Ephesians 4:17-5:2

Read Ephesians 4:17-5:2

RAMP: READ / ANALYZE / MEDITATE / PRAY

R: Read the Passage

Read this one several times … it’s so good! And be prepared to have a little heart surgery done. Opening your heart, doing some work and then letting God love it back together again.

A: Analyze

Journal your responses to the questions below:

1. What does this say about God and/or Jesus Christ?

2. What does this say about you?

Yikes. A lot. Take a piece of paper out and draw a vertical line from the top to the bottom. On the left, write what the passage says were are when living in darkness. On the right, write what the passage says you are when living as a child of the light.

THIS IS IMPORTANT: Do not let the enemy tell you this is a list of rules or a list of dos/donts. Instead, it’s a display of our sinful nature, and a display of the new life we have in Christ. God’s word brings conviction through the Holy Spirit — never does it bring burden or guilt. Don’t let the enemy twist that up! 

3. Is there a command to follow?

Oh yea, plenty.

4. Is there a sin to repent of?

Ummmm. Yes. Pay attention to the conviction coming from the Holy Spirit as you study this passage. Conviction is a beautiful, beautiful thing. Don’t resist it! 

5. Is there a promise to hold onto?

This may feel like a trick question for this passage, but it’s not. There’s always a promise hidden in even the toughest passages of scripture. I find 5:1-2 as a comforting promise to me — that when Jesus himself lived this way, it was a fragrant offering to God. Think about what that means when we live this way — living in the light, and living out of the love Christ showed to us? 

Nicole’s Notes:

Yeah, I know. This isn’t an easy one is it? It’s like standing in the mirror spiritually naked and having your heart exposed right before your eyes. But this is the GOOD, HOLY work of sanctification. Sanctification is a big word for the process of becoming more and more like Christ. From the time we accept Christ as our Lord & Savior to the day we enter eternal glory, we are in the process of sanctification. Sanctification is the roller coaster ride of our spiritual journey — the highs, the lows, the unexpected falls and the thrills. It’s the intimate journey of growing more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ. And that journey is not easy. No good roller coaster lacks twists and turns. 

Think about what sanctification has looked like for you over your faith journey. Where have there been highs, where you learned so much about the goodness and kindness of God? Probably after a low, right? Some of my favorite moments of growth have come right after I’ve screwed it all up. Because I feel the Holy Spirit’s conviction, my feelings get hurt a little and then God literally loves me back together. And that’s the best part. Coming out of conviction gives us new levels of growth and maturity which build upon each other over time. With each new level of growth, we never grow backwards. We grow forwards — more and more into the likeness of Jesus.

A little more about sanctification: 

• John 15 tells us that no branch bears fruits apart from Christ. And He prunes fruitful branches so that they become MORE FRUITFUL. The unhealthy branches get pruned to become healthy. Healthy branches get pruned to become MORE healthy. 

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that because we now have unveiled faces (meaning the veil of the mystery has been lifted and we actually SEE the truth of Him), and our unveiled faces of truth reveal HIS GLORY as we are “being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Spirit.”  That Spirit is the Lord's, and where His Spirit is, there is freedom (verse 17). There is freedom in His Spirit, so when His Spirit does the work of sanctification in our hearts, we are FREE to walk in it. When God prunes our branches, His Spirit is there and gives us the FREEDOM to embrace our new bare bushes. As those branches grow back stronger and more fruitful, His Spirit is still there with FREEDOM to live abundantly in His light. Whoa. 

When you read the Bible, not only are YOU reading words, the Word of God is reading you.

When you have those moments of realizing your life isn’t matching up, take comfort in that. It's God’s kindness showing you where there’s a disconnect in your life — where how your life is not in line with His ways. Again, never run from this or wish it away. Sit in it. Let the Word of God (the sword) do its work in your heart and life.

Back to Ephesians — aren’t we glad this passage isn’t Chapter 1?! We would have quit. But at this point in our study, we are humbled and empowered by the work of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. So not only are we ready for it, we are eager to live differently because of it.

According to this passage, we are to think, respond and act differently than the world. Our new life in Christ gives us a:

• New heart

• With new desires

• New minds

• That rely on new Power (His)

Like in the last chapter when we saw signs of spiritual maturity, this passage gives us even more to consider:

• So, what do we do with these truths? 

• What does it look like to be changed by the Holy Spirit? 

• What does it mean to hear from God though His word? 

• What should my life look like when I get it? 

The answer to all of those questions is THIS PASSAGE. Specifically verses 22-24 (I especially love them in The Message: Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life — a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.”

Spiritual maturity looks like the right side of your piece of paper from the list above. Spiritual maturity looks like living in the light. 

As Believers, we ‘understand’ the old vs. new concept. We actually like it as a culture. Think about how much you love a good before/after on HGTV! But spiritually, are we willing to do the hard heart work to take the understanding and put feet to it? To let our lives look different because of it? To let our feelings be hurt for the sake of growing more and more into the image and likeness of Christ?

M: Meditate

• Can you sense the Holy Spirit’s work in your life? Check your spiritual pulse. Conviction reveals a pulse, that you’re still alive!

• Which of the following do you not feel like you have embraced the “newness” of your life in Christ? Ask God to give you the courage to let go of the old and embrace the new. Also ask Him to do the work necessary for your life to reflect your newness.

  • New heart

  • New desires

  • New mind

  • New power 

• A few songs that would be great to listen/worship to as you study this passage:

  • “Nothing Else” by Cody Carnes

  • “Fade Away” By Passion 

P: Pray

Pray it all! Just keep praying. Pray the hard things. Pray with transparency. Pray with gratitude that God cares enough to keep working in you. Pray with joy for your new life in Him. Pray with confidence that your life has purpose in His Kingdom. Pray for Him to grow you and to bring your heart/mind/lives in line with His.