Husbands Lead and Love - Nathan Rages

Eph. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 

Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

The Promise of the Spirit's Outpouring - John Dees

Isaiah 44:3 ​​​​​​​​For I will pour water on the thirsty land, ​​​​​​​and streams on the dry ground; ​​​​​​​I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, ​​​​​​​and my blessing on your descendants. ​​​ 

This wonderful promise was fulfilled at Pentecost and applies throughout the New Covenant era.  It should give particular encouragement to praying believers, needy believers, and unbelievers.

A Word to Wives - Nathan Rages

Eph. 5:22​-24 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 

1. The submission command and its broad scope. 

2. Things the command does *not* mean:

    Women are inferior to men.

    Women must submit to all males.

    A wife must always agree with her husband.

    A wife must endure physical abuse.

    A wife must disobey God. 

3. Encouragements in obeying the command:

    By submitting to your husband, you’re actually submitting to the Lord.

    Your husband’s headship is God’s design from Creation.

    Your husband, if he’s at all Christ-like, will be sacrificially loving you.

4.  Thoughts for unmarried women: affirmation and caution.

Submitting Yourself to One Another - Nathan Rages

Eph. 5:21 "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." 

1. The meaning of the command: “submitting yourself”

2. The scope of the command: “to one another”.

3. The power for obeying it: “filled with the Spirit”.

4. The motivation for obeying it: “in the fear of Christ”.

     (a) Remember Christ’s teaching and example.

     (b) Be afraid of disappointing Him, bringing shame on His name, and facing Him at the final judgement.

Diagnosing Our Unthankfulness - Nathan Rages

Eph. 5:20 "always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" 

The verse is super clear about always thanking God for everything, so why are we often unthankful?

1. Being unconverted.

2. Not being Spirit-filled (controlled).

3. Grumbling.   

4. Fearfulness.

5. Doubting God’s sovereignty over *all* things.

6. Misunderstanding the benefits of trials.

Our Singing Religion - Nathan Rages

"... but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;" Eph. 5:18c-19

This is the most important Bible verse on Christian singing, and it teaches the following truths: 

1. Power for our singing: “the Spirit”

2. Companions in our singing: “speaking to one another”

3. Variety in our singing: “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”

4. Musicality in our singing: “singing and making melody”

5. Inwardness of our singing: “with your heart”

6. Audience for our singing: “to the Lord”

Not Drunk but Filled with the Spirit - Nathan Rages

Ephesians 5:18 addresses two contrasting activities:

1. “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation”

Why is drunkenness so bad?

What about moderate drinking?

2. “But be filled with the Spirit”

What does this mean: the Spirit indwelling vs. outpouring vs. controlling?

How can we *obey* this command?