Page 15 - Ephesians

Ephesians is perfectly balanced. One half doctrine, and the other,
application. Ephesians is such a lofty book, taking you up so high,
that you are tempted to never come down. You are tempted to
stay in the first three chapters and say, “My, I love this! It’s the
Holy of Holies. Heavenly places!” But then, God brings you right
back down to earth. He doesn’t want you to live dreamy eyed, in
some kind of a mystical trance. The Christian life is very practical.
If you just had the first three chapters you’d be a hermit. You
might climb some mountain and shut out everybody, except God.

You’ve heard the expression, “You are so heavenly minded,
you’re no earthly good.” Well, Ephesians won’t let that happen.
Ephesians is going to make you heavenly minded alright but then,
as Vernon McGee says, “It’s going to bring you down to where the
rubber meets the road”. Since everybody else had their own
outlines, I will present mine.

1-3: “Resources Unlimited”. Webster defines “resources” as
“something that lies ready for use and can be readily drawn upon
at any time”. That’s the first three chapters.

4-6: “Responsibilities Unlimited”. God has done so much for
you in Christ Jesus, He expects responsibilities in terms of that
wealth.

Luke 12:48, “And from everyone who has been given much,
much shall much be required.”

Now don’t get the wrong idea. Don’t think, “I’m dead. I have so
much responsibility. I’ll never do it. I’ll fail. I’ll blow it! I’ll never
be able to live the Christ life.” Not so! Chapters 4-6 are the out
workings, the fruit of 1-3. In other words, the more you enter into
chapter 1-3, the more 4-6 will be true in your life. You don’t have
to work on the responsibilities of 4-6. They are automatically
true in your life. One is an outworking of the other. If 4-6 is not
true in my life, then I need to return to chapters 1-3. Receive the
seed, then wait for the harvest.