DO YOU TALK THE TALK OR/ AND WALK THE TALK?
By Martha Martens
Pastor’s wife of Central Baptist Church of Clovis, California
Who are you following? God or self or the world? The following test will give you the answer to this question! Source: Ephesians 4 & 5
How do you “walk” in the following areas?
Lowliness – humility ______ Pride, Self-exaltation _____
Longsuffering – “Turn the other cheek” ______ Retaliate _____
Forbearing one another in love “Putting up with” ______ Easily provoked _____
Work at keeping unity & peace of the H.S. ______ Causing strife _____
Encouraging each other in love (includes family) ______ Criticizing _____
Walk in Truth (of God’s Word) ______ Follow own ideas _____
Moral Integrity ______ No moral restraint _____
Righteous (holy) living ______ Uncleanness w/ greed _____
Renewed in your mind (through God’s Word) ______ Deceitful lusts _____
Speak Truth (according to God’s Word) ______ Lying, deceptive, dishonest _____
Even tempered ______ Stay angry (irritated) _____
Willing to work ______ Expect “handouts” _____
Pure conversations (come from a pure heart) ______ Corrupt conversation _____
Submit to the Holy Spirit ______ Rebellious _____
Kind, tenderhearted, quick to forgive ______ Bitter, wrath, anger _____
Chapter 5
Follower of God ______ Ignore God’s instruction _____
Be a “dear” child of God ______ Bring shame to God _____
Walk in love “as Christ loved us” ______ Dislike, hate, be rude _____
Morally pure ______ Fornication & Impure _____
Gracious speech ______ Filthiness, shameful speech _____
Give a good report ______ Foolish talk, gossip, evil _____
Careful with remarks ______ Jesting, quick retorts, making
light of sin _____
Give thanks – redeemed tongues should be ______ Unthankful, ungrateful, complaining_____
thankful tongues
How do you develop these qualities? Follow these guidelines from Eph. 5:10-21
1 v. 10 Prove what is acceptable to the Lord. Whatever you can’t pray about and ask God to
bless, you should leave alone. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
2 v. 11 Have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness. What you wouldn’t do with Jesus
present, DON’T DO!
3 V,14 Be awake spiritually. V. 15 Watch what’s happening & walk carefully.
4 v. 16 Redeem the time – use your time for that which is best not just good.
5 v. 17 Understand what the will of the Lord is for you.
6 v. 18 Be filled with the Holy Spirit (controlled by the Holy Spirit.)
7 v. 19 – 21 Our music will be affected by whether we are spirit-filled or not.
The messenger of our songs – should be spirit-filled.
The movement of our songs – should be upward to the Lord and not outward to people.
The motive of our song – will be expressing thanks to God our Father.
The manner of our song – will show a proper fear and respect for a Holy God.
The key to all of the above is found in Colossians 3:16. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching & admonishing one another in psalms & hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord!