Ephesians 12
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Making a Difference.
Making a Difference.
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any 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 be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Intro: We here that term “make a difference”
We live in a wicked world. Christians have always live in a wicked world.
We are around people that are not Christians, whose lives are different then ours.
We can either be more like them, or we can make a difference.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Walk in Love VS 1-7
Walk in Love VS 1-7
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any 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 be partakers with them.
VS 1 Imitators: KJV Followers. Translates mimic or imitator.
We actually are commanded to actually mimic God our father as we are the children of God we are to follow or as i said the word is mimic our father who is in heaven.
This is a pretty high standard that Paul is telling us to live up too. To be imitators of God.
this is far beyond our human ability to fulfill how can we as humans. How can we live like God?
When we were saved, we received the Holy Spirit. We are apart of the family of God. We recieved the characteristic of God. So through His spirit, through the characteristic we can be God like. (We are not little Gods)
None of us are omnipresent none of us are omnipotent none of us are omniscient. We can not be like God in those ways.
But God is love, God is kind, God is merciful. God is tenderhearted. Those are the ways we can be imitators of God.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us:
Paul uses the word walk to describe a persons outward life, a life the way other people see us. It depicts the progress in the Christian life. The Christian life is a life that should never be standing still. It is a life of movement. We are either moving forward or moving backwards.
We either become more like Christ, or slip back to the life of a lost person.
Elab on John Phillips. He said a friend who Co-pastors a large church. (Jerry Vines, Homer Lindesy Jr) He ask way is that your church is keeps growing?
“Our people love Jesus, love each other, Love the lost”
Command here is to “Walk in Love” as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us”
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We are to be Imitators of God.
We are to love people the way God loves us. His love for us is so great that He gave His son for us. Jesus love for us is so great that He gave His life for us.
Why does Paul have to remind us to “walk in love”
Jesus has to tell us to love our enmities. Jesus has to tell us to one one another. Jesus has to tell us to love our neighbors. Why?
Because of our human nature.
People will irritate us. We will get impatient with people. But God tells us we are too love them. That can be hard.
35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Here Paul tells us to be imitators of God. That means we are to love people the way God love them. Now that’s hard.
We are to “walk in love” How?
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
We have to be willing to give of ourselves to walk in love.
Christ gave Himself of us. He was a sacrifice. He took on the punishment for sin that we derisive.
sweet-smelling aroma. (Brunt offering)
Jesus died on the cross to forgive us.
If we walk in love we have to willing to forgive for others.
As believers we have to be forgiving and give ourselves as a sacrifice.
Paul gives list of sins that are the opposite of love
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Here we see a list of sins that are lust not love.
A list of sins that are common among the world not Christians.
For those who practice these sins will not inherit the Kingdom of 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 be partakers with them.
6 Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience.
7 So do not associate or be sharers with them.
Paul is saying that there are those who will teach that these sins are ok. (Just live like you want to live)
They will face Gods wrath.
VS
Walk in the light. VS 8-14
Walk in the light. VS 8-14
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
People who are not Christians live in darkness,
People who are saved live in light.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
We are to live a life that is VS 10 acceptable to the Lord
5 And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Light always over powers darkness.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.
Instead of having a tolerance toward the works of darkness, we are to take a firm stand against them.
We cannot just go along with darkness (sin) we are to take a stand against it. Expose it. Too many churches, too many pastors today are no longer standing against darkness. Lets just all get along.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
We live in a a day where things that were shameful, are now looked as normal.
Same sex marriage.
Living together without being married.
“Do not participate in that which is shameful. Expose that which is shameful, and live a life that is honorable”
If we will do this we will make a difference.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
Exposed: KJV Reproved. Translates convicts.
When we walk in the light, those around will see that we are different.
When we walk in the light people will see a difference in you. Because they see a person that walks in the light, they may act different around you.
Look at vs 14.
1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
We need light to grow. (Plants)
We need light to expose the darkness.
Paul says here Christ will give you light.
Walk in wisdom VS 15-21
Walk in wisdom VS 15-21
15 See then that you walk cicircumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Cicirumspectly: (To watch over, guard.) Walk carefully, or be careful how you walk.
Paul is saying in our Christian walk, or life we are to be careful of what is going on around us.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
but understand what the will of the Lord is
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
(dis a pay tion)
To be filled with the Holy Spirit, is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit is controlling us we will walk in love, we will walk in the light. We will be imitators of God.
You have the Holy Spirit, but does the Holy Spirit have you.
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
If we are filled the the Holy Spirit our hearts will be filled with joy.
Paul speaks of music here.
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Why is it that some people will more to complain about then to be thankful for? They not filled with the Holy Spirit.
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Walk in Love
Walk in light.
Walk in wisdom
