2009-07-26
Putting On and Putting Off 5
Steve Lane

A. Review/Introduction/Obedience

"The world has yet to see what God will do in and through and with a man wholly committed to him."
~Henry Varley

Do we find the answer somewhere here – are you still making provision for the flesh?
What did God ask of Adam and Eve in the garden? Full obedience
Ephesians 4:22 - 6:9 Overview put off - put on

Allow God to prepare you for ministry.

"We hesitate to face up to God's standard of holiness in a specific area of life. We know that to do so will require obedience that we are unwilling to give."
~Bridges

B. Being Light (Ephesians 5:12 - 14)

This will be seen by the darkness – for what is the purpose of light?
This is the foundation of evangelism and the great commission.

Wake up, O sleeper!
Romans 13: 11 - 12
1 Thessalonians 5:5 - 6

Is it time to wake up?? Are you asleep spiritually?

C. Don't waste your life (Ephesians 5: 15 - 17)

The focus is on not missing the opportunities that continually come our way.

Colossians 4:2 - 5
We will end up squandering many opportunities and wasting our lives to some degree.

Galatians 6:10
Opportunities we turn away from or perhaps never see because of our own self focus.

The proof is our life -- not our talk.
Lives are changed because of us being the light, and not missing opportunities.
Opportunities in any arena involve risk.
Caught up in the enchantment of security, paralyzed from taking any risk for the cause of God... you will miss opportunities.

The wisdom of obedience and the foolishness of disobedience – read Proverbs.

D. Be Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5: 18)

The foolishness of being controlled by anything but the Holy Spirit.

E. Joyful and Thankful Expression of Spirit-Filled Fellowship (Ephesians 5:19 - 20)

Ephesians 5: 21
Submit to one another.