Ephesians 6 - Stand

In the first section of chapter 6 Paul continues his examples of how to live out your faith in the home and he hits pretty much every relationship that might exist in the home of that day.  

1-3 - Children, it is to your benefit to listen to and obey your parents - remember that in these households there were sometimes several generations in one home - so we're not just talking about little kids but even adults listening to the wisdom of their parents.  But look at the promise, "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."  This is the original fountain of youth.  Who knew?!  

4 - Fathers, "don't exasperate your children," which means don't provoke them.  Apparently this was a problem in the ancient world.  Father's who would not take the time to instruct and train their children but perhaps just say, "do it because I said" without giving the why or helping them understand the importance of what they've been asked.  

5-9 - Paul address the relationship between slaves and masters.  It's important to remember that these were not typically slaves like we think of in the dark days of our own country.  These slaves were usually given a wage, or lived in the home of the master in exchange for their labor.  Many were bond-servants who had willingly given themselves to their masters and they almost all had a life outside their masters home.  Think of it more like a live in butler or maid.  They could be mistreated, as Paul encourages masters not to threaten them or treat them poorly.  The master did have certain rights, but often the slaves did too and if they were treated poorly they had recourse.    

The point Paul makes is that whether your a slave or a master we're all to be slaves of Jesus first and serve (or you could read, submit) Him by serving each other.

10-17 - In the final "meat" section of this letter to the Ephesian Church we find the famous passage about the Armor of God.  Since the beginning of his letter Paul has been showing the new believers in Ephesus how to live in their new faith.  From their first faith steps to becoming mature believers Paul has been walking through the how and what and why of the spiritual journey.  Now he turns from the physical behavior of a Christian to the spiritual war they (and we) will face.  

You can gain much from this section of Scriptures but I want to focus on a couple things as we wrap up our 6 days in Ephesus.  

1. You and I are to recognize that we are not strong enough in our own strength to face the spiritual onslaught that will come to every believer.  Paul wants to make sure we know that we will not be able to accomplish all that he has written in this letter unless we rely on and walk in the strength of the Lord and His mighty power.    If you try to face the rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world on your own you will fail.   So he shows us how to be strong in the Lord in the next several verses. 
2. I find it really interesting that Paul doesn't say, fight or run but he tells us to simply stand.  In fact he says it four times.  Stand against the devils schemes.  Stand your ground in the day of evil.  After you've given all you have, just stand.  And we're not to stand firm in our wisdom or ability or strength.  We're to stand in Truth (which comes from God), in righteousness, in peace, in faith, in salvation and in the Spirit.  
• Notice that all these items are defensive except one, the Sword of the Spirit - which just so happens to be the Word of God.  The same Word that the writer of the letter to the Hebrew believers said was, "alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Our only "weapon" against our spiritual enemies is the Word of God.  You will not fight or win with any other instrument. 
• When Jesus faced satan in the wilderness (you can read about it in Luke 4) even He battled satan with the Word of God when He quoted it three times before getting satan to flee.  That power is yours too...if you know what the Word says.  You can't fight with a weapon you don't have - that's part of the reason a daily bible reading plan is so important - for the rest of your life - so you will know the Word and can wield it effectively in battle.  That's why the last 6 days will strengthen you in your faith journey, because it's the Word and when you know the Word you can wield the Word.  

In the next few verses 18-20 Paul talks about the important of prayer, constant prayer, spiritual prayer and requests.  Keep on praying for all Christians and Paul asks for prayer himself too.  I would do the same.  Pray for me.  Pray that I would be bold in sharing God's Word and would be able to stand in the face of spiritual attack in my life.  Since I want to speak the truth of God's Words to a world that doesn't always accept it in a way that they might understand and apply to their lives and ours.  Pray for me that I would be faithful to God's call and many would come to know Jesus through this ministry.  

Finally, Paul has his pretty standard farewell in 21-24.  Tychicus (tick-e-cuss) could have been from Ephesus and followed Paul around as a apprentice or he could have been from somewhere else - regardless, Paul trusted him to do 2 things - deliver his message accurately and encourage the people surely through preaching of the Word.  

Then Paul closed with peach to these dear brothers and sisters in the faith, in the love of God and Jesus and for grace to be given to all who love Jesus with an undying love.  

And I'm sure he would say the same to you today.  There's a lot to do.  A lot God has prepared for you to do in His kingdom.  Seek God, walk and fight in His strength, pray and stand firm in the faith.  

Thanks for taking this journey with me.  

Ephesians 5 - A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

In the first 4 chapters of Ephesians Paul takes his readers through a process of faith development.   In Chapter 1 Paul sets the stage for new believers and helps them understand what is going on in their new lives and how powerful God is to save us and change us.  In Chapter 2 Paul further directs the differences between the old life we used to live and the new life of faith.  In Chapter 3 he makes sure everybody knows that salvation belongs to those who believe and that for each one of us who believe God has a purpose.  Yesterday we read in Chapter 4 about how we are each to function in this new family and he goes over the house rules again.

In today's reading Paul continues to remind us that when we came to faith in Jesus there was a change.  We're not the old person we used to be who would give into sin and acts of the flesh - we've been changed - and that change should be visible in our daily lives.  He then wraps the chapter up with an example of how life is to be different in Christian homes.  But it can all be summed up in a simple line from the 2nd verse.

Walk in the way of love.  

If we all did this every day the world would be a much different place wouldn't it.  But because Paul knew we'd have a hard time with it he goes on to explain it and then give a real world example of what it looks like.

In verse 3-20 Paul restates what he said in early chapters.

3-7 - That stuff you used to do and be okay with, that stuff that the rest of the city of Ephesus thought was perfectly alright is not acceptable in your new life.  Don't follow those who do these things or get caught up in them again by those from your former way of life who still think it's okay.

8-14 - Remember that you WERE in darkness but you've come into the light.  Instead of engaging in the "deeds of darkness" expose them, especially in your own life so that the light of Christ may reveal and then remove the darkness.

15-20 - Watch your life and live it to the full for Jesus glory.  Faith should affect every aspect of our lives so that it changes what we do and how we speak.

In the next section Paul gives us an example of how walking walking in the way of love would look in marriage relationship.

Vereses 21
Love submits.
It just does.  You don't have to be angry about that.  It's not a man thing.  It's not about authority or abuse.  Love recognizes when it's appropriate and beneficial and then love submits.  Now, don't read more into this than is there.  He's not talking about parents submitting to their children.  He's not talking about submitting when someone wants you to do things immoral or abusive.

A woman once came to me for counseling saying her finance - whom she was living with - told her that if she loved him she would watch porn with him to help their relationship.  This is NOT an instance to submit.  And this is not what Paul is talking about.

When you're walking in love you submit to one another.  In a marriage it means that you sacrifice for one another.  If he really wants to see the new Marvel movie and it's not that big a deal to you either way, submit.  If she wants to go for Italian, submit.  If one of you feels strongly about something and the other doesn't care as much, submit.

But here's the kicker - we're not just submitting because the other person is mad or their idea is better, this is a conscious decision to submit your will to the other out of your reverence for Christ.  You're doing it for Him not for them.

Vereses 22-24
Wives submit. 
Wives are to take this mutual submission a step further.  Paul says that the husband in the spiritual head of the home, as Christ is the spiritual head of the church (His body).  Just as you would expect the church to submit to the will of Jesus, wives have a spiritual obligation to submit to their husbands - as though they were submitting to the Lord.    Wives, this has nothing to do with your ability, your smarts, your common sense or your personality.  You're not submitting because you lack something but because you get something - you get that this is the order God prescribed way back in Genesis.  He's not smarter because he's a man.  He's not better because of his DNA.  He's not "the boss."  This doesn't make you his slave or servant in any way, shape or form.  Your submission is NOT about your husband it's about your Savior.

Verses 25-29
Husbands love.
Guys - this is WAY more important and WAY more personal to God than the submissiveness of your wife.  In fact, it has nothing to do with her at all, except that she is the object of your love.  We are to love our wives in the same way that Jesus loved the church.  He gave himself completely for her.  He went to the cross for her.  He gave his life so that she might receive the benefit.  Nothing that Jesus endured was about him, it was all about her.  The way you love her is to result in her benefit - regardless of the cost to you.

If you don't get it here's the next metaphor.  Love her as you love yourself.  Just as you feed and care for your physical body you should care for your wife.  If you are careful about what you put in your body - whether that means clean living or BBQ at least 2x a week, you're intentionally caring for you body.  Care for you wife.  Put as much thought and energy into loving her as you do your car, hunting, Football or your job.  In fact, loving your wife as Jesus loved the church IS your job.  And honestly, most of us are close to being fired.

Verses 30 - 33
We all, husbands and wives, are part of the same body.  That's what God desired in the beginning that husbands and wives would leave their families and be united to each other and become one flesh.  Husbands and wives, you are not equals, you are not at odds you are not enemies you are ONE.  We need to start acting like it.   And Paul tells us how, submit to one another, wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord, husbands love your wives as Jesus loves the church.  That's how we get make it.

One final thought.  When husbands and wives follow Paul's plan the world doesn't just see a family, they see a picture of Jesus and His church.  When we submit and love the world sees a heavenly, a spiritual picture.  What goes on in a Christian home is just like what goes on the life of a believer - everything speaks.  What is your marriage saying about Jesus and His church?  Walk in the way of love.

Ephesians 4 - All in the Family

I have known several families over the years who for one reason or another took in extra kids.  In every case there was a learning curve.  Think about it.  If a child is born into your family they learn the rules pretty quickly.  They learn when to ask dad or mom.  They learn when to push it and when to tip-toe.  They learn how they are expected to behave both at home and when they are out in the world.  

When you bring an older child into the home they don't know all the unspoken rules.  They haven't had time to know what "that look" means.  All they know is what they know... and it's usually all about where they came from.  So, it takes time for them to figure out the way you work verses the way it used to work.  

Ephesians 4 is all about how individuals are to live together in their new family - the Church.  I've broken it down below.

Vs 1- 4 The Basics

• How you are to behave in your new family (1,2)
• How you are to treat your new family members (3)
• This is the only (church) family you've got (4)
• We've all got the same Father - who is going to treat us like family (5-6)

Vs 7- 16  We're All Loved the Same but We're Not All Treated the Same

• Each one in the family has been given grace as Jesus determined - you're an individual (7)
• vs 8-10 are a theological tangent to show Jesus was came from God and went to God
• Jesus gave different people different roles within the family (11)
• We have different roles but the same GOALS (12)
• When we work together we reach unity together and mature in Jesus - attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (13 - and see chapter 3:19)
• When we mature we will know better than to play in the street or take candy from strangers (14)
• And eventually our bodies should catch up with our brains (15-16)
• A baby wants to walk before it actually can.  The brain is willing but the body is weak.  As the body and the brain grow though the body eventually is able to keep up with the brain so that once you think it you can do it.  When the individual parts of this family (the body of  Christ) grow and mature they will eventually, together, be able to carry out the will of the brain - Jesus.  HOW COOL IS THAT?! 

Vs 17- 19  GROW UP. 

• You can't get where you're going if you're still thinking like where you've been.  The thinking you had before becoming a part of God's family will not serve you well.  In your new family there has to be a new way of thinking - you can't just follow your selfish desires anymore, the acts of the flesh are obvious and obsolete in your new family.

Vs 20- 24  I've Told You This a Thousand Times! 

• When you came into the family of God through Jesus you had to learn what was acceptable and what wasn't.  You were told that your old way of thinking and doing wasn't consistent with the new way of being.  (but we all need to be reminded over and over again don't we!) 

Vs 25- 32  House Rules

• Because we're now part of the same family here are the rules
• Always deal in the Truth
• If you're angry, don't sin, satan will use it against you (and us)
• Instead of taking, learn to be generous
• Don't tear others down, build them up - it's good for all of us!
• Do what God's Spirit prompts you to do
• Don't be bitter, work to be better! 
• Be kind, compassionate and forgiving because that's exactly how God is toward you.  

Now you know what's expected and the rules.  

What do you think about the House Rules and roles in the Family of God?  

Are there any you struggle with?  

What do you think is the most important one?  

Which do you think has the greatest impact on the family?  

How can you use what God has given you individually to benefit the whole family?  

Ephesians 3 - No Longer a Mystery... at Least to Some

Have you ever been on the outside looking in?  An inside joke you didn't get.  A party you weren't invited to.  A group you couldn't join.  There have always been the haves and the have-nots.  And for centuries the Jews had it and were not about to share.  After all, they were the chosen ones.  A people chosen by God, protected by God, provided for by God.  They wore their "faith" like a badge of honor and held so tight to their position that it was almost impossible for anyone on the outside to get in.   By the way, I don't believe that was ever God's plan - but, they were human just like us... speaking of us, we still act like the Jews of Paul's day.  Many of you found Real Life because you visited a church where you felt like an outsider.  Maybe they used language you didn't understand, they laughed at jokes you didn't get or they had rituals that you were either excluded from or felt strange participating in.

This was the situation in the beginning of the Church.  The Jews held the market on God for many years but after Jesus and the coming of Holy Spirit in Acts 2, along with the rapid spread of the Church across the known world, this new "religion" based in Jesus was now open to anyone who believed.  It was a revolutionary idea and one that the religious establishment of the day hated (after all, they killed the leader).

So three things I want to point out today that are just as important as they were 2K years ago.

First - the mystery of the the Gospel of Jesus is not really a mystery at all (v 6)- it was prophesied in the Old Testament for thousands of years prior to Jesus.  The mystery of the Gospel is that no one, NO ONE is better than anyone else in God's eyes.  This was a HUGE shock to the Jews and a HUGE benefit to the non-Jews (Gentiles).  Through the Good News of Jesus' payment for our sins, Jews and non-Jews alike, were both able to share in the promise of Jesus Christ - hope in eternal life.

Second - Paul's calling is so deeply imbedded in who he is that he is writing this letter from prison.  He is in prison for preaching Jesus.  He's in prison for exercising something many of us take for granted, freedom of speech.  He told people about a dead guy who came back to life and who he believed was God in the flesh.  Sounds scandalous.

Paul saw his calling as two fold:
1.  He was to preach the Gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles - meaning, he was to tell them about Jesus, His life, teaching, miracles, death and resurrection and what that meant of every person.
2.  He was to "make plain" the mystery - that the Gentiles were supposed to be "in" since the beginning and now, through Jesus it's actually happened.
2a. Part of that mystery he was sharing was that through the Church - an entirely new thing - God's plan of salvation in Jesus was finally being revealed to the heavenly beings.  I think this salvation in Jesus came as a shock to the Angels and demons alike.  I think Satan absolutely believed he had won and there was a huge party that lasted for about 3 days.  On the other side, I think the angels were stunned.  I don't think they knew what was happening.  God, their eternal King, was just killed at the hands of measly humans.  Unthinkable.
2b.  That in Jesus and through faith in Him all people everywhere could approach God with freedom and confidence.  This was unheard of in any religion.  There had always been priests, temples and sacrifices.  No one approached any God, let alone the God of the Hebrews, with confidence or freedom - I mean, the Jewish priests tied a rope and a bell to the ankle of the High Priest every time he went into the Holy of Holies in the Temple of God!  This was so that if the bell stopped ringing they would know God had not accepted his sacrifice and they could pull his lifeless body out of the Temple, since no one but him was allowed into that room and he only went in there once a year.

Third - Paul has a prayer for the Gentiles.  That they would be strengthened by the power of Holy Spirit in their inner being (this is where the attitudes of the Spirit are formed).    And because of that inner strengthening there would be an even greater outcome.
1.  That Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith.
2.  That they would be rooted and established, not in fear or law or hate or hope or faith, but in love.
3.  that they would have the power (from God) to grasp the width and length and height and depth of the love of Christ (because he knew it would forever change them).
4.  That they would know this love that surpasses all knowledge and be filled to the measure of the fullness of Christ - basically that they would have all of Jesus that they could possibly hold.

So, there is a mystery that people today still need to hear - Jesus loves you and gave Himself for you that you might believe in Him, regardless of your past, your sin or even your future sin and become a part of His family.   There is a calling for each and every one of us who have discovered this mystery and it is to share it with others they too might know Jesus and that through the church the message of Jesus might be known - that belief in Him makes you right before God - not your behavior.  And finally, there is a prayer for you and I that the love of Jesus might be so known to us and so fill us that we actually begin to look like Jesus.

This is the result of the attitudes of the Spirit.  We know the keys to the "mystery" of eternal life.  We've been called to share what we know and we should pray that we, and every one else, would know the extent of the love of Jesus.  Because if we did, we'd never be the same.

Remember, God's got a plan for your life.  This is juts a part of it.

What makes the biggest impact to you from chapter 3?    

Ephesians 2 - There's a LOT that Happens in a Little "BUT"

I remember sitting in chapel at Ozark Christian College as a sophomore in High School during a summer event when I pointed at Andrea and told my friends I was going to marry her one day.  At that time I barely knew her; Had literally only talked to here for a handful of minutes and had no idea how a Kansas girl and a boy from Oregon in 1987 were ever gonna get together.  BUT on November 24, 1990 she said, "I do."  And from that moment on and for the last 26 years and 296 days our lives have been intertwined and at least for my part, better.

From that day in the chapel to the day we were married a LOT transpired.  But that doesn't matter much.  What matters is that we were once two people, separate, different names, different plans, from different places and with different dreams but everything changed.  And it doesn't really matter if it took a long time or a short time what matters is the result.  

In Ephesians 2 there are two "buts" I want to point out to you - in fact, you may want to get a highlighter or mark them in your bible app because just like in my relationship with Andi, everything changes for the Ephesian Christians (and us) and it all happens in a vowel sandwiched between two consonants and it happens to be a "U." 

1.  Verses 1-10  -  He Changed Our Story

BEFORE we met Jesus (however that happened for you) we were dead, along with everyone else in history who had ever gratified the cravings of the flesh (vs3).  I deserved death.  So did you and everyone else who has (pretty much) ever lived.  

BUT (V4) God loved us so much He changed our story!  We were slatted for death but God MADE US ALIVE with Christ!  

NOW, because of the work of Jesus, we are free to pursue the good works of God that He prepared in advance for us to accomplish.  There is stuff that is waiting to be done in the Kingdom of God and it has YOUR name on it!  Instead of living in sin through the acts of the flesh you and I get to live for God through the attitudes of the Spirit!  

2.  Verses 11-21  -  He Changed Our Name

BEFORE we met Jesus we were separated from God because of our sin.  We were NOT a part of His family.  We were excluded.  We were foreigners (we didn't speak the language or know the customs) we were without hope and without God.  Alone.  

BUT (V13) In Christ Jesus we have been brought into the family!  He wanted us!  He chose us!  He loved us!  We were orphans but God MADE US His children and gave us a new name, HIS! 

NOW, because Jesus shed His blood to ransom us from our former life, we are part of a family that encompasses every people group on earth!  We are not strangers or foreigners but members of God's household.  We have people we can count on and who can count on us.  And our family continues to grow as others are adopted!  

Isn't that incredible! Regardless of our past sin or the fact that we were outsiders God not only changes our story, He changes our name and welcomes us into His family.  YOU belong.  You're wanted and needed.  You're loved.  He has stuff just for you to accomplish! 

I'm guessing there's a pretty big "but" in your life too - Whatever was going on in your life before Jesus things are now different.  Is your life any different?  How?  Why not?  

A couple more things if you're up for them:

• I know this is a powerful passage about grace.  You probably do to.  That's why I didn't talk about it.  
• We could spend a LOT of time breaking this chapter down - it's got that much stuff in it - feel free to take it from here.
• If you're a part of Christ you should be a part of His church.  
• If you're in Christ He's constantly working to build you TOGETHER with other believers into a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit - it's not optional.  It's powerful.  It's how we all accomplish the good works He prepared for us and it's our obligation as a part of His family.  

There's a lot of stuff here, what jumps off the page at you?

 

Ephesians 1 - He Chose You to Be Changed

Ephesians 1  -  HE CHOSE YOU TO BE CHANGED

Read verses 1-14  

It’s pretty easy for me to reflect on what God has done on a day like yesterday.  If you missed church you missed CHURCH - it was an amazing morning of worship - one of those mornings where it just seemed like God was in the room with us.  Powerful.  It’s easy to reflect in times like that… but now it’s Monday morning.  You have to face another long week of work or school.  Maybe your health hasn’t been very good or you’re struggling through a pain that steals your joy.  It always seems easier to get bogged down by our problems rather than be built up by our blessings.

But for the next minute or two I want you to put your problems and your blessings on the shelf - don’t think about your finances or your family, your failures or success I want you to consider this incredible truth from vs 4 - God CHOSE YOU… consider that just for a minute.  God chose you to put your hope in His Son Jesus Christ.  Whatever you are going through or will face this week, you can stand knowing that God chose you.  He wanted you.  He pursued you.   He chose you for a purpose, to be changed into the likeness of His Son.

Read verses 15-21 

After church and the dinner yesterday for Pastor Appreciation I can say with Paul, I have  not stopped giving thanks for you.  I appreciate you all so much, your service, your love, your kindness and your desire to look more like Jesus every day.  That’s seen in part by the 24 people who said “I’m In!” to reading through the book of Ephesians this week.  

I want to continue to pray with Paul that this church (and the people who make it up - you!) would experience more the Spirit’s power manifested in wisdom and revelation so that we might know Him better.  That the eyes of our hearts would be enlightened to know the hope of the salvation we have in Christ AND (if that all wasn’t enough) His incomparably great power.  

Consider this as you starve the monster of “flesh” and feed the attitudes of the Spirit this week; that same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in a place of honor with God the Father has ALSO been given to you!   

Your monster may have a scary name:  Porn, alcohol, affair, pride, tobacco, food, fear - but the power in you through Jesus Christ is GREATER than every other power, authority or name that we encounter.

You can stand against your monster in the power that God gives you in Jesus because He promised that you would never face any temptation that you could not endure (1 Corinthians 10:13).  

Today, begin to deprive the monster that wants to hold you hostage and instead let the Spirit make you holy as you develop the attitudes of the Spirit in your life.  

If you slip, don’t give up!  Just start again - indulge the Spirit’s work in your life and inhibit the acts of the flesh. 

PS:  Verses 22,23  

Paul speaks of the church as the body of Christ and says that the church is, “the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.”  That’s a powerful statement about church and what you and I get to be a part of.  On Nov 5 we’re gonna start a new series call Rethinking the Church.  I hope you can make it and if you haven’t been to a coffee with Corey yet or the Discover Real Life partnership Seminar I hope you will do that soon and know what it’s like to truly be a part of the body of Christ.