Speaker: Ps. Chia Beng Hock
Ephesians 5:1-21
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us£ and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 5:3But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. 4Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be associated with them. 8For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Sleeper, awake!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.
As Christians we are to walk in love.
“Walk”
· the way we conduct ourselves & lives: “Be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (verse 1)
· “Be” is a command
· “as beloved children” – dearly loved by God.
· there’s progress when we walk
“we are to walk in love”
· Because our God is love and we’re God’s children.
1. How do we walk in love?
· Giving – love is about giving (to build others up)
· Serve one another – give time to God
· Don’t take advantage of others
· Show little kindness to people to let others know that you care.
· Love is not a chemistry but a choice to choose to love those who are unlovable.
1.1 What does it means to walk in darkness?
Verses 3 – 7 says: “5:3But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. 4Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be associated with them.
· Sexual immorality
· Course jesting
· Greed / Covetousness
· Impurity in our lives
· Empty words
2. How do we walk in the light?
Verses 8 – 11 says: “. 8For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
· Let the Spirit of God to work in us.
· Find out what pleases God and do those things.
· Do not be partners with Gentiles
3. Walk in wisdom
Why?
Because the days are evil:
· meaning of the words changed (eg. gay used to mean happy but now homosexual people)
· morals changed (sex before marriage is accepted; pre-nuptial contract; no commitment in
marriages, etc.)
· blame others when you do wrong things (eg. a sex offender when being charged told the
judge why he commit the crime was because someone sexually abused him when he was
young and grew up with a psychology defect that cause him to commit crime. Because of
this reason, he was let off or got a lighter sentence).
We walk in wisdom by:
· Taking responsibility of our weakness or sin, recognize it, seek help (talk to a Pastor) and
overcome it.
· Know the season of the Lord and take opportunity to do it. (Eg. CCIS)
· Know what the will of the Lord is.
· Let the Holy Spirit take control of our lives.
· Speak to one another in Psalms, hymns & Spiritual Songs.
· Submit to one another – respect them because everyone is being made in the image
of God.
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