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  TOGETHERNESS
  by Theodore Epp
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Summary: Spirit-filled believers should treat fellow Christians with
respect and submission, maintaining harmony in their relationships and
resisting the devil through their relationship with God.

Topics: "Unity in Christ", "Mutual Submission"
Scripture References: Ephesians 5:25

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DESCRIPTION
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Theodore Epp emphasizes the importance of togetherness among believers,
highlighting that no one can live a spiritually isolated life as we are
all members of Christ's Body. He explains that Spirit-filled believers
should treat each other with love and respect, submitting to one another
in reverence to God. Epp encourages believers to seek harmony through
mutual submission, which allows the Holy Spirit to foster strong
relationships and prevents the Devil from causing discord. He reminds us
that God's grace empowers us to resist temptations that disrupt unity,
urging us to maintain our relationship with Christ as the foundation for
all our interactions.

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CONTENT
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Ephesians 5:25-33

No believer lives a spiritually isolated life. Together, we are members
of Christ's Body (Eph. 5:30) and have responsibilities to each other.
Ephesians 4:25 says, "We are members one of another." Therefore, Spirit-
filled believers treat fellow Christians as they would treat themselves.
We are not to be domineering, but recognizing that Christ is the Lord of
all, we are to have a submissive spirit.

As we mutually desire to do the will of God, the Holy Spirit will give
us a harmonious relationship with each other. We are to submit ourselves
to others "in the fear of God," which is a reverential fear lest we
displease or dishonor God. Because of all that Christ has done for us,
our desire should be to please Him in everything we do. As we submit
ourselves to Him and to others, the Devil is given no opportunity in our
lives. Ephesians 4:27 tells believers, "Neither give place to the
devil."

God gives the grace that is needed to resist the temptation to disrupt
the harmony of believers: "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith,
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you" (James 4:6,7). When we maintain this kind of relationship with
Christ, through the Holy Spirit, we have the proper basis for the
various relationships in life, some of which are mentioned in Ephesians
5.

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (1 Cor. 12:2
7).

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/theodore-epp/togetherness/
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