Category Archives: Sermon Notes & Announcements

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A FINISHED WORK.  Philippians 1:1-11. 09/06/20. #1.

Philippians 1:1-11 [New King James Version]

¹ Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, ⁵ for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; ⁷ just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. ⁸ For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. ⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, ¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

• A heartfelt greeting
  • This is the longest opening greeting in the epistles
    • Paul had a close affinity to the Php. church
    • Epistle of joy; from prison; only church to send money to him; 1st church in Europe; where Paul was imprisoned after he cast out a demon…
  • Philippi was a strategic city
    • Founded by Philip II of Macedonia (father of Alexander the Great); where Anthony defeated Brutus and Cassius (murderers of Julius Caesar) in 42 BC
    • Controlled main road from Europe to Asia
    • Home of retired Roman soldiers and followers of Anthony (placed there by Augustus Caesar)
  • Philippian believers were dear to Paul
    • Lydia, seller of dyed cloth, was 1st to convert
    • Acts 16:11-34 place of amazing conversion of jailer
    • “Joy” and “rejoice” are mentioned 16 times in book
  • Epaphroditus of Phil. carried epistle to them
  • Unlike other epistles, no correction is given—only warning
• Joyful prayers
  • Paul rejoiced at every remembrance of Phil.
  • Paul notes that from the beginning the Phil. received him
    • Philippians never wavered in their faith or concern for him
    • With deacons and elders, they had a vibrant church
  • Paul praised God for the support and partnership of Phil.
• Crowning day
  • Paul was confident that God would finish the good work that he had begun in the Php. believers
    • Salvation is only the beginning of God’s work in us
    • True believers will be sanctified and glorified
  • The evidence of salvation in Pp. was their faithfulness
  • We are God’s work in progress
    • We will be completed to the fullness of maturity
    • The rate of maturing here determines how much more maturing will be needed after life ends here
  • One reason Paul is confident, is that they partnered with him, even while he was a prisoner
    • They were not embarrassed by his chains or afraid
    • They proved faithful, even when being threatened as Paul defended the faith
• Paul prays for the continued growth of the Phil. believers
  • Paul prays for 3 aspects to increase in their lives:
    • Growth in love (I Corinthians 13) = motivation for all
    • Growth is knowledge (to know more about Christ and their faith) Romans 10:17
    • Growth in discernment (diakrinos = to examine or judge thoroughly, to investigate, to analyze)
      • A reasoned faith bearing up under scrutiny
      • To wisely and fully seek to understand
      • II Timothy 2:15 studious reasoning elevates a believer to understanding and maturity
  • Four results of maturity in Christ:
    • Demonstrate the truthfulness of Gospel and Word
    • Display the sincerity (genuineness) faith (real!)
    • Avoiding offense = a mature life shuns sin
    • Full of fruits of righteousness = a faith that is seen
  • Objective = your life is a praise to Lord

Key verse:  Acts 16:11-34

Acts 16:11-34 [New King James Version]

¹¹ Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, ¹² and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. ¹³ And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. ¹⁴ Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. ¹⁵ And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us. ¹⁶ Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” ¹⁸ And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. ¹⁹ But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. ²⁰ And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; ²¹ and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” ²² Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. ²³ And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. ²⁴ Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. ²⁷ And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. ²⁸ But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” ²⁹ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴ Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

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BATTLE GEAR. Ephesians 6:14-24. 08/30/20. #34.

Ephesians 6:14-24 [New King James Version]

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. ²¹ But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; ²² whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

²³ Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

• Preparing for spiritual warfare
  • No one prepares for battle unless war is certain
    • Spiritual warfare is certain for all believers
    • The battle is daily, often intense, but always there
    • Those not prepared for battle will succumb to it
  • Warfare requires 4 actions to gain ultimate victory:
    • Possessing the right equipment
    • Using the equipment properly
    • Having the right plan of defense and attack
    • Not quitting the battle
  • Effectiveness of ancient armor is to have all vulnerable areas covered by protective substances
    • Any exposed area was open to penetration
    • Unless all the equipment is used, one is not prepared for battle and will likely fall
• The equipment of spiritual warfare
  • Paul compares each aspect of the believer’s arsenal with a piece of equipment from ancient armor:
    • Waist = truth; breastplate = righteousness
    • Feet = proclaiming the gospel; shield = faith
    • Helmet = salvation; sword = Word of God as given to us by the Holy Spirit
  • All the gear must be used together to be successful
    • Exact coordination is necessary
    • Skillfulness and maintaining gear is vital
  • Truth and righteousness go together, as does the breastplate and segmented torso armor
    • Truth = knowing what is right (God’s truth)
      • Spiritual truth is key to understanding and belief (John 8:31-36 truth sets us free)
      • Satan specializes in lies (John 8:44)
    • Righteousness = living by the truth (integrity, honesty, sincerity, fidelity, dependability)
  • The Gospel of peace
    • Romans 10 the Gospel is related to the overlaid sandals because we are to take the Gospel to others
    • We are to recruit more soldiers for the Lord’s army
  • Above all else, the shield of faith
    • Hebrews 11:6 faith is necessary for salvation
    • John 14 trust is necessary for spiritual living
      • Satan tries to sow doubts, discouragement, despair, and weakness
      • A vibrant faith deflects the attacks of devil
    • Hebrews 11:30-12:4 we are to consider the faith of the Lord and the faithful before us and walk in their path
    • Every aspect of life hinges on the strength of faith
  • Helmet of salvation = without trust in Lord for salvation, there is not set of armor of faith (the head = thought and will)
  • The sword = the Word of God (only offensive weapon)
    • The Word defeats Satan (Matthew 4), strengthens faith (Romans 10:17), reveals our thoughts and motivations (Hebrews 4:12), teaches and corrects us (II Timothy 3:16), and equips us (II Timothy 3:17)
    • By the Word we preach the Gospel (Romans 10) and make disciples of men (Matthew 28:19-20)
• Use your weaponry
  • Paul states that even in chains by prayer, he perseveres, for he is fully equip, and he doesn’t cease to share the Gospel
  • Paul is an ambassador for Christ, as are all the faithful, that by full preparation we bring the Good News to men
  • Paul ends with a benediction sent by Tychicus

Key verse:

Hebrews 11:30-12:4 [New King James Version]

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who [a]did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. ³² And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: ³³ who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn in two, [b]were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. ³⁹ And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ⁴⁰ God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. ¹ Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the [c]author and [d]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

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DOUBLE AGENT IN PHILISTIA. I Samuel 27. 8/30/20. #78.

I Samuel 27 [New King James Version]

¹ And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will [a]despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.” ² Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. ³ So David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow. ⁴ And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath; so he sought him no more. ⁵ Then David said to Achish, “If I have now found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” ⁶ So Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. ⁷ Now [b]the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was one full year and four months. ⁸ And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the [c]Girzites, and the Amalekites. For those nations were the inhabitants of the land from [d]of old, as you go to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt. ⁹ Whenever David [e]attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the apparel, and returned and came to Achish. ¹⁰ Then Achish would say, “Where have you made a raid today?” And David would say, “Against the southern area of Judah, or against the southern area of the Jerahmeelites, or against the southern area of the Kenites.” ¹¹ David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, “Lest they should inform on us, saying, ‘Thus David did.’ ” And thus was his behavior all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines. ¹² So Achish believed David, saying, “He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; therefore he will be my servant forever.”

• Exit strategy
  • David realizes that as long as he stays in Judah, Saul will pursue him to kill him
    • David also realizes that Saul’s spies are everywhere
    • David decides that he must leave Judah
  • David has only one choice, which is Philistia
    • David wants to stay hear Judah
    • Edom and Moab are trans-Jordan and Egypt is far away
  • David had killed many Philistines
    • David must play the traitor to gain trust
    • Ironically, Gath was home of Goliath
    • King Achish accepts David’s ruse since Saul seeks to kill him, not realizing that Saul and not Israel is David’s enemy
  • By the grace of God, David is accepted by a former enemy
    • David is now out of Saul’s reach and so Saul ceases pursuing him (David is behind a Philistine wall)
    • Saul figures that David can do no harm to him now
• David, the marauder
  • David asks for a town for his men to call home (Ziklag)
    • Ziklag = on border of Philistia and Judah
    • David moves to Ziklag with his family and men plus their families (approximately 1000 people)
      • It is interested that Ahinoam is mentioned before Abigail
      • David settles in for a long stay
    • David stays for 16 months
    • David’s location 25 miles SW of Gath protects Achish’s southern flank from raiders
  • David ends up raiding non-Philistine villages within Philistine territory
    • He kills all the inhabitants so no one could report of David’s deeds to King Achish
    • David kills men, women, and children and then takes away their livestock and possessions
      • Amazingly, no one catches David
      • Whole villages are wiped out in rural areas
  • Moral issues abound in this action
    • No indication that God directed David to do this
    • David murders people who have done him no harm
    • David uses these raids to support his followers
  • David could have justified his actions several ways
    • Israel was supposed to have destroyed these people when they entered Canaan (Josiah 1)
    • David is eliminating threats to him and Judah
• Achish is duped
  • David tells Achish that he has been raiding southern Judah
    • Achish is pleased, since Judah would hate David
    • Achish believes that he has made David as servant
  • Several moral puzzles in old testament that we have no answer to:
    • Was God pleased with David’s genocidal actions?
    • Did God condone Ezra commanding Judah to put away their foreign wives (Malachi 2:14)?
    • Why did God use Jacob’s 2 wives and 2 concubines to produce the 12 tribes of Israel (Genesis 2:25)?
    • Why was Solomon chosen to succeed David?
  • There were many acts God allowed fallen man to do (Deuteronomy 24)

If God gives no explanation of immoral acts, we don’t also

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SPIRITUAL WARFARE. Ephesians 6:10-13. 08/23/20. #33.

Ephesians 6:10-13 [New King James Version]

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

• The nature of spiritual warfare
  • We speak of spiritual warfare too loosely or ill-informed
    • Spiritual Warfare is not equal to frustration over things that irritate us in life
    • Spiritual Warfare should not make us panic
    • Spiritual Warfare is not searchable by humans
  • Facts about spiritual warfare:
    • IT IS REAL! – there are demonic forces at work
    • IT IS INFLUENTIAL – men are influenced to do great evil by demonic forces
    • IT IS COOPERATIVE – men are responsible if they cooperate with evil (not puppets of Satan)
      • Genesis 3 Eve was not forced by Satan to sin
      • John 3:19 men do evil because they love it
    • SATAN IS LIMITED BY GOD – he does have free reign (Job 1; I Corinthians 10:13)
    • THE FORCES OF DARKNESS ARE TOO STRONG FOR MAN TO RESIST ON HIS OWN – Matthew 16:23
    • GOD EMPOWERS BELIEVERS TO RESIST EVIL
      • Romans 7 the law of Christ battles sin
      • II Corinthians 10:3-6 we have mighty weapons
• Preparing for battle
  • Paul commands us to be strong in the Lord
    • Strong (endunamos) = empowered (we have no excuse to be weak when he provides us power)
      • If we are spiritually weak we choose it
      • John 16:33 warfare is hard, but winnable
      • No room for self-pitying or lazy believers
    • The Lord gives might and strength
  • We are to put on the entire armor of God (he provides it)
    • God provides all we need to be victorious
    • If we fall, we do so on our own (Jam. 1:12-15)
  • Our battle is against the trickery (crafty schemes) of Satan
    • Satan’s 2 major weapons: counterfeiting truth (2 Corinthians 11:14-15) and deception (Genesis 3)
    • We are often tricked openly: we know narcotics are a destructive sham, adultery is a momentary pleasure, greedy gain does not satisfy…
    • Satan convinces men that he provides lasting joy
• The battle is for a lifetime
  • Wrestling with great evil does not end in this life
    • The moment we stop wrestling, we lose (David and Bathsheba, Paul going to Jerusalem, Peter in Galatia, Demus loving the world, Uzziah and offering)
    • Demonic forces (evil of every rank) never stop
• Spiritual armor is a daily suit
  • “Take up” the entire armor of God
    • It’s provided, but we must put it on
    • Ephesians. 4:22-24 put off old man and put on new
  • It takes the entire armor of God to stand against the devil
  • We are tempted daily and must battle daily
    • Armor must always be ready for an attack
    • “The evil day” = all the days on earth are evil days with evil men and demons growing increasingly worse (2 Timothy 3:13)
  • If we always use our armor, we will stand and be victors
  • Galatians 6:9 our greatest enemy is spiritual fatigue (takes grit)
  • Pleasure and pride are defaults of sin nature causing falls

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THE FLEA & THE KING. I Samuel 26. 8/23/20. #77.

I Samuel 26 [New King James Version]

¹ Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” ² Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph. ³ And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon, by the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. ⁴ David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come. ⁵ So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Now Saul lay within the camp, with the people encamped all around him. ⁶ Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”  ⁷ So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. ⁸ Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him [a]at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!”  ⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?” ¹⁰ David said furthermore, “As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. ¹¹ The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.” ¹² So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.  ¹³ Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them. ¹⁴ And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?”  Then Abner answered and said, “Who are you, calling out to the king?”  ¹⁵ So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶ This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”  ¹⁷ Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?”  David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” ¹⁸ And he said, “Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand? ¹⁹ Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ²⁰ So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”  ²¹ Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.” ²² And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it. ²³ May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. ²⁴ And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.” ²⁵ Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

• The chase continues
  • David once again moves to the Judean wilderness
    • Once again the Ziphites inform Saul of David’s location
    • Once again God places Saul in David’s hands
  • God puts Saul & his entire army to sleep (including the guards)
    • God frequently intervened to foil the wicked: Midianites fighting themselves, opening & closing of Red Sea, an angel killing 185,000 soldiers, water looking like blood…
    • David approaches Saul unnoticed
  • Abishai (David’s nephew) wants to strike Saul down with a spear
    • Says again (Chapter 24) “God has delivered Saul…”
    • Again, David refuses strike “God’s anointed” (God will either strike him down or he will die in battle)
  • Instead & killing Saul, he makes off with his jug & spear
• Taunts from on high
  • David moves across a ravine to a ridge overlooking Saul’s camp
  • He first calls out to Abner, Saul’s general
    • Abner was responsible to protect the king
    • David states that Abner’s failure meant he should die
  • Notice the respect David gives Saul: “…my lord, the king…”           
  • Again, David pleads his case to Saul
    • David spared Saul’s life again
    • David is not a flea to be swatted contemptuously
    • David has always been loyal to Saul
      • If the Lord sent Saul, why is David protected?
      • If evil men have urged Saul, they are accursed
    • David asks what he has done to be hunted down
      • The wicked will always pursue the righteous
      • Righteous will always be vindicated in the end
    • David has been chased out of his inheritance among Israel by accursed men who drive him to pagan lands
    • David pleads for his life, for he isn’t a hunted game bird
• Saul again relents
  • For a second time Saul admits that he has sinned (still not repented)
    • Saul says that David should return to his home, for he will not seek to harm him (David doesn’t trust Saul)
    • Saul admits that he has played the fool
    • Saul admits that not only did David hold his own life as precious, but Saul’s also
  • Saul blesses David, stating that he would prevail in many great endeavors (which would include the kingship)
    • This is the way Saul feels at the time
    • He will soon forget that David spared him
  • Saul goes home and does not chase David anymore
    • David moves out of Saul’s reach to the Philistines
    • Saul is engaged in battle with the Philistines to the end
  • Saul recognizes his son, but does not repent
    • He eventually consults a witch (medium)
    • Unless a man turns his life over to Lord, he cannot truly repent of his sins
  • Saul could have changed his ways
    • His pride, jealousy, & greed did not bring contentment
    • Only a fool continues down a destructive path
  • Saul had not learned that it is God who raises up & takes down
    • All who rebel will eventually be destroyed (Psalms 14:12)
    • Earthly acclaim & power are an illusion (Luke 12, Ecclesiastes 12)

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SUBMISSION TO SUPERIORS. Ephesians 6:5-9. 8/16/20. #32.

Ephesians 6:5-9 [New King James Version]

⁵ Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ⁶ not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. ⁹ And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

• Contextual interpretation
  • There are many things allowed in the Bible that are accommodations to a fallen world
    • Deuteronomy 24 divorce and remarriage were allowed but are not in harmony with God’s will (Malachi 2:14)
    • Genesis 2:25 polygamy is not the will of God
    • John 8:36 God never intended that men should be enslaved, but allowed for it (Exodus 21)
  • Due to sin, God allowed certain acts not in his perfect will
    • It took centuries to overcome slavery in England (1833) and America (1865)
    • Murphy vs. Ramsey, et al (1885) declared that Utah couldn’t enter union until it outlawed polygamy
    • Slavery and polygamy still persist in many parts of the world today
  • The modern context of this passage is the employer/employee relationship
    • Your employer has a certain amount of control and authority over you
    • The employer will be judged by God as to how he treated his employees
• Servant of the Lord
  • For the third time, Paul states that service must be “as unto the Lord (for wives, for children, and for servants)
    • Whatever we do we need to do it as for Lord
    • Integrity is to be maintained if we volunteer to do something or are compelled to do it
  • Joseph is a prime example of one who did his best as a son, slave, prisoner, or governor (Daniel, Nehemiah…)
  • Paul lists several reasons for a servant obeying a master:
    • Fear and Trembling: adverse consequences for those who rebel
    • Sincerity – displaying a genuine testimony of how a believer behaves in any circumstance
    • As unto the Lord – serving one’s earthly master as one would serve the Lord
    • Not as a men-pleaser = not only when being watched (integrity is doing right always)
    • As servants of the Lord = under bondage to Christ (the Lord has you in that situation)
    • Doing good as either free or slave is rewarded by the Lord
  • I Corinthians 7:17-24 Paul argues that this life is so short and that no temporal status will ever be remembered (Isaiah 65:17), it makes no difference in eternity at all (just do well!)
• Masters beware!
  • Paul then warns those who have authority, that God will require an account from them (Matthew 18:23-35)
    • Luke 12:48 the one who holds the most authority, has the most responsibility and is held accountable to a higher standard ŵ greater judgment for abuse
    • Hebrews 9:27 all things will be brought to account
  • Romans 12:16-21 abuse on earth is recompensed in heaven
  • Paul particularly mentions threatening (rule by fear and arbitrary whims will receive equal judgment)
    • Matthew 7:2 whatever judgment we dispense on others will be the standard for your judgment
    • Judgment delayed is not judgment dismissed
  • Psalms 75:7 do well in whatever position you are called to

Key verse: I Corinthians 7:17-24

¹⁷ But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. ²⁰ Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. ²² For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

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A JEWEL NAMED ABIGAIL. I Samuel 25. 08/16/2020. #76

I Samuel 25 [New King James Version]

¹ Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran. ² Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. ³ The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb. ⁴ When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep, ⁵ David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. ⁶ And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: ‘Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! ⁷ Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. ⁸ Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.’ ” ⁹ So when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited. ¹⁰ Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. ¹¹ Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”

• Clash at Carmel
  • Chapter 25 opens up with the death of Samuel (David can’t attend funeral)-end of era
  • David now makes his base deep in Wilderness of Paran, south of the Negev
    • He roams along the edges of Judah, from Paran in south to Carmel (N)
    • David guards Nabol’s sheep in hope of payment in exchange
    • Typically, animals and raiders will take a portion of the flock
  • At end of shearing season, David sends 10 men to ask for provisions
  • Nabol (“folly”) rebuffs David’s request (who is David?)
    • David has run from his master, Saul, the rightful king
    • Nabol does not consider that David has 600 armed men
    • Nabol would be concerned Saul would blame him for helping David

 ¹² So David’s young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words. ¹³ Then David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies. ¹⁴ Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them. ¹⁵ But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields. ¹⁶ They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep. ¹⁷ Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him.” ¹⁸ Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys. ¹⁹ And she said to her servants, “Go on before me; see, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. ²⁰ So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them. ²¹ Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. ²² May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light.”

• Abigail to the rescue
  • Nabol has unwisely peeved David, who now determines to kill all males of Nabol
  • Nabol’s wise and beautiful wife, Abigail, hears of David’s plan and seeks to stop him
    • Without Nabol’s knowledge, she has servants send David provisions
    • Proverbs 31:10-12 a wife will do what is good unto her husband all his days
    • Abigail’s actions save her household
  • Abigail circles around a hill to avoid detection by her husband, Nabol
    • Abigail defies her husband in order to benefit him
    • Acts 5 we must do right, even if doing right goes against authority
  • Abigail moves decisively since David is already preparing to attack
  • Abigail’s act is wise, brave, daring, prudent, and necessary to prevent a slaughter

 ²³ Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. ²⁴ So she fell at his feet and said: “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. ²⁵ Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. ²⁶ Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, since the Lord has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. ²⁷ And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. ²⁸ Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. ²⁹ Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. ³⁰ And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, ³¹ that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.” ³² Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! ³³ And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. ³⁴ For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” ³⁵ So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.”

• Abigail prevents David from avenging himself
  • Abigail comes to David and takes the blame for her husband’s churlish response
    • She played no part in Nabol’s actions
    • She is willing to sacrifice herself to save her family and servants (brave)
  • She gives David 3 reasons not to carry out his plan of revenge:
    • Nabol is a foolish man and should not be regarded
    • By taking vengeance and spilling innocent blood he will taint the future kingdom God has planned for him
    • David would carry the guilt of his actions for the rest of his life
  • David relents from taking vengeance and then he blesses Abigail and her wisdom

 ³⁶ Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light. ³⁷ So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. ³⁸ Then it happened, after about ten days, that the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. ³⁹ So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the Lord has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head.” And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife. ⁴⁰ When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, “David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife.” ⁴¹ Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” ⁴² So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife. ⁴³ David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives. ⁴⁴ But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

• The Vengeance of the Lord and a wise wife for David
  • After Nabol sobers up from a drunken celebration, Abigail informs him of his narrow escape with death and her intervention on his behalf
    • Nabol is terrorized and is petrified with fear (heart as stone)
    • 10 days later God strikes Nabol dead
  • When David hears of Nabol’s fate, he rejoices and then acts
    • God had taken vengeance for David and he was not guilty of murder
    • David recognizes the value of Abigail and proposes marriage to her
    • Abigail agrees to the marriage and then David also marries Ahinoam
  • Saul had illegally given away David’s 1st wife, Michal, to Palti of Laish
  • David needed to heed valuable lessons: (1) Vengeance must be left to God (at times God delays vengeance)  (2) Abigail could be a wise advisor to him
  • The lessons David learns could be permanent if he held them precious and primary

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FAMILY DYNAMICS. Ephesians 6:1-4. 8/9/20. AM. #31.

Ephesians 6:1-4 [New King James Version]

¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: ³ “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”    ⁴ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

• The home–cornerstone of society
  • The home unit established by God = Husband + Wife + Children
    • Children = to be nurtured  in a home under  God’-ordained structure
    • The design of the family was to be Godly parents training godly children  (Malachi 2:15 – God wants godly offspring)
  • Three aspects to biblical child rearing:
    • All children belong to God
    • We are stewards of our children to be reared for God
    • Parents will be held accountable to God for how they reared their children and children will be accountable  as to how they obeyed
  • Two misunderstood verses concerning child rearing in the Bible:
    • Proverbs 22:6 does not guarantee that if you rear your children properly,  they will be godly (emphasis in Hebrew: if you do not rear your children right, they will go by their own “bent” or sinful nature)
    • Ephesians 6:3 if children are obedient to parents, they will live a long life
      • A quote from Exodus 20:12 and Dt. 5:16
      • Meaning: if the children of Israel obeyed godly parents generation after generation, the nation will stay in the land
      • Paul’s point is that this commandment is so important that it is the only one that came with a promise from God
  • This commandment is contingent on doing right (what is biblical)
    • Both to the devout Jew of the OT and committed Christian of NT, children are to be trained biblically for God
    • Doing what is right produces well being
      • If one is right with God = trials don’t matter  (Romans 8:18)
      • Being eternally well is primary
• Honor to whom honor is due
  • The key to children obeying  their parents is to honor them
  • Honor = to value, respect , and to hold in esteem
    • Value is intrinsic and not feeling -based (parents are to be esteemed because they hold the God-ordained position of parent)
    • Honor is owed to the parent by God given right
    • 1 Peter 2:17 all people are to be esteemed (Genesis 1:26-28)
    • 1 Timothy 5:3 honor godly widows
    • Acts 28:10 Paul honored for healing of Publius’s father
    • Matthew 15:4  Jesus chastised the Pharisees for dishonoring parents
    • Deuteronomy 21:18-23 capital punishment for dishonoring children
    • Matthew 15:1-11 dishonoring parents violates God’s Law
      • John 5:22-23 honor the Son as you honor God the Father
      • The main problem with obeying this commandment is that many parents are not honorable and do not obey the Lord
    • These parents still deserve respect as parents
    • Obey parents “in the Lord” = follow the Lord first (Saul and Jonathan)
    • Ephesians 4:32 important not to be bitter against God or parents  (faithful)
• Super Dad
  • The father carries the greatest responsibility in the family (accountable)
    • Missing or abusive fathers will be judged severely by the Lord
    • Children need to have godly men as mentors (church leaders)
  • Dad is given 3 commands:
    • Do not provoke (exasperate; irritate) your children to anger
      • Don’t frustrate children via abuse, unreasonableness, arbitrariness, inconsistency, hypocrisy, ridicule…
      • Children are to be nurtured, not misused
    • Nurture children  = to bring up to full health, training,  strength, and maturity (mentoring, caring full,  spiritual  and applied education)
    • Admonish children = to warn children against  evil and to make sure they serve the Lord (training by example, instruction; discipline)
      • Romans 15:14 believers are to admonish one another
      • Hebrews 10:24-25 challenge each other to serve the Lord
  • There is a delicate balance among training, encouraging, and disciplining children
    • Training children is an awesome stewardship responsibility
    • Prideful, self-centered dads can’t do an effective job rearing children
  • There is forgiveness and healing for those who were not effective dads, for moms who reared their children alone, and for children reared in neglecting homes ill – believers who reared by unbelievers and the role of grandparents (Deuteronomy 4:9)

Key verse: Proverbs 3:1-11 [New King James Version]

1 My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and [a]high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [b]direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your [c]flesh,
And strength[d] to your bones.

9 Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction

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CAVE CAPER. I Samuel 24:1-22. 8/9/20. #75.

1 Samuel 24 [New King James Version]

¹ Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” ² Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. ³ So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) ⁴ Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. ⁵ Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. ⁶ And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” ⁷ So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. ⁸ David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. ⁹ And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? ¹⁰ Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ ¹¹ Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. ¹² Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. ¹³ As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. ¹⁴ After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? ¹⁵ Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.” ¹⁶ So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. ¹⁷ Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. ¹⁸ And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. ¹⁹ For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. ²⁰ And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. ²¹ Therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.” ²² So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

• Back to the chase
  • Chapters 24-26 forms a unit of David sparing Saul and Nabol
    • On three occasions David could have killed, but did not
    • A theme of “God delivered you, but I stayed my hand”
  • As soon as Saul returns from fighting the Philistines, he seeks to find and kill David again
    • Saul is informed that David is near En Gedi
    • There was no place David could hide that an informant would not see him and report him to Saul
  • En Gedi was the perfect hiding place
    • Full of rocks, caves, springs, crags, and forests
    • Called the Rocks of the Wild Goats
• Saul in the cave of destiny
  • Saul enters a cave to relieve himself
    • He doesn’t know David’s men are deep in the cave
    • Providence has delivered Saul into David’s hand
  • David’s men are sure that God had delivered Saul to be killed
    • Why else would Saul choose that particular cave?
    • Was this a deliverance or a test?
  • David informs his men that he won’t kill God’s anointed
  • David cuts off a part of the hem of Saul’s robe and even feels guilty about doing this
  • David knows that God gave Saul his position of authority
    • Romans 13:1-7 we are to obey and honor authorities
    • Acts 5 we defy authorities when they demand that we do evil or disobey the will of God
    • Authorities are to be honored to position they hold
• David demonstrates his fidelity
  • God had delivered Saul into David’s hands
    • David bows down before Saul and pays him homage
    • David states that he means no harm to Saul
  • David makes five arguments:
    • David has shown that he is innocent of rebellion
    • The Lord will judge between him and Saul
    • Wickedness always proceeds from the wicked (David is accusing Saul of being wicked)
    • David does not intend ever to rebel against Saul
    • David will not attack God’s anointed
      • Only God can rightly remove his anointed
      • David refuses to assassinate Saul (ironically, Saul’s death would make Jonathan king)
• Saul’s humbled moment
  • Saul realizes he came close to death
  • Saul admits eight things:
    • David is more righteous than he is
    • David did well to Saul, who had done evil to him
    • The Lord had delivered Saul into David’s hand
    • David could have killed Saul, but spared him
    • Saul admits to being David’s enemy
    • Saul calls on God to bless David for his gracious act
    • God will make David king after him
    • David will have the power to destroy Saul’s progeny
  • Saul pleads with David to spare his line and David agrees to it
  • Saul’s humble moment is remorse and repentance (Saul is humble due to circumstances, but his heart has not changed)

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HOME GUARD. Ephesians 5:25-33. 08/02/20. AM. #30.

Ephesians 5:25-33 [New King James Version]

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ³¹ “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” ³² This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

• Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church
  • Husbands are commanded to love their wives
  • Many preachers teach that wives are never commanded to love their husbands = not true!
    • Husbands are to love (agape’) their wives
      • A choice love (sacrifice, charity, fidelity)
      • Husbands are to always cherish wives
    • Titus 2:3-5 older women are to teach wives how to love (phileo; have affection for) their husbands (show respect, honor, be tender toward, cherish)
  • Christ is example of how to love wives as he loved church
    • Gave himself (on behalf of) for the church
    • Sanctified (set apart) the church (the husband is to set apart his wife for exclusive relationship)
    • Washed the church clean (Titus 3:5)
      • Psalm 51:7 David asked God to cleanse him
      • Mark 16:1-8 baptism is a symbol of being cleansed by blood of Christ (1 Peter 3:20-21-not with physical water = symbolic)
    • Via the Word (Gospel = Romans 10:17)
    • Christ will purify his bride of all sin (Romans 8:30)
  • The husband = given a high standard to follow (Christ)
• The buck stops at the groom
  • Adam and Abraham were help responsible to decisions made by their wives (Numbers 30:13 a man could or nullify a vow made by his wife)
  • The husband is to treat his wife as Christ did the church
    • Protector and rescuer (covers his wife with safety)
    • Unconditionally loves his wife
      • Age, changing appearance, marital conflicts, desires, or any other aspect is not to alter or diminish a man’s love for his wife
      • Malachi. 2:14-15 a man is to treat his wife with as much respect, affection, and care as when he first fell in love with her
    • Nourishes his wife as he does his own body
      • Every normal man takes care of his body
      • Nourish = to take care of until maturity is reached (glorification) –used of rearing children, raising plants or animals
      • Cherish = treat something as precious, honored, important, and delicate (caring)
  • Just as all believers are members of one body, the wife is tied to the husband so they become one flesh (Genesis 2)
    • Paul quotes Genesis 2:25 = God commands that when a man leaves his parents he clings to wife
    • Choice love demands undying cherishing of wife
• The final admonition
  • To love one’s wife as one’s self transcends desire, temptation, and feelings (continue to show love to wife)
    • Men are visual, so are tempted by beauty
    • Men are to resist all enticement and cherish wife
  • Women are to respect their husbands
    • This hearkens back to verses 22-24
    • Wives lose respect for husbands when they do not live up to their relational expectations
    • Titus 2:3 must be taught affection for husband
  • Colossians 3:12-25 only commandment live is blessed of God

Key Verse:  Colossians 3:12-25 [New King James Version]

¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.