A Walk Worthy of Our Calling

Q: What does the Bible say about predestination?

The Bible teaches that God sovereignly predestines individuals for salvation, as seen in Ephesians 1:4-5. Predestination is a biblical doctrine that affirms God's sovereign choice in salvation. Ephesians 1:4-5 clearly states that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. This election is according to the good pleasure of His will, emphasizing that salvation is not based on human merit but entirely on God's sovereign grace. The doctrine of predestination highlights the beauty of God's grace in choosing sinners for His glory and purpose. It assures believers of their secure standing in Christ, knowing that their salvation was predetermined by God's eternal plan and not by their own actions.

Q: How do we know the doctrine of total depravity is true?

Total depravity is supported by Scriptures such as Ephesians 2:1-3, which affirm that all are dead in sin. The doctrine of total depravity asserts that every part of man is affected by sin, rendering us incapable of turning to God without divine intervention. Ephesians 2:1-3 indicates that we were dead in trespasses and sins, identifying our state as one of total spiritual inability. This condition defines humanity as being under God's wrath, illustrating that apart from God's grace in quickening our spirits, we remain incapable of seeking Him or doing good. Total depravity highlights our need for the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit to regenerate us, leading us to faith in Christ.

Q: Why is living a life worthy of the calling important for Christians?

Living worthy of our calling reflects our identity in Christ and promotes unity in the Church. Living a life worthy of our calling is crucial for Christians because it embodies the response to God's grace and calling in our lives. In Ephesians 4:1, Paul implores believers to walk in a manner that reflects humility, patience, and love, showcasing the transformative impact of being chosen by God. This walk not only demonstrates our gratitude for salvation, but it also promotes unity within the Church, encouraging believers to forbear and forgive one another in love. By living in alignment with our calling, we not only honor God, but we also serve as a witness to the world of the power of the gospel.

Q: What does the Bible teach about the roles of husbands and wives?

The Bible teaches that husbands are to love their wives sacrificially, while wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. Ephesians 5:22-33 outlines the biblical roles of husbands and wives within marriage. Husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially, mirroring Christ's love for the Church. This love is characterized by selflessness, care, and the commitment to provide for their wives' emotional and spiritual well-being. Wives are instructed to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord, signifying respect and support for their husband's leadership within the home. This divine order reflects both the relationship between Christ and the Church, emphasizing that a healthy, Christ-centered marriage flourishes when both partners embrace their God-appointed roles.

Q: How can Christians redeem the time in an evil day?

Christians are called to redeem the time by living wisely and fulfilling God's will, as stated in Ephesians 5:15-16. Redeeming the time in an evil day means that Christians must be intentional about how they live, making the most of every opportunity for God’s glory. Ephesians 5:15-16 urges believers to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, recognizing the brief nature of our lives in the midst of evil. This involves discerning the will of God, prioritizing spiritual growth, purposeful engagement in ministry, and living in a way that reflects the character of Christ. Each moment offers a chance to serve others, share the gospel, and edify the Church, emphasizing our responsibility to shine as lights in a dark world.

all of you are quite familiar
with this book. And you know that in the first
three chapters of the book of Ephesians, that the Apostle Paul
deals plainly and clearly with what we call the doctrines of
grace, which we love and treasure and
believe. He talks about our total depravity,
you happy quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. He talks about how we walked
according to the course of this world and were children of wrath
even as others. And then he talks about the sovereign
elective grace of God. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath He blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in the heavenlies, according as He sovereignly,
on purpose, chose us in Christ before the foundation of the
world. He does not apologize. He talks about how we are predestinated. He doesn't stumble over the Word. He uses it twice. He says we're
predestinated to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ according
to the good pleasure of God's will. Just sounds it so clearly
and beautifully, so plainly. And then he talks about effectual
redemption. In whom we have redemption. Not something we earn or merit. It's something we have. The forgiveness
of sins. through his blood, through his
blood. And then he talks about the effectual
calling of the Holy Spirit, the sealing of the Holy Spirit. He
says, in whom you trusted in this Christ. You trusted after
you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
You heard it, not just with these ears, but in the heart. And after
you heard that gospel, revealed by the Holy Spirit, you trusted
Christ. And then you were sealed by that
Holy Spirit of promise. He talks about how our Lord will
keep us under him, under him that's able to do exceedingly,
abundantly, above all that we ask or think, under him who's
able to save to the uttermost, to keep us from falling. to present
us holy, unblameable, unreprovable, before his very glory. Unto him
be glory in the church, world without end. That's what he deals
with in the first three chapters. Now chapter 4. Chapter 4. You see there in chapter 3, verse
21, he winds this thing up unto him. who loved us, who chose
us, who predestinated us to the adoption of children, who redeemed
us, who keeps us under him, be the glory, the praise, the honor
in the Church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages. Well without
end, amen. Now, in the last three chapters,
4, 5, and 6, the Apostle deals with the walk. of the believer. The walk of the believer, chapter
4, verse 1, I therefore now, therefore, because of all of
these rich mercies, I, the prisoner of the Lord, therefore beseech
you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called. With all humility, lowliness,
and meekness, patience, long-suffering, forbearing, forgiving one another,
in love, endeavoring, striving to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace. That's what I'm going to deal
with, Paul said, the walk of the believer. Blessed is the
man whom the Lord chooses, David said, and causes to approach
unto him Blessed is the man to whom God
will not charge iniquity, but to whom he imputed righteousness. Blessed is the man who, like
the tree, is planted by the rivers of living water. Blessed is that
man. And we believe that. We know
he chose us. We know he imputed that righteousness. And we know he's planted us by
the water of life. But we also know that there's
a walk There's a daily walk that the believer has. Now look at
chapter 5, verse 1 and 2. Be ye therefore followers of
God, dear children. Who's he writing to, dear children?
Not writing to the unbelieving rebel, writing to believers. And walk in love. What is this walk? Well, it's
not exercise. You're walking when you're sitting
down. You're walking when you're lying down. This walk we're talking
about is the tenor of the life. It's the direction. It's the
attitude and conduct and conversation daily of every believer. Walk in love as Christ also hath
loved us. That's what Bob was praying a
moment ago. that we love one another as he loved us, that
we forgive one another as he forgave us, and hath given himself
for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling,
savor, fragrance." Now verse 15, he keeps using this word,
walk. These last three chapters, verse
15, chapter 5, see then that you walk. If these things be true of you,
then, see then, if these things be true of you, if you are chosen,
if you are his child, if we are his family, then you walk circumspectly. How? Well, the Amplified version
says, look carefully then how you walk, take heed. to your
daily walk and conduct, walk worthy of your calling. Walk
circumspectly, honestly, in integrity and truth and love. Verse 15,
not like a fool. Don't be a fool. The fashion
of this world fadeth away. Be wise. Don't be a fool. All these things that men reach
far and clamor after and think they have to have is of the world,
and the world fadeth away, the passion of this world fadeth
away. So don't be a fool. They talk
about fool's gold. Don't reach for the fool's gold,
but be wise. And look at verse 16. The time
is short, redeem the time, because the days are short. They quickly pass away, they're
evil days. And so you don't have a whole
lot of time, you have a short time. So use it wisely. Redeem the time. Don't have long
here. And the days are short and the
days are evil, so redeem the time. Just a short time. Wherefore, verse 17, he says,
be ye not unwise now. And we know what he's talking
about. But find out what the will of God is. Understand what
the will of God is. Find the will of God and what
in it. Find the way of God. Find the
will of God. Find that which is pleasing to
the Lord. That which is glorifying to God. That which is good for you and
for the gospel and for the glory of God. Find it. and get in it,
get in it and walk in it. In verse 18, be not drunk with
wine where it is excess. Most everybody here just says,
well, I don't have a problem with that. I don't either. But
there are more excesses than wine. This is just one of the excesses.
Be not drunk with wine which is excess, but there are other
excesses. There are other foolish things
that people get involved in. There are other foolish things
that people give their too much time to. No use me naming them. You know what they are. You can
become too involved in politics. You can become too involved in
television, movies, videos. You can become too involved in
sports and activities. You can become Be not drunk with
wine, wherein is excess. Be not drunk with anything else,
wherein is excess. But be filled with the Spirit.
Give your time and your efforts and your attention and your life
to the things of God, the things which count. That's what that's,
be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, or be not given to
any other excess. You can have a clean excess.
That's right, you can have a wholesome excess, but it's excess if it
takes you away from the things of God, and from your family,
and from your duties, and from your responsibility, and from
the Word of God, and from your studies, and from the fellowship.
It's excess. But be filled with the Spirit.
Then verse 19, speak to yourselves. What's this? This is conversation
among God's people. Speak to yourselves in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing, making melody in your
heart to the Lord. Now, I know that there are other
communications and other things to talk about. I don't believe
the people of God are required to sit around every time they
come together and talk about nothing but the Bible. I know
that. I know you men like to talk about
fishing. I know you like to talk about your jobs, and you like
to encourage and help one another in things concerning your work. I know you ladies like to talk
about your precious children and your grandchildren, and you
like to talk about sports. You like to talk about other
things, and that's wholesome. That's fine. But let's don't
have the excess in that direction. In other words, it can be too
much foolishness. You know what I'm talking about?
of this worldly conversation. We need to help one another,
we need to talk with one another when we get together for an evening
or for an outing or for a vacation or for traveling together or
visiting together. Get some of these things out
of the way and then talk about Christ. Talk about the Word of
God. Talk about the gospel. You understand
what I'm saying? You know and I know that we do
want to, we have things to talk about. You ladies like to share
your cooking, and that must be, it has to be. But let's not be
given to that direction entirely, to foolishness and these things. But let's talk about the word
of God, talk about the scriptures. Speak to yourselves in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing, making melody in your
heart to the Lord. Let your conversation be seasoned
with grace and edify one another. Is that clear what I'm trying
to say? Talk about the things of God.
And then verse 20, giving thanks. Giving thanks always for all
things. All things. I like to hear folks
when something good happens, They don't use it as a, well,
praise the Lord, you know, an off-the-cuff thing that they
use all the time. I like to hear folks, when something
good happens and when anything happens, just say, well, I'm
thankful. I'm grateful. Isn't that a blessing? Give God
the praise. That's what he's saying here,
giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father. and giving that thanks in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ for all things. Be a thankful
people. That's something else you mentioned.
Let's be delivered from murmuring and complaining and finding fault
with the providence of God, but be a thankful people. You're
people with grateful hearts. And then verse 21, now, he says,
Submitting yourselves one to another. in the fear of the Lord. Now, Christ is our sovereign
head. He's our king. We have no king
but Christ. We don't call any man father,
one is our father. We don't call any man master,
one is our master. And you know I noticed something,
I was watching a Catholic program on television a little while
before I came to church. Some of you may have seen this.
And this just occurred to me, I don't know why I hadn't thought
of this before, but this Catholic priest knelt in front of a statue
of Mary. She had the crown on, full-length
statue of Mary. He knelt there, and he said,
Hail Mary, full of grace, pray for us poor sinners. Hail Mary,
mother of God. Blessed art thou among women,
pray for us poor sinners." Mary was never, never has been, is
not, and never will be the mother of God. She was the mother of a man. She is the mother of a man. You
see how ridiculous, absurd that is, mother of God? The Scripture
says even of the God-man, he is without mother or father,
like Melchizedek Mother of God. So we don't call any man father. These fathers are so confused.
They look awful sissy to me. I just, I saw a guy kneeling
and I thought he just looked kind of strange. One's our King, our Master, our
Lord. But you submit yourselves to
one another. There are some duties, and that's
what we're going to deal with. There's a walk. Our Lord delegates
authority. Our Lord delegates authority
and order. There's an order. There are duties
in the church. There are duties in the home.
There are duties on the job. And we're to walk according to
his will. Now, let's look at him for a
few moments. First of all, verse 22. Why? And that's, he's addressing the
ladies, wives. Submit yourselves to your husbands
as unto the Lord. Now this subjection of a wife
to a husband is not just in body, but it's in heart and spirit. It's a willing and loving submission
and a willing, loving subjection. You know, I'm old-fashioned.
I think a woman is special. When you ride down the highway
and see these girls out there flagging cars, I just think,
that's not where she belongs. Women working in the steel mill,
I know equal rights and all this, but I just can't see it. I think
a woman is special. I think she's a gift of God. I think she's a creation of God. a mother, a wife, a homemaker,
the one who holds the home together in love, a tender person, a gracious
person, a special person. I don't want women to be like
men, do you? I don't think a real woman wants
to be like a man. I think the woman really, a real
woman loves to be, don't want to be liberated. They
want to be cared for in tenderness and kindness, and they want to
submit. The happiest woman on this earth
is the woman who is in submission and subjection to her husband,
not just in the marriage ceremony and the word obey, but that's
what she wants to do. She wants to please him. She
thinks well of him, and she respects him, and she speaks respectfully
of him. to him, and she takes care of
matters of the home according to his will. He's her head. He's her head. She wears his
name, and she's proud to do it. And thanks God for the privilege.
And she wants to live within her husband's means, and she
wants to do his will, and she wants to please him and respect
him. Wives, submit yourselves to your
husband as unto the Lord. As unto the Lord. That's what's
said. Like you would be submissive
to the Lord of glory, because actually the husband is God's
authority. When a woman's in rebellion against
a husband, she's in rebellion against God. That's serious,
isn't it? But that's what it says, read
on. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the
head of the church, in the same way. And he's the Savior, the
deliverer of the body. He's the protector. He's the
provider. That's what the husband is. He's
the wife's protector. He seals her. He protects her. He provides for her. He's responsible
for her. When he stands before the preacher
and takes her to be his wife, he says to God and to the preacher,
I'm going to provide for her and protect her and love her
and keep her and meet her needs, and that's what Christ does to
his body. He provides for us, and he's
the deliverer, he's the shield about her. That's his. Therefore, as the church is subject
to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
You see that? I know this generation. He's
trying to change all that. I know they are. They're trying
to change all that. And they're saying that marriage
is 50-50 and all this sort of thing, my duty and your duty
and this sort of thing. But that's not the way of God.
Let's find it in God's word. Genesis chapter 3. Let's turn
over there a minute. Genesis chapter 3. Listen to
what this says. In Genesis 3, verse 16, unto
the woman God said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception. In sorrow thou shalt bring forth
children, and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall
rule over thee. Thy desire shall be subject to
thy husband, and he'll what? He's the head of the house, he's
the boss of authority. God put him there, and he rules. He doesn't rule with a rod of
iron, he rules with a rod of love and tenderness. And also
the church, I know that a lot of churches are putting women
up to deacons and preachers and everything else, but that's not
according to God's word. Look at 1 Corinthians 14, verse
34. What I'm proclaiming is, you
say, well, it's old-fashioned. Yeah, I agree with that. My gospel
is ancient gospel. But it's the same gospel. In
1 Corinthians 14, 34, let your women keep silence in the churches.
It's not permitted for them to teach or to preach or to speak.
They're commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the
law. That's what I just read from the law of God. If they're
learning anything, let them ask their husbands at home. It's
a shame for a woman to preach or teach or usurp authority over
men. Women, they have such a special place.
Only a woman can be a mother. Only a woman can be a wife. Only
a woman can make a home. Only a woman can be as beautiful
as she is. Only a woman, you see, can be
a companion. God ordained it that way. He
gave them such a beautiful, special place. And then to get out of
that place and start usurping authority and trying to be like
a man and teach like a man and behave like a man and take the
place of a man, no, that's not God's way. That's not pretty.
It's not a blessing. Now, turn to 1 Timothy. Let me
show you this again. Chapter 2. 1 Timothy, chapter 2. Verse 11,
1 Timothy 2, 11, and let the woman learn in silence with subjection. I suffer not a woman to teach,
nor to usurp authority over a man, but to be in silence, because
Adam was first born, and then Eve. And Adam was not deceived,
but the woman was deceived in the transgression. Well, that's
God's reason, you see. This is the example. Wives, submit. Be a woman. Be a wife. Be a mother. Be happy with what
God's given you. He's given you some of the greatest
blessings and favors. He's made you a woman. He's made
you a mother. He's made you a wife. He's made
you homemaker, he's made you such a blessing, he's made you
a leader and an inspiration to your children and an example.
And my goodness alive, what greater blessing could a person have
than where God puts you? I'll tell you, they're just special.
And just like the church is subject to Christ and in subjection to
Christ and in submission to Christ, you be that. Glorify God in the
place He's put you. He doesn't say, husbands, don't
argue with your wives over finances. They've got to spend, they've
got things to buy and food. You try to take care of a house
and furnish food and buy clothes and tennis shoes for the children
on $25 a week. It can't be done. He doesn't say, so quit riding
her over these things, quit putting pressure on her, quit arguing
with her. He doesn't say, it just says,
lover. One little four-letter word.
Husband, lover. But that's all God needs to say.
Because I tell you this, this is stale. the key to any relationship
to love her. That's all you have to say, just
love her. God loved us, Christ loved us,
and he loved us when we were unlovely, and he loved us in
spite of our faults. And I'll tell you how much he
loved us. He gave himself for us. You want to know how to make
your wife happy? How to fulfill the duties of
a husband? How to fulfill all the responsibilities? Love her. That's it. Just love her. And all the others
spring from it. If you love her, you'll be kind
to her. If you love her, you'll be tender
to her. If you love her, you'll provide her needs. If you love
her, you'll seek her company. If you love her, you'll remember
the special days if you really do. That's just it. And here's the way, verse 25,
as Christ loved the church. Heard a man say one time about
another man, said, Boy, he loves his wife. I think he loves her
too much. Impossible. Impossible. Because he loves her like Christ
loved the church. No man ever loved his wife too
much. That's exactly right. gave himself
for it, verse 26, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with
a washing of the water by the word, that he might present it
to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, but it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as they love their own bodies.
He that loveth his wife loveth himself. No man ever hated his
own flesh. I tell you, If some fellas would take as
good a care of their wives as they do their bodies, they'd
have a happier home. We spend our time exercising
and all these other things trying to keep this body fit. You know
why? Because you love your bodies.
You go to the barbershop and get real groomed up and shave
and put on shaving lotion, buy the best shirts and ties to look
good. Picks up this old body. Why?
You love it. That's why. You cherish it. Love her that way. Same thing. That's what he said. No man ever
hated his own flesh. But he takes care. He gives it
attention. Pays attention to it. Gives it a lot of care. A
lot of time. We spend a lot of time on this
old flesh. This old carcass. Spend that
time with her. nourish and cherish it, even
as the Lord of the church. For we are members of his body,
of his flesh, of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave
his father and mother." Don't you ever stand against your wife
in defending your mother or father. You stand with her. I tell Bob
that. I tell Becky the same thing.
You stay on his side. If your mother has a conflict
with your husband, you stand by your husband. That's right. If your daddy has a conflict
with your wife, you stand by your wife. You're supposed to
leave your mother and father. I know fellow wives and husbands
who have conflicts over mother-in-laws and father-in-laws. They don't
ought to be. It ought not to be. The mother
and father of a wife or husband hadn't got anything to do with
that home. That's your home. That's your home. They got no
say-so, they got no recommendation, and they got nothing to say about
it. That's your home. And you tell them to bug out.
That's right. And if one of them find fault
with your wife, you say, now if my wife's not welcome here,
I'm not. Because that's my wife. That's me. That wife is me. We're one flesh. That's what
it says here. Look at verse 31. For this cause shall a man leave
his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife. And they're
one flesh. If anybody attacks Ms. Mahan,
they're attacking me. Even if it's my mother and father.
Even if it's my brother or sister. And I'll tell you, this family
business has taken too far. Here's the family right here.
This is the family, those who love God, the family. And I can
do without some of those blood relatives. I can do it without
them full time too. Especially if they got a conflict
with my wife or husband. And that goes for children and
everybody else. Try it, don't... You and your wife are one flesh.
And you stand with her and defend her. If your children don't like
it, you let those children go where they want to. Because you're
one. That's right. That's what this
is talking about. It's a great mystery, but I speak
concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless, let every one of
you in particular so love his wife even as himself. And wives,
reverence, respect. Hold in high regard your dear
husband. He's special. All right. Children. Obey your parents in the Lord.
The word and will, and just like, and you know we've shown this,
the husband is the authority in the home. And in regard to
children, a husband and wife are authorities. And those children
who love God are to be obedient to the word and will of their
parents. Parents are God's authority.
Parents are God's leaders in the home. And this obedience
is to be a willing obedience. Like I said a while ago, why
submit yourself to your husband? That's not in body only, that's
in will and heart. And a child, it's been a long
time since I was a child, but I try to think back when I was
a child. What we've got to establish here
is this pattern, that that child recognizes that he's not an adult,
he's not wise, he's not experienced, left to himself and on his own,
he'd make a mess of his life. And God has given to that child
a father and a mother, a father and a mother who've lived all
these years, who are experienced, who are knowledgeable, not perfectly
by any means, who are authorities in the home. And their word is
the word of God. Their authority is the authority
of God. Their power is the power of God. And when they say to a child,
do this or don't do that, that child is to take that as the
authority of God Almighty. And he's to obey that parent.
Obey their parent in the Lord. This is right, he says. This
is right. This is right. This obedience
is to be a willing, happy, loving experience. Now, notice in verse
1 of chapter 6, Obey your parents in the Lord. Now, I've had people
ask me, I've had wives say, well, my husband's an unbeliever, and
my husband forbids me to come to church and worship God. Am
I to obey him? Obey your husbands in the Lord.
That's very clear. No problem there. And if a young
teenager has a father or mother who tells them they cannot read
the Bible or cannot, well, there's not much of this, but would force
them to drink or something like that, that child has every right
to say, no, no. I respect you and I honor you
and I love you, but I will not do what's against the Word of
God. Okay? That's what that says, obey them
in the Lord. This is right. Now watch this.
Honor your father and mother. Now, this goes beyond obedience. This goes beyond just speaking
well of them. This is to really respect them
and honor them. And you know one of the things
that I would never permit in our home, and I don't think it
should be permitted, And that's children speaking unkindly to,
we used to call it, sassing your parents. That's ungodly. And it should not be permitted. When a child, he may disagree
with what the parent has instructed him to do. But don't dare speak
disrespectfully to your mother or father. God won't tolerate
it. That's the reason he says to
honor them, honor them, respect them. Your mother gave you life
when you were an infant. She cared for you, didn't neglect
you. What you have, your health and
your knowledge and your wonderful life and home, It didn't
just materialize out of the air, you know. That nice house you
live in, your dad secured that for you. The clothes you wear,
your dad gave that to you. The food you eat, your dad and
mother prepared that for you. Isn't that right? And just for
those reasons, they ought to be honored and respected and
spoken to kindly. That's right. And it may be well
with you, I've got to move along. And you may live long on this.
Honor your father and mother. I don't care. And even when you
get older, and your mother and father are old people, honor
them. Honor them. Respect them. Tell them once in a while you
love them. My son Paul and I were playing golf not so awful long
ago. I went over to preach for him. a visit with him a couple of
days. You remember when I went over and preached one Wednesday
night. Well, we went golfing on Tuesday, just he and I. And
he's 34, 35 years old now, and we rode a cart because he had
some kind of foot problem, and he was sitting over here driving,
and I was sitting here, and someone was in front of us holding us
up. So we were sitting there, and I could tell he had something
to say. I didn't know how to say it.
because he kept reaching over and patting me on the shoulder.
And I knew he had something to say, and I just sat there quietly. And finally he said, he said,
Dad, he said, I never have told you very often, but said, I sure
love you. And he said, I'm thankful for
you. And he said, since I've been
a preacher and a pastor for a year and a half, He said, my respect
and esteem for you has climbed an awful lot. How in this world
have you done this for 40 years? I'll never know. I appreciated
that. I appreciated that. That's honor and respect. Have
you done that lately? Well, it means a lot. All right,
verse 4, you fathers, I'm not going to dwell too long. You
fathers, provoke not your children to wrath. But bring them up in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You know, there are
two extremes. And I guess when we get old,
we get a little wisdom. I wish I could raise mine again.
But there are two extremes to be avoided as a parent. Too severe
and too indulgent. There really are two. Everybody
talks about us spoiling our children, being too indulgent. People do,
but you may be too hard to. And that's what this is talking
about here being too hard. You know children can be alienated
from parents, alienated from the church, and alienated from
Christian doctrine by unwise, unreasonable discipline. It takes
a lot of wisdom to be a parent, more than I got. But what he's
talking about here is fathers don't provoke your children to
wrath. You see, to refuse children proper
recreation and proper fellowship with other children and things
that are not wrong in themselves is to provoke them to wrath. And I also caution this, the
rod of discipline ought to always be exercised privately, not publicly. Don't embarrass the child. They
are children, but they have feelings, and they can be embarrassed.
They're not adults. They don't think like adults.
I was fishing with a preacher one time. We were out off in
the Caribbean Sea, two or three miles from land. We had no life
preservers or anything. We were in one of those little
oldâ€”you know the boat I'm talking about? Indio's boat. There's not much to it, and the
waves were pretty high. And there's no life jackets.
I'm an excellent swimmer. Been around water all my life.
But I turned to this preacher friend. He looked a little pale.
I said, something wrong. He said, I can't swim. I said, a big guy like you, an
athlete, can't swim? He said, no, I can't swim. He
said, see, my parents were real religious. I wasn't allowed to
swim. I was never taught to swim. I
wasn't allowed to put on a bathing suit. In fact, he said, when
I played football, and the other guys in August, in the spring,
in the summer practice, you remember August, how hot it was, and the
fellas are dressed in shorts and t-shirts? He said, I had
to wear a full uniform, because I wasn't allowed to wear short
pants. And he said, I couldn't take a shower with the other
fellas. I had to go home in my full uniform. I had to be different.
Now, you let me tell you something. That's antagonizing. And you
may be modest and all that, but don't put pressure on children. Don't make them suffer for your
convictions that are unreasonable. I'm telling you. I can give you
a lot of other illustrations about things related to religion. If parents have certain convictions,
they don't suffer for them, their children do. Their children are
the ones that have to be different out yonder around the world.
It's not the parent. And that's provoking them. But
this thing he says, don't provoke them to wrath. Bring them up
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. What's the nurture
and admonition of the Lord? It's the truth and love of God. What is the truth? Well, the truth has a whole lot
more to do than just a woman wearing a covering on top of
her head. The truth has a whole lot more
to do than just whether we celebrate Easter or Christmas. The truth
has a whole lot more to do than just church authority. The truth
has to do with who is God? Who is Christ? What are we? How are men redeemed? How does
the Spirit of God make a man whole? That's the truth I wanted
to get a hold of. Just be careful now. We don't
have them very long. We don't have them very long,
and they're tender projects. They're tender projects. And
God give me wisdom, so as my child gets a little older, he
won't hate me and hate church and hate the pastor and hate
the gospel, because he was put in such a straitjacket and such
bondage and had to be so different that everybody didn't like him.
Well, but you can't let them go. God help us, I know that. But you can use a little wisdom.
Isn't that right? Don't make a Pharisee out of
them. Put them out there and keep telling them they're so
different from everybody else and so holy, not like everybody
else, and they'll come to believe it after a while. And they'll
miss Christ altogether. God only saves sinners. Somehow
these young people are going to have to find that out too,
just like you did. Well, daddies and mommas, don't
provoke them. Bring them up in the truth and
love of God. Find out what's important. Find
out what's life and death, heaven and hell. Find out what's important
to God and teach them those things. You boys and girls, I want you
to be happy here, and I want you to look forward to coming
to the house of God, don't you? You young people, I want you
to realize that we're just human like you, and we want you to
be able to talk to us and fellowship with us and know that we love
you, love you, love you, love you, and want the best for you. All right, servants, let me be
quick. Be obedient to them that are
your masters according to the flesh with fear and tremble and
singleness of heart as unto Christ. In other words, while ago it
said wives submit yourself to your husbands as unto the Lord.
Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. People who
work. I hear this complaint today. Many of today's workers are not
interested in the success of the company. They're not interested
in the quality of the product. They're not interested in doing
a good job. They're only interested in doing as little as they can,
for as much as they can, for as short a time as they can,
for as great a pay as they can. That's not a believer. A believer
is interested in doing a good job for the glory of God. That's right. That's what he
says here. Read on. Verse 6, not with our services
men pleases, we're not apple polishers, but with service of
Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will
doing service as to the Lord. In other words, when God opens
the door for me to have a job, to support my family, and give
me a boss that gives me a job and a duties to do, do it with
all my heart as unto the Lord. Do it just like it was my company
and my product and my customer. Do the best I can. Whether he's present or absent.
Whether he's there or not there. Why? Because God's there. God's
there and I'm going to do the best I can for the glory of my
God. Verse 8, knowing that whatsoever
good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the
Lord, whether he be a bondman or a free man. And verse 9, you
masters, you men, there are a lot of men here that work men. There
are ladies here that work people in your homes and also in jobs
you have. Well, how are you going to treat
the people that work for you? The same way you want them to treat
you. That's what he says. And you masters, do the same
things to them. Forbearing, threatening. Don't
threaten people. Don't try to drive fear in their
hearts. Knowing that your master also
is in heaven, neither is there any respect of persons with him.
Turn with me to Colossians chapter 4, verse 1. Colossians 4, verse 1. Well,
here it is, Colossians 3.22, servants, workmen, laborers,
Colossians 3.22, obey in all things your masters according
to the flesh, not with eye services, men pleasers, but in singleness
of heart, fearing God. And whatsoever you do, do it
heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men, knowing that of
the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance. You
serve Christ. Now, chapter 4, verse 1, masters,
employers. Give unto your service that which
is just and equal, knowing you have a master in heaven. Treat
people like you'd have them treat you. Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you. Now, verse 10, and I'll close.
I've been too long. I apologize. Verse 10, chapter
6, My finally, my brethren. We've got a war to fight. We've
got a life to live. We've got a Lord to glorify.
We got duties and responsibilities. And I know people say, well,
preachers just preach the gospel. That's what I'm doing. That's
what I'm doing. There's such a thing as adorning
the doctrine. There's such a thing as adorning
the gospel of God our Savior and making it beautiful. And that's the way you do when
you walk. circumspectly as wise men and women in this world.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of
His mind. All right, I hope that's a blessing
to you. Mike, come and lead us in a song.

A Walk Worthy of Our Calling

What does the Bible say about predestination?

How do we know the doctrine of total depravity is true?

Why is living a life worthy of the calling important for Christians?

What does the Bible teach about the roles of husbands and wives?

How can Christians redeem the time in an evil day?

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A Walk Worthy of Our Calling

What does the Bible say about predestination?

How do we know the doctrine of total depravity is true?

Why is living a life worthy of the calling important for Christians?

What does the Bible teach about the roles of husbands and wives?

How can Christians redeem the time in an evil day?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

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