Ephesians 5:1–6
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. 3But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Focused Thinking: (Eph 5:1–2)
Why should we be imitators of God?
Because we are children of God.
As a child imitates his parents, so should a child of God imitate his/her Father.
How do we imitate God?
2Walk in love,
Who is our example?
2b…just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
He loved us willingly.
He loved us sacrificially.
His sacrificial love was an offering to God (Lv 1:17; 3:16; Is 53:10).
His sacrificial love was a fragrant aroma to God (2 Co 2:15–16; Php 4:18).
Personal Application:
How does my life imitate Jesus’ life?
- I prioritize time in the Word and prayer.
- I deny myself daily, pick up my cross and follow Him.
- I try to be known by love for God and love for others.
- I serve God’s mission instead of my mission.
How does my love make sacrifices for others?
- I make time, money and preference sacrifices for Karin, Mark and Annika.
- I make time, money and preference sacrifices for friends.
- I make time, money and preference sacrifices for the staff.
- I make time, money and preference sacrifices for the church.
Is my life a fragrant aroma to God?
- Yes.
- I need to do less in order to do more.
- I must focus on the Word and prayer.
- I must focus on studying, writing and teaching.
- I must focus on leading and vision-casting.
- I must focus on Karin, Mark and Annika.
Busyness is the enemy of intimacy.
Focused Thinking: (Eph 5:3–6)
What is inconsistent with imitating God?
Immorality must not be named among us.
Impurity must not be named among us.
There must be no filthiness (obscenity/shameless talk).
There must be no silly talk (stupid words).
There must be no coarse jesting (vulgar words).
There must be giving of thanks.
- Our words either build up or tear down.
- Our words either encourage or discourage.
- Our words either sanctify or sin.
What do you know for certain?
No immoral person has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
No impure person has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
No covetous person has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
How does this verse (v.5) define immoral, impure and covetous people?
Idolaters
A greedy person puts things (idols) before God.
What is his warning about empty words?
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Personal Application:
- God’s warnings are never empty warnings.
- We should hate what God hates.
- We should love what God loves.
- Words are serious because sin is serious.
- We should think differently from the sons of disobedience.
- We should talk differently from the sons of disobedience.
- We should act differently from the sons of disobedience.
- We should say what the Holy Spirit would say.
- We want our words to reveal God’s heart.
- We want our words to reveal God’s desires.
- We want our words to reveal God’s actions.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, help me to imitate You in everything. Help me to imitate You in my thinking, desires and actions. Help me to imitate You in Your love. I pray that Karin, Mark and Annika will benefit the most from me walking in love. I pray that they feel 100% loved by me and loved by You because of my love for You. I pray that my life, family and church will be a fragrant aroma to You.
Father, forgive me for moments of lusts. I know it is always a battle for a man, but I want to win the battle more and more every day. Help me to hate lust the way that You hate lust. Help me to reject lust as the artificial lie of the devil. Help me to replace impure desires with pure desires for my wife. Help me to be 100% pure in the area of immorality and impurity. The scripture says it must not even be named among You. Help me live by the biblical standard, not the “normal battle for men” standard. Help me to fight the good fight in this area and to never grow weary in doing good. Help me win this battle by prioritizing a healthy, intimate relationship with Karin.
Father, I usually don’t battle greed, but I do struggle against getting tired of the financial battle of survival. Give us what we need to send our kids to school and to prepare for college. I pray that You would bless our church financially. Give us what we need to buy property and build a building. Give us what we need to do aggressive ministry. I pray that I will be more generous and that our church will be more and more generous.
Father, make me a person who is awesome at giving thanks. I pray that I will move beyond verbal thanksgiving to written notes and gifts. I pray that our staff will become much better at thanksgiving. Help me make this a major priority for the staff. I want us to be known as a thankful and generous people. I pray that our church will grow in her thanksgiving and generosity. I pray that our church will be known by our words and our actions.
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