Ray Bentley

I think that, you know, all, my brothers and sisters need to look carefully at this. Verse 21 says, submitting to one another in the fear of God. So in reality, the foundation of what Paul is now going to share is that both of us submit, but we both submit in different ways.

Marriage is God's idea. It's his design that one man and one woman would promise to him that they'll live together as one for the rest of their lives.But today, we'll see there's more involved in Hannon's ship and procreation. We'll see. Marriage is God's colorful painting of our relationship with him. Let's open our Bibles to my favorite chapter in all of the Bible, Ephesians chapter five. Okay. The title of the message is The Mystery of Marriage. It is a wonderful picture of our relationship between Jesus, who is the heavenly bridegroom, and the church, which is like the bride.

Now that is that's amazing to me. Why is Paul comparing a man who gets drunk with wine and alcohol, with a man or a woman that is filled with his spirit? He is. He's bringing some rather unusual linkage here. But there is a purpose. These two have more in common than what appear on the surface. For instance, both men have a thirst.

Both men have a need. Both men have something inside that they need to help with the pressures of life and the anxieties of life and and the complexities of life. And, you know, you ask a guy that drinks, why are you drinking? And he says, because it helps me relax. Takes the edge off and it makes me calm down.

The foundation of Ephesians. And by the way, it is not only the foundation of Ephesians. It is God's priority throughout the entire Bible. And this is how God has revealed himself to us and how we have a relationship with him. It begins with what God has done for you. It begins with God's gift to you of salvation, forgiveness, eternal life, the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The instant the instant light comes on the scene. Darkness is chased away. Every time you turn on the light switch, you see a powerful spiritual principle demonstrated right before your eyes.

Our goal as believers should be spiritual growth. The process often reveals some surprising things growing spiritually is a greater revelation of just how big a sinner that I really am, and God's grace is deeper than I had imagined. His mercy is far wider than I could have ever dreamed, and as I begin to experience that now, I have a greater capacity to share that same love, grace, forgiveness toward others spread.

To put on the mind of Christ we have to put off the mind of the world, and we need to start thinking heavenly thoughts and heavenly minded ways. And they're very, very different. This world says, looking out for number one and be aggressive and dominate. And Jesus said, blessed are the poor in spirit, the ones who feel like they're just bankrupt, spiritually blessed.

There's books on how to dress for success and all the rest, but it really doesn't change who you are on the inside. It's a presentation. But now Paul here tells us that there is another kind of wardrobe. It's a heavenly wardrobe, or new and spiritual clothing that really makes a new spread.

There's an old saying. When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you're gone, the world will cry and you will rejoice. Today, pastor Ray brings us some insight on living a life that touches others. We are studying Ephesians with a focus on maturing spiritually

You start with this little tiny group 2000 years ago, and today you see that because of the pastors, prophets, evangelists and pastors and teachers, there are now 2.5 billion people. 2000 years later, who believe that Jesus is not dead in some tomb in the Middle East, but he actually rose from the dead that he is alive.That's a pretty aggressive growth campaign. Today, pastor Ray points out how the Lord structured the church to reach the world just that way. Let's open our Bibles to Ephesianschapter four. And we're now in the second section of Ephesians, where Paul is saying, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you, verse one, to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.