Sunday Morning Service

Ephesians 6:1-9

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“The Family And The Business” • 9.22.13 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- Last week, we picked up from verse 21, which called for a general submission to one another in the church. We are to line up behind one another, to act as a unit together in Christ.

- We're to be regularly gathered, that we might be instructed together from the Word and encourage each other in our faith. This is to be our habit.

- When we leave one another, we are to live orderly lives, beginning with our marriage relationship. Wives are to order themselves behind their husbands, submitting to and honoring them.

- Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church, constantly seeking to present His wife, holy and without blame morally or spiritually to Christ.

- Had that section not been so dense, we would have continued into the section that is before us today, which logically covers the family and business life.

- If you have ever wondered about God's guidelines for the family and for your workplace, you need not wonder any longer! This breaks down into two simple sections today.

I. Children And Fathers (v.1-4)

II. Employees And Employers (v.5-9)

Text

I. Children And Fathers (v.1-4)

• Ephesians 6:1-3 : "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 'that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.'" : Have you ever considered this: The Apostle Paul is inspired scripture and who does he address? The children!

- We have a poor idea of the value of Christian education for our children on Sunday mornings.

- We carry this attitude because of the functional way in which we meet together as a church. The kids are in their designated areas and as long as the noise level is low, we all enjoy!

- Suffice it to say, I pray that you understand the vital ministry that our Children's Ministry has here within the church. They are teaching our kids, the church, about their Lord and Savior!

- When we are all too old to care anymore, they will take the reins and the Lord will work through them to impact their generation.

- Paul the Apostle took time to address them, letting me know that there was not likely a segregating of the kids in the early church as there is today.

- The word "children" that Paul employs usuallly speaks of younger children and would extend to all that live under their parents roof. These are to obey their parents in the Lord.

- The word "obey" here comes from the same word that speaks of a porter listening for the door. He's attentive and alert to the sound of the door, ready to step in and act when the time is right!

- Paul tells them that when they obey their parents in the Lord, this is always the right thing to do, the limit line being when a child is commanded to do something immoral or ungodly.

- Otherwise, obeying parents in the Lord is always the godly and right thing to do. I love the way that Paul says this, as kids are often most impressed by what is right and wrong.

- They are less nuanced than adults, less influenced by grey areas and subtlety. Just obey because it is right. God is pleased by our obedience to Him as His children!

- Notice here that this behavior is taught to the children. They are to be taught to obey. Disobedience comes natural. It's a stock feature of our fleshly nature. Obedience however, is learned.

- Paul continues on, directing the children to remember the 5th commandment that God gave to His people, "Honor your Father and Mother."

- To "honor" is to fix a value upon and obedience is the first expression of that honor.

- Honor both parents together, whichever one is nearest. This is the first and only commandment, found in Exodus 20:12, to contain a correlating promise for a good and long life.

- This was especially true as rebellion among God's covenant people was punishable by death!

- Truly, to honor your parents was worth it and a long and blessed life was gained by it! But beyond that, think of how that is generally true.

- Those who learn to live within the structure of a home, obeying and living under authority, have an easier time adjusting to the rest of life.

- Careers and advancement are given to those who know how to perform well under structure. - This brings us to Paul's next thought directed to Fathers.

• Ephesians 6:4 : "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." : Children are to honor both parents, but the Lord addresses Christian Father's specifically.

- Now, Moms, this isn't the time that you check out and say, "Well, it doesn't say anything about Moms here!" Remember, you are one with him!

- Paul writes this as an expression of the godly deference that you display toward your husband. Believe me, as I speak for husbands, we need your help! 

- Children are to obey their parents as they dole out various duties and lay out appropriate rules and regulations. But Paul warns them not to abuse their authority either.

- Do not provoke your children to wrath. The NIV uses the word "exasperate." The word describes one who rubs someone the wrong way, constantly pushing toward annoyance.

- This could refer to contradicting yourself by not clearly setting and sticking to boundaries. I'd also suggest expecting something from them that you don't expect from yourself.

- Perhaps the application could be a parent that pushes their child to fulfill a fantasy that they did not get to enjoy. In any case, don't employ your Fatherly authority that way.

- Don't think that you can simply take your hands off either! That is abuse by neglect. You are to be involved in their growth.

- There is a constant need for loving discipline while they are under your roof!

- Paul instructs them to bring them up, to nurture them to maturity, in the training and admonition of the Lord. That's what our authority is for!

- We have observed this word translated "training" here when we were in Galatians, where it is translated "tutor."

- We noted there that a "pedagogue" would have complete control over the male heir of a household, teaching him the ways of the family.

- "We speak this way to adults." "We work in this type of business." Our family has certain rules that you may not have on your list. My job as a Father is to teach them the why and what fors of life!

- I and all Christian Fathers are also charged with bringing our children up in admonition of the Lord. This is a much more specific word.

- Training represents the whole of life, the general knowledge of God's Word and general life skills that all Fathers teach their children. Admonition is instruction in the ways of the Lord.

- This refers to giving our kids a biblical, Christ exalting view of the World. We are to instruct them with the Bible's instructions, to warn them of what the Bible warns of.

- Fathers, we might pride ourselves in showing our kids the ropes and preparing them for a successul, independant life. How much more should we prepare them to please their Lord? 

- We are to prepare them for ministry, to recognize, cultivate and encourage their giftings in the Lord, making them aware of resources, organizations and events that will help them grow.

- Soon, you would desire that they would exceed you in ministry. I've been told that you know that you have succeeded, not when your kids walk with the Lord, but when your Grandkids do!

- This is a Father's privilege. To each of us in our respective place, with the kids at their respective ages: Don't waste another moment!

II. Employees And Employers (v.5-9)

• Ephesians 6:5 : "Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;" Bondservants or bondslaves were men and women who worked because they had debts to pay.

- It's estimated that 25% of all the people that lived in the Roman Empire lived in this condition. In some cases, the most destitute slaves were simply killed and discarded, treated as mere tools.

- Other slaves were greatly loved and cared for, being lauded for their excellent work.

- Today, we might use the word "employees" instead of bondservants and it might not be too far from what Paul was addressing.

- Bondservants, employees, be obedient, listen and be attentive toward those who are your masters according to the flesh, ie. your human employers and supervisors.

- This is a general concept again, with no qualifier, except that which refers to sin. These authorities deserve our respect and obedience, much more today than in the Ancient world.

- Today, you are paid a respectable wage, that you agreed to when you took your job. Even if you have had to take a pay cut, it's preferable to being unemployed.

- The bondservant was forced into labor and that not usually of his choosing! He was taken care of in whatever fashion was deemed suitable.

- Add to this the fact that there are labor unions, worker's rights and medical benefits, all of which were foreign to the bondslave. No, we're in a much better position!

- With that in mind, be obedient to those who are your employers and supervisors. Do what you can to serve the benefit of the company.

- Do this with fear and trembling, with respect if only for the position that is held. We are not afraid of them, as if they could determine the course of our eternity, but we do honor their place.

- When they tell us what to do, do what you are asked quickly and with a smile to the best of your ability. Don't be fake about it!

- The word "sincerity" speaks to singleness and openess to work well. Generously give yourself to your employer's benefit!

- Do it for him? No! Do it as unto Christ! Look at your work situation as a worship unto the Lord! He is your boss ultimately anyway! Would you work for Him the way you work for your employer?

- Ask the Lord to make you an honest employee unto Him. Go and work for Jesus! See how it changes your perspective!

• Ephesians 6:6-8 : "not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free." : What does a dishonest employee look like? First, he only works hard when the employer is looking!

- When the boss is around, the employee is putting on a show. When he is absent, he returns to a slothful state, awakened only by the next break!

- What does eyeservice teach you about yourself? That you only act right when someone is looking! What does that say about you spiritually? Ask the Lord to break that habit today!

- Second, a dishonest employee is a man pleaser. He is doing all that he can to curry favor from other men. He has the wrong audience in view!

- Paul tells us to view our employment as a practical way to work for Jesus! He is the Employer behind your employer! He procured your job for you and has sustained you in it!

- View your job and the performance of it, as an extension of the will of God. Understand that to work hard in your present position is equal to living in the will of God!

- Many do not see it this way. They see no connection, no providence and no way to express their faith. Paul reminds us that when our heart is engaged, we'll see the will of God in our jobs!

- This doesn't mean that you are in the right job. You may need to seek other employment if you have outgrown your job or have become too burdened under it.

- Some are being called away by new or growing interests in their lives that their current employment cannot support. Keep your job and look for another!

- But while you have that job, it's God's Will for your life, so let your heart be in it!

- When you understand this, you will come into your workplace applying kindness to your work because you are doing what you do for the Lord!

- What if nobody notices? God will always notice what is done and reward what is done unto Him, whether they are slave or free! What a concept!

- You might feel as though your hard work is unrewarded and that nobody appreciates what you have done. When you do your job as unto the Lord, this will be the case.

- When you put that feeling through the filter of this truth, it will transform the way you perform! Each will receive the same from the Lord, in this case, good for good!

- With God, nothing done for Him, for His Name or for His cause will ever be unrewarded!

• Ephesians 6:9 :  "And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him." : These commands are revolutionary. Most of the legal codes of the ancient world called for a wife's submission, a child's and a slave's obedience to Father and Master.

- What is not seen is the reciprocal action. Husbands are called to love, Fathers are called to restraint and Masters are called to be mindful.

- All men and women are equal at the foot of Christ's Cross!

  - Paul commands the "lords" to be about the business of doing the same things to their employees.

- They are to serve the Lord with their honest work, doing it before the Lord with kindness and an expectation that their good will be rewarded by God!

- They are the boss but that authority is not a green light for the full vent of their anger or sharp tongue! Paul knows the pressure that came with ownership. He made tents himself.

- But that pressure and that anger is not to extend itself to bondservants that worked in the same area.

- A Christian boss is to give up threatening, a word which is related to the word for "menacing" or providing an atmosphere of danger.

- Make it your aim to vent less and praise more. Work hard on controlling your mouth, knowing that what you say can be more destructive than constructive, especially when under pressure.

- Do all that you can to avoid creating tension and stress for your employees. Affirm them and encourage them! That will go a great distance further in terms of productivity than threats!

- In the same way that God is able to reward those for good, the Lord over the employer is also able to deal with those who have acted this way toward others!

- He doesn't favor one over the other as is often the case here on earth.

Conclusion
- Very practical matters today, but how necessary and vital for the Kingdom of heaven, where often one misstep is all that anyone needs to decry the Name of God.

- May we take these words to heart, as obedient children, knowing that in the obedience of the Son of Man to His Father's will, life was found and the door to salvation was opened.

- That's why we seek to do these things, not for our own benefit and reward, though there are both benefit and reward. No, we seek to honor our parents and respect our employment for salvation!

- Who'll see us obeying our Christian parents, honoring them in this world and not wonder why?

- Who'll see us working hard when nobody is looking, nobody is appreciating our contribution and not wonder why?

- When they ask, you can tell them that it's Jesus that you love, it's God that you work for and the Holy Spirit that works through you!