Ephesians 6:1-9

I. INTRODUCTION

A. In the last 2 studies, we discovered what the Lord expects from a Christian wife and a Christian husband.

1. In this whole 6-part study on Christian Behavior, we have learned the practical side of being "in the world but not of the world."

2. As Christians, we are supposed to be "positively" different than the world!

a) A Christian husband and wife are supposed to treat each other differently that than their secular counter-parts.

b) In tonight's study, we will see that even Chistian children are supposed to be different.

(1) There is a certain "Christian Behavior" that the Lord expects out of them.

c) And lastly, the same applies to Christian employers and employees.

d) Let's take a look.

II. TEXT

A. Ephesians 6:1-3 (NKJV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:

3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

A child is a curly, dimpled lunatic. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Children in a family are like flowers in a bouquet: there's always one determined to face in an opposite direction from the way the arranger desires. --Marcelene Cox

1. BDB/Thayers # 5219hupakouo hoop-ak-oo'-o =be obedient to, to submit to, to listen to as one who upon the knock at the door comes to listen who it is.

2. This comes from the great Apostle Paul, writer of most of the New Testament, and he uses as his reference to validate this statement the 6th of the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20:12

3. In speaking about wisdom Proverbs 3:16 says the Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor.

a) Here's the point:a young person who is smart enough to realize that the Lord had place mom and dad in their life for a reason, will escape many of life's trials and hardships!

b) If we would only listen, when we are young, and learn from mom and dad's mistakes, we would not have to make them ourselves!

c) And from this acquired wisdom, our life would be much richer and easier!

d) It may be hard to believe, but most parents want the best for their children.

(1) These 3 verses are simply saying that a Christian young person, should trust the Lord to work through their parents for their benefit and blessing.

(2) Then Paul turns to Christian fathers, the priest of the home, with a little instruction!

B. Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV) And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

1. The Greek word translated provoke = to exasperate = to enrage = to enflame.

a) In other words, Christian parents are not supposed to pick on their children and make their life unbearable.

(1) For most children they think that means no grounding, no restrictions, or anything that might otherwise keep them from doing whatever they want to do, but that is not what this scripture means at all.

b) A parent is in a child's life for the very purpose of training and admonishing them in the Lord.

(1) That means they, by order of the Lord and this commandment here in Ephesians 6:4, they cannot always give their child everything he/or she wants.

(a) Because, what he/she wants may not lead to Godliness at all!

c) What this verse does means is that parents should not purposely try to discourage their children by picking on them.

2. Please notice that at least in this verse, Paul considers it the father's responsibility to train the children in the Lord.

a) Now that doesn't mean that mom shouldn't participate, or perhaps even be a strong leader in this area, but it does mean that Christian father's are suppose to take a very active role in this training.

(1) The next logical question would be, "How do I do that?"

3. Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (NKJV) "Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

19 "You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

20 "And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,

21 "that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.

a) Notice these verses speak of three methods of teaching our children, and two attitudes from which this teaching must take place!!

(1) First, we must know the ways of the Lord before we can teach them to our children!

(2) Second, these things need to be a part and practice of our lives, not just something we want our children to live by!!

(a) Otherwise it becomes a, "Don't do as I do, do as I say!"And all of us hate that.

Children learn more out of the classroom than in it. Indeed, they should bear down on their textbooks, but what they pick up by watching us oldsters and what they glean by the wayside May mean more than what they cram in class.-Havner

As young Johnny reached for the phone one Saturday, his dad sighed through his teeth; "If it's the guy from the office, tell him I'm not home." That evening the family went out for dinner. Before leaving the restaurant, Johnny's dad looked at the check and mentioned that the waitress had undercharged them. "That's their tough luck," mumbled his mom. On the way home, they joked about the box that dad had bought for the dashboard of the car. He called it the "fuzz buster" and bragged that it had already paid for itself when considering the speeding tickets he might otherwise had received. Later that night, as Johnny finished his Sunday School lesson, he thanked the Lord that it had been a good Saturday, much better than last weekend! Last Saturday his parents had grounded him for cheating on his math test!!!! --Green

b) The "methods" described here in Deuteronomy 11:18-21, have more to do with frequency and opportunity than with technique.

(1) First: "When you are sitting in your home."

(a) Hopefully that is often!

(2) Second: when your are out any where taking a walk.

(3) And thirdly: when you go to bed, and rise in the morning!

(a) Nigh time prayer and storytelling is a wonderful way to teach children about the Lord!

(b) Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

(i) According to his "bent"!!

c) Now Paul turns his attention to Salves and Master, which in today's world translate to employers and employees.

III. EMPLOYEES

Two neighbor ladies were talking over the back fence and one said, "I understand your husband finally found a job." "Yes," said his wife. "It's hard work and he says it is killing him. But thank God, it's permanent."

A. Ephesians 6:5-8 (NKJV) Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,

8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether [he] [is] a slave or free.

Employees in a Detroit business office found the following notice on the bulletin board: "The management regrets that it has come to their attention that workers dying on the job are failing to fall down. This practice must stop, as it become impossible to distinguish between death and the natural movement of the staff. Any employee found dead in the upright position will be dropped from the payroll."

1. It is interesting that the word "obedient" in verse 5, is the same Greek word used for the Children in verse 1 "obey your parents, for this is right."

a) Adults are supposed to give their employers the same respect that they want their children to have for them!

(1) Not always questioning every decision they make, or resisting every change in the company, but just doing what they are asked, and trusting the Lord for the rest!

(2) And just like we do not want our children obeying with resentment, Paul admonishes adult workers to respect their employers with "sincerity of heart."

(3) He goes on to say, that as Christians we should not just work while we are being watched (eye service), as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

(a) Because, like the Kosher Hot Dogs, a Christian answers to a much higher call.

(i) He is really working for the Lord!

(4) Then in verse 8 we are reminded of the principle of "sowing and reaping".

(a) If you are an employee of honor and integrity, although some employers may not appreciate you, the does and will ultimately honor you for your Christ-like work ethic.

IV. EMPLOYERS

A. Ephesians 6:9 (NKJV) And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

1. As a Christian, the Lord requires the same work ethic from the employer as the employee.

2. They are to treat their employees with respect and appreciation.

3. And above all, they are expected to keep their word and promises, and not play politics, because there is no partiality with the Lord!

V. CONCLUSION

A. At times, raising children, and working for a living seems hopeless!

1. We must remember, that at a time when Pharaoh was drowning babies, Moses, the savior of his people, was born!

2. At a time when Jewish children were born in the slavery of Babylon, some godly parents raised a young man like Daniel who made a stand for God!!

3. When Herod was murdering all the male children, God's own Son, and Savior of the world was born!!

a) No matter how tough the world gets, we can still raise Godly kids with HIS help!!

b) No matter how mundane work seems to be, we can still do it "As unto the Lord", to glorify HIM!