IN CHRIST: Walking Focused
EPHESIANS • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,
INTRO—
INTRO—
Join me…for a trip in a car…with friends—two other pastors…(Tommy Higle driving…)
HEY! PAY ATTENTION!
Ever had that yelled at you? (like when your driving—I mean I hear that this can happen to people…)
“Pay attention, then, carefully to how you walk” [5.15]
‘Blepo’ — See; Behold; Look at…
‘Akribos’ — Carefully…
“Pay extra careful attention to yourselves as to how you all walk (individually…& together)...” [Be (always) especially focused on how you are walking]
…Walking, FOCUSED…
On Whom We Should Imitate [Ephesians 5.1-2]
On Whom We Should Imitate [Ephesians 5.1-2]
“BE!” = Must Be (imperative) for yourselves (middle voice)
“Imitators” = Copyists; Mimics
Of whom??? [careful, because it’s like I’ve seen with our grandson, Bennett…he will mimic many things, people…actions, words, attitudes.]
**OF GOD = “as Christ (did)”…so we must also do**
On What to Avoid [Ephesians 5.3-14]
On What to Avoid [Ephesians 5.3-14]
[[…And How to Steer Clear (Ephesians 5.8-10)]]
When Paul wrote earlier—Ephesians 4:17–18 “Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.”—he draws our attention to our need to avoid SIN [AND he seems to remain intensely focused on making this point].
The best way to do this…in NOT (merely—but for the record here let me state…don’t go back in the dark house where the bad guy is (like in every horror movie ever).) to sit and constantly be looking for the bad things to be coming at us so we’re always ready to swing the bat and knock them back (or down, or out)…the best way to steer clear of those things we should avoid—is to be overwhelmingly consumed with what is right!
Ephesians 5:8–10 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—testing what is pleasing to the Lord.” [testing = proving, approving; Romans 12.2]
On Being Filled with the Spirit [Ephesians 5.15-21]
On Being Filled with the Spirit [Ephesians 5.15-21]
“You walk” = Walking, walking, walking; you are walking (ongoing present action) [5.15-17]
“As wise…not unwise” = prudent; skillful
1 Corinthians 3:10 “According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it.”
“Be filled with the Spirit” [5.18-21; v. 18 = imperative, passive]
Directly contrasted to drunkenness. [under whose influence?]
Evidences…
[Seek] Fellowship (with each other […& God])
[Enjoy] Worship (of God)
[Show] Gratitude (to God)
[Willing] Submission (notice—to each other […& fear of Christ])
CONCL—
CONCL—
HEY! PAY ATTENTION! [* :-) *]
Certainly to ourselves…
AND, to each other—with a view to helping us get better and better in our faithfulness in our WALK as Christians.
INVITATION:
Salvation
Heart of Worship
Selfless Submission
submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.