Ephesians 4:3

 

Ephesians 4:3

Endeavoring to Keep the Unity

 

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

 

         1.      Endeavoring to Keep

a.      Endeavoring means to be actively pursuing a common goal

                                                              i.      Endeavoring begins with a love for one another

1.      John 13:34-35 

                                                           ii.      Endeavoring means and active pursuit of peace

1.      Hebrews 12:14 

                                                         iii.      Endeavoring means building the fruits of wisdom into our life

1.      James 3:17-18 

b.     To keep something means literally to guard it

                                                              i.      1 Corinthians 1:10 

           2.      The Unity of the Spirit

a.      The unity is not our own but is first given to us by a work of the Holy Spirit

                                                              i.      It was His original vision

1.      Ephesians 2:13-`18 

                                                           ii.      It was His Baptism and Communion

1.      1 Corinthians 12:13 

                                                         iii.      It as Him that brought us to Christ

1.      1 Corinthians 12:3 

                                                         iv.      It is Him that gives us life

1.      2 Corinthians 3:6 

                                                            v.      It is His fruits that enable unity

1.      Galatians 5:22-23 

          3.      In the Bond of Peace

a.      The bond that ties us together is a humble submission to one another

                                                              i.      1 Peter 5:5

Ephesians 4:2d

 

Ephesians 4:2d

Forbearing One Another in Love

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

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

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

Eph 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 

            1.      Who Must I Put Up With?

a.      We are to put up with our brothers and sisters in Christ

                                                              i.      Those who also have Jesus as their Lord - Romans 10:9 

                                                           ii.      Those that have faith in Jesus - Ephesians 4:13 

                                                         iii.      Those that have been baptized into Jesus - Romans 6:3-4 

b.     We are not to put up with those who are in our midst to cause trouble. We are to:

                                                              i.      Beware of them - Matthew 7:15 

                                                           ii.      Mark them - Romans 16:17 

                                                         iii.      Turn away from them - 2 Timothy 3:5 

                                                         iv.      Know where they are going - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 

           2.      How do I Put Up with my Fellow Christians?

a.      Be prepared to be treated like trash - 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 

b.     Turn the other cheek - Matthew 5:38-39 

c.      Be slow to get angry - James 1:19-20 

d.     Never let anger grow in your heart - Ephesians 4:26 

e.      Be filled with a genuine love - 1 Peter 4:8 

f.       Learn to forgive others - Colossians 3:13-15 

g.      Follow God’s example of love - Matthew 5:43-48

Rejoicing in Suffering? / Sermon - Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson

This is a fantastic sermon on suffering. Wow what a topic! So needed for our day and age...

Ephesians 4:2c

 

Ephesians 4:2c

The Christian Virtue of Endurance

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

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

           1.      What is Endurance?

a.      It is remembering how temporary life is - 2 Corinthians 4:7 

b.      It is remembering that trial cannot break us - 2 Corinthians 4:8 

c.       It is remembering that persecution cannot destroy us - 2 Corinthians 4:9 

d.      It is remembering the suffering of our Savior - 2 Corinthians 4:10 

e.      It is remembering to die to self - 2 Corinthians 4:11 

f.        It is remembering that life comes out of death - 2 Corinthians 4:12 

g.      It is remembering our faith in the Scriptures - 2 Corinthians 4:13 

h.      It is remembering that there will be a resurrection - 2 Corinthians 4:14 

i.        It is remembering that our gratefulness to God in the midst of hard times will produce multiplied glory to God

                                                              i.      2 Corinthians 4:15 

j.        It is remembering that suffering produces strength in the inner man

                                                              i.      2 Corinthians 4:16 

k.      It is remembering that all suffering has a purpose - 2 Corinthians 4:17 

            2.      Why is Endurance So Essential for the Believer?

a.      Because trials make us more mature in Christ

                                                              i.      James 1:2-4 

            3.      How do I get More Endurance?

a.      Look to your true purpose - 2 Timothy 2:3-4 

b.      Look at God’s incredible endurance - 1 Timothy 1:16 

c.       Look to the example of those that have gone before us - James 5:10-11 

d.      Look forward to the coming reward - James 1:12 

Sermon on Suffering Well

A great message on going through hard times...

Ephesians 4:2b

 

Ephesians 4:2b

The Christian Virtue of Meekness

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

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

“Meekness is a broken-hearted boldness or a contrite courage” - John Piper

           1.      What is Meekness?

a.      It is not boastful - 1 Corinthians 3:1-5 

b.     It is a characteristic of a Disciple of Christ - Matthew 5:5 

c.      It is a willingness to confront sin - Galatians 6:1 

d.     It is a preparedness to answer evil - 1 Peter 3:15 

e.      It is a dependency upon God - Proverbs 3:5 

f.       It is an inner strength that comes from self-control - Proverbs 16:32;  Proverbs 25:28 

          2.      Why is Meekness So Essential for the Believer?

a.      It helps us know the future of the wicked - Psalm 37:1-2 

b.     It helps us to faithful do good when no one else will - Psalm 37:3 

c.      It helps us to commit our future into God’s hands - Psalm 37:4-5 

d.     It helps us to wait patiently on God - Psalm 37:6-7 

e.      It helps us to conquer anger - Psalm 37:8 

f.       It reminds us of our future reward - Psalm 37:9-11 

          3.      How Do I Get More Meekness?

a.      It must be put on - Colossians 3:12 

b.     It must be pursued - 1 Timothy 6:11 

c.      It grows from a desire to know God’s word more deeply - James 1:19-21 

d.     It is given to us by the work of the Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23 

Trial of The Gods | John Lovell | Acts: How To Be A Jesus-Filled Church ...

A wonderful presentation of the Gospel....

Ephesians 4:2a

 

Ephesians 4:2a

The Christian Virtue of Humility

 

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

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

       1.      What is Lowliness?

a.      Lowliness is humility and a lack of pride

                                                              i.      Pride began with Satan - Isaiah 14:13-14 

                                                           ii.      Pride is our joining in with His rebellion - 1 Timothy 3:6 

                                                         iii.      Pride is at the top of the list of what God hates - Proverbs 6:16-19 

                                                         iv.      Pride is at the root of all conflict - Proverbs 28:25 

       2.      Why is Lowliness so Essential for the Believer?

a.      Humility is at the heart of repentance - 2 Chronicles 7:14 

b.     Humility is rewarded with grace - James 4:6 

c.      Humility is taught to us by our Savior - Matthew 11:29-30 

d.     Humility is demonstrated to us by Jesus - Philippians 2:1-8 

e.      Humility is the guide to how we interact with our fellow believers

                                                              i.      1 Peter 5:5 

       3.      How Do I Get More Lowliness?

a.      Be teachable - 2 Timothy 2:24-26 

b.     Ask God for it - James 1:5 

c.      Meditate on your calling

                                                              i.      You didn’t deserve your calling

1.      Ephesians 2:4-5 

                                                           ii.      Your calling was bought with the precious blood of the lamb

1.      Ephesians 1:7 

Ephesians 4:1

 

Ephesians 4:1

Paul Pleads with You to Walk Worthy of Your Calling

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

             1.      Paul:

a.      This is not an impersonal call which you are forced to do on your own, rather, Paul longs to share this burden with the community of the Church

                                                              i.      Ephesians 4:3-6 

            2.      Based on Everything Paul has Taught So Far

a.      Paul has been up to this point, carefully teaching them some of the most powerful doctrine in scripture but yet it is incomplete without the practical application that is going to follow

                                                              i.      Colossians 1:9-10 

            3.      Who is a Prisoner of the Lord

a.      This is a message worth suffering for - 1 Peter 5:10 

            4.      Paul Pleads with You

a.      Paul begs them to join in with this cause, you like them have a choice

                                                              i.      Romans 12:1 

            5.      To Walk Worthy

a.      Everything we do as a believer must be analyzed in the light of our relationship with Jesus

                                                              i.      1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 

            6.      Of the Calling

a.      There is a general or universal call to all men

                                                              i.      1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 

             7.      You Have Been Called by

a.      Yet there is an effectual call for those who are part of the body of Christ

                                                              i.      God draws His own to Himself - John 6:44 

                                                            ii.      God opens the heart of the believer through the call - Acts 16:14-15 

                                                         iii.      Those that are called are incapable of coming in their own strength

1.      John 11:43-44 

                                                          iv.      It is the word of God applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit that makes us born again - 1 Peter 1:23 

                                                            v.      Those that are called will live a holy life in Christ - 1Peter 1:15-16 

Don't Be a Pastor If. . . Four Disqualifiers

Very good thoughts to any of my friends that are considering ministry....

Ephesians 3:20-21

 

Ephesians 3:20-21
Now unto Him that is Able

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 

Eph 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

         1.      What God has Accomplished in the Past

a.      Jesus adopted us into His Family and gave us incredible blessings

                                                              i.      Ephesians 1:5-7

b.      Jesus has conquered all by His power

                                                              i.      Ephesians 1:20-23 

c.       Jesus made us alive again

                                                              i.      Ephesians 2:4-5 

d.      Jesus broke down the walls that divide us

                                                              i.      Ephesians 2:12-14 

e.      Jesus gives us strengthen when we call out to Him

                                                              i.      Ephesians 3:12-13 

          2.      What God is Doing Right Now

a.      The power we have came through receiving the gospel message

                                                              i.      1 Thessalonians 1:5   

b.      The power we have replaces fear

                                                              i.      2 Timothy 1:7 

c.       The power we have keeps us through the last days

                                                              i.      1 Peter 1:5 

          3.      What is God is Going to Do in the Future?

a.      Jesus is not going to let us fall

                                                              i.      Jude 1:24-25 

b.      Jesus will use His Church to conquer Satan

                                                              i.      Romans 16:20 

c.       Jesus is going to come again soon

                                                              i.      Titus 2:13 

d.      Man cannot imagine what Jesus is going to do in the future

                                                              i.      1 Corinthians 2:9-10 

e.      Heaven is for real

                                                              i.      Revelation 21:22-25