Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You are invited to come to the Wednesday evening prayer meeting and pray for the church (and other things -- 7:00 PM Wed., LHF time).

Text: Eph. 6:5-9

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

"And masters, treat your slave in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him." (Eph. 6:5-9)

In today's passage, as in much of the New Testament, again, we are being taught how to be the Church. We are being taught by the Holy Spirit through the inspired word of God given to us through the apostle Paul, also through the Holy Spirit. We are being taught how to be the Church, which God says IS Christ's body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Today's passage deals with slaves and masters. We don't have slavery in this country at the present time, at least not legally. But we do have employees and employers, and although the relationship is much weaker than the master/slave relationship Paul is talking about, the teachings still apply. They also apply to any relationship where one person exercises worldly authority over another. Nevertheless, I'm going to talk about the passage as it is written, in terms of masters and slaves, but, as you read, apply it in your mind to our present situation.

Since the passage talks about slavery, I'm going to say something about slavery first. I'm against slavery. I'm not against slavery because God has said anything directly against slavery, but because God is opposed to oppression. He has a lot to say against oppression -- from one end of the Bible to the other. I'm opposed to slavery because experience has shown that it leads to oppression and God is definitely opposed to oppression. Also, although it's definitely not a valid reason before God, I'm opposed to slavery because I'm rebellious and don't want anyone telling me what to do. I suspect that I'm not alone in this. If you think this way too, repent!

Now lets look at the passage. The first verse says, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters..." Literally, it says, "your masters according to the flesh." (see KJV) Paul is speaking about a relationship that belongs to this present world and to this present age, a relationship that is according to the flesh rather than a spiritual relationship. The master/slave relationship can apply to two believers, to two nonbelievers or to a believer and a nonbeliever. In any case, God establishes the relationships just as he establishes governments and ruling authorities (Col. 1:16; Rom. 13:1). It is also he who determines the time and place for each person to live on the face of the earth (Acts 17:26).

I've read a number of times in writings by Christian authors that submitting to any authority somehow makes you second-class -- or even less than human. Paul says that both the slave and the master have the same Master who is in heaven and there is no favoritism with him (v9). Also, we know from Galatians chapter 3 verse 28 that: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you (we) are all one in Christ Jesus." Neither your rank in this age, nor your race nor your sex have anything to do with your status or greatness before God. What matters to God is your faith. "You (we) are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ." (gal. 3:26) Also, we know that the greatest is the one who makes himself the servant of all. That's what Jesus did. (Incidentally, I didn't point it out in talking about husbands and wives, but "no male or female" says to wives that submitting to your husband in no way makes you less before God -- and to husbands that having authority over your wife does not in any way make you greater before God.)

To get back to the passage, verse 5 says, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear ('fear and trembling' - KJV), and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey CHRIST." Verse 6 says, "Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of CHRIST, doing the will of God from your heart." Verse 7 says, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the LORD, not men." Each one of these verses speaks of your inner attitude -- the attitude of your heart as you serve. Serve with respect and fear. Serve with sincerity of heart. Don't just serve with the purpose of looking good to your master to win his favor, but with a sincere desire to BENEFIT your MASTER by what you do rather than to benefiting yourself. And do it wholeheartedly. Each verse also says, as I've emphasized with all caps, to serve as you would serve Christ.

In fact, you are serving Christ. Verse 8 says that Christ has a reward for each of us for the good we do whether we are slave or free. Our goal is to be pleasing to HIM in all that we do and to finally hear him say, "Well done good and faithful servant." And then to rejoice together with him. And that's just the beginning of the reward! So, whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Col. 3:23, 24) All these things are done by faith in him.

I should point out again at this point, as I did in the case of children and parents a couple of weeks ago, that if your master tells you to disobey God, you have to obey God rather than obeying men. But Paul is talking about your attitude here. It has to be an attitude of serving.

Verse 9 is directed to masters. It says, "And masters, treat your slave in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him." Masters are also serving Christ. Masters -- anyone who has worldly authority over anyone else -- how has Jesus treated you? Didn't he die for you? Isn't he, even now interceding on your behalf. Isn't he doing everything necessary to enable you to do the good work that he has prepared in advance for you to do? Treat those over whom you have authority the same way.

So lets be the pure bride of Christ, washed with water through the word, glorious, without stain or wrinkle, holy and blameless.

Come on Wednesday and pray for the Church. The Church is the overflowing abundance, the wealth beyond measure and the full and perfect nature of God who fulfills and completes everything in every way.

Grace and peace,
Dean Svoboda

PS: You can also bring you own prayer requests and pray for them with your brothers and sisters in Christ (i.e., with the Church). Bring your requests to God with thanksgiving and receive his peace.

PPS: Pass this invitation along to others in your household or to someone who doesn't have an e-mail address in the LHF directory