Prautes – Gentleness/meekness

• This word is hard to translate. In the original language, the word does not connote “weakness.” It is the idea of power under control.

Meek toward God, then others

• James 1:21

Power under control

• Zodhiates: “getting angry at the right time, in the right measure, and for the right reason”
• Proverbs 16:32
• Jesus
  • Matthew 11:28-30
  • I Peter 2:22-23
  • John 13:13-14
  • Matthew 23

Boldness through God (without selfishness or ego)

• James 3:13-14; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12; I Peter 3:3-4, 15
• BDAG: “not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance”
• Jesus
  • Matthew 21:1-5
  • I Peter 2:23
  • Philippians 2:6-8
  • John 8:29
• Galatians 6:1-2 – It takes boldness to confront someone about sin!
• Timothy
  • I Timothy 6:11-12
  • II Timothy 2:22-26
• Titus
  • Titus 1:12-13
  • Titus 2:15-3:3
• Numbers 12:3 – Moses is given as an example of meekness and humility.

Introduction

• “Seven Problems in Christianity that Killed My Faith” by Joe Omundson
• John 3:1-8 – Nicodemus was willing to listen!
• There’s a chance that I might be confused.

Expecting miraculous guidance/experience

• “Guidance of the Holy Spirit”
  • If the Holy Spirit guides us directly, why is there so much disagreement between churches?
  • John 16:13; 13:1 – Jesus was speaking to the twelve apostles here, not to everyone!
  • II Peter 3:13-16 – It’s possible to distort scripture!
• “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
  • James 4:8
  • Revelation 2:13; I John 4:15; John 15:5 – Examples of metaphorical language.

Calvinism

• “Bondage to sin”
  • People are powerless to do anything but sin, according to Calvinism.
• “All real Christians remain lifelong Christians.”
  • Ezekiel 18:20, 26 – Men can change their ways.
  • James 5:19-20 – It’s possible for Christians to leave the faith.
  • Because Calvinism is false, it constantly conflicts with reality.

Issues with God’s justice

• “The corruption of humanity”
• “Hell”

Prayer

• “God’s answers to prayer”
  • I John 5:14
  • We cannot try to use prayer as a proof for our faith.

False doctrines kill faith

• Matthew 23:15
• II Timothy 1:13
• So, let’s cling to God’s truth!

• II Peter 3:8 – Time is of no concern to God. Time is just a short space between two eternities.
• II Peter 3:9 – We should be thankful for the Lord’s patience so that we can have the honor of serving Him and then living with Him in heaven.
• II Peter 3:10 – The Lord will come, but no man can predict when that will be.
• II Peter 3:11-13 – We should live as though the Lord could return at any time. We should look forward to the new heaven and new earth and live acceptably before God, taking advantage of the forgiveness Jesus offers.
• II Peter 3:15-16 – Some things in the scriptures will be difficult to understand. Also note that Peter vouches for Paul and his writings here.
• II Peter 3:18 – We must continue to add to ourselves the qualities in II Peter 1:5-7.

Introduction

• Numbers 22:1-6 – Balak was scared of the people of Israel.
• Numbers 26:51
• Numbers 22:7-14 – The story should have ended here!
• Numbers 22:19 – Balaam asked God again because he wanted the money!

Sometimes we just want to sin

• II Peter 2:15-16
• Jude 1:11
• Numbers 22:20-22 – God did not want Balaam to go, but since he was determined to sin, God allowed him to go.
• I John 2:15
• We need to see our sin the way God does.

Israel destroyed themselves from the inside

• Numbers 23:7-12, 18-27; 24:9-11
• Numbers 25:1-5
• Numbers 31:7-8, 15-16 – Balaam was killed. He didn’t curse Israel, but he taught Balak how to cause Israel to sin.
• Revelation 2:14
• Could Benchley destroy itself from within some day?
• Acts 20:17, 28-31
• Ephesians 1:15; 6:23; I Timothy 1:3, 19; II Timothy 2:17; Revelation 2:1-7 – Ephesus had left their first love!
• This could happen to us!

God is faithful

• Numbers 23:27
• Numbers 22:31
• Deuteronomy 23:3 – God had been protecting Israel even though they didn’t know it.
• Micah 6:1-5 – God had been faithful to Israel the entire time!
• I John 5:14
• Romans 8:35

Ephesians – basic outline

• Ephesians 1:3-14 – God’s eternal purpose in Christ
• Ephesians 1:15-3:21 – God’s eternal purpose in the church. We (the church) are the called and chosen of God in Christ.
• Ephesians 4:1-6:20 – Therefore walk worthy.
• Ephesians 6:21-24 – Final greeting

Unity and growth

Relationship

• Ephesians 4:1-16

Attitude

• Ephesians 4:2-3 – We must have the right attitude to produce unity.
• Lowliness – Considering other higher than self; humbleness of mind
• Meekness – Basic idea is humble submission to God’s will. Toward man, the idea seems to be humble service to one another.
• Longsuffering, forbearing – To bear with, put up with one another in love. See Colossians 3:13. If we truly one another, we will have tender affections for, or be devoted to one another.

Foundation of the unity of the spirit

All unity and growth must be built on these seven truths (Ephesians 4:1-6):

1. One body or church of Jesus Christ – Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18
2. One Spirit, one of the three divine beings of the Godhead
   1. Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34
3. One hope of entering within the veil where Jesus has entered as high priest – Hebrews 6:19-20
4. One Lord, the Master of all, with all authority in heaven and on earth
5. One faith, the one gospel once delivered to the saints – Jude 1:3; Acts 6:7; Galatians 1:6-9, 11-12, 23
6. One baptism
   1. There were two on Pentecost but Jesus fulfilled his promise of administering Holy Spirit baptism and now there is just the “baptism in Jesus’ name,” which is baptism in water for the remission of sins. Acts 2:38; 8:12-16; 10:47-48
7. One God and Father of all

Gave works (offices)

• Ephesians 4:7-11

Conclusion

• Ephesians 4:2 – For the perfecting of the saints … unto the building up of the body of Christ.