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This is the 24^th and final sermon in our 7 month series studying the book of Ephesians.  Been in it since the beginning of September, with a short break around Christmas…What a journey!  This morning we’ll quickly overview the Epistle by looking at it structure and 4 of its major themes.

Theme 1 - Posture – Paul’s letter is also built on 3 different postures we are called to have…

• Ephesians 2:6 - seated with Him in the Heavenly realms…

⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

• Ephesians 4:1 – Live in a manner worthy
• Ephesians 4:17 – Do not live as the Gentiles do
• Ephesians 5:2 – Walk in Love
• Ephesians 5:8 – Live in light
• Ephesians 5:15 – Live not as unwise, but as wise
• Ephesians 6:10 - Stand firm in the strength of the Lord

Theme 2 - Mystery – Unity/One

• Ephesians 1:9-10 – Vertical Unity (between Heaven and Earth)

⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

• Ephesians 3:6 – Ethnic Unity (Unity between Gentile & Jew)

⁶ This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

• Ephesians 5:31-32 – One-Flesh Unity (Husband/Wife….Christ and the Church)

³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”  ³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

• Ephesians 6:19-20 – Gospel is Unity

¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. 

• Colossians 1:25–27 – Mystery is Christ in You

²⁵ I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

THEME 3 -Heavenly Realms

• Ephesians 1:3 – Blessed in the Heavenly Realms

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

• Ephesians 1:20 – Christ is seated at His right hand in the Heavenly Realms

²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

• Ephesians 2:6 – We are seated with Him in the Heavenly Realms

⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

• Ephesians 3:10 – Through church, God is MADE KNOWN in the Heavenly Realms

¹⁰ His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

• Ephesians 6:12 – Fight against Evil in the Heavenly Realms

¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:17- 18
¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people

John 4:24 (NIV)
²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

John 14:26 (NIV)
²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (THE WORD)

Theme 4 - Prayer

• 1:3 - Begins with a prayer of blessing and praise
  
  
• 1:15-23 - Continued with a prayer that readers might know the greatness of God’s power in Christ…
  • (1:17) give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better.

• 3:14-21 - Ended with a further prayer for their strengthening in the Spirit…
  • (3:16) – strengthen you, out of His glorious riches, with power through His Spirit in your inner being…

Ephesians 6:18-20.

¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

“So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray. Do you want nothing? Then I fear you do not know your poverty. Have you no mercy to ask of God? Then may the Lord’s mercy show you your misery.”

-Charles Spurgeon