Ephesians                           by Dr. Ralph Wilson

Lesson 12

 Children, Imitate Your Father (Ephesians 5:1-20)

Imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Sexual Purity (Ephesians 5:3-7)

Avoiding Sexual Immorality (Ephesians 5:3)

Any Kind of Impurity (Ephesians 5:3-4)

Robbing Us of Our Kingdom Inheritance (Ephesians 5:5-6)

Q46. (Ephesians 5:2-3) Why does Paul warn so strongly against sexual sin?

Is sexuality part of our spiritual life or can it be (should it be) partitioned from our spiritual life?

Greed for Money (Ephesians 5:5)

From Darkness to Light (Ephesians 5:8-14)

Make the Most of Every Opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-16)

Q47. (Ephesians 5:15-16) Why does Paul exhort us to make the most of every opportunity?

Why do we resist that? What must happen in our lives so we can be ready for the opportunity?

Avoid Drunkenness (Ephesians 5:17-18a)

The problem with intoxication is three-fold in this context:

1. Drunkenness leads to "debauchery" 
2. Drunkenness prevents our light from shining 
3.  Drunkenness dulls our ability to "be careful" .

Q48. (Ephesians 5:17-18) What is the primary temptation involved with drugs and alcohol?

How can drug or alcohol use substitute for the "high" of the Spirit?

How can being filled with the Spirit help us fend off the temptations of drugs and alcohol?

Be Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)

Singing to One Another and to God (Ephesians 5:19-20)

Q49. (Ephesians 5:19-20) What kind of attitude should underlie our corporate singing?

How is corporate singing designed to help us singers? How is it designed to worship God?

How does singing in your own daily life help you worship?

The section we've just examined spells out the joyful intimacy of walking with the Lord, the relationship we enjoy with our Father and with Christ. Paul exhorts us to:

• Imitate our Father as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1)
• Live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8)
• Learn what pleases the Lord and then do it (Ephesians 5:10)
• Make music in our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19b)
• Thank God continually in everything (Ephesians 5:20).

Prayer

Father, help us as we learn to walk in light. Help us to surrender to you our inordinate desires for sex, for money, and for intoxication. Instead, let us find our "high" in you -- knowing you, walking with you, and loving you. Give us a continual attitude of thankfulness, we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Key Verses

(Ephesians 5:1) "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children."

(Ephesians 5:8, 10) "Live as children of light ... and find out what pleases the Lord."

(Ephesians 5:16) "Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

(Ephesians 5:18-20) "Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."