Ephesians 5:21

 

Ephesians 5:21

Submit One to Another!

Eph 5:21  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 

          1.     Submit One to Another

a.     The Christian life is one of humility

                                               i.     Humility has been the founding principle upon which Paul has been giving all his imperatives

1.     Ephesians 4:1-3 

                                             ii.     Humility is how we fulfil the law of Christ

1.     Galatians 6:2 

                                           iii.     Humility is the essence of greatness

1.     Matthew 20:20-28 

b.     The Christian life is filled with submission

                                               i.     Wives are to be submissive - Ephesians 5:22 

                                             ii.     Husbands are to be submissive - 1 Corinthians 11:3 

                                           iii.     Children are to be submissive - Ephesians 6:1 

                                            iv.     Parents are to be submissive - Ephesians 6:4 

                                             v.     Servants are to be submissive - Ephesians 6:5 

                                            vi.     Masters are to be submissive - Ephesians 6:9 

                                          vii.     Church congregants are to be submissive - 1 Peter 5:5-6 

                                        viii.     Church leaders are to be submissive - 1 Peter 5:1-3 

                                            ix.     Citizens are to be submissive - 1 Peter 2:13-15 

                                             x.     Government leaders are to be submissive - Psalm 2:10-11 

                                            xi.     Paul was submissive - 1 Corinthians 9:19 

                                          xii.     Jesus was submissive - John 13:13-17 

                                        xiii.     You are to be submissive - Philippians 2:3-8 

           2.     Submit to Jesus

a.     Is the fear of the Lord only an Old Testament teaching?

                                               i.     The fear of the Lord motivates us to good works

1.     2 Corinthians 5:9-11 

                                             ii.     The fear of the Lord builds an immovable Kingdom

1.     Hebrews 12:28-29 

                                           iii.     The fear of the Lord produces church growth

1.     Acts 9:31 

Ephesians 5:20

 

Ephesians 5:20

Give Thanks Always!

 

Eph 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 

         1.     Give Thanks Always

a.     Gratefulness needs to be continuous - Hebrews 13:15 

b.     Gratefulness needs to be expressed no matter who our ruler is - 1 Timothy 2:1-2 

c.     Gratefulness is not a trait of the unsaved - Romans 1:20-21 

d.     Gratefulness produces peace - Philippians 4:6-7 

         2.     Give Thanks for All Things

“Giving thanks is not a matter of feeling thankful, it is a matter of obedience.”

-       Joni Eareckson Tada

b.     Gratefulness understands the sovereignty of God

                                               i.     Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28 

c.     Gratefulness sees the bigger picture during suffering - Romans 5:3-5 

d.     Gratefulness knows there is strength in weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 

e.     Gratefulness is realizing that everything was given to me by God - Job 1:21 

f.      Gratefulness is for all seasons of life - 2 Corinthians 6:8-10 

        3.     Give Thanks to God the Father

a.     Gratefulness to God must be genuine - Matthew 15:8 

b.     Gratefulness to God is realizing where I am without Him - Isaiah 53:6 

c.     Gratefulness is being thankful for your adoption - Ephesians 1:4 

d.     Gratefulness is being thankful that God is building you into His loving community, called the Church

                                               i.     Ephesians 2:19-22 

e.     Gratefulness is being thankful for your future inheritance - Ephesians 1:14 

f.      Gratefulness is being thankful that God does not give up on you

                                               i.     Hebrews 12:5; Hebrews 12:11 

g.     Gratefulness is God’s will for you - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 

        4.     Give Thanks in the Name of Jesus Christ

a.     Give thanks that you have received Jesus - Colossians 2:6-7 

b.     Give thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus - Luke 22:19 

c.     Give thanks that you can suffer for the name of Jesus - Acts 5:41 

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Ephesians 5:19

 

Ephesians 5:19

Make A Joyful Noise!

 

Eph 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 

         1.     The Church is to Make Music Corporately

a.     A faith in Jesus should give you a growing, hopeful joyfulness

                                               i.     Ephesians 1:18 

b.     A faith in Jesus should give you a desire to be a part of a loving community of believers

                                               i.     Ephesians 4:32 

c.     The Church is to sing Psalms (“A sacred poem, or a sacred song designed to be sung with a musical instrument” – Dr. MLJ)

                                               i.     Psalms are to be accompanied by musical instruments

1.     Psalms 150:2-5 

                                             ii.     Psalms are to be sung with joy

1.     Psalm 66:1-2 

                                           iii.     Psalms are to be sung in the opening of our corporate worship

1.     Psalm 95:2 

                                            iv.     Psalms can help alleviate depression

1.     James 5:13 

d.     The Church is to sing Hymns (“A song of praise to God, a sacred poetical composition” – Dr. MLJ)

                                               i.     “A hymn must be praise, it must be praise of God, and it must be sung” – St Augustine (354-430 AD)

                                             ii.     In a report to Emperor Trajan (who was Emperor between 98-117 AD) singing in the early church was described in the following manner: “Christians of Bithynia meet on a fixed day before dawn and recited an epiphinal hymn to Christ as God”

                                           iii.     There are examples of early Christian hymns quoted in the Bible

1.     Ephesians 5:14 

2.     1 Timothy 3:16 

                                            iv.     Singing hymns can help us during times of suffering

1.     Acts 16:25 

                                             v.     Singing hymns can help us teach others the word of God

1.     Colossians 3:16 

                                            vi.     Singing hymns is a part of our communion

1.     Matthew 26:28-30 

e.     The Church is to sing Spiritual Songs (“an ode or lyric that is spiritual in nature” – Dr. MLJ)

                                               i.     “Beside the Psalms other compositions were sung in the early churches” – Eusebius (died in 339 AD)

                                             ii.     Describing a love feast which was a common practice for the early church: “After water for the hands and lights have been brought in, each is invited to sing to God in the presence of the others from what he knows of the Holy Scriptures” – Tertulian (130-230 AD)

                                           iii.     Spiritual songs can be new

1.     Psalm 40:3 

2.     Psalm 149:1 

                                            iv.     Spiritual songs can be deeply personal

1.     1 Samuel 2:1-2 

                                             v.     Spiritual songs come from a deeper filling of the Holy Spirit

1.     1 Corinthians 14:15 

                                            vi.     Spiritual songs should be shared with others

1.     1 Corinthians 14:26 

                                          vii.     Spiritual songs can calm a troubled soul

1.     1 Samuel 16:23 

                                        viii.     Spiritual songs will be a part of our heavenly worship

1.     Revelation 5:8-9 

2.     Revelation 14:3 

                                            ix.     Spiritual songs are sung by God Himself

1.     Zephaniah 3:17 

         2.     The Believer is to Make Music Individually

a.     Spend time singing praise to God in your quite time

                                               i.     Psalm 92:1-2 

b.     Fill your day with joy by carrying a song in your heart

                                               i.     Psalm 92:3-4 

                                             ii.     “The aim of all music is the glory of God” - Johann Sebatian Bach