2013-05-19
Ephesians – Put off the old, Put on the new - Part 4
Steve Lane

A. Review/Introduction/Obedience
Be strong and courageous – bold –the church in Acts
As soon as you take your eyes off Christ you will get discouraged – Elijah… Peter
Stategic but aggressive generals are the successful ones
Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost…. Our bold purpose

The uncomfortable battle with the flesh
"The world has yet to see what God will do in and through and with a man wholly committed to him”
Ephesians 4:22 – 6:9 Rom 6 and Galations 2:20 and secret of obedience
Romans 13:15 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh…

Blind Spots and Honesty James 1: 22 “

Put off and put on - Review
The evidence of the new man includes more than the Galatians 5:22
Ephesians 4: 25 – 5:2
Perseverance He didn’t call you to fail… He gives a task to those He calls.

B. Deep Obedience
Those desiring to put on Christ and be obedient must ask this question:

If we are to put to death the misdeeds of the flesh and put on Christ we cannot tip toe around we must have full commitment… Luke 14:33
Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving one another/Red flags if not!
Ephesians 5:1 – 2 Live a life of Love
1 Cor 13: 4 – 7, Rom 12:1 – 2, Phil 2: 17, 2 Cor 2:14 – 17
Self focus causes much of the blindness Galatians 6: 7 – 9
Reality check – Is there consistent fruit bearing in

Ephesians 5: 3 Sexual immorality – fornication from porneia
How powerful is the flesh in this arena? Do not underestimate the power of the old man.
Proverbs 27:20 Just one more
Time in the word and in prayer can be a fruit of putting on the new (desires)

Ephesians 5:4 But the world is not looking for someone like them but real purity…
Thankfulness a fruit

Ephesians 5: 5 – 7 Immoral, impure, or greedy person…
Being generous is being an imitator of God.

Ephesians 5:8 – 11
Does a light exist for itself? No, not at all but rather to point the way to the light giver.
The fruit or result of being in the light, in Christ, having put on Christ… goodness, righteousness and truth

We have a tendency to please ourselves … “find out what pleases the Lord”.
Discover the joy of obedience.