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Written by Rob Barkman for “Settled In Heaven Ministries” @ http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/
View original post @ http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/sihs-think-on-these-things-ephesians-427/
SIH’s Think On These Things: Ephesians 4:27
by Rob Barkman
“Reflections Of His Grace”
“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
The Grace Of Renewal: Ephesians 4:17-32
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
With this devotional, we are beginning the second division of the book of Ephesians. Previously, we have looked at “Reflections Of His Grace Revealed” (chaps 1-3). It that section, Paul revealed to us the gracious works of the Lord in the lives of His chosen people.
In this new section “Reflections Of His Grace Applied” (chaps 4-6) Paul will be explaining to us the practical effects of God’s grace in the lives of His people.
The Grace Of Unity (4:1-6)
The Grace Of Maturity (4:7-16)
The Grace Of Renewal (4:17-32)
The Grace Of Imitation (5:1-14)
The Grace Of Wisdom (5:15-21)
The Grace Of Relationships (5:22-33)
The Grace Of Authority/Submission (6:1-9)
The Grace Of Preparedness (6:10-21)
The next effect of God’s grace we will be looking at is the grace of RENEWAL (4:17-32). The word translated “renewed” is a Greek word that carries with it the ideas of:
1. to reform
2. to make fresh
3. to restore youth
When these are viewed together we can see that the idea of renewal is “a renovation that restores to a previous condition which results in renewed power, refreshment and perception.”
In the context of this study, our mind is spoken of as being “renewed” with the receipt of the new nature given to us at our salvation. Basically this is teaching us that our mind is changed to resemble our minds before the fall of man. Some of these would include:
1. a mind with a greater desire to think on things pleasing to God,
2. a mind with an ability to more clearly perceive and apply God’s Word and will to the life
3. a mind with an ability to perceive and oppose wickedness, temptation and other evil influences.
Keeping all this in mind, lets turn our attention to this is a very basic outline of this section of Scripture:
I. The Walk Of Our Old Man (vs 17-22)
II. Our New Man with a Renewed Mind (23-24)
III. The Walk Of Our New Man (vs 25-32)
EXPOSITION:
(Eph 4:27) Neither give place to the devil.
Paul continues looking at several characteristics of the new man…
Principle #4 – No Submission To Satan’s Use
Neither give place to the devil.
This is one of the clearest and easiest to understand of all the characteristics of the new man. Another way to say this is “do not willingly turn over any area of your life for Satan’s use”. The Word gives us several practical principles on how this can be done.
Perhaps the most fundamental, and practical, of all the Biblical instructions concerning the opposition of Satan is found in Revelation 12:10-11…
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
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