BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 6:5-9

GOD'S PERSPECTIVE ON WORK & SPIRIT-FILLED LABOR RELATIONS

(Ephesians 6:5-9)

Our culture is having a difficult time with work. Matter-of-fact, most employees surveyed state that they are not happy at work; many even hate their work. Like a cancer, this apathy, bitterness, and negativity towards work is killing any chance that the next generation will view work any differently than their parents.

Think about it. We are raising a generation of young people who never actually see their parents at work. Although the children might have two working parents, their work is done outside of the home. All the child sees is the parents leave in the morning and coming back at night irritable and stressed. Once back in the nest, these two irritable and stressed parents can do little more than care for their own selfish needs before rising early the next day to return to the battlefield.

While the parents are busy working, the young people are being raised by a generation telling them that the most important thing to occupy their time with is leisure and entertainment. The results are a lazy culture where drugs, alcohol, sex, and homosexuality run rampant. We can only wonder how the next generation is going to perceive the value of work.

In today's lesson we looked at five of the most powerful verses in the Bible dealing with work. In five short verses (Ephesians 6:5-9), Paul gives us the antidote for the cancer that is eating away at our deep-seated infection about work. However, you must know that Paul is dealing with the practical effect of living a Spirit-filled life. Apart from you being in Christ, the antidote is short-lived, at best.

A brief summary of our lesson focuses on the six spiritual "antidotes" that Paul instructs us to follow. As an employee, if all six are followed as prescribed, you will be fully inoculated. As an employer, if all six are followed as prescribed, you will also be fully inoculated.

The employee (and the employer as seen in verse 9) must have the:

1. Right BEHAVIOR: "Servants be obedient to them that are your masters" (5)

2. Right PERSPECTIVE: "according to the flesh" (5)

3. Right ATTITUDE: "with fear and trembling" (5)

4. Right COMMITMENT: "in singleness of your heart" (5)

5. Right MOTIVE: "as unto Christ" (5)
6. Right DILIGENCE: "Not with eye service as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;" (6)

If the Christian employee will inoculate his/her thinking with these six antidotes, they will have a happier, more peaceful, productive, and rewarding work life--rewarded by God. More importantly, your testimony for Christ will be a bright light at work where God's glory can shine. Remember, your work is not simply some secular activity you do to earn money. Your work is an offering given to Christ.

Below are a copy of my notes from today's lesson:

Below are the slides from today's lesson:

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 6:1-4 (Part II)

Clearly the family is the critical center of social force. When the family falters, life falls apart. One unforgettable law has been learned through all the disasters and injustices of the last thousand years; if things go well with the family, life is worth living. Even when poverty and disorientation strike, it is family strength that most defends individuals against alienation, lassitude or despair. (Dr. Michael Novak, Harper's Magazine)

The family is the first and most important classroom and training ground for society. The family provides the security, the heritage, the perpetuation of morality, without which no society can survive. The family is one of the divine institutions (practices or customs) established by God to protect, preserve, and allow the human race to enjoy blessings on earth (Genesis 4:1-2; Ephesians 6:1-4). 

Our next generation will determine the strength of the family and society. This enormous responsibility rest on the shoulders of present-day parent(s). Thankfully, God has given parents implicit instructions how to train the children of our next generation.

Today's lesson was centered on the topic of discipline (rewards and punishments). When the practice of discipline follows God's design, the family is strengthened. When parents "opt out" and choose not to follow God's design, calamities, conundrums, and catastrophes will eat through the fabric of the family and society.

In Proverbs 30:11-17 we read what happens when a child does not respond, does not obey, and is not properly disciplined. Proverbs 29:15, states: "...a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." 

Training children should be done by example (Proverbs 20:7; Deuteronomy 6:5-7); in love (Ephesians 6:4); and with hope (Proverbs 19:18). Just as God disciplines us (for enlargement and/or correction), we are to follow His design as we implement discipline with our children.

Parents have a great responsibility, but they also have a perfect Teacher. We MUST take the time to do it right. If you do, your child will "...give you comfort, he'll delight your soul." (Proverbs 29:15)

It's worth it! "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth." (3 John 4)

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 6:1-4 (Part I)

I affirm, as a father of two grown children, the absolute truth of 3 John 4: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth." Trust me, there is NO greater joy for a parent than this. That being said, I can not overemphasize the urgency for Christian parents to place the highest priority to "train up" your children in Truth, by living your life as their example of such Truth. It only seems logical that if something that is offered to you promises to bring you the greatest joy in your life you would assign your highest priority to obtain it.

Children are maturing faster today than ever before. Puberty in the 1600s was not reached until after 17 years of age. Today, the average child reaches puberty at age 12, and that number is dropping 4 months each decade. The time we have to train our children is short, and getting shorter. Children are growing up faster and faster and being exposed to more sin today in one month than their grandparents or their great-grandparents probably saw in their entire life.

The prevalent culture of the world today is an incubator pumping out generations with anti-God life styles. The Godless media machines (TV, movies, music, etc.) are constantly programming the consciences (inner sense of what is right or wrong) of our children. By the time a child reaches his/her teens, it is not uncommon that practically all hope and security has been stripped away, as seen with the letter written by the young teenager in U.S. News and World Report (slide #8).

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed 1979 as the International Year of the Child. The proclamation, signed by United Nations Secretary General, Kurt  Waldheim, called for children to be freed from four things:

1. Freed from traditional morals and values.

2. Freed from parental authority, including any punishment.

3. Freed from religious discrimination.

4. Freed from nationalism or patriotism.

Social engineers practice a discipline in social science that refers to efforts to influence particular attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale. They might view themselves as "guardians" of sorts whose aim is the management of society with the end goal of achieving the highest levels of freedom, prosperity, and happiness within a population. Needless to say, we can safely assume that God is not a part of the equation. Dr. R.D. Ingthorsson states that a human being is a biological creature from birth but is from then on shaped as a person through social influences and is in that sense a social construction, a product of society. A social "construct"? Sounds like something from the Matrix.

Bottom line: The odds are against the Christian parent raising children to one day say their children "are walking in truth." However, the key variable to putting the odds in your favor is your total, uncompromising surrender to obey God's Word and walk in His truth. This is the first step to ensure your children have hope and security. Peace and purpose. God's wisdom is like gold... no, better than gold (Proverbs 8:11). Christian parents need all the wisdom they can get, and they need it FAST!

You, as the Christian parent, play a major roll in raising children who will walk in Truth, have a sense of security, find hope, happiness, and purpose in their lives. Is it guaranteed? No. But without your life being an example of God's design everyday, your children will most likely be consumed by the culture. Ultimately, you will suffer greatly.

Next week I will complete this lesson. We will look at discipline and more practical issues surrounding the greatest challenge you will ever endeavor--parenting.

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 5:22-33 (Part II)

Today we looked at one of the most explicit passages of Scripture that outlines God's standard for marriage: Ephesians 5:22-33. Wives often bear the brunt of that section, but the majority of the passage deals with the husband's attitude toward and responsibilities for his wife.

As I pointed out in class, marriage comes in one of three flavors: Yummy, Yucky, or Not So... (hot, good, wonderful, exciting, much like I thought it would be, etc.) Marriage can be the most amazing, wonderful, blessing on Earth, or it can seem like a hellacious prison sentence that relentlessly tears at your emotions.

In Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul outlines, for all those who are "in Christ", God's design for a successful marriage. It's a formula that, when mixed properly, results in the "yummiest" marriage possible. Is is a marriage filled with sustained happiness, love, peace, and purpose. Paul's formula is time-tested and comes with a guarantee from God Himself.

So "burn your boats" of spiritual apathy, neglect, selfishness, abandonment, and resentment. Make an unconditional surrender of all your life to God's loving care and control. Let His strength, wisdom, peace and purpose rule in your life. That is the first step to a "yummy" marriage.

Secondly, be the submissive, supportive, respectful, forgiving wife that God has asked you to be. Be the loving, caring, protective husband who accepts his God-given leadership role as your #1 priority. Pray together and pray for each other--a lot. Do these things so you can enjoy God's design for a blessed marriage. It's what He wants for you.

If you are not yet married, accept that God is sovereign and has a plan for your life. Focus on getting to know Him better and trusting His plan. Use your singleness to glorify Him in all you do. Don't compromise your morals or your faith. A marriage that is not ordained by God is a curse.

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 3:14-21 (Review)

In today's lesson we revisited Ephesians 3:14-21. In this passage, Paul begins by writing: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (3:14). In the first three chapters he addressed the Ephesians as a group of believers who are rich beyond measure in Jesus Christ, yet living as beggars because they are ignorant of their great wealth.

As we conclude another Christmas season and celebration of the coming of the Lord in human form, I asked, "Are you in a position to receive the love of Christ?" After Paul wrote of the riches that belong to everyone who is "in Christ", he then intercedes that they "May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height..." (3:18) of their riches. He prays a prayer of realization for those who belong to Christ "...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (3:19)

The state of the church in America is headed down a slippery slope. The rate of decline of spirituality continues to pick up speed (see slides 8-12); with each new generation, the decline grows deeper. More and more Americans (many Christians included) believe that religion is no longer important in life. The group called "nones" has grown from 5% in the 1930s and 1940s to almost 23% in 2014. This group claims to be atheist, agnostic, or have no religion. Each new generation produces a larger percentage of nones. Millennials are by far the most likely generation to identify with this group.

Paul lived in a dark time where idol worship and drunken, gluttonous feast (most claimed to be religious in nature) were common. His prison epistles are aimed at instructing those who are new believers in Christ to be "filled with all the fullness of God." To "make manifest the light." To walk "not as fools, but as wise." To "understand what the will of the Lord is." To "grieve not the holy Spirit of God..."

As 21st-century Christians, we face a great challenge. We can choose to drift with the ever-increasing majority of Americans who believe that God has no real relevance or importance in life today, or we can SURRENDER, OBEY, and TRUST! The consequences of our decision are far-reaching. Statistical evidence shows that without parents, mentors, teachers, and leaders who are walking in Truth, future generations of Americans are destined to grow old without wisdom, unaware of their God-given riches and purpose in life.

As Paul urged "...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Make the choice today to S.O.T. by praying this prayer:

"Lord Jesus, today I make an unconditional surrender of all my life to your loving care and control. Let your strength, wisdom, peace and purpose rule in my life. Amen."

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 5:22-33 (Part I)

Marriage As It was Meant to Be - (Part I)

Our entertainment-saturated society helps feed all sorts of illusions about reality. The fantasy of the perfect romantic and sexual relationship, the perfect lifestyle, and the perfect body all prove unattainable because the reality never lives up to the expectation. Let me repeat that last part: the reality never lives up to the expectation. Expectations built on a lie will always crumble in the face of reality. The hardest hit is the marriage relationship.

A society that does not honor and protect marriage undermines its very existence. Why? Because one of God's designs for marriage is to show the next generation how a husband and wife demonstrate reciprocal, sacrificial love toward each other. One of the most explicit passages of Scripture that outlines God's standard for marriage is Ephesians 5:22-33.

This topic is so vital to our having healthy, positive marriages (even for those who are not yet married) that I felt we should not rush this lesson. During the introduction today I played a 5-minute video of Andy Andrews (author and speaker) telling the story titled "Burn the Boats".

In 1519, for Hernando Cortez and his conquerors, while outnumber 5:1, burning the boats eradicated any notion of retreat from the minds of the troops and required unwavering commitment to the cause. Defeat was not an option. I found this to be an excellent illustration for the type of "commitment" that is required in marriage. We could also look at it as a powerful illustration for commitment in our spiritual lives. This kind of commitment means that you are "all in". No turning back.

Next week I will finish chapter 5 in Ephesians as we look at the details outlined by Paul for building a "Marriage As It was Meant to Be."

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 5:1-21 (Part II)

I began the lesson this morning with this verse: "In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper." Proverbs 23:32. I asked, what does the verse refer to? The answer: wine.

Nothing is more ridiculous, almost laughable, to me than listening to two "religious" people debate Christian liberties and acts of obedience. When I speak of "religious" I am referring to those who are either carnal (Christians walking in the flesh, not in the Spirit), or those who are without Christ altogether. Favorite topics of the "religious" seem to always be "giving" and "drinking." When you unpack both of these topics you typically find the "boxes" filled with excuses and defenses to protect and guard a dark soul.

Churches across America are replete with "religious" people who are unwilling to surrender, obey, and trust. Paul's message to the Ephesians is also a message to us. He urges those who are "in Christ" to walk as children of The Light. Christ is The Light. In verse 14, he quotes a passage from Isaiah urging those who are asleep in their spiritual lives to "AWAKE you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."

To expound on Ephesians 5:18, I shared John MacArthur's message titled "Christians and Alcohol". It is important that we understand the context of drinking alcohol from Paul's perspective at the time of his writing. 

First, I think we will all agree that scripture is crystal-clear on the matter of drunkenness. Drunkenness is a sin that separates the believer from Christ. It keeps the believer from walking in God's purpose. You are drunk when you lose your self-control at any point. This has always been an issue, both in Old and New Testament times. Those who are "in Christ" should avoid, at all cost, being drunk.

Secondly, wine in our modern world is not the same as it was in Biblical times. Religious defenders will continue to argue this point. The bottom line is not about drinking, but more importantly that we be "...filled with the Spirit." (5:18)

We continued in Ephesians chapter 5, picking up in 5:6: "Let no man deceive you..." Verse 7 says, "... Therefore, do not be partakers with them." "Them..." are those who walk in darkness.

(8-11) "...but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."

Many believers are asleep spiritually. They are adrift with the culture, as a boat without a rudder. Their priority is being accepted by others rather than fulfilling their God-given purpose (God's will) for their lives. As a result, their lives are being "spent" on temporary pleasures.

Paul urges followers of Christ to AWAKE! Arise from the dead. (15-17) "See then that you walk circumspectly (carefully, wisely, not as fools), not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Next week I will complete chapter 5 and look at what Paul has to say to the Ephesians about the relationship between wives and husbands.