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River Church Sermons


Apr 19, 2020

Authentic Spirituality, #8

How To Live A Balanced Life, Eph. 4:1-13

By Louie Marsh, 4-19-2020

 

3 Slides – last one rocks balancing

 

1) BALANCE my talk with my walk.

 

1  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, Ephesians 4:1 (ESV)

 

4 Ways to do this:

 

2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, Ephesians 4:2 (ESV)

 

  • RECOGNIZE the worth of others.

 

  • SUBMIT my strength to Christ’s control.

 

  • REFUSE to strike back at others.

 

  • PUT UP with others lovingly.

 

2) LIVE OUT the Spirit’s Unity.

 

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)

 

Every effort – strong in Greek – if you think someone is overly sensitive and are tired of dealing with them – remember it’s EVERY effort!

 

Remember: It’s the Spirit’s Unity – NOT ours!

 

3) LIVE IN the Triune Unity.

 

4  There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV)

 

Comment on Trinity here again – then the progression of the 7 ones.

 

  • 1 SPIRIT = 1 BODY

 

  • 1 HOPE = 1 LORD = 1 FAITH = 1 BAPTISM

 

  • 1 GOD AND FATHER OVER EVERYTHING.

 

4) GRATEFULLY RECEIVE God’s gifts of grace.

 

7  But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8  Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” Ephesians 4:7-8 (ESV)

 

Now that we understand our unity – we turn to the diversity God builds into the church. Christian unity is ALWAYS unity in diversity – NOT uniformity!

 

  • Grace = SALVATION & SERVICE.

 

  • God gave us PEOPLE!

 

11  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, Ephesians 4:11 (ESV)

 

Briefly discuss these positions – and PEOPLE -

 

5) PARTICIPATE in God’s Purposes & Goals.

 

12  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, Ephesians 4:12 (ESV)

 

  • Their Purpose – prepare me to SERVE!

 

  • Their Goals -

 

13  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, Ephesians 4:13 (ESV)

 

  • Unity in the FAITH
  • Unity in the KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST
  • SPIRITUAL MATURITY
  • ATTAINING TO Christ’s fullness