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BEING HOLY IN AN UNHOLY WORLD
Experience God’s Life-Changing Power


Ephesians 1:18-23
“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, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (NIV)
1) How would you describe hope? How does this hope bring us joy in this unholy, unbelieving, God-denying world?
2) Okay, let’s try to biblically define hope. Read Romans 4:18-21. “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed!” Now the Greek word used in both places in this Scripture is from the same primary word, “elpo” which means to anticipate, (usually with pleasure); to have an [great] expectation or confidence. We could translate these verses like this: “Abraham was literally in the position to be without any anticipation, expectation or confidence. Yet, with all anticipation, expectation and confidence in His God, Abraham believed! Confused? Well, maybe Romans 8:24-25 explains hope better!
a) What does Jeremiah 14:8; Colossians 1:27 and 1 Timothy 1:1 say is our hope?
b) What is God actually called in Romans 15:13?
c) Characteristics and certainties of our hope in God:
(a) leads us to complete trust, even if we do not understand His ways (Job 13:15!)
(b) allows us to patiently await the Lord’s justice and, by hope, we are comforted (Psalms 9:16-18!)
(c) never, ever leads to being our being made ashamed, disgraced, or disappointed (Psalms 25:1-3; Psalms 69:6; Isaiah 49:23; Romans 5:5!)
(d) assures our integrity and uprightness (Psalms 25:21!)
(e) allows us to be strong and take heart (Psalms 31:24!)
(f) frees us from fear, because we are assured of God’s unfailing love (Psalms 33:18; Psalms 130:7!)
(g) assures us that God is our help and our shield (Psalms 33:20; Psalms 146:5!)
(h) assures us that we will inherit what God has promised (Psalms 37::9!)
(i) is the answer to our desire to give up, or give in—our hopelessness, our depression (Psalms 42:5, 11; Psalms 43:5!)
(j) always leads to praise and rejoicing (Psalms 52:9; Romans 5:2!)
(k) actually results in and produces joy (Romans 12:12!)
(l) Oh, pray God soon! One day the whole earth will hope in our God (Psalms 65:5; Isaiah 42:1-4; Isaiah 51:5; Matthew 12:21 and Romans 15:12!)
(m) Our hope is God is a constant (Psalms 71:14!)
(n) brings us His blessing (Psalms 146:5!)
(o) The Lord delights in those who put their hope in Him (Psalms 147:11!)
(p) assures that we have a good future (Proverbs 23:17-18; Proverbs 11:23; Jeremiah 29:11!)
(q) “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31!”) Amen, and Amen!
(r) God Himself has promised to be good to those who hope in Him (Lamentations 3:25!)
(s) Because we know that God raised Christ from the dead, our hope in God assures us of our own resurrection (Acts 23:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13 and 1 Peter 1:3-5!) Blessed hope, indeed!
(t) inspires endurance (1 Thessalonians 1:3!)
(u) assures us of our salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:8!)
(v) assures us of the faithfulness and truthfulness of our God (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18!)
2) We have established that our hope is in God alone. So, what does Psalms 119:43-49 tell us that hope will prompt us to do?
3) We not only put our hope in God, His commands, but Psalms 119:74, 81, 114, 147; Psalms 130:5 and Romans 15:4 tells us yet another area to place our hope. See also John 1:1! Glory!
4) Ah, oh! Where does Romans 5:3-4 tell us that we learn hope?
5) Girls, hope cannot be conjured up—no, it rests in God alone, and more, it comes only from Him. In fact, we are called to hope by God (Psalms 62:5 and Ephesians 1:18!)
6) Let me assure you, others see your hope and are drawn to it—it is Christ in you. Why does 1 Peter 3:15 tell us to be ready?
7) Hope has many benefits! Hope keeps us ready for that day when Christ will “come like a thief in the night!” What part does hope have in keeping us ready? Read Micah 7:7! Oh, look up! Your redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28!) Forgive me for slipping back into my KJV!
8) I think this one passage about hope gives me the greatest hope! Read 1 John 3:1-3! Oh, I do so hope your desire is to be pure! Believe me, I’m not, but, oh, join me in looking, longing, yearning for His re-appearing!
9) Hang in there! Those things we hope for here, but don’t see—they’re stored up for us in heaven (Colossians 1:3-6!) God is always, always, always Faithful who promised (Hebrews 10:23!)
10) Now, it is not coincidental that we are commanded to love one another (John 13:34!) What does 1 Corinthians 13:7 say is one of the characteristics of love?
11) At the end of the age, only three things are said to remain. What are they according to 1 Corinthians 13:13? Can you think of any reason we will continue to need hope? Perhaps, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 can give us a glimpse! What are your thoughts on this verse and how it pertains to how life will be when Christ reigns?
12) Well, we can’t end our discussion on hope without taking a look at what Scripture has to say about a life without hope according to Job 17:13-16! Not very pretty, is it?
a) Oh, sisters, we must all come to place where we realize that there is no hope except in God!
(1) Job 8:11-15
(2) Job 11:20
(3) Job 27:8
(4) Psalms 39:6-8
(5) Psalms 71:5
(6) Proverbs 11:7
Ephesians 1:22-23
“And God placed all things under his [Jesus Christ, the Son of God] feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (NIV)
1) Why is Jesus so highly qualified to have dominion over everything (Revelation 1:9-18; Revelation 4; Revelation 5!) Glory, glory to the Lamb!
2) When was Jesus qualified by God to receive dominion (Revelation 13:8?) Explain.
3) Who did dominion over the earth originally belong to (Genesis 1:26-28?)
4) What happened to man’s rule (Genesis 3?) See also Luke 4:1-8; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11 and Ephesians 2:2!)
5) Oh, sadly, we didn’t just lose earth (Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:19 and Hebrews 2:14!)
6) When did Christ actually snatch us, the earth and the heavens away from satan and his demons (Matthew 28; John 5: 19-27; John 13:3; Colossians 2:15)
7) Oh, sisters, who can fathom the depths and riches of our God? Who can understand His ways? What does our precious, precious Jesus do with the authority, dominion and power given to Him (1 Corinthians 15:22-28?) What a Savior! What a Father God!
8) Oh, don’t feel bad for Jesus. What does Colossians 2:9 say about Jesus? What did Jesus Himself say in John 14:8-11?) Glory!
9) Concerning Christ’s headship over the church—what is the church and how closely related is the church to Christ Jesus (Ephesians 5:31-32 and Colossians 1:24?)
10) What is the foundation of Christ’s church (Matthew 16:13-18?)
a) How does Jesus care for His church?
i) He loved the church and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:25!)
ii) He sanctifies and cleanses it by the washing of His word (Ephesians 5:26!)
iii) One day, He will present His church to Himself! It will be a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle—holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:27!)
iv) Jesus nourishes the church (Ephesians 5;29!)
v) Through His Spirit, spiritual gifts are distributed for the edifying and building up of His church (1 Corinthians 12:1; 8-11; 1 Corinthians 12:28-31; 1 Corinthians 13!)
(1) Now, Christ Himself has several warnings to His church:
(a) Don’t forget your first love (Revelation 2:4!)
(b) Remain faithful, even unto the death (Revelation 2:10!)
(c) Hold to sound doctrine, do not become a stumbling block to others, and flee idolatry (Revelation 2:14-15!)
(d) Have no fellowship with and/or overlook outright sin and unrepentance (Revelation 2:20!)
(e) Repent, hold fast to what you have, and be an overcomer (Revelation 3:3-5!)
(f) Whatever you do, don’t become “lukewarm” in your relationship with Christ (Revelation 3:7!)
(g) Oh, that we would all hear God say these same encouraging words to us that He spoke to the only church He found to be without fault! “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.” (Revelation 3: 7-12!) Oh, Jesus!
Ephesians 2:1-7
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.” (NIV)
1) The key word here is seen in verse 1 and 3, “were!” Oh, the difference one single work makes! No need to share, but reflect on what you once “were!”
2) Let’s just all face the truth, we still daily (sometimes, hourly, or minute by minute) battle the desire to “gratify the cravings of our sinful natures!” Well, maybe it’s just me! So, what separates us, as believers in Christ Jesus, from those who are now “dead in their transgressions and sins, and by their very nature have become “objects of wrath?”
a) Because of God’s great love and rich mercy toward us, while we were dead in our transgressions, God saved us through His free gift of grace—His unmerited favor (Romans 5:6-9; Ephesians 2:4-5!)
b) God has made us alive in Christ! He did so by taking that old law, with its rules and regulations—which was actually in opposition to us because by it, we were all condemned, and glory to God, He “nailed” it to the cross with Jesus!
3) Now, since we have two natures within us (Romans 7:15-23) we must choose to be led by God’s Spirit:
a) We choose to allow our minds to be controlled by God’s Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-6; Romans 12:2!)
b) We have to choose to “put to death” our earthly or sinful natures (Colossians 3:5!)
c) We must choose to abstain from sinful lusts (1 Peter 2:11!)
d) We must choose to put aside the deeds of darkness and “put on” the armor of light (Romans 13:12!)
e) We must choose to “put off our old selves, renew our minds and “put on” our new self, created in God’s own image (Ephesians 4:22-24!)
f) We must choose to “put on” Christ and be imitators of Him (Romans 13:14; Ephesians 5:1-4!)
g) Oh, we must “put on” love, which fulfills all the law and commandments (Colossians 3:14; Romans 13:10!)
4) Well, this all sounds well and good, but is it actually possible and what makes it so?
a) Well, you see, God brings us into a kingdom of power (1 Corinthians 4:20!) We discussed this last week. This is the Greek word, “dunamis,” is speaks of “miraculous power—God power! It is actually sometimes translated as “miracles.” Remember, it is the word from which our word, dynamite!
i) It is “dunamis” power with which God raised Christ from the dead (1 Corinthians 6:14!)
ii) God will use this same “dunamis” power to raise us up (1 Corinthians 6:14!)
iii) Oh, these earthen jars we call our bodies are filled with God’s “dunamis” power (2 Corinthians 4:7!)
iv) Thank God, His “dunamis” power is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9!)
v) God makes His “dunamis” power available to us (Ephesians 1:19!)
vi) We receive God’s grace, unmerited favor, by the working of God’s “dunamis” power (Ephesians 3:7!)
vii) We are strengthened by the Spirit of God with His “dunamis” power (Ephesians 3:16!)
viii) God does more for us than we can ask or even imagine by the working of His “dunamis” power in us (Ephesians 3:20!)
ix) We are strengthened by God’s “dunamis” power, enabling us to endure patiently, joyfully and with thanksgiving (Colossians 1:11-12!)
x) The gospel is presented in God’s “dunamis” power (1 Thessalonians 1:5!)
xi) We are given this “dunamis” power to fulfill every good purpose and act of faith in Christ Jesus (2 Thessalonians 1:11!)
xii) God has given us a spirit of “dunamis” power (2 Timothy 1:7!)
xiii) Jesus sustains (holds all things together) by His “dunamis” power (Hebrews 1:3!)
xiv) Our new birth, our living hope for resurrection and our rich inheritance in Christ Jesus is being safely and securely held for us in heaven by God’s “dunamis” power (1 Peter 1:5!)
xv) In short, it is in God’s “dunamis” power that we find everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3!)
5) Are we any longer objects of God’s wrath? Why? See Romans 5:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Genesis 3:1-15 (the promise of a Christ, a Savior!) and Isaiah 53!
6) Feel like your seated in the heavenlies? Remember, my favorite verse Romans 4:17b! Sisters, you are!
7) Why do you think it is important to God that we not be able to boast in our own salvation, gifts, abilities, even our own calling and the lives we live (Exodus 20:1-6; Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah 48:11 and 1 Corinthians 1:26-31!