritual gifts and exercise them; we can observe our brothers and sisters and help affirm the gifts we see in them; and we can encourage one another to exercise them just as we would if we saw our child with an awesome swing of the bat. We would tell him to practice, suit up, and get in the game.
Exercising our spiritual gifts is always a satisfying, enjoyable experience, although it may not always be in joyful circumstances—but remember that Jesus said it was a constant delight to do the will of the One who sent Him. These gifts bloom through relationship…
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33
)
In the power of the Holy Spirit let’s break the glass ceiling together.
In Christ,
From a “convicted” ordinary plain vanilla Christian
Steve Temmer
January 21st, 2010 at 11:05 am
During this time of fasting and praying, I am reminded to make sure I am listening to the Lord and not the world. There is always a battle that rages as to whom to listen to. I have been reminded that I listen too much to what the world is telling is acceptable, is worthy and I forget to listen to the One who created me to do His work. If I listen to the Lord, all those other things are going to work out in His time, His way, and He will get the honor and glory and not me. This has been a great time for me hearing His voice in this hectic world. Thank you Lord for your Word and for our intimate time alone talking.