Tag: Inspirational

It is so neat when the Lord clarifies something that you’ve learned through His Word. As I was recently reading through the Gospels, I began to notice when Jesus spoke:

“…I adjure thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said…” (Matthew 26:63-64)

“…Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.” (Matthew 27:11)

“Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am:” (Mark 14:61-62)

“And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.” (Mark 15:2)

“Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:…Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.” (Luke 22:67-60)

“Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.” (Luke 23:3)

In all of these instances, Jesus answered when directly asked His Deity.

Just a day or two later, during Wednesday night service, our pastor studied this verse with us: “If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13) Putting the two-and-two together was so neat!

So, what has the Lord recently shown you through His Word?

Ephesians 5:31

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Just like we have left the old man and have become part of Christ’s body, so ought the man leave his father and mother and join himself as one to the wife.

An interesting thought: Jesus Christ left His Father, to come to earth so that He might provide all things for the body, that He might make a way to sanctify and cleanse her. Christ could have stayed in heaven with His Father to provide all of this, but instead, He chose to take the discomforts of life. Perhaps this is more of an example of how the husband ought to “leave and cleave.” Christ left His Father, but still communed with Him. So the man ought to leave his parents, but not cease communing with them. Christ gave His all for His bride. So the man ought to give his all for his bride. Christ provided all that He could for the spiritual nourishment of His bride. So the man ought to provide all that he can for spiritual nourishment.

Ephesians 5:33

Even though we won’t be able to fully understand it, the husband and wife are given instructions and rules to help them (husbands: love, wives: reverence). We don’t have to fully understand the relationship between Christ and the church to follow what He has shown us; that in itself will be lessons enough for a lifetime of marriage.

Ephesians 5:25

Parallel verse: Colossians 3:19, “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”

Husbands are also given the example of Christ and the church. Before the church was even in being (Jesus spoke of the church in Matthew 16:18 as something yet to come: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”), Jesus gave Himself for her. He proved His love to her by His actions. He did not simply give a bunch of commands and sit back only as commanding officer; rather, Jesus Christ gave Himself and gave His life as an example for the church to follow (Philippians 2:5-8). What would an in-depth study on Jesus Christ look like for a pattern for husbands to follow? This verse should entice the husband to study more of the person and character of Jesus Christ, so they better know how to follow Him.

Ephesians 5:28-29

We were given just a small glimpse of Christ’s love and faithfulness to His bride, the church (verses 25-27). With this example in mind, husbands ought to love their wives faithfully. They are to revere them as their own body – care for, nourish, cherish it. For a husband to hate his wife is for him to hate himself. For a husband to bring pain to his wife is for him to bring pain to himself. The husband and wife are joined as one (vs. 31) and their actions towards each other are hurting or restoring themselves as an individual.

Think of how Christ nourishes and cherishes His church. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (2 Peter 1:3) Jesus Christ has given us everything we need to be nourished. He has promised to love us eternally, unconditionally (“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39). With this as a man’s example, he ought to love and nourish his wife – caring for her physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Just like a wife cannot submit to her husband until she has first submitted to God and His Word, a husband cannot love his wife until he has first loved God and His Word.

Ephesians 5:25-26

Sanctify – (NT:37 hagiazo ) from NT:40; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate:

Cleanse – (NT:2511 katharizo) from NT:2513; to cleanse (literally or figuratively):

Washing – (NT:3067 loutron) from NT:3068; a bath, i.e. (figuratively), immersion, baptism:

Word – (NT:4487 rhema) from NT:4483; an utterance (individually, collectively or specifically); by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative naught whatever:

The sanctifying and cleansing process came not just by Christ giving Himself for us. That was merely the beginning. Now that Christ has us because of His loving gift of salvation, He is working in us to sanctify and wash us. How? Not by physical baptism, but by spiritual baptism – total immersion in God’s Word. We will not be cleansed and sanctified just by trying to live uprightly; we will not even be cleansed and sanctified by praying only. Biblically, sanctification comes through Christ -and more specifically, by means of His Word.

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”(John 17:17)

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32)

Does a believer wish to be sanctified? Let them submerge themselves in God’s Word.

Ephesians 5:27

The purpose of sanctification and cleansing: not merely so that we could live “moral, upright lives,” but so that Jesus Christ Himself could present us – His bride, His church – as holy and without blemish. Only the washing of water by the Word can make sinful humans in a holy, pure, spotless church!

God faithfully gave us His Son, the means by which we can even begin sanctification, and then He faithfully gave us His Word, the means by which we can continue sanctification until Christ returns for His bride.

Ephesians 5:28-30

Ephesians 5:22

The parallel passage is Colossians 3:18, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” As these passages indicate, a woman must first be submitted to Christ before she can submit to her husband. Until a woman accepts that man is her head (1 Corinthians 11:3, “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”)  and submits herself to God’s ordinance, she will be unable to submit.

There is no exceptions in submitting. In fact, 1 Peter 3:1-2 seems to cover the ground of a godly woman to an ungodly man, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.” The woman has a powerful influence over her husband (Jezebel over Ahab, Sarah over Abraham). By her chaste (proper, clean, innocent, modest) behavior (note: this doesn’t sound like Jezebel!), she can influence her husband towards the Word of God. This applies to unbelieving husbands as well as believing husbands who may not be following God’s Word. There is no persuasion mentioned here, no nagging; but simple conversation (behavior) – the way she lives her life.

Ephesians 5:23

Here is a further explanation of why the wife should submit: her husband is her head. He is placed over her as protector and provider. Think of all that Christ does for the church; this is what the husband is to be to his wife and she must reverence him as such.

Ephesians 5:24

For a Bible-operating church, there is no question as to who leads: Christ is the leader. With this concept, the wives should have no question as to who is their head. In every thing, they are to submit to their husbands.

Ephesians 5:21

Submitting – NT:5293 hupotasso (hoop-ot-as’-so); from NT:5259 and NT:5021; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey:

A quick search for the words used from the Greek word hupotasso shows us:

– Servants are to submit to their masters

“Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;”(Titus 2:9)

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” (1 Peter 2:18)

– Civilians are to submit to political government (note: if it does not violate God’s Word)

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”(Romans 13:1-2)

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,” (Titus 3:1)

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” (1 Peter 2:13-14)

– Wives are to submit to their husbands

” Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” (1 Corinthians 14:34)

“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”(Ephesians 5:23)

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” (Colossians 3:18)

“To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:5)

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; . . . For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:” (1 Peter 3:1, 5)

– The church is to submit to Christ

“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”(Ephesians 5:23)

– Believers are to submit to godly leaders in the church

“I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submityourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.” (1 Corinthians 16:15-16)

– Believers are to submit to God

“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjectionunto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

– Younger are to submit to elders

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

– Believers are to submit one to another

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:21)

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

No one is exempt from submission. If you read all of the commands to submit, we all have someone to whom we are to submit – all should submit to God, and all should submit “one to another” and all should submit to civil authority and all should submit to Godly authority. James 4 and 1 Peter 5 indicates the attitude of submission: humility.

James 4:6-7

“But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:6-7)

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:5-6)

Our pride automatically says, “I am not under anyone.” But humility realizes that we areunder authority – God given authority. If we refuse to place ourselves under the authority that God has given to us, how do we expect we will place ourselves under God’s authority? To refuse to place ourselves under God-given authority is simply to rebel against God and disobey His commands.

Ephesians 5:15-20

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” is related to “be filled with the Spirit.” The parallel passage is Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

We are not only to speak to ourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, but also to use them to teach and admonish one another. This hints that the songs we sing should be grounded in the Word of God – for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) If a song is not doctrinally sound, should it be on our lips? Should we use it to sing to others?

The songs are to be in our heart – unto the Lord. What song is in our heart? The songs of the world? or a “new song?”

“Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.”(Psalm 33:3)

“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” (Psalms 40:3)

“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.” (Psalms 96:1)

“O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.” (Psalms 98:1)

“I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.” (Psalms 144:9)

“Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.” (Psalms 149:1)

Besides singing, we are to give thanks unto God. For all things. In the name of Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 makes it clear that this isn’t just a suggestion, but a command,“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Ephesians 5:15-18

Right after “understanding what the will of the Lord is” comes the exhortation about wine. There are many arguments I’ve heard about temperance from the Scriptures, however, this seems to be the strongest. We are exhorted to walk wisely and redeem the time, then added to that, understand the will of God and not be drunk with wine. Drunkenness alters the mind. If a Christian is drunk, how can they be sure that they are following God’s will? How can they be sure that they are walking wisely?

The Christian should be filled with the Spirit. I believe this exhortation applies to all of the previous exhortations:

     – walk circumspectly, as wise — be filled with the Spirit

     – redeem the time — be filled with the Spirit

     – understand the will of the Lord — be filled with the Spirit

     – be not drunk with wine — be filled with the Spirit

“(9) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (10) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (11) If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? (12) Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (13) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”(Luke 11:9-13)