Grosey's Messages: Ephesians 4

Friday, April 05, 2013

Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1-16 The Believers’ Walk
Walking worthy refers to living a life that matches your position in Christ. The first three chapters of Ephesians discuss the believer's position in Christ; the last three discuss his practice.

We have already seen in the first three chapters of Ephesians that we are now citizens of a new kingdom and members of a new family. In these first three chapters, we have seen what Christ has done for us. We have seen our privileged position in Him. We have seen the biblical basis of who we are. The position and privileges of the believer's identity in Christ have been described and now the call comes to live according to who we are. The obligations and requirements of this new society come along with the privilege of being a part of it.

The text before us, Ephesians 4:1-16, is packed with instruction worthy of many messages. We will consider some of it in future messages. But in order to understand the call issued in the first three verses we must look at the whole context which illuminates that call. The call is a call to unity.

What is our calling? The Bible speaks of "his calling", the "high calling", a "holy calling", a "heavenly calling". In a simple way Jesus called or invited his disciples. . . to follow him. Jesus said "you did not choose me but I chose you…". Cf. Matthew 4:18-22. There was a great power in the call of Jesus Christ. In fact we cannot come without it. Jesus said "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him"

The root of the Greek word translated "worthy" speaks of equalizing the scales. A Christian's lifestyle ought to be equalized with his identity. There ought to be a perfect harmony between who you are and how you live. And your circumstances shouldn't affect that, no matter how bad they might be. The worthy walk may lead to prison and death, as it did for Paul, but it should never change our commitment to walk worthy of our Lord.

1.The Grace Of Unity vss 1-3

As this chapter opens, Paul issues a call to a worthy walk. It is, in effect, a plea. It was a plea based on his understanding of what Christ was doing in His church. Paul understood Christ's purpose. And he saw all things as they related to that purpose. Sometimes we tend to see things only as they relate to us. But this is limited vision. The challenge for those who lead God's people is to avoid limited vision )) to see the broad view of how things impact the whole. So, Paul's plea is based on the overview his position as a leader had given him.

The plea is to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called. This is not merely a suggestion by Paul. He entreats us. The word translated entreat means “to call along side” in order to admonish or exhort. As a spiritual leader, he is calling those in the church to live according to the standards of their calling.

But he is not calling us to do anything that we have not already been given grace to do. So, what follows is not only what we are obligated to do, but also what we have been given grace in order to be able to do. It is the grace which enables us to live in such a way that we preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Look at the characteristics of this grace. It seems that unity can only be preserved as we apply words like humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, love, diligent, and peace to our lives.

Humility means seeing one's self aright. It means being honest with yourself.

Proverbs 11:2--"When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom."

Proverbs 16:5--"Every one who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord."

Proverbs 16:18--"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

Proverbs 21:4--"An high look [the external manifestation of pride] and a proud heart [the internal manifestation of pride] ... are sin."

James 4:6--"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble" (cf. Prov. 3:34).

Proverbs 15:33--"Before honor is humility."

Proverbs 22:4--"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life."

Proverbs 27:2--"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth.

In Acts 20:19 Paul says he was "serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and trials." If you don't have a servant's heart you'll never walk worthy of the Master. We're to be huperetes--literally "under- rowers," originally indicating the lowest galley slaves, the ones rowing on the bottom tier of a ship (1 Cor. 4:1).

Paul boasted in only one thing: the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 10:8-18). He said, "By the grace of God I am what I am (1 Cor. 15:10). Paul recognized that although he had been a blasphemer and a persecutor, the chief of sinners, God counted him faithful and put him into the ministry (1 Tim. 1:12-15).

Pride can be defined as the sin of competing against God--when we exalt ourselves and try to steal glory from God.

An admirer once asked the famous orchestra conductor Leonard Bernstein what was the most difficult instrument to play. He responded with quick wit: "Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm or second trumpet or second flute, now that's a problem. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony."

In what specific ways are you guilty of pride? According to James 4:6, what happens when you try to exalt yourself? What happens when you don't?

Gentleness could also be translated “meekness.” Meekness is not weakness and gentleness doesn't mean being wishy-washy. The idea behind gentleness is “power under control.” In the Greek language, the word was used of wild horses that were broken and trained.

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city" (Prov. 16:32).

Meekness is the virtue between indifference and a short temper. Aristotle said that the gentle or meek person "is praised for being angry under the right circumstances and with the right people, and also in the right manner, at the right time, and for the right length of time" ([Indianapolis: Bobbs- Merrill, 1962], p. 100). Meekness is indeed power under control.

Do you experience self-control?

Is your anger always under control? Do you rule your own spirit (Prov. 16:32), or does your temper often flare up? When your spouse says something to you that could start an argument, do you immediately defend yourself, or do you defer when possible?

Are you angry only when God is dishonored?

The things that should make you angry are the things that dishonor God, mar His reputation, and despise His name. Do you get angry about sin or when God's Word is perverted by false doctrines and false teachers? Do you get angry with people who claim to know Christ but obviously don't? We must gently exhort those who oppose us, but we have every right to be angry when God is dishonored.

Do you respond humbly to God's Word?

James 1:21 says we are to "receive with meekness the engrafted word." Do you submit meekly to the Word of God no matter what it says?

Do you always seek to make peace?

Meek people are peacemakers. Ephesians 4:3 says they endeavor "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." If someone falls into sin, do you condemn that person or gossip about him or her? Or do you practice Galatians 6:1? There Paul said, "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness." Are you a peacemaker? Meek people don't start fights; they end them.

Do you accept criticism without retaliation?

Whether the criticism is right or wrong, we need to accept it without retaliating. Whenever people write to criticize me, the Holy Spirit has often led me to write them back and thank them for their criticism (cf. 2 Tim. 2:24-25).

Do you have the right attitude toward non-Christians?

Peter said to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15). It's easy for Christians to become smug. We can be tempted to look down on non-Christians and become proud of our spirituality, forgetting that we were in the same position they were before God graciously saved us.

Patience is sometimes translated by “long-suffering.”

longsuffering -simply means suffering long.

Aristotle said that the greatest Greek virtue was refusal to tolerate any insult and readiness to strike back. But that is not God's way for His people. He is "patient with all men" (1 Thess. 5:14), even those who try his patience to the limit. Chrysostom defined longsuffering as the spirit that has the power to take revenge, but never does. This spirit never gives in-it endures to the end.

"No one will ever know the full depth of his capacity for patience and humility as long as nothing bothers him. It is only when times are troubled and difficult that he can see how much of either is in him." Saint Francis of Assisi (C. 1181-1226)

Sometimes the problems in life are not our circumstances but the people around us. Makrothumia is used in Scripture to speak of patience with people as well as patience with circumstances. For example 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says, "Be patient toward all men." That is meekness applied--the spirit that refuses to retaliate. A patient person bears insult, injury, persecution, unfair treatment, slander, criticism, hatred, jealousy, and envy. Whatever people throw at us we should accept without bitterness or complaint.

When you come in contact with a truly patient person, you couldn't start a fight with him no matter how hard you tried. You'd be forced to live in peace with him. Our normal reaction is to be defensive when we're provoked, which communicates that what's most important to us is who we are and what we do. But the important thing is to defend God and not ourselves.

A person who is long-suffering never argues with God's plan. He doesn't question circumstances, people, or God. A person who is longsuffering says, "Lord, if this is what You have planned for me, I'll obey You."

Sir. Henry Stanley traveled to Africa in 1872 to find Dr. David Livingstone, the famous missionary and explorer. After finding him Stanley spent several months with Livingstone, who by that time was an old man. Apparently Livingstone didn't say much to Stanley about spiritual things--he just continued to be about his business with the Africans. Stanley observed that throughout the months he watched him, Livingstone's habits were beyond his comprehension, especially his patience. Stanley could not understand his sympathy for the Africans, who had wronged Livingstone many times. For the sake of Christ and His gospel David Livingstone was patient, untiring, and eager. He spent himself for His Master. In his exciting account How I Found Livingstone Stanley wrote, "His religion is not of the theoretical kind, but is a constant, earnest, sincere practice. It is neither demonstrative nor loud, but manifests itself in a quiet practical way, and is always at work.... In him religion exhibits its loveliest features; it governs his conduct not only towards his servants but towards the natives ... and all who come in contact with him" ([N.Y.: C. Scribner, 1913], pp. 428-34).

Forbearance is also a product of humility, gentleness, and patience. The idea here is to hold one another up, or to sustain or support one another. We are told this operates in love. All of these are characteristics of Christ. They are the characteristics which combine to produce the nature of Christ in us. Only as we have these characteristics do we find ourselves in a place where unity is possible.

First Peter 4:8 says, "Love shall cover the multitude of sins." Proverbs 10:12 says, "Hatred stirreth up strifes, but love covereth all sins."

Agape is the Greek word translated "love" in "forbearing love" (Eph. 4:2). It is unconquerable benevolence and invincible goodness.

Matthew 5:43-48. Jesus said, "Ye have heard it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you, that ye may be the sons of your Father, who is in heaven.... For if ye love them who love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the tax collectors the same? And if ye greet your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the heathen so? But ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father, who is in heaven, is perfect." How is God's perfection manifest? He loves the unlovable, including His enemies, in spite of what they do to Him.

If these characteristics abide, then we will find ourselves being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The word diligent means that we are eager or zealous in our efforts. We are eager because the unity of the Spirit is worth guarding. The word translated as preserve literally means “to guard” or “to keep.” But we are not guarding organizational unity, we are guarding the unity of the Spirit. The Spirit of God has brought us into the bond of peace by reconciling us to God. Now we enjoy peace with God, the peace of God, and peace with one another. That is what is meant by the unity of the Spirit. And the characteristics of humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearing love all collaborate together to make us eager to preserve that unity.

"If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

1 Thess. 5:13, "Live at peace with one another"

How hard do you work at keeping the peace? If my way of asserting that which is right means I break the peace, I probably am not right. The result of the doctrine of Christianity is that it brings peace. It brings broken people to wholeness through a relationship with the living God. It brings broken relationships back together-in the bonds of peace.

It is this very unity of the Spirit for which Jesus so earnestly prayed in the Upper Room shortly before His betrayal and arrest:

"Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are,… May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:21-23

2. The Ground Of Unity

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (4:4-6)

We have a unity that is based on biblical principles. The ground of our unity is what God has done as it is revealed in His Word. You can attempt to have unity on grounds that are not biblical. Some people may say: “We are not interested in biblical doctrines, but in love. Let's forget our doctrines and just love one another! Then we will be united.” Outwardly that may sound well and good. But Paul did not begin his discussion of unity until he had first laid a biblical foundation. What he mentions here in verses four through six is merely a recap of what he has already established in chapters one through three.

He says there is one body. Every believer is placed into the Body of Christ when they are born again. And this one body has its expression in the local church.

There is one Spirit. The same Spirit dwells within each believer, so that there is an interconnectedness to us all. And it is this Spirit which produces unity.

There is one hope of your calling. This is the hope we have of Christ's return to take us all to heaven. Those who are expecting Christ to return will tend to be peacemakers rather than troublemakers. A firm hope in the return of our Lord Jesus will turn our thoughts from earthly things to heavenly things.

There is one Lord. As believers, we all serve the Lord Jesus Christ. If we serve the same Lord, then we should be able to walk together in unity. But if our lord is our own preferences and desires, then we will be divided.

There is one faith. This is the central body of truth which Christ has given to His church, and revealed in His Word. Jude calls it “the faith which was once delivered to the saints.” If you depart from “the faith,” then you bring about disunity within the Body of Christ.

There is one baptism. Here Paul is probably referring to the baptism discussed in 1 Corinthians 12:13. This is the baptism whereby the believer is baptized into the Body of Christ at conversion.

And finally, there is one God and Father. This may be another way of simply saying that we are all in one family. It is the family of God. Those who have been born again can now refer to God as their Heavenly Father. In the Lord's prayer we do not pray “My Father,” but we pray “Our Father.” In the family of God there is a sense of community. We are children of the same Father. The basic doctrine of Judaism has always been, "The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!" and God's oneness is just as foundational to Christianity (see 1 Cor. 8:4-6; Eph. 4:3-6; James 2:19). Yet the New Testament also reveals the more complete truth that the one God is in three Persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Power of God "over all" The Providence of God "through all"
The Presence of God "in all". We are one people under one sovereign (over all), omnipotent (through all), and omnipresent (in all) God.

God has already done everything you need for unity! Will you believe it, pray for it and walk in it? Will you die for it? (die to self)

So we see that the ground of our unity is not simply that we all agree, but it is that God has made us one by placing us together in Christ. We have a positional unity in Christ which we are expected to maintain in practical ways.

3. The Gifts Of Unity

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (Now this expression, “He ascended” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, . . . (4:7-11)

It might first appear that Paul is moving from what we have in common to how we differ from one another. Here he begins to discuss the spiritual gifts which have been given to believers and the gifted ministries which have been given to the church. But Paul is not simply emphasizing our diversity, but unity in diversity. He is emphasizing the inter-relatedness of the gifts which are distributed to individuals but which are necessary for the welfare of the whole church. All of us have been given gifts by the grace of Christ. These gifts are given to each one of us. And all of us can function in diversity for the common good of the Body of Christ. This distribution of spiritual gifts is for the benefit of the Body )) the whole church. In 1 Corinthians 12-14 we are instructed that the gifts of the Spirit are given so that the whole church can be built up. Unity is enhanced by spiritual gifts because we come to understand that we need one another. In verse 11, he mentions several equipping gifts. These are not gifts given to individuals, they are gifted individuals who have been given to the church. He mentions apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Again, he is emphasizes the inter-relatedness of all the members in the Body of Christ. We need all the gifts and all the gifted individuals God can supply. We need one another. And our inter-relatedness is based on the activity of the Spirit in our midst. It is not based on tradition or style. It is based on the life of the Spirit in the community of those who have been made alive by the Spirit.

4. The Growth Of Unity

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. …but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (4:12-16)

Why did Paul entreat people to walk worthy of their calling?

What does the Greek word translated "walk" mean?

What are the five characteristics of the worthy walk (Eph. 4:2-3)?

What is the essence of pride?

Ephesians 4:1-16

It's Been Too Long Since You Last Attended Church When:

* They've undergone a building program, and you aren't able to find the sanctuary.

* The greeters force you to sign the guest register.

* That bratty kid who used to bug you is now head usher.

* You head for your favorite pew, but can't remember where it's located.

* You have to fake the Lord's Prayer.

* You're shocked to learn that King James is no longer the only Bible translation.

* The last time you put a quarter in the offering plate, it really was a tenth of your income.

The last 3 chapters of Ephesians are different to the first three chapters. The first half of the Book of Ephesians has to do with Doctrine and the last three chapters talks about Duty, The first three chapters has to do with the Riches we have in Christ and the last three chapters has to with our responsibilities towards Christ and others.

The word “therefore” that commences our reading of chapter 4 is important. It makes us ask the question “What on earth is that therefore there for? It points us backwards to the first three chapters and tells us that because of all the spiritual riches which we have in Christ, therefore we can no longer live the way we were formerly living. We now have a change of lifestyle. We want to “walk worthy” of the Lord.

“Walk” This word refers to our Christian Behaviour. The Christian Life is often compared to a walk. Early believers, often referred to the New life as “The Way”

Eph 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, Here is how we used to walk. but now Eph 4:1 walk worthy of your salvation.

The first aspect of our walk is we are to Walk in Unity 4:3. Last Wednesday night we gathered together and looked at the graces God desires us to develop so we can walk in unity. Unity doesn’t mean Uniformity. Unity doesn’t destroy individuality. But there are seven spiritual realities that unite us.. vss 4-6.

But there are still differences among believers. Expressing Christian faith in beautiful variegated manners. Now we come to verse seven where Paul spells out for us some issues of individuality. “7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.” Here is individually. Here is diversity. Each believer is given their own gift. We have now entered into the topic of Spiritual Gifts.

Here are two often overlooked yet absolutely vital truths about spiritual gifts.

a. Every Believer has one or more spiritual gift.

No believer is ungifted. God has a unique purpose for your life and has gifted you accordingly.

b. Individual Gifts are bestowed upon us Sovereignly by the Lord Jesus Christ as He wills (1 Cor 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. ) He Sovereignly decides what your gifts are.

1 Cor 12:15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 1

You are not one big nose or one big thumb. Each part of the body has an individual function which other body parts do not have. There has to be unity in the body.

The Person Who Delivers the Gifts

8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 9(Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

The focus of spiritual gifts always reverts back to the issues of Who Jesus is and what He did. He is the Ascended Lord. Which implies He also descended. Here is both the Incarnation and Exaltation of Christ. Sometimes we sing the hymn “Out of the ivory palaces into a world of woe Only his great eternal Love could make my Saviour go.”

2 Cor 8: 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A. His Coming down

He came down to a Bethlehem cow stall. The eternal Christ was born in a cow stall. Here is amazing condescension. Yet He came down further to the death of the cross.

He was made a curse on the cross. He came down all the way.

Why? 2 statements

1 John 3:5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

He came to take away our sins, to offer Himself as an atonement, to shed His blood that you might be free from the guilt and penalty of your sin.

1 John 3:8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

There was D day for the devil at the cross, but V Day, the day of total freedom from the devil is still to come.

He came down to lower parts of earth (9) to do 2 things

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah,

When we look into the Old Testament to discover about the eternal state, we discover that every one prior to Christ’s coming went to Sheol.

In Sheol there were two abodes. In Sheol there was the place for the wicked = hades, and there was also the place for the righteous =paradise

Luke 16:19 "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

We discover in 2Peter and Jude that some of the fallen angels who took part in Satan’s rebellion are already chained up in hades. They are Demons in chains in Tartarus.

The Lord Jesus went and preached to these demons. He preached…not to get them saved, but To Proclaim His Victory He was saying to these demons, “Your plan didn’t work 3 days from now I come out of the grave.”

B. There Is His Going Up

We are told that not only did the Lord Jesus enter Hades to proclaim His victory, but He also entered Paradise. Paradise is where the Old Testament saints dwelt. These O.T. were saved on credit. We look back to what Christ payed at the cross for our sins. These O.T. saints were saved looking forward to the cross.

Remember the dieing thief who was on the cross alongside the Lord Jesus Christ. He cried out

Luke 23: 42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

The Lord Jesus went into paradise after His crucifixion and before His resurrection. Where was Jesus durig those 3 days His body was in the tomb? He was proclaiming His victory in hades over the demons, and He was proclaiming release for those in paradise into the very presence of God. ..He was saying “3 days from now I’m going to take you out of Paradise to the very throne of God.”

To the saints of God He said “Come with me folks I’m taking you to glory!.”

He Ascended

Exaltation Acts 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Paul Quotes from Psalm 68:18

There is an Old Testament picture here of a General or King returning from a military expedition and having won a decisive battle.

The victorious King would first of all take his defeated foes and put them in chains, then he would release his people who had been previously captured and chained.

You can imagine King David triumphing over his enemies and then taking them in chains, as prisoners with him back t Jerusalem. At the same time he enters the prisons of the opposing King and releases the POW’s to bring them home in His victory procession.

He lead captivity captive and gave gifts to men.

Paul refers to this same situation in 2 Cor 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.

Did you see the Russel Crowe film Gladiator? Very gruesome for blood and guts (almost as much as ER)

There is the victory procession, the Triumph, and as the procession takes place, the Victory incense is burned. It truly is an odour of life to life for the released captives, and at the very same time it is an odour of death to death for the chained prisoners.

Col 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

When Jesus ascended back to heaven He ascended as our victorious general He went back having one the victory over sin and Satan and death. Psalm 24 gives us a picture of Our Lord’s ascension.

Ps 24:7 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.

10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.

No back door entry into heaven or our Lord, He went through the gates of glory

Roman Generals returning in the triumph procession would lavish the spoils and gifts upon their soldiers. Our Lord has lavished gifts upon the church

The Holy Spirit is the main gift. He is the birthday gift to the Church.

Acts 2: 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

2. The People Who Develop the Gifts.

8-11… He gave gifted men.

Three are 5 basic Spiritual Gift lists in the Bible found in 1Peter 4, Rom 12, 1Cor 12.

There is a difference with this list found in Ephesians 4. The difference is that the gifts to the church are gifted men. He mentions gifted men as being given to the church.

“Some…” used 4 times in this passage.

He lists four basic offices god has given to the church to help the church.

These are broken down into three categories of gifted men to help you develop and deploy spiritual gifts.

A. Foundational workers Apostles/prophets Eph 2:2 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Eph 3:5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

We are like a building, and we need a foundation, and these guys laid that foundation.

They gave us the New Testament. This was foundational.

When foundation built, you only lay it once…not on the top story, but on bottom.

When you are building the roof you don’t bring in foundation guys. When they did their job they passed off the scene. It is disturbing and dangerous that some claim there are new apostles and prophets and new revelations. Anyone could appoint himself an apostle and prophet. If someone stands up and says “Thus saith the Lord…” you are claiming direct revelation. I.e. Joseph Smith, book of Mormon.

i.e. Crazy beliefs Charos are spitting out. If its already in the Bible you don’t need it, and if its not in the Bible, you don’t want it. Prophets and apostles are still in church (up there in heaven).

APOSTLES  Those who were to be eye-witnesses of the resurrection  - Ac 1:15-22 Their role in the church was foundational, necessary to the establishment of the church - Ep 2:20   As such, their work or function was temporary

PROPHETS These were inspired men and women used in the process of revelation - Ep 3:5; cf. Ac 2:17; 11:28; 21:9. As with the apostles, their role was foundational, necessary to the establishment of the church - Ep 2:20 Just as apostles were not replaced, so the prophets' role was temporary – having completed their role of providing the foundation which is the New Testament.

EVANGELISTS    That’s the Evangelical workers

Literally, "bearers of good news"  evangelise.  To tell the Gospel story. We all are to be evangelising.  These are individuals like Philip (Ac 21:8), who proclaimed the gospel of Christ both publicly and privately - cf. Ac 8:5-13,26-40 These are uniquely gifted.

i.e. Billy Graham, i.e. John Chapman, i.e. John Ridley.

Timothy was charged to "do the work of an evangelist" - 2 Tim 4:5

We are all to do the work of an evangelist. We are to share the gospel with all the Lord puts us in contact with, for Heaven and hell are in the offing.

Unlike apostles and prophets, their work does not involve "laying the foundation", but rather building upon that which is already laid, which they do every time they lead someone to Christ. Therefore, their work or function continues to the present

PASTORS AND TEACHERS    The Instructional Workers

It may be that Paul intended these terms to describe one function (because "some" is not repeated. The role of "pastor" (shepherd) certainly requires "feeding" or teaching   I am God’s gift to you. Well may you say  “We got the booby prize!”

While there is indication elsewhere that there was a special function of "teachers" in the local church - Ac 13:1; 1 Co 12:28-29; 2 Ti 1:11; Ja 3:1 The term "pastor" is found only here in the Scriptures, but from Ac 20:17,28 and 1 Pe 5:1-2 it becomes clear that "pastors, shepherds, elders, presbyters, bishops, overseers" are simply different terms describing the spiritual leaders of local congregations.

The nature of the work of "pastors and teachers" (i.e., overseeing and feeding the flock of God) naturally follows the work of the evangelists who find the sheep. I am to feed the sheep. Putting biblical food into the trough. The music is great, but the main event is the feeding by which you can grow. ) It is not desirable for us to neglect the Word of God in order to serve tables” (Acts 6:2). Then they said, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word” (Acts 6:4)

   Their chief priority was the Word of God and prayer. It is interesting to note that often these are the first two things that are neglected in a busy minister's schedule. But it takes time to hear from God. Prayer and the diligent study of the Word go hand in hand in that endeavour. And, if you don't spend time at it, you might get a little talk together, but you will never equip the saints. I am also to guard the flock.  Sometimes people just don’t understand. I may make myself unpopular. But sometimes I have to guard the flock. I have to be careful that nothing comes in that would harm the flock.  I am responsible to the Chief Shepherd.

3. The Purpose Which Directs These Gifts.

Some members:

1. A lot of members are like wheelbarrows -- not good unless pushed.
2. Some are like canoes -- need to be paddled.
3. Some are like kites -- if a string isn't kept on them, they fly away.
4. Some are like kittens -- more contented when petted.
5. Some are like balloons -- full of wind and ready to blow up.
6. Some are like footballs -- you can't tell which way they'll bounce next.
7. Some are like trailers -- they have to be pulled.
8. Some are like neon lights -- they keep going on and off.
This morning during our service we looked at this tremendous passage of scripture from Ephesians 4. We saw that the Lord Jesus Christ is

The Person Who Delivers the Gifts

While the pastors/teachers and evangelists are the

The People Who Develop the Gifts.

The NRMA is the New South Wales road organisation that fixes your car as you need roadside repairs. I have belonged to the NRMA for nearly 25 years I guess. Whilst at Theological College I decided my car needed a complete tune up. It wasn’t running well. I had a look at the rotor button on the distributor.  The NRMA came out and helped me push it on tighter.  I bought new points and put them in.  NRMA came out and helped me take the plastic cap off them.

I bought new spark plugs and set the gap in them using a set of feeler gauges.  The NRMA came out and looked at the plugs, looked at the gap looked at my set of feeler gauges and suggested I buy a metric set.

I decided to set the timing on the car.  I borrowed a timing light and was fiddling with it, until I pulled the distributor cap and rod right out of the socket.  It took the NRMA 3 hours to get it back in the right spot.   It really does pay to belong.

It pays to belong to the church too. There are two reasons you are put in the church

1.       To be Equipped.

2.       To be Edified. To grow to maturity.

The role of the specialised ministry Paul has listed in verse 11 is  to prepare members of the body for service ("equip the saints for work of ministry").

The Greek word for Equip is Eph 4:12 to\n katartismo\n  it is also used of people mending the nets. Galatians 6:1… restoring the fellow overtaken in a sin.  Setting a bone, equipping a ship, fitting out a soldier.

Here we have  what is called the heretical comma in the KJV. (comma after “saints”). Who does the work of the ministry?   The saints!  All the saints! It is the saints who do the ministry!  How many ministers are there in our church?     We are all the ministers.   There is a terribly damaging idea of professional ministry. Where the folks turn up Sundays to see the ministers perform, so’s they can criticize.

There is a sense in which this is a specialised ministry, the ministry of the Word Acts 6. But there are all kinds of areas of service in which we are all to be involved.   The word used most frequently to describe the spiritual activity of

believers differs radically from the world's value system. Diakoniva refers to menial and mundane activities, such as waiting on tables or caring for household needs -- activities without apparent dignity. Since such service necessarily involved dependence, submission, and constraints of time and freedom, the Greeks regarded diakoniva as degrading and dishonourable. Service for the public good was honoured, but "voluntary giving of oneself in service of one's fellow man is alien to Greek thought. The highest goal before a man was the development of his own personality." That last sentence is strikingly contemporary, and is mindful of the fact that a culture that is focused on self-actualisation and self-fulfilment will find little value in servanthood.

Beyer's observation about Greek attitudes suggests some parallels to modern concepts: In Greek eyes, service is not very dignified. Ruling and not service is proper to a man . . . . The formula of the sophist: "How can a man be happy when he has to serve someone?" expresses the basic Greek attitude . . . . Service acquires a higher value only when it is rendered to the State . . . . For the Greek in his wisdom and freedom there can certainly be no question of existing to serve others.

Judaism had no philosophy of ministry involving diakoniva.  Though Judaism in the time of Jesus knew and practised its social responsibilities, e.g., to the poor, this was done mainly by alms, not by service (cf. Luke 10:30-35). Lowly service, e.g., waiting at table, was beneath the dignity of a free man (cf. Luke 7:44ff). Sometimes, the greater would wait at table, but this was unusual.

The New Testament introduces a radically new attitude toward ministry. Diakoniva is not the activity of a lesser to a greater, but is the lifestyle of a follower of the Lord Jesus. "Serving" pervades the New Testament, not merely in the frequency of the word's usage but in the constant recurrence of attitudes and examples of service. Diakoniva is modeled on the pattern and command of the Saviour and represents the practical outworking of God's love, especially toward fellow believers. "Ministry" is not the activity of an elite class, but the mutual caring of a band of brothers. Such service is personal and practical, rather than institutional. Service is rendered to people, not tto the church building. A diavkono" is one who by choice and position has come to be under the authority of his Master and who therefore serves others in love and gratitude.

The Lord Jesus is the source of the entirely new attitude toward diakoniva found throughout the New Testament. By the way He lived and the words He spoke, He instituted a new attitude toward service.

The Lord Jesus Christ Is the Source of ministry. Every believer enjoys a unique ministry given by the risen Head of the church. Thus while their gifts come from the indwelling Spirit (1 Cor. 12:4) and their effectiveness comes from the sovereign will of God the Father (1 Cor. 12:6), their ministry is from the Lord, for "there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord" (1 Cor. 12:5). In other words an individual believer fits into the body and functions as the Head intends. As Torrance observes, "The diavkono" is one who has been given a task by his Master, and who does only what is commanded by Him, not what he thinks out for himself."

Because every believer possesses a God-given ministry, each can speak with Paul of "the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:24). Ministry is both from Him and for Him, and a believer's motive should be to please Him in all things. The Christian thus serves with a sense of liberty and dignity. He ministers by divine calling as a fellow-worker of God (1 Cor. 3:5). sharing in the ministry of Christ. Such an exalted yet humbling perspective on service produces both rejoicing (Rom. 11:13) and endurance. As a result, suffering becomes an authenticating mark of a true servant of Christ (2 Cor. 11:23-28), a reflection of the principle that a servant is not greater than his Lord. Since He in His life of service knew suffering, opposition, and humiliation, His disciples must not expect exemption.

The church is the sphere of ministry. Service is carried out within the Master's house, to the Master's people, for the Christian is a servant of the church (Col. 1:25). This produced in Paul an overwhelming desire to bring every believer to maturity in Christ by proclaiming Christ and pouring himself into the lives of fellow believers (Col. 1:28-29). True ministry is intensely people-centred. Thus the household of Stephanas is held up as a model to follow since "they have devoted themselves for ministry to the, saints" (1 Cor. 16:15, NASB). Their authority came, not from achievement or status, but because they join in the work and they labor at it (1 Cor. 16:16). A leader worthy of recognition has a servant's heart. Even servants possess genuine authority, to which others are to submit. But servants do lead by demanding respect not for their position but by their character. Authority thus flows from service, a truth embodied in the fact that deacons, key leaders in the early church, received the unadorned title "servants" (diavkonoi, Phil. 1:1;1 Tim. 3:8).

Besides being the sphere of service, the church is based on "the work of service" (Eph. 4:12). Ministry is not something carried on by a select few for the benefit of others, nor is it merely an occupation. Saints do the work of service and every believer is part of the ministry. Nor is the ministry limited to certain tasks (preaching, counselling, administering). Ministry is all that believers do for one another in obedience to the Lord.

The fact that Christ, the Head of the church, has given believers spiritual gifts through His indwelling Spirit is of crucial importance to the biblical concept of ministry. The New Testament does not depict ministry as a specialized position, occupied by a select few. Gifts are God's provision for serving each other. Service takes place by means of spiritual gifts, which shape and define one's ministry.

Spiritual gifts are a stewardship for which believers are accountable to God. Peter indicated that believers are to use gifts "as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Pet. 4:10). Not to exercise gifts properly is to fail one's stewardship. This fact inspired Paul's exhortation to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it" (Col. 4:17).

Specialised Ministry Is to Equip the Saints for Mutual Ministry

While every believer is gifted for the work of service, God has also given certain individuals (Eph. 4:11) to the church "for the  equipping of the saints for the work of service" (4:12). The goal is not that some "do the ministry," but rather that they equip and enlist all believers in ministry. This has great strategic importance for the functioning of an assembly of believers. A ministry does not exist for its own sake and no elite class should carry on a ministry while others passively observe. Every believer is divinely gifted, and certain people are called by the Lord to function as enablers and equippers. All ministry is mutual ministry and the body of Christ grows only by "the proper working of each individual part" (4:16). The goal of gifted men must therefore be the involvement of others by instruction in the Word and the development of spiritual gifts.

All Ministry Is to Be Loving Service

Because the Lord Jesus is the Model of ministry, love is essential. "When we speak of service, we imply work done for another either voluntarily or compulsorily, the benefit of which will accrue to the one for whom it has been done." The New Testament is filled with examples of individuals who served in practical ways, lovingly caring for the needs of others: Timothy and Erastus (Acts 19:22), the house of Stephanas (1 Cor. 16:15), Tychicus (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7), Onesiphorus (2 Tim. 1:16-18), Mark (2 Tim. 4:11), and Onesimus (Phile. 13). In each case Paul was the recipient. His ministry could never have had the impact it did if they had not served him. They were thus fellow-workers with Paul and the Lord in the gospel. All service in love is valued by the Lord.

All Ministry Is to Be to the Whole Person

In the New Testament diakoniva is often used in connection with financial contributions to believers. It describes Paul and Bamabas' journey to Jerusalem with a collection from Antioch (Acts 11:29; 12:25). Later Paul made the collection for the believers in Jerusalem such a priority that he invested years of time and risked his life in the process. This activity is a ministry "to the saints" (Rom. 15:25, 31; cf 2 Cor. 8:14, 19-20; 9:12-13). The care of widows is described as ministry ("daily serving, " Acts 6:1). Also caring for Paul's physical needs was a ministry (2 Tim. 1:18; Phile. 13).

Faithful Service Is the Key to Expanded Ministry

Speaking of deacons, Paul wrote, "And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons (diakoneivtwsan) if they are beyond reproach" (1Tim. 3:10). If a servant is faithful in his present involvement, he may then receive greater responsibility. An individual ought not be involved at a high level of responsibility till he has proved himself. This is based on the fact that character is the key to service.

Above all else, the believer in Jesus Christ is to be a servant -- for the Lord, of His Word, and to His people.

The concept of servanthood also determines the ultimate purpose of ministry. A servant's goal is not to enlarge his sphere of influence or to achieve his personal goals. The goal of ministry is to be useful to the Master in such a way that His glory is increased and His work is extended.

"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another. . . so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1Pet. 4:10-11).

You are not here to sit on a pew. Just do something for Jesus.  Do something! Get busy. Find something to do! Do anything!

2.       To be Edified. To grow to maturity.

John MacArthur says, "We don't hear much about spiritual growth these days. Many Christians in our society have been diverted by various teachings that promise power, spiritual energy, and success without the process of growth into spiritual maturity. They look for dramatic experiences, climactic turning points, instant solutions to their spiritual problems-but real, lasting victory doesn't come through those means. God's design is that we be seasoned to maturity through a continual process of growth." "The contemporary church's de-emphasis of spiritual growth has reaped a bitter harvest. Millions of professing Christians suffer from arrested development. Churches are filled with people who are spiritually immature, undiscerning, weak and fragile. Spiritual underdevelopment is the rule, no longer the exception. Thousands-perhaps millions-are now addicted to "therapy," evidently preferring the dependency of a counseling relationship to the rigors of true discipleship and growth in grace" (Keys to Spiritual Growth-p. 13).

You expect an infant to behave like an infant, but there is nothing sadder than an adult who acts like a baby. Infants are expected to grow and mature into adulthood and maturity. So it is in the spiritual realm. All Christians begin as infants spiritually. The first business of a believer is to grow and mature to become fit for service.

There is nothing sadder than a Christian remaining a child spiritually.

1. Commit Yourself To An Unfolding Maturity

See the contrast between vs 13 and vs 3 unity of the faith

Maintain the Unity, Attain the Unity Unity is a given and a goal

i.e. A tension between position and practice… saints Eph 1, and Eph 4:1

Unity is a given (4:4-6 a 7-fold Unity)

But there is to be an unfolding maturity so we arrive at a Unity of the faith.

Vs 13 is the goal to which we must strive to ensure we don’t get blown about.

A friend in the country at Nyngan, used to talk about ploughing the field with a huge tractor. The first time out he thought his focus was on something in the distance that was not moving. He thought it was a rock. It was a cow. As a result every now and again he’’d look up at that great big rock to get his bearings. And it had moved slightly. The furrows were not straight. We are becoming more and more like the Lord Jesus. His Stature is the goal. Keep your eyes on the goal.

2. Commit Yourself To An Unwavering Stability Vs 14

I. Characteristics of Spiritual Immaturity (v. 14)

A. Instability..."tossed to and fro"

This could literally be translated "pitching about" (ex. the sea in motion).

1. The spiritually immature change their opinions easily. On Malta, the people thought Paul was a "bad" man because he was bit by a viper. Then, when the poison did not kill him, they worshipped Paul as a god.

2. The spiritually immature have little self-control. Children are creatures who have to be controlled with external inducements.

3. The spiritually immature are easily agitated.

B. Gullibility..."carried about with every wind of doctrine"

This could be translated "carried about in all directions."

1. "Every wind of doctrine" suggests a multiplicity of errors.

2."Sleight of men" suggests the deception is intentional for personal gain. The word "sleight" is used only here in the Bible. A word used to describe men crafty at manipulating dice without others noticing - giving credit to "God."

3. "Lie in wait" suggests a well laid plan to capture a victim.

The word has its root in hunting, as a hunter would carefully lay his traps. It is used here and in Ephesians 6:11 where it is translated "the wiles of the devil."

Babies are easily deceived. They have huge imaginations and are easily intrigued.

Babies have short attention spans. Running from one toy to the next.

Babies are very unstable

They have a limited vocabulary

Don’t stay babies!

1 Cor 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

1 Peter 2: 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Tossed too and fro like a ship dizzying confusing affect of false teaching cultic teaching.

Carried about by every wind of doctrine.

Baby Christians are susceptible to newest book tv show or preacher running through town. Babies Like to be Entertained. They love to be at the biggest religious show in town. It is fun to be a Christian, it can be fun to be at church, but there has to be some meat and potatoes

3. Commit Yourself To An Unrelenting Activity

Characteristics of Spiritual Maturity (vs. 15-16)

A. A firm hold on "the truth"..."speaking the truth."

The word "speaking" could be translated "holding on." II Timothy 1:13 has the same idea when Paul says, "Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me." Instead of being carried about by false doctrine, learn "the truth" and hold on to it In the Early church devil tried real early to cripple church right at beginning with false teaching

Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

B. A loving spirit in disagreement..."in love"

Holding "the truth" without a loving spirit makes one arrogant, caustic, and pharisaical. "In all things essential, unity; in things not essential, liberty, in all things, charity."

Speaking truth in love. Truth for your mind, love for your heart

All truth no love = brutality and ungracious. Some believers are so brutal with how they deal with young converts. All love and no truth is sentimentality. The mind grows by taking in truth the heart grows by giving out love.

C. A servant's heart in the church..."every joint supplies"

While the infant is essentially selfish, the mature have the ability to do things for others. Each believer is "fitly joined together" which tells us Christ is the builder of the church.

Christ "energizes" each of us to use our individual, unique gifts to build up the church as a whole, till we all come to maturity, "a perfect man."

How does the human body functions. It says how there is an interdependence from each member of the body grows. Every part of the body contributes to every other part of the body. Your body has a hundred trillion cells. 100 million in eye and all the cells are different blood cells like lifesaver with no hole nerve cells like wires

muscles cells sleek fat cells like big white plastic bags of garbage each part has a function. Each cell has DNA 23 pairs of chromosomes, DNA 3 billion letters of instructions. Which is equal to 1000 books 600 pgs per book.

We all contribute to the growth of one another. Commit yourself to growing other believers so you can grow too. Occassionally a cell will become selfish and will quit giving out and only takes in..takes in and grows and grows and grows cancer

When the members get selfish.. What are you gonna do for ME what are you gonna give me… selfish produces a cancer in the body of Christ and susceptible to a cult.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book Life Together (p. 107), makes this incisive statement: “Nothing can be more cruel than the tenderness that consigns another to his sin. Nothing can more compassionate than the severe rebuke that calls a brother back from the path of sin.” In church we should care for one another that much. We should be accountable to one another and to those God has placed over us as leaders. We should love God enough to obey Him. We should love His Word enough to read it and submit to it. We should love His church enough to be committed to it. We should love people enough to reach out to them. And we should love Christians enough to walk in unity with them, to forgive them, and to be accountable together with them to the lordship of Christ. A wedding of truth and love is a mark of the mature believer.

The Danger Of Deception vs 14.

Full blown treatment in ch 6.

We have an enemy the devil wiles methodologies of the devil -schemes.

The devil is a strategist

In a war the general knows how to shift the focus to deceive.

Secular humanism disregards God and puts men on a pedastal. Dethrones God, enthrones man. Man’s reason given the prominence.

Effectively removed Bible and prayer from public schools, Materialism

But the most recent strategy, the devil has shifted focus now focus is on spiritual mysticism.

Reincarnation, Ghosts and séance , People are seeking to fill the gap in their hearts with religious error.

i.e. Charos, cults and extremists.

We need to be aware of the cults.. cultists seek church people, immature christians are most susceptible to the cults.

I. WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO CULTS?

1. People's emotional needs are not being met

2. The group makes them feel loved

3. Failure to cope with the real world

4. The group offers simple solutions to complex problems

5. They need to be led by very strong people

6. An immoral lifestyle is often acceptable

7. It offers them power

8. Cults prey on those dissatisfied with the Christian church

9. Cults prey on the breakdown of the family

10. People whose spiritual needs are not being met are attracted to cults

II. DEFINITION OF A CULT

1.Any religious movement that has doctrines and practices which contradict those of the Word of God as interpreted by traditional Christianity

2. A group of people polarized around someone's interpretation of the Bible and is characterized by deviations from orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith, particularly the fact that God became man in Jesus Christ.

3. All cults are characterized by two things:

a. They have a false or inadequate basis of salvation

b. They have a false basis of authority

III. ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A CULT

1. "New" truth- Rev.22:18-19

2. New interpretations of the Bible

3. A non-Biblical source of authority

4. They have a different Jesus

5. They reject orthodox Christianity

6. Changing theology \

7. They always teach salvation by works. Eph. 2:8

IV. A CULT MAY BE UNDERSTOOD IN FOUR WAYS

1. It is parasitic in nature

2. A cult proselytes from others- 2Jn2v7

3. They use extra-Biblical revelations as their source of authority

4. They exhibit a fanatical devotion to a special person or the teaching of that person

V. 4 TESTS TO DETERMINE IF A PERSON IS A FALSE PROPHET

1. The test of focus

2. The test of source

3. The test of the person of Jesus

4. The test of the plan of salvation- -1 Jn 4

Some Commitments You Need To Make

1. Commit Yourself To An Unfolding Maturity

Some members:

1. A lot of members are like wheelbarrows -- not good unless pushed.
2. Some are like canoes -- need to be paddled.
3. Some are like kites -- if a string isn't kept on them, they fly away.
4. Some are like kittens -- more contented when petted.
5. Some are like balloons -- full of wind and ready to blow up.
6. Some are like footballs -- you can't tell which way they'll bounce next.
7. Some are like trailers -- they have to be pulled.
8. Some are like neon lights -- they keep going on and off.
See the contrast between vs 13 and vs 3 unity of the faith

Maintain the Unity, Attain the Unity Unity is a given and a goal

i.e. A tension between position and practice… saints Eph 1, and Eph 4:1

Unity is a given (4:4-6 a 7-fold Unity)

But there is to be an unfolding maturity so we arrive at a Unity of the faith.

Vs 13 is the goal to which we must strive to ensure we don’t get blown about.

We are becoming more and more like the Lord Jesus. He whittles away some things not like the Lord Jesus in our life. Stature (Zacheus, Jn 9 he is of fullness of years)

2. Commit Yourself To An Unwavering Stability Vs 14

I want to be stable substantial solid in my faith. No more children.

A Recognition that we begin as children. Born again… a baby in the Lord. No one is born full grown. You Alwyn are about 6’3” you were born 12 “ you were born as a baby.

You expect an infant to behave like an infant, but there is nothing sadder than an adult who acts like a baby. Infants are expected to grow and mature into adulthood and maturity.

So it is in the spiritual realm.

1. All Christians begin as infants spiritually.

2. The first business of a believer is to grow and mature to become fit for service.

There is nothing sadder than a Christian remaining a child spiritually.

Babies have tendencies and characteristics

Characteristics of Spiritual Immaturity (v. 14)

A. Instability..."tossed to and fro" Babies are Constantly changing…..crying one minute laughing the next. Jumping from one church to another.

This could literally be translated "pitching about" (ex. the sea in motion).

2. The spiritually immature have little self-control. Children are creatures who have to be controlled with external inducements.

3. The spiritually immature are easily agitated.

B. Gullibility..."carried about with every wind of doctrine"

This could be translated "carried about in all directions."

1. "Every wind of doctrine" suggests a multiplicity of errors.

3. "Lie in wait" suggests a well laid plan to capture a victim.

The word has its root in hunting, as a hunter would carefully lay his traps. It is used here and in Ephesians 6:11 where it is translated "the wiles of the devil."

Babies are easily deceived. They have huge imaginations and are easily intrigued.

Babies have short attention spans. Running from one toy to the next.

Babies are very unstable

They have a limited vocabulary

Don’t stay babies!

1 Peter 2: 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Tossed too and fro like a ship dizzying confusing affect of false teaching cultic teaching.

Carried about by every wind of doctrine.

Baby Christians are susceptible to newest book tv show or preacher running through town

Babies Like to be Entertained

They love to be at the biggest religious show in town.

It is fun to be a Christian, it can be fun to be at church, but there has to be some meat and potatoes

Cunning teachers Trickery, presentations methods leading astray

Of any teaching ask yourself.. ”Where is that in the Bible?”

Context. I.e. Judas hanging himself go thou and do likewise. 2 vss out of context put together.

In the Early church devil tried real early to cripple church right at beginning with false teaching

It was good that he did, because we have the answer for every heresy right here in the Word of God.

3. Commit Yourself To An Unrelenting Activity

A Growth in the Lord

Grow up into Him

In Body

Speaking truth in love

Truth for your mind, love for your heart

All truth no love = brutality and ungracious.

Some believers are so brutal with how they deal with young converts.

All love and no truth is sentimentality.

The mind grows by taking in truth the heart grows by giving out love.

How does the human body functions. It says how there is an interdependence from each member of the body grows.

Every part of the body contributes to every other part of the body.

Your body has a hundred trillion cells

100 million in eye

all cells different blood cells like lifesaver with no hole nerve cells like wires

muscles cells sleek fat cells like big white plastic bags of garbage each part has a function

each cell has DNA 23 pairs of chromnosomes,

DNA 3 billion letters of instructions. Which is equal to 1000 books 600 pgs per book.

When the members get selfish.. What are you gonna do for ME what are you gonna give me… selfish produces a cancer in the body of Christ and susceptible to a cult.

A. A firm hold on "the truth"..."speaking the truth."

B. A loving spirit in disagreement..."in love"

Holding "the truth" without a loving spirit makes one arrogant, caustic, and pharisaical. "In all things essential, unity; in things not essential, liberty, in all things, charity."

C. A servant's heart in the church..."every joint supplies"

While the infant is essentially selfish, the mature have the ability to do things for others. Each believer is "fitly joined together" which tells us Christ is the builder of the church.

Christ "energizes" each of us to use our individual, unique gifts to build up the church as a whole, till we all come to maturity, "a perfect man."

Ephesians 4:1-16

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high,He led captivity captive,And gave gifts to men." 9(Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 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 edifying of the body of Christ, 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; 14 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.

1. The Person Who Delivers the Gifts

A. His Coming down

Luke 16:19

B. There Is His Going Up

2. The People Who Develop the Gifts.

Foundational workers
Evangelical workers
Instructional Workers

3. The Purpose Which Directs These Gifts.

Equipped To Serve

Built Up To Maturity

The Danger Of Deception vs 14.

What Attracts People To Cults?

Definition Of A Cult

Characteristics Of A Cult

4 Tests

1. The test of focus

2. The test of source

3. The test of the person of Jesus

 4. The test of the plan of salvation- -1 Jn 4

1. Commit Yourself To An Unfolding Maturity

2. Commit Yourself To An Unwavering Stability Vs 14

3. Commit Yourself To An Unrelenting Activity

Eph 4:17-32 How To Renew The New You

"For several months, our nurses have been baffled to find a dead patient in the same bed every Friday morning" a spokeswoman for the Pelonomi Hospital (Free State, South Africa) told reporters. "There was no apparent cause for any of the deaths, and extensive checks on the air conditioning system, and a search for possible bacterial infection, failed to reveal any clues. However, further inquiries have now revealed the cause of these deaths. It seems that every Friday morning a cleaner would enter the ward, remove the plug that powered the patient's life support system, plug her floor polisher into the vacant socket, then go about her business. When she had finished her chores, she would plug the life support machine back in and leave, unaware that the patient was now dead. She could not, after all, hear the screams and eventual death rattle over the whirring of her polisher. We are sorry, and have sent a strong letter to the cleaner in question. Further, the Free State Health and Welfare Department is arranging for an electrician to fit an extra socket, so there should be no repetition of this incident. The enquiry is now closed."

I think there was a little bit of a problem there.

"The President has kept all of the promises he intended to keep." -Clinton aide George Stephanopolous speaking on Larry King Live

"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees." -Jason Kidd, a footballer on switching teams. upon his drafting to the Dallas Mavericks

"I'm not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president." -Hillary Clinton commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents

"It's like deja vu all over again." -Yogi Berra

"China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese" -Former French President Charles De Gaulle

"The loss of life will be irreplaceable." -Former U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle on the San Francisco earthquake

"That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass, and I'm just the one to do it." -A congressional candidate in Texas

"Things are more like they are now than they ever were before." -Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Don’t you wish you could undo some of the things you have said or done?

In the passage of Scripture before us this morning we are examining the effect of the radical change that the Lord Jesus brings in a life.

It tells us that for those who truly know the Lord Jesus Christ, there is a putting off of the old man and a putting on of the new man.

There is a radical change that God brings into our lives if we are truly born again.

I heard one fellow talking about whether some church members had actually come to a sincere faith in Christ.. He used the analogy of the duck. He said,

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck and waddles like a duck and companies with other ducks its probably a duck.

If a person walks like the world, talks like the world looks like the world, companies with the world its probably part of the world.” God alone can see the heart, but the behaviour would indicate something is wrong. It grieves my heart terribly to be aware that there are many folks who may have their names on some church roll somewhere who don’t have their names in enrolled in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Two ministers were passing an open grocery and dairy store where, in three large baskets, eggs were displayed. On one basket was a sign reading, "Fresh eggs, 24 cents a dozen." The second sign read, "Strictly fresh eggs, 29 cents a dozen." While a third read, "Guaranteed strictly fresh eggs, 34 cents a dozen." One of the pastors exclaimed in amazement, "What does that grocer understand ‘fresh’ to mean?" It is thus with many Scriptural terms that to our forefathers had an unvarying meaning, but like debased coins have today lost their values. These days becoming a Christian has been devalued. It used to mean a radical change. These days people think that if they turn up at church a little bit then God ought to be satisfied. But don’t expect there to be a radical fundamental change in their nature.

We are not to walk as unbelievers walk, that is in the blindness, darkness, and hardness of their hearts (vv. 17-18). They tend to be insensitive, immoral, unclean, and greedy (v. 19),17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

That’s the description of you before you became a Christian. We are no longer what we were before. But we're to be like Christ. We are to put off the old man (v. 22) and put on the new man (v. 24). We are to exchange our old lifestyle for a new one.

The exchange of lifestyle is proof that we have experienced the forgiveness and eternal life that there is in the Lord Jesus. There is only one way to heaven Jn 14:6

Acts 4:12 Because there was only One sacrifice made for sin, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. But when a person receives Him into their life there is a radical change. They put off the old man and put on the new man.

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Eph 4:21

Here is the picture of the school room: “Heard him”: Jesus is the Subject heard Himself, not merely about Him (John 10:27). “Taught by him” Jesus is the teacher, `taught IN Him;' i.e., in vital union with Him (Rom 16:7): the further instruction, besides having "heard Him" at conversion. As the truth is .." `And in Him, have been taught, according as is truth in Jesus.' There is no article. "Truth" is truth in its essence and perfection in Jesus; Jesus is the school room.

By way of contrast the apostle Paul shows why we are different and how to be more like Christ.

22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness

1. A Monumental Regeneration

There are 2 phrases here 22, 24, old man new man.

The Old Man Put Off

What was the old man like? The label on the toe is “corruption” Ephesians 2:

Eph 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

The lost person is in a state of decomposition., decay disintegration, destruction.

Col 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

You have put off the old man, You must put off the old man You are putting off the old man. Here is the tension between Position and Practice.

You were saved, you are being saved, you shall be saved. All three are true at same time. You have been saved from sins penalty by Saviour’s death for you; you are being saved from the power of sin by His Spirit indwelling you; you will be saved from the very presence of sin when you enter heaven.

But here is the issue of Position and Practise.

Rom 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Rom 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

Rom 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Like 2 boys playing cowboys one shoots the other and he spends a long time “dieing” “Hey, you’re dead , why don’t you act like it!!!”

Your Position is that your old man is dead. Now live like it and put to death the things that speak of the old way of living.

It is like the emancipation Proclamation that was signed by President Lincoln during the civil war. The slaves were free, but some continued to live like slaves as slaves well after the civil war was over, because they didn’t realise they could claim on itt.

It is like you bein in a forest in war time. You are fearful of the enemy for you don’t have a rifle. Suddenly a twig breaks behind you and you see the enemy standing there with a rifle pointing right up your nose. You are captured. But suddenly the gun in your enemy’s hands disappears miraculously and somehow appears in yours. He is now your captive. You were captivated by sin. It had you captive and was leading you off to death. But the Lord did a miracle and now the gun is in your hands and sin is under your control. You are in control and sin is your prisoner. You no longer HAVE to sin. Its your decision!

He is going to say what those things are that we ought to put off in vss 25 onwards. These things speak of what the old man is like. This is the stuff you need to drop off.

Here is some stuff you can take action on immediately. You no longer have to live like the gentiles. You no longer have to live a perverse life if you have surrendered to the Lord Jesus. Its now your choice. It wasn’t your choice before. But now its your choice. If you are being lead captive by a sin, it may be that you have never known Christ, or the devil is deceiving you into thinking that you have to follow that particular sin because you are enslaved to it. You are no longer a slave to any particular sins. You can and for your own good ought to put off the old man. This isn’t just will power that we are talking about here. This is claiming on the things God in Christ has already done for you.

The New Man Put On

Have you noticed that there are so many self-help books these days in the book shops. It must be frustrating to folks to read this self help book then another then another, and find that many of the ideas are contradictory and plain don’t work because of the sinfulness of human nature. You don’t need reformation. You can’t fix up the old man.

"If you need anything in watch repairing go to" such a firm. One of the employees looked up and exclaimed, "I need no watch repairing; what I need is a watch." It furnished me with an excellent text. What the unsaved man needs is not a repairing of his life. He needs a new life altogether, which comes only through a second birth. Reformation is like watch repairing. Repentance is like the recognition of the lack of a watch. You can’t fix up the old man. No matter how much you polish up the old man, the Bible says he’s still a mass of stinking corruption. No matter how well you dress up a corpse in a coffin its still a corpse. You don’t need a clean up job, you need a new creation. If you have become a Christian then you have experienced the new creation. According to Ephesians 2:10 we are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul says, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Eph 4:24 He has new feelings, principles, and desires. He has laid aside his old principles and practices, and, in everything that pertains to moral character, he is new. His body is indeed the same; the intellectual structure of his mind the same; but there has been a change in his principles and feelings which malco him, in all the great purposes of life, a new being. Learn, that regeneration is not a trifling change. It is not a mere change of relations, or of the outward condition. It is not merely being brought from the world into the church, and being baptized, though by the most holy hands; it is much more. None of these things would make proper the declaration, "he is a new man." Regeneration by the Spirit of God does. from Barnes' Notes,

In respect to God. The idea is, evidently, that man is so renewed as to become "like" God, or the divine image is restored to the soul. In the parallel passage in Colossians (Col 3:9), the idea is expressed more fully, "renewed in knowledge after "the image" of him that created him." Man, by regeneration, is restored to the lost image of God; compare Gen 1:26.God's image, which we lost in the first Adam, is restored to us more gloriously in the second Adam, the image of the invisible God. Barnes' Notes,

"Righteousness" relates to our fellowmen, "holiness" to God,

"Holiness" properly refers to purity toward God, and "righteousness" to integrity toward people;

This guy was once the biggest drug dealer on the North Coast. He could supply you with anything you wanted if you had the cash. But one night while he lay drunk in bed, he realized he was throwing his life away. He immediately stopped dealing in drugs and gave his life to Christ. More than this, he went to a Bible College, and set up a drug rehab clinic near Coffs harbour. He came to Glen innes and gave his testimony. One of the folks listening said, "It's hard to believe people can change like that. I guess it's what they call being re-born." The drug dealer had been part of the darker side of society, and by changing directions he stood out.

I came across a group of aboriginals a few years ago from a place called Woodenbong, near Kyogle, near Casino. Their community of about 300 was a terrible drunken community until God laid hold on 2 young aboriginal men who came back from Redfern where they had come to know Christ> Soon the whole community heard of the Lord and turned to Him, and Woodenbong is now known as a centre of godliness and integrity among the aboriginal community, as these folk laid aside the old self of alcoholism and trusted Christ.

Yesterday I went with Lorelle for a walk on the beach. There beside the beach was a house that had been for sale. It had been bought by someone, and rather than renovate the thing, they went in with sledgehammers and brought the whole thing down. God doesn’t just renovate your life. He recreates it.

2. A Mental Restoration

How do we keep the renewal going? Your body needs daily renewal. Every cell in your body dies, and new cells are created to take their place. For the continual recreation of cells there needs to be the daily intake of food. I cannot understand how a dead chop can become a live cell. I cannot even understand how a brown cow standing in a green field of grass under a blue sky can produce white milk. But spiritual renewal is likewise dependant upon the intake of spiritual food so we can continue the renewing process.

2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

This happens through our daily intake of God’s Word. I don’t care how often you come to church, unless you are daily taking in from God’s Word, and meditating on it, you cannot experience that renewal of your minds by the Spirit of God.

David said similarly in Psalm 1.

Ps 1:1-3

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

"The Bible says we're being changed from glory to glory even by the Spirit of the Lord. Do you know what you ought to be able to do at the end of a year? You ought to be able to look back and see some specific ways in which you have grown spiritually. There ought to be evidence of new habits, new attitudes, and new abilities relating directly to the fact that you're being changed by the Spirit of the Lord. "Can you think of one overwhelming weakness that had you by the throat at the beginning of this year? Do you honestly believe that if Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, came into your life, he could release you from it, and you could live in newness of life?

"You say,'I don't know about that.' Nothing is impossible with God. If it is part of the divine will, it rests well within the divine capability."

"‘What must I do?’ has oft been asked, Eternal life to gain;
Man anxious seems for any task If this he may obtain.

"But all the doing has been done, As God has clearly shown,
When by the offering of His Son, His purpose He made known.

"He laid on Him the sinner’s guilt When came the appointed day.
And by that blood on Calvary spilt Takes all our guilt away."

"Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream,
All the fitness He requireth Is to feel your need of Him.
This He gives you, ‘Tis the Spirit’s rising beam."

Turning Bitterness Into Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-35

Hebrews 12:1-17

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."

12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Bitterness is entrenched animosity, which in reality is hatred towards another person. The Greek word for Bitterness means to” make fast, fix, to build by fastening together” hence to build a case and stand against someone for revenge and destruction. The English word “bitter” is closely related to bite and originally meant biting, cutting cruel.”

Scripture also relates bitter to gall, and gives the idea of poisoning. Acts 8:23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

NASU

Life is full of hurts and it always will be! As long as you live, people are going to hurt you, offend you and disappoint you. But you don't need to be the "victim" of
their offenses. You can learn to rise above life's disappointments.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE BITTER

No one wants to admit they are bitter. Sometimes everyone else can tell but us. Let me ask you to be honest with yourself and answer a few basic questions:

1. Does it irritate you when people don't agree with you?

2. Do you think you are usually right and others are usually wrong?

3. Do you find yourself giving more criticisms than compliments?

4. Are you short with people?

5. Do you ask people "loaded" questions just to irritate them?

6. Is it difficult to talk to someone who has hurt you in the past without constantly bringing it up again?

7. Do your conversations tend to turn into arguments?

8. Do you feel disappointed, mistreated or betrayed?

9. Do you feel like God has let you down?

10. Do these kind of questions make you defensive?

Then you are probably bitter!

Solomon said, "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones," Proverbs 14:30. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones," Proverbs 17:22;

1. The Prelude To Forgiveness

Bitterness Highlights Temporal Priorities

T.S. Rendell “Bitterness is the atmosphere produced in us internally when we meditate over life’s circumstances and decide that we have not been given a fair deal.”

Luke 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 14 But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

It is Based on The False Assumption That God Owes us Something.

I.e. Job’s wife Job 2:9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!" 10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

It Focuses on what we thought we should have received.

i.e. Mother whose daughter tragically killed bitter for not having next 30 years with her, wasn’t thankful for 20 years she did have with her.

Bitterness Dislikes Eternal Purposes

The common tendency when we are mistreated is to seek revenge. I think of a despondent woman was walking along the beach when she saw a bottle on the sand. She picked it up and pulled out the cork. Whoosh! A big puff of smoke appeared. "You have released me from my prison," the genie told her. "To show my thanks, I grant you three wishes. But take care, for with each wish, your mate will receive double of whatever you request." "Why?" the woman asked. "That bum left me for another woman. He lied to me and deceived me." "That is how it is written," replied the genie. The woman shrugged and then asked for a million dollars. There was a flash of light, and a million dollars appeared at her feet. At the same instant, in a far-off place, her wayward husband looked down to see twice that amount at his feet. "And your second wish?" "Genie, I want the world's most expensive diamond necklace." Another flash of light, and the woman was holding the precious treasure. And, in that distant place, her husband was looking for a gem broker to buy his latest bonanza. "Genie, is it really true that my husband has two million dollars and more jewels than I do, and that he gets double of whatever I wish for?" The genie said it was indeed true. "Okay, genie, I'm ready for my last wish," the woman said. "Scare me half to death."

Years ago, for hardy whalers, no ocean was too wide to cross in pursuit of their mighty prizes. In 1819, more than a dozen ships where launched from Nantucket, all headed for distant Pacific hunting grounds. One of the ships that set sail was the three-masted Essex. Yet this ship was to suffer a calamity so dramatic that its fate inspired a classic American novel, Herman

Melville's “Moby Dick.”

For months the ship survived the hazards of rounding Cape Horn and taking its prey. But one day a mammoth sperm whale rammed the Essex head-on. Then the leviathan passed under the vessel, turned, and attacked again. The whale hit, as first mate Owen Chase recalled, "with ten-fold fury and vengeance." The crew abandoned ship, and from their whaleboats watched as the Essex slid into

the sea. If you are familiar with the classic tale, Moby Dick, then you recall how the captain drove himself and his crew to find and destroy the great white whale. It is the story of a man so set on revenge that it literally led to his own destruction.

The desire and passion for revenge may not destroy others, but it will certainly destroy you.

Your Offender Is An Agent Of God.

Job 1:20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said,

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." 22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. NASU

I.e. Joseph Gen 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 "So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones."

Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions. NASU

To Turn Us To The Lord

Matt 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

To Try our Inward Motives

1 Cor 11:30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

To Temper us concerning our pride

Prov 13:10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.

James 4:6 "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

To Tune Us To Our Weaknesses

2 Cor 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

To Test Our Spiritual Armour Ephesians 6:10-18

To Purify our faith

Ps 3:1-6 LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. 2 Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah 3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. 4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah 5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.

To Tailor us to comfort others

2 Cor 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

Bitterness Delights In Individual Problems

(It is forgetful of our Pardon in Christ)

2. The Practical Side Of Forgiveness

Matt 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

The Definition Of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is Cancellation of the debt. It is not a matter of emotion it is a choice of the will. You choose not to keep retrying he opponent in the court of your emotions or judgement.

A King in court could cancel a debt. Two copies of the notice of debt were made, and on both copies it was written that the debt was cancelled, then signed by both parties, one copy kept by the King, one by the debtor. The debt could never be recalled. If it was ever referred to again, then the notice of debt cancellation could be called as evidence.

The Distinguishing Of Forgiveness

Forgiveness does not require repentance from the opponent. Reconciliation may require repentance, but not forgiveness. Forgiveness is your choice of what you will do towards your opponent.

The Deception About Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not approval of an action. God has forgiven us, but He hasn’t approved of our sins.

In our selfishness, we muster a host of excuses for not forgiving. These include:

*Revenge (I enjoy hating him.) *Anger (I'm too upset to forgive.)

*Jealousy (I can't let him do this.) *Fear (I'll be hurt again.)

*Pride (I was right; he was wrong.) *Emotion (I don't feel like forgiving.)

*Self-righteousness (He doesn't deserve it.) *Guilt (I can't even forgive myself.)

*Suffering (I'm just too hurt to forgive.) *Worry (What if he doesn't understand?)

The ultimate excuse is... I can't forgive... which really means I won't forgive!

You can do anything that is right. God always empowers us to do what is right. His grace is always sufficient, no matter how difficult the task. When we forgive others, we confirm what Christ did for us on the Cross when He died for our sins so that we might be forgiven.

3. The Personal Side Of Forgiveness

In order to forgive you must already know you are forgiven by God.

Do you know without question that thee has been a specific time when you have been forgiven by God for all your sins? What will you gain if you choose to forgive?

Immediate Release From Your Debt Of Vengeance Have you seen the sigh game that married couples may play? In bed in the middle of the night, one partner sighs heavily. “What’s wrong?” “nothing” Another deep sigh : “What’s wrong?” “nothing” Another deep sigh “What’s wrong?” “ oh nothing” Another deep sigh “What’s wrong?” “ooooooooh nothing” Another deep sigh “What’s wrong?” “nothing” Its called “getting even” And its not a happy game for either partner.

Immediate Reliance Upon God For Your Needs

If you think that someone else holds the key to your joy other than God, then you are not exercising faith in God. You have taken your faith from Him. Leave the issue for Him to sort out. Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” I read about a preacher who been away for a few days and when he got back one of his members met him at the train station. The preacher asked how things were going. The member said, “Preacher, not good. A cyclone came through town and blew my house down.” The preacher said, “Well, sir, I am going to be honest with you. That was God’s punishment for the way you have been living.” The member said, “Preacher, it also blew your house down.”

Immediate Relief From Your Tormentors

E. Stanley Jones wrote: “A rattlesnake, if cornered, will sometimes become so angry it will bite itself. That is exactly what the harbouring of hate and resentment against others is, a biting of oneself. We think that we are harming others in holding these spites and hates, but the deeper harm is to ourselves.”

Immediate Restoration To Usefulness

Where was the unforgiving person sent? To Gaol! They were no longer useful If you hold bitterness in your heart you will not be useful to God or anyone else.

Immediate Removal of A Defiling Attitude

The fruit of a tree reflects the bitterness or sweetness of the soil in which the tree is planted.

The Scripture clearly states that wrong attitudes grieve the Holy Spirit and hamper God's work in our lives. Therefore, we are told: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:31,32).

Often we fail to see our own responsibility in dealing with bitterness. We must put away all wrong feelings that stem from bitterness. The chain reaction of bitterness eventually leads to open and public conflict, which hurts others and damages the cause of Christ. We must learn to forgive others just as completely and totally as God has forgiven us. We must search out those points of insecurity within us that breed ideas and feelings that make us quick to take offense.

The powerful, positive principle of forgiveness will unlock your embittered spirit and set the power of God free in your soul. It will make you kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. It will make you Christlike.

Jesus died for your sins so that you could be forgiven. If you don't know Him as your Saviour, you can come to Him right now.

If you know Christ as your Saviour, but you have let your hurt turn to bitterness, ask God to forgive you and set you free.

God can set you free today. Give your life to Him. Give Him your hurts, your pain and your disappointments. He loves you. He won't turn you away. Is there a burden on your heart today, bring it to the Lord.

Turning Bitterness Into Forgiveness

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

1. The Prelude To Forgiveness

Bitterness Highlights Temporal Priorities Luke 12:13-15

It is Based on The False Assumption That God Owes us Something. Job 2:9 -10

It Focuses on what we thought we should have received.

Bitterness Dislikes Eternal Purposes

Your Offender Is An Agent Of God. Job 1:20-22 Gen 50:20, Col 1:24

To Turn Us To The Lord Matt 11:28

To Try our Inward Motives 1 Cor 11:30-32, Rev 3:19

To Temper us concerning our pride Prov 13:10 James 4:6-8

To Tune Us To Our Weaknesses 2 Cor 12:7 -10

To Test Our Spiritual Armour Ephesians 6:10-18

To Purify our faith Psa 3:1-6

To Tailor us to comfort others 2 Cor 1:3 -5

Bitterness Delights In Individual Problems (It is forgetful of our Pardon in Christ)

2. The Practical Side Of Forgiveness

The Definition Of Forgiveness

The Distinguishing Of Forgiveness

The Deception About Forgiveness

3. The Personal Side Of Forgiveness

Immediate Release From Your Debt Of Vengeance

Immediate Reliance Upon God For Your Needs Romans 12:19

Immediate Relief From Your Tormentors

Immediate Restoration To Usefulness

Immediate Removal of A Defiling Attitude

Praying for the Grace to Forgive

"So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." Matthew 18:35 Have you ever wondered how much of your present behaviour is a reaction to bitter experiences in your past? I have talked with individuals whose obsession with clothing stemmed from an embarrassing comment made by a primary school friend. I know of marriages that have crumbled because of hurtful circumstances and the laceration of soul that accompanied them. I have met ministers who have been crowded into dark corners of uselessness because they are unwilling to deal properly with wounds inflicted by some church, committee, or individual. A missionary once confessed that he was perhaps serving overseas merely to disprove the criticism of a lady who told him, "You don't care about missions at all!"

The manner in which we deal with hurtful events from our past affects us physically and emotionally. Even if separated by years and miles, that rejection, that scalding of emotions, that wounding of heart can render us useless and bitter if we fail to deal with it in a scriptural manner. Difficult circumstances of yesteryear or yesterday can cause our adrenaline to flow, our pulse rate to climb, our food to taste bitter. On sleepless nights they can cause our mind to reel with what others have said or done to us and what we should have done or said in response.

An Inescapable Choice

Bitter experiences of the past also affect us spiritually. If we refuse to forgive, we will find our fellowship with God disrupted and our prayers rendered powerless. That is why our Lord spoke so often and so passionately about forgiveness. At some point in our lives each of us must deal with the issue of forgiveness. But what does it mean to forgive? If you have said, "I forgive, but I cannot forget." Have you forgiven at all? Are some offenses so terrible that God will excuse your inability or refusal to forgive? Will forgiving an offender send a wrong signal, somehow indicating not only acceptance, but approval of the offense. What do these matters have to do with our relationship with God, and our prayer life in particular? Each of us is aware that the Lord has commanded us to forgive. But how are we to do it? Is forgiving simply a mind game, intellectual gymnastics? Or is there some way to genuinely wash our souls of hurt and release ourselves and the other person from the offense and its effects? Is there some way we can stop reacting angrily and start cooperating with God's design for our lives, receiving and passing on His forgiveness? Several years ago God showed me my deficiency in the area of forgiveness. Since He calls His Children to be conformed to the image of Christ, He set a program in motion to deal with that shortcoming in my life. Today He is still teaching me about forgiveness. Class is still in session; the pilgrimage is not over! But here is my story. When I was growing up I endured difficulty in my home life. My mother was schizophrenic, and often deranged, paranoid, abusive sometimes violent and sometimes suicidal. I would arrive home from school in the afternoon and my first thought would be, “I wonder what mood she is in today?” Because her mood dictated whether I would be self confined to my room for the duration, sneaking out only for dinner, or permitted to watch T.V. in the evenings. Usually it was the former, and I grew up well read. Sometimes her condition would get me down miserably and I would wonder at the meaninglessness of life. My family were not Christians, and I had few friends at school, and those whom I did have were of the more dangerous variety who experimented with drugs and booze. Some of my friends at 13 were car thieves, and others were quite capable shoplifters. Few are alive today. After coming to know the Lord I commenced Teachers College, and there suffered a set back. A lecturer didn’t appreciate my Christian position and deliberately failed me in a non assessable course out of pure malice. I had never really failed anything in my life before, and was quite amazed at this situation. After some weeks I came to terms with the circumstances and I determined then that bitterness would not get the mastery over me. But that left me with a difficult problem. How was I going to get on with my mother? Later my mother was sent for a couple of years to a psychiatric institution after attempting again to kill my father,and then attempting suicide herself. I celebrated my 21^st birthday not with the sort of party typical of my friends, but with a cake which I attempted to share with my mother behind the high yellow walls of the Psychiatric institution. She refused to talk to me that day. As the years rolled on again and again I experienced the hardships of malicious attacks by some church folks. I think I am the only pastor to have been ripped off financially in three churches by church Treasurers known throughout our state for “shenanigans”. The least amount left owing me was $2500. How does a Christian handle bitterness and unforgiveness? A dear pastor friend, Dr. Tom Elliff recounted to me his personal experience when he came from his native Oklahoma to share in church services at our church in Sydney. It was he who confronted me with this issue in my life. He said, “Some years ago, not long after my family and I went to Africa, my wife and children were involved in a very serious accident, leaving my eldest daughter critically injured. The muffler of the vehicle, after overturning pinned her 14 year old body to the ground and left hre with 3^rd degree burns to the upper torso. Lying in a hospital, she was for a time at the very point of death. The third day following the accident, I received a phone call from a police officer in a town not far from where the accident occurred. He asked me to come to his office so we could discuss some matters regarding the incident. I assumed that the purpose of our discussion was to inform me that since it was a single vehicle accident, my wife was going to be charged with negligence. Instead he said, "We believe the accident occurred because someone tampered with your vehicle." He then proceeded to show me photographs and other evidence to support his conclusion. He believed that the accident was caused by individuals wanting to steal the vehicle. They were working in cahoots with the military checkpoint tat the edge of town. We agreed that a search for the guilty parties would be fruitless. That evening as I travelled back to our hometown, I was stopped by the military at that checkpoint. As they rifled through my car I felt anger boiling in my heart. I wanted to take them and shake them and scream at them “Do you know what you have done to my daughter?” I wanted to scream out to God, "Where were You when we needed You?" Upon arriving at our house, I fell on my knees and said, "Dear God, I came to this country to minister to these people, but I feel so angry. You are going to have to teach me how to forgive." God answered that prayer, and during the following weeks He led me to Jesus' parable in Matthew 18:23-35. “ Tonight I want to share with you this parable that meant so much to my friend Tom.

Being Forgiven -- Forgiving

Jesus told of a certain king whose servant owed him an enormous sum. His debt, in fact, would have been absolutely unpayable had he lived several lifetimes. Angry over the unpaid debt, the king commanded that the debtor's children and wife be sold and the man himself put into prison until the debt was paid. The man prostrated himself before the king, begging him to give him more time to pay what he owed. Remarkably, the king responded with compassion. With a heart of mercy (perhaps knowing he did not need the money anyway), the king did more than grant the man a few more days -- he forgave him for the entire debt! But sadly, this same servant went out, found a fellow servant who owed him a small amount -- small change! -- grabbed the servant by the neck, shook him, and said, "Give me what you owe me -- now!" "Please let me have just a few days and I will pay you," pled the man. But the wicked servant refused, saying, "I will have you cast into gaol until all you owe is paid to me." Some bystanders, fellow servants, told the king, "Do you remember that servant whose enormous debt you forgave? We just saw him threaten our fellow servant over a small amount of money owed to him." The king's anger flashed! He called for the servant to be brought to him and asked why he wouldn't forgive his fellow servant just as the king had forgiven him. The king then put the man in gaol and delivered him over to the tormentors until he could pay all that was due. This parable reveals the two sides of forgiveness -- the practical side, or what it means to forgive, and the personal side, or what forgiving will do for you and those whom you forgive. And finally, that parable speaks volumes about the manner in which your willingness to forgive affects your fellowship in prayer with the Father. Jesus said, "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses" (Matt.18:35).

1. The Practical Side

What is forgiveness? As used in this parable, the word 'forgive' means to send someone away or to go away yourself, leaving all claims behind. At its heart, forgiveness is not basically an act of the emotions. It is a deliberate, volitional decision by which you say, "This person is no longer indebted to me. I choose to hold no more claims against him or her."Forgiveness is a conscious choice made once for all. In Jesus' day, those hearing the parable for the first time undoubtedly associated the king's forgiveness with a very specific picture. The king called the servant before a court witness in order to forgive him the debt. Proper documents were prepared in duplicate, one set for the forgiven man, and one for the files of the kingdom. These documents recorded the name of the man, the name of the king, the amount the man owed, and the statement, "Forgiven!' or "Paid in full," The king signed them, then the man. Finally a representative sealed them. The forgiven man kept one copy, and the other was filed away.

There was a specific reason for following such a procedure. Imagine that some months later the king must contemplate a costly building project. As he considers the cost, his advisors counsel him, "We know where you can obtain the money for the project. Remember that servant with that enormous debt? Make him pay. He owes it to you."

Soon the man finds himself standing before the king. "But," he protests, "you forgave me for that!" Looking through the files, the court clerk confirms that at a specific time in the past the king had indeed forgiven the servant. The king might be disgusted, his anger might boil, but there is nothing he can do. Perhaps such a scene might even be repeated as time blurs the king's memory. But on each occasion he would return to the fact that he had forgiven his debtor. Here is the point: Even if we decide to forgive someone, we might on future occasions be tempted to bring that person's case back into the courtroom of our emotions and try to demand payment all over again. But with the Holy Spirit's assistance, we will be able to recall that at a specific moment in the past we chose to forgive, and we have no further claim on the offending party. When Satan tempts us to hold the forgiven person in our debt, we can say, "There is no sense in pursuing this. The record may be frayed and dog-eared from my repeatedly thinking about it and bringing it up, but I do not need to drag it out. On a specific day in the past I chose to forgive, I relinquished all claims against this person, and I refuse to go back on my decision." That is forgiveness!

Forgiveness must be distinguished from other practices closely associated with it. Forgiving does not mean that we approve of another's actions. Once a troubled young wife and mother asked whether forgiving her father for molesting her as a child meant that she accepted and approved of his perverted activities. I told her no, noting that Christ forgives us but does not approve of our sin. Sinful activity ought to be abhorred for what it is, wickedness.

Forgiveness does not negate the possibility of punishment. Some folks think that if they forgive someone, then legal issues are not to be considered. There are crimes that necessitate that full legal procedures should be instituted. Two years ago I lost half of my library in an act of vandalism by a seventeen year old man and his two friends. One of these professed conversion at a charismatic church and I was requested by members of that church to “forgive all three and let them all off.” When I declined to do so I was declared “unforgiving and bitter.” The reality of the case was that the person professing conversion had only done so to try and escape punishment. A few months later she was involved in a violent robbery at a bottle-shop. The main offender who set the fire had a long history (at age 17) of similar acts of violence and vandalism (his own solicitor requested police protection for himself lest the 17 year old should assault him after the court case). The cost of the fire was close to $200,000. The detectives involved requested me to carry through with the case because they felt that if I didn’t, then societally we would all suffer as more and more churches were burned and destroyed by this gentleman and others like him. In dealing with such incidents we must forgive the offender, yet not lay aside our responsibility to lovingly protect members of the community by encouraging the enforcement of justice. The book of Ecclesiastes spells this out. Eccl 8: 11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. NKJV

Forgiveness doesn’t have to be preceded by repentance by the offending party or reconciliation. Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation or restitution. It is wonderful when either of these happens, But if they had to precede forgiving, we could be hopelessly trapped in bitterness -- if, for example, the offending party died before either could be accomplished. At the same time, forgiveness does, in fact, pave the way for both of these to occur.

2. The Personal Side

But what does forgiveness do for the persons we forgive -- and for us?

When we forgive someone, we remove ourselves as a controlling factor in that individuals' behaviour. No longer can that person say, "My life could be different, but he will not forgive me," Remember, when we refuse to forgive someone, we are retaining that person's case in our courtroom! We have yet to turn it over to God. We are saying in essence, "I have a higher standard of justice than God!" Have you ever wondered why people who have committed injustice and wrong against us sometimes seem to prosper in this world? Perhaps an individual has mistreated us, and in our heart we might have said, "That does it! You have mistreated God's anointed, His innocent child. Now God is going to let the hammer fall!" but instead the offender prospers! He is driving a new car, he is living in a new house, and he may wear better clothes than we do! We protest, "Lord, he offended me. When are You going to let him have it!" And God gently reminds us, "You have not released him to Me yet! Quit trying to be judge and jury. Pray that I will treat him as graciously as you would want to be treated yourself." Refusing to forgive is a subtle way of saying, "I am afraid that if I forgive this individual, God will not treat him as I think he should be treated." In contrast, the forgiving person says, "Dear God, I rest my case. That individual is Yours to deal with, not mine. I have no further claims, I set him free." That is what forgiveness does for the person whom we forgive. We no longer give him or her an excuse for an improper response. But what will choosing to forgive some offense from our past do for us? Forgiveness has five positive results.

Release from Debt When we refuse to forgive others, we also believe they deserve something more from us -- a lecture, a cold shoulder, criticism, rudeness. We believe we should punish the offender, that we must somehow balance the scales. When we forgive, we are released from that debt -- we are set free. Biblically, we owe the person nothing but love (Rom. 13:8) Following this act of forgiveness, the king in Jesus' parable wanted to never again consider the servant his adversary. In fact, he hoped they could enjoy their restored fellowship. Only that servant's unwillingness to forgive a fellow servant brought him once again under the king's discipline. Unforgiving people always feel it is necessary to get even. They sense there is an unpaid debt and they must set the record straight. But when we forgive, those feelings are removed. And fellowship can be restored. We are released from our unholy burden.

Reliance on the Lord A second positive result of forgiveness is that it helps us to rely fully on the Lord. An unforgiving person subconsciously feels that others hold the key to his happiness and success. But when we forgive someone, we are saying God meets all of our needs. A forgiving spirit casts us totally on the resources of God! The king could forgive the servant's debt because he did not need the man's money. The huge debt was not greatly urgent to him. Similarly, we can forgive other people for what we feel they owe us because we do not need it. We have more than enough because we have Christ.

When we say, "I will not forgive," we are saying, "something is missing. The offending party holds the key to my joy. I need a certain something from someone on this earth. Something that God above cannot provide." But when we forgive, we are saying, "My God supplies all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus my Lord!" (Phil. 4:19). By forgiving others, relinquishing any hold we have on them, we lean wholly on God. Such faith pleases the Lord greatly!

Restored Usefulness Forgiveness will also restore us to ministry and fellowship. Unforgiving people are often perplexed when God takes them out of the mainstream of usefulness. Their theology is precise: we cannot fault them on their Christian character; everything about them seems exactly right., Yet they are on the shelf, rarely called upon by others, and in fact often avoided. In reality, their refusal to forgive has brought them into a prison of uselessness. God has shut down their ministry and focused His attention on their discipline. Why should He exalt someone whose life is a direct contradiction to what He wants others to see in Himself -- His love and forgiveness? The unforgiving servant in the parable was put in prison, where he was totally ineffective, as is everyone who refuses to forgive. But when we forgive, our usefulness is restored.

Relief from Torment Forgiveness brings deliverance from those who mistreat or oppress us. A person who will not forgive lives in agony. "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him." This kind of torment can come in various ways. A pastor named Harry Rimmer put it this way, “The only permanent pain and harm that can come to me from the offenses committed against me is the irreparable injury I do myself by hatred of those who wrong me!”

Some years ago I visited with a lady who had received the frightening diagnosis of a terminal illness. As we talked and I sought to comfort her, she said, "If God ever shows you anything about my situation, please let me know." Later, during a time of Bible study and prayer, God directed me to Proverbs 17:22 with its solemn reminder that "a broken spirit dries the bones." When we met, I asked her if some past event had brought great bitterness to her heart. She began to weep while recounting an event that had virtually devastated her and her husband. Choking back the tears, she asked why I thought such a thing existed in her past. I showed her Proverbs 17:22 and asked is she and her husband were willing to forgive. With gritted teeth she and her husband refused to forgive and would not deal with the situations. I do not know which was sadder, the bitterness that had destroyed a family and a diaconate, or the loss of this dear woman to cancer. Ironically, the very people against whom we harbour a vindictive spirit usually do not know it. Unforgiving people suffer the most from their bitterness. When we forgive, we are released form such torture.

Recovered Fellowship with the Father

Forgiving does more than open the door for restored relationships with others. By forgiving others a believer regains fellowship with God. In His parable Jesus emphatically stated that a refusal to forgive others brings a similar response from God toward us: "So my Heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses" (Matt. 18:35). The forgiving to which Jesus refers is not the forgiveness that brings salvation, but fellowship instead. A friend of mine once related that he had offended his wife with a critical remark, and she was finding it difficult to forgive him. "There's a chill in the air," he said as he tried to describe the atmosphere in his home. Many people sense a similar chill in their relationship with God. Their sins are covered by the death of Christ. But they know their behaviour is not appropriate for blood-bought children of God; they are not living consistently with their calling. A major interruption of fellowship with God stems from an unforgiving spirit.

God is known for His forgiveness. How strange it must seem when we, the forgiven, refuse to forgive others. The Lord's parable shows the serious effects of such an unforgiving spirit. When we choose to forgive someone else. We are applying the grace of God to human lives. We are thus pleasing, serving, and worshipping Him.

Forgiveness and Prayer The facets of forgiveness we have been examining closely relate to prayer. The failure to forgive results in the loss of the five personal benefits discussed above, each of which is crucial if we are to pray effectively, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear" (Ps 66:18), and that includes the sin of refusing to forgive someone else. If we are not only to pray but to persevere in prayer, to pray effectively, we must be forgiving.

He drew a circle that shut me out, Daunted, rebel -- a thing to flout,
But love and I had the wit to win, We drew a circle that shut him in.

Questions for Reflection and Prayer

1. Is there anyone whom you need to forgive? Ask God to bring such persons to mind right now. Why have you not forgiven him or her or them? Will you choose to do so today? Talk with God further about all this now.

2. Release from debt -- reliance on the Lord -- restored usefulness -- relief from torment -- recovered fellowship with the Father -- which of these benefits of forgiving others means the most to you? Why? Which do you need the most these days? Why? Discuss all this with God now.

# posted by Groseys messages @ 10:53 PM

<< Home

Grosey's Messages

Friday, April 05, 2013

Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1-16

B. There Is His Going Up

He Ascended

B. Gullibility..."carried about with every wind of doctrine"

3. Commit Yourself To An Unrelenting Activity

B. A loving spirit in disagreement..."in love"

B. Gullibility..."carried about with every wind of doctrine"

3. Commit Yourself To An Unrelenting Activity

Ephesians 4:1-16

B. There Is His Going Up

1. Commit Yourself To An Unfolding Maturity

2. Commit Yourself To An Unwavering Stability Vs 14

3. Commit Yourself To An Unrelenting Activity

Eph 4:17-32 How To Renew The New You

The Old Man Put Off

The New Man Put On

Turning Bitterness Into Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-35

Bitterness Highlights Temporal Priorities

Bitterness Dislikes Eternal Purposes

To Temper us concerning our pride

To Test Our Spiritual Armour Ephesians 6:10-18

Bitterness Delights In Individual Problems

Turning Bitterness Into Forgiveness

Immediate Release From Your Debt Of Vengeance

Praying for the Grace to Forgive

An Inescapable Choice

Being Forgiven -- Forgiving

1. The Practical Side

Questions for Reflection and Prayer

About Me

Links

archives