Being Imitators of Christ
Notes
Transcript
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE ARE HERE TODAY IN ANOTHER BLESSED GATHERING WHERE WE COME TOGETHER, NOT AS STRANGERS, BUT AS FAMILY IN CHRIST, UNITED IN OUR SHARED LOVE AND DEVOTION TO THE WORD OF GOD.
WE ARE HERE TODAY, NOT BY MERE CHANCE OR WHIM, BUT BY THE DIVINE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WHO, IN HIS INFINITE WISDOM AND BOUNDLESS LOVE, HAS CALLED US TOGETHER TO LEARN, TO GROW, AND TO BE TRANSFORMED BY HIS WORD.
OUR FOCUS TODAY IS EPHESIANS 4:25-5:2, A PASSAGE THAT CALLS US TO A TRANSFORMATIVE LIFE
THESE ARE NOT MERE WORDS BELOVED.
THESE ARE LIFE-CHANGING TRUTHS,
A CLARION CALL TO A NEW WAY OF LIVING, A NEW WAY OF BEING, A NEW WAY OF LOVING.
THIS IS NOT A CALL TO A MERE OUTWARD CHANGE, BUT A RADICAL INNER TRANSFORMATION, A METAMORPHOSIS THAT BEGINS WITHIN THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS AND PERMEATES EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.
TRANSFORMING FROM OLD WAYS
TRANSFORMING FROM OLD WAYS
THE APOSTLE PAUL, IN HIS LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS, PRESENTS A VIVID PICTURE OF A LIFE TRANSFORMED BY CHRIST.
HE BEGINS BY URGING US TO PUT OFF FALSEHOOD AND SPEAK TRUTHFULLY TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
THIS IS NOT A MERE SUGGESTION, BUT A COMMAND, A CALL TO A RADICAL SHIFT FROM OUR OLD WAYS OF DECEPTION AND DISHONESTY TO A NEW LIFE OF TRUTH AND INTEGRITY.
THIS TRANSFORMATION IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT PROCESS, BUT A GRADUAL, ONGOING JOURNEY THAT REQUIRES CONSTANT EFFORT, COMMITMENT, AND RELIANCE ON GOD'S GRACE.
THE FIRST ASPECT OF THIS TRANSFORMATION INVOLVES OUR SPEECH. PAUL EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEAKING TRUTHFULLY TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT AVOIDING LIES, BUT ABOUT BEING HONEST AND TRANSPARENT IN ALL OUR DEALINGS WITH OTHERS.
IT'S ABOUT BEING GENUINE AND AUTHENTIC, NOT BEING FAKE OR PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE WE'RE NOT.
THIS KIND OF HONESTY IS NOT ALWAYS EASY. IT REQUIRES COURAGE AND HUMILITY.
BUT IT'S A CRUCIAL STEP IN OUR TRANSFORMATION, BECAUSE IT REFLECTS THE CHARACTER OF GOD, WHO IS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF ALL TRUTH.
THE SECOND ASPECT OF THIS TRANSFORMATION INVOLVES OUR EMOTIONS.
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
PAUL WARNS US NOT TO SIN IN OUR ANGER. THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD NEVER FEEL ANGRY.
ANGER, IN ITSELF, IS NOT A SIN. IT'S A NATURAL HUMAN EMOTION THAT CAN SERVE AS A SIGNAL THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.
BUT IT BECOMES A SIN WHEN WE LET IT CONTROL US, WHEN WE LET IT LEAD US TO HURT OTHERS OR TO HARBOR BITTERNESS AND RESENTMENT IN OUR HEARTS.
PAUL'S COMMAND IS CLEAR: WE MUST NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON OUR ANGER.
WE MUST ADDRESS IT, BUT IN A WAY THAT PROMOTES PEACE AND RECONCILIATION.
THE THIRD ASPECT OF THIS TRANSFORMATION INVOLVES OUR ACTIONS.
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
PAUL INSTRUCTS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN STEALING TO STEAL NO LONGER, BUT TO WORK AND DO SOMETHING USEFUL WITH THEIR HANDS.
THIS IS A CALL TO A LIFE OF HARD WORK AND PRODUCTIVITY, A LIFE THAT CONTRIBUTES POSITIVELY TO SOCIETY AND BENEFITS OTHERS.
IT'S A CALL TO REPLACE OUR OLD, DESTRUCTIVE HABITS WITH NEW, CONSTRUCTIVE ONES.
IT'S A CALL TO USE OUR TALENTS AND ABILITIES NOT FOR SELFISH GAIN, BUT FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS AND THE GLORY OF GOD.
THE FOURTH ASPECT OF THIS TRANSFORMATION INVOLVES OUR ATTITUDES.
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
PAUL URGES US TO GET RID OF ALL BITTERNESS, WRATH, ANGER, BRAWLING, SLANDER, AND MALICE.
THESE ARE ALL NEGATIVE ATTITUDES THAT CAN POISON OUR HEARTS AND DESTROY OUR RELATIONSHIPS.
INSTEAD, WE ARE TO BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER, FORGIVING EACH OTHER JUST AS GOD IN CHRIST FORGAVE US.
THIS IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF OUR TRANSFORMATION, BECAUSE IT GOES AGAINST OUR NATURAL INCLINATIONS.
IT'S EASY TO HOLD GRUDGES, TO SEEK REVENGE, TO HOLD ILL FEELINGS TOWARDS THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED US.
SOMEBODY MIGHT BE THINKING…..BUT PASTOR NEAL….YOU JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY SAID TO ME…..OR YOU JUST DON’T KNOW HOW BAD THEY TREATED ME……THEY MAY HAVE HURT YOU TO DEEP DOWN TO THE DEPTHS OF YOUR BEING….
TRUTH BE TOLD….SOME OF US MAY STILL BE MAD OR HAVE STOPPED TALKING TO SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY DID US WRONG….BUT IF YOU STOP TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY DID….YOU CAN’T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT THEY SAID OR DID TO YOU….BUT IT’S EASIER TO JUST STAY MAD.
BUT AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, WE ARE CALLED TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
WE ARE CALLED TO LOVE AND FORGIVE, JUST AS WE HAVE BEEN LOVED AND FORGIVEN BY GOD.
IN ALL THESE ASPECTS OF OUR TRANSFORMATION, WE ARE NOT LEFT TO DO IT ON OUR OWN
WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, WHO EMPOWERS US, GUIDES US, AND HELPS US IN OUR WALK.
WE ALSO HAVE THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST, WHO LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR US AS AN OFFERING AND SACRIFICE TO GOD.
AS WE STRIVE TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE…BEING IMITATORS…. WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL GIVE US THE STRENGTH AND THE GRACE WE NEED TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD AND BENEFICIAL TO OTHERS.
TAKING THE PATH OF LOVE
TAKING THE PATH OF LOVE
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
WE SHOULD TAKE THE PATH OF LOVE, WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST.
THIS IS NOT A MERE SUGGESTION, BUT A DIVINE MANDATE. IT IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF OUR CHRISTIAN WALK.
LIVING LIKE CHRIST MEANS EMBODYING HIS VIRTUES, MIRRORING HIS ACTIONS, AND REFLECTING HIS LOVE IN OUR DAILY LIVES.
IT IS A CALL TO A RADICAL TRANSFORMATION, A METAMORPHOSIS THAT BEGINS WITHIN THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS AND PERMEATES EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.
LIVING LIKE CHRIST MEANS EMBODYING HIS VIRTUES. CHRIST'S VIRTUES ARE NOT MERE MORAL QUALITIES, BUT DIVINE ATTRIBUTES.
THEY ARE THE VERY ESSENCE OF HIS BEING, THE CORE OF HIS CHARACTER, THE HEART OF HIS NATURE. THEY INCLUDE LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL.
THESE VIRTUES ARE NOT OPTIONAL EXTRAS, BUT ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF OUR CHRISTIAN WALK.
THEY ARE NOT MERE ADORNMENTS, BUT THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.
A CHRISTIAN AUTHOR, ONCE SAID, "CHRIST DID NOT COME TO MAKE MEN NICE, HE CAME TO MAKE THEM NEW."
THIS IS A POWERFUL REMINDER THAT OUR TRANSFORMATION IS NOT ABOUT BECOMING NICER PEOPLE, BUT ABOUT BECOMING NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST.
IT IS ABOUT BEING REBORN, NOT JUST REFORMED.
IT IS ABOUT A RADICAL INNER CHANGE, NOT JUST AN OUTWARD BEHAVIORAL ADJUSTMENT.
LIVING LIKE CHRIST ALSO MEANS MIRRORING HIS ACTIONS.
CHRIST'S ACTIONS WERE NOT RANDOM ACTS, BUT DELIBERATE DEEDS.
THEY WERE NOT MERE GESTURES, BUT PROFOUND DEMONSTRATIONS OF HIS LOVE, HIS COMPASSION, HIS MERCY, HIS GRACE.
THEY INCLUDED HEALING THE SICK, FEEDING THE HUNGRY, COMFORTING THE SORROWFUL, FORGIVING THE SINFUL, AND ULTIMATELY, LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US.
THESE ACTIONS ARE NOT JUST HISTORICAL EVENTS, BUT TIMELESS EXAMPLES FOR US TO FOLLOW.
THEY ARE NOT JUST STORIES TO BE TOLD, BUT LESSONS TO BE LIVED.
LIVING LIKE CHRIST FURTHER MEANS REFLECTING HIS LOVE.
CHRIST'S LOVE IS NOT A FLEETING EMOTION, BUT AN ENDURING COMMITMENT.
IT IS NOT A SHALLOW SENTIMENT, BUT A DEEP DEVOTION.
IT IS NOT A PASSIVE FEELING, BUT AN ACTIVE FORCE. IT IS A LOVE THAT GIVES WITHOUT COUNTING THE COST, FORGIVES WITHOUT KEEPING SCORE, SERVES WITHOUT SEEKING REWARD, AND SACRIFICES WITHOUT SEEKING RETURN.
THIS LOVE IS NOT JUST A VIRTUE TO BE ADMIRED, BUT A COMMAND TO BE OBEYED. IT IS NOT JUST A PRINCIPLE TO BE PREACHED, BUT A PRACTICE TO BE PURSUED.
SO, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, LET US STRIVE TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST. LET US EMBODY HIS VIRTUES, MIRROR HIS ACTIONS, AND REFLECT HIS LOVE.
LET US NOT JUST TALK ABOUT LOVE, BUT LIVE IT OUT IN OUR DAILY LIVES.
LET US NOT JUST PROFESS OUR FAITH, BUT PRACTICE IT IN OUR ACTIONS.
LET US NOT JUST BELIEVE IN CHRIST, BUT BECOME LIKE HIM.
THIS IS OUR CALLING. THIS IS OUR CHALLENGE.
THIS IS OUR COMMITMENT.
LET US RISE TO IT, BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
AS WE DRAW THIS GATHERING TO A CLOSE, LET'S REMEMBER THAT GOD'S LOVE FOR US IS SO VAST, SO DEEP, SO WIDE, THAT IT'S BEYOND OUR HUMAN COMPREHENSION.
HE LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE SENT HIS ONLY SON TO DIE FOR US, TO PAY THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS, TO BRIDGE THE GAP THAT SEPARATED US FROM HIM.
THAT'S THE KIND OF LOVE WE'RE CALLED TO EMULATE.
A LOVE THAT'S SELFLESS, A LOVE THAT'S FORGIVING,
A LOVE THAT'S KIND AND COMPASSIONATE.
BUT LET'S NOT FORGET, IT'S NOT BY OUR OWN STRENGTH THAT WE CAN WALK THIS PATH OF LOVE.
IT'S BY THE GRACE OF GOD, BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKING IN US. SO LET'S LEAN ON HIM, RELY ON HIM, DRAW STRENGTH FROM HIM.
HE'S OUR SOURCE, OUR SUSTAINER, OUR GUIDE.
WITH HIM, WE CAN DO ALL THINGS.
WITHOUT HIM, WE CAN DO NOTHING.
SO AS WE GO FROM HERE, LET'S GO WITH A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO LIVE OUT OUR FAITH, TO WALK IN LOVE, TO BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS IN THIS WORLD.
LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE, LET'S SHINE HIS LIGHT, LET'S SPREAD HIS LOVE.
AND REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT ALONE. GOD IS WITH US, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
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DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD THAT HAS SPOKEN TO OUR HEARTS TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE THAT NEVER FAILS, NEVER GIVES UP, NEVER RUNS OUT ON US. AS WE LEAVE THIS PLACE, HELP US TO CARRY YOUR LOVE WITH US, TO SHARE IT WITH THOSE WE MEET, TO LIVE IT OUT IN OUR DAILY LIVES. GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO WALK IN YOUR WAYS, THE WISDOM TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES, AND THE COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT. WE ASK ALL THIS IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS. AMEN.