3Jan2014- Living as Children of Light

How you doin?  We woke up to 6-8 inches of snow this morning. A winter wonderland.  I know my in-laws are missing this since they are in Fla.  Missing this like a stubbed toe.  Ouch, that's a bad reference for me these days.  Stacey's scheduled to work.  Please pray that she is safe.  Ephesians 4 today.

The next two chapters are coming from the posture of walking.  I love sitting and receiving, but I also want to be a good steward of what I've received.  Chapters 4 and 5 give me great instructions on how to go about doing that.  Verses 1-3, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 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."  Generally I would use a black highlighter to highlight these verses, because I really lack this fruit of the Spirit.  The "good news" is, God is changing my heart and mind.  He is increasing my desire to walk in/with Him.  Only in Him may I receive the upgrade to fill this lack.  COME ON!!!!!!!  That's what I call "good news".  The Spirit of love overrides and straight out defeats the spirit of fear.  AWESOME!!!!!!!

Verses 11-13, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."  I for one have come to appreciate and love the present day apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers.  I have done my share of looking for flaws in ministries, skepticism, and dealing out "no".  Again God is changing me.  I'm not swinging so far back that I'm taking in teachings that are not Biblical.  The Counselor has been very clear on what is good and what is not.  Sadly enough for me, most of what I've been raised up in is on the "not good" list.  The demonic spirit of religion and "law" has taken it's toll on me.  The Holy Ghost is WAY bigger though.  COME ON!!!!!!!

Verses 17-32, are titled "Living as Children of Light" or on Bible Gateway.com, "Instructions For Christian Living".  So in other words, how to walk as a follower of Jesus.  Time to break out the black highlighter if you don't want to follow Jesus closely.  Verses 20-24, "That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  These verses stood out to me the most.  This is some of that new covenant stuff that I love so much.  As Graham Cooke says, "Stop being a grave digger. Let the old you stay dead. Stop digging him up."  The old covenant is sin conscious, God is truth conscious.  Verse 21 points out that the truth is "in Jesus".  Jesus is in me.  AWESOME!!!!!!! 

As usual, this email is doing this chapter little to no justice.  Please read along with us.  Pray for the Spirit of revelation to reveal the importance of unity and purity.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!  It's good to be good and free.  Put on your new self and be a good steward of His Presence today.          

PS   Verses 11-13 are just blowing me out of the water.  My built in receiver is hearing the signal that the 5 fold ministry offers.  Becoming "mature" and "attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ

", is my hearts deepest desire.  I would offer this tough question as food for thought, who are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in your church?  Even more so, which one are you?