Reading: Chapter 1 verse 1-3.
• In many ways the Apostle Paul was a spiritual warrior,
• If you glance at his New Testament letters,
• One of the conclusions you naturally come to;
• Is that he spent most of his time fighting one thing or another,
• Exposing heresies,
• Challenging the enemies of the faith,
• Expelling ignorance,
• And shaking Christians from apathy and laziness.
e.g.
• For example, in his Corinthian letters,
• He confronted quarrels that were tearing apart the church.
• In Galatians, he battled legalists,
• Who were trying to imprison the believers with rules & regulations.
• In 2 Thessalonians he also fought confusion and fear,
• In 1 and 2 timothy - lack of confidence,
• In Colossians it was false doctrine.
• It seems as though Paul was always battling something.
Question:
• What would the apostle have written if he hadn’t had any heresies to correct,
• Any fights to referee,
• Or any false teachers to expose?
The answer is Ephesians.
In this letter:
• Paul exchanged his sword for a paintbrush.
• He stepped out of his military combat gear, and away from conflicts,
• To paint a magnificent portrait of Christ and His people.
(A). Background of the letter:
(1). The City
(a).
• Ephesus was one the great cities of Asia Minor:
• Whenever you come across the word Asia in the New Testament,
• It is not referring to the continent but to this region, which is also called Asia Minor.
• Today it is modern day Turkey.
(b). Ephesus was a Roman capital,
• It was a sea port,
• A wealthy commercial center that experienced world trade.
(c). Ephesus was renowned for its paganism:
• The temple of the Greek goddess Artemis stood as its crown jewel.
• In Roman mythology, Artemis was known as Diana.
Ill:
The temple was one of the seven wonders of the world.
• It was 420 feet square.
• One of its features was its pillars, it contained one hundred and twenty-seven pillars,
• Every one of them the gift of a king.
• All were made of marble, and some were studded with jewels and overlaid with gold.
• This temple cast a long shadow over the city:
• And was a key focal point, that highly infuenced the people.
• And worship of this goddess was jealously guarded,
• As Paul found out the hard way in Acts chapter 19 verse 23).
(b). The Church
(a). Paul’s fist contact with Ephesus:
• Was around A.D. 52.when on his second missionary journey
• He made a brief visit to a Jewish synagogue (Acts chapter 18 verse 19),
(b). Then a few years later on his third missionary journey:
• He returned to Ephesus and found a group of Christians,
• Probably members of the Church founded by Priscilla and Aquila (Acts chapters 18-19)
• Paul baptized the converts and then spent three years,
• Teaching the people of that area (Acts chapter 19),
(c). The correspondence (Letter).
(a).
• Shortly after Paul left Ephesus and returned to Jerusalem, he was arrested,
• And to cut a long story short he was sent to Rome:
• Imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote this letter,
• He was under house arrest, and refers to this in chapter 3 verse 1, chapter 4 verse 1.
• While a prisoner in his own house, Paul was free to receive visitors,
• And it was at this time that he wrote Ephesians.
• The letter was carried, and probably hand delivered to the Church,
• By Tychicus (chapter 6 verse 21)
(b). Some commentators think this was a general letter, a “cyclical” letter:
• That was passed from Church to Church.
• Others believe it was written primarily to the Ephesian Church.
The Structure of the Letter
(1). Purpose - Paul had two main purposes in writing:
(1st). Chapters 1-3: Paul wants the Ephesians to know their resources in Christ.
Ill:
A Red Indian (Native American) walked into his bank,
• Looked the bank manager in the eye and said:
• “Sheep ill, grass gone, waterhole dry”.
• Without speaking the manger of the bank took him into the back room,
• The room where the safety deposit boxes are kept.
• He opened a box belonging to the Indian;
• It was full of golden nuggets that he had panned in the river.
• Once again he looked the bank manager in the eye and said:
• “Sheep good, grass green, plenty of water”.
• Now his circumstances had not changed,
• But he realized that he had more than enough resources to cope.
That is exactly what Paul is trying to tell these Ephesian Christians:
• The times you live in might be hard and dangerous,
• But we have in Jesus Christ more than enough to cope.
(2nd). Chapters 4-6: Paul wants the Ephesians to live consistent with their beliefs.
Ill:
• Billy Graham was flying on a plane,
• Just a head of him a drunken passenger was causing a big disturbance.
He was swearing and being rude to the staff and passengers.
• Trying to calm the man down, the stewardess said,
• “Sir, please be quiet, we have Mr Billy Graham sitting just a few rows behind you”.
• When he heard this, the drunk said;
• “Billy Graham, let me speak to him, I wanna tell him something”.
The drunk got up and pushed and staggered his way down the aisle,
• He looked at Billy Graham and said;
• “Shake my hand, your ministry has had such an effect upon my life!”
Now Paul is telling these Christians not to be like that!
• He is instructing them to ‘walk the talk’,
• To live out what they claim to believe.
Ephesians divides into two parts:
Which show the balance in the Christian life.
• Balance between doctrine (what we believe) chapters 1-3.
• And duty (how we behave) chapters 4-6.
• Chapters 1-3.tell us what we are saved by.
• Chapters 4-6 us what we are saved for.
The key point there is:
• We are not saved by good deeds, but we are saved for good deeds.
• The world thinks we are saved by being good,
• But the truth is we are saved for being good, which is totally different.
• E.g. Chapter 2 verse 8-10.
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
There is a great balance in this letter:
• The first part of the book concentrates on the blessings of forgiveness
• The last part of the book concentrates on the need for holiness.
• The first part of the book concentrates on justification (getting right with God)
• The last part of the book concentrates sanctification (getting right in our lives.
• The first part of the book concentrates on our release, our rescue, our redemption.
• The last part of the book concentrates on our response.
• The first part of the book concentrates on adoration and worship, (great expressions of praise)
• The last part of the book concentrates on application (working it out).
• The first part of the book emphasizes on God’s divine sovereignty.
• The last part of the book emphasizes human responsibility.
• The first part of the book concentrates on God’s purpose & his power.
• The last part of the book concentrates on our walk and our warfare.
• The first part of the book concentrates on the blessings of forgiveness
• The last part of the book concentrates on the need for holiness.
• The first part of the book deals with the vertical part of the gospel,
• The last part of the book concentrates on the horizontal part of the gospel.
It is worth noting:
• Of all the worlds religions,
• Christianity is unique.
• The world religions teach you must be good before God can accept you,
• Christianity says you are accepted by God first! (justification before sanctification).
Ill:
• Not us working ourselves up to God,
• God coming down to us!
(2). Theme:
• Christians should live,
• Which shows to others they have a living faith in Jesus Christ,
• And because God is at work in their lives,
• He will provide the never ending resources in Christ to help them do this.
Ill:
• An hour away from where I used to live in the Midlands,
• Is a small village called Bredwardine.
• For years they had an old battered cross on the altar,
• Which no-one ever paid much attention to.
• One of the older ladies in the Church died,
• And in her will she gave a considerable sum of money to have the cross cleaned.
• When it was restored it was found to be solid silver,
• The upright was studied with emeralds.
• The members of that Church were unaware of what they had,
• Until discovered it’s true worth
Paul is trying to tell these Ephesian Christians:
• That God has not given us a new religion, or a new set of beliefs
• He has given us something that is priceless.
• Salvation – new life in Jesus Christ,
• Sealed by his Holy Spirit who is at work in and who indwells each believer.
(3). Key verses:
Ephesians chapter 1 verses 21b-22:
(God seated Christ) “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church”.
Paul teaching us here that the power of God:
• Exercised in raising Christ from the dead and setting him in supreme control of the universe,
• Is at work in us too!
• That’s great theory,
• But does it work in practice!
• The answer is yes,
• But most of us have a problem;
Quote:
“Too many Christians are running on the battery system instead of the mains”.
• Boosted up and then they slowly drain down.
• Instead of a constant continual flow.
(3). Important ideas in the letter.
Quote:
“Ephesians is often called the Grand Canyon of Scripture, because its truths are so deep and wide, yet beautiful to behold”.
• If you do not get blessed from this letter over the next few weeks,
• Check your pulse, because you’re probably dead!
• Regarding themes, I do not want to steal other peoples thunder,
• So I have chosen a few important threads.
(1). The Christians position
ill:
• A novice pilot was flying over London,
• When flight control asked for his height and position.
• He answered, “I’m 5’8” and I’m sitting in the cockpit”.
We may live on planet earth:
• But the Bible teaches that every Christian is “In Christ”.
• Every Christian “Is seated in the heavens”.
One of the key phrases that crops up again and again in this letter, is “In Christ” or “in Him”.
• Scan through chapter 1 verse 1, verse 3, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 (twice),
• 10 times in the first 14 verses,
Ill:
Often we talk and preach in an opposite way:
• Subconsciously we make Jesus Christ into something small,
• We talk about having him in our lives, in our hearts.
• Paul actually does the opposite,
• He takes a little person and puts them in a Great big God.
(2). The prayers of Paul
• In chapter 1 verses 15-23:
• Paul prayed for the Ephesians enlightenment.
• In chapter 3 verses 14-21:
• He prayed for their ability to grasp Christ’s love.
• In chapter 6 verses 19-20:
• He asks for their prayers for him.
Quote:
The nineteenth-century Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon, was once asked,
“When should I pray? Should I pray when I feel like it?”
He replied;
“Pray when you feel like it, because God will bless you;
pray when you don’t feel like it, because that is when you need it most”.
• Paul’s prayers give is some great insights regarding prayer,
• And how to pray.
(3).The Christians tongue
• Paul gives us practical and helpful advice regarding the tongue;
• Chapter 4 verses 29 to chapter 5 verse 4.
Ill:
A little boy, lost homeless and very hungry,
• Found himself at a port where barrels of treacle;
• Were being unloaded from a ship warehouse on the quay.
• As one of the cranes swung the barrels from ship to shore,
• The rope broke and one of the barrels fell and broke open at his feet.
• Seeing the treacle pouring out before him,
• The little boy lifted up his eyes to heaven and prayed;
• “Lord, oh for a tongue equal to the task!”
The tongue:
• That muscle in our bodies that receives more exercise,
• And less control than any other!
• Medically they say it's only:
• A two-ounce slab of muscle,
• Mucous membrane, and nerves;
• That enables us to chew, taste, swallow food and articulate words.
Most of us if we are honest,
• Have a problem with this piece of protein called the tongue!
• Ephesians gives us some very good practical advice concerning it.
(4). The Christians Home
• Paul gives us practical and helpful advice regarding the tongue;
• Chapter 5 verse 21 to chapter 6 verse 4.
Ill:
• A young minister, with very small children,
• Preached to his congregation on the theme
• “10 ways to raise good and godly children”.
• Some years later, with his children entering their teens,
• He returned to this theme, but the same sermon was now entitled:
• “10 suggestions for raising good and godly children”.
• Several years later with his children now in their late teens,
• The sermon got another airing, this time presented as
• “Feeble hints for fellow strugglers”.
Ephesians gives us some very good practical advice concerning the home!
(5). The armor of God
In chapter 6 verses 10-18.
• Paul deals with the spiritual forces we fight against:
• Two reasons this was especially topical for the Ephesians.
(1).
• The Ephesian people were dominated by idolatry,
• The temple of the Greek goddess Artemis stood over the city
• Artemis was also known as Diana.
• Acts chapter 19 informs us of how,
• Superstition and lucky charms affected the people.
(2). All kinds of sorcery and witchcraft was practiced openly in Ephesus:
• Again we are told in Acts chapter 19 verse 19:
• That Paul’s ministry had such a tremendous effect on the city of Ephesus:
• That when those who practiced witchcraft turned to Christ,
• They publicly burned their books of magical incantations;
This spiritual battle was not just one the EPHESiANS faced:
• It is a battle for us today!
• Every Christian is in a warfare situation,
Satan is a sworn enemy of God and of God’s people:
• He will try anything he can,
• To spoil relationships in the Church, in the home, or in the workplace,
• So Paul gives us some good advice;
• On how to recognize and how to defeat the enemy.
• And as we finish it is good to remember that he is a defeated foe!
• And we can live victorious lives not defeated ones!
