Ephesians 4

INTRO:

Introduce myself

Honor and thank Ps Aaron and Liz

*TAKE YOUR TIME HERE*

Felt like God reminded me of 1 Timothy 4:12

In the same way that Paul encouraged Timothy a young pastor. I believe that your pastors are encouraging the community at Exchange.

Never let anyone despise you for your youth but set the believer’s an example in speech, in conduct, in love, faith and purity.

So pumped about the series you guys have been in and excited to be able to preach on Ephesians chapter 4!

SCRIPTURE:

Speaking to the believers in the church of Ephesus.

Ephesians 1-3 is the gospel story.

Ephesians 4-6 is our story.

Ephesians 4:21–32 NLT

21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Instead of us looking at this as a list of do’s and don’ts. What I want to encourage us tonight with is to see this as a guide. A guide for how to be more like Christ in our day to day life.

TITLE: How To Earn Your Wings

H‌ow to walk through this new life with God flourishing and growing in our faith.

PRAYER:

Lets pray believe for God to do what only he can do!

5ish mins

STORY:

So back in 2020 I ended up attending my friends wedding with Mal and all I rememeber is it involving one of the most embarrassing wedding moments of my life.

I’ll always rememeber the reception. Right out of the gate the DJ was playing bangers and very quickly everyone was on the dance floor. And I was there on the dance floor.

Just expressing myself through the art of dance.

Just me and Lil Jon......Don’t worry it was censored christian version.

So dancing right..

“Get low

To the window to Jesus Christ

all these people fall

All surrender to Jesus, all surrender to Him”

I turn into high school girl…omg I love this song!”

I start dancing and stretched the wrong way. and all of a sudden my pants ripped right down the seam.

One of my friends noticed immediately and starting laughing. This man would not stop laughing and about 15 mins later this man also rips his pants. So then I decide to return the favor and start laughing.

The tear was at the point of no return. That’s why it necessary to my a new pair of dress pants.

Crazy analogy I know but…In this scripture it refers to putting off the old life and putting on the new one...

“Put off” in the greek translates to stow or put away.

“Put on” in the greek translates to putting on clothing.

WRITE SOMETHING HERE TO TIE IT IN>

Just like going to the store and buying new clothes, the moment I said yes to Jesus, is the moment I put on a brand new garment. And my life is forever changed because of it!

POINTS: 11mins

How do we fully embrace this new life?

POINT 1

We follow Christ’s example

Earlier in this chapter we see Paul setting the stage by telling the importance of unity.

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

So we are called to walk in a way that display’s the same characteristics as Jesus.

Challenge:

Do people see Jesus in us when we think no-one is looking? Let’s pursue gentleness, patience and love. The more interaction with those characteristics the more effective we are in walking in a manner worthy of our calling.

This is almost like a checklist: pursue gentleness, patience, love, unity.

Story:

Smith Wigglesworth was an amazing individual. He was a British evangelist and faith healer who was influential during the early Pentecostal movement. During his lifetime, he reportedly raised 14 people from the dead and he’s also responsible for countless miracles taking place.

“While he was riding in a passenger train, a brief stop allowed a man to board and enter the car that Smith Wigglesworth was sitting in. The man walked by Wigglesworth and cried out, “You convict me of sin!””

He had not spoken a word to the new passenger, but the power of the Holy Spirit within Wigglesworth reveal the man’s heart and convicted him of his need for forgiveness.

When we follow Christ’s example it has an amazing influence on other’s.

This man sits down next to Mr. Smith and immediately senses the Holy Spirit.

***What do our lives show other people?***

As we follow Christ’s example. Do they see the Savior we follow? Do they see Jesus?

We do this by embracing this new life with Christ and following his footsteps. While our lives are being changed we have an opportunity to make a positive impact in someone’s life as well.

THREE PARTS:

But there are always going to be roadblocks that get in the way. The Body and Soul. Every human is made up of three parts. Body Soul and Spirit.

The best way to positively influence the body and soul is to nourish our spirit. how do we do that?

*Next point*

POINT 2

We immerse ourselves in the word

Thats what Paul did in Ephesians 4. He is telling the believers in Ephesus the roadmap on how to embrace this life.

Ephesians 4:21–24 ESV

21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

“As we mediate on the scriptures, it creates in us a new and right way of living our lives.”

That actually has to do with the renewal process*

Jesus even prayed for this specific thing to take place in his Disciples. In John 17:17 He prays for their sanctification.

John 17:17 ESV

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

As we immerse ourselves in his word we sanctified and changed!

Put it this way. “We are what we eat.” So where are we getting our primary nourishment from? The latest tik tok video or the purest form of Truth that we can get our hands on? The word?!

Why? Because that is truly the only thing that will bring a total transformation from the inside out.

Once we follow Jesus and put on your new self, that is where the inner transformation can begin to take place!

WORD STUDY:

The greek word for renewed in Ephesians 4:23

has a pretty cool definition which is

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament ἀνανεόω

to be or become reestablished in a like-new and often improved manner

That sounds like a transformation taking place! It reminds me of a caterpillar....Now hear me out. I relearned about the significance of a caterpillar.

+SHARE ABOUT A CATERPILLAR+

Metamorphosis : the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK_iZZ4Bx2o

Caterpillar shed their skin and build a

Chrysalis: Which is the caterpillar’s own body. It causes the caterpillar to cast off its outer coating.

Once their body makes the chrysalis, enzymes are produced in the body to actually break down cells in it muscles, digestive system and other organs. But the enzymes down liquify every part.

Imaginal disks start the process of transformation from the inside out. and in

Its the same thing that happens when we surrender our lives over to Jesus. The more we are consistent with building our relationship with him…The more we study his word…The more we let go of the old life the more a transformation takes place!

This is how we earn our wings much like a butterfly. It’s through consuming your daily bread, the word of God. Because that in turn develops a total transformation.

Research shows that most butterflies rememeber their time being a caterpillar. They rememeber their younger days. Which would give me reason to believe that caterpillars rememeber when they left their old life and enter a new life through metamorphosis

Do you? Do you rememeber when you left behind that old shell and welcomed a new one that was fully in Christ?

*Share story of when I accepted Jesus.*

rememeber what we have been saved from and rememeber we have been given. We’ve been given life.

23/24mins

CONCLUSION:

God’s solution for our sin is a Savior.