Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Ephesians 4  Paul prayed for the church to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, that Christ would live in them, that they would grasp the greatness of His love, and that they would "be filled with the fullness of God."  ( 3:16-19)
 In this chapter Paul exhorts them to do their part.. "I.. beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called..." 

What does such a life look like?  Paul spells it out for us:

"Always be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love." v2

"... preserve the unity the Spirit gives.. " Because there is only ONE body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, "one God, the father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is in all."

Speak the "truth in love" v15 - don't be deceived by the world's teaching..
".. grow up into him who is the head, the Messiah" - Through the Truth and in Love!
"strip off the old nature" v22  - all that is rotten and deceptive...
"let your spirits and mind keep being renewed" v23  We need to be in the Word.. daily!
"clothe yourselves with the new nature created to be godly, which expresses itself in the righteousness and holiness that flow from the truth." v24

Stop lying and speak the truth.
Stop stealing and earn an honest living.
Stop speaking evil and using harmful language... only speak what is good, helpful and beneficial.
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness." 
Be "kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has forgiven you." 

All of these things are possible only when we are empowered by His Spirit, rooted and grounded in His Love; filled with His fullness, and trusting fully in Jesus who is "working in us.. able to do far beyond anything we can ask or imagine.." 

To Jesus Christ the Lord and to our Heavenly Father be all the glory, honor, and worship.  Amen.

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