Tag: Inspirational

Ephesians 5:6

The world – and satan – are so ready to deceive us. The world itself is deceived. However, in John 3, we see the contrast of those who follow the deceit of this world and those who follow God in Christ Jesus.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”(John 3:31)

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:18-21)

Light is come into the world, but not all men are obedient unto that Light. Those of us who have received the gift of salvation are spared the eternal wrath of God – but what sore punishment will we face if we, after receiving Light, turn around and live how we please? Perhaps we should remember the second of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

Ephesians 5:7

Because of all of this (vs. 5-6), Paul exhorts us to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)

“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

If the work is darkness or associated with darkness, we must avoid it and flee. We are children of light – and must so walk (vs. 8).

Ephesians 5:3-5

It is almost as if Paul is saying, “The reason you shouldn’t live at all like the world is because we know that the world does not have an inheritance with God. Why then, should we, as believers, desire to live like those who will not gain the kingdom of God?” And that is a very good question – yet how often do we think of it like that? For a moment, let us get our eyes off the temporal and onto the eternal. These people who live with “no rules” and are enjoying a free and loose life however they please, enjoying the sins of the world for a season, do not have the hope of eternal life (unless they change). These people are hiding their pain, hopelessness, and hurt of defeat – and yet we want to be like them? We need to raise our sights higher: on God and Christ Jesus. Instead of allowing ourselves to flippantly be followers of the world, we must choose to be followers of Christ (vs. 1-2). If we find ourselves desiring to do and be like the world, how we must tear our focus away from that and instead turn it to Christ!!

Ephesians 5:4

Added to fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness (which should never be named among us), are:

Filthiness – NT:151 (ahee-skhrot’-ace); from NT:150; shamefulness, i.e. obscenity:

Foolish talking – NT:3473 morologia (mo-rol-og-ee’-ah); from a compound of NT:3474 and NT:3004; silly talk, i.e. buffoonery:

Jesting –  NT:2160 eutrapelia (yoo-trap-el-ee’-ah); from a compound of NT:2095 and a derivative of the base of NT:5157 (meaning well-turned, i.e. ready at repartee, jocose); witticism, i.e. (in a vulgar sense) ribaldry:

These are all individual words, the Greek words not used again the New Testament. They all give the idea of what comes out of the mouth. Looking these words up in the Webster’s 1828 dictionary, we find,

Honestly, this is one verse I wrestle with – because I like to jest, tease, and be silly. Taken at face-value, it means that any conversation coming out of my mouth should not be filthy (that which is not pure), foolish (empty, silly), or in jest (which gives the sense of negative wit, dirty wit); the definitions given these words, however, make me wonder: does this mean all witticism? or just the witticism that degrades others and is dirty?

Some verses linked to this thought are:

“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.” (2 Timothy 2:23)

“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” (Titus 3:9)

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”(Colossians 4:6)

{if our speech is “alway with grace” then it should ever be something that is not “grace”}

I would do well if I evaluated my speech with questions based on these passages:

~Are my words pure in God’s eyes?

~Are they silly, frivolous, and empty? or do they minister grace to the hearers?

~Are they funny . . . but not quite acceptable?

~Do they degrade someone else – even if it is “in sport”?

If so, I should probably cleanse my mouth from them.

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)

Ephesians 5:3

Fornication – NT:4202 porneia (por-ni’-ah); from NT:4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry:

Uncleanness – NT:167 akatharsia (ak-ath-ar-see’-ah); from NT:169; impurity (the quality), physically or morally:

Covetousness -NT:4124 pleonexia (pleh-on-ex-ee’-ah); from NT:4123; avarice, i.e. (by implication) fraudulency, extortion:

For the saints (i.e. born-again believers), these three descriptions should never be tagged onto us, (“So-and-so is _____”). Our life-style should be so pure that it does not even fit that our names should be coupled with them.

It is interesting how each of these terms has a double-meaning.

Fornication – physically immoral or spiritual idolatry

Uncleanness – physical impurity or moral impurity

Covetousness – greed for the world or (according to Colossians 3:5) idolatry

Often, we disconnect the spiritual and physical, but here it seems that God clearly connects them. Our spiritual testimony can easily be destroyed by our physical lifestyle. If we say we are a Christian and yet our life is ruled by sin (e.g. fornication, uncleanness, covetousness), will others see a pure picture of Christ in our lives?

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1)

Ephesians 5:2

Walking in love is reiterated in 2 John 1:5-6, “And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” 

John 15:8-12 helps us to understand the connection between walking in God’s commandments and walking in love: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” This passage seems to give a clear outline: Bear fruit by keeping Christ’s commandments, which is love. 

Another clear example is Matthew 22:37-40, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”and again reiterated in Romans 13:8-10, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”(John 15:12-13)

“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:4-8)

Jesus Christ proved His love for us by giving “Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:2) He provided the greatest example of love. As followers of God, we should be willing, in return, to love others. This love is not a self-love of “what can I gain from this?” but a love that is first rooted in God (“What can I give Him?”) and secondly rooted in others (“What can I give them?”).

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” (Romans 12:10)

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”(Galatians 5:13)

“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

“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. 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? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18)

It is important to notice that we cannot make ourselves love someone – but we must surrender to God and follow Him; for He is the One to give us the strength to obey Him and love others.

– – –

What is something that God has shown you from His Word recently?

Ephesians 5:1

Followers of God – merely by itself, this verse speaks volumes. If we are to follow God, then we are to seek Him; for how can we follow someone of Whom we know little? We must educate ourselves about God – and the more we educate ourselves about God, the more He will work in us His character.

Can I truly say, “I’m a follower of God?” What is a follower? Sure, someone can “follow” a leader from afar, but chances are, we will miss his guidance and get off track. The same principle is true in Christian life. If we try to follow God “from afar,” we might see that He is over here on the other side of the valley, but neglect to see the bridge that He crossed over – and thus we envelope ourselves in miry trouble. If we try to mix “our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) with His leading, we will also find ourselves in trouble – for His ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30).

What are we to use to help us follow God?

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”(Psalm 119:105)

“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Proverbs 6:23)

“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)

God has given us instructions; He has given us a light for our path, He has shown us His way for us to follow – but it all counts for nothing if we do not read and study His Word and heed/apply it to our lives.

– – –

Contextually, this verse also speaks volumes. Previously are given examples of God:

-Kindness

-Tenderheartedness

-Forgiveness

Subsequently is:

-Love

-Giving

Following God means a lifestyle that is polished with kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness, love, and giving.

This list reminds me of Romans 12:9-18

To give place means ” a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas NT:5561 is a large but participle locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specifically, a scabbard:” (NT: 5117, topos) This Greek word gives the idea that the “place” is a temporary position. As believers, we cannot become possessed by the devil, because Christ and the devil cannot dwell in the same place. However, we can give place – a small part of our life – to the devil. In context, there are two ways in which to do this: 1) Sinning in our anger, and 2) Letting the sun set on our wrath.

There are other verses that deal with the believer and satan.

If we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts, we are giving satan an opportunity to get an advantage of us.

If we do not embrace the armor of God, we cannot stand against the wiles of the devil. The armor of God is: truth, righteousness, Gospel of peace, faith, salvation, Word of God, and prayer.

Faith quenches the devil’s darts. If we are bowing down under the weight of his attack, perhaps we should cry out to God to increase our faith.

1 Peter 5:8-9 is not the next passage in this context, but applies to Ephesians 6:16, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

Again, the attack of the devil is linked to our faith. We are to resist (oppose, stand against) while stedfast in the faith. If we are not steadfast in faith, we have no shield by which to resist.

And then another verse about resisting the devil:

We can oppose and stand against the devil. But it is interesting to see what this command is sandwiched between: Humility (vs. 6), submission (vs. 7), drawing nigh to God (vs. 8), and cleansing/purifying ourselves (vs. 8). Can we resist the devil if we are proud, independent, not trying to draw nigh to God, and living in the filthiness of our flesh?

Considering all of these verses, to keep from giving place to the devil, we must check our walk with God.

-Are we forgiving our brother?

-Have we been faithful to put on truth, righteousness, Gospel of peace, faith, salvation, Word of God, and prayer?

-Has our faith wavered from God?

-What is our heart like towards God? Have we sought to draw nigh to Him in humility, and submission while cleansing and purifying our hands and heart?

As believers, we don’t have to struggle under the oppression of the devil – God has given us a way to escape if we will but follow His Word!