Ephesians 4:7- 5:7
Introduction:
This morning is part three and the final of this mini-series I’ve entitled, “What’s Important Right Now?”
With so many responsibilities and opportunities, what it really important right now?
I covered 4:1-6 last week which called us to “
keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
,” so let me pick up with this same thought about unity by understanding grace gifts.
Walk in Unity by:
“Each of us was given grace” – a gift, gifting’s, gifts
Paul’s teaching here echoes what he wrote in Romans 12.
Romans 12:1-8
Transition:
As we endeavor to understand and allow God’s sovereign choices to execute among us, the movement is a natural progression of maturity and growth.
“that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head– Christ–
16
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
(NKJ)
Application
: Not so much, “quit being a baby” but understand and grow naturally in your progression of faith.
Transition
: From Gifs to Growth to Pursuit.
III.
Embrace / Pursue New –
4:17-24
What can we glean from these verses?
Lists of ‘unwise,’ ‘immature’ behavior / attitude
Transition
: So we are to be united, through the gifts/gifting of God, we grow and mature as a result and then we pursue the new man that we might, “Smell Right!”
Let me conclude this sermon and this series by saying to you that what is really important right now is that we smell right!
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
(NKJ)
5:1-7
Conclusion:
We are busy and we have set our priorities around those responsibilities and opportunities but what is most important right now are the keeping of the faith, the keeping of the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace, knowing who is who and what is what in the kingdom.
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