Let’s Study Ephesians 4 (Part 2) Together!

Let’s Study Together!

This Weeks Scripture: Ephesians 4

Parallel Scriptures:

• Galatians 6:9

• Jeremiah 17:8

• Matthew 12:33

• John 15:16

• Proverbs 18:21

Guiding Questions:

• When is the last time you said something to (or about) someone that may have grieved the holy spirit?

• Are you producing fruits or weeds in your life?

• Are you producing fruits or weeds in others life?

Notes:

People may forget what you said but they will always remember how you make them feel. When choosing to do right, it is not just about only doing it when its easy. We should do it even if that means that it comes with a personal sacrifice. Remember you are consistently bearing good fruit no matter what your circumstances look like. Maybe as a baby Christian you might only be bearing a little bit of fruit, but as you continue to walk with God…..and graduate from drinking milk to feasting on the meat of his word and allowing yourself to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you’ll start to see the harvest get larger and larger. We know a tree by its fruit.

Practical Steps

1. Get rid of the garbage

2. Renew your mind in God’s word

3. Put on the new self and allow God to transform you

4. Repeat… because with our old sinful nature……. we must be consistent with this EVERYDAY

Just because we receive Christ does not mean we will never be tempted again. But the good news is that, when we stay in God’s word, he reveals to us the enemy’s strategies, then tells us the plan of counterattack. No more lies or spreading rumors. We need to always be truthful in everything.

Remember:

• We are all connected to each other in the body of Christ. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. Paul says go ahead and be angry, but don’t use your anger for evil and don’t let your anger last until the sun goes down. Sometimes the most appropriate response to a situation IS anger. It can be an expression of love. There are accounts in the bible where God gets righteously angry. We experience anger because we are created in His image. The key is not to sin when you are angry. Do not threaten, insult, or hurt somebody. This is mismanaged anger…which is a sin. Managed anger on the other hand ... Can give you a clear view of the situation and allow you to respond…with God’s love---even if you were the one that was treated unfairly. You can control you anger with the Holy Spirit working inside of you.

• Be quick to forgive as the antidote to anger. When we forgive, we release those who have injured us into the hands of God, and we trust Him to deal with them in a way that will bring them into the truth.

• Paul urges us to make an honest living not just to take care of ourselves, but to be blessing to others. Going back to stewardship, everything we have is not ours. So instead of trying to keep all the money you make for yourself, will you trust God with His money?

• Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, in other words, do not break his heart. Use words that build up and encourage people. That includes yourself! Do not speak negatively over yourself or anybody else. Your words can either work for you or against you. A lot of times if we feel a hinderance of peace, it is worth examining not only our thoughts, but our words. Things that grieve the Holy Spirit: bitterness, anger, resentment, strife, fault-finding, slander! (All these things we need to stay far away from!) Instead we need to love generously. You never know who you can uplift, encourage, or win to Christ with just a simple act of love and kindness!

Guiding Prayer:

Lord, help us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Teach us to honor you! Lord teach us to follow you and help us to become who you have designed us to be! Lord we come to you and surrender all our wants and cares to you. We pray this in Jesus name Amen!