Author: Art Davison

BE FOLLOWERS OF GOD–EPHESIANS 5:1-21

Art Davison EPHESIANS 0 Comment
BE FOLLOWERS OF GOD
EPHESIANS 5:1-21

Introduction:

Paul gives good counsel to the Ephesian Church here in this fifth chapter of Ephesians. He challenges them to walk as “dear children,” deeply loved by the Father. He reminds them of their example in Jesus Christ and the manner in which He loved His followers.

I. YOUR WALK BEFORE MEN

A. Walk as “dear children,” v. 1,

1. As worthy of His love, 1 Samuel 18:30, “Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.” [Precious].

2. Walk in love, v. 2.

a. Established firmly, Ephesians 3:17, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”

b. Forbearing one another in love, Ephesians 4:2, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3. Love fervently with a pure heart, [showing great warmth of feeling],1 Peter 1:22, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”

B. Walk as children of light, v. 8,

1. See then that ye walk circumspectly, [to look about; cautious; prudent], vs. 15-17.

a. Prudently, Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

b. Faithfully, Psalm 101:6, “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.”

2. Let these things not be once named among you, vs. 3-5.

a. Fornication and all uncleanness, v. 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.”

b. Covetousness [unjust gain], Psalm 10:3, “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.”

c. Let it not be once named among you, Ephesians 5:12, “For it is a shame even to speak of those

B. Let no man deceive you with vain words, vs. 6-7.

1. Let not your prophets deceive you, Jeremiah 29:8, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.”

2. Many shall come in the Lord’s name, Matthew 24:5, “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

3. This bring wrath upon the children of disobedience, Romans 1:18,“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”

4. Be not partakers with them, Revelation 18:4, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

II. YOUR FELLOWSHIP

A. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, v. 11a; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.”

1. Withdraw from a brother that walks disorderly, Matthew 18:16-17, “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

2. “That he may be ashamed,” Ezekiel 36:31-32, “Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. 32 Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.”

B. Reprove the works of darkness, vs. 11b-14,

1. It is a shame to speak of sin, v. 12; Revelation 20:12, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

2. “Awake thou that sleepest,” v. 14; Romans 13:11, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

a. Seek those things which are above, Colossians 3:1, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”

b. Set you affections on things above, Colossians 3:2, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

C. Be filled with the Spirit, vs. 18b-21.

1. Be controlled by the Spirit as Barnabas, Acts 11:24, “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.”

2. Manifest the fruits of the Spirit in your life, Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

3. Live in the Spirit, Galatians 5:24-25, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
 

A WORLD OF ENEMIES–ROMANS 5:1-11

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A WORLD OF ENEMIES
ROMANS 5:1-11

Key verse: v. 10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Introduction:
Every friend of God before the time of Christ and today is a TRANSFORMED ENEMY. No man is a friend of God by nature. He is the enemy of God. It all started in the Garden of Eden. The reason why the world does not appreciate what happened on Calvary’s Cross, is that they have never yet realized what happened in the Garden of Eden or they are not willing to admit it. Man became God’s enemy there.
I. NO MAN IS A FRIEND OF GOD BY NATURE
A. It is the NATURE of man TO SIN just as it is the nature of a fish to swim. Ephesians 2:2, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”
1. We were LIARS, John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
a. By NOT believing God we make Him a LIAR, John 5:10b, “He that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”
2. We were children of disobedience, Ephesians 2:2, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”
3. We were children of wrath, Ephesians 2:3, “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
4. We were condemned without Christ, John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is NOT condemned: but he that believeth not is CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he HATH NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
B. The friend of the world is the enemy of God, James 4:4b, “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
1. The love of the WORLD keeps the love of the Father OUT of your life, 1 John 2:15b, “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
2. No man can serve two masters, Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (riches — where it is personified and opposed to God)
II. EVERY FRIEND OF GOD TODAY IS A TRANSFORMED ENEMY
A. Man who has trusted Christ as Savior, has been made ALIVE, Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”
B. He, who has trusted Christ, is a NEW MAN, Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
1. He is to be CONFORMED to the IMAGE of Christ, Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
2. He is to PUT OFF the OLD man, Ephesians 4:22, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”
a. The old man was CRUCIFIED WITH Christ, Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
b. The DEEDS of the old man have been put off, Colossians 3:9, “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”
D. The NEW man is RECONCILED with God, Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
E. We have been TRANSFORMED from enemies to FRIENDS of God, Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
F. This reconciliation is BY FAITH in Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”
1. Jesus is the MEDIATOR between God and man, 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
2. Jesus made PEACE between God and man, Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
CONCLUSION
NO MAN has ever been able to APPROACH God because of his SIN. That sin had ALIENATED him from the God of heaven. In Jesus Christ we have RECONCILIATION. PEACE with God has been made through Him. There is NO NEED to REMAIN the ENEMY of God for Christ has REMOVED the BARRIER by shedding His own blood on the Cross of Calvary.
By FAITH in Christ you can BE TRANSFORMED into the FRIEND OF GOD rather than the enemy of God.

A MAN’S CONDUCT–ROMANS 12:1-2

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A MAN’S CONDUCT
ROMANS 12:1-2

Introduction:
“A man’s conduct is the fruit of what he believes. The flower of a godly life has its roots deep in the soil of experienced grace.” —C. D. Cole
I. THE APOSTLE PAUL’S GREAT APPEAL
A. Paul beseeches…
1. He does NOT command as Moses did, Leviticus 6:8-9, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 9Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.”
2. He INSTRUCTS or teaches the brethren, 1 Corinthians 4:17, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”
3. He ADMONISHES and exhorts, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”
B. He beseeches by the MERCIES of God, v. 1.
1. The “mercies of God,” is the GREATEST ARGUMENT for consecration:
a. It leads us to REPENTANCE, Romans 2:4, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
b. It brought us to know the RICHES of His glory, Romans 9:23, “And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”
2. It creates a GOOD QUESTION in our hearts, Psalm 116:12, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”
a. It causes us to bless the Lord, Psalm 103:2-5, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3-Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
b. It reminds us that we are bought with a price, 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
C. He beseeches the BRETHREN, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”
“Exhortation is a ministry to the saints. He is not appealing to the sinner, but to those who have an experience of grace and mercy.” —C. D. Cole
1. “Suffer” a word of exhortation, Hebrews 13:22, “And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.”
2. The “brethren” are “urged” to serve the Lord out of love for Him, Philemon 8-9, “Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, 9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.”
D. He beseeches them to present their BODIES to God, Philippians 1:20, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”
1. This is to acknowledge the blessing of salvation, 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”
2. It is a sacrifice of praise, Hebrews 13:15-16, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
a. Pleasing to God, 2 Timothy 2:21, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
b. Everything must be done as unto the Lord, 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
3. It is our reasonable service, Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
God does not impose upon us any thing hard or unreasonable, but that which is altogether agreeable to the principles of right reason. —Matthew Henry
a. Our service MUST be according to the Word, Philippians 2:16, “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.”
b. God’s Word MUST live in us, Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
1) Our spiritual life prospers when the word of God dwells in us richly.
2) We sharpen ourselves and improve our knowledge by communicating the Gospel.
CONCLUSION
The motivation for the believer is “the mercies of God” in our life. The Lord moves us to greater service because he has made us “new creatures.”
We have been instructed in the Word of God for years and we have received God’s blessing when our lives have been “a living sacrifice” for Him.
Those who will not serve the Lord are like lap dogs to Satan. They are under his complete control and don’t even know it.

GIFTS THAT LAST–I CORINTHIANS 13:1-13

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GIFTS THAT LAST
I CORINTHIANS 13:1-13
Introduction:
What is the most desirous gift of the gifts mentioned in the Word of God? Which will endure and bring happiness in your life? Many of the gifts of the Spirit have passed away and are no longer necessary. Which remain and of those which is the greatest gift?
I. THE GIFTS THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY.
I Corinthians 12:8-10.
A. These have passed away:
1. Word of wisdom:   Mark 16:20, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
2. Word of knowledge
3. Faith
4. Gifts of healing
5. Working of miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Discerning spirits
8. Divers kinds of tongues
9. Interpretation of tongues
B. What is left in this list?
1. Only FAITH
2. Paul adds HOPE, AND CHARITY in I Corinthians 13.
II. WHAT GIFTS REMAIN?
I CORINTIANS 13:13
A. FAITH – to believe God.
1. ABEL — a man of faith — “offered a more excellent sacrifice.” Hebrews 11:4, By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
2. ENOCH — he walked with God — Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
3. NOAH — Genesis 6:8, “found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
4. ABRAHAM — Genesis 15:6, “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
B. HOPE — our desires for the future.
1. Hope of eternal life — Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”
2. Hope of the resurrection — I Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Verses 20-23 give the details.
3. Hope of a new body — I John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” See also I Corinthians 15:51-52.
C. LOVE — the ability to have affection for someone. Matthew 22:37-39.
1. Man’s Love For God:
a. “Love the Lord with all your heart.” Your very being.
b. “Love the Lord with all your soul.” Your very life.
c. “Love the Lord with all your mind.” The strength of a man is in his mind. ATTITUDES.
2. God’s Love For Man:
a. Christ’s love for man,
Romans 5:6-8, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
b. Man’s love for mankind, “…as thyself” – this is not self-esteem as is taught in our day. Man cannot have a proper attitude about himself unless he loves God. Then he can love others.
III. WHICH OF THE GIFTS WILL ENDURE? v. 13.
A. FAITH — will become SIGHT at the Lord’s coming and we will no longer need faith.
B. HOPE — will become REALITY at the resurrection and rapture.
C. LOVE — is the GREATEST and EVERLASTING gift, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
CONCLUSION:
God has given us all the gifts we need to accomplish His will in our lives. We need to look closely at them and use them by faith looking to our hope, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has loved us with an everlasting love.

FOLLOWERS AS DEAR CHILDREN–EPHESIANS 5:1-21

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FOLLOWERS AS DEAR CHILDREN
EPHESIANS 5:1-21

Introduction:
In I John 3:1-2, the Lord calls our attention to the “manner of love” that the God of heaven has put into our hearts. The love ought to motivate us to carry out what is written to us in the fifth chapter of Ephesians. These things are written to Believers, people who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Here we are admonished to walk in love “as Christ has also loved us.” For lack of love God’s people are destroying themselves. Consider the following:
I. WALK, vs. 1-7
A. Walk as Children of God, John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
1. We are sons of God by His will, John 1:13, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
2. Wearing our Christianity on the Outside, Colossians 3:12-13, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
B. Walk in love, v. 2.
1. As Christ love us, Ephesians 4:2, 15, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
2. Walk that we might be as a Sweet-Smelling Savor, 2 Corinthians 2:15-17, “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”
a. We are as the aroma of Christ, Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
b. We are the servants of Christ, Romans 6:16, 18, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
II. STAND
A. Stand Strong for the Work of the Lord, 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
1. We are to Stand fast, 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
2. We are to be Courageous, 1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”
B. Stand Faithfully, 3 John 5-8, “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7 Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.”
C. Stand Strong in Godliness.
1. Godliness is profitable in all things, 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
2. There is Great Gain in Godliness, 1 Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
3. Godliness comes after Righteousness in the Service of the Lord, 1 Timothy 6:11, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
a. Righteousness comes from knowing Jesus Christ by faith, Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
b. Godliness comes from knowing Jesus as Lord of your life, 2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
c. Faith, Love, Patience, and Meekness come from Steadfastness Under Adversity, Galatians 5:24-26, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
CONCLUSION
Jesus gave His all to redeem us from our sins. To make Him our Lord and allow Him to sit upon the throne of our heart is not asking much. Besides “godliness with contentment is great gain.”
How is your life? Do you have the contentment that the Apostle Paul spoke about? If not perhaps Jesus doesn’t sit on the throne of your life.