Community Compass

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

A waterbed may just be the vinyl resting place.

A zoo had a camel with no humps named ‘Humphrey’.

A zoo had too many panda bears, so they built a pandemonium.

‘I have a split personality’ said Tom being Frank.

A pastor always used the phrase, “It might be worse,” when some calamity would come his way. One day a friend said to him, “I’ve something to tell you, and you won’t be able to use your favorite phrase. I dreamed last night that I died and went to hell.”
“It might be worse,” said the preacher. “Man alive, how could it be worse?”
“It might be true.”

Something to think about!   Read Romans 3:23;  Romans 5:12;  Romans 5:8:  Romans 10:13

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2

Verse one begins with another “therefore”. It connects us back to verse thirty two where we’re encouraged to be kind and compassionate to one another and forgive one another. The way we are to forgive is the same way that God forgave us in Christ (32b). I guess that would mean complete and and unqualified forgiveness wouldn’t it? If someone sincerely desires forgiveness, grant it to them. If they don’t want it, be willing to forgive.

The word “therefore” in verse bridges verses 4:32 & 5:1. Because God is forgiving, kind and compassionate (4:32) We should imitate Him by living a life of love. The way Christ loved us is that He gave Himself for us . This was very pleasing to God, just like when an Old Testament sacrifice of incense or of meat was burned before the Lord. God took a special delight.

In the same way, he takes special delight when we imitate Him by showing His love to others. He likens our imitation of Him to beloved children who imitate their parent. Every parent loves to see their kids imitate them in doing right. The newly formed body of Christ (the Church) comprised of formerly religious Jews and formerly pagan Gentiles would have to, not only get along, but to show unselfish love toward each other. That’s what God expects in our relationships today. Unselfish, undying, non-hypocritical love. Too often relationships of any kind, explode and disintegrate simply because of a lack of love.

Love is not merely a feeling. It is a choice to meet to meet the needs of others even at great expense, if necessary. That’s Christ’s love. Look again at verse two: As Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. Romans 5:8 says that Christ made that choice while we were yet sinners. He chose to meet our needs even when we turned from Him. Now that’s worth imitating. Maybe someone needs to see that kind of caring today. How about it? Follow your Leader!

“Do as I tell you, and you’ll be the best blacksmith in town,” the old master said to his apprentice. “I’ll take this horseshoe out of the fire, and when I nod my head, hit it with your hammer.” The apprentice did as he was told, and, sure enough, he is the best blacksmith in town.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:25-32

Verses 25 through 32 are introduced with the word “Therefore.” You will see a lot of “Therefores” and “Wherefores” in Paul’s epistles because he draws conclusions on the doctrines that he puts forth. Biblical belief must lead to biblical behavior.

The previous section tells us to 1) Remove the old behavior 2) Be renewed in the spirit of our minds 3) Replace the old with the new because we are created as new people that are like God and, believe it or not, we are made to be righteous and holy! So now comes the big “Therefore.” All old patterns of the sinful life must now be replaced with Biblical thinking (23) and Biblical Behavior — mere behavior or mere thinking won’t do…

Note the “out with the bad” and “in with the good” structure of the following paragraphs:

1. Lying … replaced with always speaking the truth (25) because we are members of each other (refer back to 4:4-6, 11-12, 15-15)

2. Prolonged anger replaced with settling it before sundown (26-27) Prolonged anger gives the devil a foothold — scary thought huh?

3. Stealing is replaced with working and sharing (28) – This illustrates the self mentality being replaced with God mentality.

4. Unwholesome talk is replaced with speech that builds up others (29) – It has been noted that the sin of grieving (making sorrowful) of God’s Spirit (30), is used in connection with unwholesome talk. Perhaps we grieve God more quickly with this sin than any other! When we grieve the Spirit, we limit His effectiveness in us.

5. Bad relational stuff- (bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander with every form of malice) is replaced with kindness and compassion for each other. This manifests itself in forgiveness (which is not always easy). Why should we forgive? Because we’ve been forgiven.

One word, “Therefore,“ signals us to live in a new way. Chapter four tells we are to live a worthy life (1) of humility, gentleness, patience and forbearance, making an effort to live in unity with all believers (3). After all, we are one, as believers sharing many good things that God has given us (4-6). Jesus, Who died and defeated evil, rose from the dead and gave us spiritual gifts (7-10). Some of the gifts He gave us were/are people he has called further lay out the foundational teachings of Christ (Apostles, Prophets – see Ephesians 2:20), and serve the church by winning people (evangelists) , guiding (pastors) and properly informing (teachers) (11). This is that God’s people are equipped to do his will (12) and may grow into maturity and unity (13-16). We are no longer to live as those who are without Christ (17-19), but rather because Christ is our leader and transformer (20-21) we are to remove the old man’s ways (22) be renewed in our mind (23) and replace the bad with the good (24). The “how and why” are seen in verses 25-32.

God has given us clear direction THEREFORE… follow it. Whew… that WAS a BIG THEREFORE.

What has four legs, is big, green, fuzzy, and if it fell out of a tree it would kill you?

Answer:  You ready for this?  You sure????   Ok.

A Pool table.

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:17-24

After exhorting the Ephesians to no longer live as the lost world, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers that when they came to Christ, Jesus brought them a new life (20) and taught them a new way (21b-24). When they were saved, they learned the contrast between the way of darkness (18) and Christ’s way(20-21). Christ’s truth is a transforming truth. It stems from a new way of thinking (23) and exhibits itself in a new way of living (22-32).

This life transformation is only brought about by the New Birth. Then it is seen in our actions when the believer submits the the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Three actions are necessary for the believer. They are all treated as of equal importance in this passage.

1. Remove the old ways (“put off your old self“) – The words “put off” depict the removal of dirty clothes. After working in the garden or lawn for some time, you want to get out of the old clothes and into some fresh, clean clothes. You surely wouldn’t want to wear sweat gym clothes to go out to dinner. In the same way, God wants us to “remove” (quit) the habits of the old life. They are dirty and unbecoming for the believer. For a list of some of them, read verses 25 through 32. Our old self screams out its desires to us. When we let our selfish desires rule, we are only being further deceived by a putrid old nature that, if given the opportunity, will ruin us. Ironic isn’t it? The more selfish we are, the worse off we become.

2. Renew your mind (be made new in the attitudes of your minds) Notice that the text says be made, not make yourselves. This is true because we can’t transform our thinking to God’s way. Only God can do that. We were dead (Ephesians 2:1) and have been given life by God. It is only God that sustains and maintains our holiness as we continually yield our minds (plans, choices, opinions, feelings, thought patterns) to Him. Everything about our minds must be brought under submission to His Word. That’s why it is so important to be in the Word and prayer every day. That’s why it is crucial that our choices reflect biblical truth and values (Romans 12:1-2).

3. Replace with God-honoring actions (put on the new self) – In the same way we put off, we are to clothe ourselves (surround ourselves) with doing the right things. This comes as our minds are renewed by God’s word and His Spirit. Once we remove the bad, the vacuum must be filled with something. Otherwise we will just go back to the old ways. Once again, the Lord illustrates this in verses 25-32. What is it that God wants you to put into your life?

Christians are people who’ve been freed from the darkness and futility of our evil nature and our evil world system (17-18). We are also people who have been changed in our position and our practices. Do we reflect that? God gives us a way. Three words to remember today: 1. Remove (22) 2. Renew (23) 3. Repent

We are freed and changed.

A music store was robbed. The thief made away with the lute.

A nut named Hazel held up a bank saying ‘give me all the cashew have’.

A pediatrician is a doctor of little patients.

A perfectly spherical pumpkin makes good pi.

A pet store had a bird contest with no perches necessary.

A plateau is a high form of flattery.

A police dog is often the scenter of a drug arrest.

A prisoner’s favorite punctuation mark is the period. It marks the end of his sentence.

A sailor who met a widow was soon second mate.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:11-16
The local church has gotten a lot of bad press over the years. The institution of the local church has been ruled a failure by those who are in favor of some other paradigm for “doing church.” I’m aware that there are many who are against the “institutional” church. Numbers of Born Again people have forsaken the church for their own personal reasons. This is a great shame and, while the local church may have its shortcomings and failures, the blame for such abandonment rests on the people who have not been faithful to God’s local churches.

Note the worthy things that happen to be found within the context of a local assembly:

1. People are given to the aid believers in Christ – Apostles & prophets (now gone – see Ephesians. 2:20, 1 Corinthians 13:8), evangelists (Perhaps those who plant churches), pastors (Shepherds who guide) and teachers (sources for spiritual knowledge) are all given to the church by God (verse 11 – “He gave“).

2. Purposeful Process for the saints (i.e. “holy ones, believers) – to equip them for the work of service so that the body might be built up! This is all a very human thing as well as a work of God. God uses people to equip (11) other people to serve other people, so that they may be built up spiritually. The whole thing takes time and effort. The whole context of this is a local church. The great majority of the word “church” in the New Testament is used in a local setting.

3. The Product God had in mind – Maturity in the faith and doctrine (12-13), stability of believers in the faith (14) Christlikeness (15) mutual growth and strength (16) in the life of the Church

I believe the Scriptural way in which this was (and is) fulfilled is the local church. It is an invention of God. It is not, by any means, perfect, in fact it is filled with redeemed sinners. Too many Christians let “hypocrites” keep them away from church. The real hypocrites are believers who profess to love God, but deny themselves the opportunity to minister and to be ministered to.

The local church. Ya gotta love it!  What a great place and time for believers to grow and to bless others!

A backwards poet writes inverse.
A baker stopped making donuts after he got tired of the hole thing.
A baker’s job is a piece of cake.
A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it is two tired.
A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.
A cardboard belt would be a waist of paper.
A cat ate some cheese and waited for a mouse with baited breath.
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
A criminal’s best asset is his lie ability.