Walk in light because that is who you are...a saint.
Walk in light because Light always proeduces growth...darkness inhibits growth...
Walk inthe light because of what it does for others...INFLUENCE for good.
Light reveals God, produces fruit, but also exposes what is wrong. "You are the light of the world...Matt. 5:14. Rom. 16:19 It is not necessary for the believer to perform an autopsy on a rotting corpse to expose its rottenness - just turn on the light.
WISDOM Make wise decisions and seek to do the will of God. Time is a precious commodity. be sure to invest it wisely.
Be accurate and careful in your walk: it is a mark of wisdom, life is short, the days a eveil and God has given us a mind...use yours to discover and do the will of God. He transforms the mind Rom 12:1-2 and that transformation is the result of the Wor, prayer, meditation, and worship. Gather the facts, examine them, weigh them, and pray for His wisdom James 1:5. God wants us to know and understand His will. He has a plan for our lives and He reveals His plan.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is straight forward and directive! Being filled will give us joy. The Christian can be joyful even in the midst of pain and suffering...
DRUNK with wine: under the control of another force
feels a great sense of release
not ashamed to express himself
can "lick anybody in the house"
cannot hide what is going on
really, out of control
makes a fool of himself
calls attention to himself
often sings, but reveals the corruption of his heart
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
God controls his life
experiences a deep joy
not afraid to express to the glory of God
experiences a beautiful self-control that is really God in control.
glorifies God
will to be a "fool for Christ's sake"
witness for Christ
has a song in the heart
Filled is THANKFUL v. 20
Thanks and giving thanks are so important in the life of a Christian. Whatever the circumstances, give thanks in ALL things! Gratitude comes from the same root word as grace...thAnk and thInk come from the same root word. If we would think more, we would tahnk more.
Filled is submissive v. 21
"be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Not just for the home situation. Being will to submit to the needs and desires of others. What a wonderful place the church and HOME would always be if indwelt by believers who are Spirit filled!
SUBMISSIVE:
acknowledging God's order Gal 3:28; yielding humbly and in intelligent obedience to an ordained power of authority, an atitude not an act, a decision not an emotion, freedom to be creative after giving your will and getting under the protection of, refers to an attitude of 'teachableness' toward the members of the Body...a willigness to yield to another's advice or admonition...willing to submit to another's control. ATTITUDES!!!
EPHESIANS 6
The world is full of antagonism, division and rebellion...we have tried edication, legislation and every other approach to resolve. Paul's solution is REGENERATION - a new heart from God and a new submission to Christ and to one another. Spiritual harmony begins in the lives of Christians who are submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
1. Wives...SUBMIT, respect, honor and on and on
2. Husbands...LOVE YOUR WIFE AS CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH!
3. Children...OBEY
Why? * being saved does no release from normal obligations of life. Being a Christian should make a child a better behaving child...harmony.
*because obedience is right...Today, it is more like "parents, obey your children, for this will keep them happy and bring peace to the home." THIS IS CONTRARY TO GOD'S ORDER IN NATURE.
* Obedience is commanded...5th commandment. Honor means much more than simply to obey them. show respect and love, care for them seek to bring honor to them by the way we live.
*Obedience brings blessing v. 2-3 Promise attached to 2 blessings. Sin robs; obedience always enriches us!
Fathers, do not provoke...
As Paul leaves the structure of the home, he addresses all relationships...employer, employee (details will be added later)...the Lord has much to say about our relationships in life no matter where we "walk". ATTITUDES speak as loud if not louder than our words!!! If we are filled with the Holy Spirit and are joyful, thankful and submissive, then we can enjoy harmony in the relationships of life as we liv and work with others. We wiull find it easier to work with and witness to unbelievers who will disagree with us.
Next Sunday, we will deal with a beautiful portion of Scripture as we address the fact that YOU ARE IN THE ARMY NOW...6:10-24 We are in a battleground not a playground! We face 3 enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil.
The world = refers to the system around us taht is opposed to God "Society apart from God. The flesh = Biblicallys may mean skin and bones, the patterns for walking after the old way of life prior to salvation, the patterns for walking after the deceptions of the Power of Sin or the ways of the world. These patterns have been programmed into the brain during the earthwalk.
We must know who our enem,y is, where he is, and what he can do if we are to continue to walk in victory. NEXT WEEK!
1 comment:
I like the beginning of the end for Paul as he describes the Armor of God. He begins with Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. As I read that verse it lead me to Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. For in battle we do not have the picture of the war. We only have a glimpse of the battle we are in ourselves. The fodder that starts the battle are many times principalites not of this realm.
Thank you Bernadine, I look foward to seeing you in the morning. God bless you and Wes. Sent with the Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
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