2016.01.24 Ephesians 6:
1-12
Children obey your parents!
Good morning everyone…. It´s great to see all of you… I
am glad that you are here….. I have Good
News for you…. His name is Jesus… As
most of you know… Here at Calvary Chapel
Wiesbaden we teach through the Bible
verse by verse… Because we want to see
the Big picture…. We want to know and understand our great God and Savior…. The
Lord Jesus Christ…. We are studying Paul´s letter to the Ephesians this morning… This morning we
will pick up chapter 6…
We
need the Holy Spirit´s help to love and care for our each other and our
families… Once again this morning… Our text for today points us in
the right direction… We are going to look again at God´s plan for marriage and Family… The title for today´s sermon
is…
Children obey your parents!
This sermon is not just for our children…. It is for
everyone of us…! Do you remember Eph
5…v1…
Let´s look at it again…
Ephesians
5:1,2 KJV slt 2000
1 Be
ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
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 sweetsmelling savour.
1 Werdet nun Gottes Nachahmer als geliebte Kinder 2 und
wandelt in der Liebe, gleichwie auch Christus uns geliebt und sich selbst für
uns gegeben hat als Darbringung und Schlachtopfer, zu einem lieblichen Geruch
für Gott.
Another translation says follow the Lord God as dearly
loved children… In the truest possible sense…. Everyone of us are God´s truly
loved children… We are exhorted to follow Him and to walk in love… Brothers and
sisters if we would only do these 2 things… We would transform our families and
our marriages…. We would truly shake the city… Amen? I would like remind us of
the context for our text this morning… Paul is writing us about order in the
church and in the home… He is writing not only about our Walk…. We just read….
Walk in Love… He is also talking about our loving submission… To the Lord and
to each other… look at Eph 5… v21…
Ephesians
5: 21 NLT Neues Leben
21
And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
21 Ordnet euch aus Achtung vor dem Herrn bereitwillig
einander unter.
v21…
submit to one another out of reverence for Christ… The NKJV says…. Submitting
to one another in the fear of God… The motive for all submission is love and respect for
the Lord Jesus Christ... It has to do with our relationship with the
Lord Jesus…. We need to have an attitude of mutual submission in the church and
in our families… In this next section Paul gives us practical
advice for our families… We could call
this…
God’s
plan for marriage and the family
When we look at the family… We have structure in place as
well… Ideally the husband takes on the role of loving and protecting the
family… He lovingly leads and serves them… When a man is Spirit-filled… when he is so filled with joy and gratitude to God for all that Christ has done… And when he loves his wife as himself… he will
serve her and sacrifice himself for her… and will not lord over her… his authority will be gentle… And sacrificial…
and he will help her to feel safe and secure… and she will be willing to follow
him…
When
we submit to God… we recognize God's authority… Which he uses for our good…
And by the way gentlemen… All through these passages… Paul
focuses on us… and men… As leaders
in the home… we are responsible…. Again
this morning… Paul is going to help us understand our responsibilities… Especially as husbands and fathers… As husbands and fathers we are called to
love and care for our families…. We are expected to disciple them… We do that
by teaching them about our great God and Savior… The Lord Jesus Christ…
Last week we focused on loving and serving our wives…
Today we will look at our responsibility to love nad
disciple our children… Our text this morning is Ephesians chapter 6… v1…
Ephesians
6: 1- 4 NLT Neues Leben
1
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the
right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first
commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will
go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”4 Fathers, do not
provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up
with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
1 Ihr Kinder sollt euren Eltern gehorchen, weil ihr dem
Herrn gehört, denn so handelt ihr richtig. 2 »Ihr sollt Vater und Mutter
ehren.« Das ist das erste der Gebote, an das eine Zusage Gottes geknüpft ist: 3
Wenn du deinen Vater und deine Mutter ehrst, »wird es dir gut gehen und du
wirst ein langes Leben haben.« 4 Und ihr Väter, seid nicht ungerecht gegen eure
Kinder. Erzieht sie vielmehr mit Disziplin und zeigt ihnen den richtigen Weg,
so wie es Christus entspricht.
v1…
Children, obey your parents In the Lord, for this is right…
That is simple... Children are to obey their parents… This not only means that
children have the responsibility to obey… But we as parents have the
responsibility to teach our children obedience… This is one of the most
important jobs for parents…
We don't need to teach our children how to disobey… They
have inherited a tendency to sin from Adam… But obedience must be taught…
It is important that parents teach children obedience…
That means that we help them learn to obey by insisting on it…. And when
necessary we lovingly discipline them… We need to help them learn obedience to
parents and to God our heavenly Father…
Our heavenly Father teaches us and disciplines us…. So
that we grow up knowing how to obey Him…
We obey willingly because we have grown to know and love Him…. We know that He
disciplines us for our own good… We
learn to trust Him… And we even when we don´t understand everything that He
tells us… We obey the Lord… even when we don´t really want to… This obedience can be
learned… We must teach and discipline our children… So that they grow obeying
us and their heavenly Father as well… Men we are commanded to love and care
for… And Disciple our children…
Paul gives us two reasons for children to obey… First,
they are to obey in the Lord… This means that their obedience is part of their
Christian obedience… Just like the wife's command to submit to her husband….
Not because he deserves it… But rather as to the Lord… Ephesians 5:22… We show loving and willing submission to each
other…. And to all of those whom the
Lord has put in our lives to love and protect us… Pastors… Elders…. Husbands….
All of it because the Lord tells us to…
The second reason is the 5th commandment… v2,3..
2
“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3
If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will
have a long life on the earth.”
Now… What it means to honor our father and mother may
change as we grow into adulthood… but the principle always endures... The adult
child does not owe the parent obedience… but they do owe the parent honor...
In Deuteronomy
5:16… God promised to bless the obedient child…
v4a…
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by
the way you treat them… Parents certainly have the opportunity
to provoke their children to anger or wrath… For example an unkind…
over-critical attitude can frustrate our children… instead of helping them to
grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus… We must remember that the
goal is lead our Children to the Lord
Jesus Christ…. We are Discipling them…. Not lording over them… Christian
parents should never be like that…
By the way…. Everything that Paul is writing to husbands and fathers was very
radical in those days… In those days and cultures Man had absolute authority
and his word was law and to be feared….. Paul says Christian…. Love and care
for and disciple your families… Jesus our your example… Not the culture…
v4b…
Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the
Lord… This does not mean merely scolding your children… It means to train and admonish… Encouragement
and rebuke must be combined with training and teaching… The phrase translated
here as… discipline and instruction…
(various
Forms of paideia… To Counsel, discipline, or
chastise… and nouthesia… To admonish , or exhort…) Is
applied to us in Hebrews 12… There we see our Heavenly father disciplining us….
Because he loves us… look with me please at Heb 12… v5…
Hebrews
12: 5-10 NLT
Neues Leben
5
And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?
He said,“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and
don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and
he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” 7
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his
own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that
you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we
respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more
to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?10 For our
earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how.
But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his
holiness.
Hebrews 12: 5-10
NLT
Neues Leben
5 Und habt ihr die ermutigenden Worte völlig vergessen,
die Gott zu euch sprach? »Mein Sohn, lehne dich nicht dagegen auf, wenn der
Herr dich zurechtweist und lass dich dadurch nicht entmutigen!
6 Denn der Herr weist die zurecht, die er liebt, und er
straft jeden, den er als seinen Sohn annimmt.«
7 Wenn ihr Schweres ertragen müsst, dann erkennt darin
die Zurechtweisung Gottes; denkt daran, dass Gott euch als seine Kinder
behandelt. Wer hätte je von einem Sohn gehört, der nie bestraft wurde?
8 Wenn Gott euch nicht zurechtweist, wie er es doch bei
allen Menschen tut, dann heißt das, dass ihr nicht seine rechtmäßigen Kinder
seid.
9 Unsere leiblichen Väter erzogen uns mit Strafe, und wir
hatten trotzdem Achtung vor ihnen. Sollten wir uns da nicht umso bereitwilliger
der Erziehung unseres himmlischen Vaters unterordnen, damit wir leben?
10 Denn unsere leiblichen Väter haben uns eine Zeit lang
erzogen, so gut sie es konnten. Aber Gottes Erziehung ist immer richtig und gut
für uns, weil sie bedeutet, dass wir Anteil an seiner Heiligkeit erhalten.
v5,6…
We are given these encouraging words… Our Heavenly father disciplines us….
Because he loves us… That has to be the way and motive that we
use in our homes…
This very same phrase is also used in 2 Timothy 3…v15-17… It is used to describe
the purposes of the Scriptures in our lives… Parents…
We are to raise our children on the Word
of God… Back to Ephesians 6…v4… Look at the middle of verse 4…
Ephesians
6: 4 NLT Neues Leben
4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them.
Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the
Lord.
4 Und ihr Väter, seid nicht ungerecht gegen eure Kinder.
Erzieht sie vielmehr mit Disziplin und zeigt ihnen den richtigen Weg, so wie es
Christus entspricht.
v4…
Bring them up… Calvin translated this phrase "Let them
be fondly cherished…
This tender love and care that our Heavenly Father has
poured out on our lives…. Is the same love and care that we are to pour out on
our wives and children… That´s right…. Our
Lord Jesus Christ… Who is the Instrument of the Father in all of our lives…
He is our example…. When we love and care for are families like Jesus loves and
cares for us…. We will disciple our children His way…
We need
to keep the text from Hebrews 12 in our
hearts and minds as we care for our families… It reminds us of God´s
loving discipline with produces wonderful
results in us… Look at Hebrews 12…
this time v10…
Hebrews
12: 10-13 NLT Neues Leben
10
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they
knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in
his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful!
But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who
are trained in this way. 12 So take a new grip
with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight
path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become
strong.
10 Denn unsere leiblichen Väter haben uns eine Zeit lang
erzogen, so gut sie es konnten. Aber Gottes Erziehung ist immer richtig und gut
für uns, weil sie bedeutet, dass wir Anteil an seiner Heiligkeit erhalten.11
Keine Strafe ist angenehm, und während wir sie erleiden, ist sie immer
schmerzlich! Doch danach werden diejenigen, die auf diese Weise geformt werden,
inneren Frieden und ein Leben in der Gerechtigkeit gewinnen. 12 Stärkt also
eure müde gewordenen Hände und stellt euch fest auf eure zitternden Knie!13
Schafft gerade Wege für eure Füße. Dann werden alle, auch wenn sie schwach und
lahm sind, nicht stolpern und fallen, sondern stark werden.
Look at the results of God´s loving Discipline in this
text…
Loving
Godly Discipline
1
Holiness… v10… The scriptures call us to Holy and Godly
living… 2 Peter 3:11…
2 Right
living… v11… The German translation says… inner peace and
righteousness…
3 Makes
us strong believers… v12…
4 We
follow a straight path… v13... We learn to mark a straight
path for ourselves and others to follow… Discipline
from the Lord produces Discipleship in
us… We
will learn and grow in grace…Then as we love and disciple
our families... They will follow our path of Holiness and obedience… We will become
disciplers of others…. our families… and our brothers and sisters in the
church… We minister to each other…
Application….
That
means that we must be in the Word of God
ourselves… 2 Timothy 3:15-17…. God will use it in us… He will make us Godly parents and Leaders…. In the home
and in the church…. And in this lost and dying world… back to Ephesians 6… v…5
Ephesians
6: 5- 9 NLT Neues Leben
5
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them
sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6 Try to please them all the time, not
just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with
all your heart. 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord
rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for
the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.9 Masters, treat your slaves in
the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in
heaven, and he has no favorites.
5 Ihr Sklaven sollt euren irdischen Herren gehorchen.
Achtet und ehrt sie und dient ihnen mit aufrichtigen Herzen, wie ihr Christus
dient.
6 Arbeitet hart, aber nicht nur, um euren Herren zu
gefallen, wenn sie euch dabei sehen. Versteht euch vielmehr als Sklaven, die
Christus gehören und die von Herzen den Willen Gottes erfüllen.
7 Arbeitet so bereitwillig, als würdet ihr Gott dienen
und nicht Menschen.
8 Denkt daran, dass der Herr jeden von uns für das Gute
belohnen wird, das wir tun, ob wir nun Sklaven sind oder frei.
9 Und genauso sollt auch ihr Herren eure Sklaven
behandeln. Droht ihnen nicht, sondern denkt immer daran, dass ihr beide
denselben Herrn im Himmel habt, der keinen Menschen bevorzugt.
v5…
Slaves, obey your earthly masters… Serve
them sincerely as you would serve Christ… Do you see the
pattern in Paul´s exhortations to us…? We
are learning about all forms of
submission in life… For Christians
all submission… Is rooted in our
submission to the Lord Jesus Christ… He is our example... He became obedient
even unto death… Death on the cross… Phil 2:8 and Hebrews 5:8…
He
is not only our example…. He is the reason that we submit to
each other… and to the authority that He
Himself has placed in the home and in the church…. It´s all because of Jesus..
We trust Him…. We love and serve and obey the Lord Jesus…. He is the one we
are following… As we submit to the Lord…
We submit to the authorities that
the Lord has put in our lives… The
Lord has given us parents and husbands and bosses and pastors…. And because we
are genuine believers… we follow them… Unless what we are told to do something
that is sinful… Something that violates the Word of God…. No one can command
you to disobey the Word of God…
The truth that we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ changes
our whole perspective as workers and as bosses… It reminds us that our work
should be done as if we were working for the Lord…
While the Gospel
in one respect left slavery alone… it doomed it in another… Because the Good News of the Gospel combats
all forms of oppression… The Glorious
Light of the Gospel Burst into the Greco-Roman world with great power… The Gospel brings the message of mutual
submission and redeeming love…. To a
world dominated by power and wickedness…
v8…
Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do… Paul
reminds us that God will bless and reward us for our hard work…
v9…
Masters… Don’t threaten them… remember, you both have the same Master in heaven…
We are commanded to be kind and not harsh… This applies
to our families and our employees and of course… It applies to the way we treat
each other here in the church… Again we
see Jesus as our example… let´s look at the next section… Eph 6… v10…
Ephesians
6: 10,11 NLT Neues Leben
10 A
final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of
God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of
the devil.
10 Noch ein Wort zum Schluss: Werdet stark durch den
Herrn und durch die mächtige Kraft seiner Stärke!
11 Legt die komplette Waffenrüstung Gottes an, damit ihr
allen hinterhältigen Angriffen des Teufels widerstehen könnt.
v10a…
A final word: Be strong in the Lord… This comes at the end of the
letter… In this letter Paul has
carefully established our place in Jesus… He has taught solid doctrinal proof… And then He applied these truths to our Christian walk… This is his last section
dealing with that walk… Literally speaking… Paul wrote… strengthen yourselves in the Lord…
He probably took the idea from 1 Samuel
30:6… where it is said that David strengthened himself in the LORD his God…
There are 2 two essential components to this final
exhortation… First, you must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His
might... Then, you must put on the whole armor of God... Both of these
components are essential… If you take a weak man who can barely stand…
and put the best armor on him… He will
be easily beaten…
So equipping for Christian combat must begin with be
strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…
v10b...
And in the power of His might… This shows how to get the
strength that we need for the spiritual battle that we find ourselves in…
Might is a clearly seen proof of power or force… A
muscular man's big muscles display his might… even if he doesn't use them… It
is a reservoir of his strength for whatever task he takes on… A soldiers
weapons are also reservoirs of his power and ability to fight and win…
God has vast reservoirs of might that can be realized as
power in our Christian life… But His might does not work in me as I sit
passively… His might works in me… as I step
out to do the work…
The key for us is to by faith rely on His might… And then
do the work…. Proclaim and defend the Gospel with His power and wisdom… v11…
v11a…
Put on all of God’s armor… God gives the believer a full set of
equipment… and He sends us out into battle with everything we need…
This is the armor is of God… Is from Him… It is His
actual armor… In the Old Testament, it is the LORD who wears the armor as he
fights for us… Isaiah 59:17… Paul
says that He now shares that armor with us… No wonder Paul writes to the
Romans…. That we are more than
conquerors!.. Romans 8:37… look at the next phrase…
v11b…
That you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… We need the Lord´s power and armor to do battle with our enemies… If we try to
resist the devil on our own… We
are toast…
Satan's schemes against us fail… When we stand against them in the power of God…
v12…
Ephesians
6: 12 NLT Neues
Leben
12
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil
rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark
world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 12 Denn wir kämpfen nicht gegen
Menschen aus Fleisch und Blut, sondern gegen die bösen Mächte und Gewalten der
unsichtbaren Welt, gegen jene Mächte der Finsternis, die diese Welt
beherrschen, und gegen die bösen Geister in der Himmelswelt.
v12a…
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies… Paul
does not call believers to enter into spiritual warfare… He
simply announces our spiritual battles as facts… We are in a spiritual battle… We
are out of time. We will pick up this text and go a bit deeper next time…. For
let´s stop right here and pray…
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