Presents
Pamphlet #5172 KCEphesians12
Both sons and daughters shall be, and are, used mightily of God.
In our last study we learned that we should walk in love, avoid all filthiness and fornication, keep our distance from the children of disobedience, prove all things from scripture and common sense, and walk circumspectly letting our "light" shine in the darkness of this age.
Ephes. 5:17
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
[18] And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
You can't be filled with BOTH!
You can't be filled with the Holy Spirit when you are filled with other "spirits".
That's right, when you imbibe, it "opens you up" to other spirits, which is why it's called wine and "spirits".
People do things when they are "under the influence" that they wouldn't do otherwise.
This should come as no surprise to some.
It is declared in the Proverbs that to be drunk is NOT WISE.
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Now there is nothing wrong or sinful with a little wine or an adult beverage, if you are one who can handle it.
Some can't and for various reasons, be they physical or mental or spiritual.
In fact, a little wine is good for the stomach sake (1 Tim 5:23).
The sin is in trying to drink your lifetime supply before you're age thirty.
Furthermore, an excess of wine will douse your "light".
Much can be said about wine, for it is used symbolically of both truth and religion.
But know this, both wine and religion can be intoxicating.
In fact, it is easier to convert, bring to their senses, one drunk with bottled wine than one spiritually drunk with the wine of religion, better known as the wine of fornication.
Ephes 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Speak with the words of Psalms and be merry in your heart with songs and hymns.
[20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
[21] Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
It is important to realize that to submit, or subject, one to another is a reciprocal process, a "two way street" as we say.
Paul has been discussing the unity of the body of Christ in his letter to the Ephesians and here he gets even more specific as to the "oneness".
(Note: This verse must always be remembered and brought forth when the media and the Christian bashers, and the wacko militant feminist groups (men haters) pull the next verse out of context.)
Paul then breaks "submitting" down even further using the analogy of marriage to show the "mystery" of verse 32, that we are ONE body in Christ, even as a husband and wife are "one flesh".
Not once, in this analogy, does he hint that Christ is the husband or that the church is His wife, as is so often taught.
In verse 30 he makes it very clear that we are members of His body, of His flesh, of His bones.
Therefore, in as much as a husband and wife are one, in order to operate in "unity", together, as one flesh, one body, they must be subject one to another in the reverence of the Lord.
Let us understand. Ladies first:
[22] Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
They would read this verse out of the context of togetherness, not knowing the unity of Christ, and then think they were just told to obey every 'wish' and 'command' of their husband.
[23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body.
[24] Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
And again, you must understand how the church is "subject" to Christ" to understand the unity in submitting.
"In everything" means 'thoroughly" or with "full commitment", from both.
One more point.
Paul never once indicates that there is any inequality in spiritual status.
There is none.
In these last days circumcision is of the heart, both male and female.
Here is Peter's quote from the Book of Joel on that first Pentecost day:
Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Ephes 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
(This has nothing to do with getting him to take the trash out, which for the most part really doesn't qualify as act of love... for the most part.)
There is nothing more beautiful than a Christian marriage where both partners are submissive to the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you have one of those marriages, then you should be singing everyday with thanks and praise to Him.
But for those whose marriage where both partners are not reciprocal in Him, or for those who are not married or divorced, know that He loves you and He cares and in His love we have the ultimate unity, which cannot be broken our circumstances.
We must go in peace, which is walking in love, and set the example for others (including our mate), which is letting our light shine, and be happy, giving thanks for ALL things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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