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Two Worlds

Part 4 2/13/22

• Everything about this series hinges on the reality that the moment we give our lives to Jesus we’re born into a new world, into the Kingdom of Heaven, all while still confined to this natural world.

• But here’s the deal, most of us, most of the time are more aware of and committed to this natural world than our new world because its just easier, it’s more real to us. It’s what we’re use to.

• And until we get to the place where spiritual things are a reality, they will stay this, mysterious will of God kind of thing.

• This is what I love about Ephesians, it provides clarity for our new world. And the number one reality Ephesians drives home is that the church is His body, us in Him, Him in us, expressing the fullness of His reality.

• Ephesians 1:22-23,NKJV-  He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

• We have to understand, being successful in our new world isn’t any different than being successful in this world.

• Remember what God says in Jeremiah, When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

• This is one of Paul’s key points in this letter in Ephesians. He isn’t praying for God to do a something new, he’s praying the we can see, that we can comprehend what God has already done.

• In chapter 3, he makes it very clear that the moment we’re born again we become fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ.

• Don’t forget, His intention from the very beginning was a to display His fullness through us, His church.
• And this is Paul’s second prayer that takes things to another level.
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• Ephesians 3:14-21,NKJV- For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 15, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
• 16, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
• 17, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
• 18, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
• 19, to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
• 20, Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
• 21, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

• Remember, to Him be the glory!
• And make no mistake, God will never share His glory. That way no one can say, we caused God to move because of our great faith.

• Everything about His creation, His Kingdom and His grace all points to Him.

• His grace has been poured out, it’s the same towards everyone, but be sure of this, the more we expose ourselves to His grace, the more our souls are transformed through faith, we wont stay the same toward Him.

• Think about this, God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient”

• Here’s the deal, there’s still revelation we need to take away from chapter 3, and going into to chapter 4 has very specific instructions concerning our day to days, so we’ll circle back next week to some of Paul’s most divinely inspired realities.

• But as we continue our journey through Ephesians, because we’re going into to Valentine’s Day, how fitting that chapter 5 deals very clearly with the subject of marriage.

• The import thing to remember is that Ephesians wasn’t written in chapter and verse. This is a letter written from their shepherd on embracing their born again lives in Christ, right in the face of humanity.

• And after giving very specific instructions in chapter 4 about embracing our new, born again nature, Paul starts chapter 5 with this very profound statement; “Imitate God as dear children”

• Ephesians 5:2,AMP- Walk continually in love, that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.

• Listen to me very carefully, if you ever plan on walking in the spirit, it starts with walking in love. Because God is love and God is spirit.

• Something else to stay aware of is the fact that there’s nothing we can do to make God love us any more or less. But I promise you this, the closer we walk with Him, we will absolutely love Him more.

• Ephesians 5:17-21,NKJV- Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
• 18, And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
• 19, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
• 20, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 21, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

• Ephesians 5:22-32,NKJV- Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
• 23, For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
• 24, Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
• 25, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
• 26, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
• 27, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
• 28, So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
• 29, For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
• 30, For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
• 31, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
• 32, This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

• Genesis 2:24,NKJV- Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

• God ordained the institution of marriage as an eternal memorial of His covenant between Him and His creation.

• He calls it a covenant.

• It’s sharing life, discovering life, united as one, even though still acknowledging our individuality. Striving for that unity in the faith.

• Ecclesiastes 4, “Two are better than one.”

• Seriously, every young couple I counsel, I tell them marriage is a full time job. There are no great marriages on accident.

• But here’s what’s really sad, way too many wonderfully born again, heaven bound Christians don’t think they need any help being a better husband or wife.

• And the enemy will do everything in his power to make sure you stay there. He knows that if he can destroy the family, he can keep the church weak.

• Remember what Paul told us in v.32, This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

• As a matter of fact, go back to v.17, Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And that includes His will for marriage.

• Anything we’re good at, we invest in. In other words, if you’re going to be great at it, you’re going to have be on purpose about it.

• 99% of marriage problems can be answered in Ephesians 5:22-32.

• Stop allowing the world, stop allowing television and social media to tell you how to treat your spouse.

• In Matthew 7, Jesus said, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.

• So the next time you’re mad at your spouse, go back to this scripture and ask Jesus what He thinks.

• Stop playing your selfish, childish mind games because you didn’t get you’re way.

• What’s sad is, the more selfish we become, the more judgmental we get.

• And do kid yourself, it’s impossible to be a judger and a doer a the same time.

• So a a person of faith, use it! Stop allowing selfishness to destroy what God designed to be great.

• Just like Christ and the church, marriage is an on purpose adventure.

• Remember, God said it in Genesis, and Jesus said it in Matthew, “The two shall become one.”

• At the end of the day, marriage is a covenant founded on love, the nature of God Himself. Remember, chapter 5 starts with love.

• Ephesians 5:1,AMP- Therefore become imitators of God, copy Him and follow His example, as well-beloved children imitate their father.

• MSG, Watch what God does then you do it!

• Everything about this series hinges on the reality that the moment we give our lives to Jesus we’re born into a new world, into the Kingdom of Heaven, all while still confined to this natural world.