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River Church Sermons


May 24, 2020

Authentic Spirituality Pt. 13

Spirit Filled Families & Work, Eph. 6:1-9

By Louie Marsh, 5-24-2020

 

Why I preach thru books – deal with issues I’d probably skip otherwise.

These came from Art Linkletter,

 

 

 

The Role of Children:

 

1) OBEY your parents in a way that HONORS THEM.

 

1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3  “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Ephesians 6:1-3 (ESV)

 

  • God will bless your OBEDIENCE.

 

  • Your obedience has LIMITS.

 

29  But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 (ESV)

 

The Role of Parents:

 

1) DON’T PROVOKE your children.

 

4  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger... Ephesians 6:4a (ESV)

 

2) But teach them about CHRIST.

 

…but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4b (ESV)

 

  • Training & Instruction = DISCIPLINE & LOVE.

 

  • Discipline without love = ABUSE.

 

  • Love without discipline = PERMISSIVENESS.

 

A Deeper Spiritual Perspective:

 

5  And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7  It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8  If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9  Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:5-11 (ESV)

 

What About Work?

 

A Word about Slaves & the New Testament:

 

1) Those who work for others should…

 

5  Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6  not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7  rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8  knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Ephesians 6:5-8 (ESV)

 

  • I must show the boss RESPECT.

 

  • This must come from the heart – BE SINCERE!

 

  • I modeled this on my OBEDIENCE to Christ.

 

  • I’m serving Christ well when I do my job WELL.

 

  • God will reward me for everything I do FOR HIM.

 

2) Those who Employ or Manage Others should…

 

9  Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. Ephesians 6:9 (ESV)

 

  • Treat my workers WITH RESPECT.

 

  • Do not THREATEN OR BULLY THEM.

 

  • Don’t show any FAVORITISM.

 

  • Remember the real Boss is JESUS.