Above and Beyond All We Ask or Imagine IN CHRIST Ephesians 6:21-24 Purpose: setting the church on her course in Christ 1. Knowledge and Encouragement for Gospel Ministry Eph. 6:21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. Paul sends Tychicus to fill up their knowledge and encouragement “comfort” here is the word – urge, exhort, comfort 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 2. A Community of Incorruptible Peace, Love, Faith, and Grace In Christ Eph. 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Where does Peace, Love, & Faith come from? God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Grace is with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ “Incorruptible” here is the word – immortal
Biblical Spiritual Warfare: Battle Prayer Ephesians 6:18-20 Purpose: rediscovering resolute prayer in the midst of spiritual battle 1. Persevering Prayer for All Christians Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, We are commanded to do what? pray at all times How? “With” all prayer and petition “In” the Spirit We are commanded to be on alert How? “With” all perseverance and petition “For” who? all the saints 2. Prayer for Spirit-Filled Speech Ephesians 6:19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, What did Paul ask prayer for? that utterance may be given to me Who gives that? God For what purpose? Exalting the mystery of the gospel (Eph. 1:9-10)! This is the battle exemplified!! 3. Prayer for Bold Proclamation Ephesians 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Who’s ambassador are you? (2 Cor. 5: 20) __________________________ In your spiritual warfare, what do you desire? __________________________
Biblical Spiritual Warfare: The Armor for Your Battle! Ephesians 6:14-17 Purpose: wrapped in the armor of God you are safe from the enemy, stand firm in Christ 1. Truth Ephesians 6:14a Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH Belt of Truth ““ Isaiah 11:5 Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist. 2. Righteousness Ephesians 6:14b HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS Breastplate of Righteousness ““ Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. 3. Gospel Ephesians 6:15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE Sandals of the Gospel of Peace ““ Isaiah 52:7 How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 4. Faith Ephesians 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Shield of Faith ““ Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” And Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 5. Salvation Ephesians 6:17a And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, Helmet of Salvation ““ Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. 6. Word of God Ephesians 6:17b and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Sword of the Spirit ““ Isaiah 49:2 He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me; And He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver. God gives us two provisions so that we may “stand” and “resist.” First, the Lord’s strength (v. 10) realized only in the sphere of God’s might. Second, the Lord’s full armor (vv. 11a & 13a). Every piece of the armor is found in the Old Testament where it is the Lord God Messiah wearing it!! When Paul is commanding Christians to put on the full armor of God, this means we are to live in the strength of the Living Messiah, Jesus Christ!!
Spiritual Warfare: The Parameters of Our Battle! Ephesians 6:10-13 Purpose: to define the parameters of the believer’s spiritual battle, i.e., How To Fight! 1. The Commander’s Orders! Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Command to be strong HOW? in the Lord (imperative/passive/plural) “and in the” strength of His might This is not focused on the evil side! The Focus is on GOD! 2. Know Your Armor (Hint: It’s Not Yours!) Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Put on what? the full armor of God Why? so that you will be able to stand firm “Schemes” defined: stratagems, cunning attacks, tricks 3. Know Your Enemy! Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. The battle defined! (See 2 Cor. 6:1-10; 10:3-7; Col. 2:8) The battle is NOT against who? flesh and blood But IS against? powers, dark world forces, spiritual wickedness in heavenly places 4. Know Your Tactical Advantage! Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. The command reiterated, notice the two aspects of the command 1) resist, and 2) stand firm The battle is already won in Christ! Stand firm!
Work Your Job to Glorify Jesus Ephesians 6:5-9 Purpose: How to glorify Jesus in your work 1. As Slaves of Christ, You’re Free to Work Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. Command to “slaves” a.k.a. employees Slaves are to be obedient to earthly masters “With” fear and trembling “In” the sincerity of your heart “As” to Christ “Not” by eyeservice as men-pleasers “But as” slaves of Christ How? doing the will of God from the heart! Render service how? with good will “as” to the Lord Why? whatever good thing”¦ will receive back from the Lord Think of Joseph Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold. 2. Masters, Who’s Your Master? Ephesians 6:9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. Command to “masters” a.k.a. employers “Same things” as who? your workers, i.e., no double-standard Why? “Knowing that” their Master and your Master is in heaven “And” there is no partiality with Him See Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6; Col. 3:25; 1Tim. 5:21; James 2:9 What’s the standard for masters? God’s impartiality Is there a difference between slave or master in Jesus’ eyes? No How many masters are there in reality? Only One The Christian employer and Christian employee are brothers & sisters under One Master Philemon 15-16
A Message for Christian Children Ephesians 6:1-4 Purpose: Recovering the Spirit-Filled Relationship between Parents and Children 1. Children, Obey Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. The command: Children obey your parents in the Lord 2. Family Honor & Blessing Ephesians 6:2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. OT authority: The rationale for obedient Children is what?your own wellness 3. Multi-Generational Faith Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger But bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord If fathers are doing what they are supposed to be doing, and mothers too, then what is the connection with the children? See the cycle of truth? See Psalm 78:1-8 Psalm 78:1 Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 4 We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. 5 For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, 6 That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, 7 That they should put their confidence in God
Covenant Marriage Eph. 5:31-33 Purpose: Marriage Covenant Mirrors Christ’s Covenant with His People 1. The Marriage Mystery Ephesians 5:31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. Paul uses Genesis 2:24 as his authority The great mystery, Paul is speaking about Christ and the church So husband love your wife. And wife respect your husband. But the church didn’t exist in the time of Genesis. What must Paul mean? 2. The Original Model for Marriage 2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, In whom was God’s purpose and grace granted us? in Christ Jesus When was the grace granted us from all eternity (see Eph. 3:11) Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. When did God choose us in Christ? before the foundation of the world This answers the Genesis question 3. The Meaning of Marriage (summary from John Piper) “¢ God modeled marriage on the covenant love between Christ and the church at the beginning. “¢ Therefore marriage has always been a witness (or a drama or a parable) of the covenant love of Christ and the church. “¢ Therefore the roles of husband and wife derive from the roles God designed for Christ and the church. “¢ Therefore confusing or minimizing these roles obscures the meaning of marriage as a drama of the covenant love between Christ and the church. “¢ Therefore let every husband seek to love and lead and nourish and protect his wife like Christ does, and let every wife love her husband and honor his Christ-like role, joining hands in Christ-exalting mission as God meant for the church to do.
Christian Marriage: The Living Parable Eph.5:22-33 Purpose: The Covenant of Marriage Mirrors the Covenant of Christ with His People 1. Wives, You Reflect the Church Ephesians 5:22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Wives are to be subject to your own husbands (v. 22) How? as to the Lord #1 Why? for the husband is the head of the wife (v. 23) “As” what? Christ also is head of the church #2 The command reiterated (v. 24) 2. Husbands, You Reflect Christ Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. Husband love your wife HOW? As Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her #3 (v. 25) Why? that He might sanctify her (v. 26) How? having cleansed her by washing of water with the word Why? to present to Himself the church (v. 27) How? (+) in all her glory (-) no spot or wrinkle (+) holy and blameless “So” what? husbands love your wives (v. 28 command repeated) What does a husband’s love for his wife show? love for himself As by instinct from God we “nourish and cherish” our flesh (vv. 29-30) What does this look like and why? Christ and the church #4 (v. 32) Wives, live for your husbands. Husbands, die for your wives. Both display Christian love. Wives and husbands, let your marriage show the world Christ’s church.
How to Be Filled With the Spirit Ephesians 5:15-21 Purpose: Walking wisely, in the Spirit, submitting to God and one another 1. Walking Wisely Ephesians 5:15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Walk carefully how? Not as unwise men but as wise Making the most of of your time because the days are evil 2. Filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5:17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, Do not be foolish But understand what the will of the Lord is (See 1 Cor. 2:12-16; Rom. 12:1-2) Do not get drunk with wine But be filled with the Spirit “All of you must keep on being filled by someone else!” 3. How? Exalting Jesus Christ & Submitting to One Another Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Speak-ING to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs Sing-ING and mak-ING melody with your heart to the Lord Always Giv-ING thanks in all things In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God And be subject to one another in fear of Christ What do these descriptions sound like?
Run Away! Eph. 5:6-14 Purpose: Run away from immorality by living IN Christ! 1. Don’t be Deceived! Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; Let no one deceive you, how? With empty words (See Col. 2:8) What is coming because of empty deceptions? the wrath of God (See Eph. 2:2) Upon whom? ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬the sons of disobedience (See Eph. 2:2) “Therefore” what? Do not be partakers with them”¦ Run Away! 2. Learn what is pleasing to the Lord Ephesians 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Why should we not live like we used to? you are Light (See Matt. 5:14-16) We are light IN the Lord. Thus, we must walk as children of Light! “For the fruit of light” is in all 1) goodness, 2) righteousness, and 3) truth (See Eph. 4:24) Trying to learn what? what is pleasing to the Lord (See Rom 12:1-2) 3. Indecent Exposure Ephesians 5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness”¦ Run Away! But instead expose them! Why? Because it is disgraceful even to speak of the secret things 4. Awake Sleeper! Ephesians 5:13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” All things become visible when exposed by the light Live not as a dead person but as one alive IN Christ! “¦ Run to Christ! Be Holy! See 2 Cor. 4:6; Rom. 13:11-14; 1 Thess. 5:4-8
Risen! Purpose: recounting the greatest events of world history, Jesus is alive! Friday Luke 23:33-49 ““ Friday, Jesus Crucified Before Our Eyes Luke 23:50-55 ““ Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb, Women Witnesses Saturday Luke 23:56 ““ Sabbath Day of Rest Sunday Luke 24:1-12 ““ Early Sunday AM ““ He is Not Here, Women & Angels & Apostles Luke 24:13-35 ““ Resurrection Sunday ““ Two Men Leaving, Jesus, Scripture & Apostles Luke 24:36-53 ““ Resurrection Sunday ““ Witnesses Gathered, Jesus, Scripture & All Nations 40 Days Later Acts 1:1-8 ““ Jesus’ Prophetic Proclamation, Jesus’ Ascension, Power for World-Wide Witness Acts 2:4 ““ The Power Comes for the Witness to Go Pentecost Acts 2:14-36 ““ Pentecost, Peter Proclaims God’s Plan & Jesus’ Victory Acts 2:41 ““ 3,000 Believe in Jesus Christ and are Baptized = Only the Beginning
“Who Are You Imitating?” Eph. 5:1-5 Purpose: Imitate God, not the world! 1. What Imitating God Looks Like Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. What’s the “therefore” there for? Command: Be imitators of God! As beloved children Walk how? in love Who is our example? Christ Who loved you and 2) gave Himself up Offering & sacrifice & fragrant aroma are all descriptions of worship 2. What Imitating God is NOT Like Ephesians 5:3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting What must not be even named among us? 1) immorality 2) any impurity 3) greed as is proper among who? saints = believers And there must be no 4) filthiness 5) silly talk 6) coarse jesting Which are not fitting See Matthew 12:36, 15:1-20! 3. Why? Your Inheritance is at Stake Ephesians 5:4b but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Immoral, impure, and covetous people will not inherit the Kingdom Notice the relation between “children” in v. 1 and “inheritance” here Connecting all of this with Palm Sunday: Behold your King, do you believe?