Dr Tom Hover
March 12, 2023
Ephesians 1:1-6 / Ephesians 5: 1 - 21
HOW TO HAVE A SUPER SAINTLY SELF-PERSPECTIVE / GOD’S DEAR CHILDREN!
HOW TO HAVE A SUPER SAINTLY SELF-PERSPECTIVE
Text: Ephesians 1:1-6
Introduction: Proverbs 23:7
1.) We need to have a healthy Saintly self-image that is not prideful.
2.) We need to know real Biblical humility.
3.) We need a change from within!
4.) The entire book of Ephesians is dedicated to the child of God’s spiritual motivation and development.
Chapter 1 - Who we are in Christ.
Chapters 2 & 3- How we got to be who we are in Christ.
Chapters 4, 5, & 6 - How to live since we are who we are in Christ.
5.) Many do not get far in the service to God because of a wrong self-perspective. Example: The Tied Elephant Syndrome John 8:32
6.) Do you have an unhealthy syndrome?
7.) If God says it is true about you, it is true regardless of what you think about yourself.
I. RECOGNIZE YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Ephesians 1:1-2
A.) You Are a Saint!
1. Accept Your Sinner-ship. Rom. 3:10, 3:23, Ecclesiastes 7:20
2. Accept Your Saint-ship. Ephesians 1:1,1:15, 1:18, 2:19, 3:8, 3:18, 4:12, 6:18
We are a saint because of what Jesus done on the cross. I Corinthians 6:9-11
B.) You Are Blameless in Eternity but Not Sinless on Earth. Ephesians 1:4
1. Confess Your Sin. I John 1:9-10
2. Confess Your Righteousness. Romans 4:4-8
C.) You Received Righteousness by Grace Through Faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9
D.) God Has Given Us a Name to Live Up To!
II. RELY ON YOUR RESOURCES.
Ephesians 1:3, II Peter 1:3-4
A.) Do You have All the Faith, Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, etc. etc. You Ever Need Right Now?
B.) You Already Have All Things That Pertain unto Life and Godliness! John 8:32 Example: The Dead Pike Syndrome
C.) Holiness Is Not the Way to Christ, But Christ Is the Way to Holiness.
D.) Be A Motivator by Setting the Personal Example and By Encouraging Others Strongly to Go Far Beyond The Status Quo.
E.) Practice The “As-If” Principle “Act as If” Regardless If You Feel Like It or Not.
III. REST IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP.
Ephesians 1:5-6 Some great truths in these verses:
A.) You Are in Jesus, And What Is True of Jesus Is True of You!
B.) God Accepts You Because He Accepts Jesus.
C.) You Are as Safe Eternally as Jesus Is Because You Are in Him. I John 5:20, I John 3:1-3
D.) God Accepts You Because You Are in Jesus.
1. It is the Christian way. Ephesians 4:32 Example: II Samuel 9:1
Conclusion: The Christian Walk is not about “perfection” or getting back to “normal”! It is about the transforming power of trusting God and taking Him at His Holy Word, regardless of how we feel or what may happen to us.
PM SERVICE:
GOD’S DEAR CHILDREN!
Being A Follower of God as One His Dear Children. Ephesians 5: 1 - 21
I. GOD MUST FIRST DIRECT OUR LIVES Ephesians 5:1
A.) We Have the New Capacity to Relate to God
Ephesians 5:1, “as dear children;”??
B.) We Have a New Command to Imitate God
Ephesians 5:1 “Be ye therefore followers of God,”
II. GOD CAN THEN DEVELOP OUR LIVES Ephesians 5:2-17
A.) We Will Learn to Walk in Love HOW?
1. By Self-Sacrifice Ephesians 5:2
2. By Self-Control Ephesians 5:3-7
B.) We Will Learn to Walk in Light HOW? Ephesians 5:8-14
1. By Discerning Evil Ephesians 5:10, Romans 12:1-2
2.By Exposing Evil Ephesians 5:11, I John 1:6
3.By Rejecting Evil Ephesians 5:12-14
C.) We Will Learn to Walk in Wisdom HOW?
1. By Planning the Work Carefully Ephesians 5:15
2. By Working the Plan Aggressively Ephesians 5:16
3.By Working His Plan with Priority Ephesians 5:17
III. GOD WILL FINALLY DOMINATE OUR LIVES Ephesians 5:18-21
THE RESULT WILL BE: A.) WE Will Demonstrate a Genuine Spirit Controlled Life Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:16 B.) We Will Demonstrate Genuine Joy Ephesians 5:19, John 15:11, Habakkuk 3:17-19 C.)We Will Demonstrate Genuine Faith Ephesians 5:20 D.)We Will Demonstrate Genuine Humility Ephesians 5:21 Helpful Verses For Later Study: A God Controlled Walk For the Family (Ephesians 5:22-6:4)I. The Woman is to Demonstrate Lordship (5:22,24) II. The Man is to Demonstrate Love (5:25-33)
III. The Children are to Demonstrate Obedience (6:1-4)
