WALK WITH THE LORD

Newsletter 263 October 2, 2011

Ephesians 5:1-21
King James Version (KJV)

I am sure that we have all seen the three year old boy, dressed as like his father as is possible, and copying his father in everything. He copies his walk, his mannerisms, and his talk. We see him and we laugh and say, “how cute.” But, this is what we as Christians ought to be doing, in our relationship with God our Father. This is what Jesus did in his relationship with his father, God. He said, “He that hath seen me has seen the father.” He is our perfect example.

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Our text naturally divides into three parts. The first is:

WALK IN LOVE

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.

The world sings it’s “love songs”, meaning a totally different thing than Christian love. When Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments,” God so loved the world,” “greater love hath no man than this,” he was speaking a “foreign language” to most of the world. Then he went on to define by example, what he meant. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son.” This is sacrificial love, beyond comprehension to most of the world, but, so very clear to believers. God, who made all things, loves us that much!. Just to make sure that we understand, Paul goes on to show the contrast between Christians and the world.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

To place he bow on the parcel, consider I Corinthians 13:13, “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three but the greatest of these is love.” This sets Christians apart. “By their love, ye shall know them.”

WALK IN LIGHT

They walk confidently, for they walk in light. They walk confidently because they are not in spiritual darkness. John 1:4-5, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.“

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

If you do this, you shall be fruitful. The presence of the Holy Spirit, given at baptism, when one “puts on” Christ, assures the Holy Spirit, the Spiritual guide

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Those things that may have once seemed so important, are now something to be ashamed of.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

WALK IN WISDOM

We seek and study that we might gain knowledge, but wisdom is given in answer to prayer. Solomon pleased God when he asked for wisdom and not power and wealth. As long as he kept his eyes on God, he had wisdom in such quantities that he is spoken of yet as the wisest man the world has ever known. People came from afar, to consult him, but when he took his eyes off God and started looking about at the pagan gods of his many wives, he started to make more foolish mistakes. Walk not only in light, but walk wisely in the steps of the Lord.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Why? , because the days are evil.

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
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;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
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.

_________

READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
OCTOBER

2nd. Sunday – Jeremiah 3, 4, Philippians 1:15-30, Psalm 116:1-11
3rd. Monday – Jeremiah 5, 6, Philippians 2:1-13, Proverbs 24:1-12
4th. Tuesday – Jeremiah 7, 8, Philippians 2:14-30, Psalm 116:12-19
5th. Wednesday - Jeremiah 9, 10, Philippians 3, Psalm 117
6th. Thursday - Jeremiah 11, 12, 13, Philippians 4, Psalm 118:1-16
7th. Friday – Jeremiah 14, 15, 16, Colossians 1, Proverbs 24:13-22
8th. Saturday - Jeremiah 17, 18, 19, Colossians 2, Psalm 118:17-29

__________

OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS

(With links to 792 titles)

Ctrl/click to follow these
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ published books
http://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com

__________


THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
__________


http://www.earchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/2010/09/order-book-for-christmas
SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ! – Forward this along to all your friends. The saved will rejoice and the unsaved need its message the most, so everyone is blessed: YOU FOR SHARING, AND ALL FOR READING.

http://www.amazon.com/P-J-Mills/e/B004KAS792/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
_________

One man met some interesting people when he moved into a new apartment complex. One woman told him, “I miss my ex-husband, but my aim is getting better. “ Another women said, “Sometimes I wake up grumpy, but most of the time I just let him sleep.”
__________

A little girl became restless as the preacher’s sermon dragged on and on. Finally she leaned over to her mother and whispered, “Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?”
__________

After church on a Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, “Mom, I’ve decided I’m going to be a minister when I grow up.”
“That’s okay with us,” his mother replied, but what made you decide to be a minister?”
“Well,” he said, “I’ll have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit still and listen.”