Chapter 4 picks up where 3 left off. We have been given great power through the Holy Spirit. Power for what? To live out God’s purposes becoming more like Christ in our attitude and actions telling others the Good News. God doesn’t stop there. He says, I will give you gifts to build one another up and help each other accomplish those purposes. Ok, how amazing is our God, He gives us purpose and then equips us to accomplish those purposes. Some will have huge roles and others insignificant. Not at all, it tells us in verse 4 “that are all one body.” In other words, all are important; all have a vital role in accomplishing God purposes and building each other up. Some of my friends are brilliant and talented in ways I wish I was but God says, I’m important and to keep my focus. For I am necessary for others to do there part.
The second half starts off with “Live no longer as the ungodly do”. He’s saying since you have been saved By God, Adopted by God, Empowered by God and Equipped by God now live like it. He is saying, we are royalty now live like it. Live like we are truly the saved children of God. Walk, no run, away from your former life and purposelessness- live all out for the call of Christ. Paul is changing direction. Chapters 1-3 were about what God has done, and why He has done it. The rest of the book is about your response. Will we respond?
-Tim
Friday, November 14, 2008
Chapter 4
Posted by Calvary Community at 6:30 PM
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4 comments:
Still on my cell so...part 1...At first i thought this was talking about being a good example to the un-saved, and now that i think about it, that's true as well, but thats not what the meat is. You see, this whole chapter is about our interaction with fellow believers. We're a family, one body. Just as in any family, there are bound to be problems, disagreements, etc... What do we do then? We exercise humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love so as to keep unity and peace...
Part 2...We need to support each other, grow stronger together, be rooted together, intertwined, un-seperable, as one body! In this way we will together mature in Christ, and be strong! You see, together, we are strong. When life confronts us, we can and should lean on one another, and where one may be weak, together we overcome. Part of this is discipleship, part of this is accountability, friendship, love! We need to help one another, build relationships with one another where we can trust enough to be...
Part 3...honest with each other so we CAN be supported. Do you have brothers or sisters in Christ that are in your life, supporting one another, keeping one another accountable, growing in the Lord? We also see what not to do. Don't let there be unwholesome talk, don't slander each other, don't stew in anger. Is anger sin? In and of itself, no. What you do when angered though, that's where sin enters. Anger is a doorway that satan loves and we must control our anger, resolve our anger and live at peace...
Part 4... forgiving each other. This is hard to do sometimes, especially when it involves those brothers that you trusted, that you were closest to. It is so easy to give up, to remove yourself from those relationships, but that's not what God wants. Remember, together we are strong, we're united against satan, and we stand. There's so much more i could write, but i think i already went long and am sure this will take a few parts to get out on my cell. Let your roots be intertwined and let's be at peace.
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