Bulletins - A Place Of Grace

My wife and I could not understand why our two year old son was hitting his face with his toy phone. As new parents we felt this was not normal. It was a few days later that my wife determined it was my fault that our son was hitting his face. As Lisa observed me speaking on the phone she noticed how I hung up… (close lid with chin)
My son watched closely observed me
My sons desired to be like me
My son even if he didn’t fully understand… imitated his father because he wanted to be like me.
Preston prays beginning “Gracious Heavenly Father”
There are things a child will do and say and even be because of… who’s child they are!
I got a new job when I was in high school, my father walked into the store… they immediately recognized his as my father because I walked like him…
Proximity, observation, and time will cause one to imitate aspects of someone… add a desire to be like that individual and you will soon begin to observe great similarities!
What if… this occured in your life and mine concerning GOD!!!… Ephesians 5:1-2
Ephesians 5:1–2 NLT
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Our Directive
Our Directive is clear: “IMITATE GOD”… let’s not make this too complicated once again.
THEREFORE… Paul is continuing to build his argument and build on the directives that he already stated were coming directly form God Himself… these are not Paul’s ideas.
Ones not controlled by anger
We speak truth
We find ourselves working hard and giving
Our speech is helpful and uplifting
We bring the Holy Spirit within us joy by how we live
We practice: kindness being tenderhearted and WE FORGIVE one another!!!
THEREFORE… IMITATE GOD! … Paul even writes out for us clearly to what extent we are to imitate Him…
The Extent
Let’s not make this too complicated… God wants it ALL!
Consider Exodus 34:14 “You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.”
Exodus 34:14 NLT
You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.
You and I are to imitate God in everything… WHY!!!???
The Reason
We are His children… as our Heavenly Father He could simply reply “because I said so” and He does sometimes because we are not able to understand the reasoning. HOWEVER, here He gives us a reason… “you are my dear, loved children”
agapetos (dear children, beloved): the one who is or the object of one’s affections, love, dear to, uniquely loved… you and I are so precious and special to God Almighty!
The God of the universe desires to be close and intimate
God desires time with you and me!
You and I are the recipients of God’s “agape -love”
As the recipients of His love He calls us to live a life or WALK in this love… we are to IMITATE his AGAPE LOVE as we live!
The Walk
How do we do this!?… I have been reading and pondering Psalm 119 as of late in my times with the Lord. The Psalm focuses on so many aspects of God’s Word… Psalm 119:1-9
Psalm 119:1–9 NLT
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
We walk and live for Him best when we are close, when we follow His Word
We are also given an example… God in flesh
The Example
God in the flesh came and showed us how to live, how to walk…
Christ Jesus demonstrated pure Agape Love
Christ Jesus demonstrated SACRIFICE… selfless He sacrificed for you and me!
There is an example in Christ Jesus that we have to serve, sacrifice, love to live humbly…
Philippians 2:3-5 states it clearly…
Philippians 2:3–5 NLT
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Discover Jesus Christ more deeply, observe Him, draw close to Him… BE LIKE HIM
In case his readers were confused on what this looked like, we are given a clear contrast… Ephesians 5:3-5
Ephesians 5:3–5 NLT
Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
Our Contrast
Paul lays out quite the list for us to consider… it is a stark contrast we see PRIDE vs HUMIITY… SELFISH vs SELFLESS
Next week we will look in further detail to this contrast as Paul continues building his case for us to WALK IN THE LIGHT
I find it interesting as we look at these things they can all fall under the heading of:
Selfish Ambitions (Pride)
Sexual Immorality (porneia) … this entails all types of sexual sin (Prostitution, homosexuality, fornication, adultery)
Impurity… this is in a negative, where something is to be pure and clean… impurity pollutes!
We live in a world that cheers for and desire the impure! How sad...
These things degrade our minds, hearts and society… they do enhance or improve our lives
Greed… (covetousness) and insatiable appetite for more things, sex, impurities…
Obscene stories, foolish talk, coarse jokes…
Charles Swindoll summed this up this way… It’s not a stretch to translate this colloquially as “talking like a moron.” In Scripture, fool doesn’t primarily refer to a person lacking intellectual ability but to somebody who denies the reality of God. David wrote, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’ ” (Ps. 14:1). Historically, mōros pointed to “a practical denial of God as the Judge of good and evil.” Mōrologia refers to pointless, empty, and foolish talk—unnecessary verbiage that’s neither profitable nor edifying.
Coarse joking… tainted innuendoes, making something innocent turn into something sensual, immoral or suggestive…
We refer to these people and “jokes” as those whose mind in in the gutter
We grow numb or dull to this (proximity / time) even to the point we can find ourselves speaking or behaving this way
Paul says these are NOT FITTING for the children of God… you would never see Jesus acting or speaking this way.
Selfless Drive (Humility)
We MUST have the same attitude / behavior as Jesus.
When we Agape Love… we give of our self to others
When we Sacrifice… we lay our desires, our wants, ourselves for the Lord’s desires
Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”
Romans 12:1 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
In gratitude and thankfulness… we appreciate so much all God has done, we set aside ourselves and LIVE / WALK for Him as He walks…
In HUMILITY we see ourselves not greater but lesser
We hold others up, we lift them up, we lift up the NAME of the Lord
God has an expectation for His children that He loves so deeply… and we see a stern warning her as well…
A Stern Warning
Belief / Behavior
We have looked at in Chapter 1 being “sealed by the Holy Spirit” in our relationship to God and HIs Family
We see that God has a STANDARD for His children
We are not speaking of losing one’s salvation… Galatians speaks to this as well
We are warning of a reflection here...
The heart is desperately wicked who can know it, we can fool ourselves
Psalmist over and over challenges us to examine our hearts
Jesus would say there are some who will depart from Him… He never knew them
WHY??? Do these things have no place… because they are Idols, Idol worship!
Idolatry: the worship of a physical object or tangible thing as a god, immoderate attachment or devotion to something
An idol is any desire, ideal, or expectation that you worship, serve, and long for—which means idolatry extends far beyond ancient statues to modern pursuits like relationships, success, or self-gratification.
Rather than loving God completely, we turn toward idols to satisfy us, seeking fulfillment through things like food, pornography, romance, things, exercise, or toxic relationships.
The path forward centers on reorienting your affections toward God himself.
This isn’t merely intellectual; it’s a transformative encounter that redirects your worship.
Equally important is finding genuine satisfaction in God rather than in substitutes.
When we experience the pleasure and delight in God, you become free from pursuing pleasure in worldly things.
Allow God to overwhelm you with the power of his satisfaction.
Cultivate an awareness of God’s sufficiency and goodness
Each time you feel the pull toward a substitute satisfaction, pause and redirect that longing toward God.
The antidote to idolatry isn’t willpower alone; it’s beholding a God so magnificent and so sufficient that lesser things naturally fade in importance.
Ephesians 5:6-7 closes us with a CAUTION for today’s message…
Ephesians 5:6–7 NLT
Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do.
Closing Cautions
Do NOT be Fooled!
We can be fooled by sly talk (garden serpent)
We can fool ourselves (selfish hearts)
Do NOT make Excuses!
Rather take God’s Word and listen… obey… evaluate your heart…
Identifying idolatry in your own life
Start by examining your inner life—your imagination, emotions, and desires
Consider what you fear most, hope for,
Consider what you’re passionate about, what you desire most
Consider what makes you extremely angry or sad
These emotional responses can reveal what you’re truly valuing
Look at your practical choices—
Where you spend time, money, and attention.
Notice what activities you’d rather do instead of spiritual disciplines
Examine your spiritual practices and relationships
How often you pray, is it just exercise or genuine worship
How do you respond when God doesn’t answer prayers like you wanted
Reflect on your relationships (all of them)
Do they lead you away from God or closer to Him
A child will imitate the Heavenly Father when there is
Proximity, observation, and time add to that a desire to be like that HIM and you will soon begin to observe great similarities!
- - Ephesians 5:1–2NIV2011
- - Exodus 34:14NIV2011
- - Psalm 119:1–9NIV2011
- - Philippians 2:3–5NIV2011
- - Ephesians 5:3–5NIV2011
- - Psalm 37:4NIV2011
- - Romans 12:1NIV2011
- - Ephesians 5:6–7NIV2011

Our Directive

The Extent

The Reason

The Walk

The Example

Our Contrast

Selfish Ambitions (Pride)

Selfless Drive (Humility)

A Stern Warning

Closing Cautions

Ephesians 5:1–2NIV2011

Exodus 34:14NIV2011

Psalm 119:1–9NIV2011

Philippians 2:3–5NIV2011

Ephesians 5:3–5NIV2011

Psalm 37:4NIV2011

Romans 12:1NIV2011

Ephesians 5:6–7NIV2011