Living Boldly in Faith Amid Cultural Challenges
Summary
### Summary
Greetings, beloved church family. Today, we delved into the rich and transformative message found in the book of Ephesians, focusing on the cultural and spiritual context of the city of Ephesus. Ephesus was a bustling, wealthy, and religiously diverse city, much like our modern world. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians to encourage them to live a life worthy of their calling in Christ, despite the overwhelming cultural pressures and spiritual challenges they faced.
Paul's message to the Ephesians is a powerful reminder that we, too, are called to stand firm in our faith. He emphasizes the importance of unity, humility, and love within the body of Christ. Paul urges us to remember that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, including being holy, blameless, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, chosen, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. These blessings empower us to live out our faith boldly and confidently.
We explored the concept of the "Trinity of Temptation"—the enemy, our deceitful hearts, and the pressures of the world—that seeks to undermine our faith. However, Paul reassures us that we have incomparably great power through Christ to overcome these challenges. This power is not just for our benefit but to enable us to testify about God's love and grace to others.
Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, and for us, is that we would be filled with the fullness of God, rooted and established in love, and empowered to grasp the vast dimensions of Christ's love. As we prepare to face the cultural winds and doctrines that challenge our faith, we must first be grounded in the foundational truths of God's grace and love.
### Key Takeaways
1. Unity and Humility in Christ: Paul calls us to live a life worthy of our calling by being completely humble, gentle, and patient, bearing with one another in love. This unity is crucial in a world that often seeks to divide us. We are one body, one spirit, called to one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. [48:14]
2. Spiritual Blessings in Christ: We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, including being holy, blameless, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, chosen, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. These blessings are not just theological concepts but transformative truths that empower us to live out our faith boldly. [51:35]
3. The Trinity of Temptation: We face a triune aspect of sin—the enemy, our deceitful hearts, and the pressures of the world. These forces seek to neutralize our faith and keep us from living out our calling. However, we have the power through Christ to overcome these temptations and stand firm in our faith. [01:07:27]
4. The Power of Prayer and Revelation: Paul prays that we would be filled with the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God better. This involves spending time in God's Word and seeking His wisdom daily. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we are better equipped to share His love and truth with others. [57:24]
5. Living in the Fullness of God: Paul urges us to be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Many of us settle for a small portion of God's presence when He offers us an ocean of His love and power. We are called to grow in our passion and love for God, allowing His fullness to overflow in our lives and impact those around us. [01:14:32]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[13:57] - Greetings and Prayer Requests
[15:05] - Focus and Distractions
[40:25] - Roadrunner Analogy
[42:02] - Understanding Cultural Context
[42:36] - Introduction to Ephesus
[43:15] - Ephesus: A Major City
[44:43] - Spiritual Openness in Ephesus
[46:10] - Paul's Missionary Journey
[47:27] - Ephesians 4: Living Worthy of the Calling
[48:14] - Unity and Humility in Christ
[50:26] - Knowing the Gospel
[51:35] - Spiritual Blessings in Christ
[57:24] - The Power of Prayer and Revelation
[01:07:27] - The Trinity of Temptation
[01:14:32] - Living in the Fullness of God
[01:16:48] - Preparing for Cultural Challenges
[01:17:27] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)
> "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
2. Ephesians 1:3-14 (NIV)
> "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."
3. Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)
> "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the key characteristics Paul urges believers to embody in Ephesians 4:1-3? ([48:14])
2. According to Ephesians 1:3-14, what are some of the spiritual blessings we have in Christ?
3. In Ephesians 3:14-21, what does Paul pray for the believers to understand and experience? ([57:24])
4. What does Paul mean by "the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" in Ephesians 4:3? ([48:14])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding our spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14) empower us to live out our faith boldly? ([51:35])
2. What might it look like to be "rooted and established in love" in our daily lives, as Paul prays in Ephesians 3:17? ([57:24])
3. How can the concept of the "Trinity of Temptation" (the enemy, our deceitful hearts, and the pressures of the world) help us recognize and overcome challenges to our faith? ([01:07:27])
4. What does it mean to live a life "worthy of the calling" we have received, as Paul describes in Ephesians 4:1? ([48:14])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the pressures of the world challenging your faith. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now with the understanding of the "Trinity of Temptation"? ([01:07:27])
2. Paul emphasizes the importance of unity and humility within the body of Christ. How can you actively promote unity and humility in your small group or church community? ([48:14])
3. Consider the spiritual blessings listed in Ephesians 1:3-14. Which of these blessings do you find most challenging to fully embrace, and why? ([51:35])
4. Paul prays for believers to be filled with the fullness of God. What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with God and experience His fullness more profoundly? ([01:14:32])
5. How can you incorporate Paul's prayer for wisdom and revelation into your daily routine to better know God and share His love with others? ([57:24])
6. Think about a specific area in your life where you feel powerless. How can the knowledge of God's incomparably great power (Ephesians 3:20) change your perspective and actions in that area? ([01:02:32])
7. Identify one person in your life who might be struggling with their faith. How can you encourage and support them this week, drawing from the teachings in Ephesians? ([01:00:07])
Devotional
### Day 1: Unity and Humility in Christ
Paul calls us to live a life worthy of our calling by being completely humble, gentle, and patient, bearing with one another in love. This unity is crucial in a world that often seeks to divide us. We are one body, one spirit, called to one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. In a society that often promotes individualism and division, the call to unity and humility is countercultural. It requires us to put others before ourselves and to seek harmony within the body of Christ. This unity is not just for our benefit but serves as a powerful testimony to the world of God's love and grace. [48:14]
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life where unity is lacking. What steps can you take today to foster humility and gentleness in that relationship?
### Day 2: Spiritual Blessings in Christ
We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, including being holy, blameless, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, chosen, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. These blessings are not just theological concepts but transformative truths that empower us to live out our faith boldly. Understanding and embracing these blessings can radically change how we view ourselves and our purpose in life. They remind us of our identity in Christ and the incredible resources we have at our disposal to live a life that honors God. [51:35]
Ephesians 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him."
Reflection: Reflect on one spiritual blessing you often overlook. How can you live more fully in the reality of that blessing today?
### Day 3: The Trinity of Temptation
We face a triune aspect of sin—the enemy, our deceitful hearts, and the pressures of the world. These forces seek to neutralize our faith and keep us from living out our calling. However, we have the power through Christ to overcome these temptations and stand firm in our faith. Recognizing these sources of temptation helps us to be vigilant and proactive in our spiritual walk. It also reminds us that we are not alone in this battle; we have the support of the Holy Spirit and the community of believers to help us stay strong. [01:07:27]
1 John 2:16 (ESV): "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world."
Reflection: Identify one area where you are currently facing temptation. What practical steps can you take today to resist and overcome this temptation through Christ's power?
### Day 4: The Power of Prayer and Revelation
Paul prays that we would be filled with the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God better. This involves spending time in God's Word and seeking His wisdom daily. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we are better equipped to share His love and truth with others. Prayer and revelation are essential for deepening our relationship with God and for gaining the insight needed to navigate life's challenges. They also empower us to be effective witnesses of God's grace and love to those around us. [57:24]
Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more intentional prayer and Bible study into your daily routine to grow in wisdom and revelation?
### Day 5: Living in the Fullness of God
Paul urges us to be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Many of us settle for a small portion of God's presence when He offers us an ocean of His love and power. We are called to grow in our passion and love for God, allowing His fullness to overflow in our lives and impact those around us. Living in the fullness of God means experiencing His presence in every aspect of our lives and allowing His love to transform us and those we encounter. It is an invitation to a deeper, more abundant life in Christ. [01:14:32]
Ephesians 3:19 (ESV): "And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel you are not experiencing the fullness of God? What steps can you take today to invite more of His presence into that area?
Quotes
1. "Take time to delete them, take time to silence your phone, take time to make time for God. This is this hour that you get to give as worship to your Lord so this is the hour I give to you as he sh wisdom within me and to FAim within the take your time to really focus and listen carefully. You know, you can process so much more. So as you process, as you watch, just ask the Holy Spirit, who has tremendous power to fill you and to speak with you, to encourage you and to stimulate you to walk in a manner worthy of him." [15:05] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "There are no boundaries. There are no electric fences. There are no moats that if you leave the flock, all of a sudden you're eaten by an alligator or eaten by a shark because you jumped in the water. There are none of them like that. This is why he's the good shepherd. He takes and we wander away. He grabs us and he calls us by name and he keeps us in the field." [42:02] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient. Bearing with one another in love. Make every effort. In other words, this is a continued process. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. There is, listen to the word that's repeated, there is one body and one spirit. Just as you were called to one hope when you were called. Remember? Remember? Plurality of faith, plurality of beliefs, plurality of God. He's saying that there's one. Not a whole bunch of them, there's one. One hope, you recall. One Lord, one faith, not a whole bunch of them, there's one. One baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." [48:14] (55 seconds)
4. "You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. So what are the spiritual blessings? Remember seven letters that conjure up something? You've got seven letters. As I was pulling this together, there are seven different words. And each, I started each one with a different letter. So there'll be seven letters for us. If you're superstitious, you can go along with it. But just digest this truth. Here's a spiritual blessing. You are holy. You are holy and blameless. You are holy and blameless. It's not when you pass on and all of a sudden you get to be holy. You are holy and blameless in Christ Jesus." [51:35] (41 seconds) ( | )
5. "You are holy. A holy person. The holy of holy. The high priest can enter into the presence once a year and you get to enter the presence of God whenever you want to because of what Jesus Christ has done for you. You are holy. You are holy, church. And you are blameless. God is not holding that thing against you. Holy. Church, you're holy. That's a spiritual blessing. Number two, you've been adopted. You have been adopted. He's given you a new name. You had a name and God has given you a new name." [52:32] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You are forgiven. Not only are you holy and blameless, but you are absolutely forgiven of all of your sins. You hold guilt and shame for your failure. God is not looking at you in guilt and shame, going, boy, I'm sorry I brought Paul into the fold. I can't believe he did that. God's not holding, covering his eyes, saying, come on then, Paul. Tell me what you want. I can't look at you because I'm so ashamed of you. I've been forgiven, church. You have been forgiven. You've been washed clean. God sees you forgiven because, not because of what you've done, but because of who Jesus is and what he's done for you. You are absolutely forgiven." [54:57] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "You are chosen. You are chosen for the praise and the glory of God. Why did God choose Augustine for his praise and his glory? Why did God choose Arturo for the praise and glory of Jesus Christ? Why did God choose Edgar for the praise and glory? Why did he choose Carmel, struggling here to understand English, but he just heard his name, for the praise of the glory of God? Why did God choose you the walk in a manner worthy of that calling, that you received?" [55:35] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "You are sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit. You don't have to wait for the Holy Spirit, wait for some magical moment for it to come. You are sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit. When Paul started to explain to those who believed in the baptism of John, and he started to explain who Jesus is, you know what happened? The Holy Spirit came upon them. Read it in Acts chapter 19. The Holy Spirit came upon them, and then they had great miraculous moments in their faith. The Holy Spirit comes on a person, the moment that they believe, you are sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of power, the spirit of truth, the spirit of holiness. You are sealed with that spirit. You have that blessing, church." [56:08] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "May we know the hope to which you have been called. May you know the hope to which you've been called. And what is this? This is the group of people who are surrounded by pagan gods. They're surrounded by the industrial complex, the port complex, materialism, wealth, finances, and everything that goes with it. And they need to know that their hope is not built upon anything like that. Their hope is built upon. Jesus Christ, you have been called, put your hope in Jesus. May you know the glorious inheritance you will obtain. The glorious inheritance that you will obtain, whatever you get on Earth. Whether you're gonna get an inheritance or rather you're gonna be the person who gives an inheritance. Whatever you get financially, it won't matter because your inheritance that you're gonna get is so much better than anything you could imagine." [01:00:07] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "You have incomparably great power over rule. Over every ruler. The idea of the rule is a figure in the community. It's also the authority figure who initiates welfare or warfare in the satanic world. You have power over every ruler. Human and demonic. You have power. You have power over every authority, church. Authority is the person delegated that makes it right. It is the unrestricted ability to accomplish whatever they set forth. They have authority. Because I said so, you've got to do it. You have incomparably great power over that spiritual authority who says you should do this. You can say no. You have the incomparably great power over every other power. Power implied is the ability to conquer, the ability to explode, the ability to cause something to happen. You have, you have incomparably great power over all those things, church." [01:03:30] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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