“How to avoid taking one step forward and two steps back in
2019”
Ephesians 4:1-2 (MSG) - In light of all this, here’s what I want you to
do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out
there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t
want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling
off, down some path that goes nowhere…
Intro: The key to forward growth is UNITY.
(The
reason you can’t move forward is that there are multiple forces pulling against
you.
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV) - 2 with all humility and gentleness,
with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.
A. I can’t practice unity if I don’t seek the oneness
of God.
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV) - 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.
B. I can’t experience oneness with God without addressing
my own brokenness and divisiveness.
Ephesians 4:20-24 (MSG) - 20-24 But (THAT OLD BROKEN LIFE) that’s no life for
you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention
to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus.
Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected
with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid
of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a
life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God
accurately reproduces his character in you.
2. The struggle forward is rewarded when
we are completely humble.
Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV) - 2 Be completely
humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to
keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
A. Humbly submit to others.
Ephesians 4:20-21 (NIV) - always giving thanks to God the Father for
everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
B. Experience the freedom in obedience.
Ephesians 4:30- 5:2 (NIV) - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get
rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with
every form of malice. 32 Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in
Christ God forgave you. 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as
dearly loved children 2 and
walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for
us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Conclusion: I must take responsibility for my own spiritual growth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV) - 11 And he
gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,
the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the
saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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, 14 so that we may no longer be
children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind
of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,16 from
whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is
equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that
it builds itself up in love.
Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV) - Therefore if you have any encouragement from
being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing
in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then
make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love,
being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own
interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the
same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
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