Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4

Chapter 4

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

• What is walking worthy?
• Why use the word vocation?

• We are all called to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness and to love one another.
• Some are called to be fishers of men and good shepherds and to feed His sheep.
• If what the first century Church was doing differed from what the Modern Church is doing then it would be more reasonable to believe the first century Church had it right and the Modern Church goers may be wrong and even walking unworthy.

2 ¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

• These line certainly denote an importance placed on unity of the people and knowing the first century Church rejected the welfare of Herod and Caesar for the practice of Pure Religion we should easily see how important it is to form Congregations of record so that we may forebear one another in real ways and not depend on men who call themselves Benefactors but who exercise authority.

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

• Clearly this calling is an individual calling where each man and each woman will be given gifts and tasks but not at the expense of the body of Christians.

8 Wherefore 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?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

• It is also clear that God is giving us jobs. The kingdom is not just what you feel or think but it requires that we walk and work to do the will of the Father. If we have faith we would want to do the will of the Father.
• Each of us have talent and we should invest that in others. We gather in CORE groups not because we are perfected but because we seek the perfection in Christ by being doers of His word.

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

• The phrase perfecting of the saints is derived from the Greek word katartismos which has to do with equipping the saints with the tools and furnishing them with what they need to do the ministry of the Church. The work of the ministry means the business and employment of providing for the welfare needs of the people within a society that furnishes or renders those necessary resource through charity.
• Just as evil obtains a jurisdiction over you through sin the Holy Spirit obtains jurisdiction based on your conformity in love for The Way Christ. The contractual evidence of the World is the physical representation of a spiritual jurisdiction already granted through our iniquity.
• We come together in CORE not because we are in agreement and united but because wee seek to be united in Christ.

13 Till 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:

• There were many elements to Christ and His character or name. Which measure of His stature do we lack? Our relationship with each other will expose our lack.

• Do we lack Temperance (justice and honor of others)?
• Do we lack Purity (honesty with self and others)?
• Do we lack Charity (benevolence, generosity, sacrifice for others)?
• Do we lack Humility (selflessness, bravery, modesty, reverence, altruism Altruism or selflessness?
• Do we lack Diligence (Persistence, effort, ethics, rectitude, probity concerning others)?
• Do we lack Patience (mercy, ahimsa or no harm, sufferance on behalf of others)?
• Do we lack Kindness (forgiveness, compassion, integrity to others)?

• Unless we gather with each other giving and forgiving how can we come to a mature knowledge of God?

14 That 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;

• The Doctrines of Christ are rooted in a system of social justice by charity and not force and every Congregant, Elders and Minister working together are essential in seeking the salvation of Christ.
• Not because we are in union but our lack of union with Christ will challenge us to learn to speak the truth in love and that requires that we forgive one another instead of covet and rule over one another.

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

• In our seeking and striving and perseverance we are fitted together within our conformity to His stature.
• Not by our agreement with each other but by our agreement with the character and name of Christ who is one with the Father.

16 From 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.

• This is certainly a big job involving the whole body which would require a mutual network of intimate cell groups of Congregations edifying itself not by force like the world but by love.

17 ¶ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

• We have seen how Christ specifically instructed us not to walk like the Gentiles or do as the do which is elect rulers to take from their neighbor to provide them with the services we see the early church providing by charity.

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

• The people of the World have gathered in their Covetous Practices become Merchandise, cursed children and been again entangled in Bondage, while they imagine they believe and are Saved.

19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

• The ways of the world are broad and are not The Way of Christ. You cannot learn His ways from a book. They must be written on your heart and on your mind by the doing of the word.

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

• The truth is the Modern Christians do seek the rewards of those Benefactors of the world and pray daily to the Fathers of the earth.

21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

• His Sheep hear His voice in their hearts and minds and bear His fruit in the doing of the word.

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

• Do we lack Temperance (justice and honor of others)?

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

• Do we lack Diligence (Persistence, effort, ethics, rectitude, probity concerning others)?

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

• Do we lack Purity (honesty with self and others)?

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

• Do we lack Diligence (Persistence, effort, ethics, rectitude, probity concerning others)?

28 Let 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.

• Do we lack Charity (benevolence, generosity, sacrifice for others)?

29 Let 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.

• Do we lack Patience (mercy, ahimsa or no harm, sufferance on behalf of others)?

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

• Do we lack Humility (selflessness, bravery, modesty, reverence, altruism Altruism or selflessness?

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

• Do we lack Kindness (forgiveness, compassion, integrity to others)?

• So the reason we gather is not because we are in agreement but because we are not entirely in agreement with the Father which is what we seek.

Ephesians, Study page
Ephesians 1 | Ephesians 2 | Ephesians 3 | Ephesians 4 | Ephesians 5 | Ephesians 6 | Bible |

Audio Files

Ephesians1-2.mp3 http://www.hisholychurch.net/kkvv/4thbatch/Ephesians1-2.mp3

Ephesians3-4.mp3 http://www.hisholychurch.net/kkvv/4thbatch/Ephesians3-4.mp3

Ephesians5-6.mp3 http://www.hisholychurch.net/kkvv/4thbatch/Ephesians5-6.mp3

Ephesians7-8.mp3 http://www.hisholychurch.net/kkvv/4thbatch/Ephesians7-8.mp3

Ephesians9-10.mp3 http://www.hisholychurch.net/kkvv/4thbatch/Ephesians9-10.mp3

If you need help:

Or want to help others:

Join The Living Network of The Companies of Ten
The Living Network | Join Local group | About | Purpose | Guidelines | Network Removal
Contact Minister | Fractal Network | Audacity of Hope | Network Links

---

CORE | Free Assemblies | Congregations | Congregants | Elders | Fractal Network
Why Congregate | Why we gather | Why Minister | Church | Why Church | COM | MORE |
Congregations of Rebuke | Tips on forming a CORE | CORE Solution | CORE Off Track |
First to do List | Why did Jesus Say | Society and community | Feasts | Celebrate | Network |