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OCTOBER 3
rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for
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mind, having their understanding darkened, we are members of one another. “Be angry,
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being alienated from the life of God, because and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on
of the ignorance that is in them, because of your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let
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the blindness of their heart; who, being past him who stole steal no longer, but rather let
feeling, have given themselves over to lewd- him labor, working with his hands what is
ness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. good, that he may have something to give him
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20 But you have not so learned Christ, if who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed
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indeed you have heard Him and have been out of your mouth, but what is good for neces-
taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that sary edification, that it may impart grace to
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you put off, concerning your former conduct, the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy
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the old man which grows corrupt according to Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for
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the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the the day of redemption. Let all bitterness,
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spirit of your mind, and that you put on the wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put
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new man which was created according to God, away from you, with all malice. And be kind to
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in true righteousness and holiness. one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
DAY 2: Define the spiritually gifted men Christ calls to serve His church in Ephesians 4:11.
“Apostles.” A term used particularly of the 12 disciples who had seen the risen Christ (Acts
1:22), including Matthias, who replaced Judas. Later, Paul was uniquely set apart as the apostle to
the Gentiles (Gal.1:15–17) and was numbered with the other apostles.Those apostles were chosen
directly by Christ, so as to be called “apostles of Christ”(Gal. 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:1).They were given 3 basic
responsibilities: 1) to lay the foundation of the church (2:20); 2) to receive, declare, and write God’s
Word (3:5; Acts 11:28; 21:10,11); and 3) to give confirmation of that Word through signs, wonders,
and miracles (2 Cor.12:12; Acts 8:6,7).The term “apostle”is used in more general ways of other men
in the early church, such as Barnabas (Acts 14:4), Silas, Timothy, and others (Rom. 16:7; Phil. 2:25).
They are called “apostles of the churches”(2 Cor. 8:23) rather than “apostles of Jesus Christ”like the
13.They were not self-perpetuating nor was any apostle who died replaced.
“Prophets.” Not ordinary believers who had the gift of prophecy but specially commissioned
men in the early church. The office of prophet seems to have been exclusively for work within a
local congregation.They were not “sent ones”as were the apostles (Acts 13:1),but,as with the apos-
tles, their office ceased with the completion of the New Testament.They sometimes spoke practi-
cal direct revelation for the church from God (Acts 11:21–28) or expounded revelation already
given (implied in Acts 13:1).Their messages were to be judged by other prophets for validity (1 Cor.
14:32) and had to conform to the teaching of the apostles (v. 37).Those two offices were replaced
by the evangelists and teaching pastors.
“Evangelists.”Men who proclaim the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ to unbelievers.The
related verb translated “to preach the gospel” is used 54 times and the related noun translated
“gospel”is used 76 times in the New Testament.
“Pastors and teachers.”This phrase is best understood in context as a single office of leader-
ship in the church.The Greek word translated “and” can mean “in particular” (1 Tim. 5:17).The nor-
mal meaning of pastor is “shepherd,”so the two functions together define the teaching shepherd.
He is identified as one who is under the “great Pastor” Jesus (Heb. 13:20,21; 1 Pet. 2:25). One who
holds this office is also called an “elder”(Titus 1:5–9) and “bishop”(1 Tim. 3:1–7).

2 He shall enter into peace;
OCTOBER 3 They shall rest in their beds,
Each one walking in his uprightness.
Isaiah 57:1–58:14
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“But come here,
The righteous perishes, You sons of the sorceress,
57 And no man takes it to heart; You offspring of the adulterer and the
Merciful men are taken away, harlot!
While no one considers 4 Whom do you ridicule?
That the righteous is taken away from Against whom do you make a wide
evil. mouth

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