Ephesians 6:5-9

INTO

SPIRITFILLED LIFE.

-WHAT TAKLED ABOUT WHAT IT EANS TO BE SPIRIT FILLED.

-DIFFERENT THAN INDWELLING.

-this is when the Spirit GOD floods the sails of your life driving you, steering you, controling you.

-THIS HAS IMIPLICATIONS IN EVERY FACET OF YOUR LIFE.

-THAT IS WHAT PAUL IS DEMONSTRATING IN EPHESISANS 5 AND 6

-In has talked about the Spirit filled Marriage

-The Spirit filled Parent/Child relationship

-And now The SPIRIT FILLED WORK PLACE

EPH 6

Principles of the Spirit-Fill Work Place

The text starts with 3 Principles intended for workers.

-Some might read the words bondservant, servant, or slave or the word Masters and think that you can skim right over this passages.

-This was written in a different time…we don’t have a system of slavery or servitude

-However, you cannot ignore it.

-Look in verse 8 …at the last clause

Bondservants (servants) -

I. Spirit-filled workers are to be obedient to there bosses

-Be obedient - present tense

-means obedience that is a continuing force in the future.

-Meaning the obedience is constant

-The obedience should have nothing to do with your feelings.

-meaning as a believer in Christ we have no right to obey only when we feel like it.

-Many christians live this out not only in their work environment, but also in their walk with Christ.

-You will also notice that there is not an exception clause within this passage.

-unless the boss is a jerk

-unless the boss is not around

-This like that.

-GENERALLY speaking you are to obey your boss in everything…and all times.

-HOWEVER, there is one overarching biblical principle that you need to keep in mind.

-This biblical principle applies when talking about subjecting ourselves to any authority.

-WHILE WE HAVE A DUTY TO SUBJECT OURSLEVES TO ANY AND EVERY AUTHORITY OVER US, OUR ULTEMENT ALEGANCE IS ALWAYS TO GOD FIRST.

-What this means is, while we are resposible to obey our leaders, we are not expected to obey them unto sin.

So when we are commanded to do something immoral, sinful, blasphemous, or anything that is contrary to God’s Word, then we yeild to our ultament alegance first! Which is GOD.

BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH ACCORDING TO THIS PASSAGE TO JUST SIMPLY CARRY OUT YOUR DUTIES.

-YOU HAVE TO CARRY OUT THOSE DUTIES WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND DISPOTION.

“WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING” vs 5 - Underscores the attitude of honor and respect you must have toward your boss.

-I KNOW there are some bosses that are hard to like.

-Involved in slimy and sleazy things. Some lack integrety. Some throw their employees under the bus stead of standing up for them.

-I know all that…And So does the Lord.

-That does not change our obligetion to honor and respect them.

-This attitude of honor and respect means that we do not belittle our bosses and speak ill of them nor should we engage in round table gossip sessions.

-In fact, it means if you have anything to say about them it should be gracious, honoring, and filled with reverance.

-as the text says…you do this as you would CHRIST

Coupled with this idea of fear and trembling is the idea of sincerity.

“with a sincere heart” (singleness of heart) -

-When you carry out the duties of your boss if you do it bitterness in your heart, then you are doing it wrong.

-Now some try to use that as an excuse to no carry out obediance. NO.

-I am in now way giving you that excuse. I am not telling you to alter your actions. I am telling you to allow the Spirit fill you and change your heart!

-So we do not serve our bosses in an insincere and superfical way. We serve in a why that is meaningful and guinuine.

-WE SHOULD NOT SERVE CHRIST IN THIS WAY

II. Spirit-filled workers GO BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIRED Vs 6-7

-Not eye-service. No people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ...

-This tells us a few things bout your service.

-You are to do your work in such a way that no one has to continuly go behind you and see if you did it.

-Work as if the boss was there watching over you even if he is not.

Illustration: CARDNALS COOK…MR FISHER WATCHING…YOU CAN STOP HE IS GONE.

At a minimum you are expected to carry out your duties, but Christians are not called to do the minimum

-We are called to do our job well and press beyond the minimum required.

-”we do our CHRISTIAN duty not by writing little verses in our office space.

-not by wearing christian tshirts

-not by saying godbless you

-not be clobbering people over the head with our faith.

-we do our christian duty at work by doing our work well.

III. Spirit-filled Workers Work As If they are working for Christ

VERSE 5 “AS YOU WOULD CHRIST”

VERSE 6 “AS BONDSERVANTS OF CHRIST, DOING THE WILL OF GOD

VERSE 7 “AS TO THE LORD AND NOT TO MAN

VERSE 8 “HE WILL RECIEVE BACK FROM THE LORD”

YOU SEE THE REASON THE SPIRIT DRIVES US TO HONOR AND OBEY OUR BOSSES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR BOSSES…IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH CRHIST.

-This is why we cannot say that our boss is a bad person therefore I will not obey....because it really has very little to do with him and everything to do with CHRIST.

-you see…he is our master. He is our LORD…HE IS OUR BOSS.

-Our aim above all else as Spirit fill believers....is to please HIM

THIS IS A GOSPEL ISSUE.

This is not 5 easy steps to be a better employee.

THis is the idea that the Gospel is so powerful and profound that it can shine darkness into even the darkest of work enviroments and glorify God.

-This is not only a gospel issue, this is a Gospel witness issue.

OUR LIVES SHOULD DEMONDSTART THE LIFE CHANGER POWER OF THE GOSPEL IN EVERY FACET OF OUR LIFE.

Spirit-filled Bosses

I. Spirit-filled BOSSES SHOULD BE GOD HONORING TOWARD EMPLOYEES Vs 9

“DO THE SAME TO THEM” VS 9

Do the same to them?

What does that mean?

Does that mean a boss should obey their workers? No.

But it does mean the core values underscoring the principles are the same.

What is that princple?

Summarized we could simply say that we Serve the Lord by Serving your employees.

So while the Spirit-filled workers are to be obedient to there bosses....Spirit filled Bosses are to be a pleasure to work for.

-Kind, seasoned with grace, easy to serve, and love.

Just as the Spirit-filled workers GO BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIRED Vs 6-7

-You are not to weight them down with overly burrdensome demains. You job as a boss is not to be domineering.

-Let me give you two areas in your employee’s lives where this is important.

-You need to keep in-mind the spiritual realities in their lives.

-Your employees need to opportunity to go to church and the opportunity care for their family.

-So bosses as a general rule on wednesday evenings make sure you people get out in time to come to church.

-not all will, but I just know as a boss I would hate to stand before the judgement seat of Christ and have to answer for that.

-How could we every show them that we value church if we do not care if they can make it there or not.

-The same is true with their family.

-as a believer we are to vaule family

-So first we demonstrate we vaule family and 2ndly we allow them time with their family.

You are an ambasitor of Christ to every employee that you are over. Represent HIM well becuase your accountable to do so.

-Ill go fathur that that...

As the Boss you might always be the boss, but you not always right.

-When you are wrong or get out of line, they need to hear and see you repent.

-Sometimes that involved an applogy to your peeople, but it always involves repentence before God and the actions that should follow.

Ill tell you something else. I beleive it to be unchristian to throw your employees underthebus with other people.

-Let me tell you why you should be willing to take the wrath of others on behalf of your empleeys.

-Because Jesus Christ the Lord of all creation took wrath on our behalf.

-If they are issues with the employees then address that in a private with them in a christian manner, but dont just toss them to the wolves.

-God does not treat us that way.

II. Spirit-Filled Bosses lead with GRACE not threats Vs 9b

“Stop your threatening”

So the idea here is to not be harsh with your emplyees.

1 Peter 5:3 ESV

3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Some translations so not LORDING OVER THOSE IN YOUR CHARGE

The same idea exists here.

Every guidedance given to govern relationships betwwen you and others in the scriptures also governers your interaction with your employees.

-You love, care for, be kind to, nurture, look out for their best interests, extend grace liberally, and forgive always.

This is the Spiritfilled way to lead your company.

Stop threatening allow carriest with the idea of keepign your emotions undercontrol.

Do you blow up? Are you hotheaded? Do you have the reputation with your employees? Just questions to ask.

Nobody is above every messing up in that area, but a blow up and meltdown should be the exception for the spiritfilled beleiver and not the rule.

III. Spiritfilled Bosses Have a Boss

Spiritfilled bosses have a boss…your responsible to live like it.