All posts tagged Ephesians

Life Dominating Pleasures

by brad on November 29, 2010 in Counseling Reflection with Comments Off

There are certain passages of Scripture that are notorious for stimulating a debate, confusion, and fear. One such passage is Ephesians 5:4-5 (and its “cousin” in I Cor 6:9-10):

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

Passages like this can quickly (if we take them seriously at all) make any one of us doubt our salvation. Passages like Ephesians 5 and I Corinthians 6 can also be used to “hammer” particular sins, especially sexual ones like pornography, adultery, or homosexuality. Yet we often overlook the fact that crude joking and coveting are on the same list.

What are we supposed to do with a passage like this? What is this passage trying to get us to evaluate? Should we use the presence of certain sins to undermine the assurance of our salvation? Should we avoid passages like this in order to protect ourselves from undue fear?

I would like to propose one question (among others) I believe we can safely take from this passage and use to effectively make application of this passage – what is my life-dominating pleasure? I believe that is the big point.

If sex is my life-dominating pleasure (i.e., fantasy through porn, same-sex attraction, pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, or ev

en the frequency of sex within marriage), then chances are I do not truly know the God of the Bible.

If I get my kicks through coarse humor or if I believe that some new gadget/car/home/etc… is going to make my life what I want it to be, then I have not been captured by the character of The Holy God.

If I have to escape from the pain or stress of daily living through alcohol, drugs, golf, computer games, a hobby, etc… because I do not believe there is anything else that can help me, then the God I claim to know is drastically inferior to the God of Scripture.

Paul’s question does not hinge on what sins a Christian can or cannot commit or how frequently or infrequently a Christian can commit certain sins and remain a Christian. Paul (as Scripture always does) is aiming right for our hearts. Paul’s logic would go like this:

  • If you live as if this world has more pleasure to offer than God, you do not know God.
  • If you live as if this world (or you) can protect you more than God, you do not know God.
  • If you live as if this world is more worth having than God, you do not know God.

The question is not whether we have “lapses in our sanity” (and I do not think that language is too strong). The question is whether we have come to the place that we believe that belonging to God is our life-dominating pleasure (Luke 9:23-24; Gal 2:20; Phil 3:7-11). That is what it means to be a Christian, or as Paul says in Ephesians 5:5 to inherit the kingdom of God.

zp8497586rq

The Battle Plan – Ephesians 6:10-24

by brad on November 16, 2010 in Application Supplement with Comments Off

Stand (6:11, 13, 14)

This is not the word that comes to mind when I think of warfare. I think of attacking, surging, hand-to-hand combat, offensive, and other aggressive words. But the most repeated action word in Paul’s classic passage on spiritual warfare is “stand.” I think this is because I think of having to win the battle, but the battle has already been won.

When I think of winning the battle I unduly wrestle with both pride and fear; pride that I could be the hero and fear that I might fail. When I understand my role in the battle – not to surrender conquered ground – then these temptations make much less sense. When I get caught up in whether I am strong, brave, or smart enough these concerns lure me from my primary duty – standing firm. It is only when I fail to stand on God’s grace and Christ’s victory that I can be defeated.

Reflection: How do you visualize spiritual warfare? Do you think as if it is a battle already won or a battle you have to win? How does understanding your primary orders as “standing firm” relieve much of the pressure associated with spiritual warfare? Think of your moments of temptation. What does it look like to stand firm in Christ’s victory in those moments?

Pray that Words May Be Given (6:18-19)

Spiritual warfare is the battle for the souls of unbelievers and the character of believers. As we just saw, the battle for the character of believers is to stand firm in the righteousness of Christ that we were given at our salvation. However, Scripture focuses the battle for the souls of unbelievers more on the faithfulness of believers to share the gospel than the convincing of unbelievers to respond.

In Ephesians 6:19 Paul asks for prayer, “For me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,” and echoes the prayer request of Jesus in Matthew 9:37-38, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” We, again, tend to get caught up in our effectiveness more than our faithfulness.

Application: Pray regularly for your faithfulness and the faithfulness of individual members of your church to share the gospel with lost friends. That is spiritual warfare. No where in Scripture does it tell us to pray that lots of people w

ill respond to our sharing the gospel. That is God’s work and God will be faithful to the sharing of His Word. Scripture knows that the weakest link in God’s battle plan is our faithfulness to speak. Pray for this frequently and fervently.

The Armor of God

(BCH_Eph6B_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

Our role in the battle of spiritual warfare is clear – to stand firm in Christ’s victory on our behalf and speak clearly of Christ’s victory for those who have not received it.  In outfitting believers to complete this battle plan, Paul describes six pieces of armor that are required. Use the following reflective questions to assess your “fitness for battle.”

The Belt of Truth: Do you acknowledge your own sin and speak with love to the sin’s of those near you? Or do you live in denial by calling sin by other names or not holding the sinner accountable for his/her actions?

The Breastplate of Righteousness: Do you live with a defeated mindset assuming righteousness is too hard for you? Or do you live in recognition that the righteousness of Christ has already been given to you?

The Shoes of the Gospel: Do you look for ways to improve yourself in your own strength and by sheer determination? Or do you face each challenge recognizing that apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5)?

The Shield of Faith: As you face each challenge, do you try to assess whether you are up to the difficulty presenting itself? Or as you face each challenge, do you compare the difficulty to the size, power, and compassion of your God?

The Helmet of Salvation: Do you live as if the most important things in life have yet to be done and depend upon your daily effort to be accomplished? Or do you live in the peace of knowing that the only thing that will last forever has already been accomplished and is secure?

The Sword of the Spirit: Do you face each challenge wondering where you will get the “practical” wisdom and insight in order to know what to do? Or do you daily study God’s Word in faith trusting that all you need for life and godliness is contained in the Bible (2 Pet 1:3)?

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

zp8497586rq

Children, Parents, Workers – Ephesians 6:1-9

by brad on November 8, 2010 in Application Supplement with Comments Off

Command with a Promise (6:2)

There were four commandments without a promise, then one with a promise, and then five more without a promise. Of the Ten Commandments, only the command to “honor your father and mother” comes with a promise. What should we make of this? Maybe, God wants obedience to be a reward in itself and we should only minimally incentivize obedience. Possibly, God is modeling the use of incentives for the training of children but expects maturity to diminish our dependence upon rewards.

Paul’s main point in this passage (from 5:21 forward) is the God-designed blessing of living in submission according to one’s role and function. We (like children) get caught wanting to be further along (older). God’s protection comes from finding joyful contentment in our current life role without losing our desire to learn or achieve. When we are child-like in this manner (remember the Ten Commandments were given to all ages) we are living in the blessing of God’s will.

Reflection: How often have you said to a child, “You are getting a little too big for your britches”? As children try to live outside their life role, they enter into arenas of relational and situational danger. They leave the protection of their parent’s and God’s protection. The question we might ask ourselves (as adults) is “Where has pride mingled with ambition so that we have become too big for our britches?”  Let us be like good children; ever learning and growing while maintaining trust and  honor.

Do Not Provoke to Anger

(BCH_Eph6A_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

The New Testament teaching on parenting can largely be summarized in two phrases: train your children in God’s Word and do not provoke them to anger while you do it. As parents we spend a great deal of time asking, “How can we get our kids to behave?” Consider the following answers to the question, “How might we provoke our kids to anger?”

  • Take their sin more seriously than we take our own sin.
  • Discipline harder when we are having a bad day.
  • Mistake our preferences for God’s standards.
  • Favor one child over another.
  • Dishonor our spouse to/in front of our kids.
  • Allow our family to over commit to activities.
  • Bad mout

    h the authorities in our own lives.

  • Only talk to our kids when they have done something wrong.
  • Fail to show interest in their activities or friends.
  • Mistake volume or repetition for godly instruction.
  • Make jokes about their weaknesses or insecurities.
  • Fail to provide proper instruction for new tasks.
  • Act as if resisting sin is easier for adolescents than adults.
  • To have expectations that are not age appropriate.
  • Allow children to be ruled by their impulses without correction.

What would you add to the list? What would it look like if we created a “behavior chart” for ourselves as parents?  More importantly, can you find your characteristic weaknesses and identify the overgrown desires (i.e., peace, comfort, perfection, etc…) that cause you to err in that direction?

As To the Lord, Not To Man (6:7)

Paul emphasizes that we are not to work for man’s approval three times in this passage. It is tempting to see this as a purely guilt-based admonition, but I believe it is also a call to freedom. When we work for man’s approval we are often disappointed when our work is not noticed or appreciated. We feel like our effort was “wasted” if recognition is not given. What could have otherwise been very satisfying is now discouraging.

When we work for the Lord, we are truly free. This seems to be the point of verse 8. Slavery is being forced to do something against your will. So, for instance, students who do not want to learn feel like slaves at school. When we are working for the Lord, we are free and motivated so long as we have a wholesome task.

Application: What tasks do you have to do, but enjoy very little? Does the task insult your pride (“beneath me”) or is it merely at odds with your preferences?  How can engaging in this task cultivate more of the fruit of the Spirit in your life and become a point of worship? For me, I dislike proofreading things I write. It feels slow and repetitive. When I “have to” edit it challenges me to grow in peace, patience, and self-control. I gain an appreciation for God’s intricate and daily involvement in creation. Reflecting on that as I edit gives drudgery a dose of worship.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

zp8497586rq

Marriage As A Portrait – Ephesians 5:22-33

by brad on November 1, 2010 in Application Supplement with No comments

As the Church, As Christ (5:23, 25)

Too often we attempt to understand this passage backwards. Paul has spent five chapters describing the relationship between Christ and the church so that we could understand these few verses. Yet when we begin our application we just want to know who gets the last say in a disagreement, how often they can/cannot enact this power, and how this is not being a doormat.

There is absolutely no way to make proper application of this passage with that approach. Unless both spouses are coming to this passage with a reverent awe for how sacrificially Christ loves the church and how completely (with joy and protection) the church submits to Christ, each spouse should stop and reread Ephesians 1-5:21. Until this happens you have two people wanting to use God and the Bible to support their agenda and dreams. No marriage will function until you have two servant-minded people in the covenant.

Application: Try to write the wedding vows that would exist between Christ and the church (basic principles of salvation). Imagine what the division of household labor would look like between Christ and the church (how we grow in sanctification by grace). Consider how Scripture teaches the church to make major decisions under the headship of Christ. Reflect on how the church is called to administer discipline to its members (children) under the headship of Christ. After this reflection (based upon Scripture not personal opinion) you are prepared to try to apply Ephesians 5:22-33 to marriage roles.

That He Might Present

(BCH_Eph5C_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

Upon her arrival into heaven, Christ will present His church in the splendor He cultivated in her to Himself (Eph 5:27). As a husband, I am to keep this in mind as I love my wife through this life. The life my wife shares with me and the manner in which I love her is to beautify her body and soul. AND! I am to enjoy the process as I delight in the progress.

Here are some ways we engage with this biblical job description for husbands:

  • Model timely, thorough, and healthy repentance for our own sin.
  • Lead our family to live within our means with money and time.
  • Instruct, discipline, and enjoy the children of our home.
  • Be dependable in the things we say we will do.
  • Romance our wife in a way that resembles God’s delight for her.
  • Share what God teaches us in our personal Bible study.
  • Volunteer information about how our wife can pray for us.
  • Sacrifice time and energy for her to express her spiritual gifts.
  • Engage with other Christian couples with similar passions.
  • Like Christ in prayer, listen with concern to the content of her thoughts.

We will never love our wife like Christ does the church without taking seriously our call to be like Christ. I pray (and want to pray more often than I do) that one of the trophies of my life is a wife who reaches the arms of her True Husband “in splendor” with many marks of grace as a result of our journey through life together. If you would also take up this prayer, I would encourage you to read Gary Thomas’ book Sacred Marriage.

Because We Are Members of His Body (5:30)

Usually (at least from my experience) this phrase gets under taught. There is so much to teach in Ephesians 5:22-29 and the summary punch of verses 31-33 that this phrase just gets lost. Why does Christ love us so well? He has taken us as members of His body—the church. How should a husband think of his wife in order to love her as Christ would? We are to think of her as a member of our own body.

When we fail to love our wife well we usually either do not think of her or view her as against us. That would be the equivalent of trying to solve severe hunger by distracting ourselves or solving a headache by banging our head against a wall. That is not what we do with our body. We may over eat or over medicate, but we care for “our body.” The challenge to love our wife well is a challenge to take our “one flesh” relationship seriously.

Application: (Taken too far this becomes codependency) Treat each concern of your wife as if it were your own. Do not merely ask, “What would I do if I were her?” That would be duplicating yourself as your wife. Your call is to “incarnate” yourself in your wife’s experience (as best you can). The new questions are, “How does this affect my wife? When does this become more intense for her? What is most comforting for her? How can I remind her of my concern and protection?” These are the questions we ask of and pray that God would be involved with our concerns, so it is how we should love our wife as “members of our body.”

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

The Importance of Daily Living – Ephesians 5:15-21

by brad on October 25, 2010 in Application Supplement with 1 Comment

Wisdom, Time, Then Marriage (5:15, 16, 22ff)

I would venture to guess that most people who prepare to teach on marriage from Ephesians 5 do begin with the context of verses 15 and 16 (although some do begin with verse 18). Yet when we look at Paul’s instructions on wisdom and time, the marital implications are huge, especially if we are to do justice to the controversial teachings on headship and submission.

Couples will have little trouble applying verses 22-33 if both individuals humbly acknowledge their constant need to evaluate whether they are making wise choices (v. 15) and evaluate their use of time to make sure it is being given to matters of first importance (v. 16). However, when we begin to make foolish choices and waste time, then headship and submission become a nasty, contentious debate.

Application: Give yourself completely to the teaching of Scripture and examine your use of time carefully.  If you are unwilling to do this, then you do not have a marital problem. You have a hard, proud heart that believes you know better than God what makes a “good” life. Paul says to “look carefully (v. 15) at these matters. The verb “look” is both a command and in the present tense implies a continual need for this action.

The Will of the Lord (5:17)

It is peace-giving to see how casually Paul speaks of the will of God. He simply says, “Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of God is (v. 17).” The opposite of the will of God is foolishness. We often try to make God’s will so much harder than that. God’s will can be summed up as what happens in your life as you love God and love others in daily life.

When we think of fulfilling God’s will, we (or at least me) feel like it should be some emotionally powerful moment with grand eternal significance. Most days the will of God can be summarized by waking up with gratitude for the day, seeking to learn more of God in His Word, working hard at the tasks given to you, seeking opportunity to share God with others, and loving those around you well, especially your family.

Application: Remember daily faithfulness prepares you to be ready t

o fulfill God’s will. Daily faithfulness prepares others to receive you as God’s messenger of evangelism, encouragement, or confrontation. Daily faithfulness is where you draw the strength and faith to act on God’s unique callings on your life. Daily faithfulness is how you gain sensitivity to God’s particular promptings.

Giving Thanks Always

(BCH_Eph5B_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

After reading The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom I will never be able to read Ephesians 5:20 the same again. I will summarize one scene from the book here and highly encourage you to read her powerful true story for yourself.

Corrie and her family were arrested by the Nazi’s in World War II for helping the Jews escape. She and her sister were separated from their father and placed in a concentration camp. They faced many brutalities. God was faithful to keep them together, allow them to smuggle their Bible from camp to camp, and frequently give them favor with the guards.

After changing camps and being introduced to a new cell and inmates, Corrie was struggling (understandably so) with anger and bitterness. Her sister reminded Corrie they were to “give thanks always and in everything.” After resisting, Corrie could give thanks to God that they had not been separated and that they still had their Bible. Then Corrie began to be bitten by fleas. Her sister asked Corrie to give thanks for the fleas. Corrie could/would not.

Many days during their evening Bible study Corrie commented to the fellow inmates that the guards never checked on the barracks in this camp. She was pleased to have uninterrupted Bible study and prayer during these hard days. Another lady, not knowing the previous conversation with Corrie’s sister, said, “It is because of the fleas. They won’t come near the barracks.” Finally, Corrie was able to give thanks always and in everything.

When you struggle to give thanks, pray that God would give you faith in His character even if you never understand the situation. If you are in a particularly hard situation of suffering, I would further recommend The Hiding Place as a book that gives testimony to the power of God through gratitude, love, and forgiveness over gross injustice, oppression, and pain.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

zp8497586rq

Being Like Our Father – Ephesians 5:1-14

by brad on October 18, 2010 in Application Supplement with Comments Off

As Beloved Children (5:1)

Many people (rightly) say that they do not know how to relate to God as Father. Usually this is because of the harshness or absence of their biological father. However, when we state the problem this way we distract from half of the problem. It is equally true and disruptive that we do not know how to be God’s children. In abusive or neglectful homes children are required to be miniature adults.

Children get to be protected as they play and explore their world. Children are allowed to make mistakes and then are lovingly corrected or instructed as needed afterwards. Children can rest in the fact that their parents will provide for and protect them. Children require that the same lesson be taught multiple times in various ways before it becomes a habitual part of their life. Children are encouraged to imitate their parents’ actions, words, and emotions and develop a healthy, godly character as they do so.

Reflection: As you read through the list (brief sampling) of what it means to be a child in a healthy home, what actions are unnatural for you. Do you know how to be a child? In light of this reflection consider Jesus’ words in Mark 10:15, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Then consider how Jesus’ rebuked/reminded the disciples of their relationship to God when they were worried about financial hardship in Mark 10:24, “And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!’”

Must Not Even Be Named Among You (5:2)

It would be easy to read these words in the tone of embarrassed parents scolding their child after the child sinned in public, “I don’t even want that kind of action spoken about our family!” But this is not Paul’s tone. Paul is concerned for God’s reputation and the church’s influence not his social status nor even the social status of any given church member. Paul would gladly be embarrassed so long as the Gospel was not disgraced (I Cor 1:17-31). This is why his words had influence; they were not about him.

It is important to note that Paul’s list of sins to avoid range from sleeping with your neighbor’s wife to being jealous of your neighbor’s i-phone. Paul was not being emotionally

reactive to a certain class of taboo sins, as if he were embarrassed to have to talk about sex. Paul was not annoyed by a problem that was inconveniencing him (Ephesians is unique amongst Paul’s letters because it does not appear to be written in response to a problem in the church). Paul is simply reminding the church of Who they represent and the importance being holy ambassadors.

Reflection: How much does embarrassment motivate your pursuit of holiness? When this is the case it reveals that we are “being good” out of a fear of man much more than a fear of God. If this is a struggle for you consider memorizing Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” When we are motivated by fear of man we are more concerned with the social fall out of our sin (who gets upset or offended) more than the condition of our heart (which we must see in order to be able to genuinely repent).

No Crude Joking

(BCH_Eph5A_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

Paul is clear that crude joking has no place in the life of a Christian (Eph 5:4). This begins with making jokes about or finding entertainment in subjects of an immoral subject (i.e., sex outside marriage, violence, racial prejudice, illegal activity). All such behavior should be stopped immediately and repented of to God and to those with whom such actions were engaged.

A second area of application is making jokes at the expense of loved ones. The following types of joking demonstrate a lack of honor for one’s spouse, children, friends, or co-workers

  • Verbal jabs about their insecurities or weaknesses
  • Sarcasm (otherwise known as “violence through humor”)
  • Comparisons to unbecoming people
  • Complimenting someone else to get a “rise” out of them
  • References to past mistakes or faux pas
  • Condescending jokes in front of others
  • Suggestions of leaving or being aggressive
  • Derogatory remarks regarding friends or other loved ones
  • Belittling their interests or hobbies
  • Using nicknames that are unappreciated

We must remember that humor has great influence. Hence, funny commercials sell more products. We reveal what we value and shape those around us by our punch lines. Let us (frequently) use our quick wit, story telling, and ironic statements for the glory of God!

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

zp8497586rq

Gospel-Rooted Change – Ephesians 4:17-32

by brad on October 11, 2010 in Application Supplement with Comments Off

A Model of Change

(BCH_Eph4B_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

In Ephesians 4:20-24 Paul gives a model of change, rooted in the Gospel, that he illustrates in five examples in verses 25-32. Use the chart below, not only to help you follow the logic of the passage, but also to serve as a way to think about your own battles with sin. Each of the letters (A is on lying; B is on anger, etc…) demonstrate how Paul counsels the Ephesians to overcome that particular sin.

Put Off Your Old Self (v. 22)

A. Falsehood (v. 25)
B. Sinful Anger (v. 26)
C. Stealing (v. 28)
D. Harsh Words (v. 29)
E. Acts & Emotions of Revenge (v. 31)

Be Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind (v. 23)

A. Recognizing our unity in the church (v. 25)
B. Seeing the opportunity sinful anger gives Satan (v. 27)
C. Learn to value generosity more than prosperity (v. 28)
D. Tearing down others grieves God (v. 30)
E. Recognize the extent of forgiveness you have received (v. 32)

Put On the New Self (v. 24)

A. Speak the truth (v. 25)
B. Deal with differences quickly (v. 26)
C. Work for your goods (v. 28)
D. Speak to give grace (v. 29)
E. Act and relate out of forgiveness (v. 32)

From Lying to Truth-Telling (4:25)

Too often we seek to cure sin by appealing to the same selfishness that made sin tempting. Our children lie, so we tell them, “You will never truly get what you wanted by lying.” While this is true, it leaves the child rooted in the same self-centeredness that made lying seem like a good idea in the first place.

Paul makes a different appeal when he says, “Do not lie because you are members one of another (i.e., church, family, class, humanity).” Paul reveals that the true poison of deceit is not merely its falseness, but the belief that (nay, more the delight in) I can win by someone else losing. W

hen I am willing to sacrifice you for me, then I have broken the command to love my neighbor as myself.

Illustration: In football, a wide receiver does not lie to his quarterback about the route he is going to run. Why? They are members of the same team. One cannot succeed without the other succeeding. They both understand this; therefore, they trust one another. It is this core belief about life that protects our hearts from lying without appealing to our carnal nature to restrain our flesh.

Correcting Our Speech (4:29)

What is the measure of good communication?  How do we know if we have been “successful” in a given dialogue? How we answer that question will greatly influence how we read our Bible, evaluate our marriages, and discipline our children. If success is to effectively get across whatever I feel, think, or believe, then the purpose of the Bible and others is to validate what I feel, think, or believe.

However, Paul gives us a different definition of success in communication. Paul says good communication gives grace to those who hear as fits the occasion. Grace builds up another person in Christ by affirming truth, confronting sin, or comforting suffering. That is the content of good communication. The tone is “as fits the occasion” and this requires the skill of speaking in age or situation appropriate ways.

Application: Paul further unpacks this principle in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” Here we see Paul identifying three different tones of presenting the content of grace based upon the heart attitude of the recipient. Identify a conversation that you had this week that fits each of these tones and consider how your words could have communicated more of the content of grace.

zp8497586rq

Be Angry and Sin Not

by brad on October 7, 2010 in Counseling Reflection with No comments

Usually in seeking to understand this biblical phrase we skip directly to examples. Most often we begin with an example where we (or someone else) displayed righteous anger (in our opinion). To take a fresh approach, but hopefully not a novel one, let’s begin with the passages. However, this post will assume the “trigger” for your anger is legitimate.

In Ephesians 4:26-27 Paul says:

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

And he is quoting from Psalm 4:2-5

O men, how long shall my honor be
turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words
and seek after lies?  Selah
But know that the Lord has set apart
the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on
your beds, and be silent.  Selah
Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.

The first thing we notice is that the psalmist’s primary reference point is not how late a married couple is willing to stay up to reconcile an argument. The psalmist reference point is the sleepless believer who is troubled by the folly of lost people.

The primary application is not self-control (i.e., biting his tongue), but to recognize that God is both active (setting apart the godly) and aware (listening). Sinful anger, by implication, is anger that assumes that God is neither active nor aware.

The secondary application is reflection (ponder). The folly of sinful culture reveals the lies that our culture believes. Sinful anger focuses our attention on the deceived sinner rather than on unmasking the lie used by the Deceiver to keep them in bondage.

Strangely, the psalmist advises the reader to be silent and to live rightly. The culture (and every individual in that culture) needs conviction before they will assimilate any new information. Our living in God’s freedom spotlights the bondage of Satan’s lies. Notice how Hebrews 11:7 speaks of the life of Noah.

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

The cure of sinful anger is remembering (1) God is aware and active; and (2) our missional purpose in each relationship. We should only be angered by sin. Sin reveals the activity of Satan—the Deceiver. Our goal is to consider the situation until we understand and can unmask the lie, so as to rescue not merely “prove wrong” the sinner.

This is hard (under-statement). As you prepare for this challenge consider I Peter 3:14-17

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Living Our Doctrine – Ephesians 4:1-16

by brad on October 4, 2010 in Application Supplement with 2 Comments

A Prisoner for the Lord (4:1)

Paul did not try to aggrandize his status before Christ when making his appeal to the Ephesians to live out their faith. The appeal of Paul is captured well in the lyrics to Michael Card’s song “God’s Own Fool.” (Great album, by the way.)

Seems I've imagined Him all of my life
As the wisest of all of mankind
But if God's Holy wisdom is foolish to men
He must have seemed out of His mind

For even His family said He was mad
And the priest say a demon's to blame
But God in the form of this angry young man
Could not have seemed perfectly sane

We in our foolishness thought we were wise
He played the fool and He opened our eyes
And we in our weakness believed we were strong
He became helpless to show we were wrong
And so we follow God's own fool
For only the foolish can tell
Believe the unbelievable
Come be a fool as well

So come lose our life for a carpenter's son
For a man who had died for a dream
And you'll feel the faith His first followers had
And you'll feel the weight of the beam
So surrender the hunger to say you must know

Have the courage to say I believe
For the power of paradox opens your eyes
And blinds those who say they can see

Reflection: Do you consider yourself a “prisoner” of Christ? In your mind is your life still your own to follow Christ as/when you please? Do you truly believe that you are no longer your own but that you were “bought with a price” (I Cor 6:20; 7:23)? Do you read the Bible looking for suggestions on how to make your life more of what you would like it to be, or as the divine instructions of your Lord?

To Equip the Saints for the Work of Ministry (4:12)

God did not give the church leaders to do the work of the church. God gave the church leaders to equip the members of the church (“saints”) to carry out His mission. To add to the weight of this point and to borrow from David Platt’s book Radical, God has no Plan B! The only hope that the Gospel will advance to the ends of the earth is “lay people.” Professional clergy will never complete God’s plan.

Often (not always) we get into the sin and disillusionment that we do because we lose sight of this. When we forget that our reason for existing is to

make the Gospel more known temptation becomes more appealing to us. It is hard to savor the superficial allurements of sin while actively carrying the burden for men’s eternal souls. Likewise, a burden for the Gospel tends to reframe much of what causes us to experience depression, anxiety, or boredom.

Application: Read David Platt’s book Radical. Begin to keep a running list of people (family, friends, acquaintances, customers, attendants, strangers) you interact with on a regular basis and you do not know if they are genuine Christians. Make this list scroll as your screen saver. Visit my blog daily to view the “unreached people of the day.” Then battle your moments of temptation or discouragement (both of which tend to be self-centered) with prayer for these groups.

Marks of Maturity

(BCH_Eph4A_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

In Ephesians 4:13-16 Paul gives seven marks of what a mature Christian ought to be. As you review these marks ask yourself two questions: (1) How am I doing at growing in each of these seven areas? and (2) Who am I mentoring to grow in these seven areas (Eph 4:11-12)?

Unity of the Faith (v. 13) Dissension is not a mark of maturity; it is an anti-mark. When you are part of a group or relationship does it tend to become more unified or divided?

Knowledge of the Son of God (v. 13) Jesus is the measuring rod of maturity. Any progress in Christian maturity is a step towards Christ’s character and mission. How often do you meditate on the character of Christ?

Discerning False Doctrine (v. 14) The call to unity is not a call to universalism. As Paul would say in 2 Timothy 2:24-26, “And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”

Not Naïve to Human Cunning (v. 14) No one comes out and says, “I’m a heretic” or “I’m giving bad advice.” Maturity will always be expressed in the context of relationships with fallen people.

Able to Speak the Truth in Love (v. 15) The principles of 2 Timothy 2:24-26 apply here as well. The goal of maturity is never to win an argument but to win a person. When we begin to become competitive in our approach to non-Christian ideas we have missed the heart of our mission.

Submitted to Christ, The Head (v. 15) Maturity is not about us – who we will become. When our effort becomes self-centered it has lost its focus.

Working Cohesively Within the Church (v. 16) Maturity is never achieved in isolation. A Christian apart from the church will never be healthy in the way God intended. The struggle and blessing of working with other Christ-followers is how God intends to shape and encourage us in the process of maturity.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

zp8497586rq

Real Power – Ephesians 3:14-21

by brad on September 27, 2010 in Application Supplement with 1 Comment

Grant You to be Strengthened (3:16)

We tend to think of strength as something that is worked for. Athletes go to the gym and work out to get stronger. Even if they cheat and use steroids or human growth hormone, they must still work out to gain the benefits of the performance enhancing drugs. Yet this passage speaks of strength as a gift that is given to us by God.

In the midst of temptation we often wonder if we have the power (in ourselves) to resist. Even in our temptation we are often too proud to be God’s beggars (as if we were ever anything more). Yet because of how we phrase the question (self-centeredly) we are given to the doubt and fear which strengthens our temptation.

Application: Hopefully we can see that timeless truth “in our weakness then we are strong” more clearly in light of this reflection. The question of temptation is not one of ability or strength, but of dependence and trust. Make a list of the temptations you regularly face. Beside each one list the setting(s) in which you frequently face that temptation. Describe how your self-assessment leads to fear and doubt. Write a brief narrative of what it would look like to face that moment in God’s strength.

Strength to Comprehend (3:18)

Have you ever studied something until your head hurt? That might be what Paul is saying here. If we are going to fathom the breadth, length, height, and depth of God’s love it will require the strength of God to prevent that understanding from breaking us. When we set the darkness of our sin against the brightness of God’s love the contrast should bring us to our knees like Paul on the road to Damascus.

If we miss this, we likely approach our study of Scripture too casually; like children playing near a high voltage generator. Imagine being an orphaned child who lived well into adulthood without any knowledge of his parents. Then finally by some means he is given a letter from his birth parents. As he read the letter, he would likely have to sit down. The weight of knowing this was the only first-person knowledge he would ever have from his parents would be physically moving. When we read it correctly, that is the Bible.

Reflection: How often, before you study the Bible, do you pray that God will grant you the strength to comprehend His Word? I think this kind of prayer prepares us for the miracle of divine revelation that we are preparing to read. One of the great challenges to rightly interpreting the Bible is coming to it with a right understanding of what it is. Because we live in a day of endless books, a leather bound one does not seem that special. Let us pray that God would give us “eyes to see” the Bible as divine revelation, before we open it to read.

More Than We Ask or Imagine

(BCH_Eph3B_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

What is the point of trying to imagine something you cannot imagine? That is the invitation of Ephesians 3:20. We are constantly faced with the temptation to make God in our own image. This is partly because we are limited to the capabilities of our finite mind.

I believe one good application of this verse is to expand the breadth of our imaginations. By so doing we increase our capacity for God. The goal of the passage is not to challenge us to ask more and more of God so that we can be awed, but to have a greater and greater capacity for God so that our service in the advancement of His church is never delayed by our lack of faith.

With this being said, let me suggest two types of reading to help you grow the breadth of your imagination: Christian fiction and Christian biography.

As you read one of these works, do not just seek to glean new information or to be entertained by a good story, ask God to expand the capacity of your imagination so that vision for what is possible for His kingdom will also grow.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

zp8497586rq
← Older Entries
 
UA-1304055