Ephesians The Series

EPHESIANS
What being a Christ follower looks like
part 1
Pastor Steve Lummer

As a college student way back in 1978 a friend of mine and I traveled to the east coast for some ministry over Christmas break. The end destination for the trip was New York City USA.
As we actually got into the heart of it all it was not long before I felt overwhelmed by the overgrown city. As we went through China Town I remember asking my self – “where are we “ and feeling like I was in a concrete jungle with no compass.
Our destination was to get to the top of Empire State Building.

Total Height: 1,454 feet
To 86th Floor Observatory: 1,050 feet
Steps: 1,860 from street level to 102nd floor

The elevator attendant said to me as I walked out onto the observation deck “ enjoy the view”…. And wow what a view it was.

From the observation deck you can see all of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers, from Financial District to Midtown Manhattan. And on the west side you can see a little bit of Newark NJ and Jersey City. and on the east side you can see all of Brooklyn and but you can barely see queens toward rockaway beach because of smog as for New Jersey too.

The book of Ephesians is like the Empire State Building
To have a grasp of the book of Ephesians gives you a BIRDS EYE VIEW of not only the rest of Paul’s letters in the New Testament but you begin to get a CLEAR VIEW of who God is through Jesus Christ as well as a VISION of who you are in Christ.

Look how Paul starts out in the first chapter praying for the churches ability be well ACCLIMATED to the life they are living in a culture that is so easy to get lost in.

Paul starts out his letter to the Ephesians with this prayer.

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints Ephesians 1:18 (niv)

Here is the outline to the series we will dive into over the next few week on the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians is has a two part theme:
1. Who we are in Christ Chapters 1-3
2. How we should live Chapters 4-6

Paul gives us a great look at how we can understand how the Christian life works.

” ‘Who are you, Lord?’ … “‘What do you want me to do, Lord?’ I asked Acts 22::8-10

1. Our Status – SIT
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 Ephesians 1:3
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2:6

2. Our Service – WALK
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received Ephesians 4:1
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light Ephesians 5:8

3. Our Strategy – STAND
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 613

ENJOY THE VIEW.