Ephesians 4:28 - Prayer Tents

Unity in the Body

4Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.G1473G3767G1198G1722G2962G3870G5209G4043G516G2821G3739G25642Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.G3326G3956G5012G2532G4236G3326G3115G430G240G1722G263Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.G4704G5083G1775G4151G1722G4886G15154For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.G1520G4983G2532G1520G4151G2531G2532G2564G1722G3391G1680G5216G28215There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,G1520G2962G1520G4102G3391G9086and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.G1520G2316G2532G3962G3956G3588G1909G3956G2532G1223G3956G2532G1722G5213G39567However, he has given each one of us a special gift

through the generosity of Christ.G1161G1538G1520G2257G1325G5485G2596G3358G1431G55478That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people."

G1352G3004G305G1519G5311G162G161G2532G1325G1390G4449Notice that it says "he ascended." This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.

G1161G305G5101G2076G1508G3754G2597G2532G2597G4412G1519G2737G3313G109310And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.G846G2597G2076G2532G305G5231G3956G3772G2443G4137G395611Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.G2532G846G1325G3303G652G1161G4396G1161G2099G1161G4166G2532G132012Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.G4314G2677G40G1519G2041G1248G1519G3619G4983G554713This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.G3360G3956G2658G1519G1775G4102G2532G1922G5207G2316G1519G5046G435G1519G3358G2244G4138G554714Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.G2443G5600G3371G3516G2831G2532G4064G3956G417G1319G1722G2940G444G1722G3834G4314G3180G410615Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.G1161G226G1722G26G837G1519G846G3956G3739G2076G2776G554716He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.G1537G3739G3956G4983G4883G2532G4822G1223G3956G860G2024G2596G1753G1722G3358G1538G1520G3313G4160G838G4983G1519G3619G1438G1722G26

Living as Children of Light

17With the Lord's authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.G5124G3004G3767G2532G3143G1722G2962G5209G3371G4043G3371G2531G2532G3062G1484G4043G1722G3153G846G356318Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.G1271G4654G5607G526G2222G2316G1223G52G5607G1722G846G1223G4457G846G258819They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.G3748G524G3860G1438G3860G766G1519G2039G3956G167G1722G412420But that isn't what you learned about Christ.G1161G5210G3129G3756G3779G3129G554721Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,G1489G191G846G2532G1321G1722G846G2531G225G2076G1722G242422throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.G5209G659G2596G4387G391G3820G444G3588G5351G2596G539G193923Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.G1161G365G4151G5216G356324Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.G2532G1746G2537G444G3588G2596G2316G2936G1722G1343G2532G225G374225So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.G1352G659G5579G2980G1538G225G3326G846G4139G3754G2070G3196G24026And "don't sin by letting anger control you."

Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry,G3710G2532G264G3361G1931G3361G2246G1931G1909G5216G395027for anger gives a foothold to the devil.G3383G1325G5117G122828If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.G2813G2813G2813G3371G1161G3123G2872G2038G5495G18G2443G2192G3330G5532G219229Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.G4550G3361G3956G4550G3056G1607G1537G5216G4750G235G1536G18G4314G5532G3619G2443G1325G5485G19130And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own

, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.G2532G3076G3361G40G4151G2316G1722G3739G4972G1519G2250G62931Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.G142G3956G4088G2532G2372G2532G3709G2532G2906G2532G988G142G575G5216G4862G3956G254932Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.G1161G1096G5543G1519G240G2155G5483G1438G2531G2532G2316G1722G5547G1722G5483G5213