The Letter to the Ephesians     Message Twenty Two

We find in the first part of this chapter the command to reflect the Lord in our lives.  We are instructed in this by walking in love, giving thanks, avoiding sin, revealing truth,  proving God’s Will, redeeming the time, and being wise.

How are we to accomplish God’s will , to fulfil His purpose for us in our lives.  We will note three things that we must act upon this –

X.  Pattern of new life. 

The Lord has been teaching us about the church (the assembly). Not just any church (any assembly), but His Church (His Assembly) which when assembled (coming together), is His Body and represents Him to the world through His Word.

Do you what this assembly is – it is a place of miracles – not the miracles that we often hear of, but of great miracles, eternal miracles.  Remember what the Lord told us through what He told His disciples as recorded in –

Luke 10:17-20  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Sinners become saints, and saints become students, and students become servants!

Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This miracle involves grace, and faith, and submission, and service,

Ephesians 2:8-10  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

– which is a greater miracle than that which much of the Christian world acknowledges!  They want to see fireworks and hear explosions, but salvation is a quiet birth from above, leading to service is a steady growth day to day, declared righteous and with the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, may able to live a holy life –

1 Peter 1:15-16  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Have you chosen to obey the Lord in salvation and then in service?  Look what the Lord is focusing on again as He led Paul to continue writing about obedience and growing in the Lord –

Ephesians 5:1,2  Be ye therefore followers (imitators) of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Have you considered the difference between ‘dear children’ and the children of this world? 

“…As dear children…” – a real difference between the children of the Lord and the children of the world –

2 Kings 2:23  And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

Dear children will reverence God and respect believers.  The children of this world will reject God and revile believers as the world teaches them to do.

  A.  We are to be like Him, following in His steps – imitating as ‘dear children’ –

1 Peter 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

  B.  We are to be loving as He loves –

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

  C.  We are to be living as He lived –

         John 20:21 As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you

Sometimes we may not even notice the changes that are taking place, but you may be sure that if we walk as He walked, and love as He loved, and live as He lived, we are changing!  The Light in us is shining brighter in this dark world.  This light is Christ –

Colossians 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Jesus warned us that we should not hide the light –

Luke 11:33  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.