icon__search

Lessons From Ephesians

Ephesians 1-6 (9/25/14)

September 25, 2014 • Benham Brothers

Ephesians explains God's purpose, Christ's purpose, the Church's purpose, and our position in the church. God's purpose - to bring glory to Himself. Christ's purpose - to govern heaven and earth. Church's purpose - to be the governing body of Christ on the earth. Our purpose - to bring God glory by making Christ Lord of our lives and then to take our position in the church. Chap 1 reveals the climax of God's purpose for Jesus was to bring everything under Christ's authority. 1:10 - Jesus had a view of this administration (ruling purpose) but it wasn't complete until He died. 1:20-23 - When Jesus died everything was put under His feet (Psalm 110:1) - He was now in authority over everything in Heaven AND earth. He rules the earth through His new body called the CHURCH, which includes all people, Jews and Gentiles. The church, Christ's new earthly body, is a governing body. This is the mystery of the gospel - that Christ died, rose again by defeating death (the ultimate victory), was seated at the right-hand of God as Ruler of heaven and earth, and now exercises His rule through His new body called the church, which is a body made up of all believers both Jew and Gentile. All of this is to defeat the kingdom of darkness and to bring God praise and glory, God's ultimate purpose. After God's purpose was established in Chapter 1 Paul moves on to show how it will be fulfilled: 1) 2:1-10 - God reconciles individuals to Himself. "Therefore (2:11)........." 2) 2:11-11 - God reconciles individuals to each other. "For this reason (3:1)........" 3) 3:1-6 - God unites believers into one body called the church, which Christ is the head. 4) 3:7-13 - Through the church Jesus governs & God displays His manifold wisdom in the heavenly realms - 1 Peter 1:12 says that even angels are intrigued by this wisdom. 3:13 - "Therefore...." - now that Paul had fully explained the believer's position they should not lose heart in his tribulations because that's "his" position. They simply needed to know their position. In chapters 4-6 of Ephesians Paul then gives practical ways to fulfill God's purpose in the church. 4:1 - "Therefore......" Now that we understand God's purpose and our position Paul can talk about practical things. He specifically gets into gifting again, just like he did in some of his other letters. This gifting is what makes a body the body - every part has a function.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (9/23/16)

September 23, 2016 • Benham Brothers

• God promised to give us the inheritance of His kingdom. • We can’t experience it in fullness now, but we can in partiality. • We will gain full possession when Christ returns. • But God has given us His Spirit as a deposit. • We’re in real estate, so we understand how this works. • You buy a house but you don’t put all the money up front - you put an earnest money deposit down. • This gives you the “right” to the house, but you can’t possess it until you close the deal. • This is like God’s kingdom.

Ephesians 1:22-23 (9/20/18)

September 20, 2018 • Benham Brothers

* If we don’t understand Christ’s authority over ALL things then nothing else matters - this is the key point of Christianity. * “God has put” means God had to do something that wasn’t that way before. * Originally mankind had authority, but Adam gave it to Satan. * Jesus, the second Adam, got it back. * Now Jesus is seated at God’s right hand until His enemies are made into a footstool for His feet. * The church is in the footstool-making business.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (9/19/19)

September 19, 2019 • Benham Brothers

* These verses sound like a contradiction: * vs 8 - you’re saved through FAITH… * vs 10 - you’re created for good WORKS…. * The solution: * We’re created for good works, but we cannot start there. * We start with faith and then our work is born out of our faith. * Not the other way around - we can never “do” enough to earn salvation. * Faith in God motivates us to work with God. * Our motivation is love for our adoptive Father. * In this way we live inside-out. * Living inside-out makes you fireproof - you’ll never burn out. * When people say, “How do we integrate our faith into our work?” the answer is, “Your faith should motivate your work.” * **** It doesn’t “integrate,” it “instigates!”**** * The reason we’re the best workers is because we have a relationship with the God who created all things.

Ephesians 2:8-19 (9/24/15)

September 24, 2015 • Benham Brothers

Ephesians was written about the mystery - Jews and Gentiles both are members of the Church. This happens through a process called “reconciliation” - we match Christ on the inside. Jesus showed us how to live inside-out. Before we start doing, we need to start “being.” We are saved by grace, not by works - but we’re saved to do good works. This isn’t a contradiction - it’s a model for inside-out living. God has to change our identities first, then we can act on the basis of our new identity. Three steps to reconciliation: 1) God reconciles us to Himself (vs 8) - we “match” Jesus because of His death. God puts the DNA of Christ into us - we become new creatures. 2) God reconciles us to each other (vs 14-16) - we become one in spirit with other believers. 3) God organizes reconciled people into a body called the church (vs 19). This is God’s governing agency here on this earth. This is why Satan tries to break people down so that he can ultimately break the church down. The church belongs at the gates of hell.

Ephesians 2:12-14 (10/5/22)

October 5, 2022 • Benham Brothers • Ephesians 2:12–14

* If we want to win in life, business, and culture we need unity with others. * God created us to function only in proportion to where we fit in the body. * Human body - Not everyone is a thumb. * Football team - Not everyone is a quarterback. * True unity is a gift of God and comes as a result of being connected to and on mission with others. * Unity is not about fellowship - it’s about function. * Tony Evans says unity is “uniqueness working toward a common goal.” * Unity is not uniformity. * If we want unity, we need diversity. Why? * Because we’re a body, and we can’t accomplish the mission if we’re all the same part. * Diversity apart from unity is chaos. * Unity apart from diversity is a cult. * Diversity with unity is the church. * Unity is a process. * Three steps: * Illumination - Light * Separation - Diversity * Habitation - Unity * In the Bible, God shows it to us in three ways - creation of earth, mankind, Jews. * Earth (Genesis 1): * Illumination - “let there be light…” (vs 3) * Separation - light from dark, water from sky, land from water (vs 4-14) * Habitation - plants, fish, animals, people (vs 11-27) * Mankind (Genesis 2): * Illumination - “no helper suitable was found…” (vs 20) * Separation - “God removed a rib from Adam…” (vs 21) * Habitation - the two become one (vs 24) * God separated what was once one so they could become one by choice. * God did the same with the Jews. * He illuminated Abraham to His covenant. * He separated the Jews from others (lasted a few thousand years). * After Christ, God now calls them to unite with the Gentiles! * This is what Paul was trying to teach them. * But many of the Jews wanted diversity without unity (w/the Gentiles). * Vs 11-18 - in Christ we are all ONE! * We all have different nationalities, skin color, economic status, gender, etc. * But that diversity only hold power in relation to being unified with others. Why? * Because of the mission to extend God’s kingdom on the earth! * When Christ is center and the mission is in view, we can have unity. * When we have unity we can celebrate diversity! * Satan doesn’t want us thinking this way - he wants diversity without unity. * Three steps to unity: * Illumination - the Light always comes first. * Separation - embrace your uniqueness and that of others. * Habitation - fight for unity with those who are different than you.

Ephesians 3:3 (9/19/19)

September 19, 2019 • Benham Brothers

* There are lots of different aspects to the “mystery” of the Gospel. * Paul mentions several in his writings, but they all center on this main point: * The mystery is the great purpose of God in Christ. * It can be applied in these ways: * that meant Christ died for the sins of all. * that meant Jews and Gentiles were equal (vs 6). * that meant those who believed were Christ’s bride and were His body. * that meant that marriage symbolizes Christ’s marriage with the church. * vs 8-10 - Weirsbe - Satan knows the Bible, and he understood from the Old Testament Scriptures that the Savior would come, when He would come, how He would come, and where He would come. Satan also understood why He would come, as far as redemption is concerned. But nowhere in the Old Testament would Satan find any prophecies concerning the church, “the mystery” of Jews and Gentiles united in one body! Satan could see unbelieving Jews rejecting their Messiah, and he could see Gentiles trusting the Messiah, but he could not see both believing Jews and Gentiles united in one body, seated with Christ in the heavenlies, and completely victorious over Satan! Had Satan known the far-reaching results of the Cross, no doubt he would have altered his plans accordingly. * As believers (members of the church), we’re in the education business! * We reveal the mystery!

Ephesians 4:1-2 (9/24/20)

September 24, 2020 • Benham Brothers

As workers, don’t pursue wealth - live out the wealth you already possess. • When you’re excellent in what you do, profit will chase you down. • All you have to do is your thing, and do it well. Then let God do His thing. • Backstory: • In the first 3 chaps of Ephesians Paul talks about the wealth each of us have in Christ. • We were saved by grace, reconciled to God, joined into a new body called “church,” and now we have victory over Satan, sin, and death. • Now, in light of that wealth, we need to “walk it out!” • Def: • Riches - the abundance of a valuable possession. • Profit - anything that leads to life. • Wealth - the constant flow of both. • Vs 1- walk in a way that’s suitable to your high rank, especially toward those who try your patience. • The workplace is the context for discipleship and evangelism - the place where people press your buttons! • So how do we walk it out? • Vs 2: • Be humble - focus on the spiritual wealth you already have, not the financial wealth you want. • Be gentle - like a surgeon, you’re in the problem-solving business. • Be patient - patients always wait on doctors - let God do His thing, wait on Him. • Be accepting - accept people for who they are - “you are who you are, and that’s ok with me!” •

Ephesians 4:3 (9/21/17)

September 21, 2017 • Benham Brothers

* This verse shows a powerful principle - unity must be maintained through effort. * It won’t happen automatically. * We have to do be proactive. * Ephesians 4:2 tells us what to do: * 1) Always be humble - how you deal with yourself (consider yourself compared to God). * 2) Always be gentle - how you deal with others (consider them better than you). * 3) Be patient - “passion that lasts because you trust God to act.” * 4) Accept each other’s weaknesses - it bring cohesion, like velcro.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (9/24/20)

September 24, 2020 • Benham Brothers

A minister is not defined by where he’s placed or how he’s paid. • He’s defined by passion, not position. A minister is one who has the presence of God in his life and is passionate about what he does to bring God glory. • Vs 11-12 - God equips pastors, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and apostles to equip people for: • THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY! • Ministry means “to serve.” • A Minister is “one who serves.” • God places His ministers wherever He wants them. • The marketplace is the context for discipleship and evangelism. • Our spiritual leaders (those with the five-fold gifts) are to equip us so that we can disciple and evangelize through our work. • Three paradigms: • You’re a minister. • You’re on mission. • Your work is worship.

Ephesians 4:11-16 (9/24/15)

September 24, 2015 • Benham Brothers

Paul is talking about unity in the body of Christ. God gives us spiritual leaders to equip us for the work of the ministry (vs 12). We then grow in him just like a baby grows. Paul outlines the evidence of spiritual growth: 1) Christ-likeness (vs 13) - we walk and talk like Christ. 2) Stability (vs 14) - we know what we believe and why - we aren’t swayed by false teaching. 3) Speak the truth in love (vs 15) - we bring both to the table, not just one or the other. We can discern between ideas and individuals. 4) Cooperation (vs 16) - we embrace other people and trust God to use them, since we’re all a part of the same body.

Ephesians 4:19 (9/20/18)

September 20, 2018 • Benham Brothers

* Sin has a sign - you lose all feeling. * When sin becomes your lifestyle you lose all sensitivity. * You become callous in your heart toward the things you should be soft toward. * When you choose sin is sucks the life out of you, literally. * Then, everything you do has no meaning (vs 17). It’s futile. * So what do you do if you’re there? * Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you’ve sinned (maybe ask a friend). * Then repent and refuse to walk in that sin any longer. * From that point forward everything, even the smallest thing, will burst with meaning.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (9/26/19)

September 26, 2019 • Benham Brothers

* vs 22-24 - Paul was talking about the Christian walk, how you should lay aside your old self and put on the new self, which is being renewed in your mind. * vs 25 - then he encouraged them to speak truth to your neighbor. * vs 26 - In this context we told them “Be angry, and yet do not sin…” * Aristoltle once said, "Anyone can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person at the right time, and for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within everyone's power and that is not easy."  * Emotion is an impulse to act. * Anger is an emotion with a purpose. * So when you feel angry it’s your brain’s way of telling you something needs to happen. * Anger is meant to lead to the JUSTICE of God. * Justice is meant to lead us to the mercy of Christ. * When truth has been trampled, we should get angry. * KEY - When God’s truth is your source of truth then your anger at injustice is warranted. * But we have to control our emotions so our anger won’t spin out of control, where we find ourselves bitter toward the person. * Exodus 34:6 - God is “slow” to anger - He doesn’t keep a record of wrongs or walk around with a chip on His shoulder. * Two ways to apply not letting the sun go down on our anger: * 1) Don’t carry anger with you - release it. * Unexpressed emotion eats a person away. * Do not let it cause bitterness toward people. (vs 27) * 2) Don’t stop getting angry over injustice. * You should be angry about things that trample God’s truth. * The opposite of love is INDIFFERENCE. * If someone slapped my wife on the butt but it didn’t make me mad then that shows I don’t really love her.

Ephesians 4:28 (9/26/19)

September 26, 2019 • Benham Brothers

* This verse shows us the cure to thievery: * 1) Work hard. * 2) Give generously. * Stealing begins as covetousness in the heart. * Working & giving go hand in hand to keep us from coveting. * God made us to work, and when we do we feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. * God also made us to give, and when we do we feel a sense of gratitude and connection. * We feel grateful we could give and connected to the people we give to. * This will squash our discontentment. * Paul gets to the root of why many people wanted to steal - they were poor and needy and would rather steal than work. * He gave them a vision of what they could become if they simply worked hard enough. * They could become the very people they tried to steal from - people who have things to give. * The power of vision would keep them motivated to move forward. * The clearer the vision, the fewer the options, the easier the decision (Andy Stanley). * Vision not only keeps you moving forward but helps you remember where you came from when you arrive. * Stealing isn’t just stuff - it’s what we owe to others as well. * There’s always an easy way out that goes around “work.” * A husband looking at porn has stolen intimacy from his wife. * He chose the easy way and refused to work, therefore he cannot be generous and give her what she needs to thrive in their relationships. * Having a vision for his marriage would help him make it through that temptation. * His mindset would be, “I gotta win this battle so I can one day help others to get through it like I did.”

Ephesians 5:6-11 (9/24/15)

September 24, 2015 • Benham Brothers

Paul outlines marching orders for all believers who are to stand strong against false teachers (vs 6). Foundation - He starts by reminding them of who they are (vs 8). In light of who they are, they should: 1) Walk as children of the light (vs 8) - act like God’s kids. 2) Discern what God wants (vs 10) - we should honor Him by figuring out what He likes and doing. When we’re walking and discerning we should: 1) Stay away from evil (vs 11a) - have nothing to do with it. 2) Expose evil (vs 11b) - be offensive in handling evil. Since we are the light we expose what’s in the dark - like roaches in a kitchen. The way we expose evil is two-fold: 1) By the way we live - it will be a standing rebuke to people. 2) By the words we speak - we bring truth into situations. When we speak truth we need to make sure we’re living truth, or we'll be hypocrites. The foundation for living and speaking truth is a thankful and submissive spirit (vs 20-21).

1
2
3