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Part 3 - An Introduction into the ethics of the apostle (Ephesians 4:1 – 6:20)
How can we survive the tsunamis of false teaching? (Ephesians 4:14) How can a church become immune to mendacious spirits? (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Ephesians 4:14-16
4:14 “…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14).
With his departing words Paul had warned the church leaders in Ephesus: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears” (Acts 20:28-31).
Through prophetic inspiration Paul had understood that, following his departure, Satan planned to tear apart the flourishing churches in the Roman province of Asia.
At first demands for a Judaization of the Christian churches increased, accompanied by circumcision of the men, sanctification of the Sabbath, and the holding to dietary laws – all contributing toward a “works-righteousness”, through the keeping of the Law of Moses. Following that there arose political suspicions against the followers of Christ, charging they wanted to build up a kingdom of God in order to overthrow the Roman Kingdom. As a result of this accusation, there sprang up more than 200 years of bitter persecution of Christians, especially since later Caesars allowed themselves to be worshipped as gods – a practice conscientious Christians could not take part in. When Constantine the Great recognized that the Christian strength to endure was greater than that of other religions, he officially recognized Christianity as the legal religion in the Roman Kingdom (312 A.D.). The temples dedicated to other gods, however, remained. Later, Christianity was forced upon many as the state religion, while the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople was not consecrated to Jesus, but to “holy wisdom”. In the seventh century came the Muslims, who went on to conquer in 100 years (632-732 A.D.) the majority of countries from the Indus River to Gibraltar, and who lived in a constant state of combat with the Byzantines. The Catholic Crusaders (1098-1291 A.D.) oppressed the Greek-Orthodox Christians of the Eastern Roman Empire so that the advancing Ottomans were able to occupy all of Asia Minor in 1349 A.D., going on to take Constantinople in 1453 A.D.
Following that there began a progressive elimination of the Christian churches in the region of Ephesus. Following World War I the Christian remnant was exchanged by Kemal Ataturk in return for Turks living in Greece. Furthermore, the mountain river that had flowed through the city of Ephesus caused the port to fill up with rock-debris and sand, so that the land mass was extended for kilometres, into the Aegean Sea. A new river bed also opened a distance from the city. With that, the former Roman provincial city became cut-off from its lifeline, and was the reason why Izmir, as a port and trade city, came to take its place in importance.
Through prophetic inspiration Paul had recognized that, following his departure, antichristian teaching would come in to convulse and weaken, as if through a flu epidemic, the churches in and around Ephesus. The onslaught could only be overcome from within. Therefore he took care to prepare the responsible church leaders for the coming attacks, lest they fall prey to the visions and lies of the deceivers. It remained for the church leaders to immunize the true followers of Christ against these strange and foreign spirits.
Even today vibrant churches are practically being swept away by huge anti-Christian tsunami waves. For that reason church elders and shepherds need to be preparing lovers of Jesus, practically and spiritually, for the present and coming disaster. With this in mind, we want to briefly outline some of the waves of seduction sweeping the world in our time:
The more than 900 so-called appearances of Mary in several of the countries around the Mediterranean Sea has, among many Christians, brought forth a faith in the undefiled virgin that far outweighs their love for Jesus. An untold number of statues of Mary and miniature household temples are intended to impress and protect their worshippers.
The spirits that have manifested themselves as Mary, since the year 431 A.D., in truth have nothing to do with the real Mary. They do not promote faith in Jesus, the true and only Savior of sinners, but instead, as the so-called Mother of God and co-redeemer, exalt themselves. Perhaps as many as a billion or more Christians today adhere to this obsession with Mary.
Since the year 632 A.D. Muslims have been trying to conquer the world for Allah. Their Koran commands them five times: “Kill them, (the unbelievers) wherever you find them! (Suras al-Baqara 2:191; al Nisa 4:89, 91; al-Tauba 9:5) and assures its terrorists: “It was not you who smote them, but Allah smote them. You didn´t fire (at them), when you fired, but Allah fired” (al-Anfal 8:17). Today one and a half billion Muslims follow this spirit, who inspired Mohammed against Jesus (1 John 2:22-23). Politicians and humanists are surprised when daily they hear of suicide bombings and assassinations. They seem unwilling to comprehend that there are demonic powers behind these events, holding, keeping and compelling Muslims in collective bondage.
When today tourists fly on vacation to India they appear not to recognize that there are hundreds of painted cement figures standing on the roofs of Hindu temples, there to represent the host of gods and spirits in Hinduism. Plastic elephants, as high as houses and decorated with garlands, are each year thrown into the rivers to protect the population from flooding and to guarantee an abundant catch of fish. More than a billion Hindus have been inoculated against their Savior Jesus Christ. In Orissa and other states of India, militant Hindus have begun to demolish churches, trying to induce the three percent Christians in India to convert back to Hinduism. Every sixth person on earth is a Hindu.
In our day and age Free Masons from the USA and Europe try to cultivate the nations of earth with their democracies, tolerance and humanism. They think that all people are good; the only thing they need is a good school education. Without God and with their own laws and so-called “freedom-of-speech” they believe themselves capable of promoting world peace. All the while their countries have produced and stocked up so many atom bombs as to wipe out the entire population of earth ten times over. For that reason they propagate: without a rapprochement and unification of religions, there can be no peace! Long term, the crucified and risen One can have no place in such a syncretistic mix.
Marx and Mao were able to make socialism and communism powerful against egotistical capitalism. China, with its course of steered economic reform, is now running away from the deeply indebted industrial countries, while at the same time being mercilessly plagued by environmental pollution. The influence of China is far greater in oil producing countries and in the countries of Africa than traditional European thinking can imagine. Every sixth person on earth is Chinese. Capitalistic, industrial nations, with their deliveries and exports to China, hope to decrease their mountain of debt, while just the opposite is happening - they are building China up to become a world power!
Many Europeans, with their planned abortions and massive influx of foreign labour immigrants, hardly notice that the five mentioned world views or Weltanschaung (Mary, Mohammed, Hinduism, Free Masons and Chinese), each approximately a sixth of the world population, exert a greater and greater force in determining the spiritual development of our world. Is this a spreading preparation for the coming of the antichrist in Israel, who will rule the world from Jerusalem? We need to again study chapters 13-19 of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John on the Island of Patmos – provided we do not want to be swept away by a storm of future united notions!
'''How can a church become immune to mendacious spirits?''' (Eph. 4:15-16)
In expectation of a wave of seductive forces, Paul drew up a counter program – one that would make the churches immune to the swarm of raging spirits:
4:15 “but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:15-16).
Without reservation the apostle latched onto the arch connecting truth and love, going on to offer it as a spiritual armament in the battle with evil spirits. Love without truth would be a lie, and truth without love would resemble homicide. The art the Holy Spirit desires to teach us exists in our need to connect love with truth, while expressing truth with love. This art demands prayer and spiritual leading in every instance of practice.
Pilot was quick to notice this provocation, and went on to ask the fettered Jesus: “What is truth?” (John 18:38). The Roman procurator had not understood that Jesus, who was standing before him, was Himself the truth in person (John 14:6). Paul wrote to the church leaders in Ephesus that they should, amidst all their trials and questions, grow into “Jesus”, their supreme example. They were to take Him as their head and their inspiration; to Him they needed to be submitted. No man can solve the worldwide problems of our existence. The world is racing with increasing speed towards its end. Because of that, Paul indirectly said: Ask Jesus! Why not let Him suggest the solutions! We are limited, at best organs functioning to carry out various tasks. He alone is the Head and the almighty Lord, who can solve both personal and worldwide problems.
Paul again made it clear to the responsible church leaders that faith in Jesus involves not just an intellectual understanding; rather, it corresponds to an entire biological entity. Just as the body is subordinate to the head, in like fashion, the church is to be directed and led by Jesus. Furthermore, every member of the human body is attached to all the other members, so that they can only work together in harmony. In the same way every member in a church is actively involved in all that happens and shares responsibility for the condition of the church, corresponding to his strengths, time and gifting.
Fundamentally, every living thing grows silently and continuously, or else it slowly wanes away before it finally dies. It is the same with a living and vital church: it grows of itself, under the leading of its head. However, when growth stops the church dies. Who is it that asks, what will serve as a life-elixir in this unique spiritual body? With Paul the question finds a precise answer – the love of God! Since the Spirit of Jesus Christ works and lives in every one who is born-again, it is His holy, sacrificial and serving love that maintains the life- creation of His church (John 13:34-35). The mystery of true fellowship among the saints is not found in pleasure and enjoyment, but in prayer, faith, sacrifice and service.
Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You that Your beloved Son offered Himself up for us sinners, so that we, as those You have justified and sanctified, might serve You in a church. Help us to not be impressed or seduced by the shining lies of modern world views and philosophy. Enable us to lovingly tell the truth of the gospel to our godless neighbours and colleagues. Amen.
Questions:
- What are the five great world views or Weltanschaung that lead astray people today?
- How can we learn to speak the truth in love?