Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri DISCIPLESHIP 1 IDENTIFICATION SERIES LESSON 8 UNIT II DEVELOPING GODLY HABITS - PART 4 WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY CONFESSION OF IDENTIFICATION Fr CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE CHRISTIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY www.cistnline.rg COMPILED BY EDWIN M. GREGORIO Cntact: Academic Dean e-mail: emgregri@yah.cm Reference frm: Hearing f Faith Bible Institute P.O. Bx 372 Axtell, Texas 76624 1
Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri DEVELOPING GODLY HABITS - PART 4 WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY Part 1 THE FINAL STEP in Putting n the New Man, Paul in Ephesians 5:15 describes as WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY. He says, "See then that ye WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY, nt as fls, but as wise..." T walk circumspectly means t walk carefully. Psalms 119:105 say, "The wrd is a lamp unt my feet, and a light unt my path." We are t let the Wrd f Gd reveal t us the specific details f ur walk, ur living as children f Gd, and then we are t give careful attentin t thse details. Therefre WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY (CAREFULLY) has then t d with GIVING ATTENTION t the DETAILS f ur Christian Walk, ur lifestyle. Since ur Father Gd is cncerned abut the details f ur walk He fllws up the instructins t walk carefully with the details t which He wuld have us give careful attentin in ur lives. Thus in the remaining verses f Ephesians chapter five and thrugh verse eighteen f chapter six He utlines fr us seven specific areas f ur life abut which we are t give careful attentin. 1. In verse 17 He says, UNDERSTANDTHE WILL OF GOD. 2. In verse 18 we are t BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. 3. Verse 19 speaks abut GETTING THE RIGHT THINGS DOWN IN YOUR HEART. 4. Verse 20 says, GIVE THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS. 5. Verse 21 speaks f SUBMITTING YOURSELVES TO ONE ANOTHER. 6. Verses 22-6:9 gives DETAILS CONCERNING RELATIONSHIPS. wives t husbands husbands t wives children t parents fathers t children emplyees t emplyers emplyers t emplyees 7. Verse 10, chapter 6 tells us t BE STRONG IN THE LORD. verses 11-18, Shws us why we need t be strng in the Lrd and hw t be strng in the Lrd. 2
Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri HERE THEN ARE SEVEN AREAS OF OUR CHRISTIAN WALK TO WHICH WE ARE TO GIVE CAREFUL ATTENTION. LET US NOW LOOK AT EACH ONE MORE CLOSELY. 1. FIRST, we are t have UNDERSTANDING as t what the will f Gd is fr us. We are nt just t knw His will fr us BUT, we are als t having understanding cncerning His will. Of curse understanding must start with knwledge. D yu knw the will f Gd fr yu? If yu dn't there is n way yu can understand. Simply, Gd's will fr yu is that yu be cnfrmed t the image f Jesus Christ s that He will nt nly have His Sn Jesus t give Him pleasure and jy but He will have many mre just like Jesus. Rmans 8:29. "Fr whm he did freknw, he als did predestinate t be cnfrmed t the image f his Sn, that he might be the firstbrn amng many brethren." We are t knw and understand that we are being transfrmed int the image f Christ. If we understand this, then, we knw whatever is ging n in ur lives, gd r bad, that ur Father is using these circumstances and situatins, even permitting them, t bring abut this TRANSFORMATION. If we understand this we can then rest in ttal and cmplete cnfidence and trust that ur Father Gd is in cntrl, That He lves us. That He knws what is best fr us. And that He will give us the grace and strength t get thrugh it. In fact, t mre than just get thrugh prblems and adverse circumstances. He will give us the grace t say with the Apstle Paul, "nne f these things mve me." Amen. Thus we will be able t rejice and have jy in the midst f the strmy trials f live. In fact we will be able t say when the ging gets hard. "Lrd, turn up the fire, because I want t be mre like Jesus." That's all well and gd, but des it mean that in ur every day life and activities that we are left t d what we think is right? NO! Fr nt nly has ur Father Gd revealed His will, His gal fr ur lives and is in fact accmplishing it in us, But, He als has clearly given us His will fr ur day t day activities. We see this will f Gd expressed in His cmmandments. Therefre Gd's cmmandments are t be the guide fr ur day t day activities. Nw Paul in Galatians 5:14 gives us UNDERSTANDING cncerning the hw f letting Gd's cmmandments direct ur lives - instead f them burdening us dwn with a bunch f rules and regulatins, f d's and dn'ts. We are t UNDERSTAND that lve "is the fulfillment f all the cmmandants. Fr all the law is fulfilled in ne wrd, even in this; Thu shalt lve thy neighbr as thyself." When we understand this, it truly simplifies ur lives. Fr we knw and understand that when all the activities f ur lives, f ur calling are gverned by being kind, tenderhearted, and frgiving t thse with whm we are placed in cntact, that we are walking in lve. Since lve is fulfilling the Law we them are being led by the will f Gd. 3
Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri 2. SECOND we are t give careful attentin is t OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. Ephesians 5:18 says, "...be filled with the Spirit." Luke 11:la tells us that the Father will give the Hly Spirit t them that ask him, We understand by this that ur Father wants us t have the fullness f the Hly Spirit perating in ur lives and He will give Him t thse wh ask fr this precius gift. Nw it yu d nt have the gift f the Hly Spirit, better knw as being baptized with the Hly Spirit, this is a detail t which yu need t give special attentin. [Fr infrmatin abut the Baptism with the Hly Spirit, refer back t lessn 14 in the Fundatin Series.] If yu have been baptized with the Hly Spirit yu need t give careful attentin t nt grieving Him r quenching His perating freely in yur life. Yu need t daily ask the Father t fill yu t verflwing with the Hly Spirit. 3. THIRD, Ephesians 5:19 says, "Speaking t yurselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual sngs, singing and making meldy in yur heart t the Lrd." There are many applicatins which culd be made frm this verse, BUT the ne thing the Lrd is saying t us cncerning this Scripture, the thing He wants us t give careful attentin t is simply this: WE ARE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE ARE PUTTING INTO OUR HEARTS, "....fr ut f the abundance f the heart the muth speaketh." Much t ften we are very careless abut what cmes ut f ur muths. Therefre, if we are speaking t urselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual sngs and the meldy in ur heart is t the Lrd, then that, which cmes ut f ur muths will be edifying t us and thse arund us and ur Father will be glrified. Because, in this way we are filling ur hearts with the things f Gd, Amen. 4. FOURTH, we are t be careful in ur THANKSGIVING. Ephesians 5:20 puts it this way, "Giving thanks ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS unt Gd and the Father in the name f ur Lrd Jesus Christ." Cncerning this 1 Thessalnians 5:18 says, "IN EVERY THING give THANKS: fr this is the will f sad in Christ Jesus cncerning yu." Thus we learn that the details f thanksgiving t which we are t carefully d is t always give thanks t ur Father Gd in and fr ALL THINGS. If yu can nt thank yur Father regardless f what the circumstances may be - especially the bad - then yu are blaming Him. And yu d nt understand the will f yur Father Gd. THANKSGIVING IS THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. 4
Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY Part 2 5. THE FIFTH area f ur walk as children f Gd t which we are t carefully give attentin has t d with SUBMISSION. Ephesians 5:21 says, "Submitting yurselves ne t anther in the fear f Gd." SUBMISSION TO ONE ANOTHER has t d with hw we see urselves relative t ur brthers and sisters in the Lrd, The Greek wrd translated submitting means t rank under. Practically applying this in ur relatinship with ne anther means, that we cnsider ur brthers and sisters and their needs befre we give cnsideratin t urselves and ur needs. Galatians 5:13, "... by lve serve ne anther." 6. SIXTH. Ephesians 5:22-6:9 lists SIX RELATIONSHIPS AND GIVES SPECIFIC DETAILS FOR THE GOVERNING OF THEM. [Refer t the Bible Study entitled Higher Pwers (Authrities) - Part 4- "http://bibleinst.cm/bibleschl/powers.htm"] Relatinship f a WIFE TO HER HUSBAND. Ephesians 5:22, "Wives, SUBMIT yurselves unt yur wn husbands, as unt the Lrd." The wife is t find her place under the headship and cvering f her husband as a helpmate.[refer t lessn 27 and 49 in The Fundatin Series.] Relatinship f a HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE. Ephesians 5:23;25, "...the husband is the head f the wife... Husbands, LOVE yur wives, even as Christ lved the church, and gave Himself fr it." We wuld als nte cncerning the relatinship f husbands t their wives, that since they are the head f the wife this places them in the psitin f serving their wives and DOES NOT place them in a psitin f being served. Matthew 20:21, here Jesus says, "And whsever will be chief (head) amng yu, let him be yur SERVANT." This applies in the relatinship f a husband t his wife. Relatinship f CHILDREN TO PARENTS. Ephesians 6:1-3. "Children, OBEY yur parents in the Lrd: fr this is right. HONOR thy father and mther..." Children wh CAREFULLY give attentin t beying and hnring their parents will be blessed with a lng abundant life. Relatinship f FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN. Ephesians 6:4, "...fathers, prvke nt yur children t wrath (dn't be t sft nr t harsh in yur relatinship with yur children, BUT lve them - dn't be afraid t use the rd f crrectin BUT use it in lve): but bring them up in the nurture and admnitin f the Lrd." Fathers teach yur children bth by example and thrugh the Wrd the ways f yur Father Gd. Teach them and encurage them t PUT ON THE NEW MAN WHICH IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS. 5
Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri Fathers this is yur respnsibility nt yur wife's. Yu are the head, she is a helpmate, a partner but yu are t take the respnsibility and lead in the bringing up f yur children. [Refer t Bible Study Training up Children "http://bibleinst.cm/bibleschl/parent.htm" Relatinship f EMPLOYEES TO EMPLOYERS. Ephesians 6:5, "Servants, be bedient t them... as unt Christ... Nt with eye-service, as men pleasers, but as the servants f Christ, ding the WILL f Gd frm the heart. Emplyees are t give a day's wrk fr a day's pay withut grumbling and cmplaining. Ding what their emplyer says t d the way he tells them t d it. Relatinship f EMPLOYERS TO EMPLOYEES. Ephesians 6:9, " And, ye masters (emplyers), d the same things unt them, frbearing threatening: knwing that yur Master als is in heaven..." Emplyers are t give their emplyees a fair and substantial days pay fr a days wrk, RESPECTING THEM AND THEIR NEEDS. 7. THE SEVENTH AREA f walking circumspectly we see in Ephesians 6:10, "Finally, my brethern, BE STRONG in the Lrd, and in the POWER f His might." T be strng in the Lrd means that we must realize and be cnscius f the fact that we are nthing withut Jesus, and that we can d nthing f urselves. That we are weak and helpless and that if ur Father was nt watching ver us and caring fr us that we wuld perish. Thus t be strng in the Lrd is t knw and understand that we g in the pwer f His might. In His strength, nt in ur strength. 2 Crinthians 13:4, " Fr thugh he was crucified thrugh weakness, yet he liveth by the pwer f Gd. Fr we als are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the pwer f Gd tward yu." Therefre, "Put n the whle amur f Gd, that ye my be able t stand against the wiles f the devil." Ephesians 6:11. If we are careless abut ging in Gd's strength and pwer; if we d nt put n the armur f Gd which Gd in His grace has given us; we will nt be able t stand when Satan cmes against us with his schemes t entrap us. Let us, therefre, give special attentin t the details cncerning the armur ur Father has given us and carefully put n all this armur and leave it n. Ephesians 6:14-18, "Stand therefre, having yur lins girt abut with TRUTH, and having n the breastplate f RIGHTEOUSNESS: and yur feet shd with the preparatin f the GOSPEL OFPEACE: abve all, taking the shield f FAITH, wherewith ye shall be able t quench all the fiery darts f the wicked. And take the HELMET OF SALVATION, and the SWORD f the spirit, which is the WORD f Gd. PRAYING always with all prayer and supplicatin in the Spirit, and watching there unt with all perseverance and supplicatin fr all saints." 6
Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri If yu are ging t put n the new man and walk in righteusness and true hliness befre yur Father and enjy the abundant life f health and prsperity which He desires fr yu, then yu must learn the gdly habit f walking circumspectly, CAREFULLY, PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS OF YOUR LIFE, ACTIVITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS AS GOD'S VERY OWN DEAR CHILDREN. YOUR CONFESSION OF IDENTIFICATION The fllwing Cnfessin f Identificatin, is a cnfessin f wh yu are in Christ Jesus, I am a BELIEVER in Jesus Christ. I believe that the Wrd f Gd is true and that every prmise in the Bible belngs t me. The Bible says, that I am a child f the mst high Gd. That I am an heir f Gd, jint-heir with Jesus Christ, The Bible says, because I am a believer, that I am the head and nt the tail, that I am frm abve and nt frm beneath, that I am blessed as I g ut, as I cme in, as I sit dwn, as I arise, as I walk in the way. The blessing f Gd shall ver take me, because I am a believer When the enemy cmes in like a fld, the Spirit f the Lrd, will lift up a standard against him, fr He that is within me, is greater, than he that is in the wrld. I am being changed frm glry t glry by the Hly Spirit - ld things are passed away, and the new life is in blm, Because I am a believer, the Bible says, that I am the righteusness f Gd, in Christ Jesus. That I am what I am by the grace f Gd. Thanks be t Gd, wh always causes me t triumph in Christ Jesus - I am hid with Christ in Gd, Satan can nt tuch me as I remain in my safe hiding place, because I am a believer. Thanks be t Gd wh gives me the victry - in all things I am mre than a cnquerr. If Gd be fr me wh can be against me. YES, I am hid with Christ in Gd, safe and secure in Him. T knw Gd is t lve Him. Praise the Lrd, "In Him I live and mve and have My being." AMEN and AMEN!! END f IDENTIFICATION Series Reference frm: Hearing f Faith Bible Institute P.O. Bx 372 Axtell, Texas 76624 7