Always For All Things-5

ALWAYS For ALL THINGS--V—Ephesians 5:15-21

OR--A Distinctive Walk

Attention:

A developing embryo is genetically different from the sperm & egg that created it.

A human being has 46 chromosomes.

A sperm & egg each have just 23 chromosomes.

A geneticist can easily distinguish between the DNA of an embryo & the DNA of a sperm or egg.

However, that same geneticist cannot distinguish between the DNA of a developing embryo & the DNA of a full-grown human being....Because they are one-&-the-same. The foundational building blocks of every person are present immediately upon conception!

By their ‘Distinctive’ DNA makeup, a living person commands respect as a person, no matter the age!

OR:

An airline pilot flying blind with only the use of instruments.

Christians all have a life-“walk” that distinguishes them from the walk of the world. And their Distinctive Walk commands respect for God & all that is God’s.

Paul exhorted the Ephesian church toward a telling/distinctive/indicative walk.

God’s people have a(n) telling/distinctive/indicative walk.

What is telling/distinctive/indicative about the walk of God’s people?

*When is the walk of God’s people telling/distinctive/indicative?

7 indicators of a Christian walk.

We have seen that A telling walk is...

1. An ACCURATE WALK(:15)

2. A REDEMPTIVE WALK(:16)

3. An INSIGHTFUL WALK(:17)

4. An UNCOMPROMISING WALK(:18)

5. A SHARING WALK(:19)

6—A telling walk is...

A GRATEFUL WALK(:20)

Explanation:(:20)Comprehensive

:20—“giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

People who truly “walk as children of light”(:8) with God’s song in their hearts(:18-19) also have a pre-disposition toward continual gratefulness. These are “always” thankful. These are “thankful” under & “for” “all” circumstances. They are thankful because “God the Father,” though He wounds or chastises, He likewise also restores as do fathers with their children(Heb. 12:7).

God restores & redeems thru the saving grace of Jesus Christ Who is the “Lord” of the saved! All of our thankfulness is only rightly expressed “in the name of our Lord” who is Jesus(Savior) the Christ(Anointed) of God. The “name” encompasses every aspect of “God the Father’s” design for mankind & His Kingdom in Christ.

Regarding being “thankful” “for all things”(both good & bad):

Isa. 43:1-3—“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia & Seba in your place.”

Job 5:17-18—(Eliphaz)--“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.”

Ps. 147:3—“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”

Hosea 6:1-3—“Come, & let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter & former rain to the earth.”

1Pet. 4:12-13—“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

Rom. 5:1-5—“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, & rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; & perseverance, character; & character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Hab. 3:17-19—“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls--Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.”