The Apostle Paul wrote, “9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:9-10). Have you ever thought about what it means to “grow weary while doing good”? Why does it matter if we give up when we are weary? Is Paul saying that we must never grow weary—that we should never tire while doing good? Of course not. But there will be times as we labor in the kingdom that we’ll be pounded by the storms of life. There will be times when we may feel like giving up and giving in. Times when we question ourselves asking, will it really matter if I give up, or keep trying?” Possibly, the storm comes in the form of some specific temptation: Lying, cursing, profanity, stealing, gambling, dancing, immodest dress, pornography, fornication, adultery, drugs, or drinking. We all face the storms, none are exempt…

In Ephesians 4:17 Paul wrote, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as [a]the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind” . We know who we are as God’s people, now Paul says, to all God’s children you must put off “your former conduct, the old man” (v.22) and (v.24) “put on the new man created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness”. In this lesson we learn from the Apostle just what it means to put off the old and put on the new. In verses 25 through 32 Paul makes five points for us in theses 8 verses that teach us what we must stop doing and what we must start doing. Putting these into practice will in effect—put off the old—and put on the new causing each of us to think anew.  Transformation is what this is all about, renewing our minds by overwriting the worldliness, the old behaviors, the old way of thinking replacing that with “true righteousness and holiness” created according to God (v.24). To accomplish this we need to learn to stop practicing certain worldly behaviors and start participating in righteous and holy behaviors.

Throughout this lesson we must understand that  “The truth is in Jesus” and if the truth is in Jesus, then it cannot be in the world. If the truth is in Jesus, then it is not in your mind. Keep in mind these two verses from Isaiah “8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Unless we conform our minds, our ways to the Spirit by the word of God—our thinking is false—futile, darkened and ignorant because of blindness. Paul begins chapter four of Ephesians by saying, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as [a]the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind”  (Eph. 4:17). 

WHOSE NAME IS PROMINANT WHERE YOU WORSHIP? “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

Paul makes it clear that we must grow up in Christ. He wrote, “11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [a]edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;” (Ephesians 4:11-13). 

We are given these “people” to equip us for the work of the ministry. To edify, literally means to build up. As we study this subject this will become clear. We cannot become Christians and then stagnate–we must keep growing in our understanding to a perfect man, the the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 

JESUS MUST OF THOUGHT THAT UNITY WAS OF THE UPMOST IMPORTANCE.

JESUS FORETOLD OF UNITY…He spoke of there being one flock and one Shepherd – John 10:16.
JESUS PRAYED FOR UNITY…He prayed fervently that His believers be one – John 17:20-23 “20
JESUS DIED FOR UNITY…His death on the cross broke the wall of division – Ephesians 2:13-16

In the first three chapters the Apostle Paul taught us who we are in Christ, saints in Christ, chosen by God, predestined for adoption, redeemed by the blood of Christ and God’s own inheritance. As such the eyes of your heart have been opened. You who were once dead in your trespasses and sins—God has made alive…made you for good works. 

Now here at chapter 4 Paul shifted the focus from who we are to how we are to live as His children. “I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3). 
Now, listen on as we begin to learn how God wants us to be transformed. . . 

Question: Is tithing is required of the church? Tithing is “tenthing” or giving of ten percent (10%). Tithing did take place under the old covenant. But, some carelessly handle the Word of God and apply these Old Testament examples to the New Testament Church. We now are living under the law of Christ (Heb. 9:16-17), we are no longer under the schoolmaster (Gal. 3:25), hence we are no longer under the old law which has been nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14). Paul says “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col 3:17), that is by the authority of Christ. 

Where in the new covenant does God bind tithing? He didn’t!

Paul Prays for Strengthening – “14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father [a]of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,” (Eph. 3:14). You are strengthened, God does not simply want you to know it, but to live accordingly…

Jesus says, “You are the light of the world…” (Matt. 5:14), Paul said of the saints, “to the intent that now the [a]manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the [b]principalities and powers in the heavenly places,” (Eph. 3:10). 
Yes, every Christian is to be a Revealer, that is one who reveals the good news, the light in the darkness, the church of Christ to the world. 

“Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory” (Eph. 3:13)