Ephesians 5

Spirits of the City by Floyd McClung (former international director of YWAM), P. 104 “Ephesus was the most important city in the Roman province of Asia, and was shaken by a movement to Christ among the religious power brokers”.

1. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Matthew 18:3 - "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:14 -But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;

4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Chapter 3 and 4 spoke of this, too. God / Paul is trying to make sure we get his point.

5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

This is serious, since he mentions the wrath of God. I wonder about judgment on the US (hurricanes, etc.).

7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;

8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Matthew 18: 15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. (Deuteronomy 19:15) One of the wisest things I’ve been told is praise in public, critique in private.17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

11 Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Remember Robin Williams in Dead Poet’s Society standing on chair, Carpe Diem, Seize the Day.

17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

19 speaking to one another in psalms – (psalmos) a striking, twanging of a striking the chords of a musical instrument of a pious song, a psalm and

hymns – (humnos) a song in tithe praise of gods, heroes, conquerors a sacred song

and spiritual (pneumatikos) relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ that which possesses the nature of the rational soul belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God belonging to the Divine Spirit of God the Holy Spirit one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind, blowing

songs, (ode) singing (ado) to the praise of anyone, to sing

and making melody (psallo) to pluck off, pull out to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc. to sing to the music of the harp in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song with your heart to the Lord;

20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;