Ephesians 5:1-17 From Darkness to Light

Ephesians 5:1-17     From Darkness to Light

• Main Theme.
• Walking in Love.
• According to a survey done by Josh McDowell, the 2 greatest fears people have are not feeling unconditional (Agape) love and not getting unconditional love.
• The first Bishop of Ephesus was Timothy and the second was John the Apostle.   John was the Bishop in his older years and his message to the Ephesian church was repeatedly ‘Little Children, love one another”.  The Elders of the church questioned John on why he kept repeating this.   John’s reply was “It is the LORD’s command, if you do this, this is enough”.
• There are 3 different ways to walk in love.

• Imitating our Father God.

• Love is the very nature and essence of our God.
• The Greek word used by Paul is “Mimetes” which means to mimic.
• Imitation can be the greatest form of flattery.
• God gave his chosen people in the Old Testament the command to “Be Holy because I am Holy”.   God was asking the Israelites to imitate him.
• Emulating our Savior Jesus.
• Jesus is the example of God’s love (the nature of God).
• By looking at the cross we should see that God’s love is unconditional, forgiving, and sacrificial.   (Romans 8:32)
• The world has a view on love, I love you because you are loveable.  This is a conditional love because it is based upon a relationship.
• There is a difference between like and love.  You may not like someone but you can still show love towards them.
• The greatest example of love is forgiveness.   (John 3:16)
• Influencing our brothers and sisters.
• Selfishness will bottleneck love.
• The list given by Paul is a list of a selfish living, which are common of the way we can live because of the desires of the flesh.
• What you say and do reveals who you are.
• Overview.
• As Christians we are role models to the world as we represent the very nature of Christ.   We are to set an example for the world as there are those who become Christian by seeing rather than words.   People can see the life of Christ being lived out through others.
• Christ like examples.
• Parents, Leaders, Role models for our youth.
• Jesus not only sends us out to preach the Gospel message but to follow him as well.   (Matthew 16:24, John 8:12)
• Verse 5:1-2   (Imitators of God).
• We all learn from role models.
• The Artist Vincent van Gough.
• Bellini strongly influenced his pupil Titian, who in turn influenced Peter Paul Rubins, who in turn influenced Delacroix, who later influenced van Gough.
• They each developed a unique and individual approach to art but they also were all influenced by the same model.
• Paul could be a perfect role model for us, with the ultimate role model being Jesus Christ.   Paul asks that we imitate our heavenly Father as a child imitates his parents.  We should likewise pattern our lives after God.
• God is a loving father, not a task master, slave driver, a tyrant, or an unknown in the heavenlies.
• If God shows love, mercy, and grace to sinners, then we should also do the same to others.
• Verse 5:3-7   (A Life of Love).
• The theme of the letter to the Ephesians it that Christ’s death and resurrection enable us to have access to the many riches of the Holy Spirit.   God allows us to enter his treasure house and all the riches we see are ours through Christ.
• The foundation of that treasure is Jesus Christ.   We have become heirs of everything that belongs to Jesus, his grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness.   We are to walk like Jesus Christ and imitate his life.
• Paul is asking for us to display unconditional love.
• Conditional love is based upon a relationship which includes a reciprocating love.
• Unconditional love is placing others before yourself (Agape Love).  It is not a feeling but a choice and a willful decision.  It is focused on giving and not receiving.   It is also self-sacrificing.
• Paul cautions about Satan appearing wherever real love can be found.   Satan only offers a counterfeit love.
• Selfish instead of Selfless, indulgent instead of self-giving, and self-serving instead of self-sanctifying.
• Paul also warns about false teachers entering the scene to deceive the people.   Their message will be full of deception and immorality.  They can come as pastors, religious leaders, authors, and seminar leaders.   
• The reality is God’s wrath is coming against the world and the “Sons of Disobedience”.
• For now God’s grace and forgiveness are extended to everyone to freely accept by repenting and turning to the LORD.  We need to be reminded that God’s justice will be revealed at the end of times.
• Grace is a gift.   Grace is also a responsibility and a privilege.  It is also an obligation.   It is not a license to cover sinning intentionally knowing that your sin will be forgiven.   (Romans 6:1-4)
• To be an imitator of God means we should hate sin as God hates sin,   we need to live and walk in the light of God.  Sinning is an offense to the Holy God.
• Verse 5:8-17   (Darkness or Light).
• Before we accepted Christ we were living in the darkness.  With Christ we are now living in the light.
• Notice how Paul writes “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are the light of the LORD” instead of saying “We are living in the darkness and now we are living in the light”.
• Jesus was the light of the world.  The apostles would be the light of the world after Jesus returned to the Father (Matthew 5:14).
• We do not reflect the light of Jesus but we are the light of Jesus instead.   Darkness hides things while light exposes it.   Light is transparent and authentic where darkness is concealment.
• If you go into a closet and shut the door, the darkness overcomes the light and the light now becomes hidden..  When you open the door the darkness disappears and is overcome by the light.   The light still exists whether the door is closed or open.   The darkness does not overtake the light when the closet door is open.
• Paul mentions that a Christian who is walking as in a “deep sleep” is living his life in the shadows.   He is hiding his actions and true nature of life.   (Psalm 14:1, Proverbs 9:10).
• Wisdom is the application of God’s word to everyday situations.  It is not to be confused with knowledge.
• The amount of knowledge accumulated by mankind from Creation to today.
• Creation to 1845 - about 1” on the scale.
• 1845 to 1945 - about 3” on the scale.
• 1945 to 1975 - about the height of the Washington Monument.
• 1975 to 1995 - about the height of the Empire State Building.
• 1995 to Present - beyond our imagination.
• The growth of wisdom through time has not increased at the same pace as the growth of knowledge.   The question can be asked where knowledge increases wisdom tends to decrease.
• Conclusion.
• We need to read God’s word daily.   We need to be walking in wisdom and seeking the wisdom of our creator.
• As we look at our culture today, we can see that we live in evil days.   Life is uncertain, the economy is unpredictable.   Any unforeseen event could impact our life at any moment.   We need to make the best of our day.
• Start by serving God and others.
• Stop focusing on money and possessions.
• Turn off the television, turn off our computers, and silence our cell phones.
• True joy is found in serving others.   True joy can also be found by telling others of Jesus.

Ephesians 4:17-32 The Old Life and New Life

Ephesians 4:17-32     The Old Life and New Life

• Main Theme.
• After we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, we are given a new life and our old life is put behind us.
• The walk of the believer - What we do with our life after we accept Jesus?

• An obedience and to walk with Christ daily.
• Similar to a marriage in that it is a commitment for a lifetime and we make a vow as well.
• Likened to not high we jump but how straight you walk when you are on the ground.
• I do not know what tomorrow brings, but I do know who holds tomorrow.    (Gary Hirshberg - CEO of Stoneyfield Farm - Headline for an article he wrote about Global Warming)
• The Old You.
• Aimless.
• Heathen Gentile who was walking aimlessly in life.  We were looking for significance and a sense of purpose in our life.

• The Book of Solomon - Solomon was constantly looking for a meaning in life but everything he found was senseless.
• Senselessness and Blindness.
• We had been blindfolded in a world of illusion.
• We lacked the capacity to understand the things of the Spirit.   (I Corinthians 1:18-30, I Corinthians 2:14-16).
• Shamelessness.
• Guilt is involved with sin but we need to get past the feelings of guilt.
• Baal and Ashtoreth - Worship for Fertility.
• Ephesians - Greco/Roman lifestyle and ways to worship.
• Jewish history - Stoning for Adultery.
• Sensuality is being pushed in our culture.  (1 of 9 marriages are broken by Adultery).
• The New You - A whole new makeover.
• Putting on the new man by applying the truth of God, discipline, righteousness, and holiness..   (II Corinthians 5:17-21, Romans 6:1-14)
• Putting away the old sinful nature through repentance.
• Knowing what you have turned from, leaving your old walk and actions.
• Renewing your mind - where the battle is won and lost against sin.
• If you sow a thought you reap the action (habits, lifestyle, character, and destiny).
• God loves us the way we are, God accepts us.   But God also loves to changes us as well, cleanse us.
• Putting away lying and speak the truth.
• 90% of people regularly lie, 36% of all lies involve the hurting of the other people..
• Proverbs 6:16-19.
• Putting away aggravation and put on indignation (being angry without sinning).
• Righteous anger.
• Jesus and the money changes in the Temple.
• After the Glory of God not your personal anger.
• Our modern culture ways of calling good evil and evil good in our culture.
• The Christian Faith being attacked.
• People lying to our young people about moral and spiritual values.
• Putting away stealing and start sharing.
• 1 out of 3 people steal something from a hotel.   Taking items from work, stealing time from work, making long distance phone calls from work.
• Putting away corrupt speech and putting on kind speech.
• We live in a culture that compromises on what is acceptable to say.
• 1946 movie - It’s a Wonderful Life
• The Phrase ‘Garlic Eaters’ was removed as it was deemed unacceptable speech.
• Bitterness, wrath, and clamor (Gossip)..
• Clamor grieves the Holy Spirit and is responsible for breaking up friendships, ruining marriages, and pits members against one another in church.
• Pray over these items and let it go. (Psalm 141:3)
• Overview.
• These verses best describe what Christianity is and what it is not.   
• Verse 4:17-19   The non-Christian Life
• We all need the light of Christ as our eyes are darkened by our human way of thinking.   Without Christ we have deliberately chosen to live contrary to God’s original design for humanity.
• Strongholds are not a sudden decision, but come gradually.   We take the first baby step at questioning the Word of God.  The second step involves rationalizing some habit that we refuse to give up, which includes a subtle rebellion with God’s word.  We then become more insensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and next losing sensitivity for God.  Finally, we no longer have feelings for God.
• Addictions start slowly, one step at a time and they continue to grow.   You begin to promise yourself you won't do this again, but yet you continue to do so in private while feeling dirty.  You then begin to crave it to where you begin to lose all sense of shame.  The addiction at this point has claimed its victim.
• The sinner at first comes to the point where you can not reason with them.   The sinner deliberately ignores the truth.  The sinner finally becomes callous or hardened.
• We start down the road of destruction once we rebel against God.  We turn aside from God’s will, we choose not to live according to his standards and principles.
• Verse 4: 20 - 24   The Christian Life.
• When Jesus comes into our life, he radically changes us.
• A Christian is someone who freely acknowledges his own failure, his fallenness, and his sinful nature.   He lives by faith, not by sight, feelings, or emotions.   God gives us a new heart, mind, nature, and a way of life when we become a Christian.   A Christian lives a life of renewal and repentance.   He must make a daily choice to live in his new identity in Christ.   He remembers his sinful nature of old and he remembers where he came from and where he is now.
• We all will be tempted to return to our old ways.  We need to remember our old life of sin and how our King, Jesus, has transformed our lives.
• Verse 4: 25 - 32   The Old Life Versus the New.
• Old Life - Corrupt and led us to ruin and destruction.   New Life - A new creation in Christ.
• Old Life - Dominated by uncontrollable and undisciplined pursuit of self-indulgent pleasure.   New Life - Righteous, holy and pure, a lasting pleasure rooted in a love of God and a love for others.
• 5 Contrasts of Before and After.
• Without Christ - Perpetual lying, cheating, destroying the reputation of others, a life of deception and falsehood.   With Christ - Speaking the truth of love for one another.
• Without Christ - Uncontrollable anger, rage, resentment, bitterness, a selfish hostility that lashes out whenever pride is injured.    With Christ - Not sinning when we are angry   (Ephesians 4:26).
• God’s anger at sin and injustice.
• Our righteous anger on behalf of the weak and helpless, those who suffer injustice and persecution, and not getting angry on our own behalf.
• Bitterness results from not settling our anger with others.  By allowing bitterness into our life leaves the door open to Satan to step in and use that bitterness for evil.
• Without Christ - Stealing, taking what is not ours, violating the rights of others, and bringing harm to others.   With Christ - Letting yourself do good work with your hands so that you have something to give to others in need, and focusing on giving rather than getting.
• Without Christ - A life of cursing and abusive speech.   With Christ - We offer encouraging words to others that help build them up instead of tearing them down, and speaking words more consistent to Christ instead of Satan.
• Without Christ - A life full of bitterness.   With Christ - Being kind to one another, tender hearted, and forgiving one another just as God and Christ have forgiven us.
• Bitterness has a way of taking root in a person’s life (Hebrews 12:15).
• Can I go to a person who has hurt me deeply and give them a hug and truly mean it?
• Bitterness can choke the life out of your soul.  It removes our joy and love for others.
• Conclusion.
• Are we emotionally involved in the moral and spiritual battle going on in our culture?
• Great reforms were accomplished in history by rightly channeled righteousness and Godly anger.
• Abolition of Slavery.
• Early Education reform.
• Childhood Labor reform.
• Civil Rights reform.
• We need to know the difference between sinful anger and righteous anger (Ephesians 4:26).
• God has never held a grudge against us even though we have deserved his wrath.
• We deserve judgment but God offers us forgiveness.
• We live a life of sinning in rebellion to God but Christ died on the cross for our sins.
• Quote from John Wesley: “Give me 100 men who fear nothing but sin and who deserve nothing from God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake up the gates of Hell and set up the Kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.”

Ephesians 4:7-16 The Gifts of the Spirit

• Main Theme.
• We are all given different gifts for the work of ministry in the church, the Body of Christ.
• We all have a unique gift through Christ
• The different gifts we have makes diversity into unity as we all work together in Christ through Christ.

• We all are born into the fullness of Christ when we become Christians.
• We need to become involved to discover our gift(s).
• By using our gift(s) we are meeting needs of others that are not being met.
• We are learning to carry others even though we may need to be carried sometimes as well.
• It takes all kinds of nuts to make a Fruit Cake.
• The Spiritual Gifts came with the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost..
• Overview.
• Spiritual Gifts.
• They are an act of God that brings us together so that we do not have to walk alone.   
• When we are walking in the Spirit, we are not walking alone.
• They are not a natural talent that we may have. (mechanical, artistic, athletic)
• It is the spiritual capability to do the work of God.  It can be an interface between the talent and the gift.    

• Voice and Encouragement.
• Visionary and Faith.
• Speaking and Evangelism.
• Moses stuttered but was still a great leader.
• God gives us a spiritual gift, and God gives his gifted people to the church.
• Unity brings about diversity amongst Christians.
• Building up the Body of Christ requires:
• Unity - to function smoothly.   The brain controls 10 million units within our body to make everything work in unity.   Jesus is the head of the Church Body.
• Maturity - become perfect, growing up.  Until we become like Christ, we have much growing up to do.
• Stability - to grow in maturity so that we do not become gullible or susceptible.   The average age of a person attending church is 55 years old while the average age of a human is 25 years old.
• Verse 4:7 (The One and Only Replaceable You).
• Spiritual Gifts are a gift from God, who is the creator of the universe.  They are custom made as God has measured it and tailor made it for us as well.   The wisdom of God has gifted us with what we are to be gifted in.  We need to discover that gift.
• Paul has emphasized Spiritual Gifts 3 times in his letters.
• Ephesians 4, Romans 12, and I Corinthians 12 - 14.
• Some people may possess the same spiritual gift but be effective in using it in different ways than others.   (I Corinthians 12:7-11).
• They can differ in style, ability, emphasis, and area of expertise.  Some can excel in teaching adults and others in adolescents, and yet other children.  Some, like Billy Graham was an effective Evangelist in a large group setting, while there are others who are more effective in a One on One situation.
• Notice in Verse 7 it says ‘Each one of us’, instead of some of us.
• Jesus has taken into account our personality, intellect, temperament, education, life experiences, and the people who surround us.
• Every Christian is irreplaceable.   God could choose others to fulfill our tasks.   If we do not use or gift, what does God think?  Do we do harm to the Body of Christ?   God’s work can be hindered if we do not use our gifts.   A healthy body needs all its members to be working together.
• Verse 4:8-10   (The Spoils of the Victory)
• Quoted from Psalm 68:18: David’s victory over the Jebusites.
• David had just conquered the Jebusites in a valiant battle and he has just returned home with the spoils of the victory.   David led the procession with a host of captives (officers and soldiers of David who were taken captive by the enemy in previous battles by the enemy).   He also paraded the valuables and plunder taken from the enemy.  David then distributed the plunder to his victorious soldiers as a reward for their faithful service.
• Since Adam and Eve, Satan has held us captives and enemies to sin.  We had been in slavery and bondage to Satan.
• Jesus is our King and Victor, who has conquered the Kingdom of Satan and the dominion of his strongholds over us.  Jesus came to earth, he lived with us, he died here, and then he was raised from the dead.
• Descended:   (I Peter 3:18)
• Jesus came to earth and was born here.
• Physically died on the cross and he became alive in the Spirit, where he went to Hades to the Demons where he made a proclamation that the demons no longer had reign and hold on mankind and that the Sacrifice had been completed.  Jesus then let the Old Testament Saints free from Sheol.
• Verse 4:11-13   (Purposeful Gifts)
• Jesus came from the heights of heaven to earth so that we could receive a Spiritual Gift.   God is then able to use our gifts to bless other people and to carry out his eternal plan.
• The principle of tithing.    God uses the 10% and puts it to good use, the other 90% he uses to bless us and to meet our needs.   God can also use the 90% to bless us in his own ways.
• God will bless us if we use our gifts.   He will multiply our efforts and abilities.  God can bless us abundantly beyond what we can imagine.  
• Paul uses Ephesians to explain the leadership gifts which are the foundation of the Church.   We can possess some of these gifts in different varying degrees.   Even though God’s word commands us to evangelize, some people are better than others in these areas.
• The ability to Prophesy means to apply God’s word to specific situations.  We can say from the Bible, ‘Thus says the Lord’.
• God has given us these foundational spiritual gifts to equip us (‘help make us whole’) for the taking of the Gospel of Wholeness to a broken and fallen world.
• God gave us gifts for the work of service to God, the church, and to others.   They are not given to us so that we can build our ego.   They are intended to be used in a humble way and committed to Christian service.
• God gave us gifts to edify (Build up) others, to encourage others, and to lift up one another.   In order to edify others, we need to be involved with others and with the church.
• Verse 4:14-16   (Running After every Religious Circus)
• God gave us spiritual gifts so that we would not remain spiritually immature.   By exercising our spiritual gifts we become more mature and acquire discernment.
• Paul warns us not to chase the latest fads to grow in our maturity and fulfillment, but to turn to the Word of God instead.
• We should ask God ‘How can we us our gifts to serve and edify other Christians’.
• By not using our gifts we hamper the effectiveness of the body of Christ, we slow its progress.
• By using our gifts we help the body of Christ grow and complete the body of Christ by building up God’s people in Christian Love..
• Conclusion.
• Does our walk reflect a Christ like life?   Are we worthy in our walk and are we accountable?   Do we help each other?   What is our role in our local church?  Do we walk by faith instead of sight?
• It is not wise to isolate ourselves and not use our gifts.  We need to walk together with the body of Christ (Church).
• Makes us accountable to others.
• If you love God you will love people.
• We all have a mix of gifts that God wants us to use.  If we do not use them, we could be robbing others of what they need if we are not involved.
• Not using your gifts can be compared to:
• A soldier with no Army to serve.
• A football player with no team to play for.
• A tuba player without a band to play in.
• The receiving of Spiritual Gifts can be compared to receiving a Christmas Gift and what we do with it.
• Open the Gift and place it on a shelf, to never use it.   
• Throw the Gift in the trash.   
• Exchange the Gift for something else we may find useful.   
• Refuse the Gift entirely.

• fts that God wants us to use.  If we do not use them, we could be robbing others of what they need if we are not involved.
• Not using your gifts can be compared to:
• A soldier with no Army to serve.
• A football player with no team to play for.
• A tuba player without a band to play in.
• The receiving of Spiritual Gifts can be compared to receiving a Christmas Gift and what we do with it.
• Open the Gift and place it on a shelf, to never use it.   
• Throw the Gift in the trash.   
• Exchange the Gift for something else we may find useful.   
• Refuse the Gift entirely.