The Lord's ArmyEphesians 6:10-20"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic pow-ers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." ~ Ephesians 6:12Key Truths:1. We are at war.2. Our fight is NOT against people.3. We are fighting preeminent, powerful, spiritual enemies with authority in this world.We are fighting Satan and fallen angels.We fight human institutions with power and i...

Authority, Honor, and Blessing - Ephesians 6:1-9Three qualities of honor: 1. Honor brings blessings."Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you." - Deuteronomy 5:162. Honor never expires."The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures." - Proverbs 30:173. Honor extends to all."G...

Love, True LoveEphesians 5:21-31How to stay on the path of love in marriage."This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." ~ 1 John 3:161. Surrender the myth of fairytale love. (1 Corinthians 13)2. Submit to one another. (Philippians 2:1-4, 1 Peter 5:1-6)3. Choose sacrificial love. (John 10:11-18, John 15:12-13)Next Steps:1. Ask God to give you a heart that will submit to your spouse.2. Make sacrific...

Be Careful How You LiveEphesians 5:15-20"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." ~Ephesians 5:15-161. How we walk is how we live.Psalm 1Matthew 22:34-402. Make the most of the time.Hospitality—reach out to bless three people this week.Authenticity—I will follow God's leading to be honest in all my relationships this week.Forgiveness—I will learn something this week about what Jesus said about forgiveness....

The Body of ChristEphesians 4:11-161. God is creator of the universe. His goodness is directed toward the harmonious unification of all things!2. Death is the malignant disruption of God's creation, tearing apart what God meant to be forever inter-connected with Himself.3. Jesus came to conquer death and restore the life—God in everything. He unleashed the immense power of his resurrection!4. Those who trust Christ become the "body" of which he is the "head," made fully alive with the breath ...

We are One!Ephesians 4:1-6How to walk in unity:1. Walk with lowliness.- Philippians 2:3- Romans 14:7-9- 1 Corinthians 12:12-202. Walk with gentleness.- Galatians 5:22-233. Walk with forbearance.- Colossians 3:12-13Next Steps:1. Don't be a troll. Pray before posting anything.2. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. (Ephesians 4:3)3. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)Support the Show.________________________________FACEBOOK @cedarhill...

The Mystery of BelongingEphesians 3:1-21Three mysteries to unravel:1. Unravel the mystery of belonging to find hope.Ephesians 3:1-7Romans 14:7-91 Corinthians 12:12-202. Unravel the mystery of God's purpose to find strength.Ephesians 3:8-13Isaiah 55:8-9Proverbs 19:213. Unravel the mystery of knowing Jesus to find love.Ephesians 3:14-211 Corinthians 2:2Philippians 3:10Next Steps:1. Reconnect with someone. Reach out today.2. Reconnect with God's purpose. Ask God to reveal your purpose.3. Reconne...

God's Grace Produces ReconciliationEphesians 2:11-221. The unnatural unity of God's people demonstrates the power of God's grace!2. Jews and Gentiles have a new BELONGing that is great-er than their identity as Jew or Gentile, they are Christian.Romans 11:17Galatians 3:7-9, 143. God's power is displayed in His early church by the way they laid down prejudice, and sought reconciliation with their brothers and sisters who were different than them.Acts 11 & 154. Our identity as God's holy ch...

We Are Forgiven!Ephesians 2:1-10Three certainties in uncertain times:1. We were dead in sin..Ephesians 2:1-3Romans 1:18-25Romans 3:9-23James 1:14-162. We were raised to life.Ephesians 2:4-7Ephesians 1Romans 5:6-83. We are created to do good.Ephesians 2:8-102 Corinthians 5:17Galatians 6:10Next Steps:For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast. Receive God's gift through faith in Jesus!Where...

We Are Loved!Ephesians 1:1-23What does enough love look like?1. We are the kind of people who God chooses. (Ephesians 1:5,9)2. We are the kind of people who God sets free. (Ephesians 1:6,12,14)3. We are the kind of people who God grows. (Ephesians 1:8, 17-18)Next Steps: Reflect on these truths.1. When Paul prays for the Ephesian church, he does not pray for an improvement in the external circumstances. Rather, Paul prays for a profound internal knowledge of the depths of God's love. ~Timothy ...