The Power of Predictability
Are we predictable? Can you count on the behavior of the body of Christ, the church? Are we known for the way we encourage one another? Do we represent our Lord corporately in our behavior? Are we unstoppable?
Ephesians 4
S= Ephesians 4:13 "till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;..."
O= This chapter really talks about the way the body is supposed to look and to function. Because of who we are in Christ we represent Him to the world. We are His body here on this earth. If we are representing Him we must be in unity. The body of Christ must operate in love and love will continue to strengthen areenergizeize the body. If the body is going to represent Christ in its love for each other then there are certain ways we are to treat each other. The way we talk to one another should show our love. That we are honest with each other even through hurt and anger reveals love. The body of Christ should always be seen as an organism that is constantly encouraging itself. When the body of Christ is in conflict with one another it allows the enemy to gain entrance into the body. Conflict within the body of Christ grieves the Holy Spirit because He cannot function to display the natural characteristics of Christ body.
A= For application of this passage I thought of the Green Bay Packers of the 1960's. I was just a boy but I remember watching them play and hearing the adults talk about them. Vice Lombardi was their coach and by the standards of todays modern N.F.L. their offense was pretty simple. You knew what they were going to do; you just had to stop them. When they lined up to run you knew where they were going and more often than not, who would even carry the ball. Their attitude was quite simply, try and stop us! Lombardi believed that if everyone did their job that no one could stop them! Every week the game plan was the same. They were very predictable. You knew when you played the Packers this is what they were going to do. Whether they would pass or run you knew what was coming and you had to stop them. The body of Christ should be as predictable, always based in love and always extending grace to one another. We should be known for continuously building each other up. We should always be honest with each other and talk through our disappointment and anger with forgiveness and understanding. If we are one in this way the devil cannot stop us. We can say here we come try to stop us! I need to be predictable as a child of God. My behavior has to be what is right, what is led by the Holy Spirit. The predictability is that no matter the situation I will do whatever the Holy Spirit is asking me to do! If the body of Christ is living in this way serving Christ, what can stop us?
P= Lord, may I stay in unity with my brothers and sisters. May I represent you in love and encouragement. Even in conflict may my actions be for the purpose of edification. May I not hinder in any way, precious Holy Spirit, your demonstration of Gods love through me!
Ephesians 4
S= Ephesians 4:13 "till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;..."
O= This chapter really talks about the way the body is supposed to look and to function. Because of who we are in Christ we represent Him to the world. We are His body here on this earth. If we are representing Him we must be in unity. The body of Christ must operate in love and love will continue to strengthen areenergizeize the body. If the body is going to represent Christ in its love for each other then there are certain ways we are to treat each other. The way we talk to one another should show our love. That we are honest with each other even through hurt and anger reveals love. The body of Christ should always be seen as an organism that is constantly encouraging itself. When the body of Christ is in conflict with one another it allows the enemy to gain entrance into the body. Conflict within the body of Christ grieves the Holy Spirit because He cannot function to display the natural characteristics of Christ body.
A= For application of this passage I thought of the Green Bay Packers of the 1960's. I was just a boy but I remember watching them play and hearing the adults talk about them. Vice Lombardi was their coach and by the standards of todays modern N.F.L. their offense was pretty simple. You knew what they were going to do; you just had to stop them. When they lined up to run you knew where they were going and more often than not, who would even carry the ball. Their attitude was quite simply, try and stop us! Lombardi believed that if everyone did their job that no one could stop them! Every week the game plan was the same. They were very predictable. You knew when you played the Packers this is what they were going to do. Whether they would pass or run you knew what was coming and you had to stop them. The body of Christ should be as predictable, always based in love and always extending grace to one another. We should be known for continuously building each other up. We should always be honest with each other and talk through our disappointment and anger with forgiveness and understanding. If we are one in this way the devil cannot stop us. We can say here we come try to stop us! I need to be predictable as a child of God. My behavior has to be what is right, what is led by the Holy Spirit. The predictability is that no matter the situation I will do whatever the Holy Spirit is asking me to do! If the body of Christ is living in this way serving Christ, what can stop us?
P= Lord, may I stay in unity with my brothers and sisters. May I represent you in love and encouragement. Even in conflict may my actions be for the purpose of edification. May I not hinder in any way, precious Holy Spirit, your demonstration of Gods love through me!
Hey Brothers and sisters- Wow! what message in chapter 4 today. Thank you Pastor Dan I loved your comments today.We are to walk in a worthy manner. He tells us how. I ejoyed all the One's mentioned 8x I think. We all have the same "Daddy" Thank you Jesus. Jesus is the head. I appreciate Paul mentioning the bitterness, and anger ect. Get rid of it, not to hold on to that stuff. We do. I do. Put on your new self. Renew your mind love one other. I liked as God forgiven us.Glad he put that in there. That's a whole lot of forgiving he has done for me. I'm not just to recieve it from him He wants us to mature and give it out. Lisa McMackin
Posted by
Anonymous |
12:16 PM
What a call! I feel such a need to roll up my sleeves on one hand and clean house: "discard the old unrenewed self." God through Paul strongly appesls to us to readjust my focus, my attitude. Not self but God first and others bathed in the outflow of my being ENFOLDED IN LOVE V 15 . My striving to speak, deal and live daily in a loving way brings on maturity and invites others to do the same. I must get my eyes off of self and v32 "become useful, helpful and tenderhearted with all around me, readily forgiving as'God in Christ forgave me". FATHER GOD I GENUINELY CRY OUT FOR FORGIVENESS FOR NEGLECTING YOU AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THANK YOU FOR ENFOLDING ME IN YOUR LOVE THAT I IN TURN MAY REACH OUT TO THOSE AROUND ME. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TO MATURITY IN CHRIST.
Denise Scaglione
Posted by
Anonymous |
4:27 PM
May we be reminded daily to be kind to each other. Sometimes we try to make it harder than that. It is hard to be angry when you are being kind. It is hard to be bitter when you are being kind.
I love the simplicity of "The Message" translation of verse 2"
"I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel."
and lastly, verse 32 says it all (that's why it is last!).
"Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you."
AMEN!
Posted by
chickefitz |
11:10 PM
i am reading this in the message bible. in verses 14-16 it says: "God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love--like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love."
i like how it says that his very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us to health and love.
i just thought that was really cool. jodi yale
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:18 PM