Through the Bible - Ephesians

One Father, we do thank You for the fact that You have given us Your Word, Lord, and that You reveal Yourself to us in the pages of these letters, these books that we have before us. We thank You for the privilege that we have, especially as we think about our team that just got back from China a couple of weeks ago and how there are places in the world where it's not easy to find Your Word. It's not easy to sit under the teaching of Your Word, and we just bless You, Lord. We thank You that You have given us the opportunity to come and to look into Your Word, to study, to fellowship together, and, Lord, to grow in You together.

So, Lord, we do pray that You would teach us and guide us in all truth now, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

The book of Ephesians. How many of you read through these six chapters over the last couple of weeks? That's good! Awesome! These smaller epistles are a lot easier to get through, huh? A little bit easier than like Ezekiel or Leviticus. Leviticus was a tough one, but that was quite a while ago.

The book of Ephesians is one of Paul's letters. In fact, it's one of his prison epistles. Paul wrote this while he was in prison in Rome. The first time he was arrested and taken into prison, he was released for a short period of time. You can read about that in the later chapters of the book of Acts. Then, of course, he was once again taken back into captivity and ultimately was beheaded for his faith and for his witness in Christ.

While he was in prison, he penned four different letters to these churches: the first one to Ephesus, then to Philippi, then to Colossae, and also to a man by the name of Philemon, who is believed to have had a church meeting in his house. He likely lived in the region of Colossae. Paul writes these letters to the region east of Jerusalem, and Ephesus was in Asia Minor. You'll remember in Acts chapter 16, Paul wanted to move up into Asia, but the Lord kept pushing him west and trying to keep him out of there.

But it was at the end of his second missionary journey and into his third missionary journey that Paul spent quite a bit of time in the city of Ephesus. In fact, he spent almost three years teaching and working miracles there. You'll remember that in that city, there was a great temple to the goddess Diana, which was one of the seven wonders of the world.

During the time that Paul was ministering, preaching the gospel, and teaching, many people came to faith. They started to turn away from paganism and from all the magicians and witchcraft books that were being written in that city. As a result, a lot of people began to lose a significant amount of money. You can read about this in Acts chapters 18 and 19, where you will see how there was a great uproar in the city of Ephesus, and they wanted to put Paul to death. Ultimately, however, the Lord performed marvelous works through the Apostle Paul as he ministered in Ephesus.

It is believed that Paul wrote this letter during that time, around A.D. 60 to 61, from Rome. It is thought that he did not only send this letter to the church at Ephesus. Many of the early manuscripts of the letter to the church at Ephesus, as we read in Ephesians 1:1, do not include the word "Ephesus." In fact, there is a blank in many of the different manuscripts. Therefore, it is believed that this was a letter sent along a route and taken to many different churches.

In Colossians 4:16, Paul makes reference to a letter that was written to the Laodiceans. The church of Laodicea was very close to Colossae, and he instructed the church at Colossae to send the letter to the church at Laodicea after they had read it, and to have them send back the letter that he had sent to them. While we do not have the letter to the Laodiceans, it is possible that we do have it in the book of Ephesians.

You will remember that in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the revelation that John received was sent to seven different churches on a circular route through Asia Minor. The first church mentioned is the church at Ephesus, and the last letter was to the lukewarm church, the Laodicean church. The seven churches included Smyrna, Sardis, Philadelphia, and so forth, with Ephesus being the first and Laodicea the last.

Many Bible scholars believe that the letter we have before us tonight, the book of Ephesians, was written to several different churches. Therefore, it is not just addressed to the church at Ephesus.

It's written to the saints that are in God. How many of you fit that description? All of us tonight. If you've believed in Christ, then you are a saint in Christ. This letter is for us, and it's an important letter. It reveals, perhaps more than any other book in the New Testament, the church in Christ. This theme is evident throughout the six chapters of the book of Ephesians. The phrases "in Him," "in Christ," and "in whom" are repeated over 30 times in these chapters, emphasizing the whole idea of you and I being in Christ.

There are many ways to divide this letter. Over the last few years, as we've gone through the books of the Bible, we've tried to outline the different passages of Scripture. There are various ways this book can be broken up. One author, Watchman Nee, wrote a book many years ago called "Sit, Walk, Stand," which was based on the book of Ephesians. He divided the book into three sections: being seated in Christ, walking in Christ, and standing in Christ, showing how the book aligns with these different areas.

For the purpose of our study tonight, we will divide this book into two sections. The first three chapters, chapters 1 through 3, deal with our position in Christ and what we have received as those who are seated in Christ. The second division, chapters 4 through 6, focuses on our practice in Christ. What changes in our lives after we have been seated in Christ in heavenly places?

In the second half of this book, chapters 4 through 6, we see about 40 different directives that God gives to His church through the Apostle Paul. We are instructed to stand, walk in Christ, follow Christ, be filled with the Spirit, and not be drunk with wine. There are many directives that we will examine as we go through this book tonight.

So, to summarize, the first section, chapters 1 through 3, addresses our position in Christ, while chapters 4 through 6 discuss the practice of the Christian. How does our position in Christ change the way we live? Our orthodoxy must always move into orthopraxy. The things we believe, the things we study, and the understanding we gain from the Word of God need to translate into action. As Paul tells the church in Philippi, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. The knowledge we acquire and the understanding we gain as we study the Scriptures should lead us to live out our faith.

Whether corporately as a group or individually in our own personal devotions, that needs to begin to be worked out in our lives. Otherwise, there is no fruit. We run into different Christians from time to time, or maybe you have been friends with someone at work for a long time. Then, all of a sudden, you see a Bible on their desk, and you ask, "Are you a Christian?" They might respond, "Yeah, I've been a Christian for 20 years." You may think, "I would have never known it." Why? Because it hasn't transformed their life. This may be due to what we will see as we go through this book tonight.

We are told in this book, in Ephesians chapter 1, that we have been given all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3 states that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. A lot of times, Christians look at that and think that those blessings come after we die, that our inheritance is heaven. However, that is not what the Scriptures say. In fact, the phrase "heavenly places" is seen several times—five times—in this book.

The first time is here in Ephesians 1:3, where it says that He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Then we see it again in verse 20 of chapter 1, which refers to what He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places. We see it again in chapter 2, verse 6. Notice that this is present tense; it is not something that is yet future. It is something that you and I possess right now.

Again, the fourth time we see that term used is in verse 10 of chapter 3, to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. We will talk about that verse in a minute because it is powerful what Paul is saying there. But notice he used the phrase "heavenly places" once again.

Finally, in chapter 6, verse 12, a verse that you have probably read or memorized before, it states, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places." Some versions say "high places," but the word is exactly the same in Greek: it is "heavenly places." Notice that he says you and I are in a spiritual battle right now in heavenly places.

This experience that we have of receiving spiritual blessings and being seated with Christ in heavenly places, and actually battling in these heavenly places, is something that is present right now. There are too many Christians living as if those heavenly places are yet to come when they die. We talked about this a little bit when we went through John chapter 17. Remember John 17:3? Jesus says, "This is eternal life, that you might know Him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent." The experience of eternal life is not something that happens when you breathe your last here on earth; it is experienced as soon as you receive Christ Jesus as Lord and come into a relationship with God by faith.

We have eternal life right now. We are currently seated in heavenly places, and we have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. This is very similar to what Peter said in his second letter, 2 Peter chapter 1. Another one of my thousands of favorite verses, 2 Peter 1:3 states, "According as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness." God, in His divine power, has given you and me everything that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue.

In verse 4, we read that we are given exceeding great and precious promises, so that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. This means that God has given you and me everything we need to live this life in a godly way. He has given us exceedingly great and precious promises and has made us partakers of His divine nature. That is powerful.

Just consider for a moment the attributes of God that we can begin to grasp with our finite minds. God has made us partakers of His very divine nature. He has given us a new nature in the fact that when we were born again, we were born again by the Spirit of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh; that which is born of Spirit is spirit. When you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, you were born again by the Spirit of God.

As Christians sang that song tonight that quoted 2 Corinthians 5:21, we are reminded that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation, as stated in verse 17. Then we read in verse 21 that He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might be the righteousness of God in Christ.

As we are in Christ, we receive His righteousness. It's not just that we become partakers of His righteousness, although we do; we actually receive and become the righteousness of God in Christ. He clothes us in His righteousness. We have received all things that pertain to life and godliness. We have been given all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, and yet too many Christians live as if they are spiritually bankrupt.

When was the last time you made a withdrawal from this infinite bank account of God's grace and the spiritual blessings He has given to you and me? Imagine that God has given you this spiritual bank account in heavenly places, and it is infinite. There is no way you could possibly ever drain it. He wants you and me to use what He has given us in Christ—all these spiritual blessings.

Ephesians chapters 1 through 3 reveal many of these blessings in powerful ways. We will look at several of them just in the first chapter. In this chapter, we see that these spiritual blessings are given to us from God, but from all three persons of the Godhead.

Let me read this to you. Ephesians chapter 1, verse 3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Here is the first blessing that God the Father has given to you and me. According to verse 4, God the Father has chosen us in Him. If you are taking notes, the first thing we receive from God is all spiritual blessings, as stated in verse 3.

God the Father has given us all spiritual blessings, but the second thing we receive from Him in verse 4 is that He has chosen us. He has set us apart as dear unto Himself. He has picked us out and chosen us for Himself. We are no longer of this world; we are not our own. He has bought us with a price, and so He has blessed us.

Continuing, verse 4 states, "According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." Verse 5 says, "Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."

So, we have been blessed by God the Father in verse 3. We have been chosen by God the Father in verse 4. We have been predestined by God the Father in verse 5, which means He determined to mark us out beforehand. On top of that, verse 5 tells us that you and I have been adopted.

Adopted into the family of God, in John chapter 1, as it talks about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we remember that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. In John chapter 1, verse 14, just a couple of verses before that, we read in John chapter 1, verse 12, that as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.

John 1, verse 12 states that as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons and daughters of God, the children of God. Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we would be called the children of God. God the Father has blessed us, chosen us, predestined us, and adopted us.

As we read on in verse 6, it says, "to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted." He has made us accepted in the Beloved. The word "accepted" in the original language literally means to make graceful or to compass with favor. God has surrounded us with favor. He has made us graceful and able to stand in His presence. He has justified us and made us accepted in the Beloved.

So, some of the blessings that we receive from God the Father include being blessed, chosen, predestined, adopted, and accepted. Moving on to verse 7, remember that at the end of verse 6, it says we were accepted in the Beloved. Who is the Beloved? Jesus.

In verse 7, speaking of the Beloved, in Jesus, we have redemption. The next blessing we receive from God comes specifically from the Son. The first five blessings we read—blessed, chosen, predestined, adopted, and accepted—came from God the Father. Now we look at God the Son. Jesus has redeemed you and me. He has released us from the payment of the great debt we owe, the wages of sin.

The wages of sin is death, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. He died on the cross for you and me. Because of the payment that He made, remember what He cried? The last words that Jesus cried...

From the cross, Jesus declared, "Telestai," which means "It is finished." This is an accounting term that signifies "paid in full." He has redeemed us. In verse 7, we read that in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. We have been redeemed and forgiven.

To be redeemed means that He has released us from the payment of a great debt or the payment of a ransom. To be forgiven means that He has released us from bondage and imprisonment. He has pardoned us and remitted our sins. Without the shedding of blood, Hebrews chapter 9 states, there can be no remission of sins. Yet, Jesus is the one who laid down His life for you and me, the Lamb of God who has come to take away the sin of the world. There on the cross, as His blood was shed for us, we can now be forgiven. So, in Christ, we are redeemed and we are forgiven.

Moving on to verse 8, we read that He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will according to the good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself. In the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in Him. In verses 8 and 9, we see that Jesus has enlightened us. He has given us understanding of this mystery that Paul discusses, and he will elaborate on it further in chapter 3.

This great mystery, which Paul speaks about extensively in his prison epistles, especially in Ephesians and Colossians, will be revealed in a couple of weeks when we get to Colossians. This mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is not just Christ in the Jew, but Christ in the Gentile as well. Ephesians reveals this in a powerful way, showing that He came to save sinners, not just one group of people, but all mankind. He is the Savior of the whole world to all who would call upon Him.

So, in Christ, we have been redeemed, we have been forgiven, and we have been enlightened and given knowledge. Reading on in verse 11, we find that in Him we have obtained an inheritance. We have obtained an inheritance being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His will. The Father has blessed us with all spiritual blessings, as stated in verse 3. He has chosen us before the foundation of the world, as noted in verse 4.

He's predestined us in verse 5. He has made us, or he has adopted us in verse 5 and made us accepted in verse 6. Jesus has come and redeemed us in verse 7, forgiven us in verse 7, enlightened us, and given us an inheritance.

Then we read of the Holy Spirit here in verse 12. That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom you also trusted after you heard the word of the truth of the gospel of your salvation. In whom also, after you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit. So from God, in the Holy Spirit, we have been sealed. He has set His mark upon you and me for our security.

There's a lot of talk for a number of years within the church about eternal security: once saved, always saved, or can I lose my salvation? Well, Romans chapter 8 says His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs and co-heirs, joint heirs with Christ. His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. If you have the seal of the Holy Spirit upon your life, then you are eternally secure in Christ. You must have the seal of the Holy Spirit, His Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

How do we know that we are the children of God? How does His Spirit bear witness with our spirit that we are His children? There are several indications that you and I are the children of God.

I've been looking at my son for the last several weeks. He's five weeks old tonight. When I look at this child, I see that everybody says he looks like me, while some people say he looks like Andrea. Others say he resembles both of us, but the only thing I see that really looks like me is his ears. He definitely has my ears, and he has Andrea's chin for sure.

There are certain marks of heredity. As you look at your own children, you can say, "Yep, that's my kid," because you begin to see the traits there. This is not only in their physical traits but also in the way they act. That can be a scary realization. I'm not looking forward to that one. I've heard from many people how they begin to see their traits in their children, often the traits they don't particularly like. I remember Eric telling us some time ago about how he heard two of his sons arguing in the next room. He came around the corner and saw his son...

EJ, who looks just like Eric, was gesturing at Wesley while talking with him. Eric looked at him and thought, "Oh no, I know where he got that." We begin to see those marks of heredity, don't we? We start to notice the traits in a son or a daughter. The same is true in Christ. When we're born again by the Spirit of God, we begin to take on the characteristics of God.

Remember, we just read in 2 Peter chapter 1 that we are partakers of His divine nature. The very nature of God begins to invade and pervade our lives from the inside out. The fruit of the Spirit is one of the characteristics seen in a child of God, with His Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

Let me tell you one of the very first characteristics you will find in a newborn babe in Christ. This characteristic shows that they are indeed a child of God, with His Spirit bearing witness with their spirit. That characteristic is hunger. Hunger for what? The pure milk of the Word. They begin to desire the Word of God. They hunger and thirst for righteousness, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled. God begins to build in them this new characteristic of righteousness.

Not only that, but one of the other first signs of life in a person who has become a believer is that they have a new desire that they never had before. The new heart desires to obey God. It desires to follow Him, to serve Him, and to love Him in a way that no unbeliever would ever want to follow Him.

As soon as you become a Christian, as soon as you receive Christ Jesus as Lord and are made a child of God by faith, the Holy Spirit sets His seal upon you. When you have that seal, the word literally means that you are marked for security. Not only does the Holy Spirit seal us, but in verse 13, He is referred to as the Holy Spirit of promise. Then in verse 14, we read that He is the earnest or the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory.

Not only are we sealed in the Holy Spirit, but we are guaranteed or assured. We are given assurance in Him. I've had people come up to me before and want me to assure them of their salvation. It's not my job to assure somebody of their salvation; that's the job...

The Holy Spirit is the one who serves as the guarantee. The word literally means a down payment, a payment that acts as a guarantee or a pledge. Given the current state of our economy, I found it interesting that something which became popular in the 1950s has resurfaced in 2008. You probably know it well because at one point in time, you may have used it. It's called layaway. How many of you have used layaway before? Kmart is doing layaway, Target is doing layaway; it has suddenly become popular again.

Why is this happening? Well, people don't have a lot of spendable income at the moment. They can't just go out and buy things, so many department stores are saying, "Don't worry, we'll do layaway." But when you use layaway, what's the first thing they tell you? You have to put down some sort of down payment, a guarantee, which in many cases is non-refundable. You can't get it back. Since you can't get it back, you're invested in it. As a result of that investment, you're going to keep hanging on and paying for it until you finally get it. It may take a while, but you want to ensure that you receive the purchased possession.

It's not yours yet, not fully. The Holy Spirit is the down payment; He is the guarantee. The guarantee of what? We are told that it is the guarantee of our inheritance. What is our inheritance? It is the very same inheritance that the children of the tribe of Levi had in the Old Testament. They didn't receive a lot of land or a parcel of ground for their inheritance. God was their inheritance.

You and I have an inheritance as well, and God is our inheritance, just like the Levites of old. We look for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God, not an earthly city. We are looking forward to that future city, but we are going to inherit God Himself. As a down payment, God has given us His Holy Spirit, a piece of Himself—not the whole, only in part.

Thus, you and I have been given the guarantee, the down payment of God as our inheritance in the Holy Spirit. It proves to us that we will one day fully be redeemed. We are like that product down at Target that maybe you put a few dollars down on for layaway, and you're waiting to finally pay it off.

And finish it, but the money has been paid to put it on hold. God has purchased us; He has put us on layaway, so to speak. There is coming a day when He will come to redeem us completely. We are looking forward to that day, aren't we? That's why we say, "Come, Lord Jesus, come." The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come."

God the Father has blessed us. He has chosen us, predestined us, adopted us, and accepted us. Jesus has redeemed, forgiven, enlightened, and given us an inheritance. The Holy Spirit has sealed us and guaranteed that one day He will come again. We have a portion of God here now with us in Christ.

The book of Ephesians really builds upon the theme of the church—the church in Christ. There are six characteristics that the book of Ephesians reveals about the church. The first one is found here in chapter 1. We read down in verse 21, but we'll start in verse 20: "Which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality, power, might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come. He has put all things under His feet and gave Him to be the head over all things of the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."

The first thing that we find about the church is that it is the body of Christ, as revealed in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 23. Not only is the church the body of God, but in chapter 2, we see the second characteristic about the church. In verse 19, we read: "Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints of God and of the household of God. You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit."

The church is the body.

The church is not only the body of Christ, but it is also the temple of God. Remember, Paul tells us this in 1 Corinthians chapter 6: "Do you not know that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit?" The church is the body of God; it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, we find in chapter 3 that the church is a mystery. It was a mystery in the Old Testament, as God was building this church. The mystery is revealed in Colossians: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." In Ephesians chapter 3, verse 5, we read that this mystery, which in other ages was not made known, is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. It states that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.

Wherefore, I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace is given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Thus, the church—this body, this gathering together that God has created—is His body and His temple. It is a mystery revealed in the New Testament. Jesus is the one who brings to light that mystery through His death, burial, and resurrection. From His death, burial, and resurrection came the birthing of this church, which is His body and the temple—a mystery in times past.

In chapter 4, we find that not only is the church His body and the temple of the Holy Spirit, but it is also a mystery revealed by Christ. In Ephesians chapter 4, verse 22, we read that we are to put off concerning our former conduct the old man, which is corrupt according to its deceitful lusts. We are to be renewed in the spirit of our minds and put on the new man.

We are called to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. The church is this new man that God has called us to be. We are called to leave our former conduct, and we will discuss that a little bit more in just a moment.

Then, in chapter 5, we read something else about the church. As Paul is talking here in verse 24, he says...

Therefore, the church, as the church, is subject to Christ. So let wives be subject to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. The church is the bride of Christ.

In the book of Genesis, you remember back in Genesis chapters 2 and 3, that God caused all the animals He had created to pass before Adam. However, there was something that Adam found as all these animals passed by: there was not a helper comparable to him. So, God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and He took from his side something—some translations say a rib. We don't fully know what it was that God took, but He took something from his side and created a bride.

The first Adam is interesting because there on the cross, you'll remember that Jesus was pierced with a spear, and out came blood and water. From the second Adam, from His side, came the bride, the church. The church is His body; the church is a mystery; the church is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The church is this new man created in righteousness, but the church also is a bride.

In chapter 6, we also find that we, as the church, as the body of Christ, as the temple of God, are in a spiritual battle. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore, we are to take up the whole armor of God that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. We’ve got to stand.

The church is also a soldier here on earth in this great struggle that God has called you and me to stand in. We have been given weapons; we have been given armor. We read here that we are to stand, having our loins girt with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. We are to take up the shield of faith, wherewith we will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, and the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We are to be praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. As the body of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the bride of Christ, we are to stand in this battle against the enemy. God has given us the ability to stand; He has provided all that we need to be able to stand in Christ.

In fact, every single one of the spiritual blessings that we find in Ephesians chapters 1 through 3 is given to us so that we can accomplish the directives He gives us in chapters 4 through 6. The spiritual blessings promised to us in chapters 1 through 3 are intended for us to fulfill the work He has assigned to us in chapters 4 through 6.

What is the work that He has given us to do? I counted 40 different things as I studied this week. The first one is that we are to walk worthy of the calling with which we are called. We are to walk in lowliness, meekness, long-suffering, and forbearance in love. This means standing in patience and love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, as we read in Ephesians chapter 4.

We are not to be tossed around or carried away by deceitful doctrines. Instead, we are to speak the truth in love. We are not to walk as the Gentiles walk; we are to put off our former conduct and old ways. We are to be renewed in the spirit of our mind and put on the new man, as Ephesians 4 tells us.

We are to put away lying and speak the truth. We are to be angry but not sin. If we have a problem with stealing, it says to get a job and give. It is pretty simple and clear: stop stealing, work, and give. We are not to speak with corrupt communication but rather to speak that which imparts grace to those who hear.

Paul also tells us that we are not to grieve the Holy Spirit. We are to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice. We are to be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving. We are to follow God as dear children and walk in love. We are to put away fornication, uncleanness, filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting. We are to give thanks in all things and for everything. We are not to be associated with the...

We are called to be children of light, not to walk in the ways of disobedience or with unbelievers in this world. This means we should not pattern our lives after theirs. However, it does not mean that we should isolate ourselves from them. We are to seek to bring Christ into their world. Remember, Jesus was called a winebibber because He hung around with drunkards. He was called a glutton because He associated with those who were having a good time.

We can be in the world, but we are not to be of the world. The best way to say it is that a boat is good in the water, but the water is not good in the boat. Similarly, we are to walk as children of light. The book of Ephesians tells us that we are to have no fellowship with the works of darkness. The word "fellowship" there is the word "koinonia." This concept is something that we in the West do not typically understand. In the Middle East, when people would sit down and have a meal together, breaking bread and sharing the same food, they believed they were united. There was a bond that took place because that food became part of both of them, creating a sense of communion.

Therefore, we are not to have fellowship with the works of darkness. We are to walk circumspectly, which means with our eyes wide open and our ears attentive, not as fools. You and I are to redeem the times. We are not to be drunk with wine but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We are called to worship and, once again, to give thanks. We are to submit to one another—husbands to wives, wives to husbands—because it says to submit one to another in the fear of God.

This submission extends to children to parents, servants to masters, and masters to the Lord. In chapters 4 through 6, we are instructed to put on the armor of God and stand fast. These directives that we have been given cannot be accomplished unless we utilize the spiritual blessings that God has promised to us in chapters 1 through 3. Many people desire to live righteously; they want to stop lying and start speaking the truth. They want to refrain from stealing and instead be generous. They wish to avoid anger and the constant presence of sin in their lives.

To be filled with malice, anger, and wrath is not the goal. Instead, we want to be tenderhearted and forgiving. Yet, many keep trying to do this in their own strength, not relying on the blessings of chapters 1 through 3. This is why I believe Watchman Nee's approach to this book is so important. We need to first learn how to sit in Christ before we can begin to walk in Christ and ultimately stand for Christ.

We must take the time to understand what we have in this spiritual bank account, in this heavenly checkbook, and learn how to use the gifts that God has given to us. We are those who are redeemed, forgiven, adopted, and accepted. There are so many different things that we have in Christ.

Chapter 2, verse 1 says, "And you He has quickened, who are dead in trespasses and sins." In times past, you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. Among whom you also had your conduct in former times, in the lusts of your flesh, fulfilling the desires of your flesh and of your mind. By nature, you were the children of wrath, even as the others.

But God—circle that word in verse 4. Those words show us who we were, but God is the one who stepped in and intervened. You see, you and I could never have departed from that old life, from that old way, apart from Him stepping in with His riches and His grace. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ. By grace, you are saved.

It had to start with His spiritual bank account; it had to start with His riches. Otherwise, you and I could never fulfill the directives. The same way that we are saved is the same way that we stand now in Christ. This is the problem we looked at a couple of weeks ago when we were in the book of Galatians. Remember, that was a church that was justified by faith, saved by a spiritual work in God, and yet they tried to perfect themselves by the works of the flesh, relying on their own strength.

"You He has quickened, who are dead in trespasses and sins." By grace, you are saved, and He has raised us up together and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ. This is so that in the ages to come, He might show the exceeding riches of His grace and His kindness toward us through Jesus Christ.

"For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." You see, He created us in Christ to accomplish good works.

Good works are only effective as He works in and through you and me, and as we yield to His working and to His hand. I mentioned a little while ago that we would come back to this verse, and we are going to do so now in Ephesians chapter 3, verse 10. I want you to notice what it is that God wants to do with you, with me, with this church, and with the body of Christ as a whole—not just Calvary Chapel of Escondido, but the entire church that is His body, His temple, His bride.

This mystery, as Ephesians 3:10 says, is to the intent that now, unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. What does that mean? What are principalities and powers? They are not just demons; they include angels and other spiritual beings. Notice what God is saying here: this is the intent of the church of God. He wants to use His church to show angels and demons His manifold wisdom. That's pretty awesome! I bet you didn't realize that was your purpose.

There has been a lot of talk over the last several years about the purpose-driven church and the purpose-driven life, but the purpose of the church is to show all creation just how smart God is—to reveal the manifold wisdom of God. To that intent, God has given some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, as stated in Ephesians 4:11. Why? For the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

You see, the purpose of the body of Christ ultimately is to demonstrate just how awesomely smart and wise God is to all creation, including angels and demons. Yet, God has chosen the foolish things of this world—prophets, evangelists, apostles, pastors, and teachers—to build up the body of Christ by teaching them the Word. This is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ until we all come to the unity of faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, and to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

God is doing an amazing work. He has been doing it for centuries, for millennia.

The beginning of creation, He has been involved in this work. As we will see when we get into Philippians chapter 1 next week, we can be confident that He who began this work will be faithful to complete it. Ultimately, the purpose of the church is to show just how wise and awesome our God is, to prove to angels and demons alike, in all creation, that God knows what He is doing.

How many times in your life have you questioned and wondered, "I don't think God knows what He's doing"? He does. He has a plan. He is never late; He is always on time. He knows what He is doing, but He wants to use this body. He wants to use us as His temple. One day, He will show us off as His bride, with the intent that you and I would blow the minds of everything that is created, that they would see just how awesome, powerful, and wise our God is.

I encourage you to take some time to study through this book more slowly. I think of all the books of the Bible; I have probably memorized more passages from the book of Ephesians, not on purpose, but just because I have read it so many times. This book sticks out to me as a gem of the New Testament. Ephesians and Romans are probably the two books that are the most filled with doctrine, and they are important for us to read, understand, and memorize.

If there is anything you take from this tonight, remember that our purpose is to show forth the wisdom of God, how powerful and awesome He is. I hope you and I, by His grace, will fulfill that. But remember, it is His work. Fall in love with, memorize, and study the first three chapters of the book of Ephesians. Get to know the riches you have in Christ so that you can fulfill the directives He has given to us. We can walk circumspectly as wise, not as fools, understanding the time; the days are evil. Amen. May we redeem the time, being filled with the Spirit, and having done all to stand, therefore, let us stand.

Father, would You cause in us a hunger?

And a thirst for Your Word like we've never had before, Lord. That it would be the first thing that we desire when we wake up in the morning and the very last thing that we want before we lay down to go to sleep. Lord, it would be the desire of our soul all day long, cause we know Your promise: those that hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled.

I pray for this small group on Saturday nights that You would fill them to overflowing with Your grace and Your power. Lord, we know that You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think by Your power. We pray, Lord, that You would work through Your church in this nation exceedingly and abundantly.

But, Lord, I pray that You would help us to rely upon the spiritual blessings that You have given to us to accomplish the task at hand. Lord, not to try and drum it up or raise it up from our own energies, because it's not by might nor by our power, but by Your Spirit.

Lord, I pray that You would remind us every single day that we need to be plugged into You, abiding in You, trusting in You. You're the one who's made us accepted. You've redeemed us, You've forgiven us. Lord, You've given us an inheritance, You've sealed us, and given us the guarantee of the down payment.

We look forward to the day when You will come and redeem us, body, soul, and mind. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen. Love You. Thank You.