'Consistency In The Christian Life



"Consistency In The Christian Life!"

Ephesians 4:17-5:20

Text Verses: Ephesians 5:1-2

INTRO. Genesis 5:22 says, "Enoch walked with God...". If anything could be said about Enoch, it was that he was faithful and consistent. Enoch walked by faith and was consistent in his love and loyalty for God. In fact, in Hebrews 11:5 the BIBLE says, speaking of Enoch, "....before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Enoch's consistency pleased God! He walked and talked as God would; he was consistent. Webster's Dictionary defines "consistency" as "to be compatible with, have agreement with previous acts or statements, and to be firm or fixed." Enoch was all those things! He acted like a Child of God! What about us?

I want to title the message, "Consistency In The Christian Life!" We, in various areas of our lives, act a certain way. If we are a farmer we farm. If we are a student we study. If we are a truck driver we drive. We consistently in our daily lives do the things we are supposed to do. But what about our spiritual life? Is that consistency there also? We, if saved by God's marvelous grace, are Christians. Do we act as such? Are we Christ-like? Can the world see Christ in our lives?

The problem in our society today is that too many are calling themselves Christians, yet their walk and talk deceive them. We MUST walk and talk as CHRIST WOULD! If we claim the name of Christ, we MUST display it in our lives! In Medieval days, a Carpet Knight was one who was dubbed a knight, not because of military exploits, but on account of mere court favor. He bore the name but lacked the nature of a true knight. Many, in like manner, are dubbed the name Christian because of their kind, genial character, but they know nothing of the fight of faith, or of "Overcoming by the Blood of the Lamb."

The apostle Paul addresses this problem in Ephesians 4:17-5:20. Paul gives the Ephesian believers the proper conduct for a child Of God. This conduct is consistent with the true meaning of the name Christian!

A CHRISTIAN MUST BE CONSISTENT IN:

(1) His Walk (Manner of Life)

Text: Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:1-3, 8-17

A. HOW DO WE WALK CONSISTENTLY? BY:

1. WALKING BY FAITH (2 Corinthians 5:7).

2. WALKING BY HIS SPIRIT (Galatians 5:16).

3. WALKING IN LOVE (Ephesians 5:1-2).

B. WHY DO WE WALK CONSISTENTLY? :

1. BECAUSE WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP (Ephesians 2:10).

2. BECAUSE WE ARE HIS WITNESSES (Psalm 89:15-18; Romans

6:3-4; 13:13-14).

(2) His Words (Message in Life)

Text: Ephesians 4:25-27, 29-32; 5:4-7

A. OUR WORDS SHOULD SHOW COMPASSION (Zechariah 8:16-17;

James 1:26; 3:2-12).

B. OUR WORDS SHOULD SHOW CHRIST-LIKENESS. WE MUST SPEAK

IN:

1. Wisdom (James 3:13-18).

2. Will of God (Psalm 19:14).

We MUST SPEAK consistent with what we say we are! (Colossians 4:6).

(3) His Witness (Mandate in Life)

Text: Ephesians 4:28; 5:18-20

HOW? :

A. BY FAITH (Revelation 12:11; 1 John 5:4-5).

B. BY FILLING OF THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 5:18; Psalm 107:2-3).

CLOSING: Ask yourself, “What kind of Church would this one be, if every

member was just like me?" Would anything be accomplished for

Christ and His cause?

To this world, "are we consistent with what we do and say to what we profess to be?"

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