Text:          EPHESIANS 5:1–21

By:              BRO. SUNDAY EYANRIN (EVANGELIST)

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INTRODUCTION

As we move into chapter five of our study of the Book of Ephesians, we are still noticing how to walk worthy of the calling with which we are called. Eph. 4:1.

1. We have been “called” to be:
2. “Holy and without blame before Him in love” – Ep 1:4
3. “Sons by Jesus Christ to Himself” – Ep 1:5
4. “Fellow citizens with the saints” – Ep 2:19
5. “Members of the household of God“ – Eph 2:19
6. “A holy temple in the Lord”
7. “fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in  Christ”-Ep 3:6

• What sort of “walk” is worthy of such a calling?  So far, we have seen that it is one in which we are:

1. “Walking Together In Unity” – Ep 4:1-16
2. “Walking In Truth And Holiness –Ep 4:17-32

Brethren, as we come into the fifth chapter. We will learn that our “walk” (or conduct) which is worthy of our calling is one in which we are to…

1. Walk In Love – Ep 5:1-7
2. Walk As Light – Ep 5:8-14
3. Walk As Wise – Ep 5:15-21

“Walking In Love, Light, And Wisdom”: why is this so important?  As indicated in Eph 5:1, we are to be “followers of God as dear children“; and just as God is “love, light, and wisdom” personified, so we should try to imitate our Father – (GOD)!

Therefore, let us consider how we should…

1. WALK IN LOVE (1-7)
2. FOLLOWING CHRIST AS OUR .. (1-2)
3. Jesus certainly has loved us and given Himself for us
4. He offered Himself to God as an offering and sacrifice in our behalf
5. Let His example teach us how to “walk in love”-Jn 13:34-35;1Jn 3:16-17
6. John 13:34-35 – 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
7. WITH A LOVE THAT IS PURE… (3-7)
8. Our love should be free from any hint of immorality or greed – Ep 5:3
9. Even words or jokes suggestive of immorality or greed are unbecoming those who are “saints“ (holy, set apart for God’s purpose) – Ep 5:4 (For example: 2KINGS 2:23 -24)

2 Kings 2:23-24

23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”

24 So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

NKJV

3. This is a serious concern, for immoral or greedy persons have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ , but instead will experience the full wrath of God! –

   Ep 5:5-7

“Walk In Love”, with a love that is sacrificial and free from any hint of personal gain (either sexual or monetary)…that is the kind of “walk” worthy of our calling as “saints”.

 Our “walk” also bears the responsibility of being a positive influence in the world in which we live, and this Paul discusses as we now consider our need to…

1. WALK AS LIGHT (8-14)
2. WE ARE NOW “LIGHT IN THE LORD”… (8-10) 1. Before coming to Christ, we were once “darkness” (remember Ep 2:1-3) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
3. in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3. among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. but now we are “light in the Lord” and should walk as “children of light” – Ep 5:8 (NKJV).
4. The “fruit” expected of those “children of light” is “goodness, righteousness and truth” – Ep 5:9
5. By bearing such fruit, we fulfill our role as “light” by “proving” (demonstrating) what is well- pleasing to the Lord – Ep 5:10; Rom 12:1-2
6. AS “LIGHT” WE MUST NECESSARILY EXPOSE”DARKNESS”… (11-14)
7. We are not to have fellowship with “unfruitful works of darkness” –   Ep 5:11; e.g., fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, Ep 5:3-4
8. Instead, our task is to “expose” them – Ep 5:11b-13
9. Things that we must “expose” are often so disgraceful, it is shameful to speak of them
10. But by “walking in the light” ourselves, we can through example and word expose by contrast these   “works of darkness”.
11. Thus the need to be “light” ourselves, is something that comes only from Christ – Ep 5:14
12. Christ gives “light” to those who were spiritually asleep and dead – Ep 2:4-6

To “Walk As Light” is an awesome responsibility, and some have allowed the “darkness” to overshadow the “light”, rather than the “light” exposing the “darkness”.  How can we be sure to carry out our role as “the children of light”? This is where “wisdom” comes in, and therefore Paul exhorts us to…

III. WALK AS WISE (15-21)

 A.CHARACTERISTICS OF “WALKING AS     WISE”..(15-17)

1. Doing so with great care – Ep 5:15
2. The word translated “circumspectly” means “exactly, accurately, diligently”.
3. Unlike fools, who care little about where they are going or what is happening.
4. Taking advantage of the time available to one – Ep 5:16
5. To “redeem the time” is “to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well – doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own.

This is necessary, because the days are “evil” (bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time, full of     peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble

3. Understanding the will of the Lord – Ep 5:17
4. Only by understanding the will of the Lord can we be a “wise people “.
5. Just as Israel was to demonstrate their wisdom by doing the will of the Lord, so we can “walk as wise” only if we understand His will for us -. Deut 4:5-6

5 “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. 6 Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. (NKJV)

1. TO WALK AS WISE REQUIRES BEING “FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT”… (18-21)

While those who “walk as fools” delight in being filled with wine, those who “walk as wise” will endeavour to be filled with the Spirit! What evidence is there that one is “filled with the Spirit”? Paul describes three indications…

1. One indication is singing praises – Ep 5:19
2. Another indication is giving thanks – Ep 5:20
3. A third indication is submitting to one another in the fear of God – Ep 5:21

CONCLUSION

1. Children of God who delight in…
2. Singing praises and making melody in the heart
3. Giving thanks always for all things to God
4. Submitting to one another in the fear of God – demonstrate that they are “filled with the Spirit”, and as such, truly are “followers of God as dear children” (Ep 5:1)
5. As children of God, and “filled with the Spirit”, they are able to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, as they…
6. “Walk in love”
7. “Walk as light”
8. “Walk as wise“
9. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we live in a world…
10. That has perverted the meaning of “love”
11. That takes perverse as pleasure in works of darkness
12. That stumbles around aimlessly, like drunken fools — Can we not     see the need for the people of God   today to live up to  their “calling”,   and to “prove what is acceptable in the sight of the Lord”?

May God fill His children with His Spirit… So that we can truly “walk in love”, “walk as light”, and “walk as wise“ in Jesus  Name – Amen.

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