07.06.2025 | Ephesians
Ephesians 5:1-7
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance
1: We can only love others to the degree to which we have a revelation of God’s love for us.
1 John 4:17-18 (NLT) And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So, we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
John 13:33a-34 (NLT) Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer… 34So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
John 14:1-3 (NLT) Don’t let your heart be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
John 14:16-18 (NLT) And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, who will never leave you. He is the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
2: Love is not a feeling that is expressed in words. Love is a Spirit- empowered choice that expresses itself in action!
1 John 3:16 & 18 (NLT) We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So, we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
Love: agape; it describes a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is the highest form of love, often associated w/ the love of God for humanity & the love that believers are called to have for each other.
● Col. 3:14 (TPT) For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity.
Ephesians 5:3 (NASB) But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
● Immorality: Greek word porneia; a selling off (surrendering) of sexual purity; includes adultery, fornication, and pornography
● Impurity: containing mixture, morally unclean
● Greed: the desire for more; lusting for a greater number of temporal things that go beyond what God determines is eternally best
Ephesians 5:4 (NASB) and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Two Ways to Stay Free of Lust
1) Spend time daily with Jesus
2) Be QUICK and be STRICT when dealing with sexual “bait”
2 Timothy 2:22 (NLT) Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
Ephesians 5:5-7 (NLT) You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do.
#3: The Kingdom and the power of God is released through sacrificial acts of love.
7-DAY LOVE CHALLENGE
Every morning, for the next 7 days, I will ask God to show me one way to sacrificially love someone else today (a specific action). Then I will obey and do what He tells me. And I will believe that the life changing power of God will be released in that person’s life.