JFC

Introduction: Recap

-Paul kicks of Ephesians giving praise to God, for all He has done for us...

What has he done for us?

a) He has blessed us with every Spiritual Blessing in the heavenly realm

Chosen

Adopted

His grace

Redeemed

Forgiven

The Holy Spirit

He has given inheritance

We are His inheritance

b) God has equipped us with everything we need to walk in the light

1. (V17) Spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might (grow) in knowledge of God

A) Through the Holy Spirit, we gain wisdom and insight through things like ⬇️

Bible study, daily devotions, prayer, fellowship, and serving the Lord are the five elements that help us grow

B) Trials help us grow in knowledge of God

Trials should leads us to direct dependency upon Him

As we go through trials and we seek God’s wisdom it helps us to grow in knowledge

C) Ultimately, knowledge should leads us to grow maturity

“To know Him better is to grow in holiness”

Graduate to eating solid food, no longer babes drinking breast milk

2. (V18-19) Paul prays that we understand two things

Understand the confident hope to His holy people who are rich

Understand the greatness of His Power in the believer

2.1 (V18) Confident hope

Paul prays our heart will be flooded with light

That your hope my not run dry

Picture a cup that is overflowing with water and never runs out.

The people around you are splashed by the overflow of your cup

A) In life there is uncertainty, we face trials, and even tragedy

Paul states in 2 Cor, the trails come from every angle, from the outside and within

The battle of the mind in the midst of trials

Confident in our hope and the promises of God

2.2 We are His holy people who are His rich inheritance

A) We are valued by God

At times we can feel insignificant

2.3 (V19) Understand the incredible greatness of His power

1 Cor 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk, it is living by the power of God”.

A) Dunamis is the greek word for power, which gives the believer the ability to do supernatural things like miracles or to live a moral existence

The power to overcome drug and alcohol, lust or anger, etc.

To overcome temptation

Gal 5:16 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”

The spirit doesn’t overtake us or force us to walk in obedience

You must yield to Him

2 Cor 1:9 “In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.”

2.4 (V20) Mighty power that raised Christ from the dead

Far above any ruler or authority

Christ has authority over all

2.5 (V23) The church is His body

Made full and complete

Eph 3:10 “God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

3. (2:1) Paul reminding them and us of our past

Remember, Ephesus was place similar to S.F where every type of evil existed.

It’s possible some were slipping back to their old ways

A) (V2) Twice it says that we used to live in sin

Remember, where you have come from and don’t go back

The temptation is to go back

God delivers the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and they begin to complain

When we think about the past we often remember the good but forget the bad

New Creation In Christ:

2 Cor 5:17 “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

B) We no longer obey the former commander

3.1 (V2) He (Satan) is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God

A) How is it that people commit heinous crimes?

or

Look at the our political and social issues in our country today.

Debating over weather women are actually women or birthing people, allowing men to compete against women, allowing men into women locker rooms and bathrooms

According to msn.com teachers in Ca, N.J, and Maryland help kids have a sex change without parents permission

The push to slaughter babies and justify it as a women’s right to choose

2 Thes 2:10-11 “He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies.”

Satan is at work in their heart

3.2 (V3) By our very nature we are subject to God’s anger

Blind (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

A slave to sin (Romans 6:17).

A lover of darkness (John 3:19-20).

Sick (Mark 2:17).

Lost (Luke 15).

An alien, a stranger, a foreigner (Ephesians 2:12, 2:19).

A child of wrath (Ephesians 2:3).

Under the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13).

Born with inherited sin nature

As babies, our two youngest daughters would love to pull my wife’s hair

A) We come out of the womb rebelling against God

B) Our nature separates from God and is subjects us to God’s wrath

C) Christians must have compassion for the unsaved

Someone had compassion for us and shared the Gospel

4. (V4) But God

A) Rich in His mercy and love, loved us while we were in rebellion against Him

B) With our human understanding it’s tough to understand the love of God

4.1 (V7) We are examples of His wealth, grace, and kindness

A) Our testimony

Our changed life is witness of God’s power, mercy, grace, and love

4.2 (V8) Saved by grace through faith

A) Salvation has nothing to do with us and everything to do with God

4.3 (V10) Created for good works (God’s masterpiece or workmanship)

A) God created us for good works

Love and worship God

Be obedient

Share your hope with the unsaved