A Godly Walk
Eph 5:1-17
9-23-07 

In this passage, Paul gives instructions on three ways that we should walk.  We should walk in love [2], we should walk as children of light [8], and we should walk circumspectly [15].  We are going to examine each of these in the context in which he mentions them to see how we, as children of God, can be better followers of God [1].

Walk in Love [2-7] – this is a walk of separation – separation to God and away from the world – when you find your wife you love her like no other woman on this earth you separate yourself to her and from all of the other women in the world - Jesus separated himself unto God, and when it came time, he offered himself out of love as a sacrifice to his Father – at the same time he separated himself from every sin in the earth because he loved his Father and wanted to please him

When you love the Lord and the people to whom you minister, you will separate yourself from sin so that you can be more pleasing to God and be a better minister – you will separate yourself from all filthy communication [4] and subsequent action [3-4] – Paul said don’t even let these things be named among you - fornication [one of the common cuss words is a word that begins with ‘f’ that is slang for fornication]; obviously you are not to fornicate but you are not even supposed to say it or talk about it – uncleanness, when we talk about it we call them ‘dirty’ jokes; Adam Thompson teaches his people to be clean, to stay away from every unclean thing that could possibly cause them to be defiled [not even refurbished computers because he didn’t want them to end up with a machine that was possibly used for something bad] – covetousness is primarily a lack of contentment and is the same thing as idolatry because you begin to worship the object of your affection rather than God – you are not happy with what you have and so you have an inordinate affection toward something someone else has – no love in any of these – they are all selfish

Paul said that the Christian who walks in love will give thanks rather than to get off into any of these things [see v 20]

People who pursue these things lose all of their inheritance in the kingdom of God – God’s wrath is on the children of disobedience when they do these things so don’t think that he is suddenly permissive in these things now that you are his child – there are severe consequences and you are not to let any man deceive you otherwise

Walk as children of light [8-14] – this is a walk of reproof – you are going to shine so bright that everyone is going to see your Father in you [Matt 5:16] and the Spirit in you [9] and they are going to see the wickedness of their own sin – bright light is what a doctor or dentist uses to see infirmity in your flesh or mouth – bright light is what the doctor uses [laser] to cut the problem out of your flesh or to fix the problem

When Christ saved you, he brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light [1 Pet 2:9] – now he wants you to walk in that light so others can see that they are walking in darkness and so that they can see how to get into the light – when Jesus was here he was the light of the world and now we are to be the light of the world – you have to separate yourselves from the darkness [11-12] in order to reprove the things that are not pleasing to God

Walk circumspectly [15-17] – this is a walk of wisdom – you check everything out from every angle to be sure that what you are about to do is the most beneficial use of your time for the Lord – you don’t end up in foolish things – and therefore you do the will of the Lord

This wisdom comes from prayer, Bible reading, sacrifice [Rom 12:1-2, Eph 5:2] and good counsel.

 

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