The Bible has instructions on obedience for children, parents, and servants in Ephesians 6. We discuss the attitude and heart behind our obedience today.
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Be Obedient
Ephesians 6:1-9
- Obedience is a theme throughout both New and Old Testament scriptures
- Not only obedience to God, but obedience to authorities in life
- And our passage of the day starts with obedience
- First with children obeying parents
- But then, also, with servants obeying masters
- It's not just the obedience that's important
- But the way in which we obey
- The attitude and heart behind our obedience
- Even in situations where we have very little control
- And are at the mercy of others
- We'll talk more about this as we approach the topic "Be Obedient"
- From Ephesians 6:1-9
- There are instructions for those under authority in this passage
- But also for those in authority
- Everyone, of course, is under the authority of God
- And He has the right to demand our obedience
- He is both worthy and deserving of it
- As the author of authority, He often tells us to obey authorities
- And He tells us to do it in a certain way - and for certain reasons
- We begin the discussion with children here…
Ephesians 6:1-3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
- If children want to do what is right, they should obey their parents
- This is God's plan for children
- It is what God wants for children
- And He says when they do this, they will have long life
- This command, with promise, is a rather unique one
- God clearly puts an emphasis on this type of obedience
- And He makes it clear how important it will be in any person's life
- Things will go well with the obedient one
- Life will be extended because of the obedience
- But children must not only obey
- They are to honor
- This is a particular kind of respect
- It means to fix a value upon them
- To see them as valuable
- To revere and venerate them
- It is obvious that some parents fall very far short
- They are not the kind of parents God wants
- But the fact that they are parents means something
- It has value in and of itself
- And God makes no exception
- He says to obey and He says to honor
- But parents have responsibilities too
- God does not leave them out
- Here's what He says to fathers…
Ephesians 6:4
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
- Fathers can provoke their children to anger in many ways
- We can do it through our action or inaction
- By our words or by our lack of words
- With our attitudes
- In our teaching and modeling
- Or in any number of ways
- God says this must not be done
- Fathers provoking their children to wrath are doing the wrong thing
- We should do the opposite
- Fathers should bring them up modeling and proclaiming the word of God
- Taking action and providing instruction that is consistent with scripture
- In essence, fathers are simply to be obedient as it regards child rearing
- This is the right thing for us to do
- People have responsibilities in other areas of life…
Ephesians 6:5
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
- The servants of this day are different from servants in our day
- And for some very key reasons
- Particularly in modern societies like our own
- But the principle is that anyone under authority should obey that authority
- Despite the circumstances in which we find ourselves
- And we should do so with a certain amount of Godly fear
- There are certainly consequences for not doing so
- Consequences for our service
- But also consequences for our fellowship with God
- And so we should have a single heart
- Not just to serve man, but to serve Christ
- Because He is our primary Master and our King
- And when circumstances get difficult, which they often do
- Or when obedience gets hard
- We look to Him
- We yield to Him
- To His will for our obedience to the authorities He has established
- There are definitely some ways we should not obey…
Ephesians 6:6-7
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
- Don't just do right when the guy in charge is looking
- This is wrong
- Especially for the man who is a disciple of Christ
- God's eyes see everything
- And He is worthy of serving every moment
- With every breath
- And with every ounce of energy we have
- It may not seem like this service to an earthly master is of any consequence to eternity
- But all service to the Lord is worthwhile
- And so we must serve Him
- Not men
- Him
- Men in authority may do right and may do wrong
- God knows this
- And God always does right
- He is a righteous Master
- Serve Him
- In work that is exciting
- And in work that is mundane
- Enjoying the work
- Or suffering through it
- Because here is what we know
Ephesians 6:8
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
- Bond or free, God sees what we do
- Nothing is overlooked
- Hard work
- Done with the right attitude
- With the right level of reverence toward our authority
- Not for them
- But for Christ
- Is rewarded
- This should be such a wonderful reassurance for God's people
- As we serve in all manner of circumstances
- And in all manner of ways
- He sees
- He rewards
- He sees Masters too…
Ephesians 6:9
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
- Masters are to act in a very similar way
- With the same level of character
- God does not treat masters in any different way
- They have a responsibility
- They are under Him
- And they also must do right
- "Be Obedient" is the theme of our passage
- And so often the theme of God's instruction in scripture
- I wonder if we are doing so?
- How often?
- With what kind of attitude?
- In which way?
- Questions to ask ourselves
- Themes to reflect upon…