The Delightful Prospect Of Growing Up.

Both children and parents are pleased at growth.

The first smile or tooth.
The first steps and words.
The Christian life also has such progress.
After the new birth, growth is natural.

We Mature So That We Can Take Responsibilities Which Bring Satisfaction.

This is a principle of life.
Irresponsibility sounds like freedom but ends up in emptiness.
Accomplishments bring satisfaction.
In this maturing process, some negatives are necessary.

What Are The Negatives Of Christian Maturity?

Walk Not As Other Gentiles Walk

read  Ephesians 4:17-25

There is to be a difference.  2 Corinthians 5:17-18

This is really saying; "Walk not as you used to walk"Ephesians 2:1-8

According to the course of this world.
According to the prince of the power of the air, satan.
According to the lusts of the flesh.
Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind.

How does the world walk?

In the vanity of the mind.
Having their understanding darkened.
Having blind hearts.
Giving themselves to lasciviousness.
Working uncleanness with greediness.

Let Not The Sun Go Down Upon Your Wrath

read  Ephesians 4:26

Never let a day end being angry.

Be angry but sin not rightous anger.
Let not the sun go down on your anger.

Some people live with anger constantly.

Anger gets things for them and moves others.
Tantrums unless they get their way.
Sulking, sobbing, silence.

We are never to let a day end with anger.

Some sad situations between husbands and wives.
Thunder and lightning every night.

How should we deal with anger? Give it to Jesus confess and forsake.

Let Him That Stole Steal No More

read  Ephesians 4:28

This is not as strange a statement as it seems.

Some folks are addicted to stealing.

Shoplifting, taking things from employers.
Stealing from others.
Stealing from God.  Malachi 3:10

The call to generosity and honesty.

Let No Corrupt Communication Proceed Out Of Your Mouth

read  Ephesians 4:29

By our words we are judged.

James and his comments about the tongue.

What is corrupt communication? Some people get as close to profanity as possible and others simply don´t care.  Psalms 19:14

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Of God

read  Ephesians 4:30

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

This should make you careful  help you mature.

Stop grieving the Lord in word, thought and deed.

Conclusion

What Shall We Do If These Things Remain In Our Lives?

Confess them as sin.  1 John 1:9
Present our bodies to Christ as living sacrifices.  Romans 12:1

IN OTHER WORDS "GROW UP!"

Bible Studies Home

Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
¹⁸ 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:
¹⁹ Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness..
²⁰ But ye have not so learned Christ;
²¹ If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
²² That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
²⁵ Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
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2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
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Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
³ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved;
⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
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Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
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Ephesians 4:28 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.
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Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
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Ephesians 4:29 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.
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Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
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Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
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1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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Romans 12:1 beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
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Last updated on October 08, 2006