Sermon Tone Analysis

*CONFORMING TO GOD’S WILL*

*Ephesians 5:8-20*

 

Coping with the *expectations *of others is often difficult.

The government expects us to be good citizens and pay out taxes.

Society expects us to live and act responsibly, and to make a positive contribution to life.

Our family expects us to live in such a way as to honor the family name, and not to dishonor it.

Our friends expect us to be ourselves and to be the kind of friend they can love and depend on.

Coping with all of the expectations life thrusts on us can be overbearing at times.

Often, in an attempt to deal with expectations, we may take drastic measures to deal with it.

Years ago, Otis Redding, shortly before his untimely death, sang about sitting on the dock of the bay.

He sang,  “I can’t do what ten people tell me to do, so I guess I’ll remain the same.”

However, many people don’t remain the same as they deal with life’s expectations.

Dr.

James Dobson, the eminent Christian psychologist and pastor, says that marital infidelity (adultery) by marriage partners is partially caused by either partner wishing to be free of the pressures of the straight life.

They participate in illicit sex to lessen the pressure of what they perceive to be a burden, when, actually, in doing so they bring a greater burden on themselves – the burden of guilt.

Even worse is the number of young people who commit suicide because they no longer can deal with all of the expectations placed on them by their parents, school, their peers, and even their church.

None of us can escape the expectations thrust on us as we try to live as responsible persons.

Paradoxically, while adults, Christian or not, try to lessen the burden of expectations placed on them by committing adultery, they become even more responsible for their actions, and for the pain and hurt they cause their spouse, children, and family and friends.

Yet – and this is a lesson every generation needs to learn anew – no amount of expectations placed on us justifies *sinning*.

This is true especially for the child of God.

We can never justify sinning, regardless.

Being a Christian doesn’t guarantee we’ll not give in to the pressure of over expectation, and sin against God, others and ourselves.

When we choose to ignore God’s will concerning fidelity in marriage, and commit adultery, we bring on ourselves a burden a thousand times heavier than before.

Present statistics regarding this problem in the church are shocking.

It exposes a greater problem for the church, and for the kingdom of God.

Giving in to the temptation to commit adultery, or do drugs, or alcoholic reveals the struggle many of God’s people experience trying to be children of light.

If those who call themselves God’s people fail to live righteously before God and other people, what hope is there for those who do not know Christ Jesus?

The battle against *sin* must first be won in the *church *before it can be won in the world.*

* 

 

This is what Paul is getting at as we read these verses that are stacked with one ethical admonition after another.

Using the dichotomy of light and darkness, Paul seeks to convince us that actions that are part and parcel of the world of darkness cannot exist within the church without judgment.

The apostle Peter wrote about this in his first epistle.

“For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And

 

‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

(read 1 Pet.

4:17-19)

 

Friends, the world evaluates the church on the basis of its *member’s* actions.

We who are the church cannot escape *God’s* and the *world’s* expectations of us.

We must be willing to suffer the pain of self-denial every day in order to continue to do good, if the world is to take God and His will seriously.

I don’t know if it’s true, but someone said that once while Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden, someone asked him, *"What would you do if you suddenly learned that you were to die at sunset today?"*

He replied, *"I would finish hoeing my garden."*

Whether we  like  it or not, we who are the church can’t escape God’s expectations of us, or the world’s expectations of us.

God expects us to live the righteous life He commanded us to live, regardless.

The French philosopher and writer, Albert Camus, once spoke to a group of French churchmen.

This is what he said.

What the world expects of Christians is that they speak up against evil in such a way that not the slightest doubt (about what they mean) can exist in the heart of the simplest man.

The world expects Christians to speak out clearly and to pay up personally.

This leads to the question, “What’s required of us as Christians to conform to the will of God?

 

Consider with me four aspects of what it takes to conform to God’s will.

*1.

**Use your mind.

*

* *

No one can conform to God’s will who doesn’t ­­­*know* what God’s will is.

Being ignorant of God’s expectations of us is never an excuse.

How many of us here do not have a Bible?

If you don’t have one, see me following the service and I’ll give you one.

How many of us can’t read the Bible?

(You don’t have to tell me, if you can’t read.)

We can help you get into a class where you can learn to read and understand the Bible.

In verse 10, in the New American Standard Bible, Paul writes, *“Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”*

Learning is why God gave us a mind.

As the sign says, *“A mind is a terrible thing to waste,”* but refusing to learn what pleases God, so as to do it, will lead to our living in darkness, not knowing what God expects of us, and to God’s judgment.

There are two types of learning that are required in order to conform to God’s will.

They are *study* and *experience*.

Study

 

Often the best way to learn *right* behavior is to observe *wrong* behavior.

But this is difficult today in the secular educational system, where moral confusion exists, where what was once considered wrong behavior is taught to be right, and vice versa.

Yet, for the Christian, ignorance of what’s right and wrong is no excuse.

We have the Bible.

Scripture teaches us the mind and the will of Christ.

You must study the Word of God.

There is no substitute.

Experience

 

Experience is said to be the best teacher.

That’s not true in every situation, because some people’s minds are numb.

Still, if your mind is sharp and clear, experience can teach us a lot.

My pastor friend, Dan Sellers, had such an experience once when he and his family went to see his son play a high school football game.

(His son, Glenn, was the starting quarterback.)

Dan said that while watching the game and rooting for their team to win, three grown men were in front of them, and were at least “three sheets in the wind.”

Their daughters, Kim and Missy, were with them, and Dan and Faye, Dan’s wife, became alarmed and offended when the men’s language became extremely offensive, and their attitudes toward the referees became threatening.

Dan tried to hold back his anger, as Faye, his wife, helped him.

Finally, at halftime, Dan told Faye and the girls they were going to change seats.

As they were leaving, Dan turned back to the three men and calmly said, *“I want to thank you guys for acting so stupid tonight.

My daughters received the best lesson in how human beings should never act that they could’ve received anywhere!”*

Then they left.

Did the men change their behavior?

Hardly.

Their minds were darkened.

But Dan? Listen to Scripture.

*“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery, Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

(5:18) *Dan did what pleased the Lord, for the Spirit was in control of his life.

Who, or what, is in control of your life?

Here’s are a few useful guidelines that we can find useful by in helping our minds conform to God’s will.

First, we must be willing to think.

God made us thinking beings, and he guides our minds as we think things out in His presence.

Second, think ahead and weigh the long-term consequences of alternative courses of action.

Often we can only see what’s wise and right, and what’s foolish and wrong, as we consider the long-term issues.

Third, we must be willing to take advice.

There are people who know what the Bible teaches, who understand human nature, and who know and understand our strengths and limitations better than we do.

Seek them out.

Fourth, we must be willing to be ruthlessly honest with ourselves.

We must ask ourselves why we believe a particular course of action will be right, and make ourselves give reasons.

Fifth, we must be willing to “wait on the Lord."