H2o (Honoring And Obeying Is Equal To Life)

Outline:

Introduction: Background of the Book of Ephesians

Propositional Statement: We must all obey the people of the Lord and Honor all people for this is right

I. First command of Paul—Children obey…

a. To whom will obey?—Parents in the Lord

b. Why to Obey?—for this is right

II. Second command of Paul—Children honor…

a. To whom will to honor?—Father and Mother

b. Why honor?—the first commandment with a promise

Conclusion: Unleashing the meaning of the TITLE

Introduction: Background of the Book of Ephesians

That was the Goal why Paul wrote the book of the Ephesians to the people at Ephesus. His aim was to establish the doctrine of the unity of mankind in Christ and the purpose of God for the world through the Church.

So when Paul wrote his letter to the Christian church in Ephesus, the city was one of the wealthiest and largest cities in the eastern Mediterranean area with a population of more than 300,000.

Its position along the coast of modern day Turkey made it a very important trade city, linking the east routes (India, Persia, and the Far East) with the European and African trade routes. The masses enjoyed many sports centers, baths, impressive public buildings and the city’s outdoor theater seated 25,000 people

But, as Paul and the other missionaries discovered, the city was very pagan with a religious life centered on a fertility goddess by the Roman name of Diana. This same goddess was also known as Artemis in the Greek language. She was believed to be the daughter of Zeus, from Greek mythology. The temple built in her honor is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In this temple, there were both male and female prostitutes that her worshippers were to participate with. Among the highly superstitious people, there were many exorcists, and quacks. The practice of witchcraft was everywhere.

The readers of this Ephesians letter were addressed as Gentile believers (2:11; 3:1). They had a number of needs that Paul sought to meet. They needed to have their hearts enlightened as to the greatness of their salvation (1:18). They needed to feel full participation in the redemption given through Christ and overcome the feeling that they were outsiders or second class compared to the Jewish believers. That’s why if we can read the early part of the book we can understand why Paul wrote the work of God in the Body of Christ, “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity” Ephesians 2:14-16. Paul already established the importance of the doctrine of Unity in Christ that we are all equal since after the death of Jesus Christ, thus, starting at chapter 4 of the book he discuss the application of those doctrines that he taught regarding to a Christian life. First is the Unity of the Church down to its specific unification and that is the Unity of the relationship over husbands and wives, masters and slaves and our main text for today about Gods will relationship of Children and Parents that will be read in Ephesians 6:1-3. I’m using New American Standard Bible.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

So I conclude that hindi lang ang masasamang damo ang matagal mamatay, pati rin pala ung mga masusuniring mga anak ay tumatagal ang buhay. (Joke)

So in verse 1 of chapter 6 the Apostle Paul addressed his message to the Children at Ephesus. The first command of Paul is…

I. Children—Obey

…Children Obey, the word “obey” in Greek is “u`pakou,w” hupakouo {hoop-ak-oo'-o} meaning to listen, to submit, be obedient to. So, children must obey, must submit, must listen and must be obedient. Listening is one of the hardest things that a man will do, why?

Because, listening according to counseling is an effort, minsan nga maririnig natin sa mag asawa “naririndi na ako sayo!” that’s a response of a person who has difficulty in listening. If you compare the word hearing and listening, hearing is done when someone maybe hear the command, instruction or teaching straight to the mind, while listening is done when someone hears the command, instruction or teaching straight to the mind down to the application. Obeying is not just hearing the commands of the people but also applying it in your life as well. So it means when you obey you listen.