Bulletins - Calvary Chapel Wenatchee

Great Things
Because Of Your Love
Enough
I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord
Stand In Your Love
His Name Is Wonderful
Rest
We Are Hungry
Sovreign
Last week:
Because of what we have in Christ, we are urged to walk in a manner worthy of your calling.
The first way to walk in a manner worthy is humility, and that will shape how we are to walk as new creations in Christ.
What Paul is aiming for here is maturity, that we would be built up as a body.
Illustration:
As a Seahawks fan, I remember back to 2012 the excitement of having this new, young quarterback leading our team. Russell Wilson was a third round draft pick, but what was surprising is that he beat out Matt Flynn for the starting spot, who the Seahawks had just signed to a big contract away from Green Bay. But Russell led our Seahawks to 2 Superbowls, back to back and winning our first one against the Denver Broncos. We all loved Wilson, especially as he continuously was able to rally our team late in the game to pull of some pretty miraculous wins.
But in 2022, he was traded to the Denver Broncos. A quarterback who was well decorated and loved by Seahawks fans, was now wearing the colors of the first team we ever beat in a Superbowl. It was very strange to see. Not only that, Wilson changed his moto, from “Let’s Go” with the Seahawks, to now, “Let’s ride” with the Broncos. At this point, he was no longer a Seahawk, he was something completely different.
I say this because that change in Wilson is the same change that Paul is talking about here in Ch.4. Wilson had to lay aside his Seahawk uniform to wear what represents his new team. We no longer are part of the world, and we will see that in the same way, we are called to lay aside what we use to look like, use to act, use to think, and put something completely new on.
Put off the Old (V.14-24)
V.14
Ephesians 4:14 NASB95
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
As a result:
He gave us the apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers
These are to equip the saints
We are all to grow up/mature
because of all these things…
to be children:
immature
tossed about (confused and pulled away)
every wind of doctrine:
Every thing you hear you get carried away, blown away by it.
trickery of men
People will try and trick you with arguments and terrible logic
craftiness in deceitful scheming
methods that are designed to deceive
*Remember… be a berean
But this is what these gifts are for, these positions, to protect you, to keep you from being tossed and carried.
That we would be mature, not children.
You are growing, don’t despise what the Lord is doing in your life through these gifts the Lord has given
V.15
Ephesians 4:15 NASB95
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Speaking truth in love:
teaching one another what is true because we love them
Grow up:
In all aspects- in everything; gifts, prayer, the word, fellowship, sharing,
Don’t be““failure to thrive”
Christ, the head:
Jesus is the head, He is the very top
V.16
Ephesians 4:16 NASB95
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what 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.
Whole body:
Every body has many parts, all need to function as it was intended
PROPER WORKING
of each individual part
Just because you aren’t a pastor, prophet, evangelist, teacher, apostle, you still have a part
Work as you were called, not how you want.
Tough statement: “Stay in your lane”
properly work, this is how the church grows.
“Too many chiefs in the tribe”, “Too many cooks in the kitchen”,
When we all do our part, it builds the body. In contrast, when we don’t, we tear it down.
Building itself in love:
love is the glue that holds it all together
What we do should be in love, not hate, not remorse, not jealousy… that is how the Gentiles do it.
We are not called to do it like them
V.17-19
New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 4
17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
No longer:
This is what you use to do
As the Gentiles: How do the Gentiles walk/live?
Futility of mind:
Emptiness, no purpose in what they think or believe
darkened in understanding:
They can’t see clearly because they are dark.
Like walking in a dark room, can’t see
excluded from the life of God:
They are not part of God
They are excluded and not invited in
Why?
Ignorance- no knowledge
hardness of heart- their hearts are hard towards God
What causes hardness of heart?
Hebrews 3:13 NASB95
13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
become callous
Hard for so long, its impenetrable
Given themselves over:
This echoes what we read in Romans 1:21-25.
Romans 1:21–25 NASB95
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Practice every kind of impurity
Sinful and degrading behavior
with greediness
Everything they do they look to gain for themselves
V.20-21
New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 4
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
You did not learn Christ in this way:
We have not come to know Jesus as hardened and darkened, living sinfully
Know this, the worldly, fleshly living does not lead one to Christ
truth is in Jesus:
Jesus says in John 14:6 that He is the truth
John 14:6 NASB95
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
You will not find truth apart from Jesus
V.22-24
New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 4
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
lay aside the old self:
a purposeful action, lay aside, or put off, in the sense of taking off your clothes
Notice it is something you are doing, not already done.
Why?
Being corrupted
lusts of deceit
The old self indulges, finds ways to be gratified and looks out for #1
renewed:
echoes the same message of Romans 12:2
Romans 12:2 NASB95
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Put on:
sense: being wrapped in a covering, getting dressed
New self:
You are new in Christ (As already established)
created in:
Righteousness
to live right with God
holiness of truth
be separate from the world, be different
We aren’t walking in darkness and and futility, but in truth
The New Self (V.25-32)
V.25
Ephesians 4:25 NASB95
25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
Therefore:
How to lay aside the old self and put on the new.
I love how Paul goes about this
The Ephesians didn’t automatically do everything right. These were all things that the Ephesians needed to be taught and told.
We need that too. You may have been living your life this way up until now, but remember, this is why God gave us these gifts, your pastor. So you can learn how to put off the old self and put on the new.
This is not to condemn you, but to transform you.
lay aside falsehood:
If you are use to lying to get out of trouble, or lying to make some one feel better, or lying to get what you want, lay that aside. Put that off.
In your old self, this may have been a habit and something you did without thinking about it. But not anymore.
Why?
Because we are all members of one another
V.26-27
New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 4
26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Be Angry:
Is it ok to be angry?
Yes, but when does it become a sin?
When you let the sun go down on your anger.
Do not let it fester and become more than it should. Resolve your issues.
Why?
So you do not give the devil an opportunity.
When you sit in your anger, it gives Satan an opportunity to come in and entice you to become sinful.
This also includes what people call “Righteous Anger.” It still needs to be resolved appropriately.
V.28
Ephesians 4:28 NASB95
28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
He who steals:
stealing money or things… this is no longer something you will be doing.
Instead, go to work, work hard, and then you will no longer be taking, but able to give and share what you have.
There is nothing wrong with asking for help, but there are people who make it a habit, because it has been part of their life for so long.
Now is the time to stop. No need to be embarassed if this was you before, but now, start working, start laboring, so you aren’t a taker, but a giver.
V.29
New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 4
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
No unwholesome word:
Paul will explain more in Ephesians 5:4 what this includes. And also here in the next couple verses as well.
The word literally means rotten
Instead, as a new self, we speak only what is good for edification, to build, to edify, according to the need of the moment.
So instead of tearing others down or violating someone’s conscience, it will give grace to those who hear you.
Don’t forget what James says in James 3:5-8
James 3:5–8 NASB95
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
V.30
Ephesians 4:30 NASB95
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit:
How do we grieve the Hoy Spirit.
Grieve here means to dishearten, discourage, or ignore.
When we grieve the Holy Spirit, we ignore the work He is doing in our lives, and the lives of others.
This is also in light of unwholesome words, and can ultimately be what follows as well.
When we speak rotten, not edifying nor graciously, we grieve the Holy Spirit
V.31
Ephesians 4:31 NASB95
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Put away from you:
How we deal with people is part of the new self.
Are we bitter?
Are you wrathful or angry?
Are you always shouting or slandering?
Are you being malicious?
We aren’t going to be perfect with all of these things, but remember, this is what begins to happen as we are transformed and changed by the work of the Spirit, that we put these things off.
V.32
Ephesians 4:32 NASB95
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Instead, this is how we should be:
kind
tender-hearted
forgiving
Why forgive? Because God forgave you
We are to treat one another differently than the world.
Remember, to walk in a manner worthy of your calling. This is your calling, to treat one another in this way as the body of Christ.
- - Ephesians 4:14NASB95
- - Ephesians 4:15NASB95
- - Ephesians 4:16NASB95
- - Ephesians 4:25NASB95
- - Ephesians 4:28NASB95
- - Ephesians 4:30NASB95
- - Ephesians 4:31NASB95
- - Ephesians 4:32NASB95
- - Hebrews 3:13NASB95
- - Romans 1:21–25NASB95
- - John 14:6NASB95
- - Romans 12:2NASB95
- - James 3:5–8NASB95

Ephesians 4:14NASB95

Ephesians 4:15NASB95

Ephesians 4:16NASB95

Ephesians 4:25NASB95

Ephesians 4:28NASB95

Ephesians 4:30NASB95

Ephesians 4:31NASB95

Ephesians 4:32NASB95

Hebrews 3:13NASB95

Romans 1:21–25NASB95

John 14:6NASB95

Romans 12:2NASB95

James 3:5–8NASB95