Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

Chapter 4 begins with a call to action. Paul tells we are “to walkworthy of the calling by which we have been called (4:1) , and laterin verse 17, that “we should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk”.  In other words, we are to walk likeChristians—to walk as Jesus walked in this world. How did Jesus walk? Jesusforgave those who harmed Him. Even while hanging on the cross, He said, “Father,forgive...

As we examine these verses, we are talking about the attitude of bitterness. I have been to the hospital many times with people who were waiting on testresults. I have stood there when the doctor walked into the room and said, “I’msorry to tell you, but you have cancer.” I have received phone calls frompeople who went to the emergency room thinking they had a surface problem, onlyto discover they...

Fromthe New Testament it is obvious that the members of the church at Ephesus weresincere believers, people who were following Christ and had a powerfultestimony. In fact, according to the book of Acts, through this church all Asiaheard the Word of the Lord (Acts 19:1-10). What an incredible testimony. Yet,at the same time, the believers there still struggled with many of the samesins the lost wor...

Today,as we continue in Ephesians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul is dealing with sinsthat can destroy our testimony. The fourth one is: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, butwhat is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to thehearers.”   Here,Paul warns us against corrupt speech. We must understand that the mouth and theheart are directly connected. Jesus said, “Out of...

Nowthe third admonition—and its motivation—is found in verse 28: “Let him whostole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what isgood, that he may have something to give to him who has need.” The commandis clear: stop stealing. But Paul doesn’t stop there. He says instead, work. Labor with your hands. Why? So that you may have something to give. That is themotivation—not...

Paul reminds us of the motive behind each of the five admonitionsof sins that we are to “put off”. The admonition “to put off lying”. Why? The motivation is because we are members of one another, and therefore weare to speak the truth to one another. The next admonition is, “Be angry, anddo not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to thedevil.” The motivation is to remembe...

We are looking at Ephesians chapter 4, verses 22through the end of the chapter. In these verses, the apostle Paul isinstructing the believers in Ephesus to put off the old man. Why? Because theyare now in Christ. They have a new man living within them. The Holy Spirit ofthe living God—Christ Himself—lives in us.   Paulbecomes very specific in this section. Beginning in verse 22, he addressespartic...

Paul, as he begins to list the sins that weneed to put off that come from the old man within us. The first one was put offlying. Then secondly, he said, “be angry and sin not” because when youdo, you give place to the devil. Let not the sun go down on your wrath. Angerleads to wrath. Wrath leads to malice. Malice leads to murder. We rememberedJohn 8:44. Jesus said, "You are of your father the...

Todaywe’re going back to Ephesians chapter 4, looking at the section toward the endof the chapter where the Apostle Paul instructs us to put off the old man andput on the new man. He tells us that we can be renewed in the spirit of ourminds, and then clothe ourselves in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Christ’slife is now in us. We no longer live for ourselves, but Christ lives in us. Heproduces...

You'reconcerned about eternal things rather than temporal things. The delight of theLord is in your heart. You meditate in His law day and night. You observe to doall that's written therein. Then as God promised Joshua, you'll make your wayprosperous. You'll have good success (Joshua 1:8). So, it's my prayer you'vestarted already on the most important disciplines. I'm c...

15 But the free gift isnot like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much morethe grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, JesusChrist, abounded to many. 17 For if by the one man's offense death reignedthrough the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and ofthe gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) But wheres...

 Thatis what we have been emphasizing over the past few days: the importance ofliving this kind of life and the necessity of having a daily quiettime—spending time with God. It is God who works in you both to will and to doof His good pleasure as you make yourself available to Him. You put yourself inthe pathway of grace by practicing certain spiritual disciplines, such asreading your Bible and sp...

Welcometo Pastor’s Chat today and a blessed New Year. I trust this year will be ablessed one for you as you keep your eyes on Jesus—as you lay aside everyweight and those sins that so easily beset us, and run with endurance the racethat is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of yourfaith every day (Hebrews 12:1-2). Day by day, you walk with Him.   Wehave seen in 1 Timoth...

This is the time of year when we often say, “Merry Christmas”and “Happy New Year.” Christmas has already passed, and now we are preparing tobegin a new year. I’m not so sure that “Happy New Year” is always the bestexpression, because happiness, for the most part, is based on happenings. Ifeverything goes well—if things turn out the way I want them to—then I’m happy. If something happens that I don...

Aswe turn to this passage of Scripture in 1 Timothy chapter 4, we arereminded—especially as we enter a new year—that we have tremendousresponsibilities as believers. We are called to be a light in the world, tolive a godly life, a life that is different. We have been talking about this inEphesians chapter 4. As we close out one year and begin another, I want toencourage you, as best I can, to disc...

Today is an especially exciting Pastor’s Chat because we havereached a significant milestone. Five and a half years ago, during COVID, Ibegan these Pastor’s Chats to encourage people—many of whom were stuck athome—to stay in God’s Word every day. Today marks the 2,000th Pastor’s Chat. Ican hardly believe how quickly the Lord has brought us to this point. Thank youso much for being a part of these...

Welcometo Pastor’s Chat. Today, there are just four days left—including today—until abrand-new year. I’ve been talking with you about preparing for a new year,about making sure we are living a life that is different from the world aroundus (Ephesians 4:17). A life of significance, not just trying to survive anotherday. The way we live that kind of life is by being focused on eternity—lookingat the...

Paulhighlights five specific sins that must be put away from our lives. Even asbelievers, we still have to deal with these tendencies—these sins—that candestroy unity in our families, unity in our churches, unity in our communities,and even unity in our nation. We see these sins rampant all around us today. Thefirst sin Paul addresses is lying. He tells us plainly to put off lying and tospeak the...

Thefirst of the five sins Paul tells us to put off is lying. We must always beaware of the danger of lying. Lying is rooted in the deceitful nature of Satanhimself. He uses lies to lead us astray, to make us believe that the wrong pathis the right path. Jesus warned us that “broad is the way that leads todestruction, and many go in by it.” My friend, the devil is a liar.   Jesussaid in John 8:44 t...

“The Little Things inthe Christmas Story”   MerryChristmas, and welcome to Pastor’s Chat. On this Christmas morning, I want totake a few moments to remind us that God often works through what the worldconsiders small, insignificant, and unnoticed. Years ago, I preached a messagetitled “The Little Things in the Christmas Story.” And the more I reflect onthe birth of Christ, the more I am convinced...

Wehave been studying Ephesians chapter 4, where the Apostle Paul teaches that weare to live differently than we once did. Why? Because a new man has enteredour lives. That new man is none other than Jesus Christ Himself, living in usthrough the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit now dwellswithin us, giving us a new life—a life that can walk in righteousness and dothe things that p...

Todaywe are moving into a new section of Ephesians 4:25-32. In these verses, theApostle Paul gives us very practical applications for how to live out what hehas already taught in the earlier part of the chapter. That is why verse 25begins with the word “therefore.” This is the fourth “therefore” in thischapter. Paul follows a familiar pattern: he establishes a spiritual principle,reminds us of our...

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things arelovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and ifthere be any praise, think on these things.   Todaywe are looking at Ephesians 4:20–24. In these verses, Paul is speaking aboutputting off the old man and...

Todaywe are looking at Ephesians 4:21 through 24, where the Apostle Paul teaches usabout putting off the old man and putting on the new man . I will neverforget a little chorus I learned years and years ago. It goes something likethis: “Well,the best thing in my life I ever did do,  Was take off the old robe and put on the new. The old robe was dirty, all tattered and torn; The new robe was spotle...

Todaywe are continuing our study in Ephesians chapter 4, focusing specifically onverses 22 through 24. The Apostle Paul has been explaining that because we nowhave a new position in Christ as believers, we should no longer walk the way weonce did—or the way the Gentiles around us walk. In other words, the worldwalks one way, but we are called to walk differently. As believers in Christ,we should l...