Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Lena's Comments Eph 4

Just last night in our cell meeting we spoke about being freed (from sin's power over us). We spoke of how in our culture freedom is taken many different ways. One might think he was freed from sin and be oh so thankful to step into the yoke of Christ, while another says, "Hallelujah I’m so free I don’t have to be in the bondage of a yoke!" Here, in vs 1, we see Paul rejoicing about being a prisoner! What?! Yes, and even a slave as other translations say. Paul was a thankful man in that he knew the bondage of religion (now that he is on the outside of it) and he realizes the priviledge it is to belong to God and be yoked together in the true freedom of Christ.
I looked up a few words in the Strong's Dictionary of Greek wording, which is the wording that was really being expressed when the Bible was not only written, but lived. I want to throw a few of those thoughts out there for you to ponder about some words we think we know the meanings of. This will be an exercise in using the Concordance, OK Maria?
Humility & meekness: ( Yes, Melinda, this IS who God calls you)
Strong's Number: 4239 Original Word Word Origin
prauß
apparently a primary word
Praus
6:645,929
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
prah-ooce'
Adjective
Definition:
mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness

Here we are gonna look at Patience, Tolerance:
Strong's Number: 3115
Original Word
Word Origin
makroqumia
from the same as (3116)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Makrothumia
4:374,550
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah
Noun Feminine
Definition:
patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance
patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs

Strong's Number: 3117
Original Word
Word Origin
makroß
from (3372)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Makros
None
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
mak-ros'
Adjective
Definition
long, of place: remote, distant, far off
of time: long, long lasting

Side note: How many of us expect this from God? For Him not to quit (on us)? We also want others to make a relationship with us that is for the long haul, longterm…..that’s patience. I do not brush you aside or off, but I’m with you, till "the end"
vs 2-6 show us the Power of ONE. It is very very great. God is ONE, FATHER- SON- HOLY SPIRIT, all 3 are ONE. ONE BODY, meaning a completely united, at His will and according to His plan, BODY? That’s ONE. UNITED, BOUND, SAME, LIFE- these are all synanyms of ONE. If we are participators of these we are ONE with GOD. That is where we see power released in and through us.
Strong's: ONE
agreement 1, alike* 1, alone 3, common 1, detail 1, first 9, individual 2, individually* 1, lone 1, man 1, nothing* 1, one 282, one another 1, one man 2, one thing 5, one* 2, person 1, single 1, smallest 1, someone 2, thirty-nine* 1, unity 1

After last night’s meeting and in the meditations I brought home I now see vs 7-16 in a new light. We were speaking on how God gives us such grace when we have not yet come to a place where we are maybe strong enough to decide to do His will yet, but His grace brings us towards that will and draws us there, nudges us there. We were also speaking of the choices we make getting us towards His will in a fashion that is favorable to growth.
I see here how these 5 are grace gifts given to the Body of Christ, to help lead us to that place of where we need to go to be further strengthened in His will and walking on its pathway. If we set ourselves in the body of Christ as a member, "a regular", as Pastor Fred calls it. THEN we will see a great amount of grace upon us to lead us where we are to progress in Christ. If we are not under these grace ministries, it is a lot harder to get there on our own, even with His "grace" because this IS the grace He has given, if we do not utilize what He’s given we are almost, shall I say, lost on our own?
Look below at the definition of great: (as in grace)

Strong's Number: 5485

Original Word
Word Origin
cariß
from (5463)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Charis
9:372,1298
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
khar'-ece
Noun Feminine
Definition
grace :
that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
good will, loving-kindness, favour
of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
what is due to grace the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace the token or proof of grace, benefit a gift of grace
benefit, bounty thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward

NAS Word Usage - Total: 156

NAS Word Usage - Total: 5 distant 2, long 3
Original Word
Word Origin
megaß
[including the prolonged forms, feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc., cf also (3176), (3187)]
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Megas
4:529,573
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
meg'-as
Adjective
Definition
great of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons) in particular, of space and its dimensions, as respects 1a
mass and weight: great 1a compass and extent: large, spacious 1a
measure and height: long 1a stature and age: great, old of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant of age: the elder
used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong predicated of rank, as belonging to
persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power
things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately
great things of God's preeminent blessings
of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God
NAS Word Usage - Total: 243 abundant 1, all the more 1, arrogant 1, big 2, completely* 1, fierce 2, great 115, great men 2, great things 2, greater 30, greater things 1, greatest 10, greatly* 1, grown* 1, high 2, huge 1, large 8, larger 2, larger ones 1, long time 1, loud 42, mighty 1, more important 2, older 1, one greater 1, perfectly 2, severe 2, stricter 1, strong 1, surprising 1, terribly 1, too much 1, very much 1, wide 1


Ya know there IS weight involved in responding to God’s leading. Also there is great reward, beyond what joy we’ve known- think of the weight of pregnancy, then the promise of a beautiful child…
LOVE, God’s type, which is unconditional, opposes every evil work in our hearts and lives. It quenches the effects of sin, it also wins over the plight of our enemy to leave people alone as they are without godly change. Speaking the turth in love, will not leave one wounded, but healed.
This is a description of God’s unconditional love:
agape
from (25)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Agape
1:21,5
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
ag-ah'-pay
Noun Feminine
Definition
brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence -kindness
love feasts never, ever enough, never ever dependant on my behavior at all ever, always dependant on who He is and that I/we/they belong to Him
NAS Word Usage - Total: 116 beloved 1, love 1, love 112, love feasts 1, love's 1

This is anger defined :
Strong's Number: 2372

Original Word
Word Origin
qumoß
from (2380)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Thumos
3:167,339
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
thoo-mos'
Noun Masculine
Definition
passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again
glow, ardour, the wine of passion, inflaming wine (which either drives the drinker mad or kills him with its strength)
NAS Word Usage - Total: 18
angry tempers 1, fierce 2, indignation 1, outbursts of anger 1, passion 2, rage 2, wrath 9

Anger has made a judgenment of doom, condemnation towards.
Love is on purpose, not fly by night of if it happens kind of thing. It is deliberate, on purpose, because. Anger is fly by night without much forthought involved, at least not beneficial forthought.
Love is the opposing force that sticks with until, not giving up, holding on:
Strong's Number: 430

Original Word
Word Origin
anecomai
middle voice from (303) and (2192)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Anechomai
1:359,*
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
an-ekh'-om-ahee
Verb
Definition:
to hold up to hold one's self erect and firm to sustain, to bear, to endure
NAS Word Usage - Total: 15
bear 3, bearing 2, endure 3, put 4, showing tolerance 1, tolerate 2
Strong's Number: 4704
Original Word
Word Origin
spoudazo
from (4710)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Spoudazo
7:559,1069
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
spoo-dad'-zo
Verb
Definition
to hasten, make haste to exert one's self, endeavour, give diligence To give one’s life over for the purposes of….
NAS Word Usage - Total: 11 diligent 6, eager 2, make every effort 3
Strong's Number: 5083
Original Word
Word Origin
tereo
from teros (a watch, perhaps akin to (2334))
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Tereo
8:140,1174
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
tay-reh'-o
Verb
Definition
to attend to carefully, take care of
to guard
metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is
to observe
to reserve: to undergo something
NAS Word Usage - Total: 71 continue 1, guard 1, guards 1, heed 2, heeds 1, held in custody 1, keep 27, keep watch over 1, keeping 1, keeping guard over 1, keeps 9, kept 12, kept in custody 3, observe 3, preserve 1, preserved 1, reserved 4, watching over 1
blessing 1, concession 1, credit 3, favor 11, gift 1, grace 122, gracious 2, gracious work 3, gratitude 1, thank 3, thankfulness 2, thanks 6

This is who we are if not given over to the grace "gifts" given us by God. We are growth stunted. If we come "under" subjection to the ministry of Christ’s Spirit, and the ministry gifts He’s given we do grow, we have a source to grow by. When we are alone and on our own, what is our sourse of growth?
Strong's Number: 3516
Original Word
Word Origin
nepioß
from an obsolete particle ne- (implying negation) and (2031)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Nepios
4:912,631
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
nay'-pee-os
Adjective
Definition
an infant, little child
a minor, not of age
metaph. childish, untaught, unskilled
NAS Word Usage - Total: 14 child 5, childish 1, children 2, immature 1, infant 1, infants 4
Strong's Number: 837
Original Word
Word Origin
auxano
a prolonged form of a primary verb
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Auxano
8:517,*
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
owx-an'-o
Verb
Definition
to cause to grow, augment
to increase, become greater
to grow, increase
of plants
of infants
of a multitude of people
of inward Christian growth
NAS Word Usage - Total: 23 causes the growth 1, causing the growth 1, full grown 1, grew 1, grow 8, growing 2, grows 2, increase 2, increased 2, increasing 2, spreading 1
" He hit me1st !" Like we have an excuse to pay back something given to us. We have no rights in Christ, back to the prisoner thing...the right is to decide what’s righteous, and live with the decisions we make.
Strong's Number: 3710
Original Word
Word Origin
orgizo
from (3709)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Orgizo
5:382,*
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
or-gid'-zo
Verb
Definition
to provoke, to arouse to anger
to be provoked to anger, be angry, be wroth
NAS Word Usage - Total: 8 angry 4, enraged 3, moved with anger 1
Strong's Number: 3950
Original Word
Word Origin
parorgismoß
from (3949)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Parorgismos
5:382,716
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
par-org-is-mos'
Noun Masculine
Definition
indignation, wrath, exasperation
NAS Word Usage - Total: 1 anger 1