"On Our Way To Spiritual Renewal At New Beginnings" Part 5
"As Dear Children!"
Ephesians 4, 5:1-10

INTRO: Four weeks ago I started a series. "On Our Way To Spiritual Renewal At New Beginnings." Our message was entitled, "Erase The Mark From The 'John Mark' In Your Lives." Basically I dealt with the theme of "Reclaiming The Confidence In Each Other So We Can Regaining The Proper Direction God Wants Us To Have."

Then I dealt with the theme, "Receiving the Chastening of the Lord with Joy, that We Might Gladly Remove the Carnality that Clings to our Life." My message was entitled, "Carnality or Holiness, Which will it be?"

I continued on with the series, using next as a theme: Realigning our Ideas or Attitudes that are Contrary to the Spirit, That We Might Receive the Message of Reconciliation." Last weeks message was entitled, "So, Which Self Shows Up Today?"

Then I continued on with the series, using a theme: "Removing the Righteousness That We Own From Our Lives, That We Might Replace it With God's." I used as a title, "Pharisee or Publican; Saint or Sinner?"

Today I will finish the series, "On Our Way To Spiritual Renewal At New Beginnings." I will use as a theme: "Redeeming The Time That God Has For Us That We Might Rejoin The Cause For His Work To Succeed." My title this morning will be , "As Dear Children!"

 

Ephesians 4 1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20But ye have not so learned Christ; 21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the devil. 28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 5 1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

We need to be a strong meaningful Family

With different Gifts (and)

Abilities
Jobs
Responsibilities
Ministries
Earthly abodes

With the same Goals for Evangelism (and)

Need of personal salvation
Hunger for unity
Master
Responsibility to walk worthy
Eternal abode

We need a settled maturity to help our family

Fulfilling our potentials

Growing for Christ
Giving our allegiance
Standing Upright and Holy
Striving to daily improve

Shedding childish (ungodly) practices (we should know better) vs.14-32

Not deceived by every wind and doctrine
Using God's word to strengthen us
Using love and truth to grow - vs. 15
Not a copy-cat vs. 17 - personal knowledge and relationships
Filled with knowledge vs. 18
Unneedful, unhelpful, uncomplimentary, unwelcome, etc. 19-32

We need to be special memorable followers

Of God, the great provider

In love
Thankful
Representing
Sweet (as dear children are)

As dear children with a purpose

Separated from the others
Non-partakers
as children special
As servants
As CHILDREN OF LIGHT

 

 

030704am - New Beginnings - first used: 11-08-98 Am Gary Marcum