The Many Forms of Disobedience-Part 4B

Praise the Lord, everybody, and I hope you are doing well this evening.  This is a continuation of last night’s message.  Please turn with me to Ephesians chapter 5.

Ephesians 5

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 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 savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 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. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 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. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

There was a time when we were walking in darkness, unaware of the impending danger set up by the enemy of our souls.  We didn’t know any better, and because we didn’t know the Lord, we weren’t hearing His still small voice.  However, once our eyes were opened to the truth of the gospel, and we accepted Jesus as our personal Savior, we were able to walk in the light, and the fruit of the Spirit became evident.

That being said, it is up to us to prove what is acceptable unto God, by how we live our lives.  Please understand that I’m not talking about being perfect, but striving for perfection and holiness.  We will miss the mark, and we can repent and turn away from those things that don’t please Him, but since we’re talking about disobedience, this is what we have to guard against.

How many know that what’s done in the dark always comes to the light?  You may think that you’re able to hide things from people, but you can’t fool the One who created us all.  It’s bad enough that the world does its treachery, but now we’re finding it within the body of Christ, and unbelievers can’t see the difference between us and them.  God is not pleased with our talking out of both sides of our mouth and leading others astray by our actions and deeds that can be confusing.

The Lord doesn’t want us to appear as fools before the world, because they are watching us, and we’re under a microscope.  The enemy will use anything that is a gray area to call attention to us.  We have to be wise concerning what God’s will is for our lives.  Since we are fearfully and wonderfully made by Him, we have to understand that He has uniquely crafted purpose and destiny within us, which may or may not be contained within the four walls of the church.  After all, Jesus didn’t minister in the temple all the time.  He was out and about the main streets and back roads of Jerusalem, and in people’s homes who were considered less than upstanding citizens.  As the old adage says, “…they talked about Jesus, so who do you think you are?”

The scripture continues to give us strong advice and warning about various life lessons, like not doing anything to excess, i.e., getting drunk versus having a glass of wine.  Let’s go there for a moment, because I know that there are various schools of thought on this particular issue.

If you were an alcoholic before you got saved, and the Lord cleaned you up, it’s probably not a good idea to try to witness in the bar.  If you liked to drop it like it’s hot in the club, you might want to consider just listening, or changing your style of dancing, and stay off that pole.  If you liked to smoke a little something something to relax and chill, you might want to not stop at the corner store and pick up some Black and Milds.  I’m just trying to help somebody have some common sense.

At the same time, and yes, I’m going there, too, but if you want to have a romantic evening with your spouse, I’m sure that you’re not going to be slow dancing to Amazing Grace.  Nothing wrong with the song, but there is nothing wrong with going out for a night on the town, as long as it’s done in moderation.  And ladies, please know that it’s ok to put on your best “freakum” dress for your husband, if that’s what he wants you to wear, so long as it’s tasteful and not a micro mini.  I’m just saying.

So, we had to learn how to give thanks to the Lord for all He has done in our lives.  I’m getting ready to delve into an area of this passage of scripture that has many people up in arms, because of their interpretation.  Pray for me, so that while breaking this down, everyone gets a clear understanding of what God is saying here.

For the sake of time, I’m going to read verses 22-33 again:

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  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. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

The marriage covenant, established by God, is between a man and a woman.  Before you open your mouth to protest, that’s another talk show for another day, so let’s stay focused.  The word of God says that wives are to submit themselves to their husbands, as unto the Lord.  Let me say this; why do women have a problem with submission?  Could it be that because we may not have had our father in the home, or that he wasn’t a good role model, that we have an issue submitting to God and our husband?  Let’s just be real and go there, because I believe that this will help some ladies to be free.

We want to be loved, cherished and respected.  We also want to be given props for being independent and not “needing” a man.  We may want one, but never want to be seen as needing one.  Truth be told, I’ve said this myself, after the pain of a divorce from my children’s father.  This is a disclaimer.  I am going to say something that most modern women don’t want to hear, but it needs to be said.  We are the weaker sex, and God didn’t create us first, but second.

I have never seen a woman bench press 500 pounds of dead weight.  Can you pick up a car?  How about trying to carry your adult child?  Anybody?  I didn’t think so.  I tried to pick up my son who is in the military at age 16, because he was born premature.  I was embarrassed and we had a good laugh when he who was finally taller than me at that age, picked me up instead.  I’m making light of it, but the reality is that we can’t ever compete with a guy, at least not from a physical sense.

I am not being insensitive to the fact that we may have been hurt by our father or any man that we dated who didn’t treat us properly.  The pain is real.  However, you must realize and understand that the Creator of the universe made us in His image and in His likeness.  We really are fearfully and wonderfully made.  He loves us like no one ever can possibly try to do.  He completes us, and then sends “the one” into our lives so that together we can walk in love, purpose and destiny.

It’s not only a matter of trust, but obedience to the word of God.  We have got to stop looking at men as an afterthought.  Some of them are called to be the priest and prophet of their homes, the protector of us and the children they give us, or the ones they take responsibility for when they marry us.  We have to give them the respect due to them.  The load falls on them, because that’s how the Lord designed it.

When a man looks for a wife, it behooves him to seek the Lord first, and ask Him to point them in the direction of the one He created just for them.  The virtuous woman can’t be found on the Book, the Gram, Twitter, Snapchat or dating websites.

Men, you must be seeking God so much that He has to tap you on your shoulder in order to see the woman you’re going to marry.  Keep your hormones in check, and I know that’s asking a lot, because guys are visually stimulated, while girls are emotionally stimulated, but trust me on this.  If you didn’t see a good example of a woman in your mother, aunts, grandmother or cousins, then read Proverbs 31.  You will not find your wife at the strip club.

I also have to speak to the men who have been hurt, used and abused by thirsty women, whose requirements are that of having a 6 figure income, a Benz in the driveway, and being amply endowed.  I’m keeping it rated G, folks.  God’s highest and best for your life is a woman who seeks God more than looking for the next male model.  Ladies, we are called to submit to our husbands, but our husbands are called to love us.

Let me also go down this road, because men, you have to lead properly in order for us to follow.  That means that in order to lead your family, you must be submitted to the Lord.  There is no other way, because your house will be fractured and a hot mess if you don’t.  God is everything, and you have to humble yourself, lift up your hands to the only One who can help you to be successful as a man after His own heart, so that you can be the husband and father He called you to be.  Ladies, you also have to trust that God is leading your husband into the direction that He wants you as a couple and as a family to go.  A lot of times we think that our husbands aren’t hearing from God, because we just know we can do it better.

Stop being out of line and order with that thinking.  This is why we’re jacked up today, because of that chick, Eve, listening to the wrong influence.  If you’re a married woman, you have no business going to your single girlfriends for advice.  They have none to give you.  Seek the Lord, and Godly counsel from aged women who have been there and done that.

Brothers, don’t talk to your single boys, either.  Just because they may be footloose and fancy free doesn’t mean that you’re supposed to be.  You’d better seek God’s will for your life, marriage and family, or it will be a disaster waiting to happen.  Don’t give the enemy ammunition to destroy your house.  Like the old song says, “…it’s cheaper to keep her.”

We as couples must stop being disobedient to God’s word.  We know what we’re supposed to do, but we let our pride and arrogance get in the way.  Allow God to reign in your home, in your heart, your thoughts, words and deeds.  Don’t look to your neighbor to see how the other half lives.  It’s not worth it.  Don’t allow the enemy to make you think that the grass is greener on the other side.  Do not play the comparison game.  It doesn’t matter how good someone else’s marriage and family may look.  Dig your heels in the sand, and watch your tongue.  Pray and ask God to help you to speak life to your spouse and your family.

I pray that this is helping, and we will pick this up again tomorrow.  May the Lord bless you is my prayer.