to die for us, so much to be thankful for us.
His tender mercies are new every morning. Oh
the fact that we can come to his throne of grace
and find help when we need it. It is a good day
to be grateful and of course you don't. we're
in our series uh talking about giving there's
a reason to praise that we have a reason to praise
god and i you know even those who are unsaved
don't know they have a reason to praise god because
god is holding back time giving them opportunity
to come to him so everybody has reason to praise
god so guys i'm excited about what god wants
to share with us this morning uh i've been tasked
with uh doing chapter five of Ephesians because
you know We are studying the book of Ephesians
talking about being grateful to God and I was
like, oh I would get 33 verses right to do but
we're gonna pray and get started Heavenly father
we give you praise we give you honor We thank
you Lord God for this awesome opportunity to
come and surround ourselves around your word
We thank you Holy Spirit that you are present
so that we have clarity understanding and enlightenment
Thank you father that we are have the ability
to apply the words to our lives and see the effect
that you do desire for it to be in our lives.
And we just give you the praise and the honor
in the name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. Well, you can
take your seats. Thirty -three verses. Can I
do it? Can I do it? Can I do it? As I was looking
over them, I'm like, oh God, okay. But I'm just
excited about it. You know, we've been studying
the book of Ephesians and it is particularly
actually written to the Gentiles and letting
us know the privileges that we have as a result
of coming into the kingdom and how we really
should be grateful to God that he included us.
I am so glad God decided to adopt us into his
family. How about you? Aren't you glad that God
talked about at one time we were without him,
that we didn't have a covenant at all with him.
But now, because of Jesus Christ, we all have
the same opportunity to have a relationship with
God. So again, looking in the book of Ephesians,
starting at chapter five, let me just give you
a little bit of background concerning the Church
of Ephesus. Ephesus was a center of commerce
and a lot of pagan worship was going on there.
And it challenged the Ephesians as to how they
were carrying out their lives because of all
the things that were surrounding them. And so
Paul wanted to warn them and talk to them about
Christian conduct, because somebody say Christian
conduct. uh because he didn't want them to be
deceived and confused and then he didn't want
them to accept the things that did not actually
line up with their new regenerated life and so
he he starts to write and i always would want
to remind you that this paul wrote letters the
this is part of a letter six chapters, we say,
of a letter. So it was a very long letter that
he was writing to the Church of Ephesus, but
he was trying to get them to see some things
and understand some things. And, you know, he
was just addressing things to make life go better
for them. So again, they were being pressured
because of everything going on around them, pretty
much like today. Pretty much like today, you
know. Culture is trying to dictate to everyone
how they should live their lives what god has
called us to live a different life And he don't
want us under that pressure or feel like that.
We need to act like the world And so therefore,
God is telling us that just because society agrees
with it does not necessarily mean that a Christian
should agree with what's going on. Just because
the majority are doing it does not mean that
a Christian should participate. And although
he says that we can do anything, he says, but
everything is not good for us. So therefore,
he's called us to a higher standard of thinking.
look at somebody say a higher standard of thinking.
So God is asking us to think on another level.
He's talking about having your thoughts to agree
with who you now have become. So in starting
in verse one of chapter five, it says in the
esv therefore be imitators of god as beloved
children he's telling us i want you to look like
me i want you to resemble me now he's not talking
about perfection because of course not any of
us are perfect but he is talking about how we
think how we measure things how we look at things
so he's telling us again um We live our lives
based upon the finished works of Jesus. There's
things that happen in our lives or things that
come to us that come to the world, but we know
that God has finished some things for us, so
therefore we don't have the same type of an attitude.
We don't have the same type of, we don't look
at things the way the world looks at things.
They may look at something as a disaster, but
we can talk to God and see it as he sees it.
See it as more than a conqueror. See, I'm going
to get through this. see it as devastation. During
hurricane season, you all know, just let the
wind stir a little bit. Man, it's going to tear
up everything. We've already plotted the path.
It's coming straight here. You need to get yourself
together. Everybody panics. Everybody run out.
You get all your hurricane things, and it ain't
even close. and it's how many how many you know
it changes so many times before it actually but
the world is his training people to be at unrest
to be uneasy to be in panic mode to think you
know i'm going to lose everything but the believer
knows even if i lose everything god is able to
give it back to me so we don't have the same
type of attitude so god has said you need to
imitate me You don't fall to the culture of this
world. And he's talking about this connection
with God with us is inseparable, that God is
always with us. He's never apart from us. Our
status with Jesus is completely set. So again,
he tells us to follow God's example. And then
he tells us, and walk in the way of love. walk
in the way of love. Let love, let the love of
Christ be our life. That everything we do is
foundation in his love and he will never abandon
us. He's always with us. And he's telling us
that this love that jesus christ had for us He
said it's supposed to be something that's contagious
In the fact that god says that I put my love
on the inside of you. So it's a supernatural
love It's an agape love. He's telling them he
says these are foundational things for you as
a believer This is how I want you to think in
the culture. That's trying to pressure you into
self You know what's in it for me? I'm not going
to invest unless I see the prophet in it. Well,
God did see the prophet in Jesus coming, but
all of it was sacrificial. That's the type of
love that he's telling us we should have for
one another. He said, be like Jesus, be like
I am. Our love is not conditional. Our love for
each other is a part of who we are. Therefore,
we conduct our lives based upon the agape love
of God, the unconditional love of God. It's a
deep type of love. It's an extravagant love.
It's a sacrificial love, but it pleases God.
And he says, I want you to have that same type
of love for one another. And he's telling us
that we can do this because of what happened
on the cross. He said, you can do this because
of what Jesus Christ has done. I mean, there's
some people I know for me that I didn't particularly
care about, but because of the love of God, I
don't have a hate or disdain towards them. You
all understand? But the world will do that. They
will cut you off and, you know, just I'm not
going to have anything else to do with you. I'm
not. But then God says that. The love that I
put on the inside of you He said i'm telling
you to imitate and this is the thing he says
because you can't do it See, there's nothing
that god asks us to do. We can't do he may have
to work with us But he says i'm all the while
at work in you To make you want to do What I
want you to do See, I I like that about god he
said you may not want to now, but I have a way
of getting you to want to do with you don't want
to do. See, that's what I'm saying. He's saying
that, you know, you need to imitate me. And so
all the flaws that we see in ourselves, God says,
I'm working on it. Look at somebody and say,
he's working on it. Look at him and say, because
you're going to want to do what you don't want
to do. I know some of us thought we would never
get over some things, but now it's like, ah,
I don't even care. Ah, don't even bother me no
more. Oh, you don't deserve me no more. I'm not
allowing you, I like how my woman of God says
it, Pastor Taffy, I'm not allowing you to rent
space in my mind anymore. The lease is over.
It's done. No more rental of space in my mind.
glory to God. But he says in verse three, but
among you, there must not be even a hint. Okay.
So now he's starting to talk about, listen, guys,
this is what's happening out there, but this
is not what we want to be happening here. He
tells, he says, but among you, there must not
even be a hint of sexual immorality. See going
on there, they had temples where they had temple
prostitutes. I mean it was all out in the open
and people just doing whatever it is they wanted
to orgies and he was like ho ho hold it that's
not you look at somebody say that's not me anymore
look at the person on the other side and say
that's not me anymore listen the thing of it
is God called us to a new God called us to a
new nature He put a new nature on the inside
of us and God sees it as a finished work And
he's forgiven us for seeing his past present
and future And he's saying that sometimes it
take a little bit for you to catch up with your
new nature So even though you may be participating
you got to tell yourself. That's not me anymore
And then you know understand that God is gonna
help you through this process But the new you,
that's not, that's not you anymore. Okay. How
many of you know that sometimes when people,
when people die, they said that more sometimes
that they are dead, but sometimes while they're
on the table, they'll twitch a little bit. There's
no life there, but the movement is kind of still
there. Y 'all getting what I'm saying? Praise
God. He says, but among you, there must not be
even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind
of impurity or greed because these are improper
for God's holy people. You probably wonder what
I'm in NIV. I apologize. I see that. There we
go. He says, nor should there be obscenity, foolish
talk, of course, joking, which are out of place,
but rather Thanksgiving. So he's talking about
Our born -again experience should also impact
our communication, how we talk to people. He's
telling us that love has nothing in common with
lust and immoral acts or greed It is not it should
be not maimed among us He said these are things
that we should not indulge in just because the
world says it's okay Does not mean that god says
is okay just because you see a lot of it happening
Doesn't mean that you allow yourself to be dulled
your senses to be dulled. You know, that's what
happens The world likes to sometimes feed us
little bits and pieces of stuff and help you
to or have you to it become a normal thing for
you. And so they don't do it. Do I go there?
Okay. The gay agenda didn't start yesterday.
It started over 40 years ago. And so they had
a plan to help people or to get people to accept
what was happening. And so they did it little
by little. And they also knew that there would
be challenges that come against it, but it didn't
stop them. They actually took a pattern from,
what do you call it? A pattern from the black
people in our emancipation. So that's what I'm
saying. They will feed you little things society
will feed you things little by little now again
I'm not standing up here saying God hates gay
people, but I'm just saying they Wanted people
to accept the lifestyle so they began to test
it out Little by little and it was a 40 -year
plan and they actually did an article on it and
put it in a magazine and talked about how they
did it. So the world will feed you, culture will
feed you things little by little. And so till
you get used to it, till you get used to seeing
it, till it become common. And then what we do
is we just, we start to say, oh, that's acceptable
or that's okay. You know, again, not saying that
we are or hate or God even hate people who live
an alternative lifestyle. As far as God is concerned,
what he doesn't like, he doesn't like whether
you stealing, killing. It's like, I don't like
your behavior. It's not like that God don't like
you or love you. He does. It's not like they're
not gay people who are born again and saved.
It's just like you born again and saved and you
still may be stealing from your company. I don't
know, you understand what I'm saying? You all
understand what I'm saying? So we don't sit around
judging people's position with Christ. That's
not our thing. Glory to God. Oh, amen. He says,
for this you can be sure, and I need to clear
this up, no immoral, impure, or greedy person
such as a person is an idolater has any inheritance
in the kingdom of God, a kingdom of Christ. and
of God. Now, when you first look at that, you
think, man, if I'm doing, I did some of that.
What? I don't have an inheritance. Did I lose
my salvation? No. Paul is just saying that when
you practice these things, he said, you're not
acting like you have an inheritance in the kingdom
of God. He said those people that act like that.
that are prone to that those people who don't
have a renewed mind those people who don't have
not even a renewed mind those people who don't
have a new nature they don't have an inheritance
but you do people who are not born again don't
have an inheritance and these are the things
they practice but you have an inheritance and
you got to understand that your inheritance comes
from god so we don't practice what people do
who don't have an inheritance to God. So, you
know. If you messed up last night or messed up
this morning, it don't mean that God has thrown
you away or anything like that. He's just saying,
I want you to compare. Paul says, I want you
to look at what's going on. I want to teach you
how to walk through this life. And because you're
born again and because you're saved, but you
still have exposure to the world, I'm going to
tell you how you are to be separate from the
world. You got to think differently. I have a
different idea in my mind for you. Amen. He's
not telling you, losing your salvation. He's
just talking about, that's them. Look at somebody
say, that's them. See, because a lot of stuff
we have to, we have to start looking at it that
way. Just because it's happening doesn't mean
I participate. And there's some things you've
got to say, that's them. Remember Pastor Brian
taught us, he's about that when... We're trying
to minister to people who are not born again,
how they don't even understand what you're talking
about. They don't get it. You're trying to tell
them about the blessings of God. They don't have
the ability to even comprehend what it is that
you are saying. Because We have now been connected
and joined with Jesus Christ and God. We can
understand those good things that God has given
to us. We understand that I don't have to do
what you do in order to be happy. I don't have
to go over there. I don't have to sedate myself.
I don't have to be, the word says, be intoxicated.
And it doesn't just mean alcohol, it means intoxicated.
Your thinking is not clear. You think that the
thing that they're saying will bring you joy
is the thing that will bring you joy. He said,
you've been drinking the Kool -Aid, that ain't
gonna bring you joy. It may bring you a temporary
distraction. But it's not going to be a joy that
flows like a river So again Paul is having to
address these issues and not not as condemnation
But he's trying to get people to see there's
a difference in you now. There should be a difference
in you now You should be thinking different.
I know I know it's happening and it looked like
they having a ball It looked like everything
is just going great. It just looked like they're
on top of the world But what's happening on the
inside of them and they do not have everlasting
life They do not have eternal life how God says
and he said they are in the world without me
Yeah, they're in the world without me He said
let no one deceive you with empty words and what
he means by that Don't let anybody start telling
you what I said is not true telling you it's
okay. Have you ever had someone to tell you it's
okay to do something wrong when you knew it was
right? It'll be okay. It'll be all right. It
won't hurt anybody. He said, let no one deceive
you with empty words, for because of such things,
God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
He's talking about not disobedient in that we're
sinning. He's talking about those who are not
born again. He said, my wrath is upon those people
who've not accepted Jesus as Lord of their life.
He's telling, again, he's saying that don't act
like that. Help us, Jesus. He says in verse seven,
therefore do not be partners with them. Don't
be partners with them. And you know, all of us
are being transformed. All of us are getting
new ideals and new attitudes as we read the word
of God. God is all the while at work in us to
do of his good pleasure. So what God may be working
on me with may not be what he's working on you
with. So therefore we cannot measure one another
and determine what someone else ought not to
be doing because God is convicting you of what
you are not to be doing. He's talking to you.
Look at somebody said this is personalized. This
is personalized and I wanted to say that because
I want to give you this example When I work for
General Motors, they often went out I think it's
like every Tuesday night after work they went
to a lounge somewhere to drink and I would never
go and So they kept saying well, why don't you
go? I said, well, I don't want to go there was
like well, you'll be an antisocial My mind I'm
thinking I was hired to do a job. I wasn't hired
to go with you after but at any rate If you work
in an office setting, they want everybody to
be team building. The team building situation.
Deborah, you can just come. You don't even have
to actually drink. But God had another road for
me to travel. He wanted me to be a pastor. And
so, therefore, I'm talking to people about Jesus.
I can't be doing things that... God is convicting
me of. Me of. And so therefore, you know, how
can I stand in front of people and tell them
what God is telling me to tell them if I'm participating?
Somebody say happy hour. I don't know if they
were happy or not, but whatever it was. But I'm
just telling you, God... Oh, I love it because
God is such a individual God. I like it when
Pastor Brian says that we're no longer shopping
off the rack, but it's like God is tailoring
us for the mission that he has for us. So, you
know, I can pray for you, you can pray for me,
but I can't judge you and what you're doing.
I mean, unless it's blaming you or really stealing,
and then, of course, if you're not born again,
I really can't get on you about stealing because,
you know, you're subject to steal. But if you
were born again, I have a right to say, you know
what? You're acting out of character. If you're
stealing, you're acting out of character. Look
at somebody say, sometimes we act out of character.
And so, Paul is saying, listen here, this is
who you really are. Because you're born again
because you are a child of the most high God
because you're supposed to be Imitating me. I
don't want it to be a double standard going on
here I don't it's so blatant in the world telling
Church of F's it's so blatant in the world He
said there's got to they got to see a difference
somewhere There's got to be a distinction somewhere
don't otherwise what's the point of coming over
to your side? If there is not a difference. Now,
he's not talking about weird and crazy, but he
is talking about being different. There should
be a standard that comes from within that says,
I don't participate in that anymore. I don't
do that anymore. Again, you may slip and fall,
but that's not my nature anymore. And that's
why it's like, that's not me anymore. And I know
it may sound crazy, and I'm sure you've been
hearing it if you've been listening to different
messages, depending on who you listen to. Whenever
someone messes up, you kind of remind yourself,
this is not me. And eventually, as you talk to
me, then eventually it kicks in, God gives you
the assistance necessary, and you stop doing
what it is that you're doing. Because God is
there to help you get through he will give you
the strength. He'll give you the might He'll
give you the energy to do what he says to do
Let me let me that's not on my agenda. Let me
see a few people clap them, but it's okay It's
okay, it's true anyway Okay Philippians chapter
2 and verse 13. I'm going to read this out of
the Amplified. It says, not in your own strength,
for it is God who is all the while effectually
at work in you, energizing and creating in you
the power and desire both to will and to work
for his good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
It's God who's working in you. He's gonna give
you the strength. He's gonna give you the power
He's gonna give you the energy. He's gonna give
you the desire to do what he wants you to do
That's why we don't get into the self condemnation
thing we don't get into the It's kind of it's
like a debauchery tearing myself down because
I messed up Because God said, I'm the one who
is going to help you get through this. I'm the
one who's going to help you get past these things
and thank God. Somebody say thank God. He will.
How many of them had that happen? I was doing
something. I know I shouldn't do it. But I just
kept feeling like I kept falling, falling, every
time falling. And see, it's like three people
got their hands up. I know everybody in here
has gone through a time in your life that you
were trying to stop doing something, but you
just couldn't seem to stop doing it. Every time
it's like, ah, man. Some people, even while they
were doing it, they were saying, I shouldn't
be doing this. I shouldn't be doing this. And
God says, you're born again. You got a new nature.
I'm going to work with you on that. I'm going
to work with you on that. And then the taste
went away, the desire to do it anyway. It was
like, you know what? I don't even need that no
more. I'm on a whole new high. Look at somebody
say, I'm on a whole new high. That comes from
Jesus Christ. I'm on a whole new high. I don't
even need any of that. So again, he says don't
let people deceive you with empty words that
is saying it's okay. It's all right It never
hurt anybody don't harm but listen it can hurt
me from the inside out if I participate in what
you're talking about So he says don't be partners
with them For you were once darkness But now
you are light in the Lord live as children of
the light for the fruit of the light consists
in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. So
he says, you once were like that. You once were
darkness. You once could not help yourself because
you didn't see wrong as wrong. You didn't see
it the way God sees it. You didn't even have
the ability to see it that way. He called those
people, he said, those people live in the dark.
He said, and you used to be like that, too. Look
at somebody say, you know. you know you your
stuff may not look like my stuff but you was
all in the you was all in it you was all in it
so he said you you used to look like that but
understand that's not you anymore look at somebody
say that's not you anymore that's why I talk
to people you know you have to tell them that
that's that's not you That's not who you are.
You're a brand new creature in Christ Jesus.
You're born again. You got a new nature. The
Bible says that God gives us the power to overcome
sin. He said, you don't have to, look at somebody
say, you don't have to sin. I know it's hard
as that may sound, but we don't have to. because
we're not under that lordship anymore. I didn't
say that we don't, but I'm just telling you,
you don't have to. Glory to God. Somebody said,
I'm waiting for God to give me the energy and
the strength and the power and the might. He
says, find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing
to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but
rather expose them. He's talking about when you
walk in the light, it causes darkness to be exposed.
And he's like, so you walk in the light, you
stand firm in who you are. It doesn't matter
what people think or what they say. Some people
may depart from you, but it doesn't matter because
you're right with God. You're doing it because,
and listen, this is so good to me. You're doing
it, guys, not because you're made to do it. I
like it because God said, because you want to.
I want to, it's not a, it's not a, we're not
under the law that says that if you do this then
you're condemned to hell, but he says that a
Christian who stays connected with God, a Christian
who builds a relationship with God will just
on their own start to put some things aside,
put them away. Not because somebody told them
or made them to do it, but it's the spirit of
God working on the inside of us. We have to understand
that God put himself on the inside of us. His
spirit lives on the inside of us. with us so
that we will do what God wants us to do. And
it's not a forced issue, so therefore we don't
have to be afraid when we mess up thinking that
God has departed from us. He has not departed
from us. He still is with us. He's still gonna
be working with you. He's still gonna be showing
you why this is the best way to go. He's still
gonna be letting you know that the best thing
you can do is do what God says to do because
your life is going to be better. You're gonna
be lighter. You're gonna be full of more joy.
be happy when other people are sad. You can rejoice
when other people are downtrodden. You are going
to be a whole new creature in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah.
And God has said, I'm looking for my resemblance
in you. But the thing of it is, he sees it. It's
just that sometimes we don't see it. So God operates
according to what he sees. That's why he can
be good to us when we being bad. Look at somebody
say, he can be good when you're being bad. Hallelujah.
And so Paul is trying to get them to understand
their new life in Christ Jesus. This is what
happens as a new person in Christ Jesus. I don't
know why people think Christians don't have fun.
I am so delighted to be a Christian and a believer.
I'm so excited about the fact that I am forgiven.
I'm so excited that God is for me and not against
me. I am so excited that God uses his power to
work with me. I'm so excited about grace, the
grace of God. I'm so excited that it is his righteousness
that God is not looking at me and determining
what he's going to do and what he's not going
to do because all the promises are yes. And I
say, amen. Let it happen, God. So be it, God.
Let that happen for me. Glory to God. Oh, I'm
telling you. So therefore he's saying, listen,
you're not going to lose out on anything. You're
not going to lose any peace. You're not going
to lose any joy. You're not going to lose any
fun. He said, you're not going to lose out on
anything as a result of following. who Christ
Jesus is. He says having nothing to do with the
fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose
him. It is shameful even to mention what the
disobedient do in secret. He said, you don't
need to be talking about that all the time. You
know, I don't know why believers seem to be surprised
about what unsaved people do. Why you acting
like you surprised? I can't believe they're doing
this. Why can't you believe? We act like we shocked
and in awe. It's like, I just, I mean, I just,
can you, can you believe what that person did?
They are insane. Oh yeah. They can invent evil.
Do you know the word of God says that? Say people,
they're inventors of evil, so they always coming
up with something. They always coming up with
something that goes against what you know is
right. So he said, you know, we don't sit around,
I mean, we may mention it, but what are we gonna
do about it? Are we gonna pray about it? What
is the entertainment in it? Why are we so entertained
by what the world is doing? God is not doing
anything great enough in your life that you want
to celebrate that? Talk about how good that is.
I know you're clapping your hands, but I do know
what people do when they go home. They forget
about everything said in here that they clapped
about. Some of y 'all can't wait to get outside
and tell somebody something. Did you know have
you heard did you see I can't believe God is
so good He says but everything exposed by the
light becomes visible and everything that is
illuminated Becomes a light. This is why it is
saying he's talking about this is what the scriptures
say wake up sleeper rise from the dead and christ
will shine on You he's talking about us living
in the light and not speaking empty words listening
to what god has to say not living by deception
understanding that um It's the grace of God and
the mercy of God that's always working with us.
And then I just want to take this little pause
for a moment because although we are forgiven
for sin, past, present and future, the Bible
tells us that there are consequences that come
with sin. The only thing concerning a believer
is we face the consequences with God's grace
and mercy working on our behalf. And what do
I mean by that? That means that what you deserve
is not as harsh as it could be. But there still
are consequences. There are earthly consequences
to sin. If you rob a bank, the consequence of
our society say you need to go to jail. Depending
on what it is, you need to spend at least this
much time in jail. Grace and mercy can work with
you and you may not have to spend as much time.
That's God's mercy and his grace working on your
behalf and some people have even gotten off some
things because of grace mercy and grace, but
you deserved You deserve whatever Was there so
then as believers we don't we don't test God's
grace and mercy You know people say I can do
whatever I want to because of the grace of God.
He's our own don't come with some consequences
They may not be as heavy. Oh, but they're going
to be some I Just want to put that in there just
so that you'd understand that we don't get the
liberty because of God's goodness to live Hap
hazard life and then say grace is gonna take
care of it Yes, and a man will move on be very
careful then how you live not as unwise but as
wise making the most of every opportunity because
the days are evil he's like just don't just don't
live don't just exist but live a life that is
pointed towards something live a life that's
dedicated to god live a life uh not as as i said
as foolish people people who don't know anything
as pastor brian said act like you learn some
lessons you do know some stuff Act like you learned
some lessons. He says, therefore, do not be foolish,
but understand what the Lord's will is. Understand
what the Lord's will is. He says, do not get
drunk over wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead,
be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another
with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. singing
and making music from your heart to the Lord.
Again, he's just talking about how we conduct
our lives and how we understand that we're full
of the Spirit of God and how we need to speak
to each other, how we need to encourage one another,
how we need to be undergirding one another, how
we need to be stirring one another up. He said
this is what we do as believers. We don't allow
ourselves to get intoxicated with things where
we can't think clearly about what it is that
we are doing. He said, always giving thanks to
God the Father for everything in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ. And what he means is there's
always a reason to give God praise. There's always
a reason to exalt him. There's always a reason
to give him glory. And then Paul turns and he
says, now let me tell you what the church looks
like. Let me tell you what the church looked
like and so he starts in verse 21 He says submit
to one another out of reverence for Christ Submit
to one another are the reverence for Christ because
he is comparing marriage to the church and He's
talking about showing perfect courtesy to everyone
showing courtesy to the person that you were
married to showing courtesy in the church to
the body of believers And it's talking about
not being selfish, showing perfect courtesy to
one another, just like how God loves us. It means
to be supportive of one another. He's talking
about marriage, but he's talking about this is
how the church is supposed to be. We're supposed
to be supportive of one another. We should be
courteous to one another. We exhibit selflessness.
Amen? Then he says, wives, submit yourselves
to your own... husbands. I remember I used to
read this and say it thought to myself he means
slave because that's how it was taught to me
just do what I'm telling you to do but he's talking
about wives giving themselves fully to your husband
being devoted to them being faithful being loyal
being dedicated being committed because that's
how God does with us he says um Respond to them
as the way you will respond to God Not that they
are God because we I had to clear that up with
God when he told me that a that Sarah called
Abraham Lord I said no Jesus is the Lord Jesus
is Lord But he says you're responding to them
Like you would to God in light of a light of
the finished works of Jesus and he's talking
about love a commitment does not fluctuate talking
about a commitment does not fluctuate and so
god he's he's again he's talking about that he's
comparing the church and marriage and he's talking
about the relationship we should have with uh
the church has with one another as a husband
you should be able to look at a husband and wife
marriage union and see it see it happening the
way it happens in the body of christ he says
for the husband is the head of the wife You know,
you have to clarify these words here. That almost
sounds like servitude, right? And honestly, this
is what I used to think. Even unsaved men had
to nerve enough to read this scripture or somebody
told them. They misunderstood it, but, you know,
saved, unsaved. No, you're supposed to do what
I say do. Remember, you're supposed to submit
to me. I'm like, hold up. God help me, that sounds
like slavery. Oh, but he says in the same way,
let me just read the full verse. He says, for
a husband is the head of the wife as Christ is
the head of the church, his body of which he
is the savior. Now this is heavy because he says
in the same way that Christ gives salvation,
security, completes. to the church, that's the
same way the husband should be to the wife. The
husband should be all that a wife needs. You
are supposed to complete them in the fact that
they don't need anything else. They have need
of nothing because you're there. He said, now
as the church submits to Christ, so also wives,
he goes back to it, so also wives should submit
to their husbands in everything. Now listen,
he ain't talking about you being Bunny and Clyde.
You ain't submitting to stuff. He said it's like
it's like the church enjoys a full advantage
of being complete in christ then the wife should
enjoy the full advantage of being complete to
with her husband, um As they yield themselves
to christ the wife yields himself to christ.
He says even so the wife enjoys every benefit
her husband represents in her The wife should
be able to enjoy every benefit that you bring
to the table and and because because then she's
she's able to abandon she's able to abandon herself
to him because i know you're not you're gonna
treat me like christ you're not gonna hurt me
you're not gonna harm me you're you're not gonna
do things that to And the husband is saying I
complete you in this way therefore the wife can
in abandonment just flow with it be devoted He
says because that's the way christ is you you
shouldn't we're not afraid of christ and what
he's going to do We believe that christ is going
to do the best for us always have us in mind
always thinking about us Therefore because you
are my safety. You are my security. I can abandon
myself to you. I can submit myself to you. I
can feel safe with you and so he's saying that's
the way that's how christ treats the church and
as he says as you reflect back to me in your
security in me so it's not a lordship over anybody
glory to god saying the wife say amen i got any
amens from god i still heard the women i don't
have any What time is it? Okay. He says in verse
25, husbands love your wives just as Christ loves
the church and gave himself up for her to make
her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water
through the word. He's telling the husband to
love their wives as Christ loves the church.
And that's what he's saying that that's what
marriage is all about. It's all about celebrating
what love brings to the table, the unconditional
love of God that brings to the table. And he's
talking about whether the husband or the wife
is about a celebration of what this union is
all about and what it should look like. And he's
talking about us being committed beyond the sense
of duty or guilt. It's not a duty thing that
I do. It's something I desire to do. It's something
I want to do. It's not, I gotta do this. I don't,
I don't, do I go there? Oh, let me see. Do I
go there? Do I go there? When I got ready to
get married, my mom came to have a talk with
me and she was like, Deborah, there's some things
you just gonna have to do. I'm like, what? I'm
like, what are you talking about? She said, you
know, cause men are men and they're just. And
they gonna act this way and they gonna act that
way. And I'm pretty sure men had other men or
their fathers to tell them, well, you know women.
And you know, what is it? Somebody say, just
say okay to them, just say. All right, just I
mean just to keep it there, but he's talking
he's not talking about that. That's not how we
treat God. That's not how we treat Jesus. That's
not how Jesus treats us. It's not something that
is done out of obligation, but it's something
that I want to do. It's something I desire to
do. I want to submit to you. The husband wants
to say you know what I want to complete you.
I want to supply whatever it is that you need.
I want to be there. We're working as a team together
and we both profit as a result of us. Respecting
one another and supporting one another Glory
to God didn't know this was going to be yeah,
okay And it's just a picture of completely loving
one another completely loving one another And
this verse even talks about the husband is demonstrating
the love for their wives Just like Christ does
the church That's how you supposed to look at
your wife like Christ loves the church and the
Bible says and he gave his life For the church
and he giving his life. He was like I did what
was I died so that you could profit So I'm looking
out for you. I'm looking at what's best for you
And he says, and he's just talking about, again,
looking at the relationship between the church
and God, the church and Jesus Christ, you're
supposed to be treating each other the same way.
Mutual respect for one another. He's talking
about the fact that, again, that telling the
man, as Christ loved the church, And gave him
life his life for it. The bible says I can't
remember where it is He said you must seek how
you can please one another So it's not anything
that happens automatically. You have to seek
the lord as how to please one another Everybody
operating and doing what it is that they need
to do and understanding their role, but again
not forced But wanting to look at somebody and
say they need to want to talking about the husband
and the wife you got to you got to want to glory
to god hallelujah and to resent her to himself
as a radiant church without staying wrinkle or
any blemish but holy and blameless in verse 28
it says in this same way husbands are to love
their wives as their own bodies their own bodies
he who loves his wife loves himself and he's
talking about you know you take care of your
body you see that things are should you should
be taking me and you should be taking care of
your bodies and making sure everything is working
well in your body he says that you should do
the same thing when it comes to your wife you
should be indebted to her in the same manner.
And he's talking about this should be the most
valuable thing in your life. This should be the
thing if you are married, this should be the
most valuable thing in your life. He's talking
about again that you would not intentionally
hurt your own self. you wouldn't intentionally
abuse yourself. So therefore he's saying don't
intentionally abuse, don't intentionally hurt.
And I remember Grace always say, he said that
God called the wife to be your help mate. If
you damage your help, how can they help? They
won't be able to help. If you downgrade them,
if you tell them they're nothing, if you treat
them like they're not important, if you treat
them like they don't have a say -so, if you treat
them that way, then when you need the help, you
won't have the help that you need. So he says
you love them as if they are a gift, you love
them as if they are important, you love them
as if they are precious. because they are precious
to God. And likewise, the wife is able to respond
because she believes that you see something in
her. Hallelujah. That's why you just don't go
off and marry beauty or bronze. Because they
can't see your worth, ladies. They can't see
your worth. And men, you don't want to get with
someone who has no worth. Can't bring something.
We do have the family conference coming up, so
I don't have to expound on any of those things.
Oh my goodness, I think I'm over my time. Oh
my, three more verses, okay. For we are members
of the body. For this reason, a man will leave
his father and mother and be united to his wife
and the two will become one flesh. He's talking
about how Jesus Christ joined with us and we
became one flesh with him. He lives in us, we
live in him, we became one flesh. We're no longer
the same people we were as individual, but now
we've come together to create something totally
new. Totally new. I remember when we had to realize
that when our children started getting married,
It was like, wait, we didn't know you did that.
Well, the influence of the wife, the influence
of the husband, they're becoming one new person.
And so you can't treat them like this is my little
Johnny. This is my little Kathy. No, they have
just become. And you shouldn't have the influence
that you had before. And I'm just going to say,
so stay out of their business, parents. They're
coming together to create oneness that God called
them to be together. Single, they were someone
else. But now, a man separates himself from his
parents and become glued. to his wife. These
used to be separate people are now one. They
have a new identity. They have a new identity.
So when we came with Christ and he joined with
us, moved on the inside of us, we became someone
new, right? Our attitudes, our thoughts, how
we looked at things are different. You can't
get married and still live a bachelor life. You
united with somebody now. Look at somebody say,
you joined together. So you have to treat it
as a union, not as an individual. The message
Bible says, when you get married, it is not your
time to declare independence. world is saying
and I was like this is crazy I've heard people
saying I want to get married but I want to live
in my own house y 'all hadn't heard that oh no
oh yeah that's what that's what society is saying
now I want my own space we can come together
but then at the end of the day maybe two or three
nights then I need to go home because I need
to be myself why'd you get married oh no they're
promoting that Society is saying that. That's
why he's saying don't get adapted to the culture
around you. They doing some crazy stuff. See,
whereas, you know, normally, you know, I need
some separation time, you go in the kitchen and
I go in the living room. No, they like, no, I
go to my own house. Oh, little by little. one
of you also must love his wife as he loves himself
and the wife must respect her husband so again
he's drawing a conclusion and saying this is
how the church look this is how your marriage
should look also and no one has he's selling
the man no one has an any no one has an excuse
to love his wife less than he loves himself At
the same time, every wife is now free and fully
empowered to honor her husband and in the same
context and devotion as the church would respond
to the love initiatives of Christ. We love like
Christ loves. Amen. That was verse 33. Praise
God. He's telling us that we need to see ourselves
in light of the new person, the new creation.
We don't act like the world. And again, he was
telling the Church of Ephesus, we don't act like
them. We've taken on a new life. We join with
Christ. And so now we think differently. We see
differently. If you are confused about that,
God will straighten it out for you. Amen. Heavenly
Father, we give you praise. We give you honor.
We thank you, Lord God, for your word. Thank
you, Holy Spirit, for illuminating to us how
God wants us to respond as the church. Thank
you, Lord God, that we are not adapting ourselves
to culture around us, but instead we're looking
to see what the finished works of Jesus Christ
has brought us into. We're looking to operate
and to excel in what you see how you see it father
We thank you that we are believers and that we
Represent you here on this earth and I thank
you Lord God that our light shows up darkness
so others could come to the light and we just
give you the praise and the honor in the name
of Jesus amen amen amen amen praise god and if
there's anyone today who is not born again does
not have a relationship with god this is your
opportunity to do so god loves you so so very
much and he wants to uh he wants you to have
access to him and he says that's a very easy
thing to do because jesus christ has done all
of the He's already done everything necessary
for you to just accept him as a Lord. And so,
like I said, it's just very simple. He said,
just believe and accept the gift that Jesus Christ,
he died for all of our sins. so that it could
open the door for us to come to know God so if
that is you if you will raise your hands well
actually uh if it's you and you've made a decision
to become born again that's what we call it a
save we would love for you to do the tap on the
um back of the um the chairs back of the they're
not pews but yeah pew chairs if you would just
tap there and let us know that you have made
that decision. For those of you who are online,
of course, we'd like for you to type that in
the chat, and someone from my church will get
in contact with you and help you to understand
the wonderful and awesome decision that you have
made. God does not want us to walk this journey
by ourselves, so we always encourage those who
are getting born again, getting saved, want to
have a relationship with God. We encourage you
always to join a church. It's so important that
you get amongst believers because we are there
to support you. We're there to help you to make
spiritual progress. We are there to help stir
you up and keep you connected with the father.
So I am suggesting that you join Revealing Truth
Ministries. It's a good place to come. It's a
good place to fellowship with fellow believers.
And I believe that when God puts it on your heart
to join a church that there's something on the
inside of you. that God has put there that is
good for that group and body of people. You're
going to be there as one who is important, someone
who has value in that assembly. Also, I believe
that the church you join is one that's going
to encourage you, walk with you, be beside you,
be one who helps stirs you up, keep you informed,
be encouraging to you. So it's a win -win when
we do what God is asking us to do, amen? amen
so if you will again type that in the chat we'll
get with you for those of you who are in the
sanctuary if you will do the tap on the back
of the pews then there will be some things that
we want you to fill out concerning getting saved
amen amen and now we can celebrate because it's
offering time praise god i'm so glad that god
says that this is something we get to participate
in and have fun doing it he said he loves a cheerful
giver whose heart is in his giving he said you
know what this should be a celebratory time it
should be a good time it should be something
that you want to do it should be something that
is prompted from your It's like, God, I wanna
do this. How many of you like to be a blessing
to other people? How many of you just, I mean,
it's just like, you know what? Let me, God. I
always wanted to be in that category of let me,
God. Let me be able to meet the league. Let me
be the one who has to give. God helped me to
be able to give into, and he said, every good
work and charitable donation. And you know what?
God didn't have to make me do it. I just really
wanted to do it. And it's just like, I like this,
God. How many of you like being in a position
to assist, to help, to aid? God says that, he
says, I love a cheerful giver. Again, whose heart
is in their giving. I'm prompted and I'm moved
by God. You know, I'm not prompted to move everybody,
but I'm so happy that God prompts me to move,
to be a part of somebody's betterment. And I
love giving to the church because I see what
the church does. I see how it impacts other people's
lives. Also, I learned to trust God by giving.
I learned to trust God by giving. And what I
mean by that, God would prompt in my heart to
give something and I would be a little reluctant
because guess what I was doing? I was counting
the balance. I was like, hey. But then I knew
it was God. Ooh, and I'm so glad God never let
me down. And what I mean by that, I didn't miss
anything. I did not miss a beat, because God
wasn't trying to bankrupt me. You understand
what I'm saying? God never asks you for what
you don't have. He never does. So following God
and hearing what he has to say is my great delight.
It's my great delight. And so that's why God
says This is the this is the kind of a private
moment between me and you and no one else and
so that's how we give a man Hey, man All right.
I believe that's all I have for you. I don't
see anything Else that's necessary. Thank you
guys for hanging in there I mean after all I
had 33 verses I had to go through then I had
to take a few detours because y 'all ain't like
I you didn't know what I was talking about, but
anyways We just we just don't operate like them
Although them is very loud Hey man, well if you
would please stand to your feet And if you would
repeat after me, now unto him.