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For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Heb 4:12. Structure of Passage. V 1-2 Bridge V 3 – 7 Purity V 8 – 14 Light and Dark
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For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. • Heb 4:12
Structure of Passage • V 1-2 Bridge • V 3 – 7 Purity • V 8 – 14 Light and Dark • V 15 – 21 Basics of the Christian Life
Ephesians 5:1 – 2 • A Living Picture of Love • We are to model our lives after God as revealed in Christ, offering ourselves to God that we might be used by Him.
Ephesians 5:3 – 7 • Many temptations and sins sit along our paths, endangering the purity of our love and our lives, so we must avoid those who would lead us astray. • We are not to take part in the sins of the sexually immoral and the filthy talkers; instead, we should show a clear distinction between our behaviour and theirs.
Immorality (pornia) • Pornography • adultery • fornication • includes mentally
Internet helps • http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/Internetsafety/index.htm • Some good advice and a link to a list of family friendly internet content filters • http://www.opendns.com/ • Free service – you can enable free content filter to protect you from accessing sites with inappropriate content • http://www.covenanteyes.com/ • Reports your internet usage to someone of your choice
Ephesians 5:8 – 14 • God’s first spoken words in the Bible - Light • He then identified himself with light • We have been brought out of darkness into light • avoid the ways of darkness • reflect the light that Christ has brought into the world. • We are to live out the Christian life faithfully • we need to wake up to the reality of the world • embrace Christ, and live life for Him • allowing Him to shine through us day after day.
Ephesians 5:15 – 21 Tests • Conduct test v15 • time test v16 • decision making test v17 • control test 18 – 20 • submission test v21
Internet helps • http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/Internetsafety/index.htm • Some good advice and a link to a list of family friendly internet content filters • http://www.opendns.com/ • Free service – you can enable free content filter to protect you from accessing sites with inappropriate content • http://www.covenanteyes.com/ • Reports your internet usage to someone of your choice