Domestic Abuse Support Strategy in Cambridgeshire

Support strategy addressing challenges in providing safe accommodation and therapeutic support for survivors of domestic abuse in Cambridgeshire. Includes initiatives for refuge support, dispersed safe accommodation, and enhanced housing sector awareness.

• Domestic Abuse
• Support Strategy
• Safe Accommodation
• Therapeutic Support
• Cambridgeshire

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1. 1 3 6 2 week 4 5 7 Ephesians SIT WALK STAND H HOME OME Q QUESTIONS UESTIONS Our Identity in Christ FOR FOR W WEEK EEK 5 5 Living Our Identity Defending Our Identity 1. The Apostle Paul is working with both Jews and Gentiles in the Hall of Tyrannus through whom all the Jews and Greeks in the Province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. Paul teaches that Jews and Gentiles are unified in Christ, and both are made completely new in Christ. INTRODUCTION: Paul begins to pray for the Ephesian Kingdom Advancers in 3:1, but he takes a short interlude [3:2-13] to describe for them how God has revealed himself to them and given them the mystery of Christ to take to the world. - Read Ephesians 4:2, what is listed as the attributes of newness in Christ? - Read Ephesians 4:3-6, what are some characteristics of unity? 2. List out the 5 gifts of the Spirit mentioned in verse 11 What is the purpose of these gifts in vv. 12-13? PAUL S INTERCESSOR IDENTITY A prisoner of Christ Jesus Physically Paul was a prisoner of Nero in Rome [Acts 25:11-12] The whole of Paul s life was as a prisoner of Christ. Paul humbly follows the will of the Father through the Grace of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. 3. Make a list of the things we are to put off in vv. 22-23. Now, look at Ephesians 5:3-7 In what ways are these lists evidence that here in our world, Paul s challenge is relevant? For the sake of you Gentiles - - Paul was called by Christ to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. Acts 22:21-22 When he spoke this call to the Jews in Jerusalem, they shouted, rid the earth of him! He s not fit to live. Why? The Jews couldn t see themselves united with the Gentiles under God. This was a call on Paul and accomplishable only by the Holy Spirit. 4. Jot down a couple ways you are a child of the light (5:8).

2. Notes: GODREVEALS HISMANIFESTWISDOMTOTHECHURCHIN 3 STAGES: STAGE ONE. PAULRECEIVESREVELATIONFROM GOD [3:1-7] STAGE TWO: THECHURCHRECEIVESTHISREVELATIONFROM PAUL [3:7-8] STAGE THREE: THECHURCHMAKESTHEMYSTERYKNOWNTOTHE RULERSAND ANDAUTHORITIESINTHEHEAVENLYREALMS (ANDTOTHEWORLD) [3:10] Stage One. Paul receives revelation from God [3:1-7] the mystery made known to me by revelation [3:3] What is the mystery? - [3:4] mystery of Christ . - [3:5] it s a mystery because it wasn t revealed until now. - [3:6] In Christ Jesus and through the gospel the gentiles are now to become fellow heirs (with Israel), members of the same body, and sharers in the same promise. - The Old Testament describes Israel as God s chosen people in the call of Abraham, the Lord says, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. This blessing to all the peoples on earth is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. says, For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name." Romans 15:8-9 - In His death on the cross, Jesus purchased eternal life not just for people who believe, he purchased and formed a new people. People made up of Jews and gentiles both heirs of God s promises and heirs to his grace. - [3:7] The receiving of this revelation came with the power of the Holy Spirit. God gave Paul, a Pharisee, clarity and understanding of how Christ is the fulfillment of all prophecy. In this power Paul is called to serve this mystery. 2. 11.

3. THE BENEDICTION [3:20-21] Stage Two: The church receives this revelation from Paul Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. [3:7-8] [3:8] Paul peaches the mystery to the Gentiles [3:9] Paul preaches it to everyone. Paul here is amazed at God s greatness. Paul, least of all people was given the grace the gift of the Holy Spirit to evangelize to the world with the good news of the unsearchable riches of Christ. Paul is humbled by the message so grateful that he is chosen to preach this message. The Spirit bursts forth from Paul s inner being and he prays with heavenly words about what we can expect: immeasurably more. We can t humanly express it, we can however pray for it and expect it! - Look at the diagram of the verse: Paul spares no expression! Now to Him who is Able to do all More than all Immeasurably more than all - - 7. - According to His power that is at work within us - Why then are there powerless churches? - Why then do Christians build fortresses to protect themselves form the world? - We forget it isn t our power, but HIS. Stage Three: The church makes the mystery known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms (and to the world) through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. [3:10] - It is time to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to overwhelm and empower us with the love of Christ to minister to the flood of people that He is going to bring before us. 1. As bearer of the mystery, the church of Jesus Christ is the most important institution in the world. - The members of Christ body, the heirs of the kingdom of God, the sharers in the promises of Christ are more significant in the world than any other group, organization or nation. BREAK AWAY GROUP BREAK AWAY GROUP INTERACTION WEEK 4b INTERACTION WEEK 4b - In fact, the USA compares to the church as a speck of dust compares to the sun. All the glitz and grandeur of a New York tickertape parade, or the explosive power of the 4th of July in Washington DC are like dull dying light bulbs compared to the radiant splendor of the bride of Christ. Every spiritual blessing is given to us by the transformational work of Christ as revealed by God 1. Talk about your prayer life. Is it powerful? Is it lacking? Does God seem to be listening? Does He answer your prayers? - The gates of Hades, the powers of death, will prevail against every institution but one, the church. 2. Look up these passages dealing with the inner and outer man. What would it be like to react to the world in our outer man? How does the Spirit dwelling in our inner man influence our outer man? 2 Cor 4:16-18; Romans 7:21-23; John 7:38-39 2. Who are the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms? (RSV principalities and powers - literally, rulers and antichrists ) Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 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. Eph 6:11,12 3. Discuss with each other the dimensions of the love of Christ. Pray Christ s love over one another. [3:18] wide (no one can escape the overflow), long (lasts for eternity), high (God himself is touchable, and speaks into our lives), deep (nothing can keep His love from penetrating our hearts.) 10. 3.

4. - The rulers and authorities are aligned with the devil and they aren t flesh and blood, they are spirit forces of evil. We must wear armor because these spirit forces of evil are part of the devil s schemes against the church presumably to destroy it. - you, being rooted and ESTABLISHED in love - Established or grounded is an architectural term referring to the foundations on which we build. - In a loving relationship with Christ, we are able to withstand the storms, persecution and battles of church planting. The task to speak the mystery of Christ to the rulers and authorities of the air means that we must be firmly grounded in the love of Christ. - Is this unscientific mythology? Let s think about it. Has science enabled us to stand against the evil forces in the world? No, evil manages to corrupt every human organization and human intention and turn them to destruction. C. Grasp [3:18-19a] 4 dimensions of Christ s love: wide (no one can escape the overflow); long (lasts for eternity); high (God himself is touchable, and speaks into our lives); deep (nothing can keep His love from penetrating our hearts) - These spiritual forces have an impact upon the world. Paul says these forces are in the heavenly realms meaning that they are not on earth and therefore a physical reality, but are heavenly, spiritual non-spatial. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [2:1-2] - To know this love that surpasses knowledge - To know means to know relationally, experientially - Knowledge only knows in the brain and can only go so far. By the Spirit s power, we can know the love of Christ with our whole being. 3. How does the church make the manifold wisdom known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms? I don t think Paul meant for us to do some cosmic evangelism to demons. Rather, we are to be the church that God called us to be and therefore radiate the glory of a mighty God to the world around us. The rulers and authorities of the heavenly realms have their impact here on earth. We need to speak here on earth the mystery of Christ: that (v. 11) God s eternal purpose has been accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. God s church is made up of Jew and gentile all those who come to Him in faith. All those who (v. 12) in Him and through faith in Him approach God with freedom and confidence. D. Fullness [3:19b] - There are no empty spaces where God is concerned. God wants us to experience His fullness. God sends the Holy Spirit to fill us completely with God Himself. - God doesn t play games. He doesn t fill partially for some and more for others. He fills completely with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. [1:3] This is an important call. We are called to be the agents of God s will so that God s purpose may be seen in an evil world. How is God calling you to be His child? How has he gifted you, and empowered you to be His vessel of the good news? We are going to learn from Paul s prayer in the next section of chapter 3 some keys to what it means to go out strengthened by His glorious riches with the Spirit in our inner beings giving us the power to be Christ s dwelling place in this world that so desperately needs our Savior Jesus Christ. 4. 9. 4.

5. THE PRAYER ITSELF: There are four parts to this petition, but they must not be looked upon as isolated or individual petitions. BREAK AWAY GROUP BREAK AWAY GROUP INTERACTION WEEK 4a INTERACTION WEEK 4a A. Strength [3:16] - Empowered for ministry. - Jesus performed His ministry on earth in the power of the Spirit [Luke 4:1, 14; Acts 10:38] - The Spirit empowers us to be Christ s witnesses [Acts 1:8] - It is resurrection power! [1:19-21] - In your inner being - We have both an inner and outer man. The inner man is renewed, delights in the LORD, is filled with resurrection power, and overflows from within. The outer man is wasting away, and is at war. [2 Cor 4:16-18; Romans 7:21- 23; John 7:38-39] - We must yield to the Spirit s work in our inner being so that He can overflow from within to our outer man. - Flow blockers such as hatred, fear, sin of inferiority and guilt need to be brought before the LORD. They need to be dealt with in confession/repentance and in spiritual warfare. Every spiritual blessing is given to us by the transformational work of Christ as revealed by God 1. What is your view of the church s impact upon the world? Is it effectively seeing the world transformed? 2. What is the mystery that Paul is referring to in chapter 3? [3:6] Read Romans 15:7-13. How did God use the nation of Israel to bring about salvation for the Gentiles? How are you part of the promise made to the patriarchs ? 3. Warren Wiersbe writes, The reason many churches are weak and ineffective is because they do not understand what they have in Christ. What is your response to this statement? B. Depth [3:17] - so that Christ may DWELL in your hearts through faith. - DWELL means, to settle down and feel at home. - Abraham and Lot. God Himself came down and visited Abraham s tent because Abraham was a man of faith and obedience. When investigating the sins of Sodom, the LORD Himself did not go to Sodom. He sent two angels. The LORD did not feel at home in Lot s house the way He felt at home in Abraham s tent. - you, being ROOTED - Trees must get their roots deep into the soil if they are to have both nourishment and stability. - Christians must be rooted deep into the love of God. [Psalm 1:1-3] 4. What does 3:10-13 say was God s intent of revealing this mystery to the church? Does God consider the church a powerless ministry? 8. 5.

6. INTRODUCTION: A PRAYEROF INCREDIBLE BLESSING Would God call us to be Advancers of His Kingdom without filling us with all we need to do it? Of course not. The fact is, God calls us and equips us with heavenly grace and power to bring the mystery of Christ to the world. PAUL SPOSTURE I kneel before the Father, Here Paul kneels, but the letter talks of many postures: - We sit in the heavenly realms [2:4-6]. - We walk so as to please him [4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15]. - And we stand against the devil [6:10-13]. In Ephesians 3:14-21 Paul prays that the church in Ephesus would be filled with power as they are involved in God s work in doing immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine In this lesson, Paul s prayer is ours as well that God would strengthen us with power as we engage in his call to be church planters. The posture on our knees links sitting, walking and standing together. Through prayer, we are able to know our identity, walk in it and battle in it. PAULADDRESSES the Father. THEPURPOSEOFTHEPRAYER Paul prays to the Father, through the Son and in the Spirit. This is a usual pattern, but we can pray to the Son and to the Spirit. [1 Thessalonians 3:12-13] GLOBALEVANGELIZATION. In 3:10 Paul tells us the intent of the LORD in giving the mystery of Christ to the church is so that the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms In 3:20, we see that the LORD according to His power at work within us is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine. We are called to be involved in kingdom advancement and given the power to do it. PAULSPEAKSOFTHE whole family Because he is carrying the theme of Jews and Gentiles being unified through Christ. GOD SGLORY. At the end of the prayer, Paul says, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. God equipping us with power for ministry is not for us to control and determine. God empowers us to do His will and walk in His glory. 6. 7.