Study Ephesians Chapter 4 with Cherie Sheridan    BIBLE STUDY NOTES

We've finally got the Outreach Center all freshly painted and ready for God's will to be performed in this place.  Hallelujah!!!!!  Now we are awaiting the arrival of chairs and sound equipment (as the Lord provides).  God is so awesome.  When we wait on Him, He does beyond what we can think or imagine.  He will perform what He said He will do concerning us,  if we continue to stand and wait upon Him.  He is faithful!

The blessings of the Lord make us rich and add no sorrow.  If your blessing is making you sorrowful maybe it wasn't from the Lord.  When God blesses us He takes care of the bills too.  That means we allow Him to provide the opportunity for us, not take it into our own hands and help God.  He clearly told me in times past, that He doesn't need my help.  He wants my obedience.

Keep up to date with what we are doing at  O.T.R.P. Wilkes - Outreach Center on our Events Calendar

Today's society promotes rebellion against those in leadership.  It codles the immature and makes excuses for wrong behavior.  This is completely contrary to the word of the Lord.  In Ephesians chapter 6, Paul addresses this in telling
children to obey their parents in the Lord.  This does not only address our natural parents but it also addresses our spiritual parents.  Those that God has raised up to speak into our lives.  These are the ones we usually steam roll over first when issues start arising in our lives.  We might even blame them or
falsely accuses them of being hard or not loving.  

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 
Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Eph 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 

You might say Paul was addressing children.  If so, who was John addressing in 1John?

1Jn 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1Jn 2:13 Here John is addressing 3 different stages of spiritual growth.  Fathers/Mothers, young men and little children.

What is your spiritual growth?  You can judge that for yourself by your behavior.

God is not pleased when we dishonour our spiritual leaders.  Behind the scenes true spiritual parents are travailing for your soul.  They, like natural parents, desire to see you to come to your full potential.  They can be hard at times, but it's for our benefit and growth.  God chastens those who He loves. 

Paul was a Father in the Lord.  I wonder how we would respond to his chastening today.   He rebuked them in Hebrews pretty sternly.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is  unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

It is a priviledge and an honour to serve the Lord in any capacity.  When God presents an opportunity for us to walk in a place of leadership and training; He's the one presenting it!  Not man.  Why do we dishonour the man or woman that
God has placed in position to prepare us for our calling?  When we dishonour God's leaders, we dishonour God.

We have to grasp the idea that we are in this world but not of it.  We are in the Army of God.  It is not play time now.  You don't get to decide you don't want to do what God has assigned you to at this stage of the game.  People will live or die based upon our obedience to the Lord.  Do you want to stand before God having Him praise you for your obedience and faithfulness or judge you for how you disobeyed Him, by disobeying those He sent to you?

We need to "snapp out" of this earthly mindset and take on an eternal mindset and get in order and get in our positions.

God says in Psalms 133 that He will command the blessing if we walk in unity.  The opposite of that is the curse when we walk in disunity.

Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees of David.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 
Psa 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 
Psa 133:3 and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing,
even life for evermore. 

When we see the humanity of our spiritual leaders we must be careful not to allow ourselves to become familiar with them.  They have paid a great price to walk in the authority and the calling they walk in.  We must always honour the
anointing that God has placed upon them.  In advertently we can be bringing God's discipline upon us for mishandling our leaders.

What should we do if we have acted wrongly to those God has placed in our lives?  Repent to God, and ask forgiveness of our leaders. 

Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Gal 4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you

One more note.  When we are in a season of deliverance and healing, things will be manifesting in us to get us to turn against those whom God is using to help us.  By things, I mean, the stuff in you that doesn't want to go.  Press into God during these times.  The seasons of deliverance can be quick when we work with the Holy Spirit and those God is using.  The demonic forces will tell you things to try to stop your healing and deliverance, don't fall for their trap.


Blessings