LESSON 5-Ephesians
Chapter 4
BEING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Ephesians 4:1
Continuing from last week:
From last week:
Eph. 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [a]edifying of the body of Christ,
Eph.4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
This week:
Eph.4:14-16 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 (by every ministering supplying joint), according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
4:14 The most dangerous life you can live is an ignorant one. You’re left like an infant on a ship out of control in the waves and winds of the storms of life. The fall of the dice dictates while the deceptive teachings of men and their distracting tricks entertain.
4:15 Love (the revealed value that God sees in every man) gives truth its voice. In this atmosphere spontaneous growth is inevitable. The whole person is addressed in Christ who is the head of the body, (pictured as a conductor of music, epichoregeo.)
4:16 From Him flows the original composition and detail of our design like words intertwined in poetry, they connect layer upon layer to complete the harmony, following the rhythm of His thoughts like footprints. Meanwhile the body thrives and pulsates with the energy of love. Each individual part (portion) finds its full measure there. Mirror Translation
FALSE TEACHING AND FALSE TEACHERS
False teaching is also a part of satan’s strategy. The following are some of the characteristics of false teachers:
· They have a false facade. Matt. 7:15; Rom. 16:18.
· They court believers. Gal. 4:17,18; 2 Tim. 3:5,7.
· They appeal to human pride. 2 Cor. 10:12
· They promote idolatry because it is a quick way to demon influence. Hab. 2:18,1
· They promote legalism. 1 Tim. 1:7,8
· The false teachers will continue to operate throughout satan’s rule on earth. 1 John 4:1
We never talk about what is wrong unless we also teach on what is right.
TRUE TEACHERS
Those who teach God’s Word have a heightened responsibility. “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment/justice.” (James 3:1).
The Apostle John says this is priority one.
The first order of business when deciding if someone is a true teacher of God is to discover what they teach about the person of Jesus Christ and the Word of God. They are the same by the way.
Some traits of true teachers:
They tell you what you need to hear
1 Kings 22:8 (KJV) And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man,
Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
Their message always aligns with Scripture
Acts 18:28 (KJV) For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
They Teach the full counsel of God
Acts 20:27 (KJV) For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
They do not seek to please men
Galatians 1:10 (KJV) For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Their message is based on Scripture and they teach what they have applied to their own lives.
2 Corinthians 11:13 (KJV) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
The true teacher confines their messages to the Scriptures.
They focus on the spiritual aspect of your life
Romans 14:17 (KJV) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
The message is made clear
Ephesians 5:6 (KJV) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
1 Corinthians 2:13 (KJV) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
They possess humility when teaching
James 4:10 (KJV) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
They will accept correction when needed
Acts 18:26 (KJV) And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
They accept Scripture for what it teaches
2 Peter 3:16 (KJV) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
They are portals to the Glory of God
Psalm 29:2 (KJV) Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
A true teacher gives glory to God for the revealing of Bible truths. They know that unless God gives the understanding of the Scriptures.
They realize that they are not the only ones who have the truth
Acts 15:22 (KJV) Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
We must realize that we are but one stream of truth.
They do not claim any promises outside what the Bible promises
1 John 2:25 (KJV) And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life.
We will continue with Lesson 5 next week.
The blessings of the Lord are upon you whether by blood, adoption/sonship or assignment. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Prov. 10:22
David & Mary Sue
***************************
Becca Card, Vice-President
Firestorm Ministries, Int’l.
205-569-3343
https://firestormministry.com
fsinfo@firestormministry.com
Firestorm Ministry Int’ll | 937 E Northfield Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37130
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