![]() ![]() Because he says that the only way a believer can really determine their growth in unity and maturity is by measuring it in the fullness of Jesus Christ. How do you grow in a natural, normal, healthy, organic way? That's what Paul is addressing. You can grow tall, but only to a certain point. His internal organs were incapable of keeping up with the rapid growth, and he died as a result. He grew to be eight feet eleven inches tall. The tallest man on record in the twentieth century was Robert Wadlow. I'm glad my growth hormones finally stopped. On the other hand, there are people who grow in the opposite direction. The technical term for this is "dwarfism." Today, the correct name for these individuals is "little people." But to emphasize the message this morning I'll use the technical term, dwarfism. ![]() It produced significantly less than what is needed to reach into a normal height. He is normal in every other way except that his pituitary gland ceased to produce hormones for continued growth. The shortest man in the world today is two feet and eight inches tall. In fact, there are some people who grow normally, and then for some unexplained reason they just stop growing. And sometimes when we grow, we don't grow due to some deficiency. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. I would have pointed my finger at somebody. Turn to your neighbor and tell him, "Grow up." I wish I was out there. Paul has drawn the attention of the church as he marshals the argument of unity and says that there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." And now he drives this last point, beginning at verse 14 as he tells us to grow up. Verses 11-13 gives us an argument that God has given gifts to men for the purpose of building up the body of the Lord Jesus Christ that they may grow into the full measure of Jesus Christ. It has been impeded for some peculiar reason. He has received word that the church has thwarted its growth process. He has left the church of Asia Minor in the leadership of gifted people. He is manacled and his feet are tethered. Open your Bibles to Ephesians 4 beginning at verse 14 and concluding at verse 16. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |