BIBLE STUDIES

 

 

TOPIC: DEVELOPING GODLY HABITS

 

DEVELOPING GODLY HABITS - PART 1

The NEXT STEP in the putting on of the new man IS developing good, godly

"THINKING HABITS", thinking patterns.

The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8 says, "...think on these things."

THINGS WHICH ARE:

� true - instead of lies, things false, deceptions of Satan

� honest - instead of using people, getting something for nothing, stealing

� just - instead of judgmental , unfair

� pure - instead of impure things thoughts of sexual lust

� lovely - instead of the bad things of days gone by, ugliness of the world and it's ways

� of good report - instead of the bad things going on around us, people's faults

� things having virtue (goodness & worth) - instead of worthless, useless, self

gratifying things

� praise worthy - instead of things in people to condemn or complain about

2 Corinthians 10:5 says, ". . . bringing into captivity every thought

to the obedience of Christ."

Simply this means that every thought which comes into your mind which would NOT

be a thought Jesus would think on, you are to get rid of it. If Jesus would not think

on it, then, you are not to think on it.

You are to REPLACE all bad thoughts (thoughts Jesus would not think on)

with these GOOD THOUGHTS. In this way you are developing godly though

habits and thought patterns - which is putting on the new man.

 

DEVELOPING GODLY HABITS - PART 2

The NEXT STEP in the putting on of the new man is that of developing good godly

habits of DOING TO REPLACE the bad, sin habits of the old man we are putting

off.

Paul in Ephesians chapter 5, equates this developing, putting on of godly

habits of doing as WALKING

� walking in love (verse 2)

� walking as children of light (verse 8)

� walking circumspectly (verse 15)

Walking in LOVE then, is to be, the FIRST godly habit that you and I as children of

God are to develop and exercise. It is worthy to note that in Galatians 5:22, that the

first fruit of the spirit is LOVE.

The nature and character of God, and therefore, of God's children can be

summarized in LOVE.

In Romans 13:8-10 Paul says in verse 8 that we have a debt of love toward

one another. And in verses 8 and 10 he says that loving one another is the

fulfilling of the Law.

And in John 13:34, Jesus says to us,

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, as

I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

We are to LOVE, develop a habit of loving one another that is like the love with

which Jesus has loved and does love us. WHOA!!! That is a big order, BUT

IMPOSSIBLE? NO! If it were impossible then we would not have been told by

Jesus to do it.

 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE AS JESUS LOVED US?

In Ephesians 4:32 we have in a nut shell a picture of what it means to love as

Jesus loved.

"Be ye therefore. followers (imitators) of God as dear children;

And WALK IN LOVE."

In this verse the "be ye therefore" refers back to chapter 4:32 which says,

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one

another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.~

Therefore being:

� kind to one another,

� being tender hearted toward one another,

� FORGIVING one another as God has forgiven us IS WALKING IN LOVE.

We will now analyze these three elements, or three phases which summarizes

the love with which Jesus loved us and therefore the love with which we are to

love one another.

 

THE FIRST ELEMENT OF GODLY LOVE ACCORDING TO EPHESIANS

4:32 IS "BE YE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER."

� Being KIND means according to the Greek word here translated "kind" is to be

serviceable. Serviceable according to Websters Dictionary means, 1. that can

be of service; ready for use; useful; usable; 2. that will give good service;

durable service; 3. willing to serve; attentive and obliging.

 

� To have the heart of a servant, Galatians 6:13 says, "...to serve one another

by love." We are to be usable - a slave - for one another. So to love is first of

all to be servant to one another looking for a opportunity to serve.

In Philippians 2:7 we see that Jesus who is the God of gods, equal in all ways to the

Father, ". . . took upon Himself the FORM of a servant . . ."

The word "form" in this verse is the Greek word morphe, meaning that the form

taken was actually the true nature or essence of whatever . . . Thus the true

nature of Jesus, and therefore of God is that of a servant. A nature of being

kind, being serviceable.

Since, you and I through the new birth have the nature of God, OUR TRUE

NATURE THEN IS THAT OF A SERVANT. Thus we are according to our new

nature serviceable.

We, therefore, need to develop this quality of being kind to one another

because it is a part of our new nature. That's who we are.

We do this by actually serving one another's need. Not just serving those who

deserve to be served, or those who will and do serve us - BUT we are to

exercise grace and serve the ones who do not deserve to be served. We are

not to reserve the right to pick and choose whom we are to serve.

THE SECOND ELEMENT OF LOVE IS, "BE YE TENDERHEARTED."

The Greek word in Ephesians 4:32, which is translated tenderhearted comes

from the same root word, which in other passages of Scripture is rendered

"compassion". Compassion is a description of feelings which comes from

deep within a person which moves that person to action.

Thus to be tenderhearted towards one another means to have deep feelings of

compassion which will move us with a sense of urgency to help our brothers

and sisters who are in a needful situation. It is to be tender toward one

another. Being sensitive to each others needs.

From the life of Jesus we see three areas of need in which we are to have

compassion.

1. Matthew 9:36 says of Jesus, "But when He saw the multitudes.

He was MOVED WITH COMPASSION on them, because they

fainted, and were SCATTERED having NO SHEPHERD."

Therefore, to love as Jesus loved is to have a burden, to be moved with

compassion for those who are spiritually weak and scattered and

floundering having no shepherd to guide them and to feed them. They

need to be reconciled to their Father and we are to be those ministers of

reconciliation.

2. Matthew 14:14, "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great

multitude, and was MOVED WITH COMPASSION toward

them, and He HEALED THEIR SICK."

Our Father God wants to give us a burden for those who are sick, He

wants us to be moved with compassion for them. To visit the sick,

encourage then, to lay hands on them and pray for their healing. To do

whatever we can to give them relief and help. This is loving as Jesus

loved us.

3. Matthew 15:32, "Then Jesus called his disciples unto Him,

and said, I HAVE COMPASSION on the multitude, because they

continue with me now three days, and have nothing to EAT; and

I will not send them away fasting. lest they faint in the way."

We are to be concerned about the physical needs of our brothers and

sisters. We are to have compassion for them and be moved with an

urgency to help them in their physical needs of food, shelter and

clothing. To love them as Jesus loves is to do all that we can to help

them,

James 2:15-16,"If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily

food, and one of you say unto than. Depart in peace, be ye warned

and filled; notwithstanding ye give than not those things which are

needful to the body; WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT."

Loving them is to help them- we are not loving them when we

sympathize with them and then say to them, "God will provide"; "God

bless you." WE ARE TO BE TENDERHEARTED TOWARD ONE

ANOTHER.

The literal translation of Ephesians 4:32 where it says "forgiving one another"

is not "forgiving one another" but rather, "forgiving yourselves."

We see from this translation three areas of forgiveness.

1. We are to forgive ourselves. That is we are to consciously pronounce

upon ourselves that we are forgiven of all our sins. past, present and future.

That in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. If you have not done this, you will not be

able to be a minister of reconciliation and forgive others.

2. When one of our brothers or sisters is being weighted down by the burden

of sin and guilt we are to be ministers of reconciliation and pronounce upon

them the forgiveness of their sins. This pronouncing upon our brothers and

sisters that their sins are forgiven is part of the great commission which Jesus

gave to us in John 20:21-23.

3. You, yourselves are to forgive those brothers and sisters who have

wronged, sinned against you. It does not matter what they have done to you,

how badly they may have treated you. To love as Jesus loved constrains you

to forgive them. And secondly, if you do not forgive them bitterness will be

structured in you soul which will result in separating you from fellowship with

your Father God. And very likely will result in sickness in your body.

To forgive means that you will put whatever you are forgiving them of

BEHIND YOU, and that you will NOT LOOK UPON IT EVER AGAIN. It means

that you will not ALLOW this thing that they have done in any way to

INFLUENCE YOUR RELATIONSHIP with them.

To forgive as God has forgiven you is to act toward that person as if the

wrong which they committed, NEVER HAPPENED.

WALKING IN LOVE THEN, IS TO BE, THE FIRST GODLY HABIT

THAT YOU ARE TO DEVELOP AND EXERCISE.

DEVELOPING GODLY HABITS - PART 3

Now the SECOND area in which we are to develop and practice good, godly habits,

Paul in Ephesians 5:8 describes as WALKING AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT.

Walking as children of light has to do with our RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE

WHO ARE STILL IN DARKNESS.

Those who are still in darkness are the ones who have not been born again or

who are born again and have made the decision, have chosen to live in the

kingdom of darkness serving sin and thus Satan, instead of serving their

Father God.

Now our relationship - that is the relationship of those who have through faith

received Jesus Christ as their Savior and have decided to follow Jesus,

making Him the Lord of their life - is described in Ephesians 5:11 as one of

having NO FELLOWSHIP. Here then we have A RELATIONSHIP OF

SEPARATION

In this lesson we want to talk about:

� the PRINCIPLE of separation

� the PURPOSE of separation

� an EXAMPLE of separation

� THREE AREAS of separation for the child of God

 

THE PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION is given in Genesis 2:24,

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall

cleave unto his wife: and they shall he one flesh."

The primary application of this passage has to do with the marriage of a man and a

woman. However Paul in Ephesians 6:31 quotes this passage from Genesis chapter 2

and in verse 32 applies it to our relationship with Christ. He says,

"This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the

church."

With this understanding the separation from your father's house would then refer to

the house of darkness into which you were physically born and lived until you were

translated into the Kingdom of Light by the new birth in Jesus Christ. Thus because

you became one flesh with Jesus in the new birth you are to separate yourself from

your former life-style, your former father, the devil, from his house and those that are

his.

This separation is necessary because you no longer related to them. You are

a child of God. They are the children of Satan. You are now in the kingdom of

light. They are in the kingdom of darkness, which is ruled by the Devil. Your

attitudes are not their attitudes. Your thoughts are not their thoughts. Your

ways are not their ways. There is no plane of agreement between you and

them. Therefore there is no RELATIONSHIP. Amos 3:3 puts it this way,

"Can two WALK together, except they agree."

In 2 Corinthians 6:14 our Father God tells us,

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers . . ."

Then He says in verse 17, ". . . come out from among them, and be ye

separate . . ."

 

THE PURPOSE OF SEPARATION we see stated in 1

Chronicles 23:13,

"The sons of Anram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was SEPARATED,

That he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to

burn incense before the Lord. to minister unto Him, and to bless in His

name for ever."

Aaron and his sons were separated to be priests before God for ever.

1 Peter 2:9 says that we who are the children of God are a royal priesthood.

We have been sanctified (set apart for God) and are being sanctified -

separated from the people unto God - as priests forever. Why are we

sanctified and separated unto God? In order that we might "burn incense" that

is be intercessors for the people; that we might "minister unto Him" by

serving one another in love; that we might "bless in His Name" (bless and

be a blessing to) our brothers and sisters and those in the world of

darkness with whom we have contact.

 

AN EXAMPLE OF SEPARATION AS SEEN IN ABRAHAM

In Genesis 11:27 - 13:18 we see God calling Abram to separate himself from

his father's house.

Verses 27-30 is introductory to what is about to take place. In verse 31 we see

Terah, Abram's father, leaving the place of his birth to go into the land of

Canaan - is the land of promise, and represents to us the place of rest.

We note that Terah began this journey to the promise land but that he stopped

in Haran and never resumed his journey to the promise land. He died in Haran

(vs. 31).

Like Terah, there are many children of God who begin the journey to the

promise land, to that place of rest, the abundant life in Jesus which our Father

has for us, BUT, who, also, like Terab stop before they reach that place of

rest. The reasons are varied and many, but the point is, they miss out on

God's abundant blessings for them because they do not continue the journey

with God.

Now in chapter 12, verse 1 we read that God spoke to Abram saying,

"Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from THY

FATHER'S HOUSE, unto a land that I will show thee. And I will

make of thee a great nation, and I WILL BLESS THEE. and make

thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing."

In verse 4 we are told that Abram departed Haran according to the word of the Lord,

BUT, "LOT WENT WITH HIM." We see there was not that complete separation

from his old relationships. God had said, leave your country, leave your relatives and

your father's house, but Lot went with him.

As we continue the story of Abram we see that he didn't prosper even though

he built an altar and began to worship the Lord. Famine came upon the land,

so he goes down toEgypt. Fear came upon him, so he passes his wife off as

his sister. He got into trouble with the Pharaoh of Egypt because of this lie and

is told to leave.

In Chapter 13 verse 1.

"Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife. and all that he had,

AND LOT WENT WITH HIM."

Egypt through out the Bible represents the world with Satan as the ruler. So Abram

went up out of Egypt, BUT HE IS STILL HANGING ON TO LOT (Lot represents

that old way of thinking, old way of doing, old relationships).

Verses 3 and 4 shows us that Abram once again is looking to God. He is back

at the beginning and . . . there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

Verses 5, 7 "And LOT also, went with Him . . . and there was a STRIFE . . ."

 

As long as Lot was with Abram there was trouble for Him. God was not

able to bless Abram as He so desired as long as he was holding on to Lot. It

was only,

"after that Lot was separated from him"; that Gcd said to him, "Lift

up now thine eyes. and look from the place where thou art

northward. and southward and eastward, and westward: for all the

land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man

can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be

numbered." (verses 14-16).

Like Abraham you will not be able to move into the full, abundant blessing of your

Father God until there has been a separation from the world, and the ways of the

world. Your relationship to the world and those in the world is to be a

RELATIONSHIP OF SEPARATION. There will be an association with the world

and contact with those in the world but we are not related to them.

THREE AREAS OF SEPARATION FOR THE CHILD OF

GOD.

1. THE FIRST AREA OF SEPARATION is seen in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Verse 14 says,

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what

fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what

communion hath light with darkness?"

Then in verse 14 still speaking concerning UNBELIEVERS we read,

". . . come from among them, and be ye SEPARATE. saith the

Lord . . ."

Although we will have contact and even be associated with unbelievers in our daily

lives at work, in family gatherings and etc., our relationship with them is to be one of

separation.

Amos 3:3 says, "Can two walk together, except they agree?"

2. THE SECOND AREA OF SEPARATION we see in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.

Reading from verse 13,

". . . if any man that is called a BROTHER (one who has been born again)

be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or

an extortioner; WITH SUCH AN ONE NO NOT TO EAT."

Now in verse 17, we read,

"Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

THEREFORE, not only are we to be separated from unbelievers but we are also to

separate from one who is a brother or sister in the Lord, but who is living in open

sin and rebellion.

3. THE THIRD AREA OF SEPARATION we see in Romans 16:17,

"Now I beseech you, brethern, MARK them which cause divisions

and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and

AVOID THEM."

We then are to separate ourselves, avoid, those who are teaching contrary to the

clear word of God. They are wolves in sheep's clothing and bring confusion and teach

false doctrine for the purpose of deceiving God's children. The word says to MARK

THEM AND AVOID THEM. We are to separate ourselves from the world of

darkness and it's ways. The Apostle Paul in Romans 12:2 tells us,

". . . be NOT CONFORMED to this world . . ."

This HABIT of being separated from unbelievers, brothers and sisters living in sin,

and those teaching contrary to the word, is one which we need to develop and put into

practice if we are going to successfully PUT ON THE NEW MAN and WALK AS

CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT.

DEVELOPING GODLY HABITS - PART 4

THE FINAL STEP in Putting on the New Man, Paul in Ephesians 5:15 describes

as WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY. He says,

"See then that ye WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY, not as fools, but as

wise . . ."

To walk circumspectly means to walk carefully. Psalms 119:105 say,

"The word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

We are to let the Word of God reveal to us the specific details of our walk, our living

as children of God, and then we are to give careful attention to those details.

Therefore WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY (CAREFULLY) has then to do

with GIVING ATTENTION to the DETAILS of our Christian Walk, our

lifestyle.

Since our Father God is concerned about the details of our walk He follows up

the instructions to walk carefully with the details to which He would have us

give careful attention in our lives. Thus in the remaining verses of Ephesians

chapter five and through verse eighteen of chapter six He outlines for us

seven specific areas of our life about which we are to give careful

attention.

1. In verse 17 He says, UNDERSTAND THE WILL OF GOD.

2. In verse 18 we are to BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.

3. Verse 19 speaks about GETTING THE RIGHT THINGS DOWN IN YOUR

HEART.

4. Verse 20 says, GIVE THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS.

5. Verse 21 speaks of SUBMITTING YOURSELVES TO ONE ANOTHER.

6. Verses 22-6:9 gives DETAILS CONCERNING RELATIONSHIPS.

o wives to husbands

o husbands to wives

o children to parents

o fathers to children

o employees to employers

o employers to employees

7. Verse 10, chapter 6 tells us to BE STRONG IN THE LORD.

o verses 11-18, Shows us why we need to be strong in the Lord and how

to be strong in the Lord.

HERE THEN ARE SEVEN AREAS OF OUR CHRISTIAN WALK TO WHICH

WE ARE TO GIVE CAREFUL ATTENTION. LET US NOW LOOK AT EACH

ONE MORE CLOSELY.

1. FIRSTLY, we are to have UNDERSTANDING as to what the will of

God is for us. We are not just to know His will for us BUT, we are also to

having understanding concerning His will. Of course understanding

must start with knowledge. Do you know the will of God for you? If you

don't there is no way you can understand.

Simply, God's will for you is that you be conformed to the image of

Jesus Christ so that He will not only have His Son Jesus to give Him

pleasure and joy but He will have many more just like Jesus. Romans

8:29.

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be

conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren."

We are to know and understand that we are being transformed into the image of

Christ. If we understand this, then, we know whatever is going on in our lives,

good or bad, that our Father is using these circumstances and situations, even

permitting them, to bring about this TRANSFORMATION.

If we understand this we can then rest in total and complete confidence

and trust that our Father God is in control, That He loves us. That He

knows what is best for us. And that He will give us the grace and

strength to get through it. In fact, to more than just get through problems

and adverse circumstances. He will give us the grace to say with the

Apostle Paul, "none of these things move me." Amen. Thus we will be

able to rejoice and have joy in the midst of the stormy trials of live. In

fact we will be able to say when the going gets hard. "Lord, turn up the

fire, because I want to be more like Jesus."

That's all well and good, but does it mean that in our every day life and

activities that we are left to do what we think is right? NO! For not only

has our Father God revealed His will, His goal for our lives and is in fact

accomplishing it in us, But, He also has clearly given us His will for our

day to day activities.

We see this will of God expressed in His commandments. Therefore

God's commandments are to be the guide for our day to day activities.

Now Paul in Galatians 5:14 gives us UNDERSTANDING concerning the

how of letting God's commandments direct our lives - instead of them

burdening us down with a bunch of rules and regulations, of do's and

don'ts. We are to UNDERSTAND that love "is the fulfillment of all the

commandants. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou

shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

When we understand this, it truly simplifies our lives. For we know and

understand that when all the activities of our lives, of our calling are

governed by being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to those with

whom we are placed in contact, that we are walking in love. Since love is

fulfilling the Law we them are being led by the will of God.

2. SECONDLY we are to give careful attention is to OUR

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. Ephesians 5:18 says, "...be

filled with the Spirit." Luke 11:la tells us that the Father will give the Holy

Spirit to them that ask him, We understand by this that our Father wants

us to have the fullness of the Holy Spirit operating in our lives and He

will give Him to those who ask for this precious gift.

Now it you do not have the gift of the Holy Spirit, better know as being

baptized with the Holy Spirit, this is a detail to which you need to give

special attention. [For information about the Baptism with the Holy Spirit,

refer back to lesson 14 in the Foundation Series.]

If you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit you need to give careful

attention to not grieving Him or quenching His operating freely in your

life. You need to daily ask the Father to fill you to overflowing with the

Holy Spirit.

3. THIRDLY, Ephesians 5:19 says, "Speaking to yourselves in

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in

your heart to the Lord." There are many applications which could be

made from this verse, BUT the one thing the Lord is saying to us

concerning this Scripture, the thing He wants us to give careful attention

to is simply this: WE ARE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE ARE

PUTTING INTO OUR HEARTS,

". . . .for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

Much to often we are very careless about what comes out of our mouths.

Therefore, if we are speaking to ourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs

and the melody in our heart is to the Lord, then that, which comes out of our

mouths will be edifying to us and those around us and our Father will be

glorified. Because, in this way we are filling our hearts with the things of God,

Amen.

4. FOURTHLY, we are to be careful in our THANKSGIVING.

Ephesians 5:20 puts it this way, "Giving thanks ALWAYS FOR ALL

THINGS unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Concerning this 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "IN EVERY THING give

THANKS: for this is the will of sad in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Thus we learn that the details of thanksgiving to which we are to

carefully do is to always give thanks to our Father God in and for ALL

THINGS.

If you can not thank your Father regardless of what the circumstances

may be - especially the bad - then you are blaming Him. And you do not

understand the will of your Father God. THANKSGIVING IS THE

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.

5. THE FIFTH area of our walk as children of God to which we are

to carefully give attention has to do with SUBMISSION. Ephesians 5:21

says, "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

SUBMISSION TO ONE ANOTHER has to do with how we see ourselves

relative to our brothers and sisters in the Lord, The Greek word

translated submitting means to rank under. Practically applying this in

our relationship with one another means, that we consider our brothers

and sisters and their needs before we give consideration to ourselves

and our needs.

Galatians 5:13, ". . . by love serve one another."

6. SIXTHLY. Ephesians 5:22-6:9 lists SIX RELATIONSHIPS AND

GIVES SPECIFIC DETAILS FOR THE GOVERNING OF THEM. [Refer to the

Bible Study entitled Higher Powers (Authorities) - Part 4-

"http://bibleinst.com/BibleSchool/POWERS.htm"]

� Relationship of a WIFE TO HER HUSBAND. Ephesians 5:22, "Wives,

SUBMIT yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." The wife

is to find her place under the headship and covering of her husband as a

helpmate.[Refer to lesson 27 and 49 in The Foundation Series.]

� Relationship of a HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE. Ephesians 5:23;25, "...the

husband is the head of the wife . . . Husbands, LOVE your wives, even as

Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it." We would also note

concerning the relationship of husbands to their wives, that since they are

the head of the wife this places them in the position of serving their wives

and DOES NOT place them in a position of being served. Matthew 20:21,

here Jesus says, "And whosoever will be chief (head) among you, let him

be your SERVANT." This applies in the relationship of a husband to his

wife.

� Relationship of CHILDREN TO PARENTS. Ephesians 6:1-3. "Children,

OBEY your parents in the Lord: for this is right. HONOR thy father and

mother . . ." Children who CAREFULLY give attention to obeying and

honoring their parents will be blessed with a long abundant life.

� Relationship of FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN. Ephesians 6:4,

"...fathers, provoke not your children to wrath (don't be too soft nor too

harsh in your relationship with your children, BUT love them - don't be

afraid to use the rod of correction BUT use it in love): but bring them up

in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

o Fathers teach your children both by example and through the

Word the ways of your Father God. Teach them and encourage

them to PUT ON THE NEW MAN WHICH IS CREATED IN

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS.

o Fathers this is your responsibility not your wife's. You are the

head, she is a helpmate, a partner but you are to take the

responsibility and lead in the bringing up of your children.

o [Refer to Bible Study Training up Children

"http://bibleinst.com/BibleSchool/PARENT.htm"

� Relationship of EMPLOYEES TO EMPLOYERS. Ephesians 6:5,

"Servants. be obedient to them . . . as unto Christ . . . Not with eye-service,

as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the WILL of God

from the heart. Employees are to give a day's work for a day's pay without

grumbling and complaining. Doing what their employer says to do the way

he tells them to do it.

� Relationship of EMPLOYERS TO EMPLOYEES. Ephesians 6:9, " And,

ye masters (employers), do the same things unto them, forbearing

threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven . . ." Employers

are to give their employees a fair and substantial days pay for a days

work, RESPECTING THEM AND THEIR NEEDS.

7. THE SEVENTH AREA of walking circumspectly we see in

Ephesians 6:10, "Finally, my brethern, BE STRONG in the Lord, and in the

POWER of His might."

To be strong in the Lord means that we must realize and be conscious of

the fact that we are nothing without Jesus, and that we can do nothing of

ourselves. That we are weak and helpless and that if our Father was not

watching over us and caring for us that we would perish.

Thus to be strong in the Lord is to know and understand that we go in

the power of His might. In His strength, not in our strength.

2 Corinthians 13:4, " For though he was crucified through

weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak

in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward

you."

Therefore, "Put on the whole amour of God, that ye my be able to stand against

the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11.

If we are careless about going in God's strength and power; if we do not

put on the armour of God which God in His grace has given us; we will

not be able to stand when Satan comes against us with his schemes to

entrap us.

Let us, therefore, give special attention to the details concerning the

armour our Father has given us and carefully put on all this armour and

leave it on.

Ephesians 6:14-18, "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about

with TRUTH, and having on the breastplate of

RIGHTEOUSNESS: and your feet shod with the preparation of the

GOSPEL OF PEACE: above all, taking the shield of FAITH,

wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the

wicked. And take the HELMET OF SALVATION, and the

SWORD of the spirit, which is the WORD of God. PRAYING

always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching

there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

If you are going to put on the new man and walk in righteousness and true

holiness before your Father and enjoy the abundant life of health and prosperity

which He desires for you, then you must learn the godly habit of walking

circumspectly, CAREFULLY, PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS OF

YOUR LIFE, ACTIVITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS AS GOD'S VERY OWN

DEAR CHILDREN.

 

For more info. Please contact C.R.P.M.I. Zwolle,

Dollard 241, 8032 KG Zwolle, Netherlands.

Tel. +31(0)384540970 Cell. +31(0)627281512 

E-mail: crpmi@bornagain.com