DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY: A LIFESTYLE

DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY: A LIFESTYLE

Monday, May 05, 2014

The following is written from notes taken and personal thoughts provoked during Pastor Josh Klein’s May 4, 2014 Sunday sermon.  EBB4

Ephesians [MKJV] 4:25-32 Therefore putting away lying, let each man speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry, and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down upon your wrath, 27 neither give place to the Devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, so that he may have something to give to him who needs. 29 Let not any filthy word go out of your mouth, but if any is good to building up in respect of need, that it may give grace to the ones hearing. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed until the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and tumult and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. 5:1Therefore be followers of God, as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.

  We, mankind, are created to worship the, our, Creator. “… everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. … I have formed these people for myself. They will praise me.” (GW Isa.4:3, 21) What does it mean to live this way?

  Going to our beginning gives more understanding; Adam, then Eve, were created to worship God. Initially, following His instruction that included allowance (free will) they did so in manner described in Romans 12:1-3 . . . but then, in distrust believing Lucifer’s statement that there is more to be had and enjoyed, violated their Creator’s one restriction. And ever since man by corrupted nature ours is drawn to worship self, people alive and/or dead, stuff, struggle for identity, and by disposition long to be part of something bigger. And as with Adam and Eve this is commonly being drawn to darkness apart from light. (Eccl.1:18; 2:1; 1Jn.2:15-16)

  Looking to today’s text in Ephesians, what do we learn?

·         4:25, 29. With community awareness, be supportive of one another.

·         4:28. Live not for self, be useful.

·         4:30. Never forgetting God’s people are eternally sealed by His Holy Spirit, we are not to grieve the Holy Spirit. How is this offense is committed? The answer is simple. As with all relationships, ignore the person, live as though all persons and things revolve around you.

·         4:32. Forgive unconditionally as God forgives as described in Romans 5:8.

·         5:1-2. Live sacrificially in order to follow God, for this is reasonable lifestyle. (Rom.12:1)

This week’s challenge: Think about those you need to forgive. Do so.