A Living Example
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
We live by example, we walk by example - what we see others doing, we begin to do.
Everyone is a living example. Examples have a name.
At your funeral people will say he or she was an example of ..........
think of it
Mother Teresea - an example of compassion - to be like her would be living a life of compassion for the sick and the dying.
Billy Graham - an example of a committed soul winner and integrity.
Your favorite coach - maybe Vince Lombardi - example of teamwork and unity.
Your favorite Sunday school teacher - love, acceptance and teaching the truth.
I could list a whole bunch of bad examples - but i think you get the message.
Who is your example today - who do you want to be like?
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
How important is Christs example to us?
What does it look like?
Walk in Love
There is a definite pattern
- father loves the son – John 15:9
9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
- Son loves his children 1 John 3:16
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
- Children love each other – John 15:12
12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
When you were in a desperate, helpless state – Christ loved you first.
We use His example of self sacrifice.
It is a love full of self sacrifice
Why is the movie - It’s a wonderful life so popular? Why isn’t the movie all about the rich guy who makes millions in plastics the star of the show? Or the mean miser in his wheel chair
Because God has placed in you a love for your fellow man.
Who would you rather be in the movie?
As we continue through that passage of scripture we come across “Fragrant Offering.”
We are to be a pleasing aroma to God
15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
So a question comes to my mind and that is, how do you smell?
Continuing in this first section of scripture we walk in love but not as the world walks
vs 3 on is telling you how the world walks - The background of Ephesus shows the contrast. You would get what Paul was talking about
– The largest temple to Diana is in the City ( one of the seven wonders )
It had hundreds if not thousands of temple prostitutes
There was nothing moral about it “One philosopher, commenting on the moral climate in Ephesus, wrote that the inhabitants of the city were fit only to be drowned. He said that the reason he could never smile or laugh was because he lived amidst such terrible uncleanness.
Paul is making the point that the you are the temple of the most high God
You are not to look like a temple of prostitution and uncleaness and everything else that accompanies that .
Also Paul uses the word greedy – People were profiting off of immorality and using the temple as a way and means of making a living on the depravity of man.
As believers we imitate God
Today many don’t know what morality is because they are allowed to come up with their own definition of morality.
Morality is defined as an attribute and quality of God which is good and righteous. It is a standard by which man knows right from wrong, and the correct way to live. God is the moral absolute.
You have to have a pure, unbiased, all knowing, wise, loving God who is the standard and writes the standards that people need to live by for every generation that man exists on this earth.
The term WWJD has great validity
The church is the place where you take your broken life and bring it to God and he restores you. It teaches you what God is like so you can live that way
It is the best place to find out what awesome relationships look like
It is the best place to learn how to raise your kids
It is the best place to learn how to make good ethical decisions
It is the best place to learn character, and Integrity
This section ends with a promise - The promise is and you can have complete confidence in this statement
The kingdom of heaven is not going to accomodate the immoral, the impure or the greedy.
If our life does not come under the blood of Christ we are in deep trouble.
That is why repentance is the key - Only God can deliver us from such a disaster.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Walk in the Light
The second part of this passage speaks on walking in the light
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Be careful you are not deceived or partner with people who are.
Why do we not partake with them.
Because we were once darkness – we know what it is like – we know the damage we caused to ourselves and others – We don’t wish our stuff on anybody.
And there is no blending of light and dark – it is like oil and water.
When it says darkness it didn’t mean you surrounded by darkness – it means you were darkness.
That is why the light drives out the darkness
That is why you are a new creation in Christ – The old is dead
Now we live to please Christ not our flesh. Even in the midst of struggle our aim is to please Jesus.
The days are evil - the were evil in Paul’s day and they are just as evil today. This can be defined as “morally bad.” or to be more accurate morally impoverished. This evil brings trouble and sorrow.
Is it easy at times - NO- but is it possible YES
Walk in Worship
I am so glad to get to this point.
Have you noticed many revivals come out of worship. Worship puts our mindss back on God. Worship “makes melody in our heart”.
Songs – song of praise to the Lord
Hymns – songs of praise with Music
Spiritual songs – Songs of praise from the Spirit – in Him we have life and freedom AMEN
Paul really sums it up I think in three ways
Be filled with the Spirit
Be filled with Praise
Be filled with Thanksgiving- an expression of gratitude.
Conclusion
Anointed Expository Preaching Prayerfully Write the Sermon
What difference will your obedience to this truth make in your life today?”
How about a life pleasing to God
How about a life free from immoral baggage
How about a life where your heart has joy in it again
How about a life that has a future beyond this present one with Jesus in Heaven ??
I want to invite you to do two things
First start afresh - If you have not given your life to Christ if you are doing life in your own strength and have come to the conclusion that you need help your in the right place.
Christ can set you free - He can pick you up clean you off and place you on higher plain AMEN.
Secondly - to be filled with the Spirit- Scripture says
17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
It will cause you to praise Him AMEN