Pastor's Connect Blog
Connect Blog
Ephesians 5:1-17
January 21, 2018
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Ephesians 5:1-17
If we are not moving forward, most likely, we are moving backward;
If we are not becoming who we should be, the tendency is to act out who we used to be.
Leave the past in the past and begin in the present a process of becoming what/who God would have you to be.
Live in Love...
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
The word “followers” comes from the Greek word, mimeomai, from which we get our English word, mimic … to act like … and in this case to act like our Father.
‘As dear children imitate your heavenly Father by living a life characterized by sacrificial service exemplified by Christ’s offering of Himself for the sins of the world’ (Pastor’s paraphrase).
Here are a few examples of love (you may want to add to this)
1. Love is to be unconditional
Example - Romans 5:8
Someone doesn’t have to be loveable to be loved. Love does not weigh someone’s worth.
Love is a conscious decision to meet the needs of someone regardless of their personal value; regardless of their merit or desirability.
2. Love is self-sacrificing
Example - Mark 10:45
If we will pattern our lives after the love of the Lord Jesus then we will put the needs of others above our own.
3. Love is active
Love is not passive but active
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
1 John 3:16-18
Live within limits...
“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”
God vocabulary includes: “Don’t do that.”
Avoid Shameful Conduct…
“fornication” – illicit sexual intercourse … sex outside of marriage … sex that falls outdie the parameters of God’s prescribed plan and purpose.
“uncleanness” - sexual impurity of all kinds; anything that deviates from God’s plan for sexual behavior… includes pre-marital sex, extra marital sex (adultery), homosexuality, molestation, bestiality, and goes beyond the physical act to the mental aspect, pornography.
“covetousness” – a greedy desire to have more … never satisfied with what you have and actin on those desires no matter who it may hurt.
“let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints” … don’t so much as even contemplate the possibility
WHY? “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).
Avoid Shameful Conversation…
“filthiness” - obscenity, shameless immoral conduct or conversation
“foolish talking” comes from the Greek word, morologia, talking like a fool … talking like you know what you don’t
“jesting” – irreverent, indecent, obscene … gross speech; it may also mean to adjust your speech to your audience so as to gain acceptance and approval … to sweet talk, butter up, suck up or flattery … shrewd, deceptive speech promoting sin
“which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks”
Conduct or conversation not fitting the children of God
Let what proceeds from your lips be thankfulness to God; let what you say be pleasing unto God.
“For this ye know, that no whoremonger (illicit sexual intercourse), nor unclean person (morally unclean both in thought and life), nor covetous man (driven to gain what others have, never satisfied always wanting more), who is an idolater (an idolater because he or she worships stuff/mammon) , hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words (Don’t be deceived by their empty words attempting to rationalize sin): for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Live in the Light...
“Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Light is a reference to the purity, the holiness of God … God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5)
As believers we are the lantern that houses the light and reveals the light.
Be who you are not what you were …
“Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”
It seems Paul is once again saying “stop what you are dong” …
Don’t allow yourself to lapse back into a former lifestyle …
Leave the past in the past …
Let Who He is be who you are ….
“For the fruit of the Spirit (photos/light, not pneumatos/Spirit) is in all goodness and righteousness and truth”
When one is yielded to the Light, their lives take on the characteristics of the Light … we reflect the Light … I don’t produce the light, I reveal the Light that is in me, and that is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Let who you are witness what He wills …
“Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”
Let who you are witness to those who are not …
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
Living as light serves to produce conviction and confession from those who are living in darkness. What they are doing in secret is rebuked by the life you live openly. Life lived as light shines into the darkness revealing sinful behavior.
Paul uses this quote to enforce and encourage those in darkness to recognize their sinful situation and repent coming to the Light.
Conclusion
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Be careful to observe how you are living, as a fool or as one who is wise; perform a careful examination of your life
Take every opportunity to do what is good knowing time is fleeting and the opportunities of today may not be present tomorrow
Don’t be stupid, but seek to understand the will of God for your life, and do it.