So when we come now to Ephesians chapter six, beginning in verse five, we come to an interesting passage beginning in verse five. Paul says, now bond servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling and sincerity of heart, as to Christ, not with eye service as men pleasers, but as bond servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will, doing service as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. How would you prepare a meal and serve the meal? If Jesus were going to eat it? You know, as a pastor now, there it is. And you like it. I don't know, you know.
Ephesians 6 Jesus says. Yeah, just like that. Only just the opposite. Today, from the writings of a bond servant in Ephesians. Pastor Ray brings us a good look at humility and servanthood. Let's open our Bibles to Ephesians chapter six. Okay, Paul, we've been in a section where the rubber meets the road. It's a very practical section. After beginning with all these beautiful truths of who we are and our identity in Christ and our eternal future as being accepted in the beloved. The Bible does not condone slavery. It acknowledges slavery that it was there and part of the world then. And unfortunately, even this so modern 21st century in parts of the world, it is still with us today. So what? What about the gospel? What about Christianity? What about slavery? And what do we do with this passage where Paul says, bond servants be obedient to those who are your masters?
Ephesians 6 Now, there are two reasons for this call to honor and obey our parents. The first is there is a natural law of children obeying their parents, that God is just kind of written into the genetic code of of human existence. Or as Paul puts it, for this is right. And I think that we would generally agree. And it's interesting that essentially every culture and every society is built on the premise that children ought to obey their parents.
Ephesians 6 Paul writes, children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother. Which is the first commandment, with a promise that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth. And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22-33 Okay, I married, I made this commitment, but I don't even know really what it means or how to keep it. I have my own needs and maybe even look at a spouse says, you're going to meet my needs and it fails. So what about a Christian man? A Christian man is a man who he doesn't just sacrifice his life out of nothing.
Ephesians 5:22-33 By the way, marriage is a religious thing. It is a spiritual thing. God is the originator of it. The world is not always gone along with it. In fact, when Paul was writing, to the church of Ephesus 2000 years ago, marriage was a lot different than it is today. Now, as it is today. At least until recently, the idea has predominantly, been captured of the idea of a Christian marriage
Ephesians 5:18 This is one of the most fascinating verses to me in the in the New Testament. Paul says, and do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation or excess, but be filled with the spirit. Now that is that's amazing to me. Why is Paul comparing a man who gets drunk with wine and alcohol, with a man or a woman that is filled with his spirit?
Paul says, once you have been bathed, then saturated in the love and the grace of God. Now we are free to begin exploring. What does it really mean to walk with God? What does it mean to have my heart transform my desires, my interests, my thinking, my emotions? everything about me. What does it mean to walk with God? Now I am learning how to love others. And that I've been brought into this marvelous and wonderful family. Then, beginning in verses eight through 14, Paul says, to walk with God also means to walk in the light. In verse eight he says, for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light.
Neither filthiness nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather the giving of thanks. So here's what it means to not walk in love. Now Paul was writing to a church that was in the midst of a Roman pagan culture, a very sensual culture, and a and a culture that was, you know, beyond even where we are now, although it seems like our that we are moving, we never seem to stay the same. So if you live only for the outward things, the problem is it never satisfies, and it never obviously fills the hole that's on the inside. So you're caught in a trap. That which initially satisfied me doesn't do it anymore. And so now I need more. And so the accumulation of things or the vulnerability to addictions or whatever in the flesh, it just grows exponentially out until finally you're lost.
Beginning in verse one of chapter five, Paul says, therefore be imitators of God as dear children, 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. So he says, therefore be imitators of God. Now therefore, what is there for? And that's what Paul is saying, that as as Christians, you know, being a Christian is, well, let's say what it is not it's not being a religious person as opposed to a non-religious person. Being religious doesn't really mean anything, at least especially to God. It doesn't mean that now I follow a system of rules and morality and, and so forth.
Cleaning out the old clothes and the closet. And I've given here from these verses 17 or 19 for words that typify the what the worldly wardrobe has to offer. And I'm obviously talking about now on the inside. Number one hardness. Here's here the condition of our heart. The Bible says, is a hardening of the heart. And there is a certain logic to it, because life is full of pain and we don't like pain. Let's read this scripture out loud together. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. You need to change the way you think, and we need to start thinking heavenly thoughts and heavenly minded ways.
What are clothes for? Well, there to cover up what needs to be covered up and to make us presentable. It's the same dynamic for our heavenly wardrobe, as we'll find out today. We're studying the words of Paul the Apostle about the spiritual clothing we each must wear. Ephesians 4
There's an old saying. When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you're gone, the world will cry and you will rejoice. Today, pastor Ray brings us some insight on living a life that touches others. Ephesians 4:7
Imagine being a part of a small Bible study group, and your study leader says his vision is that over 2 billion people would one day be a part of the group. That's a pretty aggressive growth campaign. Today, pastor Ray points out how the Lord structured the church to reach the world in just that way. Ephesians 4
One of the Lord's great desires is that brothers and sisters live in peace with one another. More than that is, desire is of all would have peace with God. Well, today, pastor Ray points out where peace is ultimately found. Ephesians 4:1
Today we'll focus on how we can sit, walk and stand our relationship with the Lord. We'll see. It's a progression healthy believers will experience as they grow in the knowledge of God and His Word. It's all part of taking what we believe and letting it affect how we live each day. Ephesians 4:1
The creator of the heavens and earth keeps his eye on you and me. Not only that, he loves us so much, he allowed his only begotten son to die so that we wouldn't. Today, pastor Ray takes us to Paul's counsel in Ephesians, where we examine a prayer by the Apostle for all believers. Ephesians 3:14-21
Today, pastor Ray takes us to the words of Paul the Apostle while locked in a damp, dark Roman prison cell. He prayed for you and me. He prayed that we would have the same perspective he had on trials and tribulations. That's our objective today. Pastor Ray takes us to one of Paul's prison epistles. Ephesians 3:14-21
The whole gospel to the whole world was the hope of Paradise. Ripped from the grasp of the disciples when their Messiah died on the cross. They may have thought so for a little while. Today, pastor Ray shows us how the death of Christ was necessary. It ushered in a new covenant, a new agreement between God and man Ephesians 3:1
When he was locked in a prison cell in Rome, Paul wrote some tremendous words of encouragement and strength for his fellow believers. Today we'll get a glimpse at God's plan for both Jew and Gentile. At the time, a revolutionary concept that both would be included. Ephesians 3:1