September 5, 1999 - LESSON: Ephesians 5:6-7, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: Unmasking Deception

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INTRODUCTION:

1. A Moving Story Of Inspiration For Us All Robert A. Berthold, via E-mail

   A man is in bed with his wife when there is a rat-a-tat-tat on the door. He rolls over and looks at his clock, and it's half past three in the morning. "I'm not getting out of bed at this time," he thinks, and rolls over. Then, a louder knock follows. "Aren't you going to answer that?" says his wife. So he drags himself out of bed and goes downstairs. He opens the door and there is man standing at the door. It didn't take the homeowner long to realize the man was drunk. "Hi there," slurs the stranger. "Can you give me a push??" "No, get lost. It's half past three. I was in bed," says the man and slams the door.

   He goes back up to bed and tells his wife what happened and she says, "Dave, that wasn't very nice of you. Remember that night we broke down in the pouring rain on the way to pick the kids up from the baby sitter and you had to knock on that man's house to get us started again? What would have happened if he'd told us to get lost??" "But the guy was drunk," says the husband. "It doesn't matter," says the wife. "He needs our help and it would be the Christian thing to help him."

   So the husband gets out of bed again, gets dressed, and goes downstairs. He opens the door, and not being able to see the stranger anywhere he shouts, "Hey, do you still want a push??" And he hears a voice cry out, "Yeah please." So, still being unable to see the stranger he shouts, "Where are you?" And the stranger replies, "I'm over here, on your swing."

   1.     Call this "fuzzy thinking"
   2.     A drunk man wants a push
   3.     Dave doesn't know where the man is.
   4.     Dave doesn't know what kind of a push the man wants

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2. Deception, or as the text states it in, Ephesians 5:6, NRSV: "Let no one deceive you with empty words"

MAIN BODY:

1. Empty words are not empty
1. Empty means without substance.
2. Empty words can delude
3. Empty words can mislead
4. Empty words can confusion
5. Empty words can create indecision
6. Empty words are not necessarily lies, although they can be.
1. Empty words are promises, but not kept
2. Empty words are assurances, but not fulfilled
3. Empty words are offers of assistance, but not given
4. Empty words are comfort offered, but not provided
2. Empty words can be the truth shaped to appeal.
1. They can lead us to impulsive behavior.

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   Comedian Paul Reiser (from ABC's Mad About You) admits he is a consumer sucker. He tells the following story on himself:

   I was in this stereo store, looking at this VCR/CD player/laser disc/pants presser combination thing. I wasn't even thinking of getting it; I was just playing.

   Salesman comes over. "You know, that CD player'll hold up to 20 discs at a time."

   "Yeah?"

   He says, "Yes-siree-bob. That's at least 18 hours of music."

   "Okey-dokey." And he wraps it up.

   You see, he opened my eyes. I hadn't done the arithmetic. Eighteen hours, sure. Who wouldn't want that?

   Then I got home and realized, Wait a second! I'm not up 18 hours. When would I use this? The last four hours will actually be keeping me awake. This is not something I need.
    

2. Specifically they can create a focus on the self to the exclusion of the other. 

   A "Frank and Ernest" cartoon depicts these two buddies sitting on a park bench next to a gentleman reading the paper.

   As is usually the case, Frank and Ernest are obviously inebriated.

   Frank says to the stranger: "Long ago, I decided my life would be a success if I could make just one person happy. I picked me."

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3. It is Fuzzy thinking which leads to deception.
1. Empty words.
2. How may we avoid empty words
3. Why should seek to avoid the impact of empty words
1. We would do well to read the rest of the passage.
2. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them (Ephesians 5:6-7, NRSV).
4. It would be well for us to better understand the "wrath of God"
1. As a youngster, one day my step-father discovered me doing something that I should not have done.
1. He became very angry, wrathful.
2. He shouted, "You are just like your dead father!" (My father died when I was just six years old)
3. The he hit me.
4. I lay on the floor unconscious.
5. We very often equate human anger (wrath) with God.
6. This is not the wayin which God ought to be understood.

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2. In Romans chapters one and two the wrath of God is clearly explained.
1. (Romans 1:18-28 NRSV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools; and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done.
2. The wrath of God is defined in the phrase, "God gave them up."
1. If you put your hand in the fire you will be burned.
2. God will not protect us from the attitudes and actions in which we engage.
3. God allows us to experience the results of our faulty thinking.
4. God allows us to experience the consequences of our actions.

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5. If we are living in deceit, we will experience the wrath of God.
1. Now you might believe that you can protect yourself.
1. What if you are self-deceived?
2. What then?
2. You might believe that a loving God will look favorably on you.
1. How do you gain favor with God.
2. By living a life of faith and love, characterized by good works.

   Faith is a word we use to describe a relationship with God as with a person well-known. The better we know God, the better the relationship may be.

   Faith implies a attitude toward God of love, trust, and deep admiration. It means having enough confidence in God, based on the more than adequate evidence revealed, to be willing to believe whatever God says, to accept what God offers, and to do whatever God desires--without reservation--for the rest of eternity.

   Anyone who has such faith is perfectly safe to save. This is why "faith" is the only requirement for heaven.

3. If this understanding of faith is true, and I believe that it is, then the only way to avoid the wrath of God on those who are deceived by empty words is to deepen one's relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
1. It is Jesus who teaches us what it right and wrong
2. It is Jesus who, in his life experiences, demonstrates what it means to be in relationship with God.
4. We have this instruction and example in terms that we can understand and apply

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6. We are admonished to avoid association with those who lives are empty words.
1. To associate is more than to have contact with.
2. It is to be in a rather intimate relationship with
1. We are to reject their influence of their words.
2. We are to reject their example of activity.

CONCLUSION:

1. For it is God who determines the answer to the most important questions of life, death and the future.

   Four theologians, who argued frequently about most everything, were again fiercely debating an issue.

   They usually voted on a 3-to-1, "majority rules" basis.

   This time, the out-voted theologian-upset that he had lost-got down on his knees, looked to the heavens, and prayed: "Lord, I know in my heart I am right and they are wrong! Please give me a sign to prove it to them."

   Immediately, huge storm clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and a deep voice from the heavens boomed: "He's right!"

   The out-voted theologian said to the other three theologians: "Did you hear that?"

   "So now it's 3 to 2," shrugged one of the other theologians.

   -via J. Thomas Littlejohn, Pinola, MS (The Joyful Noiseletter, October 1999)

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   1. The vote is not 3 to 2, it is the power and authority of One.
   2. Let us not be deceived by empty words.
   3. Let us rather become filled with the Word and we will be able to avoid fuzzy thinking and the deceptions that it brings.
   4. Remember Dave and the Drunk who wanted a push.

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Some additional texts which help you to more clearly understand the word for deceive which may also be translated to be led "astray."

(Matthew 24:4 NRSV) Jesus answered them, "Beware that no one leads you astray.

(Matthew 24:5 NRSV) For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah!' and they will lead many astray.

(Matthew 24:11 NRSV) And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

(Matthew 24:24 NRSV) For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

(Romans 16:18 NRSV) For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.

(1 Corinthians 3:18 NRSV) Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise.

(Ephesians 4:14 NRSV) We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.

(Ephesians 5:6 NRSV) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.

(2 Thessalonians 2:3 NRSV) Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction.

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(1 John 1:8 NRSV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

(1 John 3:7 NRSV) Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

(Revelation 20:3 NRSV) and threw him into the pit, and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be let out for a little while.

(Revelation 20:8 NRSV) and will come out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, in order to gather them for battle; they are as numerous as the sands of the sea.

(2 Peter 3:3-8 NRSV) First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts [4] and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!" [5] They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water, [6] through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. [7] But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless [8] But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.

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