We Are Adopted, 23 March 2014
Big Idea: We are adopted
Ephesians 5:1-21
Today’s passage reminds us that we are adopted.
The first professional musical I ever saw was Annie. My mom had an opportunity to see it when I was a child and took our family to see it when it came to town. I was very excited many years later to watch our kids perform the show. It’s a great story of a poor orphan who moves from the horrible conditions of an orphanage to becoming the adopted child of a very rich man. Her life is radically transformed by a loving father and she instantly receives the wealth and privileges of being in his family.
There’s a great story about an adopted boy who was teased on the playground for being adopted. He confidently said, “My parents chose me. Yours are stuck with you!”
Adoption is our story, too. We have been adopted into God’s family. Our identity as followers of Jesus is no longer that of hopeless, hell-bound enemy of God living in the slime of sin but adopted children of the King of kings.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (1-2)
Kids love to imitate their parents.
We are to imitate our heavenly Dad. That is a life of love.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (3-7)
This is quite a list! These are common sins in the world. They have no place in the Church. Not even a hint!
“If you can get into sin and it doesn’t bother you, you are not a child of God.”
- J. Vernon McGee.
We all sin. What is your attitude toward sin? Pride or repentance?
“Tell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads one's heart, it's pleasures, and it's pains, to a dear friend. Tell him your troubles, that he may comfort you; tell him your joys, that he may sober them; tell him your longings, that he may purify them; tell him your dislikes, that he may help you conquer them; talk to him of your temptations, that he may shield you from them; show him the wounds of your heart, that he may heal them; lay bare your indifference to good, your depraved tastes for evil, your instability. Tell him how self-love makes you unjust to others, how vanity tempts you to be insincere, how pride disguises you to yourself and others. If you thus pour out your weaknesses, needs, troubles, there will be no lack of what to say. You will never exhaust the subject. It is continually being renewed. People who have no secrets from each other never want for subject of conversation. They do not weigh their words, for there is nothing to be held back, neither do they seek for something to say. They talk out of the abundance of their heart, without consideration they say just what they think. Blessed are they who attain to such familiar, unreserved intercourse with God.”
Francois Fenelon
We need to tell God what is in our heart.
sexual immorality (porn, adultery, fornication)
any kind of impurity
greed (advertising and marketing tempt us)
obscenity
foolish talk or coarse joking (what if all of your words were posted online?)
What is left to do?!
but rather thanksgiving.
God judges His children. Judging and disciplining the children of others is generally considered inappropriate. Loving parents discipline.
We need to love people and be with them, but sometimes we can’t do what they’re doing.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (8-14)
Notice the contrast. We were not in darkness; we were darkness! Now we are light. God’s children are filled with kindness, goodness, and righteousness, truth, sincerity.
“Character is what you are in the dark.” - D.L. Moody
We are not only to avoid the darkness, we are to expose it, to shine a light on it. This doesn’t mean we are supposed to be a tattle-tale but we are to shine the light of Jesus. Your actions truly speak louder than your words.
We are not to judge or lecture people outside the church. We are just to shine the light.
An engaged woman gives great attention to her fiancé. Do we give great attention to Jesus?
Wake up! How can we wake from the dead? This is for believers who have wandered from Jesus.
Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (15-17)
It’s all about the Lord’s will, God’s glory. If you are God’s child, you submit to God. You seek God’s will. It’s not about what you want but what God wants.
Does your use of your time bring glory to God?
Does your use of your money bring glory to God?
Does your use of your energy bring glory to God?
What is God saying to you?
What are you doing about it?
It’s easy to rationalize, excuse, and hide. If you have any relationship with God, the conviction of the Holy Spirit will usually alert you to those things that please and displease God.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, 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. (18-20)
God’s children are filled with God, with the Holy Spirit. This is not a text concerning alcohol, though alcohol has destroyed many lives. Paul tells us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Are you filled with the world or the Holy Spirit?
God’s children should not be controlled by any substance—alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, caffeine, food, etc.
God’s children should not be controlled by anything—Facebook, peer pressure, the boss, video games, …
We are to imitate God. We are to look and think and act like Jesus. How? By trying hard? No! By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. He empowered Jesus and He is available to empower us today.
A drunk is possessed by alcohol. A true believer is possessed by the Holy Spirit. They look like Jesus!
The image is one of sailing. Is your sail up? If not, it’s difficult to catch the wind of the Spirit.
We are to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It truly is like drinking. You may have had a cup of coffee yesterday but it won’t sustain you today.
You may be so full today and yet hungry tomorrow.
How do you know if you are filled with the Spirit?
Fruit.
Speaking psalms (from the book of Psalms), hymns and spiritual songs (less formal).
Singing.
Thanksgiving.
Give thanks right now!
As a musician, of course I love this text!
Best-selling author, John Maxwell, has three questions to determine passion:
What do you cry about?
What do you dream about?
What do you sing about?
I realize some enjoy singing more than others, but the point is not about notes so much as it’s about what’s inside. As we saw last week, Jesus said that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Here Paul takes it a step further to talk about singing.
What is the number one subject of pop songs? Love. When people are in love, they sing about it. Words alone often are inadequate.
When we sing at Scio, it’s not choir practice or glee club. It’s a way to express our love for God in ways that go beyond mere words.
Worship happens everywhere. In sports arenas, people yell and cheer for their team. On Wall Street, investors enthusiastically make money! In concerts, people sing along with rock stars. Where did we get the idea that it’s inappropriate to worship in church?!?!?
Have you ever been praying and you simply run out of words? I do all the time. Sometimes I resort to praying in Spanish, a language I studied in college. At times I wish I was given the spiritual gift of tongues just to express things I cannot express in my own vocabulary.
God has blessed me with a love language that often expresses that which I cannot do with mere words—music. I feel closest to God when I am in nature and when I have a nice piano to play. If I could get a cabin near water that had a grand piano, I’d be as close to God as possible on the earth, a perfect environment in which to compose music, sing, and worship the LORD. If you have one you’d like to let me borrow, let me know!
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (21)
This does not mean to blindly obey what everyone says not does it say to do what you want, but submitting ourselves to one another in the fear of God.
Submit means respond to one another as unto the LORD. We love Him because He first loved us.
How?
I thought about this for a sermon:
don’t commit adultery
don’t be greedy
don’t swear
don’t do anything bad
The problem, of course, is that you can’t just be good and try harder. Don’t think about a purple elephant!
How, then, shall we live? How do we obey God?
Going back to verse one,
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children…(Ephesians 5:1)
Religion says if we hear the words of Jesus, we can do the works of Jesus. It’s not that simple. Most of the time we know the right thing to do, we are just tempted to do otherwise. I know working out is good for my heart, but I’d rather watch basketball and eat ice cream!
The secret to obedience and following Jesus is to begin with the words of Jesus and the ways of Jesus.
If we imitate the ways of Jesus—they rhythms, the disciplines, the lifestyle—the works of Jesus will eventually emerge as fruit. We are to be imitators of God first. Jesus did not just naturally live a godly life. He spent time alone with the Father. He disciplines His body and mind.
What Now?
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Obey.
Consider how you can participate in adoption.
Today there are thousands of orphans around the world, including here in the USA. Many are abandoned or abused.
In the early church, Christians adopted unwanted kids. We’re adopted into God’s family and we should be eager to adopt, whether through foster care, overseas adoption, or even child sponsorship.
For the first time in history, 40% of children in our nation will go to bed without a father tonight. The majority of children born to women under 30 are born out of wedlock.
We’ve been adopted by our heavenly Father. He set a great example for us to follow. Become a foster parent. Adopt a child. Help a family in the adoption process through prayer, time, or finances.
Michigan Foster Care and Adoption Faith-Based Summit
Thousands of Michigan children need a home....some just need love and support temporarily while their parents make the changes necessary to provide the home these children deserve while others are waiting for a "forever" family. Finding a family for each and every one of these children is at the heart of the important journey that will begin at the Faith-Based Foster Care and Adoption Summit on April 29, 2014.
There is no cost to attend this event. Advanced registration is required. Please click here for detailed flyer and registration information.
Credits:
Some ideas from
Mike Breen, 3DMovements.com
J.I. Packer, Ephesians (sermon series audio)
Mark Driscoll, Who Do You Think You Are (book and podcast series)
GLO Bible
Louie Giglio, Passion City Church sermon series
J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible, http://thruthebible.ca
You can listen to this message and others at the Scio podcast here. You can also subscribe to our podcast here.
Ephesians 5:1-21
Today’s passage reminds us that we are adopted.
The first professional musical I ever saw was Annie. My mom had an opportunity to see it when I was a child and took our family to see it when it came to town. I was very excited many years later to watch our kids perform the show. It’s a great story of a poor orphan who moves from the horrible conditions of an orphanage to becoming the adopted child of a very rich man. Her life is radically transformed by a loving father and she instantly receives the wealth and privileges of being in his family.
There’s a great story about an adopted boy who was teased on the playground for being adopted. He confidently said, “My parents chose me. Yours are stuck with you!”
Adoption is our story, too. We have been adopted into God’s family. Our identity as followers of Jesus is no longer that of hopeless, hell-bound enemy of God living in the slime of sin but adopted children of the King of kings.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (1-2)
Kids love to imitate their parents.
We are to imitate our heavenly Dad. That is a life of love.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (3-7)
This is quite a list! These are common sins in the world. They have no place in the Church. Not even a hint!
“If you can get into sin and it doesn’t bother you, you are not a child of God.”
- J. Vernon McGee.
We all sin. What is your attitude toward sin? Pride or repentance?
“Tell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads one's heart, it's pleasures, and it's pains, to a dear friend. Tell him your troubles, that he may comfort you; tell him your joys, that he may sober them; tell him your longings, that he may purify them; tell him your dislikes, that he may help you conquer them; talk to him of your temptations, that he may shield you from them; show him the wounds of your heart, that he may heal them; lay bare your indifference to good, your depraved tastes for evil, your instability. Tell him how self-love makes you unjust to others, how vanity tempts you to be insincere, how pride disguises you to yourself and others. If you thus pour out your weaknesses, needs, troubles, there will be no lack of what to say. You will never exhaust the subject. It is continually being renewed. People who have no secrets from each other never want for subject of conversation. They do not weigh their words, for there is nothing to be held back, neither do they seek for something to say. They talk out of the abundance of their heart, without consideration they say just what they think. Blessed are they who attain to such familiar, unreserved intercourse with God.”
Francois Fenelon
We need to tell God what is in our heart.
sexual immorality (porn, adultery, fornication)
any kind of impurity
greed (advertising and marketing tempt us)
obscenity
foolish talk or coarse joking (what if all of your words were posted online?)
What is left to do?!
but rather thanksgiving.
God judges His children. Judging and disciplining the children of others is generally considered inappropriate. Loving parents discipline.
We need to love people and be with them, but sometimes we can’t do what they’re doing.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (8-14)
Notice the contrast. We were not in darkness; we were darkness! Now we are light. God’s children are filled with kindness, goodness, and righteousness, truth, sincerity.
“Character is what you are in the dark.” - D.L. Moody
We are not only to avoid the darkness, we are to expose it, to shine a light on it. This doesn’t mean we are supposed to be a tattle-tale but we are to shine the light of Jesus. Your actions truly speak louder than your words.
We are not to judge or lecture people outside the church. We are just to shine the light.
An engaged woman gives great attention to her fiancé. Do we give great attention to Jesus?
Wake up! How can we wake from the dead? This is for believers who have wandered from Jesus.
Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (15-17)
It’s all about the Lord’s will, God’s glory. If you are God’s child, you submit to God. You seek God’s will. It’s not about what you want but what God wants.
Does your use of your time bring glory to God?
Does your use of your money bring glory to God?
Does your use of your energy bring glory to God?
What is God saying to you?
What are you doing about it?
It’s easy to rationalize, excuse, and hide. If you have any relationship with God, the conviction of the Holy Spirit will usually alert you to those things that please and displease God.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, 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. (18-20)
God’s children are filled with God, with the Holy Spirit. This is not a text concerning alcohol, though alcohol has destroyed many lives. Paul tells us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Are you filled with the world or the Holy Spirit?
God’s children should not be controlled by any substance—alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, caffeine, food, etc.
God’s children should not be controlled by anything—Facebook, peer pressure, the boss, video games, …
We are to imitate God. We are to look and think and act like Jesus. How? By trying hard? No! By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. He empowered Jesus and He is available to empower us today.
A drunk is possessed by alcohol. A true believer is possessed by the Holy Spirit. They look like Jesus!
The image is one of sailing. Is your sail up? If not, it’s difficult to catch the wind of the Spirit.
We are to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It truly is like drinking. You may have had a cup of coffee yesterday but it won’t sustain you today.
You may be so full today and yet hungry tomorrow.
How do you know if you are filled with the Spirit?
Fruit.
Speaking psalms (from the book of Psalms), hymns and spiritual songs (less formal).
Singing.
Thanksgiving.
Give thanks right now!
As a musician, of course I love this text!
Best-selling author, John Maxwell, has three questions to determine passion:
What do you cry about?
What do you dream about?
What do you sing about?
I realize some enjoy singing more than others, but the point is not about notes so much as it’s about what’s inside. As we saw last week, Jesus said that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Here Paul takes it a step further to talk about singing.
What is the number one subject of pop songs? Love. When people are in love, they sing about it. Words alone often are inadequate.
When we sing at Scio, it’s not choir practice or glee club. It’s a way to express our love for God in ways that go beyond mere words.
Worship happens everywhere. In sports arenas, people yell and cheer for their team. On Wall Street, investors enthusiastically make money! In concerts, people sing along with rock stars. Where did we get the idea that it’s inappropriate to worship in church?!?!?
Have you ever been praying and you simply run out of words? I do all the time. Sometimes I resort to praying in Spanish, a language I studied in college. At times I wish I was given the spiritual gift of tongues just to express things I cannot express in my own vocabulary.
God has blessed me with a love language that often expresses that which I cannot do with mere words—music. I feel closest to God when I am in nature and when I have a nice piano to play. If I could get a cabin near water that had a grand piano, I’d be as close to God as possible on the earth, a perfect environment in which to compose music, sing, and worship the LORD. If you have one you’d like to let me borrow, let me know!
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (21)
This does not mean to blindly obey what everyone says not does it say to do what you want, but submitting ourselves to one another in the fear of God.
Submit means respond to one another as unto the LORD. We love Him because He first loved us.
How?
I thought about this for a sermon:
don’t commit adultery
don’t be greedy
don’t swear
don’t do anything bad
The problem, of course, is that you can’t just be good and try harder. Don’t think about a purple elephant!
How, then, shall we live? How do we obey God?
Going back to verse one,
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children…(Ephesians 5:1)
Religion says if we hear the words of Jesus, we can do the works of Jesus. It’s not that simple. Most of the time we know the right thing to do, we are just tempted to do otherwise. I know working out is good for my heart, but I’d rather watch basketball and eat ice cream!
The secret to obedience and following Jesus is to begin with the words of Jesus and the ways of Jesus.
If we imitate the ways of Jesus—they rhythms, the disciplines, the lifestyle—the works of Jesus will eventually emerge as fruit. We are to be imitators of God first. Jesus did not just naturally live a godly life. He spent time alone with the Father. He disciplines His body and mind.
What Now?
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Obey.
Consider how you can participate in adoption.
Today there are thousands of orphans around the world, including here in the USA. Many are abandoned or abused.
In the early church, Christians adopted unwanted kids. We’re adopted into God’s family and we should be eager to adopt, whether through foster care, overseas adoption, or even child sponsorship.
For the first time in history, 40% of children in our nation will go to bed without a father tonight. The majority of children born to women under 30 are born out of wedlock.
We’ve been adopted by our heavenly Father. He set a great example for us to follow. Become a foster parent. Adopt a child. Help a family in the adoption process through prayer, time, or finances.
Michigan Foster Care and Adoption Faith-Based Summit
Thousands of Michigan children need a home....some just need love and support temporarily while their parents make the changes necessary to provide the home these children deserve while others are waiting for a "forever" family. Finding a family for each and every one of these children is at the heart of the important journey that will begin at the Faith-Based Foster Care and Adoption Summit on April 29, 2014.
There is no cost to attend this event. Advanced registration is required. Please click here for detailed flyer and registration information.
Credits:
Some ideas from
Mike Breen, 3DMovements.com
J.I. Packer, Ephesians (sermon series audio)
Mark Driscoll, Who Do You Think You Are (book and podcast series)
GLO Bible
Louie Giglio, Passion City Church sermon series
J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible, http://thruthebible.ca
You can listen to this message and others at the Scio podcast here. You can also subscribe to our podcast here.