February 7, 2010
Morning Worship
Text: Ephesians 5:1-21
Subject: A Life in Christ
Title: The Pursuit of Holiness
I’ve been riding the high of what happened here last Sunday morning. That sweet presence of the Holy Spirit was so compelling that many of you didn’t want to leave the building. It is those types of experiences that we as Christians long for. But don’t you know that there is a downside to experiencing God that way – at least it seems so to me. Anything less than that becomes mediocre or humdrum. We get a little spoiled and we want it all the time. Good for you. I believe that God wants you to want that all the time. That is the beginning of revival.
One of the things that happen when the Holy Spirit moves in that way is that He will begin to purge sin from the lives of believers. I would venture to say that there are areas in each of our lives where God would like to see change. When the Spirit of God moves that way He will begin to reveal those areas to us and begin to move us forward in the pursuit of holiness.
Going back to last Sunday Morning – It was a real blessing for me to see everyone linger at the altars and to see people step up and minister to others all over the church. But I have to tell you that when I woke up Monday morning I was physically and emotionally drained and the enemy immediately began his attacks on my weakened state. “That was nothing… You’ll never see that again… it was all in the flesh…you’re a loser-God won’t use you anymore.” The whole experience kind of reminds me of going on vacation. You plan, you long for it, you go and enjoy, but then you come home tired and fighting to get back into your routine and nothing has changed.
I want to talk to you today about all of these things today.
1. God has called you to live a holy life.
2. God has called you to live for Him.
3. God has given you all the power you will ever need to accomplish the first two things.
Lord, open my eyes to see and my ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
I. IMITATORS OF CHRIST. 1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children… As we look at verse 1 there is a word there that we have to pay attention to – the word “therefore”. Whenever you see it you know that it is a connecting word. Here it connects the idea of being an imitator of God with what Paul had written in the previous section, beginning with chapter 4 where it talks about unity in the body of Christ. Unity is brought about by proper relationships with other people and proper relationships are carried out by imitating God. Here Paul is attempting to elicit a response from his readers to be like their Father. Children who have that kind of relationship with their father want to grow up to be just like him. So it should be with Christians. If you go back up to 4:26 we can get an idea of how human relationships are supposed to be…. In your anger do not sin… don’t let the sun go down on your anger… don’t give the devil a foothold…don’t steal but do honest work…share with those in need…watch what comes out of your mouth… don’t beat people down but build them up… Verse 31, 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God therefore… as dearly loved children. In case you were following along in your bibles and noticed that I left out something in chapter 4… right in the middle of all those instructions about human relationship Paul wrote, 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Paul’s assertion here is that if you are a Christian, then you must live in unity with one another. To do anything less grieves the Spirit. In Romans 12:3, as Paul is leading up to his description of the gifts given by God for the day-to-day operation of the church, he writes this, 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. You are called to live that kind of life… Grieving the Holy Spirit involves anything that is contrary to His prompting and leading in your life – whether it is unholy relationships with other believers or being used in the gifts of the Spirit or hindering the flow of the Spirit in a corporate church setting. You just need to listen to His voice and respond accordingly. Verse 2 tells us how to do that, 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Jesus said this about our responsibility to others, John 15, 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. OK Pastor Mike, are you saying that we are supposed to be willing to die for others in the church? No, what I am saying is that you should be willing to put others before self. John 13:12-17, 12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. If you want to imitate God look at the life of Christ.
II. LIVING FOR CHRIST Paul now goes into a list of things that he says in verse 3, “are improper for God’s holy people…” The first part of the list is obvious - …sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed… In verse 5 he equates these things with idolatry. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. But I want you to look at verse 4. I have seen too many so-called Christians who would agree with the things mentioned in verse 3 but think that there is nothing wrong with the things in verse 4. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place… The Living Bible says, 4Dirty stories, foul talk, and coarse jokes… Notice that these are things that come from the mouth. But where do you think they originate? Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. These problems really aren’t mouth problems – they are heart problems – things that begin in the inner part of a man that are made manifest in the natural. Paul says that these things should be replaced with thanksgiving. Go back to verse 5. What are the consequences of immoral behavior? No immoral, impure or greedy person…has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. It can’t get any plainer than that can it? If that is how someone is living they cannot expect eternal life with Jesus. The admonition to believers is not to participate with them. Don’t do the things they are doing. Don’t let anyone convince you or deceive you with empty words. Society today spends an awful lot of time trying to do just that. Go ahead and just live with someone – it’s more cost effective than marriage. Experiment with your body to find out who you really are. How could that be wrong? 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
III. EMPOWERED BY CHRIST After all this discussion about holiness – living like God – and living for Christ, Paul gives us some clues as to how to live the way God desires us to live. 1) 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise… Be on your guard at all times. 2) 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Every opportunity for what? Every opportunity to do the right thing in every circumstance! 3) 17Therefore do not be foolish… The word translated foolish can also be translated as “ignorant”. Ignorance indicates a lack of knowledge. My people perish from a lack of knowledge. 4) but understand what the Lord’s will is… How can you know God’s will for your life? By being a Romans 12:2 Christian. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. God’s people are in need of continual renewal. How does that happen? 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Question: On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples, what was it that they were accused of? Acts 1:14-15, 14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. The tense of the verb “be filled” indicates that, after the initial Baptism in the Holy Spirit, believers are to continually seek the refilling. How does that happen? By reading and believing God’s word; by spending time in prayer; and by asking. You have not because you ask not. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Once, when speaking to a large crowd D. L. Moody held up a large glass and asked, “How do I remove the air from this glass?” One young man stood up and said, “Use a pump to suck it out.” Moody said, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass.” After numerous other suggestions Moody picked up a pitcher of water and filled the glass. “There,” he said, “the air is now all removed.” The key for living the Christian life is not sucking sin out, but being filled with the Holy Spirit.
As the Holy Spirit moves in your midst today the question arises, “What is He trying to tell me about my life? Are there things that I need to change in order to please God?”
Are you imitating God?
Are you living for Christ?
I know this one thing about you. The word of God says that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is an expected step that follows salvation. God wants to empower you for your life on earth. He wants you to draw so close to Him that you ask Him to fill you to overflowing. And He will. If you are baptized in the Holy Spirit He wants you to be refilled again and again so your life can testify to the power of God that is at work within you.
The power of God is available for you today.
What are you waiting for?
