Ephesians 5-5.18.22
Marriage and Family
Scripture
Ephesians 5:21-22:
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
Observation-What does it say?
The Apostle Paul is giving a parallel between Christ and His Church to the marriage between a husband and a wife.
Understanding-What does it mean?
There is a parallel between the church and the home.
God is a God of order and the same way that there is order of submission in the church in order to be set apart from the world, there is also order of submission in the home.
Early on in the chapter, the Apostle Paul was telling the church that there should not be a hint of sexual immorality, impurity or greed. (“For this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a person is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” verse 5). Before that, He talks about following God’s example and being children of the light.
Let’s zoom out further in this chapter and go up to verse 6 in Ephesians 5-“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore DO NOT be partners with them.”
Let’s put this all together now. A healthy church is when we are submitted to Christ FIRST and then we become fruitful. The same goes for a healthy marriage. Both partners must be submitted to Christ FIRST, then healthy submission to each other occurs as a fruit of it.
Life Application
Put our marriages (and Churches) in the correct operating order by putting Christ back on the throne!
When my husband and I would hit a rough patch in our marriage, I would always recommend that we first pray and fast from food together for 3 days before seeking out additional counsel. (If additional wise counsel is needed after that, seek it out, but always seek Christ together first!)
Let us put Christ FIRST on the throne above all else, and then start to see the fruits of peace and order in the home (and the church) take place.
-Michelle Gaddi
Ephesians 4-5.17.22
SCRIPTURE:
Ephesians 4:1-6
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
OBSERVATION:
In verses 4-6, Paul emphasizes that there is one body and one Spirit, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all.
God has such awesome power, and it’s His desire that we experience it by tapping into the Holy Spirit.
Paul reminded the church in Ephesus how blessed they were that God had called them, and that they needed to do their part by responding in obedience by living godly lives in love and unity.
UNDERSTANDING:
Walking worthy of our calling means living according to our new identity in Christ. It’s a process. Thank God that I have been forgiven of my sins, and that I am now justified in God’s sight! I am not what I used to be! I am now able to enjoy the newness of life! Because of Jesus, I now have the ability to access all the spiritual resources I need to imitate Jesus. For this to happen, it’s not magic! It happens when I allow the Word of God to renew my mind, and that’s when I am transformed into His image, and am able to discern God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will.
LIFE APPLICATION:
It blows my mind that God already sees us glorified! He sees us taking the steps to draw closer to Him. He sees when we are learning and experiencing the power of His Word, and He takes such delight when we are living according to our calling by partnering with Him when we witness His love and share our testimonies to the unsaved world.
Thank You Lord for all You’ve done for us. I pray we will respond by living godly lives in love and unity.
-Robin Orefice
Ephesians 3-5.16.22
Scripture
Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Observation-What does it say?
In this letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul writes them his prayer for them. It’s a prayer for spiritual growth amongst the Ephesians. He prays for the Holy Spirit to dwell within their hearts, empower them, bless them with wisdom and understanding, and for them to truly understand just how much Jesus loves them.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Pray for God’s church to continue to mature and grow in our faith.
Paul had a strong desire to see all the people who he shared the gospel with, grow and mature in their walk with Christ. You can see in this passage the passion he has to see that happen. In the same way, we too need to be like Paul. We not only need to pray for people to come to know and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but we also need to pray for the people who God put in our lives to teach, minister to, and disciple. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit continues to move in their lives and that they continue to not just settle for being saved, but rather that they continue to have that hunger to know God more and grow in their relationship with Him, and to be more like Jesus every day. 😊
“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” Colossians 1:9-10
Life Application
Make an effort to be plugged into an ITC (In the City) Group today!
ITC Groups are a great way to deepen our relationships with God and His people. It’s also a great way to stay on Mission (of multiplying Christ Followers everywhere). ITC Groups are a great place to meet and break bread with fellow believers. It’s a place where the people there share the same love for Jesus and want to see each other grow in our relationships with Him. It’s a place for us to be real with one another, to share our gifts and passions, to share our struggles with one another, and to build each other up by using God’s Word and praying for one another. It’s a place where we can have accountability to being the person God calls us to be. So, let’s all make it a priority to meet with one another. If you’re not part of an ITC Group yet, what are you waiting for?! Sunday mornings just scratch the surface. Let’s dive deeper! Let’s grow together! Let’s see the amazing things God can do when we all work together to accomplish God’s will.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”-Hebrews 10:24-25
-Moses Gaddi