As we pick back up in our study of Ephesians, looking at the "spiritually full wife" in 5:22-24. What comes to mind when you think to imagine a picture of a multitasking wife? Would she be smiling!?
Remember, it is never good to take passages out of their immediate context or the larger context. If we zoom out a little, we will see some important things as we get specific about the relationships within the family. Before Paul ever mentions the first thing about this, he has given us some book ends.
On the front side, Paul has reminded all of us of the spiritual blessings of being chosen and forgiven and redeemed, and sealed, and so on. He has prayed that they would all experience the love of God dwelling in their hearts. He has encouraged them to keep being filled with the Spirit. And then.....and only then....does he discuss how these realities change and redeem family life. Being a wife is one of many roles in which the filling with Spirit of God is needed!
On the back end, once he has laid out the relationships within the family structure, he tells them to be strong in the Lord, put on the armor of God, and stand firm because the devil is firing his deadly darts at us. The passage on spiritual warfare is directly related to our attempt to "do family" God's way.
Even though the passage is directed toward wives, it will be valuable for everyone. You need to know how brilliant God's design is.
View and see!
Steve
Ephesians 5:22-24
April 18, 2021 • Pastor Steve Feden
Ephesians 1:1-6
November 18, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
Ephesians has only six chapters and is not written to address a specific issue or problem among the Ephesians believers. Rather, Paul knows that in order for them to have future ability to live as children of God in the middle of Ephesian culture, they will have to gain a deeper and deeper experience of God's love! This is what he is addressing. We will dive right in and watch as the great, methodical, theological mind of the Apostle Paul is overcome with impassioned gratitude over the deep ways God has touched his -- and our -- lives! WARNING: Anyone who actually reads and believes the things we will talk about is likely to experience greater depth of transformed relationship with God and the people in your life! View and see! Steve
Ephesians 1:7-14
December 2, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
What does "relationship with God" really look like? I mean, we talk about the fact that Christianity is a "relationship" and not "religion", but what is the real difference? Doesn't Christianity often feel like religion? Obey the commands, do this, don't do that, and so on. I am fully convinced that Ephesians is a "relationship guide". The first chapter is filled with the foundational blocks of relationship with God as HE designed it to be. If we can comprehend Ephesians 1, it will forever impact our understanding of what relationships are supposed to be, and what the basic building blocks of healthy relationships are! Last week we saw the Father's plan. This week we will how the Son (Jesus) participates and how the Spirit participates! View and see! Steve
Ephesians 1:15-23
December 9, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
A few years ago, Helga and I enjoyed a long bike ride with friends. We started in Munich Germany and ended in Venice, Italy. It was an epic journey for which we spent time studying maps to prepare. I don't think I need to tell you that the experience of the ride itself was the hope and the joy and the thrill. The map was useful, but could never be a substitute for the ride itself. To this point, in Ephesians 1, Paul has given us a map of healthy relationship with God. Being chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, and secure have been points on that map. Great stuff, right? Yes, but it is still a map! What do I mean? Starting in verse 15, we read Paul's prayer for the believers in Ephesus. The prayer is filled with Paul's desire for these precious Jesus' followers. The gist of his prayer? I would love to tell you, but you will need to tune in. I promise it will be worth it. Just like the map is no substitute for the experience of the ride, so the study of doctrine and intellectual knowledge of God are not the end in themselves. This remarkable passage of scripture is sure to stretch your imagination (hint hint). View and see! Steve