July/29/ 2018
Summer SOAP
Ephesians 5
KNOWING GOD CHANGES EVERYTHING
SCRIPTURE:
Ephesians 5:3-14 “Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 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. 6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible.”
OBSERVATION: The more I know God the more I will know PURITY.
verse 9-10 “For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.”
1. Our testimony
Verse 3 “Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.”
2. Our intimacy
verse 7 “Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!”
3. Our security
4. Our eternity
Verse 3-5 “Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
APPLICATION: How do we live pure in an impure world?
1. A lack of restraint leads to a life of regret
Verse 7 “Don’t participate in the things these people do.
verse 11 “Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness
verse 12 “It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.”
Proverbs 5:7-8 “Now then, my sons, listen to me;
do not turn aside from what I say. 8
Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,
Proverbs 5:11-12 “At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. 12 You will say, “How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! 13 I would not obey my teachers or turn my ear to my instructors. 14 And I was soon in serious trouble”
2. Private sin leads to public disgrace.
verse 10-14 “ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible.
Luke 8:17 “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”
3. Pure living leads to Gods favor
verse 8-9 “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.”
Psalm 51:10-12 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me...Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
PRAYER: GOD HELP ME TO LIVE IN PURITY!
July/08/ 2018
LG Summer Series
Ephesians 4
Key thought: KNOWING GOD CHANGES EVERYTHING.
SCRIPTURE:
Ephesians 4:1-7 “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 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. 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. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
OBSERVATION: The more I know God the more I will know peace
verse 1b “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
verse 2-3 “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.
Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”
James 4:1 NCV “Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that war within you. 2 You want things, but you do not have them. So you are ready to kill and are jealous of other people, but you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight.”
Proverbs 13:10 NCV “Pride only leads to arguments, but those who take advice are wise.”
Galatians 5:19-22 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.”
APPLICATION: How do we live in peace in a divided world?
1. MAKE THE EFFORT
verse 3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of PEACE.”
Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on YOU, live at peace with everyone.”
2. CHANGE THE FOCUS
verse 3-4 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of PEACE. 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.”
Romans 14:19 (Phillips) “Let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony, and on the growth of one another’s character.”
3. LIVE IN GRACE
verse 4-7 “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. 7 But to each one of us GRACE has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
PRAYER: God we want to live in your peace
July/08/ 2018
Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21 “14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every 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 Lord’s holy people, 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. 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.”
Observation: The more I know God the more I will know HIS POWER
1. Who gives the power?
verse 16 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit…”
John 16:7 “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
2. Where does the power work?
verse 16 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”
I Corinthians 13:1 “Speak in tongues of men and angels but have not love…”
3. What is that power for?
verse 20 NLT “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.”
Acts 1:8 “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses…”
Application: How do I experience this power?
1.Grow in the Spirit
verse 16 “with power through his Spirit…”
Ephesians 5:18 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit”
Ephesians 5:18 International Standard Version “Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit.”
2. Get connected to God’s people
verse 18 “together with all the Lord’s holy people…”
3. Go deep in God’s love
verse 17 “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, 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.
Luke 11:9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Prayer: God we want to know your power to accomplish your purposes.
