A RESET from Chaos

Time for a RESET in Our Chaos

I suppose that we have all been there…you’re finally at the end of your rope. You’ve thought that everything would work out and it seemed like you were keeping it all together but suddenly all of it seems to blow up in your face.

Have you ever watched a movie where you could tell that the plot line was all about just how bad things could get before, they got better? I don’t like those movies. I normally check out early on. “I get it. The main character’s life is a mess. It will get better in about 20 minutes, but I don’t really want to spend my 20 minutes watching it get worse. I’ll tune back in when the resolution starts.”

It’s worse when it is your own life. Chaos happens all over the place. Our own thoughts and feelings can be a mess. Our marriages can get to a place where we are completely disconnected. Jobs, families, and even our spiritual lives can become chaotic.

Eventually we get to a point where we either break (bad thing) or we get fed up and decide to do something different. Today I would like for us to consider a RESET in an area of chaos in your life. We’re going to look at some advice from the Bible that will help us “Give up our chaos for God’s order”.

Our God is Not a God of Chaos but of Order

1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

[This verse references times of worship but the principle is still true].

Think about it. God has always been in the act of creating order out of chaos. In the beginning, the world was without form and void and then God spoke. Through God’s creative process He brought all the universe into order. He is still bringing order into our lives today.

I’ve learned that people are all very different, but I believe that every one of us wants to have order. Now, that may look very different to each of us. I have led hundreds if not thousands of meetings. And I’ve learned that some people will have reviewed and prepared for the meeting. Others have not looked at the agenda, the study, or anything. Some people need to have time to process information while others need just a split second to decide.

You might be the person who shows up at the grocery store not knowing what you’ll buy or you might be the person who has a list for everything. Budget, no budget. Clothes organized according to color, season, or sleeve length or hung randomly in no order.

Cindy and I process things very differently. I’m the nerd who does the budget, has the clothes hung up (for the most part) in a specific way. She wants nothing to do with a budget and her order is usually by color or design. Ultimately, we all want order.

And, we need order in all the areas of our lives – body, soul, and spirit.

Giving Up Chaos for God’s Order

Too often we get ourselves stuck up to our armpits in chaos before we are willing to do something about it. Whether it is our marriages, our finances, our parenting, or our spiritual lives we need to take time to do an assessment before things get out of control.

You’ve probably been introduced to at least one of many problem-solving methods. Here is a simple one:

Step 1 – Define the problem

- No money by the end of the month

Step 2 – Clarify the problem

- I have not been self-controlled with spending

Step 3 – Define the goals

- Able to meet obligations, care for self, be generous

Step 4 – Identify the Root Cause of the Problem

- poor choices, low income

Step 5 – Develop a Plan

- better job, less spending, more oversight, budget

Step 6 – Execute the plan

- accountability

Step 7 – Evaluate the results

- forecast in process/evaluate end of process

Step 8 – Continuously improve

- continued excellence

This is a common modern-day method of dealing with chaos. I would suggest that it is Biblically sound as well because we could apply the process through the life and events of Nehemiah when Israel was in chaos after the Babylonian captivity. Today though, I would like to take a passage out of the letter to the Ephesians to point out how we can eliminate chaos by allowing God’s order in our lives.

God’s Order

The entire Bible offers amazing insights into human nature. The Word of God is meant to be prescriptive in the same way that medication is prescribed by the doctor. The doctor prescribes medication designed to kill off infection, cancer, or dull pain. The Word of God when applied to our lives speaks order to chaos just like God spoke order to chaos in Genesis. Take a look at this passage in Ephesians and let’s apply the problem solving method to it…but more importantly, realize that this is the way to remove chaos from our lives and bring order.

Steps 1 and 2 – Define and Clarify the Problem

Ephesians 4:17–19 NIV

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

Paul describes the non-Christians as those whose thinking is futile. They lack understanding are hard hearted. They have no sensitivity, indulge their own lusts, and are full of greed. In other words, they are in lifestyles of chaos.

Now, that might not be a description of your chaos. However, marriages in chaos can be the result of indulging in our own lusts for pornography or extramarital relationships. Financial chaos can stem from our greed or selfishness. Relational chaos can come from lack of understanding.

Step 3: Determine Your Goals

In what kind of order do you want to live? Paul wrote:

Ephesians 4:20–21 NIV

That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

The believers in Ephesus realized that the Gospel restored order to their lives. The hope, peace, joy, and love that we highlighted during Advent is offered all the time through Christ. The Gospel is wonderfully attractive.

Step 4: Identify the Root Cause of the Problem

Paul calls the root of the problem “your old self”.

Ephesians 4:22 NIV

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

The Life Study Bible explains the old self:

The person’s old self is being corrupted by its deceitful desires(which Paul described in 4:17–19 above). The verb form “is being corrupted” reveals a continuous process that ends in complete degeneration and death. Like a cancer, the evil nature of the old self spreads and destroys. Christ came to offer each person a new self (4:23–24), but he or she must desire Christ’s help to “put off” the old self. As a person takes off an old, dirty garment in exchange for something clean and new, so the believer can take off the old, filthy “self” and exchange it for the clean and pure “self” provided by Christ. The verb “put off” is in the aorist tense, so it describes a definite act. This “putting off” is a once-and-for-all decision when we decide to accept Christ’s gift of salvation (2:8–10). Although this putting off of the old takes place at conversion, we must drive out the remaining parts of it day by day.[1]

So, it makes good sense that we consider a RESET and take off the old dirty garment and put on the new. This takes us to the Plan.

Steps 5 & 6 – Develop and Execute the Plan

Paul points out the plan by describing at as:

Ephesians 4:23–24 NIV

to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

As I have thought and prayed about this message today, I have come back to these 2 things over and over again – righteousness and holiness. Chaos is defeated time and time again through righteousness and holiness. Noah lived in a chaotic time, but he was righteous. Job and Joseph endured suffering, but they were righteous.

There is a Chinese proverb that says

If there is righteousness in the heart,

there will be beauty in character.

If there is beauty in character,

there will be harmony in the home.

If there is harmony in the home,

there will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation,

there will be peace in the world.[2]

In many of the NT letters there are sections where the disciples give direction … or, better, prescription. If we want to defeat chaos, we have to take their prescriptions.

Stop These Things!

Every plan has actions that need to be completed or actions that need to stop.

Ephesians 4:25–31 NIV

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

1. Lies, anger, and stealing have to go

“Lying is not only wrong because it makes light of the intrinsic excellence of the truth, but also because it causes trouble, friction, disunity and sadness in the church. The law of love certainly implies truthfulness.” – Hendricksen

2. Watch your mouth!

3. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit

Our sin grieves the Holy Spirit because He is holy. In short, Paul is appealing to the saints to practice their position because of a Person! In other words, they (we) should be motivated not to sin, because when we do, we hurt the One Who loves us![3]

4. Get rid of malice

Start These Things!

Ephesians 4:32 NIV

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 5:1–7 NIV

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

1. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving

2. Be sexually pure

3. Be thankful, don’t use your words for obscenities, foolish talk, or coarse joking.

4. Be filled with the Spirit, not spirits

5. Be filled with song

6. Always give thanks

Romans 12-15 offer prescriptions. The apostles Peter, James and John all join Paul in offering sensible plans for Christian living.

Steps 7 & 8 – Evaluate the Results and Continue to Improve

Verses 8 & 9 describe the results of following the prescription.

Ephesians 5:8–9 NIV

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

The results are described as light instead of darkness with the fruit (or product) to be goodness, righteousness, and truth. This is what Godly orderlooks like in our lives.

If you are struggling with chaos in your life right now let me give you some strategies to help.

#1 – Don’t try to create order on your own. Let God help you.

#2 – Figure out where you are. Steps 1 & 2 – Define and clarify the problem. Steps 3 & 4 are determine the cause and identify the root. Steps 5 & 6 are develop a plan and execute the plan.

Tools for you –

· Men and Women’s groups that deal with real issues and offer clear Biblical direction

· Community groups that provide friendships and a study that equips you for your life (putting on the new man).

· TruLife Encounters, weeks of RECALIBRATE to develop spiritual habits

· Children’s programs to develop your children as they mature

· Special classes like The Art of Parenting and Financial Peace

#3 – Evaluate and Continue to move forward

You are always working on your foxhole.

Are you ready to exchange your chaos for God?

[1]Bruce B. Barton and Philip Wesley Comfort, Ephesians, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996), 92. [2] John Stott, The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott, ed. Mark Meynell (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018). [3]PreceptAustin.org. Ephesians 4:31.