Ephesians 6:9

 

Ephesians 6:9

Ethics of Leadership

Eph 6:9  And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. 

        1.     4 Ways a Master Can Honor the Name of Jesus?

a.      He should follow the same commands given to the servant

                                               i.     Masters are to obey Jesus above all

1.     All Christians are to be slaves of God

a.      Ephesians 5:21; Romans 6:22; Philemon 1:16 

                                             ii.     Masters should work hard even when no one is watching

                                            iii.     Masters should not be a manpleaser

                                            iv.     Masters should work as if he is working for Jesus Himself

                                              v.     Masters should work out the will of God with passion

                                            vi.     Masters should be thorough in completing his tasks remembering that God is always watching

                                           vii.     Masters should remember that God always rewards a faithful servant

1.     Matthew 25:21 

b.     He should not threaten his servants

                                               i.     Masters should not put down their servants - James 2:8-9 

                                             ii.     Masters should not bully their servants with profanities or abusive language

1.     Acts 9:1 

                                            iii.     Masters should be just and equitable to their servants - Luke 12:42-48 

c.      He must remember that he will answer for his leadership to his own Master in Heaven

                                               i.     Masters will someday give an account for their actions here on this earth

1.     2 Corinthians 5:9-10 

                                             ii.     Masters will someday occupy the same heaven as their servants, in perfect equality

1.     Philippians 3:20 

d.     He must remember that God is not a respecter of persons

                                               i.     God does not care about your temporary superiority over others

1.     Romans 2:11 

                                             ii.     God does not care about your economic superiority - Matthew 19:24 

                                            iii.     God does not care about your physical superiority - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 

                                            iv.     God does not care about your social superiority - Colossians 4:1 

                                              v.     God does not care about your racial superiority - Colossians 3:11 

                                            vi.     God does not care about your sexual superiority - Galatians 3:28 

How to be a Christian Man of Character | Paul Washer

The Lord knows we need more men like this. The Lord also knows how far I have to go to become this kind of man.

Ephesians 6:6-8

 

Ephesians 6:6-8

The Ethics of Servitude

 

Eph 6:6  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 

Eph 6:7  With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 

Eph 6:8  Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 

1.     6 Ways a Servant Can Honor the Name of Jesus:

a.     He should work hard even when no one is watching – 6a*

                                               i.     Philippians 2:12 

b.     He should not be a manpleaser – 6b*

                                               i.     Matthew 6:1-5 

c.     He should work as if he is working for Jesus Himself – 6c*

                                               i.     1 Thessalonians 2:4 

d.     He should work out the will of God with passion – 6d*

                                               i.     1 Corinthians 10:31 

e.     He should be thorough in completing his tasks remembering that God is always watching – vs. 7*

                                               i.     Colossians 3:22 

1.     Be timely; Be honest; Be trustworthy; Be ready to learn; Take initiative; Be communicative; Be flexible; Be a team player; Be reliable; Be respectful

f.      He should remember that God always rewards a faithful servant – vs. 8*

                                               i.     No matter how small or seemingly meaningless the task, when we do it for God’s glory, it will be rewarded in heaven.

1.     Matthew 25:14-30 

                                             ii.     God is not a respecter of persons; He will reward a faithful servant no matter what his social standing is.

1.     Luke 14:12-14 

2.     Galatians 3:28-29 

Ephesians 6:5

 

Ephesians 6:5

Slaves are to Make the Best of Difficult Circumstances

Eph 6:5  Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;   

            1.     Slaves

a.      Does the Bible condone slavery?

                                               i.     In the times of the NT, slavery was a universally accepted practice, almost all the people Paul mentions in his letter to Rome were slaves.

1.     Romans 16:8-10 

                                             ii.     Yet this was not God’s plan for his people; in the OT we find strict prohibitions hindering the practice of slavery.

1.     The Jews were to harbor escaped slaves - Deuteronomy 23:15-16 

2.     Manstealing was a capital offence - Exodus 21:16 

3.     All men are created in the likeness of God and are therefore equal

a.      Genesis 1:26-27 

4.     Love is the summary of the OT law - Romans 13:10 

5.     Paul specifically condemns the practice of manstealing in his list of particularly heinous violations of God’s law.

a.      1 Timothy 1:7-11 

           2.     Should be Obedient to their Masters - 1 Peter 2:13-18 

a.      Yet masters must remember they will have to answer to their own Master for the treatment of their slaves

                                               i.     Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1 

           3.     According to the Flesh

a.      This provision is unique among Paul’s imperatives regarding submission; it makes it clear that a master may have temporary control over the body of his slave but has no control over his conscience.

                                               i.     Philemon 1:15-18 

          4.     With Fear and Trembling - Titus 2:9-10 

          5.     With a Sincere Heart - Colossians 3:22 

          6.     As Unto Christ

a.      The golden rule makes no allowance for slavery - Matthew 7:12 

b.     Every Christian has been bought with a price - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

c.      This includes the slave

                                               i.     1 Corinthians 7:20-24; Galatians 3:28 

d.     What was the price? - Ephesians 1:7 

Ephesians 6:4

 

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers are to Raise Up Godly Children

Eph 6:4  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 

          1.     Fathers are to:

a.      Why is Paul primarily directing this instruction to the fathers?

                                               i.     Because God is the ultimate example of a Father - Romans 8:14-17 

                                             ii.     Not because mothers are not to be involved

1.     Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 6:20; 2 Timothy 1:5 

                                            iii.     Because fathers are to be the head of the home - Ephesians 5:23 

b.     Not provoke their children

                                               i.     Fathers must never abuse their children physically, emotionally or spiritually

c.      Nurture their children

                                               i.     Fathers need to be caring for the physical wellbeing of their children

1.     Ephesians 5:29 

                                             ii.     Fathers need to have compassion on their children’s weaknesses

1.     Psalm 103:13-14 

                                            iii.     Fathers need to give generously - Matthew 7:7-11 

d.     Instruct their children

                                               i.     Fathers are primarily responsible for the education of their children

1.     Proverbs 22:6 

                                             ii.     Fathers are to teach their children the scriptures

1.     2 Timothy 3:15-16 

e.      Discipline their children

                                               i.     Fathers are to discipline their children because they love their children

1.     Hebrews 12:6 

                                             ii.     Fathers are to discipline their children quickly - Proverbs 13:24 

                                            iii.     Fathers are to discipline only their own children - Hebrews 12:7-8 

                                            iv.     Fathers are to discipline their children for their benefit - Hebrews 12:9-10 

                                              v.     Fathers are to discipline their children so that they produce peaceable fruits of righteousness

1.     Hebrews 12:11 

f.      In the Lord

                                               i.     Good parents have Jesus living within them - Ephesians 3:17 

                                             ii.     Good parents are renewing their minds regularly - Ephesians 4:23-24 

                                            iii.     Good parents are filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit

1.     Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:22-23 

 

Slavery: Does the Bible Endorse It? | Doug Wilson

Does the Bible condemn slavery?

Why I use the King James Bible

A great explanation for the curious...