Key Verse: The Apostle Paul declared, "So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:17).
Introduction
In today Epistle, the Apostle Paul discerned that the error, sins, unrighteousness, incivility, evil and spiritual death of the left-brain hemisphere dominant thinking, attitudes and actions of the mind of the flesh, prevailed throughout the region of Ephesus. He knew that many aspects of the same wickedness existed in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, in those days. Paul therefore admonishes members of the witnessing paschal faith communities, which he organized, supported and guided, to be extra wise believers and fishers of men, by knowing and obeying the will of God, for their lives and ministries. He admonished them to embrace and clothe themselves in the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based, right-brain hemisphere dominant, thinking, attitudes and behavior, which lead to the righteousness, peace, civility, justice, truth, grace, joy and everlasting life, which Jesus Christ revealed, taught and modeled, while here on earth (Matthew 16:21-28, Mark 8:31-34, Luke 9:22-27, Ephesians 5:15).
Redeeming the time
Because to Paul the days were evil, he admonished witnesses in his witnessing paschal faith communities, to make good use of every opportunity they had, to live their lives in the right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the mind of the spirit. He encouraged them to avoid the folly of living their lives in the sins, error and spiritual blindness of the left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh. He encouraged witness to redeem the time by reading, studying and appropriating the teaching of Jesus Christ. He exhorted them to follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-17, Ephesians 5:16-17).
Spiritual fullness
Paul admonished these witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities to avoid getting drunk with wine, because it would only lead to their ruin as fishers of men. He encouraged them to be filled, empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit, as they worship, serve, care for, teach, heal, nourish and dialogue with each other, through scripture, psalms, hymns and sacred song, to the glory of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul discerns and proclaims that casting down and casting out (shedding the blood of) the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh is the only acceptable and effective sacrifice and sacrament that all mankind can make to God for sin (Romans 8:1-11, Romans 12:1-8; Ephesians 5:18-19).
Thanksgiving, worship and praise to God
By embracing and living their lives in the mind of the spirit, Paul assured these witnesses that they will be able to discern and fulfill the will of God for their lives and ministries. In the right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit, they will be able to seek and find the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Through study, dialogue, enlightenment and resurrection from the spiritual deception, blindness, deafness, sleep and death of the left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh, they will offer true worship and give thanks to the Godhead, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20).
Conclusion
Like the Apostle Paul, have you noticed how the wickedness and sins of the left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of flesh are gaining inappropriate dominion in the thinking, attitudes and actions of believers within witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, throughout our planet earth? Are you ready and willing to cast aside and avoid the left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh, which leads to sin, unrighteousness, evil, wickedness, incivility and spiritual death? Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit? Right-brain hemisphere dominion in the thinking, attitudes and actions of witness in Christ-centered, witnessing paschal faith communities will lead to righteousness, peace, civility, joy and eternal life within all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups throughout the earth.
Reference Articles
Season of Pentecost, Proper 15
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