Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(Eph 5:12) “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”  We find on television we are daily exposed to  these “things”. We also find the world no longer knows what is proper to speak of in a public setting. As Romans three speaks, “there is no fear of God in their eyes”. Shun such things God’s child, for everything you see and hear stay with you throughout this lifetime. They hinder your walk with your Holy Father.   

(Eph 5:11) “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”  I have no doubt that most of God’s people are shunning the fellowship of ungodly actions. But I don’t see or hear much reproving taking place. Believers have been shamed into silence with words like, “You are being unloving. That is not like Jesus.”  Friends, the Lord Jesus did a lot of reproving. We are to do so in love so I must assume that was how the Lord did it. Yet, reproving doesn’t seem loving to the object of it. All we can do is try the best we can to lovingly obey our Savior!

( Eph 5:9) “(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”  How does this “prove” what is acceptable to the Lord. The Lord blesses the efforts of those who seek to do right to please and glorify Him! The Lord draws witness unto the lost so that He will receive the glory! Our life is to be for His glory. Is yours? 

 (Eph 5:7) “Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (8 ) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (9)  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)”   God’s children deal in truth; that is, if the Holy Spirit is leading them. I qualified that statement, for there are those who refuse to let the Spirit lead them. It truly bothers me when a brother or sister doubts my word. Reason: not pride I hope, but because I do my best to speak the truth. Lies are from the devil and mark his influence upon mankind. Quit trying to excuse yourself for not speaking the truth to someone. In God there is no “shadow of turning” – even a hint of sin – lying.

(Eph 5:7) “Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (8 ) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (9)  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)”   “Righteousness”: doing that which is right to do in the sight of God. This is a step above trying. It is doing righteously. In other words, it is truly allowing the Spirit of God to act through us. It is the putting aside our desires to do whatever, say whatever, even think whatever the Lord would have us. May this be the desire of our own hearts!

(Eph 5:7) “Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (8 ) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (9)  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)”  Here are three things for you and I who are saved are to seek: goodness, righteousness, and truth. We should not only seek to do good, but also to be good at all times. Yes, this world will look at goodness as weakness. That’s ok, for when we are weak, we are strong in the Lord (2 Cor 12:10). So, be like Jesus. He was good and went about doing good (Acts 10:38).  

Eph 5:7) “Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” It sickens my soul when those who profess to know my Savior still walk as if they are darkness. It may be because they are. But if they are not, it means their love is focused on the wrong thing: (James_4:4) “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Where is your focus today?

(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!