Practical Brainwashing
Notes
Transcript
Recap
Recap
Last week Paul gave us the three step method of discipleship in our own lives.
Remove the old self
brainwash - renew our mind
put on the new self
Removing the old self because
who wants to remain in their old stinking clothes
and putting on the new self
Because once we are washed up and cleansed
Who wants to put back on the dirty clothes of
Our former life?
The biggest part of what Paul is doing is the mind renewal
or what I like to refer to as brain washing.
Brain washing is simply realizing who we once were
And running our soul through the wash of God’s Word.
An example is scripture memory.
I am terrible at scripture memory, unless I use it on a regular basis.
And that’s Paul’s point.
Imagine what our lives would be like
If we memorized scripture regularly.
Imagine the power and intimacy in daily prayer
comfort during times of trial and bereavement
The development of heavenly mindedness
The manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit
Conviction over unfeeling sin
Fruitful use of time while experiencing a delay.
Imagine your witness and evangelism efforts.
All this just by washing our brain with God’s Word
And committing to memorize scripture.
That all sounds very Christian and churchy
the problem is we can all agree that this is what needs to be done
however, unless there are legs to this three fold strategy
And real life practical application
these are just great words to make us feel good.
Amen! That sounds great Art
and we walk out the door feeling great about our saved lives
and before we hit the parking lot
We’ve forgotten how to apply all this
And we have great feelings with no action plan to carry it out.
A good rule of discipleship
unless there is accountability either to someone or something
there is no discipleship.
I would dare any one of us to try to change our behavior
without having any accountability in our lives.
Try to go on a diet
without having any accountability to something
I don’t care if it’s a weight watchers group
a couple of good friends
or at least accountability to the scale every week.
It won’t happen unless it’s a SMART goal
Specific
clear, well defined, unambiguous
Measureable
numbers, data, measureable progress
Achievable
realistic and attainable within our capabilities
Relevant
align with broader, long-term objectives and matter to you.
Time-Bound
deadlines and target dates.
The accoutability to this is in the plan.
discipleship accountability comes in the form of
accountability to brothers and sisters in Christ
And to Christ Himself.
That means that when someone approaches us about
a specific discipleship plan or steps
instead of being an auditor of their actions
we are brothers and sisters to help and encourage them.
But to talk about discipleship without having specific application to our lives
is just wishing it will happen.
So Paul is going to give us the practical application steps
Paul is going to give us seven examples
Of how to live out the Spirit filled life
The life that has been renewed and is putting on new clothes
What do these seven new pieces of clothing look like?
The first and deepest specific goal begins with Trust
Trust
Trust
25 Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.
I was never one to spank anyone in my house.
There were times I wanted to
But the only time I ever really did was when my kids lied to me.
and I am grateful to say that
this was an extremely rare occasion.
They can do a lot to go against what I may have said
But to lie in our house is the biggest issue
Because it shows a lack of trust for their mother and I
That we could handle whatever they had gotten into.
We built trust in our household.
trust that they could tell us anything at anytime
And that trust still continues even today.
They know that if they do something wrong
They can tell us, and we will help them walk through the issue.
Rather than blowing up and losing our minds.
In the body of Christ
if we cannot trust each other
We will never be able to walk through life’s situations together
And help each other and encourage each other
Without someone speculating that we are doing good
for some other motive in our life.
One of the greatest issues in the church currently
is a lack of trust.
There are some that don’t trust the leadership of the church.
There are those that don’t trust each other
to be open and honest with each other.
We have a group of people here that don’t come to service.
They don’t trust me and that’s an issue.
Maybe more important, they don’t want to be part of the body of Christ
and study together
As we gather for worship, prayer, and praise.
So in that respect, they don’t trust you either.
Hebrews 3 is written to Jewish believers
to help them understand the deeper things of the church.
There was a time when the Jewsih people
didn’t follow Moses either
and it cost them the promise of rest
in the land that was promised to them through Abraham.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your ancestors tested me, tried me, and saw my works
10 for forty years. Therefore I was provoked to anger with that generation and said, “They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.”
11 So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest.”
So then the writer of Hebrews warns the church
12 Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.
14 For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start.
The only way to have unity is to have trust.
The rest of the verse says that we should
speak the truth because we are one body
We are a family
Perhaps your family situation hasn’t been the best example
But in the Body of Christ, our head, Jesus
Guides and directs us.
And if we can’t get along in here
There’s no hope for the community around us.
Trust goes further than with each other
we must trust Christ first
And then we have to have trust in Christ in us.
Without trust in Christ first
We will never have trust in anyone else.
Worst is the beginning, then we must have honesty.
Honesty
Honesty
26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and don’t give the devil an opportunity.
The Bible never tells us not to get angry.
I learned this week, emotions are neutral.
They are neither good nor bad,
They simply are indicators of our own soul.
Anger, specifically, is a flashing red light in our soul
that shows us our frustrations and weaknesses at times.
We get angry because someone pushed our buttons
We get angry because God made us passionate about something.
We get angry because something in us triggered a switch
and turned on the check engine light of our soul.
I believe every vehicle that I own
except one, has the engine light on.
I know why the engine light is on all of them.
That light turns on and it produces a code
that code tells the mechanic what the issue is
and where to fix it.
There are some codes that are vital to be fixed
and there are some codes that can wait to be fixed
but unless the code is fixed
the engine may not run properly
and in some places,
we are unable to get it to pass an inspection.
The issue is, I’ve ignored the engine light for so long
that if something were to actually go wrong, I wouldn’t know
until the car breaks down on the side of the road.
Anger is like that.
When that engine light goes on
we can ignore it for a time
but anger builds like a volcano
until one day it blows up
and causes more destruction than if it were handled
when it first appeared.
Unresolved anger can hide deeper emotions
And cause greater unrighteous outcomes like
Bitterness, wrath, brawling, and other issues.
Jesus understands anger. Jesus got angry.
The problem is
when we aren’t honest with each other about that anger
when we hold onto that anger
it begins to fester in worse things.
When that red light goes off
it shows us an area that we need to address in our lives
And possibly a person we need to address as well.
One of the most telling verses in the Bible about addressing anger
is when Jesus shares in the Sermon on the Mount
21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.
22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister, will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.
23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
Unresolved anger is the equivalent to murder.
Jesus says that unless we resolve the anger in our lives
we shouldn’t even approach the altar of God to worship.
So Paul’s fix, his step to resolving anger
and turning off the check engine light of our soul
is to deal with it quickly.
The only marital counseling that Shannon and I got before we got married
was this verse.
I can say that we’ve never let the sun go down on our anger for each other.
We’ve been mad at each other.
And it’s usually my fault and I own that.
However, we’ve always talked it out
As much as I didn’t want to talk it out
Because talking it out is awkward and uncomfortable.
Why is is awkward and uncomfortable?
because we address the pride in ourselves.
It’s the part of killing the old self we don’t like to do.
When we are honest with each other
We can then be honest with ourselves.
That is often harder to do than be honest with someone else.
The reason Paul says to not let the sun go down on your anger is
the second part of the verse
Because it gives the devil an opportunity.
The more we don’t address the problem in the room
The more we isolate ourselves to allow the devil to get into our heads.
And we lose trust, the first step in the process.
You can blame the other person all you want
But until you talk about it
You will let that anger and blame fester into all kinds of problems
including your worship of God.
We need to be honest with each other
And we need to allow people to be honest with us.
I’ve seen so many church leaders in the news lately
that have blown up their marriages
Blown up their churches
And then continue to leave bad teaching and blood trails
because of disqualifying circumstances in their ministry.
I have instructed a group of men to
be able to speak into my life should they
See me headed in the Wrong direction.
These guys have the freedom to speak to me as they see fit
When they see me headed toward something I shouldn’t be doing.
I am honest with them and I trust them.
I may not like it when they say what they are going to say
But I also know they love me enough to keep me on the Australia and narrow.
We’ve had trust, honesty and thirdly now we have
Selflessness
Selflessness
28 Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.
It’s so easy to get wrapped us into the stealing part
that we can miss the rest of the verse.
I believe sometimes we become auditors of people’s situations
Rather than brothers and sisters trying to help each other.
You cannot have selflessness
until you have trust and honesty.
Why does a thief steal?
sometimes it’s because they enjoy the adrenaline.
Sometimes it’s because they have a cause
to take from the rich and give to the poor.
However, the majority of people in the world steal
Because they believe they need something
And that’s the only way they know how to get it.
Thieves are creative people.
they can come up with all sorts of capers to get what they want.
They’ll play the long game to wait
Or they know how to redirect to take the attention off of themselves.
Paul is not saying let the thieves steal
He says to redirect their creative outlets to do some work.
Why? Because it’s easy for them to steal
And after a while, thieves enjoy the thrill.
But that’s a very selfish way to live.
Taking something from someone else
Is gaining stuff without ever earning it.
When a person turns from a life of thievery
To a life of honest labor
They will naturally help other people.
It’s because their whole character has changed.
Most people won’t admit to being a thief
Because being a thief is a bad sin.
When people admit to being a thief
They lose their reputation and people don’t trust them anymore.
The irony is
people are more apt to trust a gossip than a thief
and they both are other of sin in God’s eyes.
You may say, “Well I’ve never stolen anything.”
Let me ask this.
Have you ever taken a pencil home from work?
Have you ever gossiped about someone and stole their credibility?
Have you ever use prayer as an excuse to gain information on someone else?
These are all forms of stealing.
Stealing someone’s credibility is every bit as wrong
As taking someone’s car.
The difference is you can always return a car
Restoring someone’s credibility is next to impossible
We have Trust, Honesty, Selflessness
and now we have
Integrity
Integrity
29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.
If stealing is the work of our hands to do something wrong
Profanity and what comes out of our mouth
This is an inside job
Our speech shows who and what we really believe in
Speech reveals what is in the depth of our convictions.
James said it this way
8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness.
10 Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.
11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?
12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
The word integrity means
if I cut something in half
Whatever that object or person is
Will show in the middle parts.
If I cut a watermelon in half
there are going to be watermelon fruit and seeds on the inside.
You wouldn’t expect to see an onion on the inside of a watermelon.
Integrity shows what and who we are to the very core of who we are.
We don’t have to cut someone in half to understand what they believe
We just need to listen to what they say.
Because what re say what is already in our heart.
Foul language is produced way deep
Before it ever comes out of our mouths.
And we think about foul language as cussing
but foul language can be much more
Gossip is considered foul language
discrediting someone can be considered foul language
abusive language to tear someone down is considered foul language.
Talking behind someone’s back is foul language.
Self centeredness, all about me language
can also be considered foul language.
Anything that comes from deep within
and comes out of our mouth that isn’t glorifying to God
or uplifting someone else
can be considered foul language
Much like the thief should use his talents for good works
And then ultimately to help other people
a believer should use their mouth for encouragement
And the building up of the body of Christ.
And to offer the grace of God to each other.
That takes rebuilding the well in our selves.
rebuilding the well whales renewing our minds
And washing our brain with God’s Word.
If you don’t like what is coming out of your mouth
then it’s time to clean out the well.
That’s where the steps to discipleship come in
To put off the old self
renew the mind
and put on the new self.
If when you squeeze the tube of toothpaste
and nothing but sludge comes out
it’s time to change the toothpaste.
If when ever we open our mouths
something foul comes out
it’s time to change what’s in the well that the mouth is producing from.
When God’s grace comes out and uplifts those that need it
before anything else comes out of our mouth
then we’ve begun to filter the water coming out of the well.
Holiness
Holiness
30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.
How would someone grieve the Holy Spirit of God?
let me ask it a different way
if integrity is supposed to produce uplifting words for others
to show the grace of God to others
what is being produced from our speech and our actions
that glorify God?
If it isn’t glorifying to God
it grieves the Holy Spirit.
We know that the Spirit lives within every believer.
We were promised from the very beginning of our salvation
that Jesus would leave us the Holy Spirit
as a guide and conscience to direct our thoughts
to fight off sin in our lives
to convict the world of righteousness and judgment.
Ever have a bad roommate in your life?
Maybe it was in college,
or maybe it was someone that you chose to room with to save money.
That person may leave the house a mess for you to clean up.
Maybe they left dishes in the sink
or worse, on the table.
Maybe they forgot to help pay the rent.
Even after to trying to be Jesus to them over and over
they still were left to their old habits
and annoyed the snot out of you.
Imagine your roommate being the Holy Spirit.
He is perfect
He is loving
and He lives with you all day long
but you are still living in the filth of your old life.
He lovingly and quietly tries to correct your life
Art, you know that’s not a great idea to do that.
Art, you may not want to say those things out loud.
Art, just because you don’t like that person
it’s not the best idea to want them dead.
And when we live our lives apart from the Holy Spirit’s
best and perfect advice
we still do the things that he has advised us against.
Or, we don’t do the things He has commanded us to do.
I’ve been in places and I can hear the Spirit telling me
Art this would be a good person to share the gospel with
Art, go ahead and start the conversation
and I ignore the Spirit’s gently nudging.
That’s what grieves the Holy Spirit.
remember that roommate that you despised?
Imagine the Holy Spirit beiing your roommate
and trying to help you with your life
and we keep ignoring him.
That’s going to grieve Him.
It says we were sealed by Him for the day of redemption
so not only are we roommates with the Holy Spirit
but He is stuck with us until the day
Jesus comes back to get us.
After a while His voice gets quieter and quieter
almost to the point of not being able to hear Him anymore.
The Holy Spirit is the promise that Jesus left for us
He is our guarantee of redemption.
He was left here to take the place of a physical Jesus
so that we all as believers in jesus
can have a guide through the sinful parts of our lives.
Why wouldn’t we listen to Him?
and when we don’t, it grieves Him.
Holiness means we have been set apart for God’s work
and when we don’t follow the Holy Spirit
we aren’t being set apart for God anymjjore
we are being set apart for whatever we want to do.
We take the place of God in our lives
and just do what we want instead.
Self Control
Self Control
31 Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice.
All of these things that Paul lists
are directed toward other people.
You can be bitter by yourself
but most of the time you are bitter at someone else.
Anger and wrath are directed toward someone else.
shouting and slander are directed toward someone else.
Malice, the intention to do evil
is directed toward someone else.
Here’s the point,
thinking about these things toward someone else is bad enough.
Actually carrying them out toward someone else
takes that to the next level.
That’s where self-control comes in.
Now, we just spoke about the Holy Spirit and being holy.
listening to the Holy Spirit can stop a lot of things.
The one thing the Holy Spirit will not do
is to stop us from doing stupid things.
He may warn us
but it’s us to have enough self control to stop ourselves.
But because we are sinful, weak, frail human beings,
Paul leaves us with one last practical application.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
This may be the most difficult of all
especially if we’ve blown the first 6 things that Paul
wants us to practically apply.
Compassion is the deep awareness of another person's suffering
coupled with the desire and motivation to relieve it.
We are compassionate to other people
because God was compassionate to us
and sent Jesus to forgive us.
All this means is that we understand why people have wronged us.
or at least we try to understand why people have wronged us.
Jesus understood why we wronged Him.
We were created and considered very good by the Creator.
He gave us one thing not to do
and several things to do.
He told us to be fruitful and multiply
He placed us in the perfect garden
and told us to take care of it.
To tend it and to keep it.
He gave us everything
and gave us one thing not to do
and that was to not eat from a specific tree.
We were dissatisfied with that and wanted everything
and were convinced and tricked by Satan to disobey God.
Once we disobeyed God, we inherited a new trait in our life.
We now inherited sin
and it’s an inheritance that is passed down to every human being on the planet
We were born with it
and it separates us from God.
God loves us so much that He chose to forgive that sin
and He chose to pay for that sin with the death of His Son.
Did you ever wonder why Jesus had to die?
why was there blood that had to be shed
for our forgiveness and payment?
Hebrews 9 explains this.
16 Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established.
17 For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living.
In order for the promise of God to be fulfilled
and the will to be established of the inheritance of that promise
there had to be death involved for the will to be in effect.
Jesus fulfilled that part.
He died so the promises of God could be willed to those that believe.
What are those promises?
That Jesus would bear the price of the sins of everyone who believes.
28 so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
IT was through the forgiveness of Jesus
that we are saved from our sin.
That redemption is made.
10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
Folks, when we think about how Jesus forgave us
while we were still sinners and his enemies
how hard is it to forgive other people.
These seven practical steps
markers of a true disciple of Jesus
And they are placed in order of where to start
And they all lead into next weeks verses
That continue in the practical side of brain washing.
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,
Because these practical steps imitate who God is.
and according to 1 Timothy 6:6
7 But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness.
8 For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Out purpose as believers is to make disciples.
we make disciples of Jesus
In order to do that we need to imitate Him.
That is godliness.
We’ll get there next week.
