Putting the Will of God First

Ephesians 4 : 1 - 16

Ephesians 4:1-16Authorized (King James) Version

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

 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.

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

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;

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

 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;

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

 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.

Ephesians 4:1-16The Message

To Be Mature

4 1-3 In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

4-6 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.

7-13 But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is,

He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the plunder, He handed it all out in gifts to the people.

Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

14-16 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are easy prey for predators. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

1.) Growing in God :

1 Peter 2:2 KJV 1900

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Question : Do you have a God- given assurance in your spirit—an absolute knowing—that you’d be accepted into heaven if you died ? What’s the guarantee if you don’t make it ?

Testimony: As a child , i either assumed i would go to heaven or never actually thought about it . Out of curiosity i began reading the New Testament when I was in the sixth grade. As I read , assumptions dwindled steadily downward from thinking I wouldn’t make it to finally knowing i wasn’t ready for heaven.

The alarming words of Jesus gripped me ; “Unless a man Be Born Again he cannot see the kingdom of heaven “. “ Unless a man is born of and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kindom of God. “ ( John 3 : 3, 5 )

I knew I never been born-again — so I coudn’t enter Heaven , that mean’t … if I died , I’d go to hell . Naturally , I wanted to be born-again — But I didn’t know how !

The Bible says, “ I write these things so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life . “ ( 1 John 5 : 13 )

When you receive eternal life , YOU KNOW IT , . It is different as night and day.

The day I received eternal life was like standing up in a different world.

I was flooded with intense joy and the weight of my sins was lifted immediately as if a ten tons had been taken off my spirit, now I’ve known that since i gave my life to Jesus Christ, that if I die, I’D go to heaven !

God wants you to have that same confidence — to know you , too, have eternal life —

The life and nature of God within you now with the full assurance of a home in heaven !

2. ) Receiving the Gift :

Heaven is a free gift—-IT’S not earned or deserved

God’s word makes it very clear —- eternal lfe is a gift !

Remember that a gift is never earned by the receiver, or it is not a gift

A gift is earned by the giver ! WAGES ARE EARNED BY THOSE WHO RECEIVE THEM.( You ) GIFTS ARE EARNED BY THOSE WHO GIVE THEM.( Your Employer )

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:17 KJV 1900

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Revelation 22:17 KJV 1900

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV 1900

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Wages is something you earn ; something you deserve ; our sins has earned us spiritual death . If we are to have eternal life we must receive it as a gift — something the Giver earned for us

This makes it easy for mankind to have eternal life because God has done the hard part and earned this gift for us .

God’s word , New Testament , was written in Greek and has been translated into many different languages from Greek.

There are four different Greek words translated “life “ in the New Testament .

1st —- Psuche — Which means natural man or human life.

2nd — Bios —- Which means manner of life.

3rd —- Anastrophe —- Which means confused behavior .

4th —- Zoe — Which means the life and nature of God , eternal life .

Without this Zoe, this life and nature of God , you willnever get to heaven .

When the Bible speaks of “ eternal life “ it is much more than guaranteed place in Heaven.

It is having God’s own nature implanted in you .

This is when God becomes “Father “ to an individual ( US ).

It gives an individual many “ rights “ as a child of God.

These many rights apply to life on earth as well as Heaven.

CLOSING :

Question is : What are you going to choose JESUS or the devil ?

Choose : ZOE — Etenal life —- is something God wants everyone to receive , so you they can use it and enjoy it in this life and be ready for the next life.

God does not intend for anyone to go through years on earth trying to earn Heaven by their own Bios — or manner of life.

Question : If a free gift is extended to you , What must you do to receive it ?

Answer : Just reach out and take it !