Ephesians 6:10–24 - A Believer's Strength (Part 12)

1. Strength from the Lord is not a suggestion, it’s a requirement

2. The Power of Evil is a reality that Christians must guard against

3. The People of God have unlimited resources in Christ

• Truth
• Righteousness
• The Gospel
• Faith
• Salvation 
• The Spirit

Audio:

Ephesians 6:1-9 - Our Relationships Matter (Part 11)

Our Relationships Matter
EPHESIANS 6:1-9

1. Our morality grows out of our undeserved, intimate relationship with God as a result of our receiving God's grace.
 --It is what is going on inside of us that determines the true values of our outward behaviors.
 --Galatians 5:22, 23

2. If we are Christians, we recognize a morality in our relationships that is explicit in God's Word.
  --Beginning with our changed natures in the Beatitudes, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount taught the consequential attitudes and behaviors of citizens of the Kingdom of God.
 --Paul's letter to the Ephesian church moves from our changed natures (1:13; 2:5-9) to His immeasurably abundant  power that works within us (3:20-21) in chapters 1-3; then in chapters 4-6, the apostle reveals spiritual resources given to the churches, and the resulting dynamics in Christian relationships.

3. Our grace-changed natures transform every aspect of our relationships to reflect God's love for the world through Jesus Christ.
 --Brothers and sisters in Christ submit to one another in the reverence of Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)
                What does this look like? Philippians 2:3-5
 --Marriage between a believing husband and wife pictures Christ's relationship with the Church. (Ephesians 5:22-33)
  --Believing parents make the Lord central to their family relationship. (Ephesians 6:1-4)
  --First century, Christian slaves and masters were to understand that the Lord in heaven is their Master, and He does not show partiality between them. (Ephesians 6:1-9)


What applications exist for the modern day work place?
    EMPLOYEES:
 --"[Be obedient] with fear and trembling"
 --"Be obedient"
 --"in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ"
 --"eye service"
 --"men pleasing"
 --"as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart"
 --"With good will render service as to the Lord, and not to men"
 --"knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord"

     EMPLOYERS:
 --"do the same thing to them"
 --obey
 --"give up threatening"
 --know that your Lord in heaven shows no partiality
 --We face our relationships with fear and trembling, in case we fail to trust God.



Audio:

Ephesians 5: 22-33 - Living to Serve, Loving to Die (Part 10)

Ephesians 5: 22-33 Marriage:
"Living to Submit, Loving to Die".

A. The role of Wife:

• The wife has to submit to her husband.
• Greek word hü-po-tä's-sō is used for the English word “submit”, meaning,“to arrange under, to subordinate”

Example of submission:

• She should submit as she submits to the Lord.
• Because the believer’s wife’s supreme submission is to the Lord.
• Loving submission is done as an act of obedience to the Lord.

B. The role of Husband:

• Christ like servant leadership
• Dying for the wife
• Christ died for His bride so that she can grow in holiness

Marriage is established by God. When a wife submits she is a reflection of the way Jesus submitted to the Father and as a husband loves he is an example of how God loves us. By living life this way they aren't only experiencing amazing  marriage life, but their marriage serves as an example of Christ loving His church.


Audio:

Ephesians 5:1-21 - Holiness is not an Option (Part 9)

Holiness is not an Option
Ephesians 5:1-21

1. Holiness is displaying God's character.
2. Holiness flows from our identity.
3. Holiness is radical and all-encompassing.
4. Holiness is a sign that we are saved.
5. Holiness is a light to the world.
6. Holiness is empowered by the Spirit.

Audio:

Ephesians 4:17-32 - New Life New Look (Part 8)

Ephesians 4:17-32 

New Life New Look

(1) Characteristics of a dead heart: V: 17-19

Symptoms of Hardness of Heart:

• Darkened in their understanding, 
• alienated from the life of God 
• because of the ignorance that is in them

(2) Characteristics of  a New Life 

• To put off your old self
• Which belongs to your former manner of life 
• And is corrupt through deceitful desires,
• And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 
• And to put on the new self, 
• Created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness

(3) Characteristics of a New Look

• Speaking the truth
• Does not get angry and does not sin
• Thief will not steal, but will give to those who are in need Application:

What is my responsibility If God creates a new heart in me?

• I have to put off the old self and I have to put on the new self

Audio:

Ephesians 4:1-16 - Living in a Manner Worthy Of our Call (Part 7)

"Living in a Manner Worthy Of our Call"
Ephesians 4:1-16

I. There is a necessary disposition for a believer's worthy walk. (4:1-3)
       A. God's work in Christ is gracious, mysterious and beyond our imagination, "therefore" by the power at work within us, we seek to live our lives worthy of our call.
       B. Paul identifies himself as a "prisoner of the Lord."
       C. Believers in Christ are "implored" to the walk worthily of our calling.
       D. Paul names five characteristics of the believer's worthy walk.
              1. Humility
              2. Gentleness
              3. Patience
              4. Showing tolerance for one another in love
              5. Diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit

II. The church is implored to be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit. (4:4-6)
       A. The world seems desperate to redefine the church.
       B. Paul shares seven elements of unity in the Spirit for the church.
              1. One Body
              2. One Spirit
              3. One Hope
              4. One Lord
              5. One. Faith
              6. One Baptism
              7. One God and Father

III. Maturity is growing up to the fullness of Christ. (4:7:-16)
       A. There is diversity in our unity. (4:7-10)
       B. The purpose of the diversity of spiritual gifts is for the building up of the body of Christ.
            (4:11-12)
       C. How long? Until we grow up into Christ. (4:13-16)

PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS:

Audio:

Ephesians 3:14-21 - Knowing God (Part 6)

From Death to Life (Part 6)
Knowing God
Ephesians 3:14-21

1. Strengthened in our Inner Being, (v.16-17)
a. According to the riches of God’s glory, not our own
b. Strength that goes beneath the surface
c. Supplied by the Holy Spirit

2. Able to comprehend God in a deeper way, (v.18)
a. Both a Private and Public experience
b. The Love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

3. Filled with the Fullness of God, (v.19 - 21)
a. Christ is the Fullness of God
b. Sinners receive the fullest of Christ’s riches
c. God who is able to more than we can ever imagine

Audio:

Ephesians 3:1-13 - The Motivated Ministry (Part 5)

From Death to Life, Part 5
The Motivated Ministry
Ephesians 3:1-13
October 5, 2014

THREE THINGS PAUL KNEW THAT KEPT HIM MOTIVATED AND JOYFUL IN CHURCH LIFE AND MINISTRY
1. He knew who called him (3:1-7).
- Called by Jesus
- Called By Grace
- Called By Revelation
2. He knew what he was called to do (3:6-9).
- Preach Christ to Gentiles
- Display the mystery of the church in his ministry
3. He knew the ultimate purpose for his call (3:10).

Audio:

Ephesians 2:11-22 - Hope for the Hopeless (Part 4)

Death to Life: Hope for the Hopeless (Ephesians 2:11-22)

            A: Hopeless Condition (verse 11-12)

(1)   You were separate from Christ:

This can also be translated as without Christ.

(2)   Excluded from the commonwealth of Israel:

Commonwealth: “any group of persons united by some common interest”. This is literally "citizenship" (politeia). Gentiles were excluded from the people whom God had chosen as His own.

(3)   Strangers to the Covenants of the Promise:

This may speak of several covenants that God had made with Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:7-21; 17:1-21), Isaac (Gen. 26:2-5), Jacob (Gen. 28:13-15), the nation (through Moses, Exod. 24:1-8), and David (2 Sam. 7).

(4)   You (we) had no Hope:

Jews hope was in the promises and covenant of God with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, before Christ Gentiles did not share the same hope as Jews.

(5)   Without God:

Those who had no knowledge of God. (ä'-the-OS), English word atheist is derived from this Greek word. This is the condition of every man and woman without Christ.

B: Hope in Christ (Verse 13-17)

(1)   Far away have been brought near:

Gentiles through Christ are brought near to God. Even though, as Gentiles, we would have been kept away from the worship that the Jews enjoyed, now God has brought us near to Himself. Now  we can enjoy the intimacy of a personal relationship with the living God.

(2)   The dividing wall of hostility is destroyed:

Everything that needed to unite Jews and Gentiles is accomplished by Jesus Christ. Because of this reason we can have unity with people who are not like us. Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11.

(3)   The law is abolished:

Put an end to it - kä-tär-Ge'-ō.

This does not mean that the Old Testament is not inspired for the believers (Matt. 5:17-19).  Meaning the Law is not the means of salvation (Acts 15, Romans 4, Galatians 3)

(4)   Reconcile:

Bring back a former state of harmony

The way Jews and Gentiles are reconciled through Christ, all believers have the same hope through Christ for unity.

C: Evidence and honor of Hope: (Verse 18-22)

(1)   Access in one Spirit to the Father

(2)   No Longer aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people.

(3)   Members of God’s household

(4)   Built on the foundation of Apostles and Prophets

(5)   Christ is the chief cornerstone

(6)   And in him you (we believers) are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Audio:

Ephesians 2:1-10 - LIVING AS CHRIST'S MASTERPIECE (Part 3)

LIVING AS CHRIST'S MASTERPIECE   (Ephesians 2:1-10)

I.       We are His Masterpiece!

     A.  Our identity is in Christ Jesus.

                1. Individually, I am a new creature. (2 Corinthians 5:16-19)

                2. Why was a new creature necessary? (Ephesians 2:1-3)

     B.  His workmanship is a new creation.

                1.  Paul also uses the word poemia in Romans 1:20.

                2.  His new creation is the building of new race of people. (1 Peter 2:9-10; Galatians 6:15-16; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 11:13-16; Romans 8:18-25)

     C.  CREATION ALERT!

                1. What is our tendency?  (Genesis 11:31-32)

                2.  What is the right question?

II.  How did we become His Masterpiece?

     A.  God's great mercy made us alive in Christ. (Ephesians 2:4-6)

     B.  God makes us alive by His grace for His glory. (Ephesians 2:7-9)

                1.  God's holiness demands justice, our deserved death. (Exodus 34:7; Ezekiel 18:4; Psalm 5:5; 7:11;

                2.  God's free undeserved work of love, grace, saves us. (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 3:19-20

                3.  Our access to this new state of creation is our belief, faith. (John 3:16; John 6:28-29; Romans 10:8-13; Ephesians 1:13, 15, 19, 4:20-24)

     C.  How can you be saved? (Ephesians 2:7-9; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Romans 10:8-13)

III.  The consequence of being created in Christ is "good works."

     A.  Our "good works" have been predestined. (Ephesians 2:10) Ephesians 1:4-7, 11-12; Galatians 5:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 2 Timothy 4:14

     B.  Jesus' earthly ministry is our continuing ministry, our work. (John 17:18)

                1.  Our continuing work is to glorify God. (John 17:4)

                2.  Our continuing work is in the truth of God's word. (John 17:17)

                3.  Our continuing work is His kingdom lifestyle. (Psalm 37:3-4; Luke 9:23; Matthew 5-7; Matthew 25:25ff; Ephesians 5:1-2, 8, 15; Philippians 2:1-5)

                4.  Our continuing work includes seeking the lost for salvation. (Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:18; Matthew 8:24; Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 2:4; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 28:31)

                5.  Our continuing work is to be active members, for the common good of His body, His church. (1 Corinthians 11:7, 12; Ephesians 5:22, 23; Hebrews 10:24)

     C.  Revive Church is becoming His masterpiece. (Philippians 1:6)

Audio:

Ephesians 1:15-23 - Knowing & Growing (Part 2)

I. Paul praise of Christian Reputation
            1. The Reputation of the Christian is Faith and Love
II. Knowing God, through Growing with God
            1. In Christ, there is no limit
               2. God grants Wisdom and Reveals Himself to His children
III. The Church as body of the Risen Christ
            1. The same Power that raised Christ raised us  

Audio:

Ephesians 1:1-14 - The Prosperity of the Gospel (Part 1)

From Death to Life, Part 1
The Prosperity of the Gospel
Ephesians 1:1-14

1. The Blessing of God
- PAST - Chosen & Predestined (1:4-5)
- PRESENT - Redeemed & Forgiven (1:7)
- FUTURE - Sealed & Guaranteed (1:11-14)
- In Christ
- We are recipients.
2. The Sovereignty of God
3. The Glory of God (1:6, 12, 14)

Audio: