“Look In The Mirror”
Ephesians 5:15-21
Sermon Series: “Picture Perfect Family?”
Main Principle: The key to marriage is being the right person. Or, if you are single, the key is not focusing on finding the right person but being the right person.
How To Be The Right Person
I. We become the right person by trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior. When we do this, we receive the forgiveness of sins and a new nature (Ephesians 1:7, 1:13-14, 2:8-10, 2:13).
II. We become the right person by repenting of sin (4:17-24).
Dr. Kerry Skinner has said, “The words sin and repentance are disappearing from the vocabulary of the average Christian. Confession of sin is common but repentance is rare.” “People tend to think our problem is somebody, something, or some syndrome instead of sin.” “The world has a method of treating things but no real cure. But if sin is the problem, there is no human remedy-only human relief. For a sin problem, we will either turn to the cure or relief.” “Jesus did not die on a cross to teach us to mange our sin problems but to set us free.” “Repentance is simple but not easy.”
III. We become the right person by letting go of anger and forgiving those who wrong us (4:31-32). Here are two crucial questions to honestly ask ourselves. Who are we angry at and who do we need to forgive? Kerry Skinner says, “99.9% of the time there is a direct link between bondage and unforgiveness.”
IV. We become the right person by being filled with the Holy Spirit (5:18).
1. The Background of Being Filled With the Spirit: Literally, God lives in us, and He gives us the power to be the person that He wants us to be if we let Him be in control. Verses 15-21 are really
the foundation to what is written here about family. The foundation of a healthy family is being filled with the Holy Spirit.
2. The Meaning of Being Filled With the Spirit:
A. The Definition-Being filled with the Spirit means to
be controlled by the Spirit.
B. The Explanation-Based on the Greek text, this
phrase implies that it is a command, it is for every believer, it is to be continual, and it is something that God does in us as we surrender to Him.
C. The Picture-It is pictured through a contrast with drunkenness.
3. The Results of Being Filled With the Spirit:
A. A song in our hearts (v. 19)
B. Thankfulness (v. 20)
C. Submissiveness (v. 21): Submit means to line yourself
up under someone else’s authority or be subject to. Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest describes “subject” as, “Subjecting one’s self to another is the opposite of self-assertion, the opposite of an independent, autocratic spirit. It is the desire to get along with one another, being satisfied with less than one’s due, a sweet reasonableness of attitude.”
D. The fruit of the Holy Spirit (v. 9): Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
4. How to be Filled With the Spirit: It is not a formula because we are relating to a Person, but here are some steps to take in order to be filled with the Spirit.
A. Examine your life, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal all sin, and confess all known sin (1 John 1:9).
B. Repent of sin and make things right with others if needed (2 Corinthians 7:10, Matthew 5:23-24).
C. Surrender your will completely to God (Romans 6:11, Luke 9:23).
D. Ask to be controlled by the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13).
