Goodlow Evangelical Free Church

April 12, 2015

Prescription For Spiritual Health

Ephesians

Prescription forSpiritual Health

“Ephesians presents a Gospel of union with Christ more powerful than any other New Testament

letter. Nothing short of attachment to Him will rescue us

from the human plight, and nothing can define us as human beings more than attachment to

Him. From living with Him we learn

how to live for Him.” P.W. Brandel; North Park Theological Seminary,

Chicago, Illinois

A.D. 62

A.D. 62• Epaphroditus – Philippi

A.D. 62• Epaphroditus – Philippi

• Tychicus – Ephesus

A.D. 62• Epaphroditus – Philippi

• Tychicus – Ephesus• Epaphras – Colossae

A.D. 62• Epaphroditus – Philippi

• Tychicus – Ephesus• Epaphras – Colossae• Onesimus – to Philemon at Colossae

(2300 Km.140 days)

• Ephesians – the Church as Christ’s body

• Philippians – Christian living, Christ

the power• Colossians – Christ, the Head of the body• Philemon – Christian living in

a pagan society

Temple to Artemis – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Theater where Demetrius railed against PaulActs 19

The early Church in Ephesus was led by: Paul for at least three years (Acts 20:17,31),

probably Timothy (1 Timothy 1:3), and later, John.

Sprouting

A.D. 54-56

A.D. 52

A.D. 57

A.D. 62

A.D. 66

A.D. 96

A.D. 200

The Church at Ephesus

Sprouting

A.D. 54-56

A.D. 52

A.D. 57

A.D. 62

A.D. 66

A.D. 96

A.D. 200

Weeding

The Church at Ephesus

(Celsus)

Sprouting

A.D. 54-56

A.D. 52

A.D. 57

A.D. 62

A.D. 66

A.D. 96

A.D. 200

Weeding

Nurturing

The Church at Ephesus

Sprouting

A.D. 54-56

A.D. 52

A.D. 57

A.D. 62

A.D. 66

A.D. 96

A.D. 200

Weeding

Nurturing

Watering

The Church at Ephesus

A.D. 62Tychicus – Ephesus

Sprouting

A.D. 54-56

A.D. 52

A.D. 57

A.D. 62

A.D. 66

A.D. 96

A.D. 200

Weeding

Nurturing

Watering

Producing

The Church at Ephesus

Traditional burial place of the Apostle John

Sprouting

A.D. 54-56

A.D. 52

A.D. 57

A.D. 62

A.D. 66

A.D. 96

A.D. 200

Weeding

Nurturing

Watering

Producing

Wilting

The Church at Ephesus

APPROVAL• A serving church• A sacrificing church• A steadfast assembly• A separated people• A suffering people

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have

left your first love.

Revelation 2:2

Nevertheless I have this

against you, that you

have

strayed and are straying

from walking in love.Revelation 2:2

Sprouting

A.D. 54-56

A.D. 52

A.D. 57

A.D. 62

A.D. 66

A.D. 96

A.D. 200

Weeding

Nurturing

Watering

Producing

Wilting

DEAD

The Church at Ephesus

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANSVOLUME I:

OUR RICHES IN CHRIST (1-3)

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANSVOLUME I:

OUR RICHES IN CHRIST (1-3)

VOLUME II:OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN CHRIST (4-6)

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

VOLUME I:OUR RICHES IN CHRIST

• Our spiritual possessions in Christ

• Our spiritual position in Christ

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us

with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him

in love, Ephesians 1:3-4

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks

for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

14 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.Ephesians 3:14-19

Calling and Conduct

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANSVOLUME I:

OUR RICHES IN CHRIST (1-3)

VOLUME II:OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN CHRIST (4-6)

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

VOLUME II:OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN CHRIST

• Walk in unity• Walk in purity• Walk in harmony• Walk in victory

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an

offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma

Ephesians 5:1-2

10 ...my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the

whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,

but against principalities, against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness

in the heavenly places.Ephesians 3:10-12

What Next?

• Have you received Christ as your Lord and Saviour?

What Next?

• Have you received Christ as your Lord and Saviour?

• Do you experience God’s power in your Christian walk?

What Next?

• Have you received Christ as your Lord and Saviour?

• Do you experience God’s power in Christian walk?

• Keep your armour bright

What Next?

• Have you received Christ as your Lord and Saviour?

• Do you experience God’s power in Christian walk?

• Keep your armour bright

• Meditate on Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus

What Next?

• Have you received Christ as your Lord and Saviour?

• Do you experience God’s power in Christian walk?

• Keep your armour bright

• Meditate on Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus

• Be an “imitator” of Christ

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought

and storm

What heights of love, what depths

of peace

When fears are stilled, when

strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of

Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

'Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Benediction

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.

Ephesians 3:20-21