BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 3:14-21 (Review)

In today's lesson we revisited Ephesians 3:14-21. In this passage, Paul begins by writing: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (3:14). In the first three chapters he addressed the Ephesians as a group of believers who are rich beyond measure in Jesus Christ, yet living as beggars because they are ignorant of their great wealth.

As we conclude another Christmas season and celebration of the coming of the Lord in human form, I asked, "Are you in a position to receive the love of Christ?" After Paul wrote of the riches that belong to everyone who is "in Christ", he then intercedes that they "May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height..." (3:18) of their riches. He prays a prayer of realization for those who belong to Christ "...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (3:19)

The state of the church in America is headed down a slippery slope. The rate of decline of spirituality continues to pick up speed (see slides 8-12); with each new generation, the decline grows deeper. More and more Americans (many Christians included) believe that religion is no longer important in life. The group called "nones" has grown from 5% in the 1930s and 1940s to almost 23% in 2014. This group claims to be atheist, agnostic, or have no religion. Each new generation produces a larger percentage of nones. Millennials are by far the most likely generation to identify with this group.

Paul lived in a dark time where idol worship and drunken, gluttonous feast (most claimed to be religious in nature) were common. His prison epistles are aimed at instructing those who are new believers in Christ to be "filled with all the fullness of God." To "make manifest the light." To walk "not as fools, but as wise." To "understand what the will of the Lord is." To "grieve not the holy Spirit of God..."

As 21st-century Christians, we face a great challenge. We can choose to drift with the ever-increasing majority of Americans who believe that God has no real relevance or importance in life today, or we can SURRENDER, OBEY, and TRUST! The consequences of our decision are far-reaching. Statistical evidence shows that without parents, mentors, teachers, and leaders who are walking in Truth, future generations of Americans are destined to grow old without wisdom, unaware of their God-given riches and purpose in life.

As Paul urged "...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Make the choice today to S.O.T. by praying this prayer:

"Lord Jesus, today I make an unconditional surrender of all my life to your loving care and control. Let your strength, wisdom, peace and purpose rule in my life. Amen."

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 5:22-33 (Part I)

Marriage As It was Meant to Be - (Part I)

Our entertainment-saturated society helps feed all sorts of illusions about reality. The fantasy of the perfect romantic and sexual relationship, the perfect lifestyle, and the perfect body all prove unattainable because the reality never lives up to the expectation. Let me repeat that last part: the reality never lives up to the expectation. Expectations built on a lie will always crumble in the face of reality. The hardest hit is the marriage relationship.

A society that does not honor and protect marriage undermines its very existence. Why? Because one of God's designs for marriage is to show the next generation how a husband and wife demonstrate reciprocal, sacrificial love toward each other. One of the most explicit passages of Scripture that outlines God's standard for marriage is Ephesians 5:22-33.

This topic is so vital to our having healthy, positive marriages (even for those who are not yet married) that I felt we should not rush this lesson. During the introduction today I played a 5-minute video of Andy Andrews (author and speaker) telling the story titled "Burn the Boats".

In 1519, for Hernando Cortez and his conquerors, while outnumber 5:1, burning the boats eradicated any notion of retreat from the minds of the troops and required unwavering commitment to the cause. Defeat was not an option. I found this to be an excellent illustration for the type of "commitment" that is required in marriage. We could also look at it as a powerful illustration for commitment in our spiritual lives. This kind of commitment means that you are "all in". No turning back.

Next week I will finish chapter 5 in Ephesians as we look at the details outlined by Paul for building a "Marriage As It was Meant to Be."

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 5:1-21 (Part II)

I began the lesson this morning with this verse: "In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper." Proverbs 23:32. I asked, what does the verse refer to? The answer: wine.

Nothing is more ridiculous, almost laughable, to me than listening to two "religious" people debate Christian liberties and acts of obedience. When I speak of "religious" I am referring to those who are either carnal (Christians walking in the flesh, not in the Spirit), or those who are without Christ altogether. Favorite topics of the "religious" seem to always be "giving" and "drinking." When you unpack both of these topics you typically find the "boxes" filled with excuses and defenses to protect and guard a dark soul.

Churches across America are replete with "religious" people who are unwilling to surrender, obey, and trust. Paul's message to the Ephesians is also a message to us. He urges those who are "in Christ" to walk as children of The Light. Christ is The Light. In verse 14, he quotes a passage from Isaiah urging those who are asleep in their spiritual lives to "AWAKE you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."

To expound on Ephesians 5:18, I shared John MacArthur's message titled "Christians and Alcohol". It is important that we understand the context of drinking alcohol from Paul's perspective at the time of his writing. 

First, I think we will all agree that scripture is crystal-clear on the matter of drunkenness. Drunkenness is a sin that separates the believer from Christ. It keeps the believer from walking in God's purpose. You are drunk when you lose your self-control at any point. This has always been an issue, both in Old and New Testament times. Those who are "in Christ" should avoid, at all cost, being drunk.

Secondly, wine in our modern world is not the same as it was in Biblical times. Religious defenders will continue to argue this point. The bottom line is not about drinking, but more importantly that we be "...filled with the Spirit." (5:18)

We continued in Ephesians chapter 5, picking up in 5:6: "Let no man deceive you..." Verse 7 says, "... Therefore, do not be partakers with them." "Them..." are those who walk in darkness.

(8-11) "...but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."

Many believers are asleep spiritually. They are adrift with the culture, as a boat without a rudder. Their priority is being accepted by others rather than fulfilling their God-given purpose (God's will) for their lives. As a result, their lives are being "spent" on temporary pleasures.

Paul urges followers of Christ to AWAKE! Arise from the dead. (15-17) "See then that you walk circumspectly (carefully, wisely, not as fools), not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Next week I will complete chapter 5 and look at what Paul has to say to the Ephesians about the relationship between wives and husbands.