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Walk in purity - do not steal Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ephesians 4:28 October 4th, 2009
Ephesians 4:20-28 But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- (21) assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, (22) to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, (23) and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, (24) and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (25) Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (26) Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, (27) and give no opportunity to the devil. (28) Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Psalms 24:1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, Another way to think about verse 28 [Eph. 4] is to ask, “When has a thief stopped being a thief?” Is it when he stops stealing? Is it when he stops stealing and gets a job? A thief is no longer a thief when he stops stealing, gets a job, and begins giving to others. (Tim Lane, Relationships) The Ground View 1. A Prohibition – “Stealers, don’t steal” 8th Commandment - Exodus 20:15 "You shall not steal. Stealing is the taking of something that is not yours – that you did not earn, and is not your right through desert or gift. We can steal money by direct robbery. We can steal through deceiving and not paying our due. We steal when we make debts we do not intend to payback. We steal ideas and praise from people. We steal software or music by illegally taking possession of something we did not buy – so stealing from the owner who has the rights to make a profit. We steal when we refuse to pay our taxes or when we cheat on our taxes. Governments steal when they take what is not theirs and use it for wrong means. We steal by not working when we are on the clock. We steal when we fudge the expense account in our favor. We steal when we refuse to work and let others do it for us. This passages says that Christians are no longer to steal. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. We need to teach our kids not to steal – by word and example. It maybe that we need to repent and confess our sins of theft. We need to make restitution. 2. A Two-fold Instruction a. Work hard with your hands The very hand, mind, will that were used to steal are now used to work hard as God intended. We have a sinful and ungodly view of work in our culture. We think that work is a necessary evil. This is found nowhere in Scripture and is contrary to Scripture. Work is from God. Ecclesiastes 3:22 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him? b. So that you will have enough to give to those in need Acts 20:33-35 33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Another way to think about verse 28 [Eph. 4] is to ask, “When has a thief stopped being a thief?” Is it when he stops stealing? Is it when he stops stealing and gets a job? A thief is no longer a thief when he stops stealing, gets a job, and begins giving to others. (Tim Lane, Relationships) Thousand Foot View - Observations 1. Thieves Become Children of God – “Let the thief steal no more…” And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:11) Zacchaeus – salvation came to his house 2. Children of God Need Exhortations to Stop Sinning Yes, they were born again and made new – but sin was not completely gone. There is still the process of sanctification. Paul is writing to a church full of sinners who have been born again but still have sin in their lives. They see things completely different in the big picture but there is still work to go. 3. Obedience to Obey Comes from the Heart Why do we steal? What is it that we are seeking? a. We will always trust something – either God or something else b. We will always treasure something – either God or something else We are to put off the old man which is corrupt through DECEITFUL DESIRES. We steal because we want something. We think we need something and this is a way to get it. We may want: - More money - Possessions - Ease and Comfort - Fame and honor - Success and a sense of accomplishment - Approval and praise - Prestige - Power So we steal – yet our father has promised everything good. The way to truly deal with stealing (and lying and anger) is a superior all-satisfying relationship with God and God alone. Romans 8:32 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 2 Corinthians 8:9 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. Hebrews 13:5-6 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Psalms 16:2-11 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." (3) As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. (4) The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. (5) The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. (6) The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. (7) I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. (8) I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. (9) Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. (10) For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. (11) You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Luke 19:1-10 Luke 19:1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." |
