Ephesians 4:27 Do Not Give the Devil an Opportunity

I vividly remember sitting on the steps of Sally's steps crying. I was so angry. She looked me in the eyes and said "Ashlee, do not give the devil an opportunity." I really wasn't sure what that meant. I knew that verse was in the Bible, but that was about all I knew about it. 
This week we will study what it means to give the devil and opportunity. Let's start by reading Ephesians 4:17-31. Remember when we look at studying what something means (Interpretation) we want to stay in context. 

Now let's look at some key words. Look up "give" and "opportunity" using Blue Letter Bible. Write down everything you learn about these words in your journal. 

Now let's do some cross references. Remember that cross references are looking at other places in Scripture to gain more understanding of what we are studying. 

Look up these verses and write down what you learn about the devil:

• John 8:44
• Acts 10:38
• Matthew 4:1
• 2 Timothy 2:26
• Luke 4:13
• John 13:2
• 1 Timothy 3:7
• 1 John 3:8
• Genesis 3:1-7
• Job 1:6-12
• Matthew 4:1-11
• Ephesians 6:10-18
• James 4:7
• 1 Peter 5:8

Now, stop and think about what you learned this week about giving the devil an opportunity. What does it mean to give him an opportunity in your life? What specific ways have you given him an opportunity in your life? Write down your thoughts and be ready to share. 

Ephesians 4:26 - Anger

This week we are going to focus on Ephesians 4:26. Start your time of study by praying and asking the Lord to open your eyes, heart, and mind to His Truth. Read Ephesians 4:17-32. What is the context or main theme of this passage? When we break our study down verse by verse we always want to remember what the context of the passage is. If you are struggling to know the context focus on verses 22-24. Write down in your journal what the main idea is in these verses.

Now let's look specifically at verse 26. Verse 26 is one of many instructions in the last part of Ephesians 4. What is the instruction in this verse? What is the benefit, warning, or exhortation connected to this verse? Write your answers down in your journal. 

Now let's dive in deeper. Using Blue Letter Bible, look up the definitions for angry and anger. You do this by clicking the tools tab to the left of the verse, then click on the strong's number next to the words angry and anger. Write down what you learn about these words. I encourage you to also look at the root word for angry (click on the number in the box at the top right that says root word). I always also try to look at what the Vine's dictionary says about the word, just click View Entry in the dictionary aid box. 

We have looked at what the words mean in the Greek. Now let's develop a wider context of these verses. How do we do that? By looking at cross references. Cross references help us see other places in Scripture that we can learn about that topic or idea. Look up each verse below and write down what you learn about anger. Write down in your journal what you learn about anger or being angry:

• Numbers 32:9-13
• Judges 2:11-14
• Exodus 34:6-7
• Psalm 145:8
• Proverbs 14:29
• Proverbs 22:24
• Ecclesiastes 7:9
• Gal 5:19-20
• Ephesians 2:3 (wrath is the same word for anger)
• Ephesians 4:31
• Colossians 3:8
• James 1:19-20
• Romans 12:18-19
• Matthew 5:21-24
• Matthew 18:15-17

So what did you see in Scripture about anger or being angry? What did you learn about not letting the sun go down on your anger? Can you connect any dots from these verses? Write it down in your journal. Now what about you personally? Write down what the Lord is showing you through His Word. How do these verses change the way you think, believe, or live your life? I encourage you to be ready to share at Bible Study. 

Ephesians 4:25 Speak the Truth

Last time we talked about the old self and the new self. As we move into the next section we are going to take the verses bit by bit. So hang in there as we dive in deep.

Read Ephesians 4:25-5:2 looking for Paul's instructions to the Ephesians. Remember these verses are connected to what we learned about the old and new self. Ephesians 4:25-5:2 includes a list of instructions, did you see them? Let's make a list. Get out your journal and list all the instructions given in Ephesians 4:25-5:2. If there is a benefit, warning, or exhortation connected with an instruction, make sure you list that too.

The rest of this week's lesson will be focused on the first instruction given in Ephesians 4:25. What is Paul's instruction here? To speak the truth. What does that mean? It is easy for us to misinterpret this phrase so lets look at some key words and do some cross references.

Look up these words using Blue Letter Bible and write down what you learn in your journal: lay aside, falsehood, speak, truth, neighbor.

So what does it mean to speak the truth, each one with his neighbor? First we must ask ourselves, what is truth? Look up these cross references and write down what you learn about what truth is or how to speak truth. Remember a cross reference is just another place in the Bible that talks about the same idea we are studying. We are looking at other places to develop a full understanding.

• Psalm 86:15
• John 1:17
• John 8:44 (this verse talks about a lack of truth)
• John 14:6
• John 17:17 (do you see that truth is a key word in the book of John?)
• Romans 1:18
• 1 Corinthians 13:6 
• Colossians 1:5
• Ephesians 4:15
• 2 Timothy 2:15-18
• 1 John 1:6-8
• Psalm 15

I know that is a lot of cross references but I want us to see what the Word has to say about truth. What is truth? How does the Word define it? How then do we in turn speak truth? Who are we to speak truth to? Summarize what you have learned in your journal. 

Ephesians 4:17-24 Old Self and New Self

This week we will move on from Spiritual Gifts and talk about the old self and the new self in Ephesians 4:17-24. 

Stop, and read Ephesians 4:17-5:14. Remember when we read, we read slowly and intentionally trying to understand what the passage says (not what it means). We do not skim through the verses. 

Now it's time for us to mark some words. We mark words because it helps us to see what the text says. It helps us see what is obvious in the text. So get out your colored pens or pencils and mark these words in Ephesians 4:17-5:14: walk, according to, former, truth, therefore, lay aside, just as, old self, new self (if you are new to Bible study you also need to mark: in Christ or in Him, and any reference to the Ephesians - you).

Look at the therefores you marked (I like to mark it with a black box). What conclusions to they introduce? (Remember therefore is a term of conclusion, so we know it is summing up something). Make a list of what you learn in your journal.

Do you see any reason for grouping Ephesians 4:17-5:14? Write your thoughts in your journal.

Now let's focus the rest of our study on Ephesians 4:17-24. There are two groups of people listed is these verses. Who are they? In these verses we see the gentiles and those taught truth in Jesus. In your journal make a list of what you learn about each of these groups. Remember when we make lists, we are just writing down what the text says, we are not interpreting what the text says.

Did you notice a verse in 17-24 that contrasts believers and gentiles? (look for the word but, it tells us there is a contrast). Write down the verse in your journal.

You also marked the old self and new self in these verses. There are two other main places in scripture that talk about the old self and new self. I want you to use the chart below to make a list of everything you learn in each passage about the old self and the new self: Romans 6:1-11, Colossians 3:5-17. 

Let's look up some greek words! Remember we use Blue Letter Bible to look up words, not the dictionary. Go to Blue Letter Bible and Search Ephesians 4 using the NASB or ESV. Scroll down to the verses you will see a button that says Tools next to each verse. You click on that button and then click on the Strong's number next to each word to find the definition. One you are in the definition look for the Vine's Dictionary link and read there too. Look up these words in Ephesians 4:17-24 and write down everything you learn: lay aside, corrupted, renewed, put on, righteousness, holiness

In your journal I want you to summarize what you learned about the new self and old self. Now I want you to look at your chart on old self and new self, look at the greek words you looked up, and ask yourself two things: What does this mean to you practically? How is this going to help you in your day to day walk? 

Ephesians 4:7-16 Spiritual Gifts Defined

Last week we looked at why gifts are given. We asked what the ultimate purpose of gifts are. This week we will focus on what we can learn from Scripture about what gifts are given.

Pull out your Spiritual Gifts chart. Read through each passage on Spiritual gifts and write down in the gifts column what gifts are listed in each passage: 1 Peter 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:1-8, Ephesians 4:7-16

Now it's time for Word studies. Use Blue Letter Bible to do a word study on each gift listed in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:1-8, and Ephesians 4:7-16 (that you already wrote down on your chart. Only look up the word once, if it is repeated in each passage, don't look it up again). Make sure you look at the Vine's Dictionary reference for each word. Write down everything you learn about each word in your journal.

I want to encourage you again. Let the Word speak for itself, try your best to not bring your own perspective into this lesson, but let the Word speak and lead you. I know it's hard. I struggle with this often, but our ultimate goal is to allow the Word to shape us, not try to shape the Word.

This last piece of homework is optional. I prefer you to learn about your Spiritual Gift from the Scripture. I know personally that God will reveal your gift to you through the study of His Word (He did that for me). If you would like to take a Spiritual Gifts test, First Euless has a test on their website.  Go Here for the test.

Ephesians 4:7-16 Intro to Spiritual Gifts

This week we will study part one of spiritual gifts. This week our focus will be a general overview of why gifts are given before we dive into the specific gifts. 

You will spend this week in four different passages: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Ephesians 4:7-16, 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:1-8. 

So let's go to Ephesians 4 and read verses 7-16. See the word gift? What is a gift? Let's find out by looking up the greek definition using Blue Letter Bible. Write down what you learn about the word in your journal. Make sure you look at both the general definition and the Vine's entry. 

Now let's look at the other passages on Spiritual Gifts. We will end this week's study by coming back to Ephesians 4 and focusing on what we see in this passage, but first let's see what the rest of Scripture has to tell us. 

As we study Spiritual gifts this week and next I want you to use this chart:

I want you to use four different colors of pens or pencils as you write your notes about each different passage. Use one color for 1 Peter 4, one color for 1 Cor 12, one color for Romans 12 and one color for Ephesians 4. This will help you separate what you learn in each passage. 

Read 1 Peter 4:10-11. Write down what you learn that answers the questions who? What? How/Why? and any results (or outcomes). As you answer these questions write down what you learn in the columns on your chart. (This week we are NOT using the Gifts column. The gifts column will be our focus next week)

Read 1 Corinthians 12. Write down what you learn that answers the questions Who (Who was given gifts, who gave them)? What (at what time were they given?)? How/Why(How were they given? Why where they given?)? and any results (or outcomes. What are the result of spiritual gifts). As you answer these questions write down what you learn in the columns on your chart.

Read Romans 12:1-8.Write down what you learn that answers the questions who? What? How/Why? and any results (or outcomes). As you answer these questions write down what you learn in the columns on your chart.

Now let's return to Ephesians 4:7-16. Write down what you learn that answers the questions who? What? How/Why? and any results (or outcomes). As you answer these questions write down what you learn in the columns on your chart.

Now let's look at all we have learned this week about Spiritual Gifts. Remember our goal is to get a general overview of them. We want to know, why they were given, when they were given, how were they given, who they were given to. What is the purpose of the gifts. Stop and review your chart. What did you learn this week about Spiritual Gifts? Was there something new that God showed you? Stop and make note of the new things you learned this week about Spiritual Gifts. Are they important? Why? Write down a summary using all four passages answering the question: Why are Spiritual Gifts given? What is the ultimate purpose/goal of Spiritual Gifts?

Unity: Ephesians 4:4-6

I pray that after last week you are balancing obedience and grace. That you have seen God's standard for our lives, yet realized He is the only one who can accomplish that standard in our lives. This week we will turn toward unity. Our main focus will be verses 4-6.

Read Ephesians 4:1-6, observing what you can about unity (unity, one, same, etc). In verse 3 we saw that we are to be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit. If we must know what truths unite us. Look at Ephesians 4:4-6 and list in your journal what truths unite us. 

Who is the body that Paul is referring to in verse 4? What have we seen so far about the body in Ephesians? Who is the body in the context of this book (Ephesians 2:11-22)? Write down your observations in your journal.

Who is the one Spirit? Again, what have we learned about the Spirit so far in Ephesians? (Go back and look at places you marked Spirit and make a small list.) Let's look at some cross references on the Holy Spirit. Look up these cross references and write down what you learn:

• Ephesians 4:30 & 5:18
• John 14:15-17,25-26
• John 16:12-15
• 1 Corinthians 12:13
• Romans 8:9,14-17

From what you have observed, what is the connection between the Spirit and the body? 

What is one hope of your calling? We studied this phrase in chapter one. Go back and look at your notes from our study on Paul's Prayer. If you weren't with us, here are some cross references for you:

• Romans 8:28-30
• Philippians 1:3-6, 19-21
• 2 Timothy 1:9-12
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Now let's look at one Lord, one faith, one baptism in verse 5. Look up the definition of Lord in Blue Letter Bible, write down what you learn in your journal. Now look up these verses and write down what you learn about one Lord:

• Romans 10:8-13
• Philippians 2:9-11

What about one faith? Look up the definition for the word faith in Blue Letter Bible, write down what you learn in your journal. From what you see and what we studied in Ephesians, what is the one faith that is held by those in one body, whether Jew or Gentile (See Eph 2:8-10 if you feel confused)?

You have already looked up 1 Cor 12:13, look at it again and write down what you learn about one baptism.

Our final one, is one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Look up these verses about God and write down what you learn about Him:

• Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:39
• Isaiah 43:10; 45:5-6
• Mark 12:29
• John 5:44
• Romans 3:29-30
• John 17:20-23 (Look for a connection here on everything we have studied. Note who is speaking, to whom, about whom, why, and what is being spoken about)

Is your brain spinning? We have looked at a lot of truth this week. I pray that you will be diligent in your time this week and work through all the homework. Know I do the homework right along with you. I don't ask you to do anything I am not willing to do myself. I am praying for you!