Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1-6

4:1-6 THE GUARD The Believer’ s Walk in Unity (4:1-6)

1. The Appeal to Preserve Unity (4:1-3)
2. The Basis for Unity (4:4-6)

Welcome to the Guard Treasure explore it and let the Spirit of the house enlighten you. The Guard Treasure is a place where God guards His jewels, pearls and treasures. In here His Spirit always moves to keep everything in order and in unity, He wants peace in here and it’ s not something to be created but to be kept, for the harmony and unity of Himself is present.

1. The Appeal to Preserve Unity (4:1-3) Ch. 4-6 is the practical section of Ephesians, while Ch. 1-3 explains about our position in Christ, Ch. 4-6 explains our positional behaviour in Christ. V.1 a) The walk -

Because of our high calling in Christ we should walk worthy of our calling, like Paul who were in prison for Christ and his calling. A king also needs to behave worthy of his calling. 1.Pet.2:9

V.2 b) The bearing -

Like a king wears cloth according to his royalty, a Christian ought to manifest outwardly the character of Christ, like the softness of cloth Christians also ought to be soft without stiffness. Phil.2:3-8; Matt.11:29-30: Gal.5:22-23 V.3 c) The keeping -

I. Like a king’ s focus is to keep the unity of his kingdom, so Christians ought to keep the unity of the Spirit.

II. Like a bond can keep the crowds outside, so can the bond of peace keep out the demonic assaults of Satan.

III. When we walk worthy and bear one another there will be the keeping.

2. The Basis for Unity (4:4-6) The 7-fold unity. V.4 1. Body -

No matter how many denominations there are, there is only one body, we ought to remember not every part of the body looks the same. 1.Cor.12:12-27 2. Spirit -

There is not 10 Spirits only One and no one has ownership of Him, He owns us. He flows through the whole body as the blood flows through our body, even through the weak and the sick part. Phil.1:27 3. Hope -

The body of Christ does not have 10 different hopes there is only One hope and that hope is Christ. 1.Pet.1:3 V.5 4. Lord -

There is only one head of the body and it’ s not a man on earth but the man Christ Jesus who is the Lord and centre of the body. Col.1:18; 2:16-19; Rev.1:13 5. Faith -

There is only one common faith and that is the faith in Christ Jesus and His saving work, all were engrafted into the one body by this faith. Eph.2:8 6. Baptism -

There is only one baptism into this body and that is through faith and confession of Christ. Rom.6:1-6 Water baptism is an outward act of the inward baptism.

V.6 7. God -

There is only one God the Father, He alone rule and reign, we submit and obey.

I. This does not mean that Jesus is not God, if that was the case then the Father is not Lord and we know that the Father is Lord and we know that the Son is God. 1.Cor.8:4-6 II. “ All” is the believers for only Christians can call God their Father.

III. God can be in all because space is a created thing, in God space does not exists. 2.Chr.6:18 IV. 1. His Position - “ Above all”

2. His Power - “ Through all”

3. His Presence - “ In all”

This 7-fold unity can be likened to the 7 feasts of Lev.ch.23

1. Lord - The feast of Passover.

2. Body - The feast of unleavened bread.

3. Baptism - the feast of Firstfruits.

4. Spirit - The feast of Pentecost.

5. Faith - The feast of Trumpets.

6. Hope - The feast of Atonement.

7. Father - The feast of Tabernacles.

Ephesians 4:7-16

4:7-16 THE The Believer’ s Walk in Unity (4:7-16) The Means of Unity (4:7-16)

Welcome to the Ministry explore it and let the Spirit of the house enlighten you. The Ministry is a place where God works as King and govern His kingdom, in here we have all the ministries that receives orders of what to be done, His plans are revealed here, the main plan to be reached is the perfection, unity, stature and fullness of Christ.

The Means of Unity (4:7-16) V.7-10 a) Measure -

I. The measure of the gifts of grace.

1. Every believer has an underserved gift, a certain measure of grace. 1.Pet.4:10-11 (either serving or speaking gifts).

2. He descended to obtain the gift, He ascended to give the gifts. Rom.12:4-8; 1.Cor.12:4-11

3. The paraphrase is from Psalms 68:18

4. He led the spiritual evil realm to captivity in a triumphal train. Col.2:15; 2.Cor.2:14 II. The measure of Christ Christ is God and therefore Omnipresent. Eph.1:23; Col.1:16-18; 2:9 V.11 b) Ministry -

Some of the gifts to men are described through the 5-fold ministries.

1. Apostles - The architects of the body.

They see the whole perspective and know the blueprint, they are the first to begin the job, they are the church builders and godly authorities, they are mending the Church. Characteristic: Authority, power and networking. Matt.10:1-4; 1.Cor.15:8-9; Acts.14:14; Rom.16:7 2. Prophets - The building inspectors of the body.

Exhorts if error are spotted and encourage continuing the good work, they sees the unseen and hear the unheard. Characteristic: Vision, confrontation and prophecy. Acts 13:1; 15:32; 21:10-12 3. Evangelists - The employers that finds people for the body.

They find the people that want to build and be a part of the kingdom of God, they find the living stones. Characteristic: Declaration, zeal and power. Acts 21:8; 8:6-40; 2.Tim.4:5 4. Pastors - The overseers of the body.

They are the overseers and elders that know how the building ought to be like and therefore leads and guides accordingly, they are elders because they have been building in many years and are mature. Characteristic: Oversight, love and maturity. Acts 20:17-38; 1.Tim.3:1-7; Tit.1:5-9; 1.Pet.5:1-3 5. Teachers - The instructors of the body.

They are good to instruct in details where things ought to be and look like, they have understanding to distinguish what is false and what is good material, they are the seminary trainers that educate people to be good builders. Characteristic: Depth, understanding and right dividing. Acts 13:1; 1.Tim.2:7 V.12 c) Motivation -

I. The 5-fold ministry that were given by Christ were to be used for one reason alone: They should use their gifts to edify and equip believers gifts which Christ also gave to build up His body.

II. “Equipping” (Gr. katartismon) means preparing, mending or restoring Gal. 6:1; Matt. 4:21 V.13-15 d) Maturity -

The 5-fold ministry are given until the body is mature, probably the same as the gifts of the Spirit. 1.Cor.13:8-11 Maturity of the man is reached when:

I. Unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God.

II. Perfect manhood. 1.Cor.13:10 III. Measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

IV. Understanding the right doctrine. 1.Cor.13:11; Heb.13:9; 2.Tim.3:13 V. Speaking truth in love. 1.Cor.13:8-9 VI. Growing up to the head. 1.Cor.13:12; Col.1:10 V.16 e) Members -

1. Joined describes each unity.

2. Supply describes each gifts.

3. Working describes each service.

4. Share describes each giving.

These causes growth of the body - for where unity is manifested anointing flows (through gifts), where gifts are manifested there is service and where service are manifested there is giving.

Ephesians 4:17-32

4:17-32 THE The Believer’ s Walk in Righteousness (4:17-32)

1. The Previous Walk of the Old Life (4:17-19)
2. The Present Walk of the New Life (4:20-32)

Welcome to the Wardrobe explore it and let the Spirit of the house enlighten you. The Wardrobe is a place where God hangs the clothes of His people, no one can come into His house with this old clothes and jackets on, it would quickly become too warm and they would feel very uncomfortable inside this warm house. The Owner of the house would also be grieved that they made His house dirty with their filthy clothes because it is so clean, perfect and so full of light in here that the smallest dirt would be seen.

1. The Previous Walk of the Old Life (4:17-19) Like any normal person who become royal has to quit the old life and live the new life, Christians also has to quit the old life after they have become royal.

V. 17-18 describes the Mental perspective and v.19 the Moral practice.

V.17 a) Direction -

Futility: We didn’ t have a sound and wise mind but walked without purpose and direction, we were wanderers like Cain. Col.1:21 V.18 b) Darkness -

Evil: Our ability to distinguish between good and evil were blinded, clouded and darkened. 2.Pet.1:9 c) Division -

Alienation: We didn’ t know the life of God because we were separated from God, we only knew the evil life of the flesh.

d) Disregard -

Ignorance: We disregarded God, tried to reason God away and loved pleasure.

e) Dullness -

Hardening: Our hearts became blind, hard and dull because of our love for the world.

V.19 f) Derestricted -

Licentiousness: We had no self-control and liked no restriction and were given over to sexual sins.

g) Deeds -

Uncleanness: Because of unclean indwelling spirits we obeyed their pleasure and did all kinds of unclean deeds.

h) Desire -

Greediness: We were selfish and stored only for ourselves. Compassion for the poor and needy were substituted with compassion for our selfish pride.

2. The Present Walk of the New Life (4:20-32) V.20-21 a) Learned in Christ - Through hearing and teaching.

V.22 b) Lusts of the old man - Take off:

I. We ought to take off the crucified old man like we take of a garment, Jesus hanged it on the cross, let it stay there.

II. Lusts are deceitful because they do not satisfy, they stir up the lust and enslaves the person.

V.23-24 c) Life of the new man - Take on:

I. Before we were mentally ill but now we should let our mind be renewed by the Word of God. Eph.1:17-18; Rom.12:2 The new man is not enforced on us even though its put within us and united to our spirits, we have to willingly put it on daily.

II. God created in Jesus Christ the new man righteous and holy even as He created the first man innocent and pure.

V.25-31 The putting off the old man. V.25 a) Speech and truth -

The new man is transparent and loves truth, therefore speaks truth.

V.26 b) Sun and wrath -

I. God also gets angry therefore anger is not sin, but we are commanded to forgive even before the day is over.

II. Anyone can become angry: But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way is not easy. (Therefore don’ t get angry)

V.27 c) Satan and ground -

We shall not give ground to the devil neither in our mind, action or speech, not even discuss with him.

V.28 d) Stealing and work -

The curse were hard work, this curse is not lifted from believers yet and all ought to supply their own needs. If we work we are not easily tempted to steal and a place is not given to the devil. 1.Tim.4:8; 2.Thes.3:6-15; 1.Thes.4:11 V.29 e) Sin and communication -

Edification and grace should come from our mouth, therefore let the Word of Christ dwell richly in us. Col.3:16 V.30 f) Spirit and grief -

Sin grieves the Spirit and our joy is lost, not only is He grieved but we feel His grief as well. 1.Thes.5:19 V.31 g) Six sinful manifestations -

These 6 sins of the old man is a result of not trusting in God but defending ourselves It starts with malice (a bad feeling) and then bitterness takes root, then wrath and anger with clamour (shouting) and then slandering about the person.

V.32 h) Sweet spirit - As God forgave us we ought to forgive one another.