Ephesians, Week 3

To TEACH you how to read AND apply God's Word to your life. For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) To HELP you see your life from God's perspective. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) Message Title:  "Spiritual Maturity" There is a point we all must reach physically, mentally, and SPIRITUALLY where we move past IMMATURITY into MATURITY. The goal is not PERFECTION… but PROGRESSION. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1-24 (NIV) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-24 (NIV) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-24 (NIV) But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it… Ephesians 4:1-24 (NIV) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:1-24 (NIV) Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Ephesians 4:1-24 (NIV) Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:1-24 (NIV) So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. Ephesians 4:1-24 (NIV) That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. Ephesians 4:1-24 (NIV) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:1-24 (NIV) We fight for UNITY. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Ephesians 2:2-3 (NIV) The first sign of a mature Christian is… how well they fight for unity. We are CONTRIBUTERS, not CONSUMERS. So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 11:13 (NIV) A mark of maturity is recognizing the needs of the house… and acting with initiative.  We are confident in what we BELIEVE. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Ephesians 4:14 (NIV) Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15-16 (NIV) Confidence is not an excuse for hatefulness. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:15-16 (NIV) We are pursuing of HOLINESS. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires… Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV) …to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV) The pursuit of holiness is God's invitation for us to be like Him. We are living in the LIGHT. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-16 (NIV) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.  Ephesians 5:8-16 (NIV) This is why it is said: "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:8-16 (NIV) Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Ephesians 5:8-16 (NIV) Living in the light breeds integrity; Living in the dark breeds hypocrisy.   We are full of the HIS SPIRIT. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit… Ephesians 5:18-19 (NIV) …speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord… Ephesians 5:18-19 (NIV) When you are full of the Spirit… you are under the spiritual influence of something that alters your natural state. We are full of GRATITUDE. …always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 (NIV) Being thankful is foundational part of true spiritual maturity. I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)