Like Father, Like Son
Ephesians 5:1-20
Slide
Intro
I am sure most of us have heard the phrase, Like Father, Like Son.
It’s a great saying when your kids do something positive, but not so great when they don’t.
For the Christian, those who have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, we are supposed to follow the ways of our Father, but we don’t always do that, just like our kids don’t always follow us. Part of the reason is that we fail to learn.
So, Paul, instructs the Ephesians to be imitators of their heavenly Father and he teaches them what that should look like in their life.
So, today, we are going to jump right in to our text in Ephesians 5:1-20
Slide
Ephesians 5:1-20
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For 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. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For 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) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for 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."
15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray
Ok, Paul starts out this chapter telling us to be imitators of God and he talks about three ways we need to be living to live our life in this way.
And he tells us first to
Live a Life of Love
Slide
Ephesians 5:1-2a
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love,
Do you ever read a Scripture and think to yourself, “Boy, it should we be great if so and so would read this.” Or hear a sermon and think of someone you know who you wish were hearing that message.
Well, stop it. This is for you and for me.
It is us that needs to live a life of love. Yes, others do too, but we can’t make them do it. We can only affect our own living.
So How do we live this life of love? Well, Paul goes on to give us some practical ways to actually do that..
He starts out setting Christ as our example calling us to love by being sacrificial
Be Sacrificial
Slide
Ephesians 5:2b - live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Love is not just an emotion or feeling we feel. Love is actions we take and sacrifices we make.
Loving actions will always be sacrificial. It really isn’t love if it is beneficial to you.
So just as Christ loved us and give himself up for as a sacrifice, we need to live sacrificially with others.
Now that will look different toward different people.
We are going to be more sacrificial to those who are close to us than those we don’t know. That is normal.
But we should be asking ourselves as we go through this life, how can I love like Jesus loved?
Transition
A second way that we live a life of love is to
Be Sexually Pure
Slide
Ephesians 5:3a - 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity
How is remaining sexually pure a loving act.
I know our society thinks sex outside of the bounds of marriage is no big deal, but that is not true.
It is a big deal. I understand that in the moment it may offer some short term pleasure, but sex outside of marriage can affect you longer term in regards less of an ability to experience deep intimacy with the person who will be your spouse.
And pressuring a person to have sex is absolutely not a loving act. Just even being willing to engage in that is not the act of love that you think it is.
Only in a committed covenant relationship of marriage is sex something that can enhance your relationship and foster deep intimacy.
Live a life of love and remain sexually pure.
Transition
Paul also tells us that living a life of love is expressed by being
Be Generous
Slide
Ephesians 5:3
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
Paul tells us that being greedy is not how we love people. We love people through being generous to them.
When we come across someone in need, do we give or turn our backs?
Are we looking to keep what we have for ourselves?
We need to keep the perspective of whose stuff we are really stewards of.
It is all the Lord’s. When He places opportunities in front of us, we have an opportunity to be generous.
Live a life of love by being generous.
Transition
We also live a life of love by being Thankful and uplifting
Be Thankful and Uplifting
Slide
Ephesians 5:4
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
The things that come out of our mouth matter.
We may think some of the things we say don’t matter, but much of it does.
Using obscene language, talking foolishly or coarsely does not give us opportunities to love.
Last week Bob spoke on the last half of Ephesians 4 and it says in
Slide
Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
To truly be living a life of love, we need to be thankful for the Lord’s blessings, whatever they may be, and be building people up with our words.
How is your language? Are you a complainer or someone who can be thankful in any and every circumstance?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Encourage others. Then you will be living a life of love.
Transition
So Paul gives some practical ways to be loving, but he also goes on and tells us that if was are going to imitate the father, we need to
Live in the Light
Slide
Ephesians 5:8 - For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
What does this mean and What would our life look like if we were living in the light?
Well to live in the light means to live according to Christ’s direction in our life. He is the Light and we are called to live in Him.
And if we are doing that, certain things will happen because of living in the light.
Paul tells us first that
Light produces fruit
Slide
Ephesians 5:9
9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
Similar to the fruit of the Spirit, if we are living in the light, our lives will have visible goodness, righteousness and be based in the truth of God’s word.
Are you living in the light? If you believe you are, is there visible fruit? Would others say you are good and do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and that you live in truth?
Living in the light will produce fruit in your life.
Transition
Also
Light reveals the Lord
Slide
Ephesians 5:10 - and find out what pleases the Lord.
When we find out what God wants and we live according to it, we are reflecting the Lord.
The title of the message today is Like Father, Like Son, so as we live according to what the Lord tells us and as we imitate Him, we reveal Him to others who need Him.
Transition
We also see that
Light exposes Evil
Slide
Ephesians 5:11-14
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for 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."
Now I don’t believe that we need to call out everyone who is doing something that is wrong.
I do believe that as we live in the light, people will see some of the evil that they tolerate.
When I worked on the trading floor of the CME, it was a little rough sometimes. The guys down there would sometimes view magazines that were not glorifying to the Lord and would tell stories about some of their activities.
We worked closely together and when someone would be viewing something or telling a story that was not appropriate, many times I would just exit the conversation of the area.
After a while, these guys would not be telling those stories when I was around or viewing inappropriate material.
Why was that. Because just by my presence, it exposed what they were doing or talking about was not appropriate.
I did not have to say anything. Just striving to live in the light exposed their activities for what they were.
Living in the Light exposes Evil
Transition
Finally, we are called to
Live in Wisdom
Slide
Ephesians 5:15-16
15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
We live in a world that continues to decay. Things that God would call wrong are thought of in the world as right.
To live for the Lord takes wisdom.
What does it take for us to live in wisdom?
Well,
First,
Wisdom requires knowledge of God’s will
Slide
Ephesians 5:17 - Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
This does not mean God’s secret or hidden will for our lives, but His general will as found in his word. You need to know His word and trust it if you are going to live wisely in this world.
We need to recognize that God is eternal and his word is true yesterday, today and forever. It does not change like the sifting sand. And it is not burdensome, but life giving.
The world is going to continue to try and tell you that God’s word is outdated, it is no longer relevant for today. The problem is not God’s word. The problem is that sin continues to so corrupt our society that things that are wrong will appear right in our own eyes.
Judges
The book of judges should be a warning to us. Judges begins after Joshua’s reign when the people followed and obeyed the Lord. But after that generation died, the next generations turned away from the Lord and did what was right in their own eyes.
There is a refrain in Judges that is repeated several times.
Judges 17:6 - In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (ESV)
Living in wisdom requires knowing God’s will and following Him as your King. Otherwise, we will end up like Israel at the time of the judges, doing what is right in your own eyes and then suffering great distress.
But wisdom requires not just knowing God’s will, but it requires keeping our minds alert so we can think clearly.
Wisdom requires clear thinking
Slide
Ephesians 5:18a - Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Paul warns the Ephesians against doing things that are a detriment to their ability to think clearly.
Getting drunk, getting high, doing drugs all alter are ability to make wise decisions.
People do things when they are drunk or on drugs that they would not do when they are sober because their ability to think clearly is hindered.
If we are going to live in wisdom, we need to not be given to drunkenness or mind altering drugs, because that is a tool of Satan to direct us in the path of foolishness instead of wisdom.
And finally, to live in wisdom, requires not only knowing God’s will and avoiding things that hinder our thinking, but
Wisdom requires Christ centered living
Slide
Ephesians 5:18b-20
Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ centered living requires a relationship with Christ.
When you enter into that relationship with Christ by receiving Him as your Savior, the Holy Spirit comes and indwells you.
Then as you grow in that relationship with Him by living in His strength, Living a Christ Centered Life in His power, The Holy Spirit strengthens you and fills you.
We live that type of life
through worshipping the Lord
through keeping our eyes fixed on Him
through renewing our minds in Christ by growing in His word
through giving thanks to the Lord knowing that He can work all things for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
Through serving and encouraging others in the Lord.
Are you living a Christ centered life?
Are you imitating your heavenly father by
Living a life of Love?
Living in the Light of his truth
living in wisdom according to His word
Not deadening your senses with alcohol and chemicals, but instead being filled with the Holy Spirit and experiencing Life!
That is the life that the Lord calls us to.
Conclusion
If you are not experiencing that today, why not?
Is it because you have never truly trusted and received Christ as your Savior?
The Bible tells us that when we turn and repent of our sins and turn to Christ believing in Him, that He is the Lord and that He died for your sins and rose from the dead, you will be saved and the Holy Spirit of God will come and indwell you.
Then as you respond to His leading in His power, He fills you and strengthens you to live this Christ Centered Life, a life that is a life of love, lived in the Light and in the wisdom of the Lord.
If you have not received Christ, turn to him today and receive that Gift.
If you have already received Christ, but are not living that Christ centered life imitating the father, then take steps to
live in love, sacrificing, taking steps to remain sexually pure, being generous, and giving thanks.
Live in the light of Christ, producing fruit, revealing Christ and exposing evil through your actions and lifestyle
Live in wisdom, growing in God’s word, fleeing from mind numbing activities, and living a Christ centered life in worship and obedience to the Lord.
What one of the steps is most vital for you right now? I want to pray that God will strengthen and enable you to take that step this week, whether it is a step of sacrificial love for someone, or an act of generosity, or toward sexual purity, or just in being thankful and uplifting in your language.
Take a step toward living a life of love and you will bear fruit as you walk in the light and walk in his wisdom.
Let’s pray.
