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Paul is drawing from thepicture of a Roman soldier. The Roman soldier wore strong sandals—oftenreinforced and fitted with hobnails. Those nails gave him traction andstability in battle. A soldier could not stand, advance, or fight effectivelyif his feet were slipping or injured. And spiritually speaking, if our feet arenot protected, we will not stand very long.   The Gospel gives us firmfooting and a key word in this verse is “preparation.” And that is exactly what weneed in spiritual warfare: stability, firmness, and confidence. So manybelievers fall—not because they do not love the Lord—but because their footingbecomes unstable. They are shaken by fear, doubt, temptation, ordiscouragement. And often because of unconfessed sin in their lives their feethave gotten dirty with the world. Remember Jesus washed the feet of thedisciples in John 13 signify the need of forgiveness.   Paul also calls it the “gospelof peace” because the Gospel brings peace in every direction. First, it brings peacebetween God and man. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” One of Satan’sfavorite weapons is accusation. He wants believers to doubt their standing withGod. He wants to disturb their conscience and rob them of assurance. But theGospel settles the greatest issue of all: our relationship with God. ThroughJesus Christ, we have peace with God. That means we do not have to fear thedevil, and we do not have to fear men. We belong to Christ. Second, the Gospelbrings peace within our hearts. Even when life is difficult, the believer canstand with confidence because we are resting in Christ. Third, the Gospelbrings peace with one another. This is important because Satan loves division.If he can destroy peace among believers, he can weaken the church.   These shoes also remind usthat our feet must be protected everywhere we go. There are places Christiansshould not go. There are doors we should not walk through unless God is sendingus there and we are walking in the protection of His armor. The temptations aretoo great otherwise. But wherever we do go, we must go as soldiers of the Kingand ambassadors for Christ.   This verse also speaks ofreadiness. We are not only called to stand—we are called to go. Jesus gave ourmarching orders in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and teach allnations… and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Myfriend, the world is full of people who have never heard the Gospel clearly.Lost men and women are held in the grip of Satan. Surely there is someone towhom we can go with the Gospel of peace. And that brings us back to that word “preparation.”Many believers shrink back from Christian service because they do not feelprepared. But preparation matters. Jesus spent years training His disciples.Paul often traveled with young men and trained them for ministry. And in thesame way, each of us must learn Scripture, grow in our faith, and learn how toshare the Gospel. A Christian does not become effective overnight—we growthrough obedience, service, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.   These shoes as protectionagainst traps laid in the path—sharp sticks and hidden snares meant to stop anarmy. That is exactly what Satan does. He lays traps to hinder our walk, tostop our progress, and to wound our feet so we cannot stand. But when our feetare shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, we can walk steadily—evenwhen the path is difficult.   When we join God in the publicationof the Gospel we have this wonderful promise in Isaiah 52:7: “How beautifulupon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publishespeace…” Paul quotes this again in Romans 10:15, reminding us that Goddelights in the believer who carries the Gospel. Satan declares war, but youand I are ambassadors of peace. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 tells us we have beengiven the ministry of reconciliation.

Overthe past few days, we have been learning about our enemy, the devil. Today, weturn our attention to the equipment God has provided for us, and we begin tolearn how to stand against him by putting on the whole armor of God that hasbeen made available to every believer. The fact that the Apostle Paul uses theword “wrestle” reminds us that this is a hand-to-hand battle. We are notmere spectators watching a game from the sidelines. We are engaged in realspiritual conflict. Satan seeks to use our external enemy—the world—and ourinternal enemy—the flesh—to defeat us.   Ephesians6:13-17 describes the equipment that God has made available to us. Because ourenemies operate in the spiritual realm, we need spiritual equipment, both fordefense and for offense. God has provided the whole armor, and we dare not omitany part of it. Satan is always looking for an unguarded area in our liveswhere he can gain a foothold, or as Paul warns, “giving place to the devil”(Ephesians 4:27). This gives Satan a “beachhead” or a “stronghold” (2Corinthians 10:4), for him to operate from in our lives.   Paulcommands believers to put on the armor, take up the weapons, and stand firmagainst Satan. All of this is done by faith. Knowing that Christ has alreadyconquered Satan, and knowing that the armor and weapons are available to us, weaccept by faith what God has given and then go out to meet the enemy. The dayis evil, and the enemy is evil, but we take comfort in the truth of Romans 8:31:“If God is for us, who can be against us?”   Thefirst piece of armor that Paul mentions is the “Girdle of Truth” (Ephesians6:14a). Satan is a liar (John 8:44), but the believer whose life is controlledby truth can defeat him. The girdle, or belt, held the other pieces of armortogether, and in the same way, truth is the integrating force in the life of avictorious Christian. A person of integrity, with a clear conscience, can facethe enemy without fear. The girdle also held the sword. If we do not practicethe truth, we cannot properly use the Word of truth. Once a lie enters the lifeof a believer, everything begins to fall apart.   Wesee a sobering example of this in the life of King David. For over a year,David concealed his sin with Bathsheba, and nothing in his life went right. Psalm32 and Psalm 51 describe the heavy price he paid until he returned to truth andconfession.   Nextis the “Breastplate of Righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14b). Thebreastplate, made of metal plates or chains, covered the body from the neck tothe waist, both front and back. It symbolizes the believer’s righteousness inChrist. Remember in 2 Corinthians 5:21 we are told that “we are made therighteousness of God in Christ”. It also symbolizes the believer’s righteouslife we are to live in Christ. This happens when we “Put on the new manwhich was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness”.  (Ephesians 4:24).   Satanis the accuser, but he cannot successfully accuse a believer who is living agodly life in the power of the Holy Spirit. The life we live either strengthensus against Satan’s attacks or makes it easier for him to defeat us Read Paul’stestimony as a minister of the Gospel in 2 Corinthians 6:1–10, and especialverse 7: “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor ofrighteousness on the right hand and on the left.” Notice all thetribulations and trials that Paul faced were overcome in with armor of truthand righteousness!   WhenSatan accuses the Christian, it is the righteousness of Christ that assures usof our salvation. However, positional righteousness in Christ without practicalrighteousness in daily living gives Satan an opportunity to attack.   Maythe Lord help us today to make sure each day we are putting on the “whole armorof God”.   Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.

Youcan't fight the devil in your own power. “Be strong in the Lord andin the power of His might”. Oh my friend, we stand in His power and in Hismight that is mightier than the power of Satan. As powerful as Satan is, he'snot mightier than God. Then secondly, notice what Paulsays in verse 11, “Put on the whole armor of God that you might be able tostand against the wiles of the devil”. The wiles of the devil is a wordthat means those crafty strategies and clever schemes that he comes up with todeceive you. We think back to Genesis 2 when the devil showed up for the firsttemptation in humanity and that he tempted Eve with.   Satanmade her question God's word and then began to change it. That is an attempt ofSatan, his deceitful device to cause us to question the authority of God overour lives. What should be the finally authority over our lives? Of course it isthe Word of God! Now, if you go back to this passage of scripture in Ephesians5, we are told to submit ourselves one to another in the fear of the Lord.Secondly, Paul then talks about wives submitting to husbands. The he talksabout husbands loving the wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself forit. How did Christ love and give Himself for the Church?   Welook back to Philippians 2:5-11, where we read how Christ was obedient untodeath even the death of the cross. Why? Because He humbled Himself. Hesubmitted to the authority of the Father. He did the Father's will. We read whereJesus said several times in the Gospel of John, “I came to do my Father'swill”. And we find that He even cried out there in the garden before Hewent to the cross, “Not my will but thy will be done”. Jesus submittedto the authority of the Father and He became obedient to death, even the deathof the cross. This is where we can begin to understand this principle ofauthority.   Wemust remember that there's no authority on planet earth that's not there, butthat God placed it there (Romans 13:1-2). This includes government authorities,parental authorities, school authorities, work authorities, whatever authorityis over our life. God has placed the authority of the church over our life. In2 Corinthians 2:11 we are told that we should not be ignorant of Satan'sdevices, his schemes. What is his scheme? To cause you to question God's Wordand God's authority that's been placed over your life.   Rememberthis passage in 2 Corinthians is about a man Paul is asking the church atCorinth to forgive. Why? In first Corinthians, this man was in a sinfulcondition. He was having incest with his stepmother and Paul said you put himout of the church. You put him and turn him over to Satan (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).When you put him over to Satan, outside the church, he goes outside theumbrella of God's protection over his life. Then Satan is there to deal withhim in such a way that he runs back to the church. He asks for forgiveness andhe's restored back to fellowship. Paul says “Forgive him”!   Forgivenessis a major thing. That's why the passage in Ephesians 4 ends with, “Forgiveone another as Christ has forgiven you”. When we understand this principleof authority of coming under God's authority, we're dealing with what God isteaching us about submission. As we submit to the authorities God has over ourlives, we have a special protection from God, over Satan and from Satanattacking us and deceiving us and leading us astray. Oh, it's so important tounderstand this.   Whenwe begin to understand this, it makes a major difference. That's why he says,remember, we do not wrestle with flesh and blood. Our battle is not withpeople. Often that is what we start doing, but we are fighting the wrong battle.We get bitter because we won't forgive. We come out from under authority becausewe won't forgive. We won't submit to what God is doing in our life. He's usingsometimes people to bring to our attention some weaknesses, some things in ourlife that shouldn't be there.  

Please remember what I said yesterday aboutsit, walk and stand. It's so important to know and be practicing before we canstand against the evil one who will attack us, especially if we're doingsomething for the Lord. By the way, if the devil's not bothering you, it meansyou're not doing anything for the Lord. The devil tempted Jesus. The devil wentafter Peter. And I'll guarantee you, anyone that's on God's agenda,accomplishing God's purposes and committed to doing the will of God daily, willbe under the attack of the evil one and his forces.   Weneed to know how to stand. Remember what we said yesterday. We must first knowour position in Christ. We're seated in the heavenly places in Christ. We're inChrist. Christ is in you. He must be our all in all. Secondly, we must walkproperly. That's why Galatians 5:16 says, "Walk in the Spirit you willnot fulfill the lust of the flesh." Now, Paul says, "We will beable to stand”. We don't fight with the devil. You'll lose every time."Even Michael the Archangel didn't fight with the devil when they were disputingover the body of Moses (Jude 1:9). It says, "Michael said, "TheLord rebuke you." We are no match for the devil. My friend, you are inChrist you can stand in this victory in Christ.   Now,as we all know, in any military conflict, intelligence is essential. Officersmust know who the enemy is, where he operates, what he's capable of doing.Without that knowledge, victory is difficult, if not impossible. My friend, Godhas not left us uninformed. Not only in Ephesians chapter 6, but throughout theentire Bible, God Himself teaches us about our enemy so that we will not becaught off guard.   Now,who is the leader of our enemy? Of course, it's the devil. He has many names.He's called the devil, which means the accuser because he accuses God's peopleday night before the throne of God (Revelation 12:7-11). He's also calledSatan, meaning “adversary” because he stands in opposition to God. Scripturealso refers to him as the “tempter” (Matthew 4:3). He's called a “murderer and aliar” (John 8:44). He's compared to a “roaring lion” in 1 Peter 5:8. He'spictured as a “serpent” in Genesis 3:1 also Revelation 12:9. He's also picturedas an “angel of light” in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Paul also calls him the “godof this age” in 2 Corinthians 4:4.   Sowhere did this powerful spirit come from? Many students of Scripture believe hewas “Lucifer, son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12-15). He was cast out of heavenbecause of his pride and a desire to take over God's throne. Now, there aremany mysteries concerning Satan's origin and when all that happened, but myfriend, there's no mystery about what he's doing today where he's headed.   Asa created being, he is not eternal like God. He's limited in knowledge, power,and presence. He is not all knowing, all powerful, or everywhere at once. So,how does he accomplish so much in so many places? The answer's found in hisorganized helpers. That's why Paul explains it here in Ephesians 6 as “principalities,powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in the highplaces”. This language suggests highly organized demonic army assistingSatan in his attacks against believers.   TheApostle John indicates that one-third of the angels fell with Satan in hisrebellion in Revelation 12:4. The prophet Daniel reveals that Satan's angelscontend with God's angels over the affairs of the nations in Daniel 10:13-20.So a spiritual battle is taking place both on earth in the heavenly realms. YouI are a part of that battle. Understanding this makes walking in victoryvitally important not only to us but to God.   Godhelp us to understand today we have an enemy and it is not people. It's thedevil and his organized forces. God give us grace today to be “seated in Christ”,“walking in the Spirit”, and standing against the wiles of the evil one!

Sooneror later, every believer discovers that the Christian life is a battleground,not a playground. We learn quickly that we face an enemy who is far strongerthan we are—apart from the Lord. It is very fitting that the Apostle Paul usesmilitary imagery to describe the believer’s conflict with Satan. At the time hewrote this letter to the Ephesian church, Paul himself was chained to a Romansoldier (Ephesians 6:20). His readers were well acquainted with soldiers andtheir equipment. In fact, military illustrations were favorites of Paul, as wesee throughout his letters (2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3;4:7).   Wemust always remember that as Christians, we face three enemies: the world, theflesh, and the devil. Paulreminds us of this earlier in Ephesians 2:1-3: “And you He made alive, whowere dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to thecourse of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, thespirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all onceconducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of theflesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others”.That passage reminds us where we came from and what Christ has delivered us outof.   Thisalso brings us to an important theme that runs throughout the Book ofEphesians. In this letter, we see three positions that every believer mustunderstand if we are going to stand against the wiles of the evil one. First,Paul teaches us that we sit in Christ. In the opening chapters, we learn ourposition in Him—"we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places” (Ephesians2:6). Secondly, we are called to walk. We walk worthy of the Lord (Ephesians4:1). We are to walk in purity (Ephesians 4:17-23). We are to walk in love(Ephesians 5:2). We are to walk in the light as He is in the light (Ephesians5:8-14). We are to walk wisely (Ephesians 5:15-17). And we walk in harmony withthose around us (Ephesians 5:18-6:9).   Now,finally, in this last section, Paul teaches us how to stand in victory.We do not fight the devil in our own strength. We do not fight spiritual forcesin our own power. Rather, we stand in the victory that has already been wonthrough Jesus Christ at the cross of Calvary. That is why Paul says at least twomore times that we are able to stand against the wiles of the devil. In verse 13,he writes, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be ableto withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” And again,in verse 14, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist withtruth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness”.   Wemust never forget that our battle involves the world, the flesh, and the devil.The world refers to the system around us that is opposed to God. 1 John 2:15–17warns us not to love the world or the things in the world, describing it asdriven by “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride oflife. The world is passing away, but the one who does the will of God abidesforever.” A simple but accurate definition of the world is: “Societyapart from God.”   Theflesh is the old nature we inherited from Adam—a nature that is opposed to Godand incapable of pleasing Him spiritually. That is where much of the internalwarfare takes place. And then there is the devil, our spiritual enemy.   Hereis the good news: we can stand in victory. Christ has already overcomethe world (John 16:33; Galatians 6:14). In Christ we can overcome the flesh (Romans6:1–6). And through Christ, we can stand against the devil. In other words, wedo not fight for victory—we fight from victory. The Spirit of Godenables us, by faith, to appropriate Christ’s victory in our daily lives.  

Today we will continue here in Ephesians chapter 6 and we're looking at verse 9 as Paulis talking about the workplace. Yesterday, as you know, he talked about theservant or the employee and gives instructions to them as a Christian employeeand what are your responsibilities? Now, he's talking to the employer or themaster. The Christian faith does not bring harmony by erasing social orcultural distinctions. Servants were still servants when they trusted Christ,and masters were still masters. Rather, Christianity brings harmony by changingthe heart. Christ gives us a new motivation, not a new organizationalstructure. Both servant and master are ultimately serving the Lord and seekingto please Him. When that is true, they are able to work together for the gloryof God. So what are the responsibilities of a Christian master—or, in our day,a Christian employer?   1.He Must Seek the Welfare of His Workers. Paul says, “Do the same things untothem.” If an employer expects his workers to do their best for him, then hemust do his best for them. The master must serve the Lord from the heart if heexpects those under his authority to do the same. A Christian employer mustnever exploit his workers. One of the finest biblical examples of thisprinciple is Boaz in the Book of Ruth. Boaz greeted his workers by saying, “TheLord be with you!” and they replied, “The Lord bless thee!” (Ruth2:4). Boaz was sensitive to the needs of his workers and generous toward Ruth,a stranger. His relationship with his employees was marked by mutual respectand a shared desire to glorify the Lord. Sadly, it is sometimes said, “Myboss claims to be a Christian, but you’d never know it.” That ought neverto be the case.   2.He Must Not Threaten. Paul also instructs Christian masters to give upthreatening. Roman masters possessed tremendous authority, even the legal rightto kill a rebellious slave—though few did so, since slaves were expensive.Still, the power to threaten was very real. Paul teaches that the Christianemployer has a far better way to encourage obedience and service. Fear is apoor motivator. It often results in less effort, not more, and it cannot besustained over time. A much better motivation is fairness and justice. Paulreinforces this in Colossians 4:1, reminding masters to provide what is justand equal. When a worker is allowed to share in the results of his labor,he will work better and harder.   3.He Must Be Submitted to the Lord. Paul reminds masters, “Your Master also isin heaven” (Ephesians 6:9). This is the practical outworking of thelordship of Christ. Throughout Ephesians, we see this pattern: Wheneach person submits to the Lord, submission to human authority becomes far lessdifficult. Jesustaught that the pathway to leadership begins with servanthood. The person whois not under authority has no right to exercise authority. This explains why somany of God’s leaders were servants before they were rulers—Joseph, Moses,Joshua, David, and Nehemiah, to name a few. Even after becoming leaders, theywere called to lead by serving. God actually often addressed Moses as, “Myservant Moses”.   4.He Must Not Show Partiality. Paul closes by reminding us that there is nopartiality with God (Ephesians 6:9). God judges or rewards both master andservant according to obedience or disobedience (Ephesians 6:8). A Christianemployer must not assume special privilege before God because of position, norshould he play favorites among those under his authority. Paul warned Timothyto observe these principles without preferring one before another (1Timothy 5:21). Few things divide a workplace faster—or destroy leadership morequickly—than favoritism.

Today we continue in Ephesianschapter 6, looking at verses 5 through 8, where the Apostle Paul turns hisattention from the home to the workplace. The word "servants," or inthis translation, “bondservants”, undoubtedly refers to Christian slaves, butwe may certainly apply these words to the Christian employee today. There wereprobably 6 million slaves in the Roman Empire in that day, and slavery was anaccepted institution. While the New Testament does not launch a politicalattack against slavery, the Gospel itself undermines it from the inside. Paul’smission was not to overthrow governments, but to transform lives throughChrist. History shows us that when hearts are changed by the Gospel, societieseventually change as well. The principles Paul gives hereapply directly to us today as Christian employees and workers. The workplaceis one of the most important mission fields God has given us. Paul givesseveral reasons why Christian servants—and Christian workers today—are to beobedient and faithful in their work.   First, we are reallyserving Christ. Paul reminds these servants that although they have“masters according to the flesh,” their true Master is the Lord. When aChristian goes to work, he does not leave his faith at the door. He carriesChrist with him into the office, the factory, the classroom, or the job site. Beinga Christian employee means showing respect, diligence, and integrity. The factthat an employer and employee may both be Christians is never an excuse to doless work. Instead, it is a reason to be even more faithful. The Christianworker should give full attention and energy to the task at hand, working withwhat Paul calls “singleness of heart.” Paul specifically warns against “eyeservice”—workingonly when the boss is watching, or trying to impress people rather than beinggenuinely faithful. The best testimony on the job is not just what we say, buthow we work. A good day’s work done with integrity speaks volumes for Christ.   Second, doing a good job isthe will of God. Paul says we are to be “doing the will of God from theheart.” Christianity makes no distinction between sacred and secular work.Any honest job can be an act of worship when it is done for the Lord. Some ofthese servants were assigned tasks they disliked or found difficult. Yet Paultells them to do their work wholeheartedly, as long as it did not requiredisobedience to God. The key issue is the heart attitude. When we work “fromthe heart,” we are acknowledging that our labor ultimately belongs to the Lord.   A Christian does not workmerely for a paycheck or for human approval. He works to glorify God. WhenChrist is our true Master, even ordinary tasks take on eternal significance. Itis also good to remember that our vocation or job is God’s means of supporting theministry God has called us to. Our first ministry is our family and after thatis our church and other believers. It also gives us the opportunity to support ourresponsibility to fulfill the Great Commission of reaching the lost people withthe Gospel of Jesus Christ. To bear fruit that glorifies God (John 15:8 &16) “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit"   Third, we will be rewardedby the Lord. In Paul’s day, slaves were often treated as property,regardless of their abilities or character. A Christian slave might even sufferunjust treatment because of his faith. Yet Paul assures them—and us—that no actof faithful service goes unnoticed by God. God is no respecter of persons. Earthly status does not determine heavenlyreward. We serve Christ, not men, and our ultimate reward comes from Him. Thistruth is especially comforting when our work is unappreciated, misunderstood,or unfairly criticized. God sees. God remembers. God rewards.   In summary, the Christianworkplace ethic is built on three great truths: We work for Christ, wework according to the will of God, and we work with the assurance ofeternal reward.

Today we continue in Ephesians chapter 6, looking at verse 4, where the ApostlePaul speaks directly to fathers about their God-given responsibilities in thehome. In this one verse, God gives us both a warning and a calling.If left to themselves, children will naturally go their own way. Scripture andexperience both confirm this. That is why God places the responsibility oftraining children squarely on the parents—especially the father. The Biblerecords tragic consequences when parents neglect this calling. David pamperedAbsalom, and it ended in rebellion and heartbreak. Eli failed to discipline hissons, and it brought disgrace to his family and defeat to Israel. Favoritism inIsaac’s and Jacob’s homes produced division and sorrow. God gives us theseaccounts as warnings, not merely history lessons. In this one verse Pauloutlines several responsibilities for fathers. First, a father must notprovoke his children. In Paul’s day, fathers held tremendous authority. InRoman culture, a father even had the legal right to accept or reject a newbornchild. Paul confronts that abuse of power directly and says, in effect, “Do notuse your authority to crush your children, but to build them up.” In Colossians3:21, Paul added, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they bediscouraged.” The opposite of provoking is encouraging.  Fathersprovoke their children when they say one thing and do another, when theycriticize but rarely praise, when discipline is harsh one day and ignored thenext, when favoritism exists in the home, or when promises are made but notkept. Children can also be provoked when parents dismiss problems that are veryreal and painful to them. Christian parents need the fullness of the HolySpirit to respond with wisdom, patience, and sensitivity to their children’sneeds. Second,a father must nurture his children. Paul says, “Bring them up”—aphrase that means to nourish or cherish. It is the same word used earlier whenhusbands are told to nourish their wives. Fathers are called to nourish theirchildren not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Providing food,clothing, and shelter is important—but it is not enough. Children also needlove, encouragement, affirmation, and spiritual guidance. Jesus gives us the pattern: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” That is balanced growth—mental, physical, spiritual, and social. Nowhere in Scripture does God assign the spiritual training of childrento institutions outside the home. Churches and schools can assist, but theresponsibility belongs to the parents. Third,a father must discipline his children. The word translated “training”carries the idea of discipline and correction. Scripture consistently teachesthat discipline is an expression of love. “Whom the Lord loves, Hedisciplines.” A lack of discipline does not show kindness—it shows neglect.However, discipline must be done in the right way. It must never beadministered in anger. A parent who loses control cannot teach self-control.Discipline must also be fair and consistent. Children need to know where theboundaries are. Loving discipline provides security. Even when childrendisagree, they understand that someone cares enough to guide them. Many adultstoday admit they never knew where the limits were growing up because no onecared enough to discipline them. That uncertainty often leads to insecurity andpoor choices later in life. Fourth,a father must instruct and encourage his children. Paul uses the word “admonition,”which refers to verbal instruction and counsel. Parenting is not only aboutactions—it is also about words. The book of Proverbs is filled with a fatherlovingly instructing his son in the ways of wisdom. Children may not alwaysappreciate instruction at the moment, but that does not remove theresponsibility to teach. Our counsel must always be rooted in the Word of God,which equips us to guide our children wisely.

Welcome to Pastor’s Chat.Today we continue in Ephesians 6:1-3, as the Apostle Paul continues histeaching on harmony in the Christian home. In these verses, Paul turnshis attention to the children. Wherever we look in society today, we seedivision and rebellion. Husbands and wives separate. Children resist authority.Employers and employees struggle against one another. We’ve tried education,legislation, and social reform, yet the problem remains. Paul’s solution is fardeeper: regeneration—a new heart through Christ and a new submission toHis lordship.   God’s great purpose, as Paulsaid earlier in Ephesians, is to gather all things together in Christ. Thatharmony begins in the home, and it begins when believers submit themselves tothe Lord and to one another. Paul now addresses children directly, which tellsus something important. Children were present when this letter was read in thechurch. Christian families worshiped together, and parents taught God’s Word athome. Paul gives children four reasons why they should obey theirparents.   First, they are Christians.Paul writes, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord.” Becoming aChristian does not remove our everyday responsibilities—it deepens them. Faithin Christ should make a child more loving, respectful, and obedient in thehome, not less. This fits the theme of the entire section: “Submittingyourselves one to another in the fear of God.” The wife submits to herhusband as unto Christ. The husband loves his wife as Christ loved the church.And children obey their parents in the Lord. When each family memberlives under Christ’s lordship, harmony becomes possible.   Second, obedience is right.Paul simply says, “for this is right.” God has built order intocreation. Parents brought children into the world. Parents have greaterexperience, wisdom, and responsibility. Even in nature, young animals aretaught to follow and obey. Modern culture often reverses this order. Theunspoken rule today seems to be, “Parents, obey your children so everyone stayshappy.” But that is not God’s design. When God’s order is ignored, confusionand conflict follow.   Third, obedience iscommanded. Paul quotes the fifth commandment: “Honor your father andmother.” This commandment did not disappear in the New Testament. WhileChristians are no longer under the Law as a system of salvation, therighteousness of God’s Law still reveals His holy standards. To honor parentsmeans far more than simple obedience. It means respect, gratitude, care, and adesire to bring honor to them by how we live. Even when parents areimperfect—or even unbelieving—children are still called to honor them. Honoring parents also protectsour Christian testimony. How we treat our parents speaks loudly to the watchingworld. Respect builds bridges; disrespect destroys them.   Fourth, obedience bringsblessing. Paul reminds us that this is the first commandment with apromise: “that it may be well with you and that you may live long on theearth.” This is not a guarantee that every obedient child will live a longlife, but it is a principle. Obedience keeps children from much danger,heartache, and destructive sin. But life is measured not only by length—it ismeasured by quality. God enriches the life of the obedient child. Sinalways robs us; obedience always blesses us.   Learning obedience earlyprepares a child for a lifetime of submission to God. Disobedience to parentsis ultimately rebellion against God. Scripture tells us that one of the marksof a society that rejects God is disobedient children. The breakdown of thehome always follows the rejection of God’s Word. By nature, children areselfish—just like adults. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, childrencan learn obedience, honor their parents, and glorify God.   May God help our homes reflectHis design, His order, and His peace—so that obedience becomes a pathway toblessing, not a burden.

Todaywe come to the closing verses of Ephesians 5:29-33. In these verses, theApostle Paul lifts our understanding of marriage to its highest level byshowing us that the Christian home is meant to be a living picture of Christ’srelationship to His church. Paul reminds us that no one ever hates his ownflesh, but nourishes and cherishes it—and then he adds these important words—“justas the Lord does the church.” Christ cares for His people tenderly andfaithfully. He nourishes them, protects them, and provides for them. Paul saysthis is the pattern for marriage.   Eachbeliever is a member of Christ's body, and each believer is to help nourish thebody in love (Eph. 4:16). We are one with Christ. The church is His body andHis bride, and the Christian home is a divinely ordained illustration of thisrelationship. This certainly makes marriage a serious matter.   Paulreferred to the creation of Eve and the forming of the first home (Gen.2:18-24). Adam had to give part of himself in order to get a bride, but Christgave all of Himself to purchase His bride at the cross. God opened Adam's side,but sinful men pierced Christ's side. So united are a husband and wife thatthey are "one flesh." Their union is even closer than that of parentsand children. The believer's union with Christ is even closer and, unlike humanmarriage, will last for all eternity. Paul closed with a final admonition thatthe husband love his wife and that the wife reverence (respect) her husband,all of which require the power of the Holy Spirit.   IfChristian husbands and wives have the power of the Spirit to enable them, andthe example of Christ to encourage them, why do too many Christian marriagesfail? Somebody is out of the will of God. Just because two Christians know eachother and get along together does not mean they are supposed to get married. Infact, not every believer is supposed to marry. It is sometimes God's will for aChristian to remain single (Matt. 19:12; 1 Cor. 7:7-9). It is wrong for abeliever to marry an unbeliever, but it is also wrong for two Christians tomarry out of the will of God.   Buteven if two Christians marry in the will of God, they must stay in God's willif their home is to be the creative fellowship God wants it to be. "Thefruit of the Spirit is love" (Gal. 5:22), and unless both husband andwife are walking in the Spirit they cannot share the love of Christ, the lovethat is so beautifully described in 1 Corinthians 13. The root of most maritalproblems is sin, and the root of all sin is selfishness. Submission to Christand to one another is the only way to overcome selfishness, for when we submit,the Holy Spirit can fill us and enable us to love one another in a sacrificial,sanctifying, satisfying way—the way Christ loves the church.   Toexperience the fullness of the Spirit a person must first possess the Spirit—bea Christian. Then there must be a sincere desire to glorify Christ, since thisis why the Holy Spirit was given (John 16:14). We do not use the Holy Spirit;He uses us. There must be a deep thirst for God's fullness, a confession thatwe cannot do His will apart from His power. Byfaith yield yourself to Christ; by faith ask Him for the fullness of theSpirit. By faith receive. When you find yourself joyful, thankful, andsubmissive, you will know that God has answered.   Onemore important factor should be considered. The Spirit of God uses the Word ofGod to work in our lives. Read Colossians 3:16-4:1, and you will note that to be filled with the Word ofGod produces joy, thanksgiving, and submission. In other words, when you arecontrolled by the Word of God, you are filled with the Spirit of God. Not onlyhusbands and wives, but all Christians need to spend time daily letting theWord of Christ dwell in them richly, for then the Spirit of God can work in ourlives to make us joyful, thankful, and submissive. And this means heaven in thehome—or wherever God may put us.  

Paul opens this entire section with a keyprinciple in verse 21: “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear ofGod.” That word submission is foundational. Submission does notcancel authority or reverse roles. Children are not placed over parents, andservants are not placed over masters. Rather, submission governs howauthority is exercised and how it is received.   JesusHimself taught this principle repeatedly. He warned His disciples not to seekgreatness by throwing their weight around or promoting themselves. Sadly, theystruggled to learn that lesson—even at the Last Supper, they argued over whowas the greatest. When Jesus washed their feet, He demonstrated that truegreatness uses authority to serve others, not to exalt oneself. Scripturereminds us to esteem others as more important than ourselves. By nature, wewant to promote ourselves, but the Holy Spirit enables us to submit ourselves.   Paulthen applies this principle first to marriage, and it is important to rememberthat he is writing to believers. He is not teaching that women areinferior to men, nor that all women must submit to all men in every situation.By using Christ and the church as his illustration, Paul makes it clear that heis describing the Christian home. Hebegins with wives. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as untothe Lord.” Paul gives two reasons: the lordship of Christ and the headshipof the husband in Christ. When a Christian wife is submitted to Christ as Lord,she will not find it difficult to submit to her husband. This submission is notslavery, because the husband himself is also submitted to Christ. When bothhusband and wife live under Christ’s lordship, harmony becomes possible.   Headshipdoes not mean dictatorship. It means loving leadership. A Christian husband andwife should pray together and spend time in God’s Word, seeking His will fortheir lives and for their home. Many marital conflicts arise when one or bothpartners fail to submit to Christ, neglect God’s Word, and stop seeking Hiswill daily.   Thisis why Scripture warns believers not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Amarriage where only one partner is submitted to Christ begins with built-inconflict. But even Christian couples must be careful to submit to Christ beforemarriage. Couples who pray together, seek God’s will, and obey His Word lay astrong foundation.   Paulthen turns his attention to husbands, and he says much more to them. “Husbands,love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.” This is anincredibly high standard. Paul lifts marriage to its highest level by showingit as a living illustration of Christ’s relationship with His church. Marriageserves many purposes—emotional companionship, family, and physicalfulfillment—but Paul emphasizes its spiritual purpose.   Ahusband’s love is to be sacrificial. Christ gave Himself for the church,and the husband is called to give himself for his wife. True Christian love isnot selfish. It willingly pays a price so that the other may grow and glorifyGod.   Thislove is also sanctifying. Christ cleanses His church through the Word,and a husband’s love should help his wife grow spiritually. Marriage is meantto be a setting where both husband and wife are becoming more like Christ. Eventhe physical relationship, when governed by God, becomes a means of spiritualenrichment, not selfish use. Love that sanctifies always builds up—it neverdegrades.  Finally,a husband’s love is to be satisfying. Because husband and wife are oneflesh, loving one’s spouse is loving oneself. Love nourishes, strengthens, andfulfills. There should be no starvation for love in a Christian home. When bothhusband and wife are submitted to Christ and to one another, their physical,emotional, and spiritual needs are met, and the temptation to seek fulfillmentelsewhere loses its power.  

Paulbegins this section with a command: “Be filled with the Spirit.” Thiscommand is for every believer, not just a select few. It is written in thepresent tense, meaning “keep on being filled,” reminding us that this is not aone-time experience, but a daily, ongoing relationship with the Spirit. And itis passive—we do not fill ourselves. We yield ourselves so that the Spirit mayfill us. To be filled with the Spirit does not mean receiving more of theSpirit, but allowing the Spirit to have more of us. In Scripture, to be“filled” means to be controlled by. Just as people can be filled with anger orenvy—meaning controlled by those emotions—being filled with the Spirit meansthat He controls our minds, our emotions, and our wills, all which determineour actions.   Whena person trusts Christ, he is immediately baptized by the Spirit into the bodyof Christ. That is a once-for-all experience that happens at salvation. But thefilling of the Spirit is different. It is repeated, ongoing, and necessary fordaily living. The baptism of the Spirit means I belong to Christ’s body. Thefilling of the Spirit means my body belongs to Christ. We often think of theSpirit’s power as something we need only for preaching or witnessing—and thatis true—but Paul shows us that the Spirit’s fullness is just as necessary inthe home. If our homes are to reflect heaven, then our lives must be controlledby the Holy Spirit.   Inverses 19-21, Paul then gives us three clear evidences of a Spirit-filled life,especially as it relates to relationships. First, a Spirit-filled believer isjoyful. Verse 19 speaks of worship, praise, and melody in the heart. Joy is notdependent on circumstances—it flows from a heart controlled by the Spirit. Second,a Spirit-filled believer is thankful. Verse 20 tells us to give thanks alwaysfor all things to God. Gratitude transforms relationships. Complaining divides,but thanksgiving unites.   Yearsago, I came across something that I believe truly helped me to be thankful person.If I always remember that I am a sinner that deserves hell and the wrath of Godand I don’t deserve anyone to kind are nice to me and that I should expect justthe opposite, when someone is nice to me, or gives to me, because I didn’t deserveit or expect it, I immediately and genuinely feel very grateful and thankfuland want to express that attitude to both the Lord and whoever is sharing theirgift of generosity or kindness to me. Only as the Holy Spirit is in control ofmy life makes this possible.   Third,and most emphasized in this passage, a Spirit-filled believer is submissive.Verse 21 introduces the idea of submitting to one another in the fear of God,and Paul then applies this submission to marriage. Wives are called to lovinglysubmit to their husbands, and husbands are commanded to love their wivessacrificially, just as Christ loved the church. This is not about dominance orinequality—it is about Spirit-controlled love and mutual responsibility. Whenboth husband and wife are filled with the Spirit, harmony becomes possible. Thesame principle will later be applied to parents and children, and to servantsand masters. In every relationship, the key is the same: Spirit-filled living. Pauldoes not mention miracles, tongues, or dramatic signs as proof of spiritualfullness. Instead, he points us to everyday attitudes—joy, gratitude, andsubmission. When these are present, the home begins to reflect heaven on earth.The unity Paul described earlier in Ephesians must now be lived out at home.When each family member yields to the Spirit, relationships are transformed,and God’s design for harmony becomes reality.   MayGod help each of us to be continually filled with the Spirit, so that our homesand all of our relationships might reflect His peace, His love, and His glory.   Godbless you, and I trust you have a wonderful, wonderful day.

Theword circumspectly is an interesting one. It comes from a word that means tolook around carefully. The idea is precision, accuracy, and thoughtful living.Paul is saying, “Pay attention to how you live. Walk carefully. Walk withpurpose.” The opposite would be walking carelessly—drifting through lifewithout direction, guidance, or forethought. The Christian life is notsomething we can leave to chance. It requires wise decisions and a sinceredesire to do the will of God.   Theseverses connect closely with what Paul said just before in verse 14, where heurged believers to wake up. The picture is clear: Don’t walk through lifespiritually asleep. Open your eyes. Be alert. Make the most of the day God hasgiven you. Sadly, many professing Christians drift through life like spiritualsleepwalkers. They rarely pause to consider how God might want to use them orhow their daily choices matter for eternity. Paul gives us several reasons whywe should walk carefully and wisely.   First,it is a mark of wisdom. Paul says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not asfools but as wise.” A fool simply drifts with the wind and the tide. A wiseperson charts a course, sets a direction, and steers accordingly. Just as abuilder plans before constructing a house, believers should be intentionalabout how they live their lives. We may not know what tomorrow holds, but aplanned life is far better equipped to deal with unexpected events. Walkingwisely means knowing where you’re going and why.   Second,life is short.Verse 16 tells us to redeem the time, or literally, buy up the opportunity. Theidea is to seize the moments God gives us while we can. Opportunities arefleeting. Once they pass, they may never return. Our English word opportunitycarries the picture of a ship catching the wind and tide to reach the harbor.Life moves quickly, and Scripture repeatedly reminds us of its brevity. Thatreality should motivate us to use our time wisely for the Lord.   Third,the days are evil.When Paul wrote these words, persecution was looming on the horizon.Opportunities to serve Christ and reach the lost would not always be available.If the days were evil then, they certainly are today. Sin advances, hearts growharder, and doors can close quickly. That is why we must not waste theopportunities God places before us. At the same time, because the days are evilthere will be more confusion and chaos which will produce more brokenness inour relationships and lives. This means that even more opportunities will bearound us to share the love and truth of Jesus with!   Fourth,God has given us a mind. Verse 17 says, “Therefore do not be unwise, butunderstand what the will of the Lord is.” Understanding God’s will is not amystical experience that bypasses clear thinking. God expects His children touse their minds. As Romans 12 tells us, God transforms us by the renewing ofour minds. Through His Word, prayer, meditation, and worship, we learn to thinkbiblically and discern wisely. God does not merely want us to know His will—Hewants us to understand it. That involves gathering facts, weighing decisions,and praying for wisdom, as James reminds us.   Finally,God has a plan for our lives. Scripture teaches that we are God’sworkmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He preparedbeforehand. God saves us with purpose. He reveals His plan through His Word,through the inner leading of the Holy Spirit, and through circumstances that Heorchestrates for our good. Because God has a plan, we can walk carefully andconfidently. Like a builder following a blueprint, we align our lives with whatthe Master Architect has designed.   MayGod help us not to drift, but to walk wisely—redeeming the time, understandingHis will, and living each day with purpose for His glory.   Godbless you, and I trust you have a wonderful, wonderful day.

“Foryou were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children oflight” (v.7).   Thatstatement is very important. Paul does not say we were merely in darkness—hesays “we were darkness” (v. 8). Before salvation, darkness defined us.It shaped our thinking, our desires, and our behavior. But when we trustedChrist, everything changed. We didn’t just step into the light—we became lightin the Lord. Because of that, Paul asks a searching question, echoed elsewherein Scripture: “What communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians6:14) Light and darkness are opposites. They do not blend. They do notcooperate. And it is impossible to live in both at the same time.   Paulthen describes what the light produces. In verse 9 he writes, “For the fruitof the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.” Darknessproduces unfruitful works, but light always bears fruit. Goodness is love inaction—it is a heart that reflects the kindness and compassion of Christ. Righteousnessspeaks of right character before God and right conduct before others. Truthmeans our lives are shaped and governed by God’s Word and God’s will. When we walk in the light, we livehonestly, transparently, and humbly before God, with nothing we are unwillingto bring into His presence. But walking in the light is not only about personalholiness—it is also about public testimony. Jesus said, “You are the lightof the world.” And He added, “Let your light so shine before men, thatthey may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew5:16).   Asbelievers, we carry God’s light into a dark world by the way we live, speak,and love. The unsaved person is blinded by sin and by Satan, as Scripture tellsus. Only as we share Christ and live out the gospel can the light of God breakthrough that darkness. Just as a healthy person can help the sick, a child ofGod can help lead the lost out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. Paulalso reminds us that light exposes what is wrong. Light reveals reality. Nosurgeon would operate in the dark, and no artist could paint truthfully withoutlight. In the same way, God’s light reveals the true character of sin. That’sone reason people often avoid the Bible or the church—light exposes whatdarkness would rather keep hidden.   AsChristians, Paul tells us not to fellowship with the unfruitful works ofdarkness, but instead to expose them. Sometimes that exposure happens simply byliving godly lives. When Christ walked on this earth, His perfect life exposedthe sin around Him, and that is one reason He was rejected. A believer livingfaithfully for Christ will often do the same, not intentionally, but naturally.However, Paul gives us an important caution in verse 12. He says it is shamefuleven to speak of certain things done in secret. There is a danger in exposingsin in the wrong way—by sensationalizing it or advertising it. We are notcalled to dwell on evil, but to shine the light. As Scripture reminds us, “Iwould have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans16:19). We do not need to study darkness in detail to expose it. All we need todo is turn on the light.   Paulthen closes this section with a beautiful image in verse 14: “Awake, you whosleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Salvation ispictured as waking up to a brand-new day. When Christ rose from the dead, thedawn of a new day broke for the world. And when we trusted Him, we were raisedfrom spiritual death into the light of life. We are no longer sleeping indarkness—we are alive in Christ. That means the believer has no business livingin the shadows. We are saints, partakers of the inheritance of the saints inlight. We have been delivered from the power of darkness and transferred intothe kingdom of God’s dear Son. As Paul reminds us again, we are “light inthe Lord.”

Paulgives us a sober warning in Ephesians 5:6: “Let no one deceive you withempty words.” That tells us two things right away. First, deception isreal—even among believers in the church at Ephesus. And second, deception oftencomes wrapped in words that sound appealing, reasonable, or comforting, but areultimately empty—void of truth, power, and life. The enemy has always workedthis way. From the very beginning, Satan has used empty words to deceive God’speople. Thinkback to Genesis 3. Satan did not come to Eve with obvious lies or threats. Hecame with words that sounded harmless, even enlightened. He said, “You willnot surely die… you will be like God.” Those were empty words. They werelies without substance, promises without truth. Eve believed them, and theresult was sin, separation, and death entering the world. Paul is warning usthat the same tactic is still at work today. Empty words promise freedom butlead to bondage. They promise pleasure but deliver destruction. They promiselife, but they produce death. Thatis why Paul says, “Let no one deceive you.” This is a call fordiscernment. It is a call to measure every message—whether it comes from theworld, culture, false teachers, or even our own hearts—against the truth ofGod’s Word. The book of Proverbs gives us many warnings about deceptive words. Proverbs14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end isthe way of death.” That verse perfectly captures the danger of empty words.They seem right. They feel right. They appeal to our desires. But they lead usaway from God. Anotherpowerful warning is found in Proverbs 7, where Solomon describes a manseduced by flattering speech. Proverbs 7:21 says, “With her enticingspeech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him.”Words were the weapon. The result was ruin. King David also fell victim todeception—this time not from Satan directly, but from his own uncheckeddesires. When David saw Bathsheba, he allowed himself to believe empty words inhis heart: “I deserve this.” “I can get away with this.” “This won’t costme.” Those lies led to adultery, deceit, and murder. The pleasure wasbrief, but the consequences were long-lasting. Sin always overpromises andunderdelivers. Thatis why the writer of Hebrews tells us about Moses in Hebrews 11:24–26. Mosesfaced the same temptation—the allure of empty promises. Egypt offered pleasure,power, and prestige. But Hebrews says Moses “chose rather to sufferaffliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for aseason.” Why? Because Moses saw through the emptiness. He understood thatsin’s pleasures are temporary, but God’s reward is eternal. Emptywords always minimize sin and ignore judgment. That’s exactly what Paulconnects in Ephesians 5:6: “For because of these things the wrath of Godcomes upon the sons of disobedience.” The world says, “God doesn’t care.”“God won’t judge.” “Everyone lives this way.” Those are empty words. God’s Wordsays otherwise. Jesus warned about this as well. In Matthew 7:15, He said, “Bewareof false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they areravenous wolves.” Their danger is not obvious because their words soundspiritual, compassionate, and inclusive—but they lack truth. Paullater warned Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3–4 that people would gather teachers whotell them what they want to hear, turning away from the truth. That isdeception fueled by empty words. So how do we guard ourselves? First, we staygrounded in God’s Word. Truth exposes emptiness. Jesus said, “You shall knowthe truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Second, we walk in thelight, as Paul has already taught us earlier in Ephesians 5. Light reveals whatdarkness tries to hide. Third, we listen to the Holy Spirit, who guides us intoall truth and convicts us when something is not right.