I am taking a sabbatical from this sermon blog because I do not have the time to keep it updated.
You can listen to my sermons free on Itunes (just search Itunes for "Norway Avenue Church of Christ Podcast").
If you would like a free copy of my sermon manuscripts in a word doc you can email Jeanie Meadows at secretary@norwayave.org.
Thanks to all who have used this blog as a resource for strengthening their relationship with Christ. I have receieved many encouraging emails from pastors and Christians from all over the country who have read my manuscripts and I appreciate every email - it means a lot to me.
Please visit my blog at http://jgarrett.blogspot.com/ - I will be updating that blog a couple of times a week.
Grace and peace,
Jeff Garrett
jgarrett@norwayave.org
Norway Ave Church of Christ
http://norwayave.org/
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Ephesians 6:10-24 - Spiritual Warfare
Belonging to God’s Family (Part 8)
Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:10-24
Jeff Garrett
Claudia Berlin reads Ephesians 6:10-24
6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Your strength is “in the Lord” – it’s his mighty power” – not your own. Like Paul said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).
Joshua 1:6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand “Put on” means is “to clothe”- “sinking into” God’s armor. God provided the armor but you have to put it on – the full armor – the whole armor.
God supplies you with his armor but you’ve got to put it on and leave it on permanently. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Struggle refers to “wrestling” or “hand-to-hand combat”. Our enemies are not human – they are demonic. And the devil is their chief prince. The Devil – The Bible refers to the devil as …
· “the anointed cherub (Ezek 28:14)
· “the god of this world” (Luke 11:15)
· “the prince of this world” (John 16:11)
· “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2)
Fifty-two times he is called Satan which means adversary and 39 times he is called the devil which means “slanderer”. He is a fallen archangel and the angels who followed him became demons.
Paul gives us four characteristics of demons.
They are powerful – Paul called them “the powers of this dark world – John said “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). The devil claimed to be able to give Jesus all the kingdoms of this world (Matt. 4:8-9). No human being can match their strength.
They are wicked – Paul called them “spiritual forces of evil” (v.12) –They are wicked – they have no moral principals, no code of honor, no feelings, no sympathy – they recognized on Geneva Convention to - they are ruthless world rulers. They operate in the heavenly realms – the air the surrounds the earth – the sphere of invisible reality in this dark world.
They are cunning – “the devil’s scheming – trickery, deceitful methods. The devil is dangerous wolf but he disguises himself is sheep’s clothing. Sometimes he roars like a lion but more often he’s a crafty serpent. They can attack with open force or they can quietly seduce you into compromise.
They appear to be organized – He mentions many different categories or ranks. The demonic categories are not explained but he mentions several – the devil, the rulers, the authorities, the powers and the spiritual forces. All of these describe the different strata and rankings of the demons and the evil, supernatural empire in which they operate and the devil his networking his schemes through the principalities and powers. A principality a state that falls within a larger state such as an empire (e.g. Daniel 10:12 the prince of the Persian kingdom; Daniel 10:20 Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.)
The armor of God (6:13-20)
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes [a time of intense pressure, a crisis], you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, [To “stand firm” means to “hold a critical position while under attack”] with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Paul details six main pieces of a soldier’s equipment – the belt, the breastplate, the boots, the shield, the helmet, and the sword – and uses them as pictures of the truth, righteousness, good news of peace, faith, salvation and word of God which equip us in our fight against the enemy.
1. The belt of truth – soldiers wore a heavy leather belt that girded his under garments together – the belt represents God’s truth and our own integrity.
2. The breastplate of righteousness – soldiers wore a tough sleeveless piece of armor that covered their full torso. It was often made of leather , onto which were sewn overlapping pieces of metal. Some were made of large pieces of metal molded or hammered to conform to the body. It protected vital organs (e.g. heart). Our spiritual breastplate represents God’s impute righteousness and our righteous deeds.
3. Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace –
4. The shield of faith - soldiers commonly used two types of shield. The first was small and round (about 2 feet in diameter) that was secured to the arm by two leather straps. It was light weight and used in hand-to-hand combat. The second type of shield is what Paul was referring to here. It was about 2 ½ wide and about 4 ½ feet high – it was designed to protect the entire body of the soldier. It was mad of a solid piece of wood and covered with metal. Soldiers carried these shields in the front of the battle line – side by side forming a huge phalanx that extended a mile or more. The enemy dipped their arrows in pitch and lit them so that they became fiery missiles. The shield of faith protects us from the fiery missiles of the devil.
5. The helmet of salvation – soldiers word a helmet made of tough metal like bronze or iron – the inside was lined with felt or sponge or leather and nothing short of an ax or a hammer could pierce the heavy helmet.
6. The sword of the Spirit – soldiers carried a short sword for hand-to-hand combat. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living 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.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
1 Samuel 17:41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
Final Greetings
21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Prayer Time
Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:10-24
Jeff Garrett
Claudia Berlin reads Ephesians 6:10-24
6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Your strength is “in the Lord” – it’s his mighty power” – not your own. Like Paul said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).
Joshua 1:6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand “Put on” means is “to clothe”- “sinking into” God’s armor. God provided the armor but you have to put it on – the full armor – the whole armor.
God supplies you with his armor but you’ve got to put it on and leave it on permanently. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Struggle refers to “wrestling” or “hand-to-hand combat”. Our enemies are not human – they are demonic. And the devil is their chief prince. The Devil – The Bible refers to the devil as …
· “the anointed cherub (Ezek 28:14)
· “the god of this world” (Luke 11:15)
· “the prince of this world” (John 16:11)
· “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2)
Fifty-two times he is called Satan which means adversary and 39 times he is called the devil which means “slanderer”. He is a fallen archangel and the angels who followed him became demons.
Paul gives us four characteristics of demons.
They are powerful – Paul called them “the powers of this dark world – John said “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). The devil claimed to be able to give Jesus all the kingdoms of this world (Matt. 4:8-9). No human being can match their strength.
They are wicked – Paul called them “spiritual forces of evil” (v.12) –They are wicked – they have no moral principals, no code of honor, no feelings, no sympathy – they recognized on Geneva Convention to - they are ruthless world rulers. They operate in the heavenly realms – the air the surrounds the earth – the sphere of invisible reality in this dark world.
They are cunning – “the devil’s scheming – trickery, deceitful methods. The devil is dangerous wolf but he disguises himself is sheep’s clothing. Sometimes he roars like a lion but more often he’s a crafty serpent. They can attack with open force or they can quietly seduce you into compromise.
They appear to be organized – He mentions many different categories or ranks. The demonic categories are not explained but he mentions several – the devil, the rulers, the authorities, the powers and the spiritual forces. All of these describe the different strata and rankings of the demons and the evil, supernatural empire in which they operate and the devil his networking his schemes through the principalities and powers. A principality a state that falls within a larger state such as an empire (e.g. Daniel 10:12 the prince of the Persian kingdom; Daniel 10:20 Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.)
The armor of God (6:13-20)
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes [a time of intense pressure, a crisis], you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, [To “stand firm” means to “hold a critical position while under attack”] with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Paul details six main pieces of a soldier’s equipment – the belt, the breastplate, the boots, the shield, the helmet, and the sword – and uses them as pictures of the truth, righteousness, good news of peace, faith, salvation and word of God which equip us in our fight against the enemy.
1. The belt of truth – soldiers wore a heavy leather belt that girded his under garments together – the belt represents God’s truth and our own integrity.
2. The breastplate of righteousness – soldiers wore a tough sleeveless piece of armor that covered their full torso. It was often made of leather , onto which were sewn overlapping pieces of metal. Some were made of large pieces of metal molded or hammered to conform to the body. It protected vital organs (e.g. heart). Our spiritual breastplate represents God’s impute righteousness and our righteous deeds.
3. Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace –
4. The shield of faith - soldiers commonly used two types of shield. The first was small and round (about 2 feet in diameter) that was secured to the arm by two leather straps. It was light weight and used in hand-to-hand combat. The second type of shield is what Paul was referring to here. It was about 2 ½ wide and about 4 ½ feet high – it was designed to protect the entire body of the soldier. It was mad of a solid piece of wood and covered with metal. Soldiers carried these shields in the front of the battle line – side by side forming a huge phalanx that extended a mile or more. The enemy dipped their arrows in pitch and lit them so that they became fiery missiles. The shield of faith protects us from the fiery missiles of the devil.
5. The helmet of salvation – soldiers word a helmet made of tough metal like bronze or iron – the inside was lined with felt or sponge or leather and nothing short of an ax or a hammer could pierce the heavy helmet.
6. The sword of the Spirit – soldiers carried a short sword for hand-to-hand combat. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living 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.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
1 Samuel 17:41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
Final Greetings
21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Prayer Time
Ephesians 5:21-6:9 - Forever and Ever Amen! (Marriage and Family Jesus Style)
Belonging to God’s Family (Part 7)
Forever and Ever Amen!
Ephesians 5:21-6:9
Jeff Garrett
Forever and Ever Amen (Jeff, Matt, Bobby and Praise Band)
(written by Randy Travis)
You may think that I'm talking foolish
You've heard that I'm wild & I'm free
You may wonder how I can promise you now
This love that I feel for you always will be
But you're not just time that I'm killing
I'm no longer one of those guys
As sure as I live this love that I give
Is gonna be yours until the day that I die -- Oh baby
CHORUS...
I'm gonna love you forever, forever & ever amen
As long as old men sit & talk about the weather
As long as the women sit & talk about old men
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful
I'll be happy to tell you again
I'm gonna love you forever & ever, forever & ever Amen
BREAK (Bobby Maynard – Fiddle)
They say that time takes it's toll on a body
Makes the young girl's brown hair turn grey
But honey, I don't care, I ain't in love with your hair
And if it all fell out well I'd love you anyway
They say time can play tricks on a memory
make people forget things that they knew
Well, it's easy to see it's happening to me
I've already forgotten every woman but you --- Oh darlin'
CHORUS...
I'm gonna love you forever, forever & ever amen
As long as old men sit & talk about the weather
As long as the women sit & talk about old men
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful
Just listen to how this song ends
I'm gonna love you forever & ever, forever & ever Amen
I'm gonna love you forever & ever forever & ever
Forever & ever Forever & ever Amen
______________________________________
Claudia Berlin reads Ephesians 5:21-6:9
I like Randy Travis’ song: If you wonder how long I'll be faithful, Just listen to how this song ends, I'm gonna love you forever & ever, forever & ever Amen. That’s what we say when we take our wedding vows. I take you to be my wife/husband to have and to hold from this day forward – for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish – as long as we both shall live – this is my solemn vow. But it doesn’t always work out that way.
MARRIAGE STATISTICS FOR 2006
PREPARE-ENRICH Newsletter
October 10, 2007
- There were 2.3 million marriages in 2006.
- The average cost of a wedding was $27,500
- 25th Wedding Anniversary becoming more rare
Divorce Rates
- Overall divorce rate continues about 50%.
- 40% for first marriage
- 60% for second marriages
- 73% for third marriages.
The seven year itch continues.
- Couples separate on the average 7 years after marriage
- Divorce after eight.
- Over 90% of people get married once.
- Waiting until they are older
- Less likely to remarry following a divorce.
Rate of Cohabitation Escalates.
- 1970 - 500,000 unmarried couples living together
- 2006 - Over 6 million unmarried couples living together
- The risk of divorce is 50% higher for cohabitors than non-cohabitors.
- In western European countries, it is estimated to be 80% higher.
(Bumpass & Sweet, 1995; Hall & Zhao, 1995; Bracher, Santow, Morgan & Trussell, 1993; DeMaris & Rao, 1992; Glenn, 1990) Journal of Marriage and Family.
Top Nine Reasons for Divorce (2006) (The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers)
1. Poor communication
2. Financial problems
3. Lack of commitment to the marriage
4. Dramatic change in priorities
5. Infidelity
6. Failed expectations or unmet needs
7. Addictions and substance abuse
8. Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
9. Lack of conflict resolution skills
The Primary Principle – SubmissionEphesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Submitting to one another is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit – The Greek verb is a present participle (“submitting”) – just like the three present participles that precede it. “Speaking” (5:19), “singing and making melody” (5:19), “giving thanks” (5:20), and now he adds “submitting to one another” – all four participles depend on the command “be filled with the Holy Spirit” (5:18). Submitting is mutual and voluntary. Submission is mutual – “submit to one another”. Second submission is voluntary – This does not mean to subjugate or coerce or to force someone into submission. The command is personal. The motivation for mutual submission is the fear of God – “out of reverence for Christ.” The word “reverence” means alarm, exceeding fearful. The reason I am to submit to you is because I fear Christ, who modeled submission. Jesus himself was the most humble servant of all (e.g. washing feet, dying on the cross).
Submission is the spiritual principle -- Verse 21 is the bridge between purity (4:17-5:20) and family (5:21-6:9). The three paragraphs that follow are examples of Christian submission. Paul focuses on three pairs of relationships: 1) Husbands and wives 5:22-33; 2) Parents and children 6:1-4; and Masters and slaves 6:5-9. Submission is illustrated at home (wife-husband / parent-child) and work (slave-master or employee-employer)
Each pair of relationships have reciprocal duties. When Paul describes the duties of husbands, parents and masters – he does not emphasize the exercise of authority – he warns them against the improper use of their authority. He forbids them to exploit their position.
The first responsibilities Paul elaborates are those of the husbands and wives. The essence of his teaching is clear. Wives are to “submit” and husbands are to “love”.
Husband and Wife Responsibilities (5:22-33)
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Submit to your husband as if he were Jesus because your husband is your head (not your boss). To understand “headship” you have to look at Jesus. Remember Ephesians 4:15 “speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” The image is a body. Like Christ made Jew and Gentile one new man or one body. You and your husband are not two but one. His headship expresses care rather than control, responsibility rather than rule. So in you say, in the spirit of Ruth 1:16 Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." Submission is an expression of love.
If the word that characterizes the wife’s relationship to the husband is to “submit”, the word that characterizes the husband’s is “love”. There are four Greek words for love: “eros” is erotic love, “storge” is family love, “philia” is “brotherly love” but “agape” is the highest level of love. “Agape” means “steadfast sacrificial love.” “Agape” is used six times (5:25-33).
Paul used two analogies: 1) The bride of Christ (5:25-27) and 2) The body of Christ (5:28-33)
The Bride of Christ - 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Paul used five verbs that trace his relationship to his bride from the past to the future. He loved her (5:25) – looks back to his pre-incarnate state – he set his love on his bride and that’s why he came to earth. He gave himself up for her (5:25) – when he died on the cross. To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water through the word (5:26) – This may be a reference to a pre-wedding ritual Jewish brides performed prior to the wedding day. They would immerse in a “mikvah” i.e. bath in running water with scented soaps and perfumes. The bridal bath was followed by a small party for women. To present her to himself – as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. “Radiant” means “glorious” or “gorgeous”. John described her in Revelation 21:2 … prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband
The Body of Christ 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Verse 33 is a succinct summary of the fuller teaching Paul has been giving husbands and wives. 5:33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. The dominant need of the wife is love and affection and the dominant need for the husband is respect – he wants you to be proud of him.
Child and Parent Responsibilities (6:1-4)
6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
The key word for wives was “submission” (or respect), the key word for husband was “love” and the key word for children is obedience. When you disobey your parents it makes their hair turn white – at least that’s what some parents tell their children. One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, “Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?” Her mother replied, “Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.” The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, “Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?”
Paul addressed children directly and gives three reasons to obey. The first has to do with their personal relationship with the Lord – 6:1 Children, obey your parents “in the Lord”. The second is because it is the right thing to do 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. The third related to the law which has a general promise connected to it. 6:2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Paul enforced God’s commandment with a promise, not a threat (rebellious children were put to death under the law).
6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. The instruction to children presupposes parental authority but when Paul gave instructions to parents, it is not the exercise, but the restraint of their authority. Negatively – “do not exasperate your children” – “exasperate” means to “provoke to anger” or “irritate”, or “humiliate”. Don’t make unreasonable demands or humiliate them with the vindictive weapons of sarcasm and ridicule – don’t crush them.
While you nag and ridicule your children they see your faults and others will soon learn about them. I heard about a wife who had invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" I wouldn't know what to say," she replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," So the little girl bowed her head and said: "Dear Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"
Negatively – “do not exasperate your children”. Positively – bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord – rear them tenderly, fondly cherish them, deal gently with them.
Slave and Master Responsibilities (6:5-8)
6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
This principle translates into our culture as employee-employer relationships. Wherever you work – treat your supervisor with respect and fear. Be sincere and obey them just like you obey Christ. Serve them wholeheartedly. Work hard when no body else is watching and the Lord will reward. Because you are not really serving them, you’re serving Christ.
Suppose you are a teenager working for a grocery store and you have an unreasonable boss – do you job as if Jesus were your supervisor. If you’re a housewife cook meals as if you were fixing food for Jesus. It is possible for teachers to educate children, for doctors to treat patients and nurses to care for them, for the person in sales to do their best, for accountants to serve their clients, industry workers and mechanics and lawyers and professors – to serve and work hard for their employer as if they were working for Jesus.
6:9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Conclusion
Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ - Relationships are transformed when we practice the spiritual principle of submission. When husbands and wives can sing “Forever and ever Amen” and mean it, when we love each other deeply and permanently – like Christ loves us – we will enjoy stable and satisfying marriages, provide happy homes for our children. And when there’s harmony and peace in the home positively affects our work outside the home.
Prayer Time
Forever and Ever Amen!
Ephesians 5:21-6:9
Jeff Garrett
Forever and Ever Amen (Jeff, Matt, Bobby and Praise Band)
(written by Randy Travis)
You may think that I'm talking foolish
You've heard that I'm wild & I'm free
You may wonder how I can promise you now
This love that I feel for you always will be
But you're not just time that I'm killing
I'm no longer one of those guys
As sure as I live this love that I give
Is gonna be yours until the day that I die -- Oh baby
CHORUS...
I'm gonna love you forever, forever & ever amen
As long as old men sit & talk about the weather
As long as the women sit & talk about old men
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful
I'll be happy to tell you again
I'm gonna love you forever & ever, forever & ever Amen
BREAK (Bobby Maynard – Fiddle)
They say that time takes it's toll on a body
Makes the young girl's brown hair turn grey
But honey, I don't care, I ain't in love with your hair
And if it all fell out well I'd love you anyway
They say time can play tricks on a memory
make people forget things that they knew
Well, it's easy to see it's happening to me
I've already forgotten every woman but you --- Oh darlin'
CHORUS...
I'm gonna love you forever, forever & ever amen
As long as old men sit & talk about the weather
As long as the women sit & talk about old men
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful
Just listen to how this song ends
I'm gonna love you forever & ever, forever & ever Amen
I'm gonna love you forever & ever forever & ever
Forever & ever Forever & ever Amen
______________________________________
Claudia Berlin reads Ephesians 5:21-6:9
I like Randy Travis’ song: If you wonder how long I'll be faithful, Just listen to how this song ends, I'm gonna love you forever & ever, forever & ever Amen. That’s what we say when we take our wedding vows. I take you to be my wife/husband to have and to hold from this day forward – for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish – as long as we both shall live – this is my solemn vow. But it doesn’t always work out that way.
MARRIAGE STATISTICS FOR 2006
PREPARE-ENRICH Newsletter
October 10, 2007
- There were 2.3 million marriages in 2006.
- The average cost of a wedding was $27,500
- 25th Wedding Anniversary becoming more rare
Divorce Rates
- Overall divorce rate continues about 50%.
- 40% for first marriage
- 60% for second marriages
- 73% for third marriages.
The seven year itch continues.
- Couples separate on the average 7 years after marriage
- Divorce after eight.
- Over 90% of people get married once.
- Waiting until they are older
- Less likely to remarry following a divorce.
Rate of Cohabitation Escalates.
- 1970 - 500,000 unmarried couples living together
- 2006 - Over 6 million unmarried couples living together
- The risk of divorce is 50% higher for cohabitors than non-cohabitors.
- In western European countries, it is estimated to be 80% higher.
(Bumpass & Sweet, 1995; Hall & Zhao, 1995; Bracher, Santow, Morgan & Trussell, 1993; DeMaris & Rao, 1992; Glenn, 1990) Journal of Marriage and Family.
Top Nine Reasons for Divorce (2006) (The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers)
1. Poor communication
2. Financial problems
3. Lack of commitment to the marriage
4. Dramatic change in priorities
5. Infidelity
6. Failed expectations or unmet needs
7. Addictions and substance abuse
8. Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
9. Lack of conflict resolution skills
The Primary Principle – SubmissionEphesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Submitting to one another is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit – The Greek verb is a present participle (“submitting”) – just like the three present participles that precede it. “Speaking” (5:19), “singing and making melody” (5:19), “giving thanks” (5:20), and now he adds “submitting to one another” – all four participles depend on the command “be filled with the Holy Spirit” (5:18). Submitting is mutual and voluntary. Submission is mutual – “submit to one another”. Second submission is voluntary – This does not mean to subjugate or coerce or to force someone into submission. The command is personal. The motivation for mutual submission is the fear of God – “out of reverence for Christ.” The word “reverence” means alarm, exceeding fearful. The reason I am to submit to you is because I fear Christ, who modeled submission. Jesus himself was the most humble servant of all (e.g. washing feet, dying on the cross).
Submission is the spiritual principle -- Verse 21 is the bridge between purity (4:17-5:20) and family (5:21-6:9). The three paragraphs that follow are examples of Christian submission. Paul focuses on three pairs of relationships: 1) Husbands and wives 5:22-33; 2) Parents and children 6:1-4; and Masters and slaves 6:5-9. Submission is illustrated at home (wife-husband / parent-child) and work (slave-master or employee-employer)
Each pair of relationships have reciprocal duties. When Paul describes the duties of husbands, parents and masters – he does not emphasize the exercise of authority – he warns them against the improper use of their authority. He forbids them to exploit their position.
The first responsibilities Paul elaborates are those of the husbands and wives. The essence of his teaching is clear. Wives are to “submit” and husbands are to “love”.
Husband and Wife Responsibilities (5:22-33)
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Submit to your husband as if he were Jesus because your husband is your head (not your boss). To understand “headship” you have to look at Jesus. Remember Ephesians 4:15 “speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” The image is a body. Like Christ made Jew and Gentile one new man or one body. You and your husband are not two but one. His headship expresses care rather than control, responsibility rather than rule. So in you say, in the spirit of Ruth 1:16 Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." Submission is an expression of love.
If the word that characterizes the wife’s relationship to the husband is to “submit”, the word that characterizes the husband’s is “love”. There are four Greek words for love: “eros” is erotic love, “storge” is family love, “philia” is “brotherly love” but “agape” is the highest level of love. “Agape” means “steadfast sacrificial love.” “Agape” is used six times (5:25-33).
Paul used two analogies: 1) The bride of Christ (5:25-27) and 2) The body of Christ (5:28-33)
The Bride of Christ - 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Paul used five verbs that trace his relationship to his bride from the past to the future. He loved her (5:25) – looks back to his pre-incarnate state – he set his love on his bride and that’s why he came to earth. He gave himself up for her (5:25) – when he died on the cross. To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water through the word (5:26) – This may be a reference to a pre-wedding ritual Jewish brides performed prior to the wedding day. They would immerse in a “mikvah” i.e. bath in running water with scented soaps and perfumes. The bridal bath was followed by a small party for women. To present her to himself – as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. “Radiant” means “glorious” or “gorgeous”. John described her in Revelation 21:2 … prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband
The Body of Christ 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Verse 33 is a succinct summary of the fuller teaching Paul has been giving husbands and wives. 5:33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. The dominant need of the wife is love and affection and the dominant need for the husband is respect – he wants you to be proud of him.
Child and Parent Responsibilities (6:1-4)
6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
The key word for wives was “submission” (or respect), the key word for husband was “love” and the key word for children is obedience. When you disobey your parents it makes their hair turn white – at least that’s what some parents tell their children. One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, “Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?” Her mother replied, “Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.” The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, “Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?”
Paul addressed children directly and gives three reasons to obey. The first has to do with their personal relationship with the Lord – 6:1 Children, obey your parents “in the Lord”. The second is because it is the right thing to do 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. The third related to the law which has a general promise connected to it. 6:2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Paul enforced God’s commandment with a promise, not a threat (rebellious children were put to death under the law).
6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. The instruction to children presupposes parental authority but when Paul gave instructions to parents, it is not the exercise, but the restraint of their authority. Negatively – “do not exasperate your children” – “exasperate” means to “provoke to anger” or “irritate”, or “humiliate”. Don’t make unreasonable demands or humiliate them with the vindictive weapons of sarcasm and ridicule – don’t crush them.
While you nag and ridicule your children they see your faults and others will soon learn about them. I heard about a wife who had invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" I wouldn't know what to say," she replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," So the little girl bowed her head and said: "Dear Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"
Negatively – “do not exasperate your children”. Positively – bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord – rear them tenderly, fondly cherish them, deal gently with them.
Slave and Master Responsibilities (6:5-8)
6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
This principle translates into our culture as employee-employer relationships. Wherever you work – treat your supervisor with respect and fear. Be sincere and obey them just like you obey Christ. Serve them wholeheartedly. Work hard when no body else is watching and the Lord will reward. Because you are not really serving them, you’re serving Christ.
Suppose you are a teenager working for a grocery store and you have an unreasonable boss – do you job as if Jesus were your supervisor. If you’re a housewife cook meals as if you were fixing food for Jesus. It is possible for teachers to educate children, for doctors to treat patients and nurses to care for them, for the person in sales to do their best, for accountants to serve their clients, industry workers and mechanics and lawyers and professors – to serve and work hard for their employer as if they were working for Jesus.
6:9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Conclusion
Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ - Relationships are transformed when we practice the spiritual principle of submission. When husbands and wives can sing “Forever and ever Amen” and mean it, when we love each other deeply and permanently – like Christ loves us – we will enjoy stable and satisfying marriages, provide happy homes for our children. And when there’s harmony and peace in the home positively affects our work outside the home.
Prayer Time
Ephesians 4:17-5:20 - Children of Light
Belonging to God’s Family (Part 6)
Children of Light
Ephesians 4:17-5:20
Jeff Garrett
The second half of Ephesians begins with Paul’s appeal - Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received – Paul focuses on four key areas of a worthy life.
Unity (4:1-16)
Purity (4:17-5:20)
Family (5:21-6:9)
Spiritual Warfare (6:10-24)
Paul begins this the section on purity by contrasting the old life of sin with the new life purity. Paul tells them to put off the old self and put on the new.
4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
Paul described three important dimensions of the old life: spiritually, intellectually, and morally.
Spiritually – They were separated from the life of God (cf. Eph 2:1-3 - dead in sin).
Intellectually –Their thinking was futile (pointless, meaningless – no sense of identity or destiny e.g. Solomon said “it’s like chasing the wind”), their understanding was darkened, and their ignorance was due to the hardening of their hearts.
Morally –they had lost all sensitivity. They can participate in gross immorality. They can get arrested for drunk driving, embarrass their family, endanger their career, and turn around later and do it again. They can parade without clothing in front of the camera and not be self-conscious. They can leave their wife and children at home and take off with a fantasy and never look back. Some are so insensitive that they can kill their own children and take off to a party and act like nothing happened. Jeremiah 6:15 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. Dr. Albert Einstein, in a lecture given in 1948, spoke of the sinful nature of man. He said “The true problem lies in the hearts and thoughts of men. It is not a physical but an ethical one. What terrifies us is not the explosive force of the atomic bomb but the power of the wickedness of the human heart.”
Their thinking is futile, their hearts are hard and their behavior becomes increasingly wicked. Ephesians 4:19. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. “Continual” means recurrent and frequent. For them, the purpose of life is immediate gratification of base instincts but they are never satisfied. Sin creates a continual lust for more. The television show Dateline features a show where officials catch pedophiles. The police set up set up internet stings and video tape men coming to a location to have sex with children. They caught 50 men in three days who wanted to have sex with a minor. One man saw the sheriff’s car sitting out front and still entered from the back. He was so consumed with desire that he lost all sense of reason and was arrested. There is a continual hunger and lust for more and it is insatiable. That’s what Jesus said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.
The next paragraph contrast the old life with the new. 4:20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Notice the contrast between the world’s mindset and the Christian’s. The world’s thinking is futile but the Christian’s thinking is meaningful because their thoughts are fixed on Christ. Verse 20-21 mention Jesus four times – 1) you “come to know Christ”, 2) “you heard of him”, 3) “you were taught in him” and 4) you were taught “in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus”. Jesus is the subject, the sphere and the substance of truth – Jesus embodies truth.
Now, what was this truth they were taught with regard to their former way of life? The truth was that they must put off the old self and put on the new self. There are to important points here. First, the old self and new self are incompatible. They old self is corrupt and deceitful. The new self is described as true righteous and holiness - corresponding opposites - one is true, the other is deceitful. One is corrupt and the other is holy. They are incompatible polarities.
Second, the putting off and the putting on is an ongoing process. The phrase “to be made new” in v.23 does not indicate a one time event but a continual everyday process. The Amplified renders v.23 “be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], I don’t know about you but I have to take off my clothes at the end of each day and put on clean clothes every morning. That’s the idea here. Paul illustrates this principle of putting on the old self and putting on the new with seven concrete examples.
1. Put off lying, put on honesty. (4:25) 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
2. Put off anger, put on self control (v. 26-27) 4:26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. …. 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
I did an Anger Management workshop for the students at Marshall – the fraternities. There were 125 young men in the room. They asked me to do the workshop because, on several occasions, their anger had escalated into violence between the fraternities. Some of them had to go to the hospital because of their injuries. As I studied v.31 (Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice) I thought about them and I thought about you. They had let their anger turn into rage and brawling and after it was over I believe most of them regretted it and wanted to change. One of those young men that was in the room emailed me Friday night and asked for my power point presentation – he is going to review it with his fraternity brothers. I thought about the contrast. I doubt most of you would ever let your anger escalate into rage or a barroom brawl. But we can sure let the devil get a foothold by harboring bitterness and malice and we can sure gossip and slander. It’s a little more tamed than the feuds between the fraternities on campus, but our problems may be worse than theirs. They get mad, explode and regret it. But we live with it for years. We need to be kind and compassionate and forgive each other like Jesus forgave us.
3. Put off stealing, put on a good work ethic and generosity (v.28) 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
4. Put off unwholesome talk, put on wholesome speech (v. 29-30; 5:4) 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,… 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving …4:29 speak only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
5. Put off sexual immorality, put on holiness (5:3) 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. .
6. Put off the fruitless deeds of darkness, live as children of light (5:8-14) 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light … 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
7. Put off drunkenness, be filled with the Spirit (5:18) 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
My sobriety date is today (October 19th). Today, by the grace of God, I am six years sober. Do you know what it feels like? It feels like putting off the old life and put on the new. It feels like I came out of darkness and now I am walking in the light. Some people, when they read the parts of the Bible that say “Don’t do this or that” they view it as a list of rules and are turned off. But when I read parts I know it is only for my good – it’s because he knows me and loves me. He knows and loves you too. He wants a relationship with you. Did you notice all three members of the Godhead are mentioned?
4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. … Ephesians 5: 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Psalm 139 because it expresses what a close personal relationship is like.
Video – Psalm 139 - I purchased at http://www.bluefishtv.com/Store/Downloadable_Video_Illustrations/2196/Amena_Brown_Psalm_139_HD_Available_/f=s1&s=psalm%20139
Prayer Time
Children of Light
Ephesians 4:17-5:20
Jeff Garrett
The second half of Ephesians begins with Paul’s appeal - Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received – Paul focuses on four key areas of a worthy life.
Unity (4:1-16)
Purity (4:17-5:20)
Family (5:21-6:9)
Spiritual Warfare (6:10-24)
Paul begins this the section on purity by contrasting the old life of sin with the new life purity. Paul tells them to put off the old self and put on the new.
4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
Paul described three important dimensions of the old life: spiritually, intellectually, and morally.
Spiritually – They were separated from the life of God (cf. Eph 2:1-3 - dead in sin).
Intellectually –Their thinking was futile (pointless, meaningless – no sense of identity or destiny e.g. Solomon said “it’s like chasing the wind”), their understanding was darkened, and their ignorance was due to the hardening of their hearts.
Morally –they had lost all sensitivity. They can participate in gross immorality. They can get arrested for drunk driving, embarrass their family, endanger their career, and turn around later and do it again. They can parade without clothing in front of the camera and not be self-conscious. They can leave their wife and children at home and take off with a fantasy and never look back. Some are so insensitive that they can kill their own children and take off to a party and act like nothing happened. Jeremiah 6:15 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. Dr. Albert Einstein, in a lecture given in 1948, spoke of the sinful nature of man. He said “The true problem lies in the hearts and thoughts of men. It is not a physical but an ethical one. What terrifies us is not the explosive force of the atomic bomb but the power of the wickedness of the human heart.”
Their thinking is futile, their hearts are hard and their behavior becomes increasingly wicked. Ephesians 4:19. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. “Continual” means recurrent and frequent. For them, the purpose of life is immediate gratification of base instincts but they are never satisfied. Sin creates a continual lust for more. The television show Dateline features a show where officials catch pedophiles. The police set up set up internet stings and video tape men coming to a location to have sex with children. They caught 50 men in three days who wanted to have sex with a minor. One man saw the sheriff’s car sitting out front and still entered from the back. He was so consumed with desire that he lost all sense of reason and was arrested. There is a continual hunger and lust for more and it is insatiable. That’s what Jesus said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.
The next paragraph contrast the old life with the new. 4:20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Notice the contrast between the world’s mindset and the Christian’s. The world’s thinking is futile but the Christian’s thinking is meaningful because their thoughts are fixed on Christ. Verse 20-21 mention Jesus four times – 1) you “come to know Christ”, 2) “you heard of him”, 3) “you were taught in him” and 4) you were taught “in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus”. Jesus is the subject, the sphere and the substance of truth – Jesus embodies truth.
Now, what was this truth they were taught with regard to their former way of life? The truth was that they must put off the old self and put on the new self. There are to important points here. First, the old self and new self are incompatible. They old self is corrupt and deceitful. The new self is described as true righteous and holiness - corresponding opposites - one is true, the other is deceitful. One is corrupt and the other is holy. They are incompatible polarities.
Second, the putting off and the putting on is an ongoing process. The phrase “to be made new” in v.23 does not indicate a one time event but a continual everyday process. The Amplified renders v.23 “be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], I don’t know about you but I have to take off my clothes at the end of each day and put on clean clothes every morning. That’s the idea here. Paul illustrates this principle of putting on the old self and putting on the new with seven concrete examples.
1. Put off lying, put on honesty. (4:25) 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
2. Put off anger, put on self control (v. 26-27) 4:26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. …. 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
I did an Anger Management workshop for the students at Marshall – the fraternities. There were 125 young men in the room. They asked me to do the workshop because, on several occasions, their anger had escalated into violence between the fraternities. Some of them had to go to the hospital because of their injuries. As I studied v.31 (Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice) I thought about them and I thought about you. They had let their anger turn into rage and brawling and after it was over I believe most of them regretted it and wanted to change. One of those young men that was in the room emailed me Friday night and asked for my power point presentation – he is going to review it with his fraternity brothers. I thought about the contrast. I doubt most of you would ever let your anger escalate into rage or a barroom brawl. But we can sure let the devil get a foothold by harboring bitterness and malice and we can sure gossip and slander. It’s a little more tamed than the feuds between the fraternities on campus, but our problems may be worse than theirs. They get mad, explode and regret it. But we live with it for years. We need to be kind and compassionate and forgive each other like Jesus forgave us.
3. Put off stealing, put on a good work ethic and generosity (v.28) 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
4. Put off unwholesome talk, put on wholesome speech (v. 29-30; 5:4) 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,… 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving …4:29 speak only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
5. Put off sexual immorality, put on holiness (5:3) 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. .
6. Put off the fruitless deeds of darkness, live as children of light (5:8-14) 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light … 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
7. Put off drunkenness, be filled with the Spirit (5:18) 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
My sobriety date is today (October 19th). Today, by the grace of God, I am six years sober. Do you know what it feels like? It feels like putting off the old life and put on the new. It feels like I came out of darkness and now I am walking in the light. Some people, when they read the parts of the Bible that say “Don’t do this or that” they view it as a list of rules and are turned off. But when I read parts I know it is only for my good – it’s because he knows me and loves me. He knows and loves you too. He wants a relationship with you. Did you notice all three members of the Godhead are mentioned?
4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. … Ephesians 5: 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Psalm 139 because it expresses what a close personal relationship is like.
Video – Psalm 139 - I purchased at http://www.bluefishtv.com/Store/Downloadable_Video_Illustrations/2196/Amena_Brown_Psalm_139_HD_Available_/f=s1&s=psalm%20139
Prayer Time
Ephesians 4:1-16 - Maintaining Unity in God’s Family
Belonging to God’s Family (Part 5)
Maintaining Unity in God’s Family
Ephesians 4:1-16
Jeff Garrett
For three chapters Paul has explained God’s eternal purpose and now we come to …
Maintaining Unity in God’s Family
Ephesians 4:1-16
Jeff Garrett
For three chapters Paul has explained God’s eternal purpose and now we come to …
Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Earlier (3:1) Paul referred to himself as a “prisoner of the Lord for the sake of you Gentiles” (as if he were a prisoner of Jesus, not Rome) and now he refers to himself as a “prisoner for the Lord” (for the sake of Jesus and his passionate conviction for a united Jew-Gentile church). The word “urge” means “to call near”, “to invoke”, “to impel by force and vigor.” His urgent appeal is to live a life worthy of the high calling you have received. You’ve received a high calling (chosen and predestined, sealed and seated with Christ) – so now, live up to your calling in four areas. To live a life worthy of the calling you’ve received …
• Unity (4:1-16)
• Purity (4:17-5:20)
• Family (5:21-6:9)
• Spiritual Warfare (6:10-24)
Paul’s first concern is the unity of the church. In 4:1-16 he shows three ways to maintain unity.
1. The attitude of unity (4:2-3)
4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Paul lists five qualities of a Christ-like attitude which enable us to maintain unity.
Be completely humble – “completely” means thoroughly, totally, always humble. Humility is means “lowliness”– the humble recognition of the worth and value of other people. Prior to Jesus the Greeks and Romans viewed humility as a character deficit. But Jesus exalted humility as a virtue and taught us to be like little children, to wash each others feet to think of others as better than ourselves.
Gentleness means to be kind and tenderhearted and meek (not weak but strength under control. Patience means to be longsuffering with people (especially those who aggravate you). Bearing with one another refers to mutual forbearance and love embraces the preceding four).
These five qualities describe the attitude of unity. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Paul did not say “make some effort” or “make a good effort” – he said “make ever effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” We do not create unity by believing identically. The Holy Spirit created unity and we must be eager to keep the unity the Spirit created
2. The foundation of unity (4:4-6)
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
These three verses contain the seven “ones” of Christian unity, three refer to the unity of the Godhead (One Spirit v.4, one Lord v.5, and one God and Father of all v.6), the remaining four refer to our relationship with God. Our unity is related to the unity of the unit of the Godhead. There is only one body, one hope, one faith and one baptism because there is only one God – Father, Son and Spirit. You can no more multiply churches than you can multiply Gods. You cannot split the church anymore than you can split the Godhead. Is Christ divided? If you cannot divide Christ, you cannot divide his body. Somebody says, “If that’s true, how do you explain all the split churches?” In the mind of God the church is not divided. When God looks at the church he sees one big family. When we get to heaven we are not going to be divided by denomination. Our church has a history of being exclusive.
There was a joke that made the rounds years ago and it went like this. Peter was taking people on a tour of heaven and he showed happy of people (e.g. the Baptists and Methodists and the Lutherins and the Catholics and Presbyterians) but then he came to a door and they could hear people on the other side of the door. But Peter said “sssshhh be quiet. This is the church of Christ. They think they are the only ones up here.
Now the sad thing about that joke is that it was true. That’s exactly what I believed. On Sunday mornings I would see people gathering at different churches and as I drove by I thought how sad it is that all these people think their Christians but they’re not – their all deceived. What was wrong with me? Well, there were many things wrong with me but I want to highlight two. First, I didn’t have the attitude of unity (I was proud, not humble. I was judgmental, not gentle). Second, I added to the foundation of unity. I counted things that were not essential as though the were. Then I learned about Jesus and the grace of God and I begin to change. I learned a little motto that helped me maintain unity and I use it often, hoping to weave it into the fabric of teaching and our church.
Repeat after me: In essentials we have unity (echo). In nonessentials we have liberty (echo). In all things we have love.
What are the essentials? We just read them in Ephesians 4:4-6 (One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of all).
What are the nonessentials? The nonessentials are things that fall outside the realm of the seven ones of Ephesians 4. Romans 14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. In Romans 14 Paul illustrates the principle of accepting people without passing judgment using three disputable matters: diet, drink, and days – and he says in Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand Let me give you a little test. I am going to list some issues and I want you to respond and tell me whether they are essential or non-essential.
One Lord
Mixed swimming
Instrumental music
Organizational structure
One body
Smoking
Celebrating Christmas
One Spirit
Using different Bible translations
Watching soap operas
One hope
Praise teams
One baptism
Dancing
One faith
Sunday school
Frequency of the Communion
Women’s role
The name of the church
One God and Father of all
Now, don’t get caught up in these issues and miss the point. The point is clear. We have to be mature enough to differentiate between nonessential (disputable) matters and the essentials. That’s why I like the motto: In essentials we have unity. In nonessentials we have liberty. And it all things we have love.
You’ve got to have the attitude of unity. You’ve got to stand on the foundation of unity. And third you need to discover and use your spiritual gifts.
Discover and use your spiritual gifts
4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. In v.7 Paul said “to each one of us” grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. He’s not taking about “saving grace” here – he’s talking about “service grace” – he’s talking about spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is a God-given skill or ability that enables Christians to be fruitful and fulfilled as they build up the body of Christ. Some people confuse the gifts of the Spirit with the gift of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. These three are not synonymous. The gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38) is the Holy Spirit himself, who indwells every Christian. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) are the Christ-like qualities that the Holy Spirit produces in us such as love, joy, peace, patience, etc. But the gifts of the Spirit are God-given skills or abilities that enable every Christian to be fruitful and fulfilled as they edify the body of Christ. And that is what Paul is referring to in Eph 4:7-11.
8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." 9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers ...
Christ descended from heaven, died on the cross and God raised him from the dead – then Christ ascended higher than all the heavens and sent the Holy Spirit who distributed spiritual gifts to each one of us. He mentions five here. We no longer have apostles and prophets like the 12 and Paul and the inspired prophets who served as the foundation of the church. Eph. 2:20 says that church was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets who gave us the Bible (although both gifts are used in a general since e.g. missionaries sent forth and people still exercise the prophetic gift in a general since i.e. not giving more revelation but giving us greater insight into what has already be established). But the three remaining gifts “evangelists, pastors, and teachers” remain along with all the other gifts that are mentioned in the Bible.
If you would like to discover your spiritual gifts pick up the “Unwrapping Your Gift Inventory” at the Welcome Center after the assembly or check your email and download the attachment I will send this afternoon.
The point I want to make is that Jesus has given each one of us spiritual gifts and we nee to discover what they are and use them. A common mistake is to view hired staff and volunteer leaders as ministers who are responsible for the work of service.
How many ministers do we have in our church? Somebody says “The ministers are the hired staff and the elders.” No, every member is a minister. Look closely at Eph 4:11-12. The role of the evangelists, pastors and teachers is 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
How can we maintain unity? We’ve got to have the attitude of unity and stand on the foundation of unity and each one of us need to discover and use your spiritual gifts.
How many ministers do we have in our church? Somebody says “The ministers are the hired staff and the elders.” No, every member is a minister. Look closely at Eph 4:11-12. The role of the evangelists, pastors and teachers is 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
How can we maintain unity? We’ve got to have the attitude of unity and stand on the foundation of unity and each one of us need to discover and use your spiritual gifts.
Prayer Time
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Small Group Questions
Maintaining Unity In God’s Family
Oct. 12, 2007
Ice Breakers
Oct. 12, 2007
Ice Breakers
As a child, did you play well with others? When and how did you learn that basic skill?
Are most of your friends like you or different from you?
Are most of your friends like you or different from you?
Text - Read Ephesians 4:1-6
1. What kind of life is worthy of your calling (vs. 1)? Do you view your life as a calling?
2. Having urged the Ephesians to live worthily, Paul then begins to list characteristics which are important in the Christian life. First on the list is “humility”, coupled with “gentleness”. How would you define humility? Gentleness? Why are these two characteristics important in the church? Isn’t there a danger of Christians who are humble and gentle to also be weak?
3. Can you recognize ‘false humility’ when you see it?
4. Next, Paul lists “patience” and “bearing with one another in love”. How do these two work together? Why are they important?
5. How do you develop the ability to ‘put up with others’?
6. These virtues together have been called ‘the four graces of unity’. How do these graces foster unity?
7. What are the opposites of these four traits?
8. What is the foundation of unity in the church? What causes a lack of unity? If the church lacks unity, what is the result? What are the symptoms of the disease and how can the damage be repaired?
9. Why does unity require so much effort? What has caused the church to be sidetracked from its true calling?
10. Read verse 11-13, Unity does not mean that we are carbon copies of one another….from these passages in what ways are we different and how can people who are essentially different become unified?
11. How is maturity measured? How can you tell the difference between a mature Christian and immature Christian?
12. What are some ‘winds of teaching’ and cunning and craftiness’ and ‘deceitful scheming’ which are prevalent today, which may be traps for immature Christians? How can you help someone who is caught in one of these forms of false teaching?
13. When it comes to ‘speaking the truth in love’ which is more important: the truth or love?What is your role in Christ’s body, that is, what body part are you?
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Ephesians 2:11-3:21 - One Big Family
Belonging to God’s Family (Part 4)
One Big Family
Ephesians 2:11-3:21
Jeff Garrett
What we were by birth – (2:11-12)
Double alienation
• Alienated from God (Eph 2:1-3)
• Alienated from Israel (Eph 2:11-12)
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men). “Remember” means to recollect, to rehearse, to be mindful of it. There are a lot of things that are good to forget but this is not one of them. Remember what you were – “Gentile by birth”. Remember you were called “uncircumcised” … it is as if Paul is declaring the unimportance of the names and labels, in comparison with the reality behind them (e.g. the circumcision of the heart) which was available to Jews and Gentiles alike.
In v.12 he drops the business of what Jews and Gentiles called each other and explains the serious reality of Gentile alienation. 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
Five Gentile Disabilities (Eph 2:12)
Christless – “separate from Christ”
Stateless – “excluded from citizenship in Israel”
Friendless – “foreigners to the covenants of the promise”
Hopeless – “without hope”
Godless – “without God in the world”
Nine Jewish Privileges (Rom 3:1 & 9:4-5)
They were entrusted with the word of God
Theirs is the adoption as sons
Theirs the divine glory
The covenants
They received of the law
The temple worship
The promises
The patriarchs
From them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen
Paul sums up his list of Gentile disabilities with two words – “far away” (2:13). As Gentiles we didn’t have peace with God or Israel. It was a double alienation – First, we were alienated from God (Eph 2:1-3 dead in transgressions and sins and objects of wrath) and second we were alienated from Israel (Eph 2:12 Christless, stateless, friendless, hopeless and Godless). Remember that. Don’t forget it. If you forget it you will begin to take it for granted and you will not appreciate what Christ has achieved. And that’s the second point.
What Jesus did for us (2:13-18)
Double reconciliation
· Peace between us and God
· Peace between Jews and Gentile
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, … We’ve been brought near by the “blood of Christ” – He made peace by the blood he shed on the cross. The “he himself” is strongly emphatic i.e. Jesus doesn’t give us peace, he is our peace. Jesus is our peacemaker. Jesus achieved a double reconciliation (a double union) – between us and God and between Jew and Gentile.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ... “destroy” means “to tear down” – “to dissolve” - “to melt”. The word “barrier” means “middle wall” or wall in the middle between Jew and Gentile. It means “fence” or “partition” that separate Jew from Gentile. At the time Paul was writing the wall was still in place at Herod’s temple. There was a sign on that wall which said “Trespassers will be executed (not prosecuted).
Example of Temple worship and the barrier - Jeff a Gentile – Jon is a priest. Janet and Bruce are Jews.
Paul was very familiar with that wall because while he was in Jerusalem he had been falsely accused of taking Trophimus (interestingly Luke tells us in Acts 21:28-29 Trophimus was a Gentile from Ephesus) in the temple and they tried to kill Paul.
Acts 21:27b … some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place." 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple area.) 30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
Paul was arrested. Acts 21:37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?" “Do you speak Greek?" he replied. 38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?" 39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people." 40 Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic (or Hebrew) and they listened to him tell the story of his conversion but when he said in Acts 22:21"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "
22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!" 23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?" 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "This man is a Roman citizen." 27 The commander went to Paul and asked, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I am," he answered. 28 Then the commander said, "I had to pay a big price for my citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," Paul replied. 29 Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
It had become a dividing wall of hostility and Paul had been caught in the middle of that hostility. Jews hated Gentiles and Gentiles hated Jews. But Paul Jesus made the two one.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. Jesus did not destroy the law or the prophets, he fulfilled it (Matt 5:17-20). But Jesus did destroy, in his body, the ceremonial law and the condemnation of moral law. Both were divisive because it separated men from God and Jew from Gentile. Both were put aside at the cross to accomplish his purpose which is explained in v.15-16. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. And after he achieved reconciliation between God and men and between Jew and Gentile he announced it. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. And look at what we have become.
What we have become (2:19-22)
God’s Kingdom - 2:19a Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people … We no longer live on a passport, but … we really have our birth certificates … we really belong.
God’s Family - 2:19b … and members of God's household,… “household” refers to “family – relative – brothers-sisters in Christ.
God’s Temple 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. In the past Gentiles were excluded from the temple, but now both Jews and Gentiles are God’s temple (cf. 1 Peter 2:5 … “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood”).
So Jesus destroyed the God-man barriers and the Jew-Gentile barriers to create one big family. Multicultural, international, universal church.
The cross breaks down walls of hostility
Race
Ethnicity
Families
Churches
Read history – Black balconies, black water fountains, Black-White Church.
Racism still alive
White privilege – culturally encapsulated
If we reduced the world population to a village of 100, with all existing ratios still the same
59 people would be Asian
12 people would be Europeans
5 people would be American/Canadian
8 people would be Latin American
14 people would be African
1 person would be from the South Pacific
52 females and 48 males
30 children and 70 adults
82 non-white and 18 whites
80 people would live in substandard housing
24 people would not have any electricity
67 people would be unable to read
Only 1 person would have a college education
50 people would be malnourished
1 person would be dying of starvation
That’s the mystery God revealed - Eph 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. The mystery is that through the gospel both Jews and Gentiles are fellow-heirs of the same blessing, fellow-members of the same body and fellow-partakers of the same promise.
Paul made it known not only to Gentiles (3:8) but to everyone (3:9), even the cosmic powers (3:10).
3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul’s prayer - 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Paul prayed for three things. 1) Strengthened with power, 2) Rooted in love, 3) Full of God.
Video
Prayer Time
Benediction
3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
One Big Family
Ephesians 2:11-3:21
Jeff Garrett
What we were by birth – (2:11-12)
Double alienation
• Alienated from God (Eph 2:1-3)
• Alienated from Israel (Eph 2:11-12)
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men). “Remember” means to recollect, to rehearse, to be mindful of it. There are a lot of things that are good to forget but this is not one of them. Remember what you were – “Gentile by birth”. Remember you were called “uncircumcised” … it is as if Paul is declaring the unimportance of the names and labels, in comparison with the reality behind them (e.g. the circumcision of the heart) which was available to Jews and Gentiles alike.
In v.12 he drops the business of what Jews and Gentiles called each other and explains the serious reality of Gentile alienation. 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
Five Gentile Disabilities (Eph 2:12)
Christless – “separate from Christ”
Stateless – “excluded from citizenship in Israel”
Friendless – “foreigners to the covenants of the promise”
Hopeless – “without hope”
Godless – “without God in the world”
Nine Jewish Privileges (Rom 3:1 & 9:4-5)
They were entrusted with the word of God
Theirs is the adoption as sons
Theirs the divine glory
The covenants
They received of the law
The temple worship
The promises
The patriarchs
From them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen
Paul sums up his list of Gentile disabilities with two words – “far away” (2:13). As Gentiles we didn’t have peace with God or Israel. It was a double alienation – First, we were alienated from God (Eph 2:1-3 dead in transgressions and sins and objects of wrath) and second we were alienated from Israel (Eph 2:12 Christless, stateless, friendless, hopeless and Godless). Remember that. Don’t forget it. If you forget it you will begin to take it for granted and you will not appreciate what Christ has achieved. And that’s the second point.
What Jesus did for us (2:13-18)
Double reconciliation
· Peace between us and God
· Peace between Jews and Gentile
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, … We’ve been brought near by the “blood of Christ” – He made peace by the blood he shed on the cross. The “he himself” is strongly emphatic i.e. Jesus doesn’t give us peace, he is our peace. Jesus is our peacemaker. Jesus achieved a double reconciliation (a double union) – between us and God and between Jew and Gentile.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ... “destroy” means “to tear down” – “to dissolve” - “to melt”. The word “barrier” means “middle wall” or wall in the middle between Jew and Gentile. It means “fence” or “partition” that separate Jew from Gentile. At the time Paul was writing the wall was still in place at Herod’s temple. There was a sign on that wall which said “Trespassers will be executed (not prosecuted).
Example of Temple worship and the barrier - Jeff a Gentile – Jon is a priest. Janet and Bruce are Jews.
Paul was very familiar with that wall because while he was in Jerusalem he had been falsely accused of taking Trophimus (interestingly Luke tells us in Acts 21:28-29 Trophimus was a Gentile from Ephesus) in the temple and they tried to kill Paul.
Acts 21:27b … some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place." 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple area.) 30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
Paul was arrested. Acts 21:37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?" “Do you speak Greek?" he replied. 38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?" 39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people." 40 Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic (or Hebrew) and they listened to him tell the story of his conversion but when he said in Acts 22:21"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "
22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!" 23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?" 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "This man is a Roman citizen." 27 The commander went to Paul and asked, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I am," he answered. 28 Then the commander said, "I had to pay a big price for my citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," Paul replied. 29 Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
It had become a dividing wall of hostility and Paul had been caught in the middle of that hostility. Jews hated Gentiles and Gentiles hated Jews. But Paul Jesus made the two one.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. Jesus did not destroy the law or the prophets, he fulfilled it (Matt 5:17-20). But Jesus did destroy, in his body, the ceremonial law and the condemnation of moral law. Both were divisive because it separated men from God and Jew from Gentile. Both were put aside at the cross to accomplish his purpose which is explained in v.15-16. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. And after he achieved reconciliation between God and men and between Jew and Gentile he announced it. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. And look at what we have become.
What we have become (2:19-22)
God’s Kingdom - 2:19a Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people … We no longer live on a passport, but … we really have our birth certificates … we really belong.
God’s Family - 2:19b … and members of God's household,… “household” refers to “family – relative – brothers-sisters in Christ.
God’s Temple 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. In the past Gentiles were excluded from the temple, but now both Jews and Gentiles are God’s temple (cf. 1 Peter 2:5 … “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood”).
So Jesus destroyed the God-man barriers and the Jew-Gentile barriers to create one big family. Multicultural, international, universal church.
The cross breaks down walls of hostility
Race
Ethnicity
Families
Churches
Read history – Black balconies, black water fountains, Black-White Church.
Racism still alive
White privilege – culturally encapsulated
If we reduced the world population to a village of 100, with all existing ratios still the same
59 people would be Asian
12 people would be Europeans
5 people would be American/Canadian
8 people would be Latin American
14 people would be African
1 person would be from the South Pacific
52 females and 48 males
30 children and 70 adults
82 non-white and 18 whites
80 people would live in substandard housing
24 people would not have any electricity
67 people would be unable to read
Only 1 person would have a college education
50 people would be malnourished
1 person would be dying of starvation
That’s the mystery God revealed - Eph 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. The mystery is that through the gospel both Jews and Gentiles are fellow-heirs of the same blessing, fellow-members of the same body and fellow-partakers of the same promise.
Paul made it known not only to Gentiles (3:8) but to everyone (3:9), even the cosmic powers (3:10).
3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul’s prayer - 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Paul prayed for three things. 1) Strengthened with power, 2) Rooted in love, 3) Full of God.
Video
Prayer Time
Benediction
3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 2:1-10 - Amazing Grace
Belonging to God’s Family
Amazing Grace
Ephesians 2:1-10
Jeff Garrett
Special thanks to Grady for preaching for me last week
Claudia Berlin Reads Ephesians 2:1-10
I want to show you two things from these ten verses:
1) What we were by nature (2:1-3)
2) What we have become by grace (2:4-10).
What we are by nature (2:1-3)
2: 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins – Paul does not say you were suffering from low self-esteem or a psychological disorder or that you were sick or dying. Paul said you were dead. You can be physically fit, mentally alert, socially connected but spiritually dead in your transgressions and sins. We were as responsive as a corpse.
The word “transgression” means to trespass, to cross a boundary or deviate from the right path. The word “sin” means “to miss the mark” or “to fall short of the standard.” Both words are plural and indicate our natural tendency to continue to sin. The reason we continue to sin is because we are enslaved to three things.
2: 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.
We were dead in our transgressions and sins because we were enslaved by the world, the devil, and our own sinful nature.
The world – 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world …The Bible uses the word “world” two basic ways. Positively, “For God so love the world that he gave his one and only Son …” (John 3:16-17). Negatively, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world … (1 John 2:15-17). In Ephesians 2:2 Paul used the negative form – “you followed the ways of this world” i.e. the world system (cf. Rom 12:1-2).
The Devil – 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Paul is referring to the Devil.
He has many names. The Bible calls him …
The names of Satan
Beelzebub (Mark 3:22), the prince of demons (Matt 12:24), the Devil (Matt 4:1), the dragon (Rev 12:7), the enemy (Matt 13:39), the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), a murderer (John 8:44) and the father of all lies (John 8:44), Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12), the old serpent (Rev. 12:8; 20:2), the power of darkness (Col. 1:13), the prince of this world (John 12:31), the tempter (Matt 4:3), and the wicked one (Matt 13:19, 38).
Here (Eph 2:2) Paul called him … the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Satan is not “a ruler”, he is “the ruler” of the kingdom of the air because he commands principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places (which we will study in chapter 6). The word “air” could be translated “foggy atmosphere” indicating darkness which is what Satan prefers. The “air” is the air the surrounds the earth. In Job 1:6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." The ruler of the kingdom of the air is also the spirit at work in those who are disobedient. The defiant disposition is energized and maintained by the devil. When Satan and the spirit or mood (i.e. the mental disposition) that he inspires is at work in us we are enslaved and Jesus is our only hope for freedom.
Our sinful nature - 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts – “All of us” – not “some of us” or “the worst of us” but “all of us”. Paul is not giving us a portrait of some degraded segment of society. This is the Biblical diagnosis of fallen humanity. It is a description of everybody, including Paul himself. “All of us” lived among them at one time … gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts…. Paul personifies out sinful nature
in three ways – he said: 1) our sinful nature has cravings, 2) our sinful nature has desires, and 3) our sinful nature has thoughts. The Bible says a lot about our sinful nature.
Sinful Nature (Flesh = “Sarx”)
• Controlled by the sinful nature (Rom 7:5).
• The law aroused sinful passions (Rom 7:5).
• Nothing good lives my sinful nature (Rom 7:18).
• A slave to the law of sin (Rom 7:25).
• Minds set on what that nature desires (Rom 8:5).
• Hostile to God (Rom 8:7).
• Cannot submit to God’s law (Rom 8:7).
• The sinful nature cannot please God (Rom 8:8).
• According to the sinful nature, you will die (Rom 8:13).
• the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit (Gal 5:17).
• The acts of the sinful nature are obvious (Gal 5:19).
Paul’s diagnosis – Here’s what we were by nature. We were dead in trespasses and sins. We were enslaved by this world, the devil and our flesh and then Paul said
2:3b … Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. God’s wrath is not like man’s – it’s not a bad temper so that he may fly off the handle at any moment – its not spite or malice – it is his righteous reaction and hostility to evil which he cannot compromise – his resolve is to condemn it.
God’s wrath is not incompatible with his love. Paul moves from talking about the wrath of God in v.3 to the mercy and love of God in v.4 without any problem. Paul held them all together in his mind because they are held together in God’s character. But Paul draws a deliberate contrast between what we were `by nature' (2:3) and what we have become “by grace” (2:5).
What we have become by grace (2:4-10)
2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
What did God the Father do for Jesus when he was dead?
Eph 1 - As for Jesus … 1:20 he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms
What did God do for us when we were dead?
Eph 2 - As for you … 2: 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
1. God made us alive and raised us up with Christ (2:5-6a)
2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ
These two verses remind me of an Old Testament story where Ezekiel said …
Ezekiel 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' "
That’s what God did for us. He made us alive and raised us up and put his Spirit in us. But that’s not all he did for us. God also …
2. God seated us with Christ (2:6b)
2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
We are like a “post turtle”. Do you know what a post turtle is? It’s when you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top of the fence post. That's a post turtle. You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there and you just want to help him down.
We were dead but God made us alive and raised us up and seated us with Christ – enthroned in the heavenly realms! I love the way Watchman Nee outlined Ephesians.
Sit with Jesus (Ephesians 1-3) - 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms
Stand with Jesus (Ephesians 6:10ff) - Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. …13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, …
A couple of weeks ago Mike and Becky Shepherd invited the ministry leaders to their house for a fellowship. I called Mike and ask if he needed any help and he said “No we’ve got everything ready. That’s what God has done for us. He has done all the work and you don’t need to bring anything. Why did he do this for us?
7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The words “God’s workmanship” means “God’s work of art, his masterpiece – and we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Good works are the ground of our salvation – they are the consequence and evidence of our salvation.
Prayer Time
Ephesians 1 - The Blessings of Belonging
Belonging to God’s Family (Part 2)
The Blessings of Belonging
Ephesians 1
Jeff Garrett
In Ephesians 1 Paul teaches us to overcome pride with humility, rejection with love, guilt with grace and insecurity with the hope. Then we can know the blessings of belonging to God’s family.
Paul’s humility
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
You can see Paul’s humility in v.1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. Paul never ceased to be amazed by the fact that it was “by the will of God” that he was an apostle. Paul described himself in 1 Timothy 1:13 … I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man…. When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus he was not going to church. He was going to persecute the church.
A.D. 55 Paul wrote - 1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
A.D. 60 Paul wrote - Ephesians 3:8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
A.D. 64 Paul wrote - 1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
God opposes the proud but gives grace and peace to the humble. Look at verse 2.
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace always comes before peace. God gives us peace through grace. Notice three blessings in v.3-14.
The Father Chose Us (1:3-6): we are loved and accepted.
1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
God the Father is the source of every spiritual blessing.
v.3 He blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
v.4 He chose us and loves us
v.5 He predestined us
v.5 He adopted us
v.8 He lavished us with grace
v.9 He made known the mystery of his will.
v.9 He put it in effect when times reached their fulfillment
v.10 He brought all things under one head, even Christ
v.11 He planned it and work out everything in conformity to his will.
It is his love, his grace, his will, his plan, his purpose, and his good pleasure. You are not rejected or unwanted. God chose you before you were born.
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you
apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Psalm 139:16 says “… All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Galatians 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles
You say, “OK. I am humbled and amazed that God chose me but I still feel guilty because I am so sinful. How does God deal with my sin?” God forgave all your sins by the blood of Jesus who is “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Rev 13:8)
The Son Redeemed You (1:7-12): we are forgiven.
1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
“Redemption” means to “purchase back something that was lost, to pay a ransom. In the OT God told Hosea to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer. They had two children. They named the girl “not loved” and the boy “not my people” (Hosea 1:6,9). Hosea loved Gomer but she was unfaithful to him. She returned to prostitution and even paid men to be with her. When she hit bottom she sold herself as a slave. Then God told Hosea in Hosea 3:1 The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods. Hosea bought her back by paying 15 shekels and some barley. And then in Hosea 3:3 Then I told her, "You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you."
That’s what Jesus did for us. We have redemption through is blood the forgiveness of sins.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or how guilty you feel, God will redeem you and forgive and wash away all your sins by the blood of Jesus. You say, “But how can I be sure?”
The Spirited Sealed Us (1:13-14): we are guaranteed and that takes care of insecurity.
1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Paul’s Prayer for enlightenment
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints ...
If God breaks through our dull minds and enlightens us to the fact that he has given us every conceivable blessing – the barriers to belonging would disappear and we would understand 19 … his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Jesus said, in this world you will have trouble. But take heart because I have overcome the world!”
Video
The Father chose us. The Son redeemed us. And the Spirit sealed us. I love to read the story of the baptism of Jesus. Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
I love that passage because when Jesus was baptized you all three members of the Godhead participated. When Jenn and Amanda were baptized last week they were baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit. The love between the Father, Son and Spirit is so perfect that they are one. Jesus said I love you like my Father loves me and here’s a new command that you love one another as I have loved you. Talk about gaining a sense of belonging! Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus and now Jesus is in us and we are in him.
Stop beating yourself up - there is a difference between humility and humiliation. Some people say “I know God has forgiven me, but I cannot forgive myself.” Well, I have a liberating word from God for you this morning. God said in Hebrews 8:12 says “I will forgive your wickedness and remember your sins no more.” If God Almighty does refuses to remember it why do you keep dwelling on it?
Repeat after me:
Our Father in heaven.
I trust your grace and forgiveness.
Deliver me from self-condemnation.
Set me free so I can feel like I belong.
In Jesus name, Amen!
Prayer Time
The Blessings of Belonging
Ephesians 1
Jeff Garrett
In Ephesians 1 Paul teaches us to overcome pride with humility, rejection with love, guilt with grace and insecurity with the hope. Then we can know the blessings of belonging to God’s family.
Paul’s humility
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
You can see Paul’s humility in v.1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. Paul never ceased to be amazed by the fact that it was “by the will of God” that he was an apostle. Paul described himself in 1 Timothy 1:13 … I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man…. When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus he was not going to church. He was going to persecute the church.
A.D. 55 Paul wrote - 1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
A.D. 60 Paul wrote - Ephesians 3:8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
A.D. 64 Paul wrote - 1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
God opposes the proud but gives grace and peace to the humble. Look at verse 2.
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace always comes before peace. God gives us peace through grace. Notice three blessings in v.3-14.
The Father Chose Us (1:3-6): we are loved and accepted.
1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
God the Father is the source of every spiritual blessing.
v.3 He blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
v.4 He chose us and loves us
v.5 He predestined us
v.5 He adopted us
v.8 He lavished us with grace
v.9 He made known the mystery of his will.
v.9 He put it in effect when times reached their fulfillment
v.10 He brought all things under one head, even Christ
v.11 He planned it and work out everything in conformity to his will.
It is his love, his grace, his will, his plan, his purpose, and his good pleasure. You are not rejected or unwanted. God chose you before you were born.
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you
apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Psalm 139:16 says “… All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Galatians 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles
You say, “OK. I am humbled and amazed that God chose me but I still feel guilty because I am so sinful. How does God deal with my sin?” God forgave all your sins by the blood of Jesus who is “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Rev 13:8)
The Son Redeemed You (1:7-12): we are forgiven.
1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
“Redemption” means to “purchase back something that was lost, to pay a ransom. In the OT God told Hosea to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer. They had two children. They named the girl “not loved” and the boy “not my people” (Hosea 1:6,9). Hosea loved Gomer but she was unfaithful to him. She returned to prostitution and even paid men to be with her. When she hit bottom she sold herself as a slave. Then God told Hosea in Hosea 3:1 The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods. Hosea bought her back by paying 15 shekels and some barley. And then in Hosea 3:3 Then I told her, "You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you."
That’s what Jesus did for us. We have redemption through is blood the forgiveness of sins.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or how guilty you feel, God will redeem you and forgive and wash away all your sins by the blood of Jesus. You say, “But how can I be sure?”
The Spirited Sealed Us (1:13-14): we are guaranteed and that takes care of insecurity.
1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Paul’s Prayer for enlightenment
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints ...
If God breaks through our dull minds and enlightens us to the fact that he has given us every conceivable blessing – the barriers to belonging would disappear and we would understand 19 … his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Jesus said, in this world you will have trouble. But take heart because I have overcome the world!”
Video
The Father chose us. The Son redeemed us. And the Spirit sealed us. I love to read the story of the baptism of Jesus. Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
I love that passage because when Jesus was baptized you all three members of the Godhead participated. When Jenn and Amanda were baptized last week they were baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit. The love between the Father, Son and Spirit is so perfect that they are one. Jesus said I love you like my Father loves me and here’s a new command that you love one another as I have loved you. Talk about gaining a sense of belonging! Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus and now Jesus is in us and we are in him.
Stop beating yourself up - there is a difference between humility and humiliation. Some people say “I know God has forgiven me, but I cannot forgive myself.” Well, I have a liberating word from God for you this morning. God said in Hebrews 8:12 says “I will forgive your wickedness and remember your sins no more.” If God Almighty does refuses to remember it why do you keep dwelling on it?
Repeat after me:
Our Father in heaven.
I trust your grace and forgiveness.
Deliver me from self-condemnation.
Set me free so I can feel like I belong.
In Jesus name, Amen!
Prayer Time
Acts 18:18-28; 19:1-41; 20:13-38 Building Up God’s Family
Belonging to God’s Family (Part 1)
Building Up God’s Family
Acts 18:18-28; 19:1-41; 20:13-38
Jeff Garrett
Today we begin a new series from the book of Ephesians called “Belonging to God’s Family”. I chose this title from Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
This prayer contains four goals for our series. I pray …
1. That you would belong to God’s family (and make Norway your home church).
2. That you will be strengthened (so that Christ would dwell in your hearts by faith).
3. That you will know God’s love (how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ).
4. That God would be glorified in Christ and in our church in every generation.
Paul spent 3 years (Acts 20:31) in Ephesus. He taught publically (in the lecture hall of Tyrannus Acts 19:9) and from house to house (in small groups). Acts 20:20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
We have adopted Paul’s method. We teach publically in the assembly and from house to house. I want you to listen to Allen as he interviews Claudia, Mike and Dave about their experience in small groups.
Interview
Allen will conduct the interviews.
Mike’s Question – “What do you and Becky gain from your small group?”
Dave’s Question – “Given your recent move, how has your small group helped your family?
Claudia’s Question – “Why should people join a small group?”
Then Allen will explain how to join a small group
I hope you will join a small group. Just see Allen after church and he will help you. When you join a small group you will build a strong relationship with Jesus and with other people who love Jesus. That’s what the book of Ephesians is all about. I want to introduce the book this morning. I am going to organize an overview of the book by using Watchman Nee’s outline. The three words are: sit, walk, stand.
Sit with Jesus
1:19 That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
· God chose you, predestined you, adopted you and loved you before creation
· God made you holy and blameless in his sight.
· God redeemed you through the blood of Christ.
· You didn’t do anything to deserve it - You were dead in trespasses and sin
· God said you by grace through faith in Christ.
· You don’t have do anything, just sit down with Jesus and look at what God has done for you!
· 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Walk with Jesus
4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
4:17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
5:8 Walk as children of light
Walk in purity
· Walk with integrity
· Walk in the light of his wonderful love!
Stand with Jesus
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
· Stand against the devil’s schemes
· Stand your ground.
· Stand firm and make sure you have on the armor of God.
· Stand together.
Sit with Jesus
Walk with Jesus
Stand with Jesus.
And we do it together as the family of God. It’s not confined to Sunday morning assemblies. I want to end this sermon with a video which shows what life is like when you belong to God’s family means.
We serve together – like the back to school carnival that Kim George and Elizabeth Lallenthin led and gave 70 children from the community schools supplies.
We worship together –
We travel together – like when Jon took our teenagers to Master in the Mountains
We play together -
We eat together -
We love each other because we belong to God’s family
Video
Prayer Time
Building Up God’s Family
Acts 18:18-28; 19:1-41; 20:13-38
Jeff Garrett
Today we begin a new series from the book of Ephesians called “Belonging to God’s Family”. I chose this title from Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
This prayer contains four goals for our series. I pray …
1. That you would belong to God’s family (and make Norway your home church).
2. That you will be strengthened (so that Christ would dwell in your hearts by faith).
3. That you will know God’s love (how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ).
4. That God would be glorified in Christ and in our church in every generation.
Paul spent 3 years (Acts 20:31) in Ephesus. He taught publically (in the lecture hall of Tyrannus Acts 19:9) and from house to house (in small groups). Acts 20:20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
We have adopted Paul’s method. We teach publically in the assembly and from house to house. I want you to listen to Allen as he interviews Claudia, Mike and Dave about their experience in small groups.
Interview
Allen will conduct the interviews.
Mike’s Question – “What do you and Becky gain from your small group?”
Dave’s Question – “Given your recent move, how has your small group helped your family?
Claudia’s Question – “Why should people join a small group?”
Then Allen will explain how to join a small group
I hope you will join a small group. Just see Allen after church and he will help you. When you join a small group you will build a strong relationship with Jesus and with other people who love Jesus. That’s what the book of Ephesians is all about. I want to introduce the book this morning. I am going to organize an overview of the book by using Watchman Nee’s outline. The three words are: sit, walk, stand.
Sit with Jesus
1:19 That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
· God chose you, predestined you, adopted you and loved you before creation
· God made you holy and blameless in his sight.
· God redeemed you through the blood of Christ.
· You didn’t do anything to deserve it - You were dead in trespasses and sin
· God said you by grace through faith in Christ.
· You don’t have do anything, just sit down with Jesus and look at what God has done for you!
· 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Walk with Jesus
4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
4:17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
5:8 Walk as children of light
Walk in purity
· Walk with integrity
· Walk in the light of his wonderful love!
Stand with Jesus
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
· Stand against the devil’s schemes
· Stand your ground.
· Stand firm and make sure you have on the armor of God.
· Stand together.
Sit with Jesus
Walk with Jesus
Stand with Jesus.
And we do it together as the family of God. It’s not confined to Sunday morning assemblies. I want to end this sermon with a video which shows what life is like when you belong to God’s family means.
We serve together – like the back to school carnival that Kim George and Elizabeth Lallenthin led and gave 70 children from the community schools supplies.
We worship together –
We travel together – like when Jon took our teenagers to Master in the Mountains
We play together -
We eat together -
We love each other because we belong to God’s family
Video
Prayer Time
Deuteronomy 29-34 - A New Covenant, a New Song and a Great Blessing
Obeying God’s Law, Trusting God’s Grace (Part 5)
Promise and Adventure for a New Generation
A New Covenant, a New Song and a Great Blessing
Deuteronomy 29-34
Jeff Garrett
From God’s perspective you are right here [Pic of Norway] on 1400 Norway Ave. But we are going to step into the time machine and we’re going to travel back 3,400 and we are going to travel around the globe via satellites linked to Google Earth. Here is a picture of [pic of Horeb]. And here is where Israel was standing – on the plains of Moab [pic of Moab] as Moses preach his third and final sermon. In Deuteronomy 29-34 Moses gave Israel three things before he died: a covenant, a song and a blessing.
Covenant - 29:1 These are the terms of the covenant the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb. 2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: … 9 Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. …
Please stand as I read the terms of the old covenant.
12 You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the LORD your God, a covenant the LORD is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, 13 to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God [remember that – you’re going to hear it again at the end when I read Rev 21] as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 14 I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you 15 who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God but also with those who are not here today.
30:15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. … 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Please be seated. Do you think they kept it? No. Deuteronomy 31:16 And the LORD said to Moses: "You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.
Song - Then the Lord inspired Moses to write a song.
Deut 31:19 "Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.
Now they had two witnesses against them. The book of the law which was in the ark of the covenant (Deut 31:24-25) and the lyrics of a song in (Deut 32) which said “God has been faithful to you but you will not be faithful to him.”
31:27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! 29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made.
First, Moses gave them a covenant to enter. Second, he gave them a song to sing. Third, he blessed them anyway.
Blessing – His blessing is recorded in Deut 33 he blessed them. This is the blessing Moses gave the people of Israel before his death.
Let the tribe of Reuben live.
Give the tribe of Judah strength.
Let the tribe of Levi guard your covenant and teach your law.
Let the tribe of Benjamin live in safety.
Bless the land of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) with rich harvest and the finest crops.
Make Zebulun and Issachar prosper.
Gad is poised like a lion.
Dan is lion’s cub leaping out from Bashan.
Let Naphtali be rich and full of the Lord’s blessings.
Let Asher be esteemed by his brothers and let him bathe his feet in olive oil.
When your children are disobedient, bless them anyway. Moses was full of grace because he was full of God. 33:26 “There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor. … 29 How blessed you are, O Israel! Who else is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will stomp on their backs!” (NLT)
Moses gave them a covenant to enter, a song to sing and a great blessing from God. And then he climbed Nebo and died when he was 120 years old. God buried him (34:5) and Israel grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab for 30 days. No one knows where God buried Moses but we do know his epitaph which is recorded in Deut 34:10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, … 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
But, 1400 years later, God gave us another prophet like Moses. God told Moses in Deut 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. Peter (Acts 3:33) and Stephen (Acts 7:37) said that Jesus was the prophet like Moses. But he was greater and superior to Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6). Like Moses, Jesus gave us three things.
New covenant - Hebrews 7:22 Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Hebrews 8:6 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
Jesus gave us a new and better covenant sealed with the blood he shed on the cross.
New Song – John saw four living creatures and 24 elders circled around the Lamb and he heard them singing a new song. Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
Jesus gave us a new covenant, better than the old one. He gave us a new song, better than the old song. And finally, in the end, Jesus will give us a promise land with greater blessings.
Greater Blessing - Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
When I get to heaven and God gives me a harp (or a guitar) I want to learn the new song but in the mean time I will sing about God’s amazing grace found only in Jesus Christ.
Paul Thomas, after we sing this song will you come and lead our communion time?
Amazing Grace.
Promise and Adventure for a New Generation
A New Covenant, a New Song and a Great Blessing
Deuteronomy 29-34
Jeff Garrett
From God’s perspective you are right here [Pic of Norway] on 1400 Norway Ave. But we are going to step into the time machine and we’re going to travel back 3,400 and we are going to travel around the globe via satellites linked to Google Earth. Here is a picture of [pic of Horeb]. And here is where Israel was standing – on the plains of Moab [pic of Moab] as Moses preach his third and final sermon. In Deuteronomy 29-34 Moses gave Israel three things before he died: a covenant, a song and a blessing.
Covenant - 29:1 These are the terms of the covenant the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb. 2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: … 9 Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. …
Please stand as I read the terms of the old covenant.
12 You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the LORD your God, a covenant the LORD is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, 13 to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God [remember that – you’re going to hear it again at the end when I read Rev 21] as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 14 I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you 15 who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God but also with those who are not here today.
30:15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. … 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Please be seated. Do you think they kept it? No. Deuteronomy 31:16 And the LORD said to Moses: "You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.
Song - Then the Lord inspired Moses to write a song.
Deut 31:19 "Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.
Now they had two witnesses against them. The book of the law which was in the ark of the covenant (Deut 31:24-25) and the lyrics of a song in (Deut 32) which said “God has been faithful to you but you will not be faithful to him.”
31:27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! 29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made.
First, Moses gave them a covenant to enter. Second, he gave them a song to sing. Third, he blessed them anyway.
Blessing – His blessing is recorded in Deut 33 he blessed them. This is the blessing Moses gave the people of Israel before his death.
Let the tribe of Reuben live.
Give the tribe of Judah strength.
Let the tribe of Levi guard your covenant and teach your law.
Let the tribe of Benjamin live in safety.
Bless the land of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) with rich harvest and the finest crops.
Make Zebulun and Issachar prosper.
Gad is poised like a lion.
Dan is lion’s cub leaping out from Bashan.
Let Naphtali be rich and full of the Lord’s blessings.
Let Asher be esteemed by his brothers and let him bathe his feet in olive oil.
When your children are disobedient, bless them anyway. Moses was full of grace because he was full of God. 33:26 “There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor. … 29 How blessed you are, O Israel! Who else is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will stomp on their backs!” (NLT)
Moses gave them a covenant to enter, a song to sing and a great blessing from God. And then he climbed Nebo and died when he was 120 years old. God buried him (34:5) and Israel grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab for 30 days. No one knows where God buried Moses but we do know his epitaph which is recorded in Deut 34:10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, … 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
But, 1400 years later, God gave us another prophet like Moses. God told Moses in Deut 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. Peter (Acts 3:33) and Stephen (Acts 7:37) said that Jesus was the prophet like Moses. But he was greater and superior to Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6). Like Moses, Jesus gave us three things.
New covenant - Hebrews 7:22 Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Hebrews 8:6 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
Jesus gave us a new and better covenant sealed with the blood he shed on the cross.
New Song – John saw four living creatures and 24 elders circled around the Lamb and he heard them singing a new song. Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
Jesus gave us a new covenant, better than the old one. He gave us a new song, better than the old song. And finally, in the end, Jesus will give us a promise land with greater blessings.
Greater Blessing - Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
When I get to heaven and God gives me a harp (or a guitar) I want to learn the new song but in the mean time I will sing about God’s amazing grace found only in Jesus Christ.
Paul Thomas, after we sing this song will you come and lead our communion time?
Amazing Grace.
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