Calvary Chapel Wenatchee
Sunday Service - Ephesians 5pt1
  • Glory Glory Hallelujah
  • Holy Is The Lord
  • You're Worthy Of My Praise
  • Always
  • Good Good Father
  • Great Are You Lord
  • Worthy Of It All
  • Strength Of My Life
  • Isn't He Good
  • Last week:
    We saw some real practical ways to put off the old self, and to put on the new.
    It was all wrapped up with forgiving because God forgave you. We will all make mistakes and hurt one another, but instead of responding in the old self, we are to respond as the new.
    Today, we will see this new self, especially as it relates to God.
    Illustration:
    There was a boy who sat on the porch with his dad. He looked at his father and said, “Dad, why did God make the sky blue?” The dad thought for a second, and said, “That is a great question, my son. But I do not know.” So the boy stared off into the sky some more, then asked “Dad, why are there so many stars in the sky?” The dad thought again and said, “Son, that is another great question, but I just don’t know.” Again, the boy sat there and asked, “Dad, why is this the only planet with life on it?” The dad responded, “Son, I really have no idea, but that is a good question. Finally as the boy sat there, he looked at his dad and asked, “Dad, do I ask too many questions?” The dad gently smirked, looked at his son and said, “If you never asked questions, how else would you learn?”
    You see, sometimes this is how we approach things in this new life in Christ. We have so many questions about our walk and faith, that many of us just don’t have the answers for people. But today, as we go through this first part of chapter 5, Paul answers some questions that I have heard many times, “As a christian, why can I not do…?”
    Imitators of God (V.1-5)
    V.1
    O: Therefore
    I: because you have been forgiven, because we are putting off and putting on the new self
    A: (Put your application here)
    O: be imitators of God, as beloved children;
    I: Just as children do what their parents do, be that way with God
    A: Whether we like it or not, our kids do what we do
    “Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
    They will say the words you say, they will treat others how you treat people, they will talk about things you talk about.
    This is what Paul is talking about, that we would do this with God.
    As we are being transformed, as we are putting on the new self, this will begin to happen.
    But it will only happen if we have a relationship, if we are in fellowship, if we are in the word, if we are praying, if we are worshipping Him. The closer we get to God, the more we naturally begin to imitate Him
    V.2
    O: and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma
    I: We are to live our lives in love for one another, with Christ as our example
    A: How do we walk in love?
    As Christ did, by giving Himself, as we see in Philippians 2:3-8
    Philippians 2:3–8 NASB95
    3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
    This was an offering, a fragrant aroma to God
    Jesus love for us was an act of submission and worship to the Father.
    John 4:34 NASB95
    34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
    John 5:30 NASB95
    30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
    John 6:38 NASB95
    38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
    John 8:29 NASB95
    29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”
    This is what Jesus did, as worship, an act and life of submission, which, He did in love. He walked in it. This is what Paul is saying we are to imitate, this is where it starts, back where we began, that we would walk worthy of our calling in humility, gentleness, patience, showing tolerance for one another.
    V.3
    O: But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
    I: Sinful behavior must not be what identifies you nor a practiced lifestyle as followers of Jesus Christ.
    A: In a world that glorifies and a church in America that debates these issues, we need to know what we are called to, or rather, what we are not called to.
    Named among you:
    These things are not what identifies us
    As is proper among the Saints:
    This is what is right and proper among God’s people, this is why we hold to our stances on marriage between man and woman, why we defend the right of the unborn, why we tell young couples to wait until marriage… because this is what is proper among the saints.
    It isn’t just trying to keep up with the Jones, it is about the putting off the old self who use to permit those things. But now, the new man, who is being created in righteousness and holiness of the truth, we are putting on.
    I would have people ask me why they can’t sleep together before marriage, while engaged. And in reality, there is nothing I can say that makes sense, especially to the flesh. But it isn’t about what makes sense to the flesh, its about what is proper among the saints, and even more, imitating God as children.
    V.4
    O: and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting…
    I: Be mindful what comes out of your mouth
    A: Sometimes its fun to laugh with the guys, or say something funny that will get a comical rise from others… but these are not things that should not be a part of our conversations any longer
    O: but rather giving of thanks
    I: Our mouths should speak thankfulness
    A: This is always the place to start… thankfulness
    This won’t be the last time this comes up, but when my mouth and words are starting to become coarse and silly joking, I find speaking words of thankfulness cleans me up.
    Why??
    Because it refocuses my mind on Christ, and not the old self
    V.5
    O: For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
    I: You know without any question that these who practice these things, the inheritance of Christ is not for them.
    A: The old, sinful life has no place in the kingdom of God.
    These sinful behaviors are not what God rewards, but rather condemns.
    These are things we are casting off
    This reminds me of Romans 8:5-10
    Romans 8:5–10 NASB95
    5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
    Do Not Be Deceived (V.6-14)
    V.6
    O: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience
    I: Do not be led astray by what others try to say that are not true, words that are powerless
    A: This is what we contend with, people telling us that God really didn’t say, or that Jesus would be the One to approve, but these are all empty and powerless words.
    In fact, it is for this reason that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
    And don’t forget what we read in Ephesians 2:1-3
    Ephesians 2:1–3 NASB95
    1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
    We were influenced by the world and the sons of disobedience in our flesh, in the old man… but not any more
    V.7
    O: Therefore do not be partakers with them; (8) for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.
    I: We are called to be separated now, not being a part of what they do, but walk and live in the truth, live in the new.
    A: Walk as children of light:
    What does light do?? It allows us to see, it allows us to see what is bad and be able to go the right way.
    V.9
    O: (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth)
    I: The life in Christ will lead to things that are good and right and true
    A: Life in Christ will never lead to darkness and sinful behavior
    V.10
    O: trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord
    I: Our hearts are set on trying to understand what pleases the Lord
    A: We always need to grow in what pleases the Lord.
    We don’t want our understanding, we want His
    Too many times, we try to please God with things we want, with our ways and our methods and efforts.
    But Paul says we are trying to learn… or in other words, we are growing in pleasing Him.
    Believe it or not, mature Christians will know better, because they have been learning. It will never end, but for young christians, it would be worth your time spending time with those who are more mature to help you along the way.
    What we do know, Remember Romans 8:8
    Romans 8:8 NASB95
    8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
    Then we think about Hebrews 11:6
    Hebrews 11:6 NASB95
    6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
    V.11
    O: Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead expose them.
    I: Don’t be one who practices what the Gentiles practice, bring things into the light.
    A: James gives us advice on this as well in James 5:16
    James 5:16 NASB95
    16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
    It isn’t about being perfect, but about confessing, exposing the things you struggle with.
    What will get you in trouble is trying to hide those things, then you have a real mess on your hands.
    V.12
    O: for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. (13) But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light
    I: Hiding things is shameful, but exposing them for what they are is freeing and good.
    A: I think of what John says in 1 John 1:5-10
    1 John 1:5–10 NASB95
    5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
    This is why we confess, so it becomes exposed and taken care of
    V.14
    O: For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
    I: Come alive and leave the dead man that you were, behind, and you will be blessed.
    A: This is the putting off of the old self. Scripture testifies to this truth, and if we want to live in the fullness of what God has, we cannot live according to the flesh, we cannot live according to the darkness any more.

      • Philippians 2:3–8NASB95

      • John 4:34NASB95

      • John 5:30NASB95

      • John 6:38NASB95

      • John 8:29NASB95

      • Romans 8:5–10NASB95

      • Ephesians 2:1–3NASB95

      • Romans 8:8NASB95

      • Hebrews 11:6NASB95

      • James 5:16NASB95

      • 1 John 1:5–10NASB95

Calvary Chapel Wenatchee
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