Tag Archives: Bible Study

Battle Plan – Strategy 4 – Control the Body

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Strategy 4: I have taken control of my body and mind, keeping them in subjection.

Consider the following passages of Scripture:

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.

In the Christian life we are charged with responsibility to actively pursue the battle for our minds and bodies. We have the promise of God that as we work, He works (Philippians 2:13).

He provides the strength and power to do what needs to be done. In these passages we see Paul’s determination to bring his body into subjection. Our bodies should not rule over us and dictate what we do. Our body has its desires for food, pleasure, and sex, but is not to set the agenda. Paul tells us in Romans 6:12 that we should not allow sin to reign in our mortal body. It’s our responsibility to set the terms for what our body does.

Even the thoughts of our mind are to be brought under control and “into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” That’s not an easy proposition, but nevertheless, is it not impossible because of the victory Christ has already won for us.

Priority Goal 4: Today, I will take control of my body and mind by the power of the Spirit of God at work within me. I will keep my body and mind under subjection to the will of God.

Ephesians 5:18

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“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”

We are now into Chapter 5, verse 18. Just as in some of the previous passages, Paul writes and tells us to avoid something. But it never stops there. When there are things to avoid, there are things to replace it with.

So, in verse 18 we are told not to get drunk with wine, but …. Although the drinking of wine is not prohibited in Scripture, being drunk is prohibited. God never permits our losing our self control, turning that control over to the influence of some substance.

Rather, we are to be filled with the Spirit. We are to be under the influence and control of the Spirit, instead of wine or any other substance.

There are several characteristics of this word ‘filled’ that we need to think about. First, it is an imperative. That means it is a command. We are told to do something. Paul is the one writing, but because he is writing under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, we must respond as though it were God speaking directly to us personally.

Second, it is a passive verb. That means we are not the actor. Something or someone else is the actor and we are on the receiving end of that action. The action here is the filling of the Spirit. “Be filled with the Spirit.”

If we are not the actor, how can this be a command? I assume it means that we are to allow or to be open in some way for the action to take place. So what I think is that God is telling us that we need to allow, or open ourselves up to being filled or controlled by the Spirit of God, rather than being controlled by wine.

Suppose when you were a kid, your dad would have told you that your brother needs to practice his football passing skills. He asks you to go out and be the receiver for him for awhile.

While this is kind of a simple example, it shows that you can be directed to go and be on the receiving end of some action over and over for a period of time. To be a good receiver for your brother you have to be alert and prepared to receive the football.

Third, the word is in the present tense. Present tense means now, today. Also, in Greek, the present tense is a continuing action. Therefore, we could think of the command this way: Continually allow yourself, or open yourself up to, being filled with the Spirit, moment by moment, and day by day.

When you go out to be a receiver for your brother, you know that the intention is that you receive the pass more than just one time.

How can we do this? We have busy lives and our minds are in hundreds of different places thinking about things and making decisions all day long.

I think we need to be sure we are having regular times of prayer each day, as well as memorizing and meditating on the Scriptures. If we do this on a regular basis, we will then have the foundational and fundamental mindset that is directed toward God and spiritual things.

If this is our pattern, then, I think, we will be better equipped to yield moment by moment to the Spirit’s filling and control.

Ephesians 5:15-17

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“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Paul begins verse 15 telling us to be careful therefore. Therefore what? We are not to take part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them to the light. Let Christ shine on us. Walk in the light as He is in the light.

Therefore..

Therefore do not be unwise. He doesn’t use the word ‘moronic’ here, but unwise. Being unwise is foolish, but it has a different aspect to it. It emphasizes that there is a wise way to live life, and the warning here is to choose that wise way rather than avoiding it.

So, we are to live as wise people, making the best use of time. Literally it means to buy back the time, to ransom it back to freedom, to noble and godly purposes. We live in evil days. The days have always been evil. But we are to be alert and wise about the way we live. We are to be deliberate about how we use our time. Don’t just fritter it away. Make the best use of it.

Therefore. Because of that admonition to be careful, God tells us not to be foolish or unthinking. Instead, we need to understand what the will of the Lord is. That means we need to spend time learning more about the Lord Jesus, and we need to spend time getting to know Him, i.e., reading His word, meditating on it, and praying. As we spend significant blocks of time in this way, we will understand more and more about what the will of the Lord is. In turn, we will grow in our ability to buy back our time to make it an important tool in living for God.

Ephesians 5:12-13

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Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,

It’s been more than a month since I’ve written in this commentary. Life gets busy and attempts to bring order and discipline in the midst of busy-ness is difficult.

In verse 11, Paul told us that we should not take part in the unfruitful works of darkness. But instead, we are to expose them, to let the light shine in. That is what expose means. He makes his point clear in verse 13. “When anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.

It’s interesting to me that just as in the discussion about putting off certain things, Paul had added that not only should we put off, but we must put something on. Here in this passage, we should not partake in or even speak of the things they do in secret. But it’s not just a matter of avoiding. There is something to do. The unfruitful works of darkness should be exposed.

Verse 13 tells us that anything exposed by the light becomes visible. Rather than being done in secret, these things must be made visible. But it is a puzzle to me how to shed light on secret, unfruitful behaviors, without speaking about them. It seems as though speaking would be the only way to expose. But perhaps he is saying that speaking is necessary, but it is shameful at the same time. For me at least, this passage is going to take more meditation.

More on this passage next time.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:25 AM July 17, 2021.

Ephesians 5:3

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But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

In the previous chapter Paul taught us the principle of putting off and putting on. Here in chapter 5, we are learning that we should be imitators of God. Here again we are given instruction as to what should be part of our Christian life and what should be avoided.

In verse 3 we are given some additional things that should not be part of our Christian life. The first is sexual immorality. The Greek word here is porneia. We can immediately see that we get our word pornography from this Greek root word. Pornography is basically sexual immorality displayed in word or picture form.

God tells us here that sexual immorality should not even be named among us. Two other things will be included in this list. But think of it! Immorality should not be even named among us. However, in our day, because of our ability to see virtually any immoral behavior portrayed on our computers or phones, porneia is not only named among us, but indulged in enthusiastically. This should not be!

The second thing he says shouldn’t even be named among us is impurity, uncleanness. This fits in with the idea of sexual immorality because we all, especially as young people, knew the difference between a “clean” or a “dirty” joke. We know the kinds of things that pollute our minds and hearts. None of this uncleanness should be representative of our character.

The last thing he mentions in this short list is covetousness. In Colossians 3:5, Paul calls covetousness idolatry. When we covet something, we are revealing the existence of an idol in our lives. Idolatry is not part of the character of a Christian.

These three things, sexual immorality, uncleanness, and covetousness should be put off so that the true character of the new man can be put on.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 9:16 AM April 14, 2021.

Ephesians 4:1

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I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

Ephesians

Ephesians 4:1

There’s a transition now from a more “doctrinal” section to what some might say is more practical. He’s basically says, “Because of what I’ve taught you in the first three chapters, I am now going to challenge you to live in a certain way.”

Paul is a prisoner, but the Ephesians were out there living their lives. He urges them to live in a way that fits the calling that they have received.

We as believers, have been called out of the world and into a relationship with Christ. We have been called to be followers, disciples of the Lord Jesus. Jesus lived a life of teaching and example for His followers. Paul is urging all of us to live in a way that fits the calling we’ve been given. If we live our lives in the old way as unbelievers do, there is a clash between that walk and the way Jesus would have us walk.

That should be our challenge as we begin this new year — live a life worthy of our calling.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:57 AM January 8, 2021.

Ephesians 2:20-22

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built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

In verse 20, Paul continues from verse 19 where he had said Gentiles are now fellow citizens and members of the household of God.

This household, of which we are a part, has been built on a foundation. What is that foundation? The apostles and prophets. They came before us and laid the foundation for us. And more than that, the cornerstone, or capstone, is none other than Jesus Christ.

With Christ the center-supporting piece of the foundation, the whole superstructure is built up in Him.

And has the structure is built piece by piece, member by member, it is joined together. (Colossians 2:19 speaks of it being knit together.) The whole body of Christ is knit, joined, united together and what? It grows. God is building His church. It is growing as new people believe and are joined to the body.

And what is it becoming? It is becoming a holy temple in the Lord. What is a temple. It is the place where God Himself lives and is worshipped.

Verse 22 continues the thought. This is not just theoretical about hypothetical people being joined to the body. Verse 22 says, “In him you also….”

You. Yes, you! If you are a believer, you have been knit into the body that is a dwelling place for God by the Spirit! Think about that. A dwelling place of God.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 9:44 AM November 17, 2020.

Ephesians 2:19

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So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God

As a result of all that has been said, we Gentiles are no longer strangers and aliens.

I think part of what keeps us from grasping the immensity of this is the fact that we don’t understand how great was our distance from God. We were outside the promises. We had no hope and were without God. I’m not just speaking of the time in our life before we came to Christ. I mean in the whole history of the world prior to the coming of Christ, Gentiles were outside. There was no access to God for them. The covenants of promise said nothing to them until Christ came and the mystery of the Gospel was revealed.

So, we are no longer strangers and aliens, but 1) fellow citizens with the saints, and 2) members of the household of God. When we trust Christ by faith, we are in — we are citizens, not aliens. We are in the family!

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 9:38 AM November 17, 2020.

Ephesians 2:17-18

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And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Let’s take a look now at verses 17 and 18 which continue the thought from the previous verses.

And he came. Jesus came and preached peace to you who were far off. He is speaking here of Gentiles who were outside the covenants of promise and without hope. Christ has preached peace to us. He has also preached peace to those who are near. To the Jews. He is still speaking of the fact that the barrier between the two has been broken down such that there is peace with God and peace between these two groups.

Verse 18 begins with “for.” Why is there peace? Because through Christ we both have access. Both Jews and Gentiles have access to the Father. How? Through the one Spirit. There is only one Spirit (Eph 4:4). And through that one Spirit, we, who were far off, have been given access to God the Father. Amazing!

Both Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way, just as Peter states in Acts 15:11: “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we [the Jews] shall be saved in the same manner as they [the Gentiles].”

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 9:57 AM November 16, 2020.

Ephesians 2:14-16

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For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

(We’ll include verse 15 and 16 in this post.) Jesus Christ is our peace. He is the one who is bringing Jews and Gentiles together to make one new man. Jesus has broken down the wall that separated the two.

Verse 15 says that the wall is the enmity. The wall is the thing that makes Jews and Gentiles natural enemies of one another. What is that wall? It is the law of commandments contained in ordinances. What Christ has done is to release all of us from the law so that whether Jew or Gentile, we are saved by faith in Christ the Messiah. He is creating one new man. Don’t minimize the importance of this. The one new man is the body of Christ. Each individual member, whether Jew or Gentile is baptized into that body and given gifts to function within the body of Christ and thus blessing the world and bringing glory to God.

Our passage tells us that in breaking down this barrier, Jesus is making peace.

Verse 16 goes on with this theme. By abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, he created peace, but also reconciled both to God. Both of whom? Both Jew and Gentile. God has killed the hostility by bringing both Jew and Gentile together with one access to God, the access that comes from faith. The requirements of the law have been satisfied in Christ and therefore each one of us can come to God by faith in Him.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 9:38 PM November 10, 2020.