Ephesians 4
I was reading through and just had to write some of these down! :) I hope that they might be helpful…
1 – “walk worthy”
“walk” – to walk / a consistent and steady continuance / walking at the same pace / day by day / walk… not stand, not run but a careful and paced speed / a solid, long lasting action.
“worthy” – selah… To walk in obedience / to walk in love / to walk mindful of who and what God is!
2 – “lowliness… meekness…long-suffering…forbearing…love”
None of these promote me! None of them feed my fleshly desires. These feed the spirit and please our father in Heaven. Our hearts will find rest, peace and comfort when we can have such a testimony and truly we will learn to love.
3 – “Endeavouring”
The unity of God and peace with our family/brothers & sisters/neighbours…
3-13
Only God can bring about such a work in a life / We must learn to yield and obey / All our gifts and ministries…etc are for others. For the building up and edifying of the body / The gifts are not for personal gain!
14-19 – “speaking the truth in love”
This… is to grow! V16 The perfect church, the true church… The bright and glorious bride!
20
So… how have you learned Christ? / You have not learned Him for yourself. You have not learned Him for pride or comfortability.
20-32
This is painful reading!! But… only for the flesh! / Despise not the chastening of the Lord / It is precious that we have hard guides to keep us and protect us and others from harm! / They may seem harsh or foolish at the time of application but the lasting fruit…. It’s lasting!!!
21 – “heard…taught”
Have you heard Christ? / Do you take time to listen? / Do you recognise the shepherds voice? Have you been taught by Him? / Have you sat long enough to learn? / Have you meditated on His word(the lesson)?
22-24 – “put off…be renewed…put on”
…”Deceitful lusts” – These lusts are deceitful!! / They will not at first seem to be lustful / they will come in a small, unassuming way, they will start innocently… but they will drive a heart from a desire for Christ!! / They will bring pride, bitterness, fornication, adultery…
“be renewed” – This is a work of God! When we turn from ourselves, from our ambitions, desires, lusts… / when we come again to calvary / come again to the altar / Psalm 51 / be filled with God / be cleansed / be filled / be set on fire for Him!
“put on” – We have a responsibility / we have a command to obey / we are not robots, we have a choice / love is an action, it is a choice / Not our righteousness, not our holiness but HIS!! / it must be Christ that we put on!
27 – “give place”
Sobering! / Clearly it is possible to give place to the devil then!! This is certainly something to contemplate! / Do I give him place? / Does he have a place in my day to day lifestyle?
29 – “that which is good to the edifying”
sigh… / Matthew 12:34-37 Every idle word… / Oh Lord have mercy / If my conversation isn’t this… Then there’s a good chance it is corrupt!
30 – “grieve”
Serious word. Serious situation…
32
Not much to say on this. Just to remember it! / Oh Lord may this be my testimony… to family, to church. / God has been all this for me! It is my “reasonable service” to be the same!
Learning With Lovell 