Video teaching coming soon
There is no online teaching for this study yet, but the written notes and any available study resources are still below.
These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review…
- The second half of the book…
- Having finished chapters 1-3 – the doctrine of the blessings we have in Jesus Christ…
- We moved on to chapter 4-6 – the practical duty we have in following Jesus Christ…
- Knowledge is not enough – we need to put into practice the things we learn…
- They key word for the last 3 chapters is ‘walk’…
- Ephesians 4:1-16 – Walk worthy of the calling…
- In light of all that God has given to us – we should walk worthy of our calling…
- God gave gifts to help us in our walk – apostles / prophets / evangelists / pastors-teachers
- Everyone one of us has been given at least one of these gifts…
- The purpose of the gifts is to equip the saints to be able to serve the Lord…
- And to mature the believers so they are not longer tossed about in their walk!
- Not only are we to walk worthy of our calling – we are not to walk like those in the world…
Do not walk like those in the world… (3 things)
- 1st – The walk of the world... vs. 17-19
- Do not walk like those in the world – they are confused… vs. 17
- People who do not know Jesus have no idea what life all about is…
- The world can ask the question ‘what is the meaning of life’ – but has no answer…
- They hold that we are an accident of evolution – live – then die and cease to exist!
- In fact there is a famous British comedy that said that answer is ‘42’…
- Why 42 – a joke – because without God there is no answer to the question!
- They just exist from day to day – with no idea why they are alive!
- And if we are listening to – hanging out with – looking to those in the world…
- If we choose to follow them – then we are going to be as confused as they are!
- These people we are looking to follow – are not even going to heaven…
- Idolaters/fornicators/adulterers/homosexuals – sexual immoral…
- Thieves/covetous – those who are always looking for more money – more stuff…
- Drunkards/abusers/swindlers – those whose lives are out of control…
- They need to receive the wisdom of Christ from us – not us from them!
- They are Confused because – their minds are full of darkness… vs. 18
- The reason is because they reject the light that comes from knowing God…
- In order to see where we are going – we need to have light…
- If we refuse to turn on the light – then we are left to wander in darkness…
- John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
- If we believe in Jesus, the answer to the meaning of life is simple…
- We were created to have a relationship with God – John 17:3…
- And God gave us this life to choose – decide about our eternity…
- But those who reject Jesus refuse that light – and are left to wander in darkness!
- The reason they reject the light is because their hearts are calloused…
- When I first learned guitar – my fingers bled from pressing on the steel strings…
- But eventually with lots of use – they grew calluses and became tough…
- When we first commit a sin – we bleed with conviction from the Holy Spirit…
- But if we continue to sin – we can create a callous on our hearts – fell nothing…
- Hebrews 3:13 – “Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
- Sin is devastating – if we refuse to repent of our sin – it will harden our hearts…
- We end up rejecting God – because we prefer to live on in our sin!
- As a result they have no shame… vs. 19
- Those who are calloused – no longer feel any conviction from God…
- They seek to please themselves sexually – given over to unbridled lust…
- They seek to gain as much money as they possibly can – full of greed…
- Because when it is over – there is nothing – we cease to exist…
- There is no right – there is no wrong / there is no heaven – there is no hell…
- So we mind as well live it up – eat / drink / and have all the fun we can!
- But they are wrong – and there is a day of judgment coming…
- They are storing up wrath for the day when they will stand before Jesus…
- And because they chose to look away – spend eternity separated from God in hell!
- 2nd – What we learned from Jesus... vs. 20-24
- Listen to Jesus… vs. 20-22
- How do we hear Jesus – through His Word…
- He teaches us to throw off the old – corrupt ways – which we used to live by…
- There are only two option how to live our lives – walk like the world / or like Jesus!
- Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world…”
- This world does all it can to convince us it has everything we need to be happy…
- All we need is more money / better job / more possessions / a different relationship
- Everywhere we look we see the standards of the world – TV / radio…
- One must ask the question – if that is true we should be able to see it…
- If the answer truly was in the world – then we should be able to see examples…
- If we look to those who have ‘worldly success’ are they content / full of joy…
- When we chase after the things of this world – conform – it brings momentary bliss
- It is a shallow fulfillment though – every bought something new – does not last…
- Solomon put it best – it is like grasping for the wind – Ecclesiastes 2:10-11…
- It is not a matter of striving for the impossible – you are reaching for nothing!
- It is an empty – pointless life – it only leads you from one dry well to another!
- Therefore, instead let the Spirit give us a new attitude… vs. 23-24
- Both the throwing off the old ways – and getting a new attitude – ‘passive voice’…
- Meaning something causes us throw off the old and receive the new…
- As we realize that the world has no answers to life – only empty promises…
- And as we get into the Word – and grow in our relationship with Jesus…
- We will find the Spirit changes our heart – gives us a new outlook…
- No longer living for the pleasure of the moment – but living with an eternal view!
- The results is we have a ‘new attitude’ – we are a ‘new man’…
- With a new character formed by God – no longer living in the sin of this world…
- A holy character – set apart from this world – ready to be used by God…
- Our old man – our old sinful nature – was crucified and buried with Jesus…
- We were then ‘raised from the dead’ – no longer the old sinful man we once were
- We were given ‘new life’ – freed from sin to live for God!
- II Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
- 3rd – The walk of the new man in Christ … vs. 25-32 (5 things)
- 1st – Do not lie – tell the truth to each other… vs. 25
- There are no levels of lies – no little lies / or white lies / or half-truths…
- There is just the truth – and then there is a lie – no middle ground…
- If we are not telling all of the truth – then we are telling a complete lie!
- Is there ever a good reason not to tell the truth…
- Such as if it keeps someone from having hurt feelings – ‘how do I look’ – ugly!
- End does not justify the means – its as much about the journey as the destination
- There is never a good reason to lie – it is depending on our efforts / wisdom…
- Better to be honest – tell the truth – and trust in/depend on the Lord!
- We are to always tell the truth – because we are part of the same body…
- Imagine if you told you foot to walk – it said OK but it lied – and instead stood still…
- The whole body would end up falling down – because one member lied…
- We are all one family – we all belong to the Body of Christ – church of God…
- A pastor lying about taking money – does not just affect one man – hurts many…
- Therefore we should not lie – be dishonest with each other…
- 2nd – Do not be ruled by your anger… vs. 26-27
- Because uncontrolled anger – leads to bitterness / hate…
- Jesus is said in Matthew 5:21 – to have hate for someone is equivalent to murder!
- Matthew 5:22 – “If you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!”
- Will be in danger of THE Judgment – before the White Throne of God…
- Because if we are not willing to forgive – God will not forgive us – Matthew 6:15
- If you are angry with someone – deal with it before the sunsets…
- Talk to the person you are upset with – before your anger turns to bitterness…
- That bitterness becomes hatred – and that hatred begins to control your life!
- We might even find we misunderstood something that was done or said…
- Simply talking the time to talk to the person resolves the problem…
- Or if there is sin and they repent – then their is forgiveness – I John 1:9
- If we try and ‘ignore’ the problem – we give an opportunity to satan…
- Satan would love to cause division within the church – bitterness and hate…
- II Corinthians 2:11 – “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
- Do not let satan rob the church of the forgiveness and joy Jesus has provided…
- If you are upset / angry with someone – go / now / today and talk to them!
- 3rd – Do not steal – instead give to those in need… vs. 28
- Literally – stop talking things from other that do not belong to you…
- We can call it anything we like – borrowing without asking / ‘hulam lang ko no’
- We can justify it any way we like – they already have a lot / they will not miss it…
- Everybody may do it – owner may be more embarrassed than the one who took it…
- If it is not ours – we have no right to take it – it is stealing – stop it!
- Instead work so you can afford to give to others…
- Acts 20:35 – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
- Giving shows we are more concerned about others than ourselves…
- Giving shows we are more concerned about the eternal – than the temporary…
- And when we give – we will find we end up with more anyways!
- Luke 6:38 – “If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running…”
- 4th – Do not use harsh speech – grieving the Holy Spirit… vs. 29-30
- We need to be very careful what comes out of our mouth…
- James 3:5 – “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do…”
- When we choose to pass on the latest juicy stories – gossip…
- When we use sarcasm – trying to be funny – but instead cutting those we love…
- When we blurt out things in anger – things we wish we had not said…
- When we tell ‘green jokes’ – sexual humor to try and get a laugh…
- When we curse – swear words / or using the name of God in vain…
- We need to be very careful what we say – the hurtful words we speak…
- You have heard the old saying – ‘if you have nothing good to say – say nothing’…
- Because we will have to answer one day for every idle word – Matthew 12:36
- The result of which is to grieve the Holy Spirit…
- Have you ever been listening to a conversation – when it turns offensive…
- You suddenly become uncomfortable – you want to quickly get away…
- If we are not careful with our words – we can offend the Holy Spirit…
- Making Him ‘uncomfortable’ – so that He does not want to be around us!
- Instead use your words to do good…
- Say those things that will bless others – give grace to those who listen…
- In other words – let the Word of God be what flows from your lips!
- The way to do that is to make sure you are ‘full of the Word of God’…
- Luke 6:45 – “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
- 5th – Do not be bitter or angry – instead be kind and forgiving… vs. 31
- When we are hurt by someone – and refuse to forgive – it plants a seed in our heart…
- Can quickly grow into bitterness – we become consumed with what ‘they did to us’!
- Its roots can grow down deep – poisoning and hardening – separating us from God…
- The ‘fruit’ in our life makes us sour and bitter – eventually brings spiritual death…
- With un-forgiveness in our hearts – God does not hear our prayers – Mark 11:25
- The only solution – look to Jesus – He can remove our un-forgiveness!
- Jesus went to the cross to pay for our sins – ALL of our sins…
- How then could we not forgive someone for the little sin they have done against us…
- Forgiveness is not just for the one who did us wrong – it is also for us…
- It sets us free – we do not dwell on the past – we get to move forward in Jesus!
- 1st – Do not lie – tell the truth to each other… vs. 25