Ephesian 5:1-15, Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When you look at Christians today, it may be hard for some to find true imitators of Christ. What is stated in Ephesians, is a far cry of how many Christians live out their lives today. Jesus always spoke about doing the will of the Father that sent him. The will of the Father starts with repentance leading to a holy life. In Leviticus 19:2, God said to Moses “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” In 1 Peter 1:13-16, Peter repeats Leviticus, 13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
The church today has conformed so much to worldly ways that you cannot distinguish it from the world. Social drinking is acceptable, because people still hang out in bars. Dressing like the world is okay. Our women dress like whores…. in church. We are tattooed from head to toe. We listen to worldly music. We watch ungodly movies and television shows. We love money. The list goes on. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I guess it’s a duck isn’t it? Demons know Jesus too.
The stench of the world system can only be washed off by the Blood of Jesus. The Blood’s power comes through repentance and a holy life. The church is dirty today, it won’t let the Blood of Jesus cleanse it. It prefers to allow the world to impress it’s people because it doesn’t want to lose tithing members if they preach repentance. Or church leaders who have a heart for people, do not walk in the power of God and attempt to use “words”, technology, professional sounding music, and programs to bring in and retain people in their churches.
Why? The church does not have the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit anymore. The Spirit of God when left to do His will, leads people to repentance. His people walk in His power with freedom of not having to live an ungodly lifestyle. No Spirit, no power, no repentance, no change. Guess we need the Holy Spirit back into the church again. What do you think?
