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Thesis Statement: Paul gives to the Ephesian church, an example to follow, a warning to heed, and a challenge to practice; in order that they might be equipped by the power of the Holy Spirit and through their faith in Jesus Christ to withstand trials, hardships, and schemes planted by the evil one that will certainly occur because of their faith.
I. Paul’s Audience
A. The Ephesians needed to be equipped.
1. They needed to be firm in their faith so that they wouldn’t fall when Paul left.
B. The Ephesians were a people who needed an example to follow.
2. They were surrounded by lies and needed the truth to be demonstrated.
3. Ephesus was a place of worship to Artemis, a false god.
II. The Example to Follow
A. Paul uses himself as an example to follow; he shows them boldness.
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Paul makes it clear to them that he is following the lead of the Holy Spirit.
C. Paul speaks about suffering and imprisonment as if it is a natural cause of following Jesus.
III. The Warning to Heed
A. Paul commands the elders of the church to keep watch and to be on their guard.
1. Paul says that men among them will arise and distort the truth; the devil is work.
B. The Armor of God
1. Paul later wrote from the prison of which he spoke, illustrating the importance of dressing yourself appropriately in the Lord so that you can stand firm.; this immediately connects us with his warning in Acts twenty to be on their guard when people come and distort the truth.
IV. The Commission and Challenge
A. Paul commits them to God and equips them to stand.
B. Paul challenges them to give freely out of obedience to words of Jesus.
V. Conclusion
not take a stand in the situation. He took care of Paul when he (Paul)
were fighting for, stripped of even their humanity. At one point Paul even said "[i]n many ways we
In trying to understand Philippians 2:5-11 it is equally important to understand what is going on both before this passage occurs and what happens after. Paul is writing a letter to the church in Philippi and unlike some of his other letters he is filled with joy when writing to them. Immediately his letter begins with praise and thanksgiving directed towards the Philippians due to their kindness and provisions that they had consistently provided for Paul while he was in Prison. Paul then goes on to write about the fact that his imprisonment has advanced the Gospel of Christ. Paul then continues on to talk about the way in which the Philippians need to compose themselves and tells them to “stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (1:27). He says this because at the time the Philippians had a lot of forces that opposed them, just as Christ did when he was here on earth. Rather then becoming boastful or prideful Paul urges the Philippians to be like a servant who gives all the glory to God and not upon oneself. This then leads him into 2:5-11.
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4. Mentioning what the defiant do in concealment is shameful, however we must make the mutiny visible through the light. (Ephesians 5: 12-13)
This verse (1:5) shows that Paul and the church at Philippi had a prior history. Other epistles show the church's dedication to ...
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