Welcome to Bible at Bedtime. Tonight, I'm going to be reading from Ephesians 4. I'll be using the Passion Translation just because I like the way the words are phrased. Of course, for study translation, you may want to use New King James Version, New International Version, or Holman Christian Standard Bible. Let's begin. Our Divine Calling As a prisoner of the Lord, I plead with you to walk holy in a way that is suitable to your high rank, given to you in your divine calling. With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love. toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience. Be faithful to guard the sweet harmony of the Holy Spirit among you in the bonds of peace, being one body and one spirit as you were all called into the same glorious hope of divine destiny. For the Lord God is one and so are we. For we share in one faith, one baptism and one Father. And he is the perfect Father who leads us all, works through us all, and lives in us all. The grace gifts of Christ. And he has generously given each one of us supernatural grace according to the size of the gift of Christ this is why he says he ascends into the heavenly heights taking his many captured ones with him and gifts were given to men He ascended means that he returned to heaven after he had first descended from the heights of heaven even to the lower regions, namely the earth. The same one who descended is also the one who ascended above the heights of heaven in order to begin the restoration and fulfillment of all things. And he has appointed some with grace to be apostles and some with grace to be prophets and some with grace to be evangelists and some with grace to be pastors and some with grace to be teachers and their calling is to nurture and prepare all the holy believers to do their own work of ministry. And as they do this, they will enlarge and build up the body of Christ. these grace ministries will function until we all attain oneness into the faith until we all experience the fullness of what it means to know the son of god and finally we become one into a perfect man with the full dimensions of spiritual maturity and fully developed into the abundance of Christ. And then our immaturity will end. And we will not be easily shaken by trouble nor led astray by novel teachings or by the false doctrines of deceivers who teach clever lies. But instead, we will remain strong and always sincere in our love as we express the truth. All our direction and ministries will flow from Christ and lead us deeper into him, the anointed head of his body, the church. for his body has been formed in his image and is closely joined together and constantly connected as one. And every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all. And as these gifts operate effectively throughout the whole body, we are built up and made perfect in love. Lord we thank you for making us with your church in mind bestowing upon us divine gifts and showing us what it means to build up your church. Guide us Lord in the use of our gifts Give us awareness of our calling increase our desire to remain holy and steadfast to all that you would want for us to do. and now Ephesians 4 17 passion translation so with the wisdom given to me from the Lord I say you should not live like the unbelievers around you who walk in their empty delusions. Their corrupted logic has been clouded because their hearts are so far from God. Their blinded understanding and deep-seated moral darkness keeps them from the true knowledge of God. Because of spiritual apathy, they surrender their lives to lewdness, impurity, and sexual obsession. but this is not the way of life that Christ has unfolded within you. If you have really experienced the anointed one and heard his truth, it will be seen in your life. for we know that the ultimate reality is embodied in Jesus. And he has taught you to let go of the lifestyle of the ancient man. the old self-life which was corrupted by sinful and deceitful desires that spring from delusions now it's time to be made new by every revelation that's been given to you and to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ within as your new life and live in union with him. For God has recreated you all over again. in his perfect righteousness and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness. So, discard every form of dishonesty and lying so that you will be known as one who always speaks the truth for we all belong to one another But don let the passion of your emotions lead you to sin Don let anger control you or be fuel for revenge, not even for a day. Don't give the slanderous accuser, the devil, an opportunity to manipulate you. if any one of you has stolen from someone else never do it again instead be industrious earning an honest living and then you'll have enough to bless those in need. And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth. But instead, let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others. Do this by speaking words of grace to help them. The Holy Spirit of God has sealed you in Jesus Christ until you experience your full salvation. so never grieve the spirit of God or take for granted his holy influence in your life lay aside bitter words temper tantrums revenge, profanity and insults but instead be kind and affectionate towards one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ's love. Lord, tonight as we sleep we pray that if we've done anything to displease you said a wrong word shown unforgiveness walked in bitterness use profanity or insults Lord we ask for your forgiveness and we turn away from those things which are displeasing to you Lord as we pursue holiness and walk in your righteousness thank you for guiding us to walk in true forgiveness and in your love in Jesus name, amen well friends, it was a short one tonight but I hope that this helps you to fall asleep
