(Eph 5:6) “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (7)  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”  The life of the Saved is to be governed by the desires of God as revealed in His Word, the Bible. The world ultimately does not care what the Lord thinks – their desires come first. They will excuse themselves in their heart for their disobedience, even to the point of saying God understands. He does not. Disobedience is just that. Do not be partakers with them.   

 (Eph 5:6) “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”The wrath of God upon the “children of disobedience”, those who have not repented of their sin and been born spiritually of God as His Child. Wrath – something not mentioned to the unsaved lest we offend. We think giving them the “sugar” of the gospel (the love of Christ) a greater draw to him than the “vinegar” (the wrath of God – an eternal punishment of hell fire). This is because we think more highly of the nature of man than God does. Man loves self. He needs to be fully aware of what awaits him as surely as the sun coming up this morning. Be honest with the message, allowing him a chance to react rightly and be saved!

(Eph 5:6) “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”Vain words are simply those which stand against the revealed Word of God. This world’s religion says, “You can have your cake and eat it too, for the Lord loves you.” In other words, it says you can continue to live in your sin, for the Lord just wants you, He loves you so much. No! It is we who need Him, not the other way around. He loves us, yes; but our sin separates us from God. God literally hates that sin and says the wrath of God abides on the unrepentant. Our sins crucified His Son. No right thinking person could possibly believe the Father of Jesus would say, “Go ahead in your sin and I’ll accept you anyway.” Reject that which does not agree with God’s Holy Word. 

WATER  (Eph 5:5) “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Remember the context, this is not how a Born Again Child of God is to think or act. Thus, it is speaking of the unsaved. You and I, when such thoughts or temptations come our way, are to ask forgiveness and help of the Holy Spirit to overcome the base desires of the Old Man, our old nature. God help us to seek to please and honor the Lord every moment of our life.

 (Eph 5:4 “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”  Here the focus seems to be on verbiage.  We have so much to be thankful for! I wonder if we do not rob God by not sharing with others what the Lord has done for us. I’m not referring to bragging or boasting, but thankful giving of praise to the Lord! Do we have to wait for the preacher to ask, “Does anybody have something they would like to praise the Lord about?”   

(Eph 5:3) “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”   Yesterday I addressed the reputation of our Beloved Savior. Today I wish to address our own reputation. There is a union of believers in the local New Testament Church, so much as when one is not there it hurts us spiritually (1 Cor. 12). Here we are told to not let such vileness be once named among us. Why not? It also affects our reputation! The Church is not a “name” nor a building, but people saved and serving the Lord. Hurt its reputation and you hurt all the brothers and sisters there! ?  

(Eph 5:3) “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”  It should grieve us when those who profess to love the Lord put themselves first in such manner as listed here! The Name of the Lord Jesus is blasphemed through us, as written: (Rom 2:23) “Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? (24) For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”  I wonder why it is that we are not as grieved over such things as we would be if the person’s reputation nearest us was so ruined?

(Eph 5:1) “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (2)  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”   This says our act of loving others through the Spirit of God is a sweet-smelling savour to God. Our Lord’ love is not just on our behalf, bearing our individual sins, but also for that person you are directing His love towards. God help me to love in this way!  

(Eph 5:1) “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (2)  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”  I wonder if we seek to walk in love all the time, or only when we meet up with a brother or sister from the church. Love is to be our way of life. We are to be loving towards even the lost out there, no matter if they are someone we have targeted for presenting the gospel or not. Love is not God’s love if it does not focus on all. 

 (Eph 5:1) “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;”  It is a fact that subconsciously ever child needs the praise of their parent. The father sets the standard before his son of what a man should be. When I was a child, I wanted to be manly like my dad. As God’s child, I want to be like my Father. I want His approval. I want to please Him! Just as our earthly fathers and mothers gave us examples to follow in their actions, we have both the actions and the written decrees in our Bibles to learn and follow. Are you a student of the Word, a follower of your Father?