“… submitting to one another in the fear of God … Husbands, love your wives, just AS Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives AS their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife AS himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

— Ephesians 5:21, 25-33 NKJV

A little humor to lighten your day…

It gets worse:

Let’s review last week’s lesson, entitled, “A Gentle Quiet Spirit”, or how a wife is to love her husband, according to the Scriptures:

It’s understood that the church loves Christ.

It’s understood that the wife loves her husband.

NOW she is to place herself under, to be voluntarily in subservience to her husband.

This is an high calling, a lifting up of WOMEN to a place of importance which early history robbed from her. She places herself willingly under his care. AND if he isn’t a godly husband, First Peter says for her to have a gentle, quiet spirit. She is to have a winsome spirit, which will be the ministry of the Word of God through her to her husband’s heart.

Since last week’s message was geared to the wives, my wife had suggested that she give the message of the husband’s responsibility to his wife. Just a thought. For some FUTURE time!

I personally believe the husband’s role is harder, because of the Example he is following. Note the Apostle Paul’s instruction of the love of the husband for his wife. In particular, note his use of the two letter word, “AS”.

The husband is to love his wife: First, AS Christ is Head (verses 23-24).

“Do you have the book, “Man, Master of Women”, the young man asked the librarian.

“Fiction counter to your left,” she replied.

The word “HEAD” is a literal word! Yes, it is a part of the body, between the shoulders! It is used figuratively here as the One of authority. Please note Ephesians 1:19-23, a good Easter passage, which in our context of Ephesians 5 fitly describes the love the husband is to have for his wife AS the Lord Jesus is Head of the church:

As should the husband!

Now read Ephesians 4:11-16 and note the completeness the Savior has in His Headship, His love for His church (us!). This is a completeness TOGETHER, a maturing TOGETHER.

MEN: how NOT to love your wife as Christ loved the church. You are sitting at the kitchen table, sitting pretty close to the refrigerator. Your wife is at the other side of the table, preparing a loving meal for the two of you. Suddenly, you are thirsty. So, without saying a word, you bang your drinking cup up and down several times on the kitchen table. The wife lovingly without a word gets up, walks over to the freezer, gets out a couple of ice cubes and puts them in your cup. THEN she opens the refrigerator door and gets out a soda and lovingly pours it into your cup. THEN she goes back to her seat and continues to prepare the loving meal. Hmmm…

HOW TO LOVE YOUR WIFE AS CHRIST IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH: The husband is head as protector, caregiver, and deliverer. In turn, the wife submits out of surrender to his protection, caregiving, and deliverance. Wow.

The husband is to love his wife: Second, AS Christ loved (verses 25-27).

Our Savior’s love for the church is an “AGAPE” love. The Greeks knew of 3 types of love: (1) “Eros” – an erotic love. Today we would call it “porn” with easy access on the internet. This Greek word is NOT used in the Bible! (2) “Phileo” – “as one, brotherly”. For example, the name of the city, “Philadelphia” means “city of brotherly love”. This word IS in the Bible. (3) “Agape” – a godly, sacrificial love, a word frequently used in Scripture. This word describes our Savior’s love for the world. In particular, it describes above how the husband is to love his wife – as Christ loved. As the love of Christ is a godly, sacrificial love, so is the love of the husband to be for his wife.

For example, in Matthew 5:43-44a, the Lord Jesus uses “agape” to describe His love as it should be on display in His followers:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall LOVE your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, LOVE your enemies…”

The love of the church (as the Bride of Christ) may sometimes fall short, but the love of the Lord Jesus (as the Bridegroom) will never! Such a love is seen in the consummation of it at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (in Revelation 19:7-8):

“7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

The husband is to love his wife: Third, AS he loves his own body (verse 28)

What are my main interests in life? Well, that’s easy! I am extremely interested in golf, which I’ve been playing since age 8. And I have a tremendous interest in model trains, which my dad was collecting long before I was born. Since we’ve been married, my wife, too, has a love for golf – a sport we both play and watched on TV until our TV died. She isn’t so excited about model trains, but she will go to museums with me. How did that happen? This love is more than a DUTY. It is a natural duty, an extension of our love for each other.

The husband is to love his wife: Fourth, AS himself! (Verse 33)

This is what I call The Fulfillment Verse. He loves her as a oneness! In turn, she respects and reverences – that is, honors, esteems, praises, adores. It is ALMOST an idea of veneration (worship) as the love of the church for Christ.

Allow me to wrap up this study with a quotation of Proverbs 18:22:

Our controversial scripture passage:

“…submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church;

and He is the Savior of the body.

Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ,

so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”

— Ephesians 5:21-24 NKJV

Wait! Don’t quit yet. Let’s get a better grasp of this word, and its implication for men as well as women.

Marriage. The world likes to joke about marriage – why even sometimes the jokes are “clean!”

For example, one of my favorite lines to describe marriage: “marriage is not a word; it’s a sentence.” Hmmm.

I like the story about when a cyclone hit a farmhouse in Kansas. The force of the wind lifted off the roof, picked up the bed where the farmer and his wife were sleeping, carried them away, and then just as suddenly set them down in a field in the next county! The wife began to cry. “Don’t be scared, Mary! We’re not hurt,” encouraged the farmer to his beloved. “I’m not scared,” replied Mary. “I’m happy! This is the first time in 14 years we’ve been out together!” Hmmm again.

Our text today uses one of the most controversial words in Scripture: “SUBMIT!”

What impressions come first to your mind when you hear that word?

The impression of a military rule?

Or, He says jump, she says how high?

Or, He snaps his fingers, she moves?

We need to show the true Biblical pattern. Let’s understand a simple definition for the word “SUBMIT”: “to place under, to be voluntarily subservient to.” The Good Book gives us at least 3 good examples of the amazing use of this word:

First, the Son submitted to the Father! What Son? The Lord Jesus Himself! What Father? Why, His own Heavenly Father! Let’s look at some Scriptures:

“ I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” John 5:30

“For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.” John 12:49

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” John 14:10-11

But wait, there’s more! The Lord Jesus was not only submissive to His HEAVENLY Father. He was submissive to His EARTHLY parents as well. Remember when the family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus went to the temple at the occasion of Jesus’ twelfth birthday? Somehow He got left behind. When 3 days later He was found in the temple teaching the leaders, He stated, “I must be about My Father’s business.” But look at what the Scripture says when He finally went back to Nazareth with his earthly parents: “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was SUBJECT to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:51.

Remember: to be submissive means “to place under, to be voluntarily subservient to”.

Well, how about Christians? Are WE supposed to be submissive? Brace yourselves – let’s take a little spiritual journey! The Bible says that Christians are to be submissive…

TO GOVERNMENT: “Let every soul be SUBJECT to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” Romans 13:1

TO ONE’S EMPLOYER: “Bondservants [that’s us – workers, employees], OBEY in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men…”. Colossians 3:22-23

TO AN ELDER: “Likewise you younger people, SUBMIT yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be SUBMISSIVE to one another, and be clothed with humility…”. 1 Peter 5:5a

But let’s not forget the admonition found in our text, Ephesians 5:21:

“submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

I first began in the pastorate in 1986. I wasn’t so much nervous about preaching or about ministering to the “sheep” of my flock. I was more nervous about conducting my first funeral (which I did not do for another 3 years) or my first wedding. Beaver Meadow (NY) is a wonderful community stretched out over land which is highly conducive to dairy farming. The church is (still) the only fundamental, Bible believing, gospel preaching church in town! Well, actually it is the ONLY church in town. The church always has had its faithful members and attendees – even before the building was built in 1872! Being the only church in town gives it a wonderful connection with the towns folks, many of whom rarely come to church – EXCEPT for weddings and for funerals. I learned that fact soon after coming to the church when, in September, I was asked to officiate my first wedding! The groom was from a long established family in town; the bride was from the town just over the hill. It was a nice day for a wedding. About 5 minutes before the 10:30 am start of the service, I was talking with the bride’s father. “First wedding?”, he asked. “Yes!” All of a sudden there was an huge CRASH coming from the front of the church. No, no one fainted. The bride’s dad and I rushed to the front of the church and perused the situation: apparently 4 slightly overweight men and women sat down on a pew at the same time. The pew shattered to smithereens! The father said, “you’ll never forget this wedding!”.

Ephesians 5:21 is the key, not only to a successful marriage; it is the key to all life! The bride and groom are first of all to be submissive to one another. They are to what? “To place under, to voluntarily be subservient to.” My Number 1 desire to my wife is to please her in all things. Her Number 1 desire to me is to please me in all things. Together, we are ONE and daily growing in our oneness.

So when we come to the instructions concerning the “duty of the wife”, as found in Ephesians 5:22-24, remember it is prefaced with verse 21! Without verse 21, the rest of the chapter makes no sense! In fact, without verse 21 the rest of the instructions sounds like something out of a military journal.

That reminds me of the line, “the views expressed by the husband are not necessarily those of the management.” Ok, ok. That might be funny except for the reality that Who is really “the management?” Why, it is the Lord Jesus Himself!

In fact, even before zeroing in on the “duties of the wife” or the “duties of the husband”, take a very close look at two other subjects: “the Lord Jesus” and “the church”! This is one of the most comprehensive passages in Scripture of the connection with the Savior and His church. Then He uses the role of the husband and wife as an illustration of His love for the church! Do I hear a “WOW!”?

Before the Savior came along, in the early history ALL women were subservient to ALL men! The women really had no role in society but to serve the men. The Lord Jesus then elevated the position of women as being under HER own (one) husband’s protection!

Notice a few quick thoughts:

Verse 22: the wife’s “submission” is “as to the Lord”. In essence, the husband is to so live, so love his wife as well as his Savior that the wife will gladly, what? “Place herself under, be subservient to” her husband!

Verse 23: in essence, the husband is the human representative of the Savior before his wife! Think about that for a while!

Verses 22-24: Once again, be sure to read the instructions surrounding “the church” and once again say, “WOW!” – or even a “PRAISE THE LORD!”.

But what IF! You don’t know my husband! How am I supposed to love HIM as the Savior loved His church? Let’s turn to 1 Peter 3:1-6, in particular, the first 4 verses:

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of A GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

The early preacher of the 1900’s, D.L. Moody (who founded the “Moody Bible Institute” in Chicago, Illinois, originally for the purpose of training future Sunday school teachers), is supposed to have said the classic line: “Preach the gospel at all costs. If necessary, use words.”

A gentle and quiet spirit. No words, simply a character which represents the Savior Himself!

Years ago, I was asked to give a message at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of an area pastor and his wife, Tom and Mary. Near the end of the message, I asked Tom if I could have his approval to officiate the renewing of their wedding vows. Tom wisely said, “only if you get it right this time.” Confused, I asked him, “and how am I to get it right?”. He said, “by being sure to put in the word OBEY!” Apparently, the minister who originally conducted their wedding left out that word when having the bride give her vows! And yes, for Tom’s sake, at their renewal “OBEY” was included!

“SUBMIT”! Are you submissive to your husband?

“SUBMIT”! Are you submissive to your wife?

“SUBMIT!” Are you both FIRST OF ALL submissive to the Lord Himself?

What would the home look like if it was FIRST OF ALL submissive to the Lord?

Would it look like yours? Like mine?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Soli Deo gloria is a Latin term for Glory to God alone. It has been used by artists like Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Christoph Graupner to signify that the work was produced for the sake of praising God. As a greeting, it was used by monks in cistercian and trappist monastic orders in written communication. As a doctrine, it means that everything is done for God’s glory to the exclusion of mankind’s self-glorification and pride. Christians are to be motivated and inspired by God’s glory and not their own.

Handel’s Messiah is one of the greatest oratorios ever. The first part prophesied the birth of Jesus Christ; the second exalted his sacrifice for humankind; and the final section heralded his Resurrection. The rousing ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus is one of the most famous pieces of Baroque choral music, and by far the most widely-known section of the work. Handel produced the 260-page score in just 24 days. The audience always stands up while the Hallelujah Chorus is being sung, because King George II did this at the first London performance of the Messiah in 1743.

The three parts of the Messiah were drawn from three parts of the Bible: Old Testament prophesies of the Messiah’s birth; New Testament stories of the birth of Christ, his death, and his resurrection; and verses relating ultimately to Judgment Day, with the final chorus text drawn from the Book of Revelation.

When he finished the work, he signed it Soli Deo Gloria …… glory to God alone.

While Handel’s music is his greatest bequest, his philanthropic work in donating for needy causes also established a lasting legacy. Performances of his works, in particular of Messiah, for charitable causes have taken place throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and continue to this day.

The teaching for us of this great work is not the masterpiece of the accomplishment, but the sharing of the blessings it produced. Through his works, Handel became wealthy, but he gave it all away to the poor. He knew that the greatest way to acquire a blessing is to give blessings away.

To God alone be the glory. Who have you blessed this past week?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

There’s a story of a young Buddhist monk who sat outside his temple two thousand years ago, with his hands clasped in prayer. He looked very pious and he chanted ‘Amita Buddha’ all day. Day after day he intoned these words, believing that he was acquiring grace.

One day the head priest of the temple sat next to him and began rubbing a piece of brick against a stone. Day after day he rubbed one against the other.

This went on week after week until the young monk could no longer contain his curiosity, and he finally blurted out, “Father, what are you doing?”

“I’m trying to make a mirror,” said the priest.

“But that’s impossible!” said the young monk. “You can’t make a mirror from brick.”

“True”, he replied. “And it is just as impossible for you to acquire grace by doing nothing except chant ‘Amita Buddha’ all day long.”

Like the young monk, there are many who think they can attain spirituality through mere rites, rituals, and religious routines. It was a problem that Jesus encountered in His day and one that continues to exist.

While the Bible speaks of “pure religion” that is “undefiled” (Jas. 1:27), there’s an abuse and misuse of our religious beliefs and practices called religiosity. Yes, that’s a word.

Religiosity is defined by the Collins dictionary as “affected or excessive devotion to religion… If you refer to a person’s religiosity, you are referring to the fact that they are religious in a way that seems exaggerated and insincere.” It further adds that “religiosity is the quality of being excessively, ostentatiously, or mawkishly religious.” Ken Welliver – The Preacher Man

— o —

We seniors agree that music sounded better on vinyl. That’s because the music was better.

— o —

Here’s some good news: to live longer, focus on good news in the news.

A study now being reported by the Washington Post notes that people with the highest levels of optimism enjoyed a life span between 11 and 15 percent longer than those who were the least optimistic. Research links optimism to eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, and being less likely to smoke cigarettes. Optimists also tend to manage stress.

Since studies clearly link religious commitment with a more optimistic outlook, you and I should be especially positioned to benefit from such positivism even in challenging times. But as I have learned personally in recent days, trust in God does not guarantee optimism, especially when God does not do what we are trusting him to do. Jim Denison

— o —

An older man was walking on the beach and found a lamp. Instinctively he rubbed it, and to his surprise, a genie appeared. “Because you have freed me,” the genie said, “I will grant you one wish.” The man thought for a moment and then responded, “My brother and I had a fight 30 years ago and he hasn’t spoken to me since. I wish that he would finally forgive me.”

There was a thunderclap, and the genie declared, “Your wish has been granted.” “You know,” the genie continued, “most men would have asked for wealth or fame or material possessions. But you only wanted the love of your brother. Is it because you are old or are you dying?

“No way!” the man cried. “But my brother is, and he’s worth about $60 million.”

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

No matter how big a hammer you use, you can’t pound common sense into stupid people.

You come from dust and you return to dust. That’s why I don’t dust. It could be someone I know.

A gun is like a parachute. If you need one and don’t have it, you will never need it again.

Politicians are not supposed to make us a “Christian Nation” that job is for the Christians, how we treat others and serve the poor speaks volumes to the people around us. If we as Christians acted Christ-like then the real work would begin. Russell Johnson

Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to use the Internet and they won’t bother you for weeks, months, maybe even years.

The older I get the more wisdom I find in the ancient rule of taking first things first. A process which often reduces the most complex human problem to a manageable proportion. Dwight D. Eisenhower

How sad it is that these great gentlemen should believe what anyone tells them and do not choose to judge for themselves! But it is always so. Mozart

Don’t put the wrong things at the top of your priority list. Dan Shock

Jesus says “I am at the door and knock” but the lock is on the inside and you have the key. Kelly Knouse

The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests. Epictetus

Fear and faith are mutually exclusive. Dan Shock

People only see what they are prepared to see. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Joy doesn’t make you grateful. Gratitude makes you joyful. Charles Swindoll

God meets daily needs daily. Not weekly or annually. He will give you what you need when it is needed. Max Lucado

Do you remember this verse about one of God’s promises to you?

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14).

It occurred to me that this redemption from iniquity and the subsequent purification process isn’t immediate or complete, but takes time, and can be painful.

When I attended Violet Avenue School, in Hyde Park, New York, we sixth graders visited the Poughkeepsie Water Works. It was down on the shore of the Hudson River near Regatta Row (where major universities like Cornell had once kept their rowing shells).

We were required to write a paper about our visit, and mine was published in the Poughkeepsie New Yorker, now the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Poughkeepsie is on the east shore of the Hudson River, midway between New York City and the state capitol at Albany, about 75 miles north of The Big Apple. The city’s water supply depends on a continual flow of water down river from the north because the Atlantic tides raise and lower the water levels at Poughkeepsie, and in periods of drought the water could become tainted with salt.

Three years after I wrote the article, while a member of the Roosevelt High crew team, I would observe everything from a dead cow to human waste floating in the water, so the process by which the water was purified took on greater significance in my mind. (If I’d written that fact in my article, I doubt it would have been chosen to be published.)

We were told that the water was drawn through a three foot pipe that reached out to the center of the river–nearly a quarter mile–and lay just above the bottom of the river, I don’t remember too much about the process now, but I know that the raw river water was flushed through various beds of sand to remove particulates, then through alum, and was ultimately chlorinated to destroy bacteria.

All this is to say that, apart from distillation, it’s nearly impossible to produce pure water. (God does it continually however, simply through the process of evaporation, where water is drawn from the earth and gathered into clouds and then is returned to the earth as rain or snow. Regrettably, we have so polluted the atmosphere that the drops of rain that fall from the sky may now contain anything from acid to radioactive fallout.

Today, a city’s water purification system should be far more sophisticated today than those in 1952, but they also must strive to overcome additional problems, such as the unused drugs that people flush down their toilets, and diseases we couldn’t imagine back in my childhood. Just as important is the fact that across America there are far more people using water more liberally, so the demand is far greater today.

That’s why tens of millions of bottles of processed water are purchased each week, the waste from which further threatens our ecological future.

And that’s why my wife and I installed an under sink filter system in our home. It uses a series of filters, first to remove larger more common particulates, then a carbon filter to remove taste and odor, and finally a reverse osmosis filter, which supposedly finishes the job. The fact is that it cannot remove many dangerous chemicals that are leaching into our water supplies and is little protection against communicable diseases. But it helps!

Compare our vain attempts to secure pure water with the words of Jesus, who assured us that, “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.'” (John 7:38).

This is the water that he promised the woman at the well. It is not alive with impurities and filth and dangerous organisms and chemicals, but it is the pure water of life. Out of ever believer in Jesus Christ will flow a river of life, of love, of peace and of God’s grace.

Before we were saved, intentionally or otherwise, we poured out the sewage of this world. But through faith in God, we have become something like a spiritual municipal water works, pouring out the water of life.

But make no mistake. It’s a progressive matter, this pouring out of God’s grace rather than the poisons that would normally flow up within us. The Lord is doing a purifying work in us, and as we submit and exercise faith in Him, the Holy Spirit produces “living water” that flows through us. Yes, it blesses others, but it also fills our lives with joy.

So be encouraged. Perhaps you’ve only seen a trickle flow through you so far, but even that is a glorious experience for you and a blessing to others.

You may not be all you want to be, you may not produce as you one day will, but thank God you are not what you were.

For out of your belly, dear believer, will flow rivers of living water!

Then Moses summoned Joshua. He said to him with all Israel watching, “…God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry.” Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (The Message)

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

The promises those scriptures set out for you and for me. That God is ahead of us, and is with us, will never leave us and will be with us wherever we go. But those of us on the journey which just passed through yesterday, is now going through today, and is headed toward whatever tomorrow will be, well, there are times that it doesn’t always seem that way.

There are times we feel all alone. When illness hits. Tragedy unexpectedly rears up and leaves us broken, wondering why, and not knowing where to turn for answers. Friends and family members disappoint and abandon us, leaving us feeling like we’re standing on the side of the road, all alone.

The insanity and evil we see and feel in our communities, nation and around the world—leaves us feeling empty, in darkness and afraid of what might be coming next. The storms and winds blowing through our life, and so much more, cause us to feel all alone and without hope.

It really happens. We’ve all been there, and may be there again. But here’s what we need to remember—we are never alone.

When everything seems to have gone wrong, and everyone seems to have gone away—we are still never alone to face what today or tomorrow will bring.

God is always there for you and for me.

So embrace the truth of these song words, written by Christ through Rodgers and Hammerstein, originally introduced in the Broadway musical, Carousel, and sung by many others since— “When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don’t be afraid of the dark. At the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky and the sweet, silver song of a lark. Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain though your dreams be tossed and blown. Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone, you’ll never walk alone.”

We will all have those moments of feeling all alone, abandoned, without answers to the things which happen.

Times when dreams come up short or fall flat, and we don’t know what’s coming around the bend, or which steps to take next in our life when we seem to be standing there all by ourselves.

Remember this—you’re not. I’m not. We’re not. We are never by ourselves, never alone, and will never walk alone—today, tomorrow, or ever. God is always there and will never leave us. We will never walk alone.

Thank God. Scott Whitaker

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

15 Simple Ways to Brighten Someone’s Life Today

1. Offer a compliment: Compliment someone on their work, their smile, or that enviable quality you’ve seen in them over the years.

2. Send a loving note, message, or text: A kind word sent via private message takes less than 60 seconds but communicates significantly a powerful message that can last a lifetime.

3. Leave an extra $5 tip: If you don’t typically leave a tip, brighten someone’s day be leaving one. If you usually do, randomly add to it for a job well done.

4. Say “I love you.”: The old adage about not saying “I love you” enough has remained relevant because it’s true (unfortunately). Your parents, your spouse, your kids… remind them again today.

5. Pay for a stranger’s coffee or meal: When my wife and I were dating, an unknown couple in an Applebee’s restaurant randomly and anonymously paid for our bill. It was a simple gesture that we bring up almost every time we eat in an Applebee’s—literally 25 years later. Want to brighten someone’s day and give them a story to tell everyone they meet for the rest of the day? Pay for the customer’s coffee behind you in line at the drive-thru.

6. Remember to ask your friend or co-worker about something important in their life: The next time your friend or co-worker tells you about an upcoming appointment or event, make a mental note to ask them how it went the next time you see them.

7. Come home early from work: If you have kids, they won’t live at home forever. And it’s always a fun surprise to have mom/dad come home early from work—especially during the summer.

8. Offer a meal to a family in need: The family from your neighborhood fighting cancer, or with the newborn, or working hard as a single parent. Offer to bring them a home-cooked meal or a restaurant gift card. The gift provides both time and money. But even more, it reminds people they are not alone.

9. Bring a treat: Doughnuts for the office or a favorite dessert for the family. Either one is sure to brighten a day.

10. Offer to take someone’s picture at a well-known attraction: The next time you are at a well-known attraction or witnessing a couple or family trying to take a selfie of themselves, offer to hold the camera and take it for them. The simple gesture usually takes less than a few seconds but provides a lifetime of memories for the people in the photo—especially if they are trying to capture a moment in the background.

11. Hold the door open for someone: For some reason, in our post-pandemic world, this simple gesture seems to carry even more significance. If you’ve already touched the handle, go the extra step, and hold it open for the next person so they don’t need to.

12. Tell a friend you were thinking about them: If something in your day caused you to think of a friend, tell them. “I just watched _______ and it made me think of you because you were the first to tell me about it.” “I just ate at _____ and it made me think of you because I know you like that place.”

13. Laugh at your friend’s joke: Go ahead—even if it’s not that funny. If someone took the time to try and make you laugh, the least you can do is reward them with it 🙂

14. Tell someone how they have changed your life: If someone’s actions, words, or life has inspired you and changed you for the better in any way, take the time to let them know that.

15. Say “it’s really good to see you.”: With sincerity and honesty. You never know how much an impact that simple sentence can have. Who knows, it just might inspire a blog post, read by hundreds of thousands, months later…

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Wisdom is rarely, if ever, acquired by speaking… so why do people insist on telling us their ideas instead of learning about something new? Dwight Short

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither. C.S. Lewis

God’s ways are not our ways. Dan Shock

People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get. Fredrick Douglass

You can’t stop the thoughts that come into your mind, but you have to decide to cast them or capture them. Jomo Cousins

I seek constantly to improve my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracted. OG Mandino

The meaning of earthly existence lies not, as we have grown used to thinking, in prospering but in the development of the soul. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Each misfortune you encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow’s good luck. OG Mandino

He who talks more is sooner exhausted. Laozi

An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory. Ralph Waldo Emerson

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. Thomas Pane

Loyalty and friendship, which is to me the same, created all the wealth that I’ve ever thought I’d have. Ernie Banks

The best way to predict your future is to create it. Abraham Lincoln

This world, after all our science and sciences, is still a miracle; wonderful, inscrutable, magical and more, to whosoever will think of it. Thomas Carlyle

“See then that you walk circumspectly, 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. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

– Ephesians 5:15-20 NKJV

I have a confession to make. No, not of sin – or else I’d go straight to the Lord! Here is the confession: I am a Baptist by conviction. HOWEVER, I also know that there are many – MANY – people from every denomination who, like me, love the Lord Jesus as Savior and are walking with Him! AND here’s the kicker: no one denomination has a corner on the operation of the Holy Spirit! Not bad for a Baptist, eh?

Our text today zeros in on walking in the Spirit! It is one of those classic Biblical passages that is well worthy studying, and if not memorizing, being aware of the location of the text. It should be a study of all of ours for the rest of our lives, much less for the rest of our walk with the Lord until we’re Home with Him!

So what are some of the characteristics of the “walk in the Spirit”?

FIRST, THE WALK IN THE SPIRIT IS THE WALK OF WISDOM (verse 15)

The definition of the Biblical “walk” is “the complete exercise of the Christian life”. 36 times throughout the epistles the writers remind us that the Christian life is a WALK!

HERE are some examples:

* We are to WALK “in newness of life” (Romans 6:4)

* We are to WALK “not after the flesh but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1)

* We are to WALK “honestly” (Romans 13:1

* We are to WALK “by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

* We are to WALK “worthy of the Lord”

But there also is a warning! Philippians 3:18-19 say, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”

Is that describing you (God forbid!) OR someone you know? Then they are not “walking in the Spirit” but “walking in the flesh”. Can you imagine not setting your mind on the things of the Spirit (see Colossians 3:1-3) but on earthly things?

A walk of wisdom includes walking “circumspectly” because it is a walk that is “purposefully, worthily, accurately, deliberately”.

A walk of wisdom is to walk “as wise”. Do you remember Psalm 111:10? “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.”

A walk of wisdom needs to be always reminded BEFORE WHOM the person walking in the Spirit is walking! Did you catch it in the above Ephesians text? The believer is walking before the world, the unwise, those without purpose or worth, whose God is their belly. Why is that important? Because not only is that where we once were! It is also those who are without God and without hope who need Jesus as Savior! Those “kinds” of people are ultimately the nature of those before whom God has wisely placed each one of us – to make an eternal difference in their lives! Can we do it? Not of ourselves! But “in the power of the Spirit” all things are possible!

SECOND, THE WALK IN THE SPIRIT IS THE WORTH OF TIME! (verse 16)

It is a “redeeming”, literally meaning, “a buying up”. You know what the price of our salvation is, right? Have you read 1 Peter 1:18-19 recently? “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

So what is the value of time? It is the “buying up each opportunity, making the most of time”. One commentator noted, “we don’t LACK time; we simply WASTE it”.

Have you ever noticed ANY distinction between the world’s use of time and its goals, with the consciousness of the Christian and his use of time?

Someone wisely observed: “WHOOPS! There it goes!” ‘What?” “TIME! – never to be restored!”

The walk in the Spirit is the worth of time!

THIRD, THE WALK IN THE SPIRIT IS THE WILL OF THE LORD! (verse 17)

Everyone who names the name of Jesus as Savior MUST ask the question: “where do I find what God

I am my neighbor’s Bible
He reads me when we meet
Today he read me in my home
Tomorrow in the street
He may be a relative or a friend
Or slight acquaintance be
He may not even know my name
Yet, he is reading me
So, I’ll watch my steps where ere they go
And my eyes what they may see
And all the words forth from my lips
Because someone is reading me
I’ll try my best to do God’s will
And be what He wants me to be
An all seeing eye is looking down
And I know He’s reading me
And so my God, who reads us all
Knows me from A to Z
And when I meet him on Judgment Day
He’ll still be reading me
But if I do all of these things
Just so someone may see
And works not prompted by my love
I’ll never be set free

wants?

The answers are right in front of us!

By prayer

By resting – being still

By God’s Word! 22 times in the epistles alone the Bible talks about the will of the Lord, such as:

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 1:1)

“not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,” (Ephesians 6:6)

“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17)

* By being willing to be obedient. Acts 16:10 reads, “ And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, ASSUREDLY GATHERING that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” [KJV].

The disciples knew, they KNEW, what the will of the Lord was, where they were to go. And they went! Would we?

FOURTH (AND FINALLY!), THE WALK IN THE SPIRIT IS THE WATERFALL OF THE SPIRIT! (verses 18-20)

As a contrast to our study, Proverbs 20:1 says, “wine is a mocker, whoever. Is deceived by it is not wise.”

The world’s cure is everything that appeals to the flesh. But the Christian’s power is the Holy Spirit!

Do you remember Ephesians 4:5? It reads, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism…”. And Romans 8:9 says, “ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

The Bible says there is ONE baptism of the Spirit, which baptism makes the sinner a member of God’s family who trusts in Jesus alone as Savior!

But the Bible says that there are MANY fillings of the Spirit, such as what we read in verse 15 above. The “filling” literally means, “stimulation by the Spirit’s influence.” It is the cup of overflowing. It is a giving up of self, and a giving in to God. It is the self getting out of the way, that the Spirit of God may do what only God may do – and in turn bringing fresh glory to Him!

And the result? Lots of SINGING (verse 19) and GIVING THANKS (verse 20)!

The key, of course, is obedience.

What happens when we obey, when we surrender, when we “get out of our own way” so that the Spirit can have control of all that we say and do? Why, we do the impossible! We become instruments which turn the world upside down! – at least, the sphere of influence that the Lord has wisely placed us in.

In 1996, Dorothy Keeling wrote a poem which is filled with much wisdom. May our walk in the Spirit make a difference where we are planted.

The poem? “I Am My Neighbor’s Bible”:

• I am my neighbor’s Bible
• He reads me when we meet
• Today he read me in my home
• Tomorrow in the street
• He may be a relative or a friend
• Or slight acquaintance be
• He may not even know my name
• Yet, he is reading me
• So, I’ll watch my steps where ere they go
• And my eyes what they may see
• And all the words forth from my lips
• Because someone is reading me
• I’ll try my best to do God’s will
• And be what He wants me to be
• An all seeing eye is looking down
• And I know He’s reading me
• And so my God, who reads us all
• Knows me from A to Z
• And when I meet him on Judgment Day
• He’ll still be reading me
• But if I do all of these things
• Just so someone may see
• And works not prompted by my love
• I’ll never be set free

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

The Prime Minister of Great Britain resigned. Was it because he was ill? Was it because the voters didn’t agree with his politics? No, he resigned because he was caught in an ethical scandal. He lied to the people on multiple occasions, and he surrounded himself with people who engaged in morally inappropriate conduct. His lies worked for years until they didn’t.

Johnson’s government has been plagued by a series of scandals, from accusations of his disregard for rules and revelations of illegal lockdown-breaking parties held on Downing Street, to allegations of impropriety and abuse by Conservative lawmakers.

Certain issues that might be considered private for a private individual can become matters of reasonable public interest when that individual is elected to office. Becoming a public servant means putting the public’s interest ahead of your own.

I was elected to public office for more than twenty years and I always considered my conduct in private, a public matter 24-7. Remember Bill Clinton. He said no, but the right answer is yes.

For nearly ten years of my public service, I have served on the Florida Commission on Ethics and am the current chairman. The commission has jurisdiction over some 87,000 state employees, 1,623 local governments, 410 municipalities and 67 counties and all elected officials at all levels of government. As we hear cases, I am constantly shocked at what a few people think is ethical conduct. The commission routinely hands out everything from public reprimands to oustings from office and employment for those who hold public positions.

Ethics are a set of standards that a society places on itself and which helps guide behavior, choices and actions. No society can survive without an ethical code of conduct of what is acceptable and what is not. It is even more important where laws do not reach. Ethics are for Christians Biblically-based and plain moral common sense. Things like honesty, loyalty, integrity, respect, selflessness and responsibility.

What does the Bible say about making ethical decisions? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.

The first thing any Christian should do when faced with a decision is ask God’s advice. The Bible reminds us not to lean on our imperfect human understanding, because that’s often how regretful mistakes are made.

Have you examined your personal ethics lately?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Do You Belong to Yourself or Belong to God?

Forbes reports a new poll from the Monmouth University Polling Institute that a stunning 88% of Americans now believe the U.S. is on the wrong track and just 10% believe it is on the right track.

Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said “most Americans are blaming Washington for their current pain, but I would suggest that America is on the wrong track because the world in general is on the wrong track. Many people are on the wrong track because their worldview is on the wrong track.”

We blame our problems on other people, politicians, societal injustices, or natural limitations. Yet, our real problems are much deeper. They go beyond current circumstances, political policies, cultural inequality, economic inequity, or arbitrary restraints. Our actual challenges both individually and collectively are spiritual and moral.

Among the apostle Paul’s predictions of the perilous “last days,” is that people would be “lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Tim. 3:4-5).

We are an individualistic, self-seeking, pleasure-driven society. Many seek self-fulfillment, demand their rights and pursue whatever pleases them at the moment.

Christ-followers must reject that philosophy in light of Jesus’ call to those who would be his disciples. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Lk. 9:23-24).

To express it another way, “Do you belong to God, or belong to yourself?” “You are not your own” flies in the face of the humanistic worldview. It sounds ridiculous. Absurd. And, yes, even demeaning. Yet, it is our challenge and our daily struggle. Will we belong to God? Or will we belong to ourselves?

Belonging to God produces the fruit of righteousness. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. And self-control.

To whom will you belong? Self? Or God? Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

— o —

An Airbus 380 is on its way across the Atlantic. It flies consistently at 800 km/h at 30,000 feet, when suddenly a Eurofighter with a Tempo Mach 2 appears. The pilot of the fighter jet slows down, flies alongside the Airbus and greets the pilot of the passenger plane by radio: “Airbus, boring flight, isn’t it? Now have a look here!”

He rolls his jet on its back, accelerates, breaks through the sound barrier, rises rapidly to a dizzying height, and then swoops down almost to sea level in a breathtaking dive. He loops back next to the Airbus and asks, “Well, how was that?”

The Airbus pilot answers: “Very impressive, but watch this!” The jet pilot watches the Airbus, but nothing happens. It continues to fly straight at the same speed. After 15 minutes, the Airbus pilot radios, “Well, how was that?”

Confused, the jet pilot asks, “What did you do?” The Airbus pilot laughs and says, “I got up, stretched my legs, walked to the back of the aircraft to use the washroom, then got a cup of coffee and a chocolate fudge pastry.”

The moral of the story is: When you’re young, speed and adrenaline seems to be great. But as you get older and wiser, you learn that comfort and peace are more important. This is called S.O.S.: Slower, Older and Smarter.

Dedicated to all my friends who, like me, as seniors, we now realize that it’s time to slow down and enjoy the rest of the trip.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream. Harry Kemp

When we understand our Father’s great love for us, our hearts are quieted and we rest in that truth. Dan Shock

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what the Christians are called to push against the riptide of the cultural current we are facing today. Ken Whitten

This is always the heart of temptation: to let the flesh rule over the spirit. Dan Shock

More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t so busy denying them. Harold J. Smith

Gratitude is paramount to the Christian life. Kelly Knouse

It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. Asop

A true man hates no one. Napoleon Bonaparte

That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history. Aldous Huxley

How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! Thomas Jefferson

It is easier to live for God than to live for yourself. Dan Shock

“Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, 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. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’”

– Ephesians 5:7-14 NKJV

The deacons of a small southern church were voting on the purchase of a new chandelier for the auditorium. One of the board members came in late, and arrived just as the vote was beginning. “Hold on!”, he said. “I don’t know what no ‘chandelier’ is. I can’t spell it. We can’t afford it. What we really need is mo’ light!”

So does our generation! Listen (and weep) to two recent area headlines:Children overdose on prescription muscle relaxers are now fighting for their lives, and their parents thought they were going to a harmless school function.A mother in Syracuse (NY) gets killed because her son is a witness to a murder, and then the boy must have police protection in order to go to her funeral.What we need is “mo’ light”!

And where does that light come from?

A special vision from the Lord, as in “I saw the light!”?

A retreat, a boost in the spiritual arm, where we all come back determined to be what we ought to be?

No! Our text says the light comes from GOD’S PEOPLE living the lives God has called them to be! (Verse 8) The Amplified Version reads this way:

“Walk as children of light – lead the lives of those native born to the Light”.

The battle isn’t between going to church or not going to church, although some think that is the battle.

The battle is between LIGHT and DARKNESS – the heart of the battle is the battle for the heart. Have you read John 3:19-21 lately? We know John 3:16! Listen to these verses which are shortly after one of our favorite verses:

“19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

So how are God’s people to walk in light that we can make a difference in the areas of ministry God has called us? What lessons about LIGHT does our text teach us?

FIRST, THE LIGHT PRODUCES FRUIT (verses 9-10)

How many of you have had gardens this year? We have! We live in a small apartment, but our landlord allowed us to put “garden pods” outside – small (about 5 feet across) enclosed meshed material in which we can put dirt and seeds. And then we wait for fruit! Why we have tomatoes (OH! The cherry tomatoes have been DELICIOUS!). We have potatoes. We have squash and carrots. And…WEEDS. And I met the other morning a pesky…SKUNK! I had my garden hose in hand, water on. I was ready for him. Fortunately, he was more interested in what a neighbor’s cat was doing!

The “Garden of Light” produces the fruits of “goodness, righteousness, and truth” (verse 9):

• “GOODNESS”: “an active and positive display of kindness towards others”. The world advocates “RANDOM acts of kindness”, right? But the Bible advocates that these are to be ACTIVE not random, DAILY not occasional, exhibitions of SONSHIP not parts of a cause.
• “RIGHTEOUSNESS”: “moral integrity that is without reproach”. It means in action to live with a clear conscience. It does NOT mean to have a SINLESS conscience, which is impossible.
• “TRUTH”: We are all familiar with 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS”. When we do that, then we live with integrity.

I encourage you to re-read the familiar words found in Psalm 119:9-11, 105. Perhaps some of these words are on plaques in your home or in your church. The issue is not religion or church. The issue is TRUTH: I see myself as God sees me, and I desire to conform myself to His ways.

Which leads to the TEST of verse 10: “let your lives be constant proofs of what is acceptable to Him”. In action, it says “I live this way because I have learned this of Christ!”.

SECOND, THE LIGHT PRODUCES DISCERNMENT (verses 11-13)

Notice that there is a difference between “fellowship” and “exposure”. The word “fellowship” here is loosely used in our English. The correct word would be better as “communion”, that which is centered on the CROSS! I encourage you to read 1 John 1:3-7.

The exposure is bBy Semi-Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopfordy living godly lives that show what is light and what is darkness. Allow me to illustrate:

For many years one of my jobs was to collect all the money out of the parking meters of our local city. I would get to work early that day, before businesses were open and before there was much traffic downtown. Then I would take my coin holder and wheel it from parking meter to parking meter, emptying each meter into the holder. At last, I would arrive at the bank where the nice clerks would escort me to the back room where a coin sorter was already on a table. I would then empty the coin sorter on to the table, and all those coins now looked like an huge mountain ready to climb!

Here’s where the fun began! All the coins had to be hand checked. In that pile would be found items that were not “legal tender”, from slugs to beer can tabs to coins that were in poor shape. Now mind you, there was on average during the “season” (April through September) about $2000 (that’s TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS) in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters each week – all now making up that mountain before me. How did I sort them all?

How DID I sort them all? By looking for the slugs, beer tabs, and damaged coins? NO! I looked for the GOOD COINS, the ones that I would be able to deposit into the city account. When I looked for the UNDAMAGED coins, the DAMAGED, the NON-DEPOSITABLE were quite evident.

The light always shows the opposite of darkness.

Did you notice from verse 12 the word “shameful”? This is a word lost in our culture! When Adam and Eve sinned, they KNEW they were naked! Immediately it produced – do you remember? – why, it produced SHAME! Our culture needs to bring back SHAME!

And we also need to be vessels of CONVICTION (as per verse 13), another word lost in our culture. We need to be able to determine what is DARKNESS and what is LIGHT. Then, as the verses well say, we need to live accordingly.

THIRDLY, THE LIGHT PRODUCES LIFE! (Verse 14)

John 10:10 reads, “I am come the they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

Who is rising from the dead, according to this verse? Christians!

And WHEN are we rising from the dead – in some future time? True, but we are also rising from the dead…NOW!

THE INVITATION IS TO SEE GOD WORK IN A LIFE THAT IS LIVED GOD’S WAY.

THE ISSUE IS A CHOICE!

ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE THAT CHOICE?

YOU WHO SAY YOU BELIEVE IN THE RISEN LORD JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR, ARE YOU WILLING TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS LIVED GOD’S WAY?

ARE YOU REALLY WILLING TO MAKE THAT CHOICE?

“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. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.”

Ephesians 5:1-7 NKJV

The young preacher was flattered when someone described him as the “model” preacher. His pride vanished when he looked in his dictionary and found the definition of “model” = “a small imitation of the real thing.”

So when someone later described him as a “warm” preacher, he was a little more cautious. He checked his dictionary once again, and it read: “warm” = “not so hot.”

There is a wonderful word in our text today, and I guarantee if we understand and apply it to our lives, our world will never be the same.

In verse 1, the word in the King James Version is “followers” and in the New King James Version it is translated “imitators”.

The word in the Greek is “mimetai” which means “mimic, parrot”, and is best translated as in our NKJV, “imitator”.

It might be helpful to our study today to look at 3 other instances in the Pauline letters where the Apostle Paul uses this same word.

First, a COMPARISON, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 2:12-14:

“12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

14 For you, brethren, became IMITATORS [“mimetai”] of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans…”

The brethren in the church in Thessalonica were being compared with the brethren in the churches of Judea. They were walking worthy of God. They were obedient to the Word of God. And because of those two character traits that were major parts of their Christian living, they were suffering for the Lord Jesus.

The brethren of the church in Thessalonica, in their imitation of Christ, were able to follow/IMITATE the wonderful example of the brethren of the churches in Judea.

Second, an EXAMPLE, as seen in 2 Thessalonians 3:5-10, especially verses 7-8:

“7 For you yourselves know how you ought to FOLLOW [“mimetai”] us, for we were not disorderly among you;

8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you…”

The Apostle Paul and his co-workers were walking so close to the Lord Jesus that they were setting an example for the brethren of the church in Thessalonica. Apparently there were some in the church – and this might seem “hard to believe” in YOUR church – that were “free-loaders”, as the old expression goes. In the name of Christ they were seeking the help of their fellow church family for everything from food to money for paying bills. And yet, they were able-bodied people! Paul would later write, in essence, “if you don’t work, you don’t eat” (verse 10).

Third, an OBEDIENCE, as seen in 1 Corinthians 11:1.

“ IMITATE me, just as I also IMITATE Christ.

This may at first glance look like a simple verse, yet the intent is most profound. Paul in essence is challenging the readers from the church in Corinth: follow me as I follow Christ!

The key is this: being an IMITATOR OF GOD means becoming Christ’s disciple, being obedient to His Word, and living in closeness to His will – whether that will involves either suffering or simply the challenges of daily life.

Using this foundation, we see THE LIKENESS OF THE FATHER (verse 1; see 4:32).

Do you remember 2 Peter 1:4? It reads in part that the believers are “partakers of the divine nature”. We have the power of God working in us, enabling us to do what He asks!

Our text says we are to be an imitator of God “as dear children”. What child has never tried to walk in his Dad’s footprints in the snow [or for you suth’nors, in the sand]? Although perhaps impossible, we still try. In time, we become like our parents. Mom always wanted to be treated like a lady. Her instruction for gift giving for her at Christmas or her birthday was simple: make sure the present is feminine! Dad, on the other hand, was a “stubborn Stopford” (as I imagine us 3 boys of his are too!). We are not bent to change unless we are changed!

Our relationships with one another are to be as Christ’s was. Remember Ephesians 4:32:

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

While being kind to one another was the theme of Chapter 4, Chapter 5 presents a sharp contrast. Here the emphasis is on Christ’s distinction from the world. Later in the chapter Paul talks about the “Christian marriage”. Even that was to be distinct from the world and ITS view of marriage!

Adding to our foundation, we see THE LOVE OF THE SON (verse 2).

Notice throughout this chapter the use of the little comparative word, “AS”:

* AS dear children (verse 1)

AS Christ also has loved us (verse 2)

AS is fitting for saints (verse 3)

Not AS fools but AS wise (verse 15)

AS to the Lord (verse 22)

AS also Christ is head (verse 23)

AS the church is subject (verse 24)

AS Christ also loved the church (verse 25)

AS their own bodies (verse 28)

AS the Lord does the church (verse 29)

AS himself (verse 33)

Did I miss any? So when we get down to verse 2, we see the comparative now to the Lord Jesus! But first take a gander at Ezekiel 20:39-41. Here the Lord is reaching out to Israel in their worship of Him ALONE. In so doing, He says that “I will accept you as a SWEET AROMA when I bring you out from the peoples” (verse 41a).

In our text, Paul says that we are to imitate God as Christ…has given Himself…[AS] an offering and a sacrifice to God for a SWEET SMELLING AROMA. God brings us out of the world as a sweet smelling fragrance to Him! Even so, we are to walk! There should be an huge distinction between what we once were and who we are now! And the distinction, while created by the Father, is a direct operation of our obedience to Him!

Completing our foundation is the reminder of THE LIFE OF THE WORLD (verses 3-6).

Look at these terms which Paul gives in these verses. We today might not be familiar with them. In fact, they may seem so foreign that we may have lost our “immunity” to them in our lives! But we must be WARNED! The life of the world hungers to creep into the fundamental, Bible believing, gospel preaching church – even like the ones you or I go to!

Be warned! We are to not even name these terms. They are not fitting for those who name the name of Christ as LORD of their lives:

“Fornication” [“porneia” from which we get the term “pornography”]: a willingness to forego God’s standard

“All uncleanness”: any sexual deviation

“Covetousness”: an insatiable lust which cannot be satisfied

“Filthiness”: obscenity in speech

“Foolish talking”: phrases that can have double meaning, usually with a slant toward sexual perversion

“Coarse jesting”: making every word into an indecent suggestion

See also Proverbs 23:4-5. We are warned not to overwork to be rich, as riches have…wings! One of the biggest downfalls for most Christians is an uncontented heart! Is YOURS content with what you have – what the Lord in His wisdom has wisely provided for YOU?

The sphere of the world is foreign and is not to be named among those who name the Name of Christ as Lord (verses 3,5). Its judgment is certain (verse 6). Don’t be PARTNERS/PARTAKERS with them but with God alone! (Verse 7)

I would love to hear people who knew my Dad say:

“That must be Bob Stopford’s son.

He has Bob’s wit.

Bob’s good looks [had to put that in here],

Bob’s good golf game.

Bob’s sense of humor.”

And as important and special as THAT is,

I crave more to hear people say:

“He must be the Father’s son.

He is different.

He is steadfast.

He is faithful.

He is compassionate.

He is separate from the world, and yet,

like the love of the Father, he loves those in the world

and would give himself for them so that they might

know the Father, too!”

HOW ABOUT YOU? Are you an IMITATOR OF GOD?

A friend who was in the business of buying and selling sailboats told me his secret one day. He said the best way to get a good deal on a craft was to look for barnacles, a sign that the boat was not being used and properly maintained. Those are the people often anxious to sell.

Have you ever noticed barnacles encrusting the bottom of boats? These creatures are not only amazing, but they help us to see an important truth. Many people mistake barnacles as a type of mollusk, similar to clams or oysters. But in reality, they are arthropods, like crabs or lobsters. They have an exoskeleton, which is like a skeleton on the outside of the body instead of inside.

In order to feed, they extend their feathery legs out of their exoskeleton to capture floating plankton. Boats are actually great locations for barnacles. That’s because they provide great shelter and move around to lots of locations, increasing the chances that the barnacles will come in contact with more food. Of course, for boat owners, they can be a problem. If not regularly removed, barnacles often encrust the hull of a boat so badly that they hide its color and its shape.

Their presence slows a boat down, creating drag. That causes a boat to have difficulty moving along in the water. It requires greater energy to propel itself forward and it cannot move smoothly, resulting in a bumpier ride.

Think about that. Boats are designed to move smoothly through the water, creating very little disturbance in its surface as they sail. But when they are carrying a population of barnacles, they have much more difficulty. They move more slowly. They require more energy to go forward. They may not even resemble their original sleek shape anymore.

How about the church? How about our personal spiritual life? Do they collect barnacles? Of course they do. Perhaps they are not as visible as saltwater barnacles, but nonetheless they form and create drag that can create a bumpy ride.

When we study the church today and compare it with the church of the first century, we find that it has many “barnacles” that have attached themselves, largely unnoticed. The extra “baggage” of barnacles creates a great deal of problems. Fear. Feeling unworthy. Holding on to unresolved issues. Lack of patience. All of these are spiritual struggles can bring us down. They change our spiritual appearance and make our countenance less recognizable. The more that attach, the easier it is for additional baggage to cling.

Barnacles That Are Holding You Back From A Deeper Relationship With God.

* Your need for control.

* Your fear of the unknown.

* Your love of all things material.

* Your focus on the impermanent.

* Your need to look back instead of forward.

* Your negative self-image, or self-deprecating thoughts.

What are some of your “barnacles” that are making life difficult to live? Yes, barnacles are amazing creatures. But spiritual barnacles are things we need to deal with daily, preventing them from taking hold of us and slowing us down. How do we keep them from attaching? We need to know the truth of God’s word, daily taking it into our minds and hearts. That provides a kind of non-stick spiritual surface around us, so we can withstand any struggles that come our way.

Take inventory of your spiritual barnacles and scrape them away out of your spiritual life.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Gamaliel was a highly respected and greatly loved first-century scholar. He was a Pharisee. A member of the Sanhedrin council, the Jewish Supreme Court. According to Barclay, he was one of the few given the title of “Rabban.” When Gamaliel spoke, his fellow Pharisees listened.

When Peter and John appeared before the Council for the second time for preaching Jesus, they found an unexpected ally in Gamaliel. While it seems the Council was determined to severely punish the apostles or even kill them, this Rabbi offered a different solution.

After citing the failures of two past insurrectionists, Thedus and Judas of Galilee, Gamaliel advised, “I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)

So, here we are almost 2,000 years later, and God’s plan has withstood the test of time. In spite of the efforts of infidels, atheists and agnostics to ridicule it, thwart it and overthrow it, the message of Christ and the cross continues to be spread around the world. The PREACHERMAN

— o —

The task of living an intentional life focused on things that matter is enormously complicated these days by constant, modern propaganda.

Commercials, advertisements, and marketers work tirelessly to convince us that products manufactured on assembly lines will make us happier.

But in reality, these unnecessary purchases separate us from our dollars and add stress, burden, and obligation to our lives—they don’t bring happiness, they keep us from it!

The goal of Madison Avenue is to distract our desire. Their messaging changes our attitude from “That’s extravagant” to “That would be nice” to “I want that” to “I need it.”

And they are so subtle at their craft we hardly even realize we are being brainwashed. Subconsciously, they take control of our desires, our checkbooks, and ultimately, our lives. The Minimalist

— o —

And a new study indicates that an inability to stand on one leg for ten seconds in later life is linked to nearly double the risk of death from any cause within the next decade. A medical professor explained that one leg standing requires good balance, is “linked to brain function, good muscle strength, and good blood flow,” and “likely integrates muscular, vascular, and brain systems.” As a result, “it is a global test of future mortality risk.” Jim Denison

— o —

The estimated number of Americans with medical debt is 100 million or 41% of all adults

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. – Nelson Mandela

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. – Walt Disney

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. – Steve Jobs

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. -Eleanor Roosevelt

If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough. – Oprah Winfrey

If you set your goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success. – James Cameron

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. – John Lennon

In every encounter, we either give life or we drain it. – Brennan Manning

Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.” – Mark Twain

I believe in one thing—that only a life lived for others is a life worth living. – Albert Einstein

Friendship… is not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything. – Muhammad Ali

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty. – Winston Churchill

In all human history, who has paid the highest price for evil and suffering? Poll a hundred people on this question, and only a few would come up with the right answer: – “JESUS” Randy Alcorn

The rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others has an enormous advantage. – Dale Carnegie