Dear Brethren,

MEDITATION

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness
with greediness.

Ephesians 4:17-19

OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION

1. The word “Gentiles”

a) Ethnic Meaning
Non-Jews
b) Symbolic significance
To be found in this text
c) In brief:

i) It is the life of the non-believer
ii) The life of a worldly person
iii) The life of a carnal person

2. Characteristic Features

a) The Mind

i) Futility means…. It ends in nothing; it is all in vain
ii) Darkened understanding
iii) Thinking sinful and bad thoughts

b) Life

i) Alienated from God

ii) No life

c) Ignorance

i) Little knowledge of God
ii) Cannot fully understand things of God

d) The heart

i) There is blindness of the eyes
ii) Blindness of the heart is even worse

e) Feelings

i) Past feelings (No feelings)
ii) They don’t care about what the conscience says

f) Lewdness

i) Sexual sins
ii) All kinds of uncleanness
iii) Greediness

APPLICATION TO LIFE AND MINISTRY

1. Our life as people of God

a) It must be different from that of non-believers
b) We need to check all the time

2. Let us seek to live distinctively and honourably for the Lord
3. Let us encourage each other to live fruitfully

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charles Tan