Chapter 5

Please read the chapter thoroughly at least once, and write down any questions you have or any verses that stick out to you. 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%205&version=ESV

STUDY

• Who are we supposed to be imitators of?

• List the things mentioned in verses 3 and 4 that we are not supposed to do?

• What happens to darkness when it is exposed? 

• Instead of being drunk, we should be filled with what?

• Why is a woman supposed to submit to her husband?

• Describe the love a husband should love his wife. Explain the results of this love and how it relates to Christ.

• What is the last thing that is advised to women concerning their husbands?

APPLICATION

• In what specific ways can you be an imitator of God?

• What sin/darkness in your life can be exposed?  What close friend/family can you confess your sin to? It is first and foremost to confess our sins to Jesus, but when we expose sin to someone that we can trust, we can have someone hold us accountable. They can pray with us.  When we continue secretly in sin, Satan has a definite stronghold on us.  When we share with someone about what we struggle with, the stronghold becomes weaker, and we are able to be delivered from it much easier.

• Are you a submissive wife?  Do you love your wife as Christ loves the church? What steps can you take this week to practice submission and love toward your spouse? 

PRUNING ME

    Transformation is a process.  But I make it a priority to do my part in becoming more like Jesus.  What can I do to imitate Him?  If God gives me an opportunity to be patient, I try to practice patience.  If He gives me an opportunity to love, I try to love. Sometimes we don't realize the opportunities that God lays in our path until we miss it or screw it up and realize that was an opportunity to practice what we are learning.  For me, I need to be more watchful of what comes out of my mouth.  Especially with a 18 month old running around. It's not that I curse, but I can say negative things or words even like crap, darn, stupid etc. That's just being mindful around my son.  But what about around other adults?  Verse 4 says, "Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place..."  I still haven't filtered my foolish talk and crude joking.  I can't say that I tell crude jokes, but I tolerate them- might even laugh.  Although it seems harmless to me at times, it isn't.  I am not setting an example.  The Bible says, "Let there be no crude joking."  Do I take it seriously? Apparently not. The point of the matter, in addition to Scripture being blunt about these things not coming out of your mouth, isn't the filter you learn to put in place, but the heart that tolerates it.  Why does my heart tolerate or think cride joking is funny?  My heart, that belongs to Jesus, should not conform to the patterns of the world- in this case, crude joking. My mind should be renewed by the Holy Spirit.  I need to let the Spirit renew my mind in the area, and practice intolerance and thanksgiving instead.  God will give me opportunities to respond to crude joking.  My prayer is that my heart will be changed- not a filter put in place- but a real heart change, that those kind of inappropriate jokes would actually bother me, not make me laugh. 

    When I struggled with porn, I didn't share it with Joey.  I was embarassed and ashamed that I would let myself be tempted, and then dragged into that sin.  It wasn't until I confessed it to Joey and a close friend that I was able to be completely delivered from it.  Obviously my confession to Jesus was needed, but it seemed like I was asking for forgiveness daily.  Repentance was desperately needed.  For me, part of repentance was sharing with people who could pray, hold me accountable and help me through it.  James 5:16 says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed."  When I was looking at porn behind closed doors, Satan loved it.  He loved that nobody knew about it, because I was weak, and he knew how to tempt me and when the best time to tempt me was.  He wanted me to feel ashamed and embarassed, hoping that those feelings were strong enough to not share with anyone.  He wanted me to feel unworthy of God's love or forgiveness and constantly whispered words of worthlessness and guilt in my ear.  However, when the darkness was exposed, the sin was visible. I wasn't hiding anymore.  It wasn't easy to share with people my struggle, but it's through prayer, encouragement and accountability, that I got through it. True repentance is taking steps to ensure you won't return to your sin.  When we confess our sin to God, but continue in our sin, we are like a dog that returns to their vomit. "Like a dog who returns to his vomit, is a fool who returns to his folly." ~Proverbs 26:11

• Leanne