Forty D’s from Ephesians
1. Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.
2. No longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk.
2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
3. 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 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
4. Put off the old man: former conduct, deceitful lusts.
Ephesians 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
5. Put on the new man: renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Ephesians 4:23–24 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
6. Put away lying.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
7. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.
Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
† Emotions, are they your god? Forgiveness is a good example.
Matthew 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Psalm 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
8. Do not give place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:27 nor give place to the devil.
Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
† The word for “provision” in the original language carries the idea of “thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening.”
† If we think about pleasing our flesh, we furnish the fuel to make it happen.
† To make provision for the flesh is to expect to fail.
† It’s like an alcoholic who’s trying to stay sober but who tucks away a little liquor in a secret stash, “just in case.” He’s making provision for the flesh and will likely fail to remain sober. In a similar way, those who seek to live godly lives must identify their stumbling blocks and remove them.
9. Do not steal.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
† Software
Luke 10:7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
10. Work: to give and not to live.
Ephesians 4:28 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
11. Work: to give and not to live.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Acts 20:35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Psalm 112:5 A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.
Proverbs 11:25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Proverbs 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.
We are nothing without Christ.