From Ephesus to Epiphany:

The instruction to one ancient church applied in today’s church
A striking realization hit me the last Sunday before New Years. I was convicted, challenged, and now for the first time in my life I have ample opportunity to complete a New Year’s resolution. My epiphany came during a sermon the associate pastor of my church delivered from the book of Ephesians, chapter four. While the message he was giving was based on the passage found in verse 27—and do not give the devil a foothold –I was led to continue reading. I back tracked a couple of verses and then read until I reached verse 32. By the end of the service I was determined to live my life according to the word so as not to give the devil a foothold.
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body”—Ephesians 4:25
When I first read this I immediately became defensive. I knew then that I was going to have to deal directly with this issue. Telling the truth is not difficult for me. I don’t have any problems with it. In fact, I am not at all prone to lying. I detest the very thought. However, it was only that telling the truth was easy when asked. I’m not privy to just sharing the truth when the spirit leads. Nor am I innocent of avoiding the truth when less than desirable conditions rear their ugly heads. Just prior to that day I had evaded an acquaintance’s invitation by purposely making other plans. This person had caused a great deal of hurt to me in the past and while, yes, I had forgiven this person, I wasn’t ready to make an effort to rekindle a friendship. I justified my actions in my mind believing that by doing so I wasn’t technically lying to this person but sparing us both a lot of pain. I became upset with myself realizing that I wasn’t being real with this person and I needed to come clean with myself…and probably this person at some point. “For we are all members of one body,” resonated through my mind. If I couldn’t be honest with a brother in Christ how were we to operate as one body? This became my first area of concern. But it didn’t stop here. God had a lot more to say.
“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” –Ephesians 4:26
“do not give the devil a foothold.” –Ephesians 4:27
It’s not surprising as a Christian to become a little over zealous when surfaces sin. We are made in the image of God and He hates sin! However, He doesn’t hate the sinner. I find my self so eager to dismiss those who are disobedient to the word. In my effort to detest the sin, I begin to dislike the sinner as well. I’m not easily prone to anger but I do hold on to it. Instead of facing it, I leave it pent up to unleash on an unsuspecting, and probably undeserving, recipient that just so happens to press my last nerve. In context, this passage is connected to the next verse “and do not give the devil a foothold.” If the door to our heart were accessed by a password I believe “anger” would be a valid entry. Anger does not allow us to think straight. Our judgment becomes clouded and we find solace in nothing. Often times all we can do is concentrate on breathing. The hurt, the distrust, the very thought that someone has wronged us is more that we can handle. But at the same time, if we admit to it, there is a part of us that isn’t ready to give up that emotion. We want reprisal and we don’t want anyone to have except ourselves. However, when we finally do face the anger situation and find a resting place, the relief from it is refreshing.
“He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” –Ephesians 4:28
Hands down I thought I was above this one. I don’t steal. I was ready to skip over this one thinking that it was simply a scripture on theft. Then I felt a tug bringing me back to the passage and I was informed of the underlying meaning. Thanks be to God. What was it that I needed to learn here? I read it over and over and then it was apparent: time. Yes, I do my part. I go to church, I’m faithful in tithing, and I’ll serve whenever and wherever asked. But it’s not enough. What was I personally contributing? It is not often that a day goes by that God does not impart some piece of wisdom to me. What do I do with it? Nothing, I hold on to it. I’m not constantly sharing with those in need. This was a huge deal in the early church. The church was a family, they protected one another, they fed, clothed, and cared for one another. They encouraged one another and brought one another through. They shared in relationship and no one was alone. It’s like that old saying “no man is an island.” No one is meant to be alone. So here was the next step for me. I have to begin contributing more of my life to what God has set before me. I have to make myself available to every sort of work. I need to share with those in need.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” –Ephesians 4:29
In another translation this scripture reads let no idle talk and coarse jesting come from your mouth. In a conversation with my senior pastor I learned that “idle talk” meant “dismissive talk.” However, my conviction remained the same. If what I’m speaking is of no benefit to others or God then I’ve no business speaking it. There was a time in my life when I didn’t say much of anything to anybody. I stayed off peoples’ bad lists but still there was nothing there with which I could form a relationship. I simply existed. I offered nothing and received nothing in return from others. I became convicted of what I do speak. I’m often aware when gossip arises and I’m careful to not join in. I’m not always careful to not listen. Yet, there are times when I do fall short and engage in a conversation that begins almost always with a prayer request. Stormie O’Martian advises in her book The Power of a Praying Woman, “Never spend more time talking about a prayer request than praying for the request.” This opens the door for gossip. What starts as a prayer concern can escalate into juicy story for your prayer partners. And as for the coarse jesting I read in the other translation, well that’s a whole other issue. My senior pastor and I both agree that we believe Jesus and his disciples cut up and had fun. However, sometimes we go too far and let others’ misfortunes turn into the butts of meaningless jokes. And often times we don’t intend to hurt others but at the same time we are not doing much to build them up by making these wisecracks. Laughing it up is not a sin. Through laughter comes healing. The solution to this is simple: if you wouldn’t want to hear the joke you’re about to make directed towards you, there’s a strong case for not making it at all. So keep this passage and Hebrews 3:13 in mind “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.”
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” –Ephesians 4:30
Guilty! I cannot begin to imagine how many times I’ve grieved the Holy Spirit of God. It reminds me of a parent watching and trying to prevent their children from getting into all sorts of trouble. If the Holy Spirit has hair it’s probably gray by now from all the stress we put on it. Grieving the Holy Spirit is done when we ignore instruction or cause him undue stress from the actions taken outside of what we’ve been called to do. The Holy Spirit has been imparted to us for our own benefit. “With whom you were sealed for the day of redemption,” we are a team. We are to work with the Holy Spirit not outside of it. We need to access the Holy Spirit fully, not just when it’s convenient. Learning the difference between the indwelling of the spirit and being filled with the spirit was the first prompt for me. With the indwelling it is there, no more, no less. Being filled with the spirit is an activity that should be completed on a daily basis. The supply of the Holy Spirit is infinite; don’t choose to be stingy with it. Get hungry!
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” –Ephesians 4:31
Every one of these emotions has to do with a direct relationship. It’s easy to appreciate a good relationship with a friend when you’ve walked through the fire with him or her. None of these emotions are pleasant in feel. No one ever really desires to be enraged, angry, or bitter. And no one really anticipates brawling, slander, and malice to bring about the right results. This is just the wrong answer to the retribution issue addressed in the scripture about anger. Then what does one do when faced with one of these issues? Obviously, just letting go of it is easier said than done, right? The answer comes with the next scripture.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” –Ephesians 4:32
We have no reason to think that the hurts committed against ourselves are more than those committed against our savior. God forgave us with His own child. We must therefore be kind and compassionate toward those who do us wrong. It’s okay to hate what they did but not to be intolerable of the person. We must show our faith in the building of their characters just as God did for each of us. We’ve become such a terrible generation concerned only with our own well being and so independent (especially in our flesh). The flesh is a finite being that knows its time is short on this planet and it will not be invited to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. It will fight tooth and nail to get what it desires. The soul (mind, will, and emotions) knows that it has an opportunity to live in a place far greater than this world and thus fights for what is noble bearing the burden of time and waiting patiently to be received by its creator. It therefore will work with the Holy Spirit to find a place of peace. Forgiveness and compassion is at the core of its purpose and will continue on until we are given rest in God’s presence. There we can surrender it all and know that all the hard work that we’ve labored will be rewarded.
So if my intentions have not been clear, my resolution for 2009 is to live my life according to the instruction given to those in Ephesus. If I do so my life will reflect what God intended it to be. I have no reason to believe that anything instructed to the ancient Church of Ephesus cannot be used in a modern 21st century church and result in anything but good. Everything that I need is found in the word. God doesn’t keep it secret. I’m excited to see where this year will take me and to put these instructions into practice. My purpose for sharing this message with you is twofold. It is my sincere wish that by sharing with you you’ve been blessed by His word and to also gain a sense of accountability. There would be no greater tragedy then to fall short of God’s call due to a simple lack of encouragement.