Why Tragedies Are Allowed: Ephesians 6:12

12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

As we are used by our Lord to wrestle with darkness, our Father becomes stronger within us, so through the power of Christ we can actually welcome the battles in this life. As our Father causes us to triumph in them, it proves to us that we do have an eternity to be spent with our Him. 

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-4

Our Father causing us to continually triumph in trials, even unthinkable trials, gives us a character that produces confident hope in our eternal salvation through Christ. So when someone asks you why are there trials and tragedies in this world, Romans 5:3-4 are the verses that answers that very real question! 

Yesterday there was probably the most severe trial that anyone will ever have to face in this flesh. Twenty little children were shot and killed in their classroom. The trial that their families, that school, and that community will face is unimaginable to most of us. I ask that all who are led to this posting to join with me in praying that our Father’s Word of Truth here will not fall void to the earth for those who have been affected by these horrific killings. And all who have been affected by equally horrific events in their lives as well.  

Together in Christ we ask You Father that You will absolutely cause the victims families and their community to endure in the power of Your might. Father be greater in them then the grief, sorrow, guilt, and anger that is in this world. Cause them Father to see that the horrific death of their lovely young children only resulted in victory for their little ones. Give them peace that passes all understanding that their babies are now living in Paradise with You. Father allow them to rejoice in the victory of where their children actually are and empower them to not be consumed with the grief of their loss. Empower their parents, families, and friends to be confident with an absolute trust that they too will spend eternity with those little children who were taken. Cause those affected Father to reach out in Your complete power to serve others and cause them to gain strength from being used by You. Father use the surviving children in that school to be the greatest witnesses of You that the world has ever seen. In Jesus' Name Father empower them fully with the Holy Spirit to not suffer depression but to be inspired to witness Your Truth. 

For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Father give these victims families an escape from this event through You.

Our Father will never allow us to get in a wrestling match with evil that He will not cause us to win. This is our confidence and this is our peace. As our Father leads us, and causes us to be victorious, through more and more persecutions and trials, our confidence in Him grows. Not only do we grow in confidence as He uses us, others see our Father working through us and this causes their confidence to grow in Him as well. Amen! We are one with the victory of Jesus, and as He is, so are we in this world. This holds true for the families of these children in Connecticut as well. They have been asked to carry an extremely heavy load, but our Father will never leave them or forsake them and He will cause them to be a light to a world that desperately needs a light. 

Father cause all of us to have peace that You will never leave us or forsake us even when unimaginable things happen around us and to us. And empower us with Your knowledge of the Truth that all things work out for good.

Ephesians 6:11

11 Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

The Truth is that satan was created by our Father, and he was created to be and he is a servant of God. He rebelled against our Father and would have destroyed Him if he could have, but satan just isn’t that strong. Whether people like or not, satan is this way because our Father made him that way, John 8:44. Our Father knew that satan would rebel and just because he did rebel in no way released him from being exactly what our Father made him to be, a servant. 

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. Colossians 1:16

Through Christ we are one with our Father, so we are one with His armor. The power that doesn’t let satan do anything against our Father, doesn’t allow him to do anything, except what he is directed to do by our Father, against us. We know this to be true because we have been told that our Father sent a messenger of satan to buffet Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:7. The messenger could only do what our Father allowed and directed him to do. Our Father told satan what he could do and what he couldn’t do against Job. Satan and the demons were created to serve our Kingdom and they still serve today. The only power that they have is what our Father allows them to have. Many do not believe this, but if satan was strong on his own and had a free will to do whatever he wanted, then why did he have to ask to attack the apostles? 

Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain, Luke 22:31

Satan and demons serve our Father and so they serve us. What did I just write? Did I just say that demons and satan serve us? They sure do, look at what Paul wrote in Corinthians. 

You are to deliver this man over to Satan for physical discipline [to destroy carnal lusts which prompted him to incest], that [his] spirit may [yet] be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:5.

Satan was used by Paul as a tool to actually save a person. Satan is not a threat for us who are one with Jesus. He is just another servant of our Father, just as all things are servants to our Father. If you have been attacked by satan, you have been attacked because our Father sent him to you to do it, just as our Father sent him to buffet Paul. The price of satan’s rebellion is that he still has to do only what our Father tells him to and he must suffer defeat repeatedly as he does. Satan has to come to serve the Kingdom and as he does he will be defeated by our Father’s power that dwells within us. Satan will one day no longer be needed and when that day comes he will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:10. 

Think of what satan actually has to go through. He is sent to attack us by our Father and he knows that in our weakness our Father’s strength will become perfected, 2 Corinthians 12:9. Satan wanted so much to be God and now everyday he is sent to be defeated by our Father’s power working through a creation that has the very thing that he wanted. Satan wants to kill us, but he can’t. He want’s to destroy us, but he can’t. He can only go and do exactly what he is told to do, knowing full well that he will be defeated and there is nothing that he can do about it. If someone is harping on satan and his strength they have no revelation of the Truth of our Father’s power. 

Ephesians 6:9-10

9 You masters, act on the same [principle] toward them and give up threatening and using violent and abusive words, knowing that He Who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no respect of persons (no partiality) with Him.

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

A branch cannot help but gain its strength from the vine. An arm cannot help but to gain its strength from the head. We are one with Jesus and our strength is God Almighty's strength. What makes Jesus makes us, we are perfectly united and one with Him. Everything that He is, so are we, even in this world. Everything that Jesus has, so do we. There is no separation at all between us. The two of us have become one flesh. 

The Holy Spirit will not just let us read this. He will cause us to stop and actually be empowered by His might to understand exactly what we are being told here. We are as strong as Jesus, because we are one with Jesus. When we think of Jesus and God, we believe that the Two are One, and the Truth that sets us free is that so are we. Many will tell me that Jesus did what He did because He was God, the Word of Jesus tells us that so are we. There is no difference between Jesus and us, as He is, so are we in this world, 1 John 4:17. We have been born of the same Holy Spirit. We have been grafted into Him, quickened and made alive by the same Spirit and the two of us are now one flesh. 

Jesus was Jesus only because our Father made Him that way. Jesus did no works to be Jesus, He was just born and the same power has made us one with Himself. Faith comes from hearing the Truth that sets us free. 

Ephesians 6:1-8

1 CHILDREN, OBEY your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right.

    

2 Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother--this is the first commandment with a promise--

3 That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.

4 Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord. 

5 Servants (slaves), be obedient to those who are your physical masters, having respect for them and eager concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with all your heart, as [service] to Christ [Himself]-

6 Not in the way of eye-service [as if they were watching you] and only to please men, but as servants (slaves) of Christ, doing the will of God heartily and with your whole soul. 

7 Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,

8 Knowing that for whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.

   

As we have studied so many times before, the Truth that sets us free is that we are empowered with the Holy Spirit to accomplish all of these required works. There is no fear for us whatsoever that we will miss the mark, because in Christ we will perform all of these things. We will receive from the Lord because we were empowered by the Lord to do all things. In Christ we will love and respect our elders as He loves and respects  them. We will not provoke but encourage and strengthen as Jesus encourages and strengthens. We will respect others and render service in the full power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit that we are now one with.

You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear [excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:16-20

Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

For the kingdom of God consists of and is based on not talk but power (moral power and excellence of soul). 1 Corinthians 4:20

We are in Christ and one with Him right now. His is the only power that sustains us and because of this great Truth we will fulfill every last commandment and scripture that has been written. When our Father had the word “If” written in the Bible, He had already fulfilled the “if” for us through Christ. If you are truly a part of Christ, there is never any question of if, because the Truth is it is finished! So as you read all of the verses that speak of how we have to be, rejoice, because Jesus is our Head and He alone will cause every last Word of our Father to come to pass in our lives. We are more than conquerors through Christ.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Romans 8:37

Ephesians 5:31-33

31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

32 This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church.

We are one flesh with Jesus, one flesh, not just one spirit, but one flesh. Our flesh is Jesus’ flesh. Our flesh is one with Jesus’ flesh. As Jesus’ flesh is, so is our flesh in this world. Too many think that our flesh is evil, that our flesh is separate, but the Truth is that we are Jesus’ flesh, we are His Body. Apart from Christ we are nothing but sin, but in Christ we are as He is and we are one flesh. You may say, but our flesh can die? It can die, but not one second before our Lord, our Head, our Vine, our Shepherd, Who alone holds the keys of death, Revelation 1:18, tells it to. 

Jesus’ flesh was crucified, but it did not die until He gave up the ghost, the ghost was not taken from Him, Mark 15:37. Jesus’ flesh laid dead in a grave for 2 1/2 days. Jesus’ flesh was raised up from the dead and eleven days after it was, He was having people place their hands in His open wounds, John 20:27. Jesus’ flesh changed its form, Mark 9 & Luke 24. Jesus’ flesh now lives without requiring blood and oxygen, it lives only by the power of the Holy Spirit and we are now one flesh with Him.

Do you see the power in this Truth? In Christ we are victorious as He is victorious, we enjoy and are one with everything that Jesus is and everything that He has. Jesus saved our whole person, our whole spirit, soul, and body are preserved blameless until He returns.

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Don’t ever be fooled by the false teaching that our flesh is not part of the deal. Jesus’ sacrifice was far more then enough to take care of the shortcomings of our flesh. 

33 However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]. [I Pet. 3:2.]

In Christ all things are achieved and come to their completion!

Ephesians 5:27-30

27 That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].

  

Only Jesus will cause us to be glorious and holy, without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. He will use us, we will have a part to play, but our part is always played by being one with Him. Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us and without Him we can do nothing. Amen, we are never without Him, so we will be used by our Father to produce much abundant and glorious fruit.

People always seem to be wondering when the end times will be, this verse holds the clue. When we see the Bride of Christ being used to do the works that Jesus did and even greater works, John 14:12, then look for the end times to begin. Just before the Great Tribulation begins people will be saying peace and safety, 1 Thessalonians 5:3. They will be saying this because the Body of Christ will be glorious as our Father is using us to powerfully show His Will. The sick will be healed, the dead will be raised, the blind will see, the weather will do what we say, and we will be one, just as our Father and Jesus are one, John 17:20-22.  

28 Even so husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

    

29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,

    

30 Because we are members (parts) of His body.

We are Jesus’ flesh, He does not hate us. He cherishes us and He nourishes us. Jesus keeps us and He is solely responsible for us. He knows what we need and what we want and He provides for us. Nothing happens to us that He is not in complete and total control of John 15:5. We are one with the Alpha and Omega, the Great I Am, and the King of King and the Lord of Lord’s. Today is the day of our salvation and now is our appointed time to be one with our Father through Christ, 2 Corinthians 6:2. We are perfectly united with Him so that the world will know that Jesus is real and that they are loved, just as Jesus is loved. Anything that is required for us to do will be done through us by Jesus, Who is greater within us than anything that is in this world, 1 John 4:4. We are now and forever more victorious in Christ, Romans 8:37, because as He is, so are we in this world 1 John 4:17. 

Ephesians 5:21-26

21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

    

22 Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord.

    

23 For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body.

24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.

  

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

  

How many sermons have we heard on these verses? What the wives are responsible for, what the husbands are responsible for. Do these verses still apply to today’s marriages? The key is that Jesus will cause us to be victorious in these Truth’s as well as all of His Truth’s. Jesus will cause us to submit where we must submit and serve where we must serve and love as we must love.

I am not teaching that all of these verses no longer apply, all scripture applies. What I am teaching is that it has to be Jesus within us causing all scripture to be fulfilled and realized through us. Husbands must love their wives. Wives must submit to their husbands, but it has to be Christ within us causing us to do it all. We need to place the responsibility on Jesus where it belongs, and He welcomes this thought process. He is the One driving us to this thought process. Jesus wants and demands that it be Him and if it isn’t Him, then we can have no part of Him.  

26 So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,

Jesus is the only one Who can and He is the only One responsible for sanctifying us. We do not sanctify ourselves. We do not cause ourselves to be holy. Holiness is just a gift, it’s part of being saved, and it is all Jesus’ responsibility. 

For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren; Hebrews 2:11

Jesus is now our Husband. He loves us and He ever lives to intercede for us and because He does we are now saved to the uttermost.

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them. Hebrews 7:25

Ephesians 5:18-20

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)! [ Assuredly not!] Hebrews 13:5

    

19 Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,

    

20 At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them. John 17:26

In Christ we do all of these things. He may have to prune some things out of us. He may have to cause us to go through some trials or discipline us to get us there, but He will get us there. There is never any condemnation for us in Christ, Romans 8:1, and He is always faithful and reliable to cause us to be who He wants us to be. Our peace is that we are always right where our Shepherd wants us to be, Jesus is that good of Shepherd. Our journey is just that, a journey, our Shepherd is a faithful and very successful leader. We may have a ton of growing up to do, but our peace is that we are right where we need to be now, even if tomorrow we are to be somewhere else. In Christ there is never any condemnation and there is never any guilt.

For He says, In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance [of you from God]; behold, now is the day of salvation! 2 Corinthians 6:2

Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God]. Romans 4:25

In Christ we have complete victory and security. We are every bit as saved and protected as Jesus is. We are one with Him. We are His body and He is glorified in us. 

Ephesians 5:16-17

16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.

    

17 Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.

Once again, this is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to accomplish for us. How can a man know what the will of the Lord is? We have a Bible, but the Bible does not tell us specifics about our jobs, our friends needs, our families needs, or what to specifically tell someone for specific situations. To insure that we know exactly what our Lord’s will is, He has given us His Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is not vague, thoughtless, or foolish.

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. John 16:13

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. 1 Corinthians 2:16

What the Holy Spirit had Paul write is absolute Truth. However the world will preach it as if we on our own have the power and the responsibility to keep all of these things. When the Truth is it is our Lord’s responsibility to empower us and keep all of these things through us. The Truth is that we cannot help but do all of these things because Jesus is greater in us and He is causing us to be who our Father has created us to be. 

And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them. Ezekiel 36:27

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren; Hebrews 2:11

Ephesians 5:11-15

11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret.

    

13 But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.

We are now one with the Light, so all that is against our Father’s will is clearly exposed and made visible to us. The Light drives out the darkness and we are now free from all fellowship with it. The power of our Father keeps us safe and sound from all that would ever be able to harm us or keep us from being one with His glory. 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

The powerful Truth for us that we are shown here is that our Father called us out of the darkness. Our Father knew who and what we were. He knew all that we would ever do before He created the world and He still called and chose us, Psalm 139:16. God alone has made us light, no work, no human effort, it was all a free gift and our once our Father gives a gift, He never takes it back, Romans 11:29.

14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.

We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. Romans 6:6

15 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),

And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them. Ezekiel 36:27

Because of Christ we cannot help but walk carefully, accurately, and purposefully! Our Shepherd will never leave us or forsake us and He will cause us to be more then conquerors through Him. 

Ephesians 5:8-10

8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].

We are now light, because we are now one with the body of Light. We are now one with the Light, Jesus Christ, so how could we be anything but light? The powerful Truth about light is that it cannot be both light and dark. Good water and bitter water cannot come from the same fountain, James 3:11. We are either one or the other.

For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we do not belong either to the night or to darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:5

 9 For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.

We are plainly shown here the Truth that it is the Spirit that causes us to do what our Father wants. This is our victory and this is our peace. Far too many want to bring us again to bondage, teaching and preaching what we have to do for our Father. This teaching would be like teaching what the branch has to do on its own to produce fruit, or what the hand must do on its own to serve the body. There is no separation between us and our Father at all. All that He is, we are now one with just as Jesus is. We are new creatures in Christ, every old thing in our life’s has past away and now all things are new!

10 And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].

The great thing that we are shown here is that we can actually know what is pleasing to our Father. Our Father doesn’t hide things from us, we have real fellowship with Him.

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. John 16:13

Ephesians 5:3-7 Part 2

But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people). Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God]. For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]--for he [in effect] is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience. So do not associate or be sharers with them. Ephesians 5:3-7

In yesterdays post we talked about how these verses may seem to place all of the burden on us, when in fact all of the burden is actually on our Shepherd, our Head, our Lord, our Master, our Potter, and our Groom Jesus. I wanted to continue with this Truth today, because most of my life the preaching has been that we must do these things and there was always a lot of condemnation for our failures. So let’s look again at Colossians 2.

Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. Colossians 2:4

The Truth is that all of the legal decrees which stood against us have now been removed from us. This is why Paul writes that he is free to do all things.

All things are legitimate [permissible--and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. 1 Corinthians 10:23

All things are legitimate for us because in Christ there is now no law to convict us with. However, all things don’t help others. The Truth is that we cannot mess up, because there is no law to mess up. This is what brings us peace, this is why our yoke is so easy and our burden is light, we cannot fail in Christ. Yet, the Holy Ghost did write all of these verses here in Ephesians? So what does it all mean? It means that we don’t have to worry about any of it, Jesus has to. That’s right, Jesus does, not us, the burden is all His and the victory is of His efforts are ours. Jesus is our Head, Jesus is our Shepherd, and Jesus is our Vine. The only way that we can ever begin to live verses 3-7 is for Jesus to cause us to. 

I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. John 15:5

Without Jesus we can do nothing, but with Jesus we will bear much fruit. Our Father knew exactly who and what we were before we ever were. His plan and purpose all along was to place His Spirit within us and cause us to walk in His Truth,

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:27

This is why Paul wrote that all things are legal for us, because it is all our Father within us causing us to do what He wants. If we are doing something right, it is only because our Father is causing us to do it right. This is why we cannot boast, Romans 4:2. So the Truth also has to be, that if we are not doing something right, then it is has to be because of our Father has not yet caused us to do it right. This is why there is now no condemnation to us who are in Christ, Romans 8:1. 

In Christ we are always more than conquerors because He loves us, Romans 8:37. Only Jesus can cause us to not be silly, greedy, or immoral. Only Jesus can remove our vices, without Him we can do nothing. In Christ we have complete freedom and because we do we will live just as He lives. If you are looking to yourself to keep even the simplest commands in the Bible you will fail. Because if you did do anything on your own you could boast and brag about it. 

A branch has its part to play, so does a body part, and so does clay. Yet none of them play there parts alone. A branch never does anything without the vine, a hand without the head, and the clay without the potter. Jesus is our Vine, our Head, and our Father is our Potter. So when you read verses like Ephesians 3-7 you can rejoice and celebrate them because Jesus is responsible to make us do them all and it is through His strength and power that we will do them. If you believe it is what you have to do and not what Jesus has to do through you, than you never will have peace and you never will have victory. 

Ephesians 5:3-7

3 But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people).

   

4 Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God].

5 For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]--for he [in effect] is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience.

7 So do not associate or be sharers with them.

Wow, there seems to be a ton of responsibility placed on us here with these verses doesn’t there? Let me ask you some questions, how do we define wasteful living? Is having a television wasteful? How about a garbage disposal? What about a computer or two coats? What if we want to be promoted and have our bosses job, is that being greedy? What if you look at another person and think to yourself that they are pretty, is that sexual vice? What if you talk about a football game, is that silly talking? We have learned the Truth and the Truth is that our yoke is easy and our burden is light, right? So all of these obligations have to be easy to live, even if we live in the Western world where having just a little is more than 98% of what the world has. 

Our peace, and it does pass all understanding, is that the Truth sets us free and the Truth is easy. The Truth and our peace is that we can’t do any or keep any of these things in verses 3-7. We can’t! Think about it, God told the children of Israel to keep one day holy and they couldn’t even do that. Jesus knows this, so what did He do for us? The first thing that He did was eliminate the law for us. The Truth is that there is now no law in place to assign us guilt, in Christ there is no law for us to transgress. We now live in the freedom that Jesus lives in.

Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. Colossians 2:14

Our Father has made us all to be disobedient and He did it so that He may have mercy on us all alike, Romans 11:32. It is only when our Father enlightens us with the Truth that He will keep us from all of these things, Ezekiel 36:27, and that there is no condemnation for us, Romans 8:1, that we will actually stop doing these things. We are able to relax and have peace because it is up to our Father to bring our sanctification to pass, it is not up to us.

For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren; Hebrews 2:11

Ephesians 5:2

2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

Our Father is love and we are now one with Him and perfectly united with Him, so love is never a problem for the Bride of Christ.

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. 1 John 4:8

I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. John 17:23

The Truth is also that Jesus lives so that we now have His love within us.

I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them. John 17:26

So relax, the Truth for us is that we cannot help but walk in love, because we are one with love.

With that Truth being established, let’s talk for a minute about how love walked when He was here on the earth as Jesus. Love groaned when it saw unbelief.

And He groaned and sighed deeply in His spirit and said, Why does this generation demand a sign? Positively I say to you, no sign shall be given this generation. Mark 8:12

Love made a whip and turned over tables and ran people off.

And Jesus went into the temple ( whole temple enclosure) and drove out all who bought and sold in the sacred place, and He turned over the four-footed tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who sold doves. Matthew 21:12

Love told a Father with a sick child that He wouldn’t believe unless he saw a sign, Mark 9.

Jesus, Who is love, walked this way. He talked openly with a known adulterous woman. He allowed a former prostitute to wash His feet with perfumed oil and not just any oil, this oil cost an entire year’s wages. Jesus drank. He was called a wine drinker and a gluten, Matthew 11:19. Jesus turned gallons of water into wine for a wedding party where the people had already drank all the wine that they had. So in reality He made more wine for a bunch of partying and probably drunk people. Jesus intentionally read out loud verses of scripture that would offend religious people. He called a woman a dog when she asked Him to heal her child, Matthew 15:26. He repeatedly told the disciples that they had no faith when they were scared and He encouraged people to desire to be the greatest, Matthew 18. Most of the things that Jesus did when He was here would get us kicked out of church today. 

So why would Jesus call a person a dog, when all they wanted was for their child to be healed? He did it to spark the woman’s ability to believe. Jesus knew that woman better than she knew herself. He knew that getting her riled up would spark in her an energy to receive exactly what she needed. Jesus also knew that all of those who were around to hear and see it would marvel that she didn’t care about anything but receiving from Jesus. The comment motivated her and then Jesus went on to say that He hadn’t seen such great faith in any Israelites. As humans we are motivated by all of our emotions and our Father knows exactly what it will take for each one of us to receive and He loves us enough to do what is needed in our lives. So don’t be surprised if there are times when the Holy Spirit has you say something that may seem politically incorrect or act out in anger. All things work out for our good in Christ and because we are one with Him, we will be used to walk as He walked.

Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself. 1 John 2:6

So praise God, we may very well be used to make a whip, groan openly at unbelief, tell people that they have no faith, make alcoholic beverages, have diner with notorious sinners, raise the dead, heal the sick, feed thousands, and we may even be used as a martyr. We are now one with Love and Love did all of these things. The Holy Spirit will absolutely cause us to be imitators of God!