“Imitators Wanted”
Notes
Transcript
Intro: My childhood epilepsy caused me to have a strange aura. (Mom and Dad in a shouting match with dad cussing.)
You’ve probably heard the saying, like father like son. It is a saying that really is a description of sons that take on many of the traits of their father.
This is not an uncommon thing for us to see. It has been that way for many years.
From my father I defiantly picked up on his sense of humor and wise cracking. It was something that I loved about him.
I would do it even to the point that it might get me in trouble as a kid, and still gets me in trouble from time to time today.
Now as I have attempted to father this son of mine, and even in the few years I have had with Taylor, I have found that it has carried over to them as well.
There are times that I watch them and listen to them and see and hear the goofiness that carries over from time that they spend with me.
I can only pray that it does not get them into trouble as it did me from time to time.
No matter what your situation is like with your earthly father, the best part is that there is a father that is worth imitating and walking like.
He is our only true Father, and this Father we will learn, as Paul will tell us, is one that we should imitate.
At this point in Ephesians, Paul painted us an incredible picture of our Heavenly Father.
The description of God thus far is one that allows us to be able to have confidence in imitating. In the end, we are to pursue taking on God’s character.
Now we are not going to be able to imitate everything that God has done. We are not going to create the world out of nothing.
We are not going to know all things, but we can bear His image and we do that best by living out the gospel that has changed us.
Last, we learned that this is a lifelong process of taking off the old and putting on the new.
It is not just about stopping sin, but also and just as important, saying yes to God and the ways that He has called us to live. That is why it takes time.
It is a life of total commitment. The goal is to be perfect. This is an unbelievable goal, but it is not one that we don’t pursue.
While we will never be perfect as God is, Paul tells us that we should pursue living as Holy and compassionate as we can, and God the Father is the example of that.
So how do we imitate this perfect Father? How can any of us live in a way that brings any kind of true imitation of God?
Paul will urge us to walk and imitate God in three manners showing others a glimpse of what God and His character look like.
This passage we will be digging through today will very much feel heavy like our one did last week.
It might feel like a punch to the stomach, but honestly, we need this passage, and it should take us a back and force us to ponder His word.
So we begin this morning by simply praying.
The first imitation of God that will give others a glimpse of Who He is is to ...
1. Show love in your walk (1-2)
1. Show love in your walk (1-2)
As we begin this chapter, we see a full expression of what it mean to imitate God. Paul does not make this admonition lightly either.
If you want to show God then begin with this life of godliness by demonstration godly love. Read: Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
If you look in the NT you will find that Jesus is the most expressive image of God. He is the Glory of God at the brightest level.
It is Jesus that lived the life as the lead example of how we should live our lives, what humanity as a whole should look like if we were to follow His example.
If we are called to bear image, a living image, that reflects and communicates the image of God, then what better way are we going to do that than through love?
Our lives are to imitate and copy God. We need to be as close to the original as possible.
Illus: Donna P., John Meadors, Gene Schott
Paul’s use of the word children here is a great reflection of what I was talking about earlier, imitating our parents.
In this case Paul is not speaking about us putting on our parents’ boots and dressing up like them, no he is calling us to reflect, in character, the very character of God our Heavenly Father.
He expounds that to imitate God in love is to sacrifice. He gave Jesus as the supreme example of that love. His love was a love manifested in supreme sacrifice.
He offered himself, His whole self, His life for others. His offering in return fulfilled all other offerings that fell short and in turn became a sweet aroma, a once and for all.
You want to imitate God, Jesus, and The HS? Then you must figure out how to live a life of love. People have asked me what this might look like.
I don’t know that it looks the same for each person, but I know this, If our hearts are motivated by the proper spirit of love for God, then our intentions for others will naturally follow.
People, you cannot forget that He has gifted each one of you.
He has given all of you a gift to share and build up the church, and I assure you this, when you use your gift you will manifest love, every time!
God has given us a family called the church, filled with brothers and sisters. He has given us family chores to do as members of the family.
Consider these amazing privileges and this sacred responsibility. Consider them as love.
In Ephesians 1:5 Paul said, “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”
The best application of this verse then is Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
We must be known for our acts of mercy and love people. caring for orphans, widows, and caring for the poor.
Showing hospitality, meeting needs, and being a genuine fellowship of love. Love is not just sentimentalism. It is not merely feeling sorry for someone.
It involves sacrifice and action. The second imitation of God that will give others a glimpse of Who He is is to ...
2. Show light in your walk (3-14)
So when we move into this section where we see quickly that Paul contrasts things of light and dark and he begins by hitting on the very things that are a clear pitfall of our society today. Read: Ephesians 5:3-14
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Notice in verse 8 Paul states, “For at one time you were darkness.” He does not say that you “were walking in darkness.” Rather, “you were darkness.”
But through the gospel, he says, “You are light in the Lord.” So your identity has changed.
This is by know means an exhaustive list of sin struggles, but clearly ones that have plagued man for years and years and years.
Paul is saying, “That is not you anymore! Stop living like that. You don’t have to anymore!”
So how do we go about doing that? How do we walk as children of light? Let’s start by remembering that this takes time, but just as important, effort.
If you don’t put any effort in, then how do you expect to change at all?
Paul gives us three ways to begin this process. Exalt God, not idols, exalt the fruit of light, and expose darkness. Then Paul mentions several sins describing a dark life.
The point was not probably as much on the specific sins themselves but that they grow out of heart that is functionally replacing God with something else.
His reason for saying that they should not be named among them is showing the danger surrounding separating ourselves from God.
You can try and guide yourself through these passages and put your own spin on them, but Paul was quite blunt, You were darkness, and now you are light. Walk with light.
Exhibit this fruit of the light but not joining in those in darkness. Display light to them!
The only way to step out of the darkness is to expose it to light. The smallest amount of light corrupts darkness. have you ever noticed that before?
You can be in a pitch-black room and if you were to light a match, the whole room can be exposed.
If you add a little darkness to a room vibrant with light it will not have the same effect.
In saying that, darkness can have a slow methodical affect on your life and take over when you least expect it to.
This is why Paul says to avoid these things and to expose the darkness every time you see it come near.
Exposing the darkness can be painful but it is clearly needed You cannot heal and be restored however without repentance.
It starts with us as the individual. Expose the light friends.
As we humbly repent, we bring others to a place of repentance as well. We help expose light in their darkness. Walk with this kind of light.
The more we lean in with darkness the more we can be deceived by untruths. It is why our world has changed so much in the last few years.
We keep leaning into the wrong things. We must expose the darkness to light. Quit listening to false truth. It’s not truth!
“Awake” Paul says, quoting Isaiah and Jonah. Rise from the dead!
When woken up, we who were once darkness but are now light, we shine the light of truth and righteousness in a dark world with word and deed.
We make visible the shameful and secretive deeds of darkness, to help those in darkness come to the light themselves.
This leads us to the final point this morning. The third imitation of God that will give others a glimpse of Who He is is to ...
3. Show wisdom in our walk (15-17)
3. Show wisdom in our walk (15-17)
In the same thought process as our last few verses, Paul is calling believers to wake up and to walk in wisdom.
To walk in wisdom well, it must be done carefully, making the most of our time so that we can understand the Lord’s will more fully. Read: Ephesians 5:15-17
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Here it is family, the believer is to “walk” in front of outsiders in hopes that they may see the life-changing power of the gospel.
How do you gain wisdom? Walk with others in wisdom. Get around seasoned believers. Dig into this gospel. Learn it, apply it.
James says God gives wisdom if you ask for it (Jas 1:5). Further, Paul states that in Jesus all the treasures of wisdom are found (Col 2:3).
Jesus says fools build their lives on sand, but the wise build on the rock of His Word (Matt 7:24-27).
Paul says to make the most of the time you have been given. Therefore, how we live matters.
This text calls us to identify the things that steal our time away and to prioritize everything relentlessly.
Christians should make the most of their time because they do not want to waste their lives. The phrase “The days are evil” refers to the idea of present evil age in which all are living.
We must passionately shine our light in this dark world while we have breath. When we see the King, we will not regret having spent our lives wisely.
And Paul ends here with calling believers to understand the will of God. This is not about specifics to what He is calling them to, like a career, or who to marry.
He is referring to God’s already revealed will, and for us today that means understanding the Bible.
Believers need to understand what God has called every believer to pursue and what He has called every believer to avoid.
In short, understanding the Lord’s will means to pattern our lives after Jesus (cf. Rom 8: 29).
I look and I see too many things that I do not pattern after Jesus in my life. I am working through those currently, and I don’t say that for any other reason than to shed light on it.
How many of you are willing today to come to a place of shedding light into the darkness by a simple act of coming up for prayer today?
This may be the simple and humble act that frees someone else to come to a place of repentance.
Friends, will you simply Jon me in humble submission to the word and consider this act? Who knows what kind of ministry can be done in a moment like this.