Ephesians

Ephesians

“Praying for Missions” – Ephesians 6:19-20

We just looked at how our spiritual warfare is won through prayer, especially in prayer for each other. Paul continues this thought. Pray for Paul Just as it is extremely important to bear each others burdens and pray for one another, it is also important that we pray for those who are laboring in the Word of God. This includes all those preaching, teaching, and proclaiming the Gospel. Sometimes we can become so focused on the our trials and temptations…

“The Belt of Truth” (Part 2) – Ephesians 6:14

We now look at the second use of the word “truth.” Loins girt about with truth Loins refers to our inmost being. Girt about refers to putting on a belt. This piece of armor served two purposes. One, it held the rest of the armor together. Two, it acted like a back belt to enable a soldier to fight without injuring himself. The word truth has two applications. The first application is doctrinal truth; we looked at this last week.…

“Our Enemy Identified” – Ephesians 6:12b

We wrestle against Paul has just told us that we are not wrestling against human beings. He now directs our attention to who our true enemy is. He directs us to fight this enemy. Principalities The word here is Greek is “arche” from which we get the English prefix “arch.” It is used in archangel, archenemy, arch-nemesis, etc. It simply means “rank” or “highest rank.” It is used here in the plural form. From this we see that we are…

Submission to Parents (Ephesians 6:1-3)

Paul now turns his attention to the parent-child relationship.Spirit filledIt is very important that we understand this in its context. Paul is speaking about what the Spirit-filled life looks like; it is a life of submission to other believers. In other words, Paul is saying our attitude towards our parents is a direct indication of the true state of our souls.ObeyChildren are to submit to and obey their parents. There is not much more that needs to be said. What…

Anger is not an Excuse for Sin (Ephesians 4:26-27)

We continue looking at what we must lay aside and what we must put on.Sinful AngerAs Christians we must discard all instances of sinful anger. We can be angry for sinful reasons like selfishness, jealousy, pride, etc. These instances of anger must be discarded. We must ask ourselves the question that God asked Cain, “Why are you angry?” (Genesis 4:6) God asks Jonah a similar question in Jonah 4:4. In other words, I must ask myself is my anger a…

Radical Honesty (Ephesians 4:25)

We now begin to look at what we must lay aside and what we must put on.Lay aside lyingThe Christian life is built entirely upon Jesus Who is the Truth (John 14:6.) Any lie is from the devil who is the father of lies (John 8:44.) As such lying has no place within the Christian’s life. It all must be completely discarded.Put on honestyIt is not enough to quit telling lies. We must go beyond that and put on honesty.…

The Regenerative Life (Ephesians 4:21-24)

Paul has just finished telling the Ephesians that they did not learn from Jesus to live like the rest of their culture. He now shows us what we learned from Jesus.The truthPerhaps the greatest tenant of the Christian faith is truth. Jesus declares Himself to be the truth. To know Jesus is to know the truth. The truth is in Jesus and everything He taught is true. This is why we are to speak the truth to each other (Ephesians…

Where Did You Get that Idea? (Ephesians 4:17-20)

As Paul urges the Jews and Gentiles in the church to reconcile he now addresses a common issue that keeps people from reconciling. We can make our cultural or ethnic upbringing what is right as opposed to what God has actually said. We can make our sins a “gray” area and demand that others view it as “diversity.”Christians are to be different from their culturePaul immediately addresses this and makes it clear that this is not opinion, it is what…

Who Do We Unify With? (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Paul has just finished telling us to “put up with” each other’s differences for the sake of Gospel unity. However, just who are we supposed to cooperate with? Where is the line drawn?One BodyThere is only One Church, the Body of Christ. Christ has never been divided into Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, etc. We are to forbear with and strive for unity among all true Christians.One SpiritAll Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit. How can the Holy Spirit in me reject…

How to Have Unity (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Paul the prisonerPaul begins this section by reminding the Ephesians that he is in prison for the very things he is teaching them. He is not someone who is asking them to do something that he is unwilling to do. He knows what he is asking them to do. He knows what it will cost them; and he knows it is worth it.Walk worthy of the callingIn light of God calling us to new life, we need to live in…

Racial Reconciliation – Part 5 – (Ephesians 3:1-6)

Paul’s ministryGod opened Paul’s eyes to see His eternal purpose, one covenant people comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. It is this revelation that resulted in Paul being imprisoned for his friendship with the Ephesian, Trophimus. It is this revelation that has made him the Apostle to the Gentiles. This revelation was not just revealed to Paul but to the other apostles and prophets as well.A mystery in plain sightThe fact that God would include the Gentiles as a part…