Ephesians 5:1-7
"When Christians Walk in Love "

Gospelcom Bible Gateway

Walk in Love
"¹ Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. ²And 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.
³But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ⁵For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not be partakers with them

Walk in Light
⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ¹³But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. ¹⁴Therefore He says:


        "Awake, you who sleep,
        Arise from the dead,
        And Christ will give you light."


Walk in Wisdom
¹⁵ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
¹⁷Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹submitting to one another in the fear of God."

INTRODUCTION:

A. Do you hear God's warnings as you "step out" on the path that God has chosen for you?

B. How do you walk differently from that of the world?

C. Do you walk differently? Why not?

D. Renes Descartes said "I think therefore I am." This simply says that you are alive.

E. Paul the Apostle would say -"I know therefore I do." This says that knowledge is being applied.

I. Walk in Love (v. 1-7)

A. What are the four words that are used in Greek for love? What do they mean?

B. Who was followed Paul as the Bishop of Ephesus? (Hint - "Little children love one another")

C. Why did he always say this?

D. What does "walk in love" mean?

E. How should we walk in love?

1. By imitating our father - How did / does our father demonstate love?

2. By emulating our savior - How did Christ walk in love? (Unconditional & Sacrificial Love)

3. By influencing your brother (v 3-4 restrict the flow of Love and you cannot be impactful for the kingdom)

F. What does this look like in your life?

G. Notice the progression from imitating, to emulating, to influencing. This connotes movement from the outward to the inward. From the mind to the heart to the feet and hands. Does this reflect your walk with God?

H. Notice that sins of passion are followed immediately with the sins of the tonugue? Why did Paul do this? What does this reflect of the inward person

I. Why are we commanded not to partake with people that are walking like this? What does it do to our walk?

II. Walk in Light (v. 8-14)

A. Biblicial Description of Light

1. Physcially speaks of the glory of God

2. Morally speaks of God's holiness

3. Intellectually speaks of God's knowledge - Omnipotent, Omniscience, Omnipresent

B. What does this mean then to walk in the light?

C. How can you walk with God unless you agree with God's character and nature?

D. How does knowing what God want us to do in the Word impact us walking in the light?

E. How does this prove what is acceptable to the Lord?

F. Are you authentic in your walk? (Read Matthew 23 )

G. Are you asleep in your walk? Are you aimless with no direction?

III. Walk in Wisdom (v. 15-21)

A. The way of the fool vs the way of the wise

1. What is a fool? Psalm 14 - The fool has said in his heart, no God

2. What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?

B. Are you growing wise as you gain wisdom?

C. What needs to happen for this to occur?

D. What does circumspect mean? "To look around"

E. What's the implication of this for our walk?

F. So what does it mean to walk in wisdom?

G. Do not count time but rather make the time count. Carpe Diem - Seize the Day

B. Steps of a Believer

1. Take steps of opportunity

2. Take steps of purpose

3. Takes steps of power (be continually being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit like a hand with a glove)

4. Take steps of fellowship

APPLICATION:

A. What are your steps of opportunity, purpose, power and fellowship

B. Make changes this week in your life to reflect what you have just recieved from this service.

C. May God richly bless you this week.