Ephesians 5:6-14 says...
Today's verses are Ephesians 5:6-14, which read,
v.6 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
If anyone was to speak to you that immorality or impurity or greed is okay for the believer do not believe them. These are empty words used to deceive you and they come straight from the father of disobedience, Satan himself. The deception that wrong is right will be followed by the wrath of God to those who follow the words of Satan rather than the words of God. Will you be deceived by the words of Satan or will you guard against that deception with a firm stand and grasp of God's words?
v.7-10 - Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
How do I actively not be deceived by the words of Satan through men who follow him rather than God? Don't be partakers with them. Don't follow their example. Don't adopt their practices. Don't walk as they do. Paul again stresses this change, this transformation, that has come upon the Christian. You were formerly darkness but, and "but" is the key word in this section, you presently are light in the Lord. Therefore walk in the Light as children of the Light which is characterized not by immorality, impurity, and greed but by goodness, righteousness, and truth. There is quite a contrast between the two so it should be easy to discern what is of God and pleasing to Him and what is of Satan and to be actively avoided.
v.11, 12 - Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
We are not to partake and we are not to participate in these actions. These actions that are so displeasing to God do not produce anything fruitful in our lives for the glory of God. Another "p" word with partake and participate would be "promote." Many times through our speech we promote those things that are evil that we should not be speaking of in public. We are to expose those evils by living as children of the Light. We expose them by speaking and living the truth in the face of the evil that is so disgraceful that we shouldn't even mention it in casual conversation.
I have said this many times and probably picked it up somewhere that one of Satan's strategies is to get you to laugh at something you shouldn't laugh at. The sitcoms of our day have brought up the evils of the world in a way for people to laugh at them instead of mourn over them. Once we start laughing then it is not long before we start to accept that evil as something less than evil and we are on the fast track to accepting it and even promoting it. What are you laughing at that you shouldn't be laughing at or about?
v.13, 14 - But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, "Awake sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
I am to expose evil by living a life in the Light of God. As I actively live that life of righteousness, goodness, and truth, I will not partake, participate, or promote the evil deeds of the world fueled by Satan himself. Many of us and myself at times need to be awaken to the fact that I have started taking some steps down the wide road that leads to destruction by living in a way that first just partakes in a little evil and then that leads to participating in that evil on a more regular basis and that leads to being a promoter of that evil as something good. We need to be awaken to the fact that we are on the wrong road and get both feet back on the narrow path that leads to the giving of glory to God with our whole lives.
We are awaken by the truth, by the actively partaking, participating, and promoting of those things that uphold and build up our spiritual walk in Christ. When we lay off of that active action of the spiritual disciplines of corporate and private worship, prayer, reading and studying of God's word, and service then we open the door for something else to fill that place. Awaken to the fact that if you are not walking with God in a very active way then you are not just standing in place but walking the other way. Your spiritual life is never stagnant. You are going to be spiritual about something of someone and the question is what or who is leading you.
"Lord, may we take these three p's this morning and use them both ways. May we not partake, participate, or promote evil but may we partake, participate, and promote truth found only in You. May I be awaken to the fact that my spiritual life is always active and needs attention to be actively focused on the right. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.6 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
If anyone was to speak to you that immorality or impurity or greed is okay for the believer do not believe them. These are empty words used to deceive you and they come straight from the father of disobedience, Satan himself. The deception that wrong is right will be followed by the wrath of God to those who follow the words of Satan rather than the words of God. Will you be deceived by the words of Satan or will you guard against that deception with a firm stand and grasp of God's words?
v.7-10 - Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
How do I actively not be deceived by the words of Satan through men who follow him rather than God? Don't be partakers with them. Don't follow their example. Don't adopt their practices. Don't walk as they do. Paul again stresses this change, this transformation, that has come upon the Christian. You were formerly darkness but, and "but" is the key word in this section, you presently are light in the Lord. Therefore walk in the Light as children of the Light which is characterized not by immorality, impurity, and greed but by goodness, righteousness, and truth. There is quite a contrast between the two so it should be easy to discern what is of God and pleasing to Him and what is of Satan and to be actively avoided.
v.11, 12 - Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
We are not to partake and we are not to participate in these actions. These actions that are so displeasing to God do not produce anything fruitful in our lives for the glory of God. Another "p" word with partake and participate would be "promote." Many times through our speech we promote those things that are evil that we should not be speaking of in public. We are to expose those evils by living as children of the Light. We expose them by speaking and living the truth in the face of the evil that is so disgraceful that we shouldn't even mention it in casual conversation.
I have said this many times and probably picked it up somewhere that one of Satan's strategies is to get you to laugh at something you shouldn't laugh at. The sitcoms of our day have brought up the evils of the world in a way for people to laugh at them instead of mourn over them. Once we start laughing then it is not long before we start to accept that evil as something less than evil and we are on the fast track to accepting it and even promoting it. What are you laughing at that you shouldn't be laughing at or about?
v.13, 14 - But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, "Awake sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
I am to expose evil by living a life in the Light of God. As I actively live that life of righteousness, goodness, and truth, I will not partake, participate, or promote the evil deeds of the world fueled by Satan himself. Many of us and myself at times need to be awaken to the fact that I have started taking some steps down the wide road that leads to destruction by living in a way that first just partakes in a little evil and then that leads to participating in that evil on a more regular basis and that leads to being a promoter of that evil as something good. We need to be awaken to the fact that we are on the wrong road and get both feet back on the narrow path that leads to the giving of glory to God with our whole lives.
We are awaken by the truth, by the actively partaking, participating, and promoting of those things that uphold and build up our spiritual walk in Christ. When we lay off of that active action of the spiritual disciplines of corporate and private worship, prayer, reading and studying of God's word, and service then we open the door for something else to fill that place. Awaken to the fact that if you are not walking with God in a very active way then you are not just standing in place but walking the other way. Your spiritual life is never stagnant. You are going to be spiritual about something of someone and the question is what or who is leading you.
"Lord, may we take these three p's this morning and use them both ways. May we not partake, participate, or promote evil but may we partake, participate, and promote truth found only in You. May I be awaken to the fact that my spiritual life is always active and needs attention to be actively focused on the right. Amen."
Pastor Adam
Comments
Post a Comment