Don't Fall for IT!!
Main Text
Ephesians 5:5–10 NASB95
5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Intro
• We are living in a time of Buzz Words
• A time of sound bites
• A time where the context of a statement is not even research before one makes an opinion
• We are seeing people “ Gods People” make life changing moves within their life off of a Buzz Word ... or a Sound bite.
• These Choices are being made without consulting the Lord on an issue or even asking the Lord is this your will or not .
• In other words, we are seeing folk not even practice biblical principle of trying the spirit by the spirit.
There one thing that we should revisit and that Paul's dedication to the Lord
Ephesians 3:1 NASB95
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
Paul has made a bold statement in this VS and in eph4.1 by saying that he is a prisoner of the Lord
He is stating that He has been held hostage and captivated by God’s word .
In other words, he is wrapped up … tied up ... and tangled up in God
Not looking for a way out . But happy to be ALL IN WITH THE LORD.
Q: ARE WE ALL IN WITH THE LORD ?
POINT 1 | What God is calling us to do “BE” .
Ephesians 5:1 NASB95
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
imitator n.
• a person who copies the words or behavior of another.
This a command from Paul for us to be like God.
What does he mean by this ? Certainly, Paul is not calling us to be a little [g] God.
Let’s look at what the text says on this subject
Leviticus 20:26 NASB95
26 ‘Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.
🔑 we see [Holy] . Also, we see what God has done for his people . He has separated [set apart] his people .
1 Peter 1:14–16 NASB95
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Peter picks up this same word [Holy]
📢 So Paul is calling the church to be Holy.
</holy (pure) adj>.
• having the characteristics of moral or ritual purity; context often emphasizes one over the other.
📢He is also stating that we should consecrate our-self's
</consecrate>
• to be set apart
What we see is that Paul is calling on the church to be not like the World nor do the World ways . But live by the ways of God.
POINT 2 | Paul speaks of the Cost of living a sinful life
Ephesians 5:5 NASB95
5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
eph5.5 | For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
Paul here is making a [Fact]. Using the wording </ this you know >
Know
• to know (cognitive) v. — to be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about.
• to know (experientially) v. — to know or have knowledge about (someone or something); normally as acquired through observation or the senses.
the B part of the text
eph5.5 | For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
We must pay close attention to what is being said.
• When we read this VS there’s a connection with VS 3
• The three words that are used here are the same words used in VS Three
The Subject of this vs is the Kingdom of God
• His 🔑 word is </NO>
• </NO> immoral = sexually immoral person || a person who is known for their sexual profligacy.
• </NO> impure adj. — (used of persons or behaviors) immoral or obscene.
• </NO> covetous greedy person n. — a person who is excessively and immoderately desirous of acquiring more and more (wealth).
Paul states that this all leads to a person who is an idolater.
• </idolater n>. — a person who worships a deity in or through material representations.
Why is Paul speaking on this issue again? It’s simple … Your entry into the Kingdom of God depends on your walk ...aka behavior .... aka who or what you Worship....aka </where your Heart is >.
As I have stated before. Paul is calling for this group of people ... plus us … to understand the cost ...aka the price we will pay for living an ungodly life ....
Matthew 6:21 NASB95
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
</Key Takeaway>
The Goal is the inherit the Kingdom of God.
Paul explains very clearly what is going to be accepted by God and what’s not
This points back to versus 1 where Paul tells the church to be Imitators of God
• </Be >Holy
• </Be >Pure
• </Be >Set Apart
Embrace being like Christ ...
POINT 3 | Don’t Be Deceived
Ephesians 5:6 NASB95
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
eph5.6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
Paul is dropping a Master Piece here.
He is stating to the People do not let any </Deceive> you.
• </Deceive> — to cause someone to believe an untruth.
If we understand what the cost is for living a life of SIN and we want to stay far away from the life style then we must do something about it . We must become a </Be a Doer of God’s Word>
</Be a Doer>
James 1:22–25 NASB95
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Q: How does one become deceived?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Listen to what God says to Jeremiah in jer 29.8-9
Jeremiah 29:8–9 NASB95
8 “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream.
9 ‘For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the Lord.
What is Key in this text is that God tell Jeremiah the same thing that Paul is telling Eph.
</‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you>
In Jeremiahs time just like our there were people speaking lie... Claiming to be speaking on behalf of the Lord ... Which was not true.
</What was the message that they were speaking in that Day>
Jeremiah 14:13–14 NASB95
13 But, “Ah, Lord God!” I said, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword nor will you have famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ ”
14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds.
</They also said this>
Jeremiah 5:12–13 NASB95
12 They have lied about the Lord And said, “Not He; Misfortune will not come on us, And we will not see sword or famine.
13 “The prophets are as wind, And the word is not in them. Thus it will be done to them!”
</They continued to say >
Jeremiah 23:17 NASB95
17 “They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You will have peace” ’; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, ‘Calamity will not come upon you.’
</to despise v>.
• to look down on with contempt.
</stubbornness n>.
• resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires.
• hard-heartedness, stubbornness
</calamity (event) n>.
• an event resulting in great loss and misfortune.
Jeremiah states that there were preachers . preaching a message to people without consulting God.
They were preaching from their own heart and mind .
Jeremiah 23:17–18 The Message
17 They preach their ‘Everything Will Turn Out Fine’ sermon to congregations with no taste for God, Their ‘Nothing Bad Will Ever Happen to You’ sermon to people who are set in their own ways.
18 “Have any of these prophets bothered to meet with me, the true God? bothered to take in what I have to say? listened to and then lived out my Word?
</What do we see ?>
we see people flocking to a message that gives them a False Hope.
A message that is not a sermon but a motivational speech. That you will win .
• What is very interesting about this message is that they will use the bible as a way to validate their message.
• But notice... that Jeremiah states that this message is being preached to people who despise the Lord .
• We also see a message being preached to a group of people who are “so called saved” but still want to serve God on their terms be... preached a message that nothing BAD will happen to you “them” .
2 Timothy 4:3–4 NASB95
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
Q: SO How dose ↔ one become deceived?
1. Not having a Foundation in the word of God
1. Not having a relationship with God “My Sheep will hear my voice and no other will they follow”
2. Not being a DOER of God’s word “ Meaning becoming Mature knowing Good from Evil ... Getting your reps Up”
3. Having your ear’s tuned to hear what you want to hear...
a. Many people come to church ... seeking to hear a word that speaks to what they’re going through.
b. Which is not a bad thing ... but can become dangerous if you dismiss everything else including God to get this word . Also , some people come to church to be validated by God and his words towards there SIN that there in .
c. They want to fill good about the SIN that there in . So, they go searching for a word ... to make them feel good on the inside ... and for them to keep on SINNING the way that they are doing .
4. Ignoring the conviction that God gives you.
a. Having an unrepentant heart ||| un-willing to repent for the wrong you have done unto God after he has showed you the error of your way ...aka “Heart is Harden”
b. many times, when people become convicted by their SIN and they don’t want to give it up . That SIN ... aka ... issue becomes their god… and you give protection for this SIN to live within you and grow deeper roots .
c. Why because they defend that issue from tooth to nail . This is a tell tell sign that you are a candidate to be deceived.
d. Why, because after a while you just want someone to validate your SIN . and you’re only going to find the devils agents disguised as a person of Light “someone who appears to be on the Lords side ”
He also speaks on how one will know what is being spoken to them is </Deceiving> them
You will know because their words on </Empty>.
</Empty> | vain — vacuous and devoid of any advantage or benefit.
🔑 is what they’re saying has no life to it. In other words, it does not build you up in the way of the Lord .
Remember the purpose is for one to be build up in Jesus Christ so that Heaven can be your Home...
What they preach only </pleases the flesh >... not God
Paul showed us in Ch 4 what the role of the leaders where to do!!
Ephesians 4:12 NASB95
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Remember we said. That the work of service = </Building ...aka preparing the body for ministry && Building up the Body was strengthening every member to have a deeper understanding / relationship with Christ >
By doing this it would in-kind prevent members from doing the following
Ephesians 4:14 NASB95
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
This is why Paul is so Key on this issue.
• </PSA> At some point in your WALK with the God you’re going to have to learn how to try the spirit by the spirit
• </PSA> You’re going to have to grow and become mature
• </PSA>You can’t stay in the same place forever...
• </PSA>It’s unhealthily spiritually for you
Colossians 2:8 NASB95
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
CLOSING | Learn what is pleasing to God
Don’t Fall for the Sweet Talk ...
Ephesians 5:7–10 The Message
7 Don’t even hang around people like that.
8 You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So, no more stumbling around. Get on with it!
9 The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours.
10 Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.
eph5.10 “10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
🔥</Key Word> Learn
</Learn>to approve v. — to judge to be right or commendable; think well of.
</Root Word> to be approved v. — to be judged to be right or commendable; be thought well of.
The question being ask is the Learn what is pleasing aka acceptable to the Lord
Ephesians 5:10 BE:NT
10 Think through what’s going to be pleasing to the Lord. Work it out.
This thought is connected to Eph 5.1 “ Be an imitator of God”
</Pleasing God>
Synopsis
An essential aspect of the life of believers that is more than a matter of external observance, but a total and heartfelt commitment to God.
Pleasing God is commanded
Romans 12:1 NASB95
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Results of pleasing God
Psalm 37:23 (NASB95) — 23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
Examples of actions that please God
Prayer
Proverbs 15:8 NASB95
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Doing God’s will
Hebrews 13:20–21 NASB95
20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,
21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Examples of people who pleased God
Genesis 6:8 NASB95
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Moses:
Exodus 33:17 NASB95
17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”
Hebrews 11:5 NASB95
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
</Key...>
If we are focus on pleasing aka doing the Lords will .
We will be doing our best not to be deceived and if by chance we fall for something our pray is that the Lord convicts our heart so that we know we are in the wrong.
With the intent that we repent immediately
